1857.] botanical notes, notices, and queries. 233 



Answers to Queries. 



"The north coast of Sunderland" (see ' Phytologist ' for June, 1857, 

 and Hooker and Arnott's ' British Flora,' 7th edition) is a typographical 

 error for " the north coast of Sutherland." 



Deciirved signifies that the curvature is in a direction from the stem or 

 centre of growth. Reflexed means that the object so qualified is bciit from 

 the axis or stem, i. e. downwards, if the stem be erect. These nice dis- 

 tinctions are often more troublesome than useful, as leaves and branches, 

 etc. may be both decurved and reflexed on the same plant. 



Mustard. 



The paper on Economical Botany in the ' Phytologist ' for June (p. 128), 

 by Mr. George Jordan, is highly amusing ; when I came to the word 

 Mustard, the inquiry was put to me, " What is this word Mustard derived 

 from?" Will you please inform your readers in general, as AveU as 



Ignoramus. 

 British Hieracia. 



{From the ' Natural History Review.') 



Every one familiar ■with Hieracia knows that the alpine kinds especi- 

 ally are subject to infinite variation ; and we suspect that it will be more 

 easy for futm'e explorers of the Highlands to discover a dozen other 

 equally distinct types, than to refer, with certainty, the forms that may 

 occur in their rambles to those now attempted to be defined by Mr. Back- 

 house. We shall have a repetition of the story of Ruljtis fruticosus and 

 Solanuni tuberosum ; and supposing the other genera of Composite to ad- 

 vance at the same rate, we may soon expect a galaxy of new Dandelions 

 and Cat's-ears. Surely tlie varieties of Leontodon Taraxacum, Apargia 

 autunmaUs, Hypocli'derls rddlcata, and other common plants, are as deserv- 

 ing of special description and name as some of the forms now separated 

 from Hieraclum alplnum and its allies. Most of our common field and 

 wayside Compositce might be similarly treated; and Arctium already 

 shows, by the addition of three new names, what may be done when such 

 common j)lants as Burdocks are properly investigated and minutely exa- 

 mined. Obviously we do not yet know the riches of our fields. 



[Can any reader inform us what is " the story of Rubus fruticosus and 

 Solatium tuberosum " ?] 



Exchanges of British Specimens. 



I see, by some recent numbers of the ' Phytologist,' that a medium of 

 commimication for exchanging specimens has been adopted for the benefit 

 of subscribers and others ; would you kindly inform me how one's name* 

 can be put upon the list, as I should like to profit by the opportunity. 

 My herbarium numbers nearly 1000 species, and I have many duplicates 

 of many of the rarer chalk plants, also of the very rare Isuurdia, which 

 my father was fortunate enough to discover, for the second time in Eng- 

 land, on Petersfield Heath, some twenty years back. J. B. 



* We shall have much pleasure in giving publicity to cui* correspondent's re- 

 quest, if he will send iis liis name and address, also a short list of what specimens 

 he wants, and wliat he has to exchange for his denlderatce. 



