908 



considered a corymbose stem : it also differs in having the teeth of its 

 leaves pointing forward, and therefore cannot be said to have radiant 

 teeth. The want of a corymbus and lanceolate leaves will serve to 

 distinguish it from H. palmonarium. Its naked and solid stem will 

 serve to distinguish it from every form of H. maculatum. Many other 

 characters might have been pointed out to distinguish the above plants, 

 but as Mr. Watson only refers to Smith, 1 will seek no other authorit y 

 and will now conclude with saying that I am much surprised to find 

 that Mr. Watson, after he has paid so much attention to Botany, 

 should consider the absence or presence of medulla in the stems of 

 plants, to be of no value as a character whereby to distinguish them 

 as species. It is to be regretted that such valuable characters are not 

 duly appreciated ; but it is an indisputable fact, that unless we sub- 

 mit to a careful investigation, the greatest errors may be committed. 

 Samuel Gibson; Hehden Bridge, February .10, 1844. 



457. Enquiry respecting Phascum multicapsulare, Smith. Permit 

 me to enquire, through the medium of ' The Phytologist,' whether 

 anything is known concerning this moss, which is in all probability 

 distinct from every other described British species. It has usually 

 been regarded as a variety of P. crispum, (see Hooker and Taylor's 

 ' Muscologia Britannica' &c.) ; but it appears from the account given 

 of it in Bridel's ' Bryologia Universa,' i. 48, that Dr. Mohr, having 

 received specimens from Mr. Turner, saw reason to abandon such an 

 opinion ; and accordingly, in Weber and Mohr's Bot. Tasch. p. 477, 

 it is separated from Phascum crispum, on the ground that it has the 

 leaves evidently serrulate ; and Smith (Flor. Brit. 1152) describes it 

 as differing from P. crispum in having its perichsetial leaves straight, 

 and never crisped when dry ; also of a more dusky hue. The place 

 of growth is stated to be in cart-ruts in Clapham-park wood, near 

 Clapham-ford end, and other places near Bedford, (Rev. Dr. Abbott). 

 It is, however, figured under the name of Phascum crispum in * Eng- 

 lish Botany,' t. 618, and at that time Smith entertained no doubt of 

 its being the true Hedvvigian species so called. A subsequent change 

 of opinion on the part of Smith, is a strong argument in favour of the 

 moss being distinct ; and it is hoped that some one residing in Bed- 

 fordshire will endeavour to serve the cause of science in instituting a 

 search for this moss. The numerous capsules on each stem will 

 serve to indicate the plant. — W, Wilson ; Warrington, February 

 20, 1844. 



458. Note on the production of Shoots of Cytisus Laburnum and 

 C. purpureus from grafts of C. Laburnum coccineum. In Mr. Young's 



