Prof. C. C. Babington on the British Species 0/ Arctium. 7 



M. Crepin considers the A. nemorosum (Lej.) to be the same 

 plant as the A. intermedium (Lange) ; but I very much doubt 

 the correctness of that opinion. Lejeune says ^^anthodiis ovatis 

 interrupte racemosis spiciformibus/' which cannot easily be 

 made to apply to my A. puhenSj which likewise Crepin combines 

 with A. intermedium and A. minus; nor to the plate of A. inter- 

 medium given by Lange in the ' Flora Danica.^ The inflorescence 

 of these plants is doubtless racemose, but certainly not spiciform. 

 I do not consider the cluster of heads at the end of each branch 

 to be of the least value as a character ; for a spike-like raceme 

 easily acquires that structure. 



I still think that my A. puhens is distinct from A. minus, not- 

 withstanding M. Crepin^s remarks. It has the structure of the 

 true A. intermedium of Lange, and apparently ought to bear that 

 name. Its heads are at least double the size of those of A. minus, 

 Lange defines his plant as follows (Fl. Dan. t. 2663) : — " Lappa 

 elata robusta saturate viridis vel ssepe purpurascens, foliis infe- 

 rioribus magnis cordatis leviter remoteque dentatis, inflorescentia 

 racemosa arcuate nutante, calathiis magnis leviter araqhnoideis, 

 junioribus globosis, defloratis ovatis, achenio quam in L. minore 

 duplo majore.^' The leaf, as figured, measures 3 inches in length 

 by 24 in width at a little above the insertion of the petiole. The 

 raceme ends in two nearly or quite sessile heads ; but the stalks 

 of the heads become successively longer as they are more distant 

 from the top, just as in my A. puhens. I consider the plate in 

 the 'Flora Danica ' to be a good representation of my A. pubens, 

 except that I have not noticed the clustering of heads at the top 

 of the raceme ; and, as already stated, I do not consider this as 

 affording any good character for a species. Doubtless the leaves 

 of A. pubens are very like those of A, minus, being only rather 

 broader and less acute. The inflorescence of A. minus is race- 

 mose, but it has not the pyramidal form caused by the longer 

 lower peduncles of A. pubens. Its heads are all seated upon 

 nearly equally short stalks, and its raceme may be called spici- 

 form. I believe therefore that A. pubens is the true L, inter- 

 medium of Lange, and ought to bear that name. Crepin thinks 

 that the length of the peduncles varies according to the strength 

 of the individual plant ; but my observations do not lead me to 

 the same opinion. With us A. minus often rises, to a greater 

 height than either of the other plants, nevertheless it seems 

 always to retain its shortly stalked heads. My A. pubens is 

 usually a plant of rather small stature, although robust, and its 

 lower are always seated upon much longer stalks than its upper 

 heads. 



The leaf of A. majus is different in proportion from those of 

 A. minus and A. nemorosum. It is very uniform in shape : one 



