1857.] BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 47 



cumstances and retain the old instincts and habits of its dear sunny father- 

 land. 



"Surely the name 'Live-long-,' applied to Sedmn Telepliimn (p. 457), 

 rather denotes its own wonderful vitality than any supposed eflRcacy as 

 a human life-perserver. I find that no ordinary pressure will destroy this 

 vitality. Last year I selected one of several specimens, which had put 

 forth vigorous though of course blanched shoots during a fortnight's 

 close imprisonment between tightly strapped boards, and planted it, when, 

 to my amazement, it at once took root, and still flourishes in its native 

 haunts. May it ' Live long '! 



" Cuscuta Trifolii and Veronica Buxbmiviil are spreading fast in om* 

 clover and turnip fields. Braha injlata (Rooked) was plentiful this spring- 

 on a gravel bank by the roadside through Bysing wood. 



" I suppose that Vicia sej)iiim was omitted by oversight from the List 

 of 'Common Plants.' Is it not decidedly the commonest of our Vetches ?" 



Vekonica peregkina. 



In July last I spent a few weeks in the neighbourhood of Belfast, 

 county Antrim, and had the good fortune to find a species of Veronica 

 fiiUy established as a weed of the soil, and seemingly as much at home 

 as any of its congeners. Through the kindness of Dr. Hooker and Mr. 

 Babington I have had the species identified as V. 2ieregrina, L., an un- 

 doubted foreigner. Don describes V. peregrina as having subserrated 

 leaves, in my specimens they are perfectly entire. They were gathered in 

 the fruit-garden of The Lodge, Belfast, and, though not confined to one 

 spot, were priiicipally fomid grooving amongst Parsley. Were Parsley- 

 seed brought from abroad this would at once afford a clue to the manner 

 of its introduction ; but being of home production we must be content 

 take the fact as we find it, and return the verdict not proven in reference 

 to the way in which this stranger has made liis appearance. Collectors 

 can have specimens in exchange on application. W. M. Hind. 



Baystvater, January 13. 



^GILOPS CHANGED INTO WhEAT. 



" There is nothing- more improbable in this (the specific identity of 

 Almond-trees, Peach-trees, etc.), than that we know must have occurred 

 in the production of Cauliflowers from the Wild Cabbage of om- English 

 coasts, or of Muscat Grapes from the small-fruited Wild Vme of Baidar, 

 or of Wheat from ^gilojjs, which last case, we presume, may now be 

 regarded as beyond reasonable contradiction." — Gard. CJiron. Aug^ist 9, 

 1856, p. 532. 



May it not be inferred that the two former facts are not " beyond rea- 

 sonable contradiction"? We wish oiu* readers would give us the re- 

 sult of their serious considerations on these /«c^s — facts assumed by high 

 authority ; but facts should be supported by evidence rather than by au- 

 thority. 



Epipogium aphyllum. By D. Stock. 

 Upipogium is the most curious discovery that has ever been made among 

 the wild plants of this countiy. It is a leafless pallid Orcliid, related to 

 the common Neottia Nidus-ar>is. Germany, Switzerland, Siberia had alone 



