XVI 



Afhyrium ovatum of Roth. — This elegant and very distinct species 

 of Athyrium has been found, during several successive years, 

 by Miss Wright, of Keswick (iv. 368). Since the record of 

 this discovery was published, Mr. Babington has, in a private 

 letter to myself, expressed doubts of the identity of the Kes- 

 wick plant with Roth's species, on account of its discrepancy 

 with a figure to which Roth refers ; but a careful reperusal of 

 Roth's elaborate description has confirmed me in the belief 

 that the plants are positively identical. 



Cystopteris Dickieana of Sim. — This, although described so long 

 since as 1848, by Mr. Sim, a most intelligent nurseryman and 

 acute botanist, residing at Foot's Cray, has, I believe, never 

 been admitted by our publishing botanists as entitled to spe- 

 cific rank. In this respect, a curious revolution has taken 

 place in the views of our highest authorities. Twenty years 

 ago, nearly every conspicuous deviation from the normal form 

 of fragilis was made a new species ; now, not only are they 

 restored to their proper parent, but a great disinclination pre- 

 vails even to admit forms that have never been associated 

 with fragilis, or any other species (iv. 369). 



Polypodium alpestre of Koch. — Mr. Watson has added this ex- 

 tremely beautiful species to our list of indigenous ferns. He 

 found it in 1844 (not 1846), in Canlochen Glen, Forfarshire, 

 and has gathered it in two other localities (iv. 370) . 



Cuscuta Hassiaca of Koch. — Mr. Varenne, a botanist to whom 1 have 

 on many previous occasions been indebted for valuable observa- 

 tions on our native plants, records (iv. 382) the discovery of 

 a new Cuscuta at Witham, in Essex. Mr. Watson has ascer- 

 tained it to be the Cuscuta Hassiaca of Koch, who describes 

 it as being, on the Continent, parasitical on Anthemis Co- 

 tula, Sonchus asper, Galium verum, Medicago sativum, and 

 other plants. At Witham, Mr. Varenne has found it on the 

 lucerne only, and mentions that its flowers exhale a perfume 

 like that of Heliotrope. 



Potamogeton trichoides of Chamisso. — I believe this aquatic was first 



