679 



deeply serrated leaves with cuspidate teeth, and slightly pubescent co- 

 rolla, gathered near Roundstone, are referrible to this variety, the E. 

 stricta. Host. I am not aware that the typical form of the plant grows 

 in that neighbourhood. 



Euphrasia f On Arran I collected a curious little form, 



some three inches in height, much branched from near the base ; stem 

 with a minute, adpressed pubescence ; lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong 

 leaves, with one, two, or three strong teeth on each side. I did not 

 know to what species or form to refer it ; but, examples being sent to 

 C. C. Babington, he kindly informs me that he thinks it a form of the 

 E. gracilis of Fries, although it strikingly resembles, and possibly may 

 be, E. Salisburgensis. 



Thymus Serpyllum, L. Specimens of a Thymus, uniformly hairy 

 or nearly so, and frequently with distinct, capitate flower-stems, from 

 Arran, belong to this species. C. C. Babington now believes it to be 

 the more common species throughout the country. 



Carex punctata, Gaud. Through the kindness of Prof, Blytt my 

 herbarium is furnished with a Norwegian example of this plant, from 

 Arendal. The opinion of C. C. Babington, and an examination of 

 this specimen, convince me that I was in error in naming a Carex 

 found on the Cumberland coast C. punctata. It is, I suppose, C. dis- 

 tans. I named the plant from the descriptions in Koch and the 

 * Manual ;' and an able botanist, who, however, I believe, was un- 

 acquainted with the true punctata, coincided with my view. The 

 difficulty of arriving at a correct conclusion in some such matters, 

 without knowing one or more of the species concerned, is great indeed, 

 and shows the necessity of great caution before publishing them as 

 facts. I do not purpose at all to dispute that C. punctata may be a 

 good species. 



Athyrium Filix-fcemina, A curious form of this plant I gathered 

 near the coast northerly from Whitehaven, Cumberland. I enclose 

 specimens to Edward Newman. Perhaps he will kindly subjoin his 

 opinion thereon.* 



D. Oliver, Jun. 



Newcastle-upon-Tyne, August, 1852. 



* These appear to me to come under the denomination of monstrosity rather than 

 oi variety. They are beautiful, but certainly malformed. — E. N. 



