236 Linnoean Society. 



the species, both as being the earlier and as being applicable to all 

 the varieties, four of which he now distinguishes as permanent by the 

 following characters : — 



1. P. orientale bracteatimi, characterized by its height, its bractese, 

 its large and deep red petals, and its uniformly perfect seeds. 



2. P. orientale prcecox, the common " Monkey Poppy" of the old 

 gardeners, and the most common variety in England, distinguished 

 by its somewhat depressed capsule and sterile seeds. It flowers along 

 with the former, generally about the 10th of May, the flowers being 

 of a fine deep orange inclining to cinnabar. 



3. P. orientale serotinmn, resembling the last except in that its 

 petals incline more to what is called salmon-colour, but principally 

 characterized by its flowering nearly a month later, along with P. 

 somniferum, L., early in June. Dr. Forster has several times tried in 

 vain to make it flower with the commoner sort. The seeds are always 

 imperfect, and the flower and capsule of the same shape as in the last. 



4. P. orientale, capsidd et floribus longioribus, which are its prin- 

 cipal distinguishing characters. It flowers in May a few days after 

 the old English sort, but is only met with on the Continent : the 

 petals are of the same colour, but the leaves are rather smaller. 

 Dr. Forster states it to be common in the gardens of Belgium as 

 the only variety cultivated, the two last-named varieties being there 

 unknown. It holds a middle rank between them and P. orientale 

 bracteatum, being tall and bearing seeds, which are sometimes pro- 

 lific, and well deserves to be introduced into English gardens. 



Dr. Forster adds, that about ten years ago Mr. Curtis showed him 

 a bed of seedlings of the second year in full flower in May, which 

 had round capsules and orange flowers like P. orientale, but which 

 he stated to have been derived from seeds of P. bracteatum. Mr. Cur- 

 tis attributed the change to the bees having transported the pollen 

 of that plant, but the uniform appearance of the whole bed led Dr. 

 Forster to think this explanation doubtful. He further states, that 

 he has been assured in the South of Europe that the best opium and 

 in the largest quantity is obtained from P. orientale bracteatum ; and 

 as this plant suits the English soil and seeds freely, he thinks it 

 might often be advantageously substituted for P. somniferum. 



Read also a Note " On Secule cornutum, the Ergot of Rye ;" and 

 " On a species of Asplenium, related to A. Trichomanes, L." By A. 

 Haro, M.D., of Metz, communicated by the Secretary. 



In the latter communication Dr. Haro calls attention to a fern dis- 

 covered by himself in the well of an old castle. The well in which 

 it was found is described as being large, four-cornered, and ha-ving 

 at the top on one side a square window, freely admitting air and 

 light. The opposite wall is lined with the fern, which lies flat upon 

 the stones, to which the fronds are said to be attached throughout 

 their length by slender roots, rendering it diflicult to remove them 

 even with a knife. Dr. Haro submitted the plant to a Professor of 

 the faculty of Nancy, who regarded it as a new species, more distinct 

 from A. Trichomanes than A. viride or A. Petrarchce, and supplied 

 the following descriptive characters of these four species : — 



A. Trichomanes, frondes patuJce, glabrce, impari-piiinata? ; stipes nigres- 



