274 



masses of vegetation generally beyond reach, that botanizing is pur- 

 sued with most success." 



The new species of Phorraium, which forms the subject of the Rev. 

 W. Colenso's paper, was previously mentioned as new by M. Auguste 

 le Jolis, Lond. Journ. of Bot. vii. 533, under the title ' On a new kind 

 of Phormium,' and still anterior to this by the Rev. gentleman him- 

 self, in a letter to Sir W. Hooker, under date of July 20, 1841, an 

 extract of which was published in the same journal (i. 305). It has 

 received in succession the three names of Phormium Fosterianum, P, 

 Colensoi and P. Cookianum. 



Anacharis Alsinastrum, Bab. [Udora Canadensis], in Warwick- 

 shire, with Remarks on its Nativity in this Country. By Thomas 

 Kirk, Esq. 



Chiefly for the information of neighbouring botanists, I communi- 

 cate the fact of the occurrence of this interesting plant, in the greatest 

 abundance, in the greater portion of an unused loop branch of the 

 Oxford Canal, between Wyken Colliery and Sow Waste, amongst 

 miniature submerged meadows of Potamogeton zosteraefolius and its 

 allies. About Christmas last, I observed it in great quantity in the 

 canal, nearly opposite Brownsover Chapel, near Rugby. In the first- 

 mentioned locality it is now plentifully but not generally in flower : 

 its maximum will be attained by the end of August, but I gathered 

 specimens in flower early in the month of June. It occurs at various 

 depths below the surface, and, contrary to what 1 have elsewhere no- 

 ticed, many flowers ai*e expanded under the surface of the water. 

 Many of the flower-stalks are from six to ten inches in length. It is 

 rather curious that when hunting for water plants, I have frequently 

 been within a dozen yards of the point where the Anacharis com- 

 mences, but never till the present season have I been close enough 

 to see it. 



After such weighty authority has expressed so positive an opinion 

 of its exotic origin, it requires some courage to put in a plea for its 

 nativity, but in my mind there is no doubt on the subject. I have 

 shown in a former article (Phytol. iii. 989) that it has been known for 

 upwards of twenty years in a locality visited by botanists, and yet 

 overlooked by them. Even supposing the plant introduced at Dunse- 

 Castle Loch, and accidentally transferred to the Whiteadder from 

 thence, neither of which suppositions I consider at all proved, how is 



