1119 



hexagonal cells, much more delicate in their texture than the sur- 

 rounding tissue. This body of cells is invariably somewhat triangu- 

 gular in shape, the apex of the triangle being placed against the hollow 

 tube. These differences will be more clearly perceived by the aid of 

 the accompanying figures. 



John G. Baker. 

 Thirsk, August 11, 1853. 



Note on Pyrola rotundifolia, var. arenaria. 

 By D. Oliver, jun., Esq., F.L.S. 



In a recent number of the ' Annales des Sciences,' there occurs a 

 note on Pyrola rotundifolia, var. arenaria of Koch, by Planchon ; a 

 notice or abstract of which, I think, may interest those British bota- 

 nists who have not had the opportunity of reading the original. I 

 subjoin the substance of a translation, which I trust may sufficiently 

 convey its sense. I may add, that I do not myself possess examples 

 of this maritime Pyrola from either Lancashire or Yorkshire ; but an 

 imperfect specimen, gathered a few years ago, near Castle Eden, 

 Durham, from its several bracteal leaves, intermediate between the 

 ordinary leaves and floral bracts, probably approaches, if it do not 

 belong to, the form arenaria. 



About six or seven years ago. Sir W. J. Hooker receiv^ed from some 

 correspondent a Pyrola, gathered on the Yorkshire coast, and since 

 found on the shores of Lancashire by Kenyon (see Bab. Man. 2nd 

 ed.) An examination of very numerous fresh specimens, and a care- 

 ful comparison of these with the Pyrola rotundifolia of Europe and 

 N. America, discovered several deviations from the latter type. Their 

 smaller proportions ; the less and more shortly petiolate leaves ; their 

 flowers but about half the size ; the shorter calycine segments, some- 

 times approaching an oval instead of a linear outline ; but more 

 especially the numerous bracts upon the stem, in this yjlant always 

 numbering four, five, or six of these organs, while in P. rotundifolia 

 but two bracts are normal ; remove the Yorkshire Pyrola from the 

 type rotundifolia. Although this latter character was not expressly 

 noted by Koch (Syn. Fl. Germ.) of the variety of round-leaved Pyrola 

 which he called arenaria, yet the agreement of other structural points 

 led him (Dr. P.), from the first, to presume the identity of the Eng- 

 lish plant with that of the German Flora. 



