859 



by stating that a thin shce of gum tragacanth, treated with iodine and 

 sulphuric acid, assumes after a time the same tint as the Nostoc. He 

 believes, however, that starch is often present in gum tragacanth, 

 which is not likely to be the case with the Nostoc ; and thinks we 

 may safely assume the jelly of Nostoc to be a state of bassorin, 

 passing into cellulose or dextrine. 



Localities for Plants near London^ in 1852. 

 By J. T. Syme, Esq.* 



Last summer I had an opportunity of examining pretty carefully 

 the Flora of the metropolitan district, as I devoted to this object the 

 three days of the week on which I was not engaged at the rooms of 

 the Botanical Society. I shall now bring forward the results of these 

 excursions, as I think they may be interesting, on account of the veri- 

 fication I have been able to afford to stations for rare plants which" 

 have not, I believe, been recorded on recent authority. Of course, 

 plants new to the district were scarcely to be hoped for ; and the few 

 I shall mention are critical species, which have no doubt been passed 

 by as allied and well-known species. 



Ranunculus Jluitans^ Lam. Plentiful in the Wey, at Godalming. 



Ranunculus coenosus, Guss. On Woking Common, in some of the 

 ponds made in excavating material for the approaches to the bridges 

 over the Basingstoke Canal. 



Ranunculus hirsutus. Curt. Very luxuriant on the Plumstead 

 practice-ground, at the station for the Polypogons. 



Papaver somniferum, L. Plentiful, as a weed, in corn-fields near 

 Greenhithe ; Boxley, and between Hailing and Cobham. 



Fumaria micrantha, Log. Near Northfleet ; Epsom. 



Fumaria parvijlora, Lam. Cuxton ; Hailing ; Boxley. 



Fumaria Vaillantii, Lois. A single specimen on the Hogsback, 

 near Compton chalk-quarries, Surrey. 



Brassica Napus. Very abundant on the bank of the Thames, from 

 Putney upwards. My reason for mentioning this plant is, that B. 

 campestris, which I could not find, is said to grow there. Is this a 

 mistake ? The plants are very difficult to distinguish, unless the root- 

 leaves are examined. These are quite glabrous in the Thames-side 

 plant. 



* Read before the Botauical Society of London, February 4, 1853. 



