694 



Mijosotis near Balcomhe. 



The President hoped that the botanists referred to would also 

 kindly transmit specimens of this supposed new species, that he might 

 transmit them to Mr. Watson and Mr. Babington for identification. 



Monstrous Form of Trifolium repens. 



The President read the following extract of letter from Mr. T. G. 

 Littleboy, of Bourne End, Hemel Hempstead : — 



" Enclosed are specimens of a leguminous plant, which differs from 

 any species of Trifolium with which I am acquainted. The most 

 distinctive characteristics are the great length of the pedicels and the 

 leaf-like segments of the calyx, the long and erect or ascending pe- 

 duncles, and the curved legumes. It was found in a cart-track near 

 this place." 



" The specimens sent were evidently monstrosities of Trifolium 

 repens, in which not only the sepals, but some of the petals also, had 

 assumed the character of monster leaves. Such instances are not very 

 uncommon. - 



Lastrea uliginosa. 



The President wished to record a fact, remarkably in accordance 

 with Mr. Moore's observation, published in another part of this num- 

 ber, on the same subject. He had possessed for at least six years a 

 plant of that form of Lastrea usually known as cristata, but to which 

 he had wished to restrict the name of Callipteris, as assigned by 

 Ehrhart. This plant originally came from Bawsey, and was most 

 rigidly typical of its kind. Cultivated in a dry London atmosphere, 

 it had strictly retained its original characters, except that, getting 

 weaker year after year, it has grown " small by degrees and beautifully 

 less." The weather at last proved too dry ; and this individual plant 

 was planted in bog- earth, abundantly supplied with water, and placed 

 in a closed greenhouse, where the thermometer frequently rose above 

 90° Fahr. Its growth became vigorous in the extreme ; but this was 

 not all : frond after frond appeared, each receding more than the last 

 from the typical figure of Callipteris, and approaching that of uligi- 

 nosa ; and at the present moment it has fronds, evidently from the 

 same cormus, which would serve admirably as representatives of both 

 supposed species. He wished to insist on nothing, to draw no con- 

 clusions, but to invite others to experimentalize in the same manner. 



