678 



some specimens of a Helianthemum, not far from the lighthouse, and 

 say 300 feet above the sea, which I must refer to this species. 



Melampyrum pralense, L., var. ericetorum, mihi. Two years ago, 

 while visiting the western districts of Ireland, a hispid Melampyrum, 

 occurring in one or two places, on high, ericetal ground, engaged the 

 attention of my friend G. S. Brady and myself This plant we could not 

 refer either to the M. montanum described in Dr. Johnstone's ' Berwick- 

 shire Flora' and the ' Manual,' or to the var. latifolium of the 2nd edition 

 of the latter work. Although unable to note characters on paper which 

 appear sufficiently marked to render it deserving of specific distinc- 

 tion, I cannot but think it a good variety. With such impression I 

 do not hesitate, after a renewed examination, a few weeks ago, of 

 fresh specimens, to offer it to the notice of botanists as distinct, 

 although to many 1 dare say it may not be new. I shall very briefly 

 describe the plant, marking by italics the characters which especially 

 form its features. 1 may add, that I think it possible the var. mon- 

 tanum may be but a diminished or altered form of this Melampyrum, 

 Plant frequently equally large with M. pratense, and often coarser and 

 stronger ; flowers axillary, secund, in approximate or sub-distant 

 pairs ; bracts varying from lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, fre- 

 quently (in large specimens generally) wilh otie, two, or three teeth 

 directed forwards or divergent. Entire plant more or less hispid; 

 stem uniformly so (?), although some dried specimens may exhibit 

 traces of a hairy line ; corolla four times as long as the calyx ; lan- 

 ceolate teeth and tube of calyx about equal in length ; leaves lanceo- 

 late or linear-lanceolate, under side reticulated ; flower large ; tube 

 of corolla mostly, in the open flower, straw-coloured or white. 

 Growing amongst grass &c., from a little over the sea-level (near 

 Craigga Moina, Roundstone), to say 1000 or 1500 feet, on Ben Bul- 

 ben, Sligo. The chief proportion of my examples are from Urrisbeg, 

 at an elevation of perhaps 200 or 250 feet. The pale or white tube 

 of the corolla, although in itself trifling, is very general, and immedi- 

 ately attracts attention to the plant. I am aware, as I noted before, 

 that the paper characters of this variety are but slender ; yet I think 

 they are, with a consideration of the situation, in one or two respects, 

 of the plant, suflficient. I may mention, that I have no recollection 

 of having observed in the West of Ireland any specimens of Melam- 

 pyrum referrible to the typical M. pratense, or in any way different 

 from the plant just described. 



Euphrasia officinalis, y. nemorosa, Koch. Specimens of an eye- 

 bri'dil, distinguished by adpresscd, crisped i)ubcsccnco of the stem. 



