448 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [February. 



Eryngium maritimum. 

 Is this the plant which in Drayton's ' Polyolbion ' i? described as 



" Aiding to perform 

 Tlie Cytliarsean game" ? 



Were the candied roots called in Shakespeare's time " kissing-comfits " ? 

 " The later writers," Dr. Turner states, p. 88, part 1, " use to gyve it to 

 bothe men and wymeu that are desyres to have chylder," etc. In Dios- 

 corides, p. 461, Matthiol. 1570, there are figures of three species, viz. 

 E. maritimum, E. campestre, and E. planum. 



BeRBERIS ILICirOLlA. 



In a paper by Captain Thomas Ilardvvicke, in the ' Asiatic Researches,' 

 vol. vi., occurs the following passage : — " Berderis ilicifolia grows in plenty 

 in the valley through which the Koa-nuUah has its course, now full in 

 flower and green fruit. The fruit, when ripe, is black, and eat by the 

 natives. Tbe wood is of a deep yellow, and used in dyeing, but under 

 the management of the natives the colour is not permanent." 

 Hypericum Andros^mum. 



(See ' Phytologist ' for July, 1862.) I found this plant at alow ele- 

 vation on the banks of the lake, just above the water ; not very abundant, 

 but not scarce. I have also found it in several other places here, as Ard- 

 gowan, Inverkip, Lochlong, and some others. George J. Combe. 



Kentish Botany. 



As you invite the co-operation of all interested in local botany, I have 

 forwarded a few specimens of our less common native plants, collected in 

 the neighbourhood of Lee, Kent : — Geranium, pyrenaicum, Galeopsis versi- 

 color, Hypericum Elodes, Linaria minor, Chenopodlum olidum, Erigeron 

 canadense, Ajuga Chamapitys, Medicago maculata, Turritis glabra, Jasione 

 montana. James Cracknell. 



2, Smith's Cottages, Cliurcli Street, Lee. 



Herbe Alysson, or TFilde Gallon Grass. 

 Those learned in the ancient nomenclature of plants are requested to 

 tell the subscriber the current scientific name for the above-named herb, 

 which Topsell, in his 'History of Beasts, Sheep, etc' says, "is good to 

 plant near the sheep-cotes, for it is very wholesome for sheep." S. B. 



Communications have been received from 

 John Sim ; Sidney Beisly ; J. S. M. ; F. Crepin ; John Peers ; Dr. 

 Windsor ; W. Winter ; W. Eobinson ; T. Stansfield ; Charles Howie ; 

 W. Pamplin ; F. Walker ; T. W. ; John Gibbs ; T. Martin. 



EECEIVED FOR REVIEW. 

 Alpine Plants. 



The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist. 

 StansfeW s Priced Catalogue of Ferns. 

 Elodea Canadensis. Par Fr. Crepin. 



Un Coup deceit sur la Florule des Environs de Han-sur-Lesse. By the 

 same. 



Petites Annotations a la Flore de la Belgique. By the same. 



