XXI 



in Essex. He cites Mr. Henfrey's characters for distinguish- 

 ing these species from each otlier : in Vaillantii the leaves 

 have broader segments, are of a bhiish, darker green, often 

 tinged with purple ; the flowers are purplish, never white, but 

 fading to somewhat of that colour; the habit is diffuse and 

 spreading ; the seeds appear similar. It may be here ob- 

 served that Hooker & Arnott (Brit. Flor. 19) do not recognize 

 these species, but that Babington (Man. 15) gives them, vs^ith- 

 out hesitation, as distinct, drawing a distinguishing character 

 from the comparative length of the fruit-stalk. This in par- 

 viflora is shorter than the obovate, pointed fruit, and equal- 

 ling the bract ; in Vaillantii it is longer than the fruit, and 

 twice longer than the bract. 



Arctium Lappa, 8fc. (iv. 66) Mr. G. S. Gibson has given some 

 attention to the genus Arctium, without arriving at any de- 

 finite conclusion. He observes that although major or 

 Lappa, and minor or Bardana, are very different in appear- 

 ance, yet they are so closely connected by forms of interme- 

 dium, that it is difficult to say to which some specimens are 

 to be referred. He would prefer a threefold to a twofold 

 division of the genus. Hooker & Amott (Brit. Flor. 219) 

 give Lappa as the species, minus as the variety, and leave 

 intermedium unnoticed. Babington (Man. 179) gives majus 

 and minus as distinct species, and intermedium as a variety 

 of the latter. 



Carduus crispus. — Mr. G. S. Gibson records (iv. 66) that Mr. J. 

 Clarke has noticed a thistle which, in some respects, corre- 

 sponds with C. crispus, described, but not recorded, as Bri- 

 tish by Sir J. E. Smith ; but the flowers are not clustered, as 

 stated in Babington's Manual. Mr. Gibson suggests that 

 Smith's crispus may be Babington's acanthoides, and vice 

 versd. I may remark that Hooker & Amott (Brit. Flor. 182) 

 give crispus as a species, and make acanthoides a variety 

 thereof; while Babington (Man. 220) makes C. acanthoides 

 the species, and gives C. crispus simply as a synonym. 



