89 



prepared by Mr. Spencer, from the sponge in question. Some of the 

 long spicnia from the body, which were of the form termed by Mr. 

 Bovverbank ' biarcuate,' were curiously altered, some having portions 

 of the shaft dilated into round knobs at different distances, whereby 

 a moniliform appearance was produced, others having portions of 

 spicula projecting from their sides, whilst in some few instances a 

 series of half spicula was developed from the central portion of the 

 shaft, in the form of a whorl. Amongst the spicula of the gemmules 

 some few were found in their normal, viz., birotulate state ; but in the 

 majority of instances either one or both extremities were strangely 

 malformed. Sketches of the principal varieties, made by means of 

 the camera lucida, were sent round for inspection. — J. W. 



Botanical Notes on Plants cldejly growing in Essex, with Observa- 

 tions on some of the Localities mentioned in Hooker and A mot fs 

 ' British Flora.' By E. G. Varenne, Esq. 



Anemone apennina, L., is mentioned in the last edition of the 'Bri- 

 tish Flora' as growing near Berkhamstead, Essex, but no place with 

 such a name is known in the county. This error, which exists in all 

 the editions of the ' Flora,' was corrected in Mr. Watson's ' New Bo- 

 tanist's Guide,' and it will not be amiss if the next edition of the 

 ' Flora ' be free from it. 



Ranunculus parvi floras, L., is frequent on gravelly banks about 

 Tiptree Heath, and also in many other parts of this neighbourhood. 

 It does not appear to be a corn-field plant with us, though such is 

 the general locality allotted to it in the ' British Flora.' 



Papaver hyhridum, L. On the cliffs at Harwich and at Southend 

 this plant grows on London clay 1 It appears to affect the maritime 

 counties, as it is said in the ' Flora ' to grow in sandy and chalky 

 fields in Norfolk, Durham, Cornwall, Kent, and Essex. 



Fumaria capreolata, L., which, if frequent elsewhere, as the bota- 

 nical works inform us, does not appear to be a common plant in 

 Essex. It occurs on the slopes at Harwich. Mr. Watson, in the 

 ' Cybele Britannica,' speaking of F. capreolata, says that it probably 

 inclines " to the west and north rather than to the south-east of Eng- 

 land." 



Lepiditim Smithii, Hook., has several localities allotted to it in the 

 * British Flora,' while Lepidium campestre, Br., is not so honoured ; 



Vol. IV. N 



