1114 



The following extracts from the works of authors of best repute 

 illustrate the discrepancy alluded to : — 



"Seed perfectly even, not dotted." — Smith, * English Flora,' 



vol. ii, p. 13. 

 " Fruit smooih:'— Hooker, ' British Flora,' 1st ed. p. 277. 

 " Seeds smooth, shining, bluntly keeled at the edge." — Ibid., 



6th ed. p. 245. 

 " Seeds depressed, smooth and shining, margins obtuse."' — 



Leighton, ' Flora of Shropshire,' p. 123. 

 " Seeds orbicular, depressed, smooth and shining, convex on 

 both sides, obtusely but distinctly keeled on the margins." 

 —Ibid., 515. 

 " Seeds horizontal, smooth and shining, obtusely keeled at the 

 margin." — Babington, ' Manual,' 3rd ed. p. 267. 

 I must crave the indulgence of the readers of the ' Phytologist ' for 

 trespassing thus prominently on their attention with the foregoing 

 description of the typical form of Chenopodium album. Indeed, I 

 am led to understand that this form of the species has puzzled some 

 good botanists; and in these discriminating times one might have 

 felt inclined to consider it as something specifically different from the 

 form of Chenopodium album delineated in Smith's plate. But culti- 

 vation soon settles the point, for the seeds of the small and roseate 

 forms spring up into large, green-leaved plants, if sown in a suitable 

 soil. 



As they occur about Kelvedon, the varieties of Chenopodium album 

 may be arranged as follows : — 



1 . The roseate, or typical form. Chenopodium folio sinuato, 



candicante. 



2. The green-leaved, or dung-heap form of Smith's plant. 



3. The Chenopodium viride, L. 



4. The form with lanceolate, entire leaves. 



5. An autumnal form, occm-ring, unlike the others, on strong 



land ; in leaves and inflorescence resembling Chenopodium 

 murale. The seeds of this variety I have been unable to 

 meet with. It seems an approximation to the C. peduncu- 

 lare of Woods' ' Tourist's Flora.' 

 I cannot conclude these observations on Chenopodium album with- 

 out stating my obligations to Mr. Borrer, for allowing me to trouble 

 him with my inquiries on the subject. 



Chenopodium Jicifolium, Sm. Turnip-field, Great Tey; dung-heap, 

 Inworth. 



