382 



both these families to be approximate with the Styraceas ; and lastly 

 he allowed, that through Opilia and Cansjera, the Olacineae evidently 

 osculate with the Santalacese. Finally, Dr. Lindley (Veg. Kingd. p. 

 43) repeated his former views, with some modifications, placing it in 

 his alliance of the Berberales, together with Droseraceae, Berberida- 

 ceae, Vittaceae, Pittosporaceae, &c., an alliance which, as Dr. Asa Gray 

 very justly remarks (Gen. PI. Un. St. I. p. 78), 'is there placed on 

 peculiar grounds by no means compatible with ordinary views of 

 botanical affinity." ' 



Mr. Ralfs thus characterizes the genus Dickieia, two marine spe- 

 cies of which are found on the coast of Britain : — " Frond subgela- 

 tinous, tender, plane, containing oblong scattered frustules." The 

 fronds are so excessively tender that they will not bear removal from 

 the paper on which they are dried, their gelatinous matrix being 

 apparently dissolved by the application of moisture. 



The only botanical paper in the October number is intituled — 

 * A List of all the Mosses and Hepaticae hitherto found in Sussex; 

 by William Mitten, A.L.S.' 



In this very complete and careful paper three new species are de- 

 scribed. Weissia convolutacea, W. longifolia, W. aciculata, and 

 several European species are introduced as British, and for the first 

 time characterized in this country. I cannot too highly commend 

 the labourious zeal of this excellent bryologist, and I think he has 

 selected in the Annals the very best channel for the publication of 

 his scientific researches. 



Occurrence of Cuscuta Hassiaca, Koch, near Witham, in Essex. 



By E. G. Varenne, Esq. 



Cuscuta Hassiaca, Koch, was found growing upon lucerne, in a 

 ' field belonging to Mr. Shoobridge, near the town of Witham, in this 

 county, where it was in full flower, about the middle of last Septem- 

 ber. Mr. Shoobridge states that the crop of lucerne has been greatly 

 injured by the growth of the parasite, and also that the lucerne was 

 raised from seed imported from abroad. 



The kindness of Mr. Watson enables me to furnish the readers of 

 the * Phytologist' with Koch's description of Cuscuta Hassiaca, a 

 perusal of which will enable such of them as may, by chance, meet 

 with the plant, to recognize it without any difficulty. M, Koch writes 

 as follows : — 



" Caule ramoso, floribus fasciculatis pedicellatis, tubo corollae cam- 



