Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 239 



Trifolium resupinatum, L., Wandsworth Common. Of course in- 

 troduced. 



Scorpiurus subvillosus, L. In a cultivated field near to the 

 "Wandsworth Railway Station : a southern European species, and cer- 

 tainly not a native. 



Melilotus parvifiora, Desf., Wandsworth Common ; also in a cul- 

 tivated field to the eastward of the Wandsworth Railway Station. 

 This is very distinct from any other species found in Britain. The 

 racemes are dense, in fruit elongated and lax ; pods subglobose, very 

 obtuse, distinctly reticulate-rugose, glabrous, containing each one 

 large globular seed ; leaflets somewhat retuse, serrate, obovate- or 

 oblong-cuneate. Flowers small, not twice the length of the calyx, 

 deep yellow. 



This species appears to be widely diffused over the globe, although 

 in some regions probably as a naturalized plant only ; its extensive 

 geographical range is shown by the following notices of specimens 

 which were exhibited from the Herbarium in the University of Edin- 

 burgh. In Rugel's collection of Florida plants, there are specimens 

 of it. No. 171 j labelled : "Locis arenosis soli expositis et ad littora 

 maris, prope St. Augustine, Florida or., Apr. — Mai. 1848." In the 

 Indian collection there are several specimens showing its prevalence 

 in India, where it appears in the dry season ; one of them from Dr. 

 Roxburgh is labelled in his own handwriting, "Trifol. M. indica 

 var. ? " Another is from Dr. Jameson, frdVn Saharunpore ; and in 

 the admirable collection of the Countess of Dalhousie there is a 

 beautiful and characteristic specimen. Dr. Pappe notices this as one 

 of the foreign medicinal plants in which the inhabitants of South 

 Africa have confidence, so that the species would appear to be found 

 there in a naturalized condition. It has no claim to be considered 

 native in England, as even in the south of France it is only found in 

 lucerne fields. 



5. " Notice of the abnormal structure of a Turnip," by Mr. James 

 B. Davies. The author of this paper remarked that all roots are sub- 

 ject to variation, as well from non-development as from increased 

 growth. He exhibited a monstrous turnip having the appearance of 

 two bulbs joined in the form of an hour-glass ; this he conceived to 

 have been caused by some injury to the root, arresting the expansion 

 of the superior or first-formed bulb. He likewise exhibited another 

 specimen presenting two bulbs united at the neck, the union extend- 

 ing to a third of their circumference. Mr. Davies did not believe 

 that such monstrosities as this resulted from the chemical condition 

 of the soil, or from the opposition of any external body in the soil ; 

 but that one, instead of two, tap-roots were originally produced of 

 equal dimensions. This conclusion he had arrived at from an exa- 

 mination of their internal structure, having traced a mass of the small 

 cells resembling those found towards the exterior of the bulb, rising 

 to a considerable height through the root, thus forming an apparent 

 wall between the two bulbs. He had likewise found, in tracing the 

 course of the fibres, that two great masses arose from the crown, and 

 proceeded in separate courses one to each bulb. As a remedy for 



