831 



was not able to do much in determining the species. Koch, and af- 

 ter him Babington, depend much upon the nerves of the sepals, but 

 of the species described by the former writer, as having only one or 

 two nerves, I know nothing ; and all our difficulties lie with the ma- 

 ny-nerved species. Babington indeed gives to O. rubra only a single 

 nerve, but he cites, though with a mark of doubt, Koch's O. epithy- 

 mum ; and Koch cites, under = O. epithymum, the figure of O. rubra 

 in ' English Botany,' but with the addition — pessima, in which every- 

 body will agree with him. As far, however, as it is possible to judge 

 from such a figure, I should say that O. rubra and O. epithymum can- 

 not be the same. In the O. epithymum of Fontainebleau, the nerva- 

 ture of the calyx is the same as in its allied species, that is, a distinct 

 nerve to each division, and smaller lateral nerves or veins ; I may say 

 the same of a specimen of O. rubra from Staffa, given to me, I be- 

 lieve, by Mr. J. Hooker, now Dr. Hooker. I can make little more of 

 the insertion of the stamens, which is always near and never at the 

 base of the corolla. The hairiness or villosity (without glands) at 

 the inner base of the filaments, may serve to separate O. major fi'om 

 other species, and O. concolor has only scattered hairs. In amethys- 

 tea these hairs are very short and close, and limited in their extent. 

 All the species seem subject to have glandular hairs upon the upper 

 part of the anthers and of the styles, which, in the latter part, some- 

 times extend on to the germen. The yellow stigma is perhaps of 

 importance, but unfortunately we lose this in drying. I have given 

 on the next page a few forms of corolla, which perhaps are as useful 

 as most points in determining the species. 



1. O. major. Fontainebleau, on broom. Stigmas yellow. 



2. O. cruenta. Dreux, on Hippocrepis comosa. 



3. O. caryophyllea. Fontainebleau. Flowers nearly pink : stig- 

 mas purple. 



4. O. caryophyllea f Orleans, growing among grass and bushes. 

 It had the clove smell, but this is occasionally met with in se- 

 veral species. 



5. O. epithymum. Fontainebleau, on Thymus Serpyllum. Stig- 



mas purple. I could always readily distinguish this by the 

 strong venation of the petals, but the veins were marked in co- 

 lour rather than in substance, and have disappeared in drying. 

 The upper lip was sometimes cloven, sometimes entire, and 

 even now and then trifid. 



6. O. minor. From near Guildford. 



7. O. amethystea. Blois, on Eryngium campestre. Stigmas purple. 



