343 WANDSWORTH PLANTS. \_lVovember, 



time in 1855, the last only a few days ago (May 19th, 1859) ."^ 

 T. stellatum and T. spumosum were so scarce that I could not see 

 more than one example of each. T. maritimum, var. Xatardi, 

 was pretty common, and what I believe to be T. ochroleucum, 

 very abundant in some years and very scarce in others, but 

 always there. This is, I believe, one of our unsuspected natives ; 

 far be it from me to cast a shade upon its fair fame, as a genuine 

 production of the British soil, as being found here since the days 

 when Brut, from Troy, laid the foundations of England's great- 

 ness ! But it may be observed that Ray does not vouch for this 

 plant ; he only enters it on the authority of Merret ; and both 

 these eminent botanists enter several plants, now discarded by 

 us, their more fastidious, or, if you will, lector suavissime, more 

 critical descendants. T. ochroleucum and T. maritimum are no 

 more natives of Wandsworth locality tban are T. resupinatum and 

 T. stellatum. 



The Vicias are like the Medicagos, very abundant, but many of 

 them undetermined. V. tenuifolia and V. Pseudo-Cracca approach 

 V. Cracca both in appearance (habit) and characters. V. Gerardi 

 and F. villosa have a strong family likeness. It is to be hoped that 

 the appearance of V. lutea and V. bithymca among these notorious 

 aliens will not bring suspicion upon the latter pair. The purity of 

 their descent in the two localities of Wandsworth and Battersea 

 may fairly be questioned. One of them, at least, has the au- 

 thority of Ray in its favour. Dr. Smith, the very learned author 

 of the English Flora, appears to doubt this, but in courts of law 

 the accused has the benefit of the doubt. V. bithynica is not so 

 fortunate ; it cannot plead ancient prescription in its favour. 



Lathy rus Aphaca is generally believed to be a more recent in- 

 troduction than either of the above. Arthrolobium scorpioides 

 and Scoipiurus sulcata, or >S^. subvillosa ?, are quite new, and 

 must enlarge at some future time the list of excluded species. 



Of Rosacea, the only species observed or recorded are Potentilla 

 recta and P. supina. The former appeared very sparingly at 

 Wandsworth ; and at Parson's Green, in Middlesex, more plenti- 

 ful than in the former station. The latter was only collected at 



* In tlie latter station it is well estabKshed on the verge of the road which sldrts 

 the Crystal Palace grounds on the Forest HUl side. It extends for about a 

 hundred yards, partly on the path and partly in the gutter and extreme side of the 

 road. Here it is an ornamental plant. 



