192 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [AugUSt, 



there is the following, which is extracted for the sake of directing such 

 of our readers as are connoisseurs to a somewhat singular fact. 



" With characteristic eccentricity he (Mr. Euskin) chose out a work by 

 another painter of the school (pre-Raphaelite) . . . for his special laudation, 

 and praised it for the botanical truth with which his favourite plant, the 

 Alisma Plantago or Great Water Plantain, was therein delineated, when, 

 in fact, extraordinary as it may seem, there was not one leaf of that plant 

 in the picture, though there was another water-tlower which Mr. Ruskin 

 seems to have mistaken for the Water Plantain. The picture to which 

 we aUude was that of a nun, in white garments, standing by a pool and 

 contemplating a flower, by C. Collins." The reviewer adds: "We have 

 never seen the picture since it was exhibited, and know not where it is now ; 

 but we are well assured that our assertion will be confirmed by any bota- 

 nist who has the opportunity of inspecting it." 



We wish some botanist may have an opportunity of inspecting the said 

 picture ; and further, that he or she will be so obliging as to tell us what 

 the plant is which the eminent author above mentioned mistook for the 

 Great Water Plantain. 



Vekonica Beccabunga. 

 V. Beccabunga, a corruption of the German Bachbohne or Bachbiinge, 

 Waterbean. 



Please what is the meaning of synoicous, ' Phytologist,' p. 142 (inflo- 

 rescence synoicous) — crvv and oikos ? 



What is the term BrooJcUme derived from? Non-CEdipus. 



We are obliged to a coiTCspondent for examples of several states of Cen- 

 taurea nigra. We beg further to state that it is examples of C. Jacea that 

 we Avant. Diagnostics of the two reputed species C. tugra and C. Jacea 

 would be also esteemed a favour. 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Our kind distaiit fi'iend is thanked who sent us two numbers of the 

 ' Wellington (New Zealand) Independent ' newspaper. 



Mr. John Lloyd has also our best thanks for several interesting and 

 rare plants collected in Somersetshire. 



Commiinications have been received from 



J. G. Baker ; J. S. Mill ; Censor ; A. I. ; Isaac Carroll ; A. M. ; Eev. 

 T. F. Eavenshaw ; Miss Hutton ; Eev. W. T. Bree ; Wm. Borrer, F.E.S. ; 

 Eev. W. H. Lucas; Eev. E. H. Webb; C. Barter (Sierra Leone); Ed- 

 ward Edwards; S. B. ; Wm. Sutherland; Henrv Groves; E. Bentley, 

 F.L.S.; David Moore, A.L.S. ; W. P. ; William MarshaU ; John Barton. 



BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW. 



Irvine's British Plants ; Fart the First. 



De Candolle's Organography ; translated by Kingdon, 2 vols., Second (re- 

 duced price) Fdition. 



