416 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [January. 



Kentish Botany. 

 Centaurea solstitialis, Yellow Stor-Thistle, Baniabj's Thistle. — On Fri- 

 day, the 5th of September, 1862, I found this plant growing in a clover- 

 field on the north side of the road leading from Bromley to Chiselhurst. 

 This field forms part of the Beckley estate, lately purchased by George 

 Wythes, Esq., and which formerly belonged to Mr. Wells, who occupied 

 its mansion, etc. Some houses are being erected at the top of the field, 

 and shortly I expect the whole meadow will be covered with bricks and 

 mortar. Could you tell me why this flower is called St. Barnaby's Thistle? 

 St. Barnabas's day is on the 11th of June, and the 'Floral Directory ' states 

 that the ChrysantUmnum leuccmtheminn is the flower dedicated to St. Bar- 

 nabas. S. Beisly. 



Shakspeake Flowers. 



I think it is generally agreed by the contributors to the ' Phytologist,' 

 that the flower called Long Purples in ' Hamlet ' (forming part of Ophe- 

 lia's garland) is the Orchis mascida ; but I was asked by Mr. Perry, of 

 Warwick, a few days since, whether Shakspeare might not have intended the 

 Arum maculatmn as Long Purples. I doubt this, because I think the Ay-um 

 would not have been so readily found in the " meadow near the brook, 

 across which the Willow grew aslaunt," as the Orchis mascula ; but I 

 should feel much obliged if some of your readers can inform me if they 

 ever heard the Arum called Long Purples. It is called by other names, 

 such as Starchwort, Lords-and-Ladies, Cuckoopint, Wake-robin, Calf's- 

 foot, and Earape, but I never heard it called Long Purples. The Caltha 

 pcdustris is called "May -blobs " by the children who gather the flower in the 

 meadows near Warwick ; they also call the Wood Anemone (./. nemorosa) 

 "Granny's Nightcap;" and the Stellaria Jiolostea is called by them 

 " Billy White's Buttons." S. Beisly. 



List of x\lpine Plants for Sale. 

 Wulfenia carinthiaca ; several Gentians, among which Gentiana pur- 

 purea ; GnapJialium Leontopodium, {Leontopodium alpinum), and others of 

 that genus ; Dryas octopetala, Campanula spicata, Saxifragas, Violas, Cype- 

 racece, and Graminece. Intending purchasers may apply to A. I., 28, 

 Upper Manor Street, Chelsea, S.W. 



Communications have been received from 

 James Cracknel!; Dr. Prior; John Peers; Walter W. Beeves; Rev. 

 T. F. Ravenshaw ; Rev. W. W. How ; W. Pamplin ; John Sim; J. S. M. ; 

 James Lothian ; J. W. Dawson ; F. Walker ; T. R. A. Briggs ; W. 

 Richardson ; W. Ashley ; B. M. Watkins. 



EECEIYED FOR REVIEW. 



Notes on Books. 



The Edinburgh Weekly Review, December 6. 



The Argyleshire Herald, December 5. 



The 'Edinburgh Weekly Review, December 13. 



