150 



which every pinna is thoroughly furnished with perfect sori. Hence 

 there is no tangible specific character yet pointed out by which to 

 distinguish uliginosa as a species, although this may possibly be the 

 truth ; but regarding it as a variety only, there are more points of 

 structural detail connecting it with cristata than with spinosa. In the 

 form and mode of incision uliginosa approaches spinosa, and differs 

 from cristata, while in venation, a character of higher value, " it 

 exactly coincides with cristata, and absolutely differs from spinosa :" 

 in the vernation it very closely agrees with cristata, but differs from 

 spinosa ; hence it is proposed to regard it as a variety of cristata, 

 thus : — 



" Lastrea cristata. Fronds narrrow, linear-oblong, sub-bipin- 

 nate; pinnae elongate triangular, with oblong, serrated, 

 decurrrent pinnules, the lower crenately, often deeply, 

 lobed ; lateral veins of the pinnules with several bran- 

 ches. 

 " &. uliginosa. (Fertile fronds) pinnules oblong, pointed, deeply 

 lobed, somewhat aristato-serrate, the lowest sometimes 

 scarcely decurrent = Lastrea uliginosa, Newman, Phy- 

 tol. iii. 679." 

 The plant usually, if not constantly, produces dissimilar barren and 

 fertile fronds, the former of which are not distinguishable from those 

 of the normal cristata, nor the latter from those of true spinosa, of 



similar size.* 



Dr. Balfour exhibited specimens of L. cristata, spinosa, and uligi- 

 nosa to illustrate the paper. 



Sir Walter Trevelyan noticed the occurrence of L. spinosa in woods 

 near Dingwall. 



2. 'Notice of British Hieracia. By James Backhouse, jun.' In 

 this communication the author gave an account of several Hieracia 

 found by him in the Highlands of Scotland, as well as in Teesdale. 

 He stated that the plant which he had formerly noticed as H. Oreades 

 turned out on minute comparison with Swedish specimens to be H. 

 saxifragum of Fries's new ' Monograph.' The plant is found in the 

 ravine of the. White Water at the head of Glen Dole, Clova, on the 

 eastern slope of Cairntoul, and also in Teesdale. During a highland 



* I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Moore for the means of giving this com- 

 plete abstract of his paper. I have throughout altered the name spinulosa to spinosa, 

 because the author himself informs me that he invariably uses this name to express 

 the spinosa Newm., not the more comprehensive spinulosa Hook. ^- Am. 



