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it that we find it established in the counties of Edinburgh, Stafford, 

 Nottingham, Leicester, Northampton, and Warwick (to say nothing 

 of Hants and Dublin, in which last locality, by the by, it is quite as 

 likely to have been introduced, if introduced it be, with undoubted 

 British aquatic plants as with exotics), without any botanist having 

 noticed it during its migrations ? Why, because it has only been 

 recently noticed, must it be " introduced ?" A few years ago, Pola- 

 mogeton zosteraefolius, by no means an inconspicuous plant, was only 

 known certainly to exist in four counties ; that number may now be 

 trebled at least, and in one or two counties, as Warwick, it is quite a 

 common plant. As well might we assert that its more recently dis- 

 covered habitats were supplied from the earlier, and hint the proba- 

 bility of its being only naturalized in them. I see nothing more 

 improbable in one case than the other. There are few botanists but 

 may call to mind instances of some well-known plant existing in 

 their own neighbourhood unknown to them, till some accidental cir- 

 cumstance has forced it upon their notice, and caused them to won- 

 der that the plant for which, mayhap, they have diligently searched, 

 could have been all the time under their noses without their ouce 

 having observed it; yet they would hardly consider the plant intro- 

 duced in that particular locality, merely because it had for so long a 

 time eluded their notice. Why, then, because it is a new plant, must 

 the Anacharis be stigmatized as " introduced ?" It is not the only 

 recent addition to the British flora that has existed for years under 

 the eyes of our most "lynx-eyed" botanists unrecognized and un- 

 known. Why not call the Leersia " introduced ?" 



The Anacharis is a plant so often intermingled with and hidden by 

 other aquatic plants of a more robust habit of growth, that a keen 

 observer may very readily be excused for passing it unnoticed. Then 

 consider the greater amount of attention bestowed of late years on the 

 " uninviting genus Potamogeton " and water plants in general, as 

 evidenced by our increased amount of information as regards their 

 distribution, and I think we shall cease to wonder at the " sudden 

 diffusion of the Anacharis," and merely observe that an increased 

 amount of observation amongst water plants in general has been pro- 

 portionately rewarded by the addition, in many localities, of a new 

 species to our flora. 



Thomas Kiuk. 



Coventry, July 26, 1851. 



