360 BOTANICAL NOTES^ NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [February. 



been brewed time out of mind from the berries of some tree of the pre- 

 sent genus, called Sorhus by the ancients, " quod ejus succum sorhere so- 

 lent." The Welsh prepare a similar drink at this day from the fruit of 

 the Mountain Ash, called Sorbus sylvestris by many of the older writers 

 on plants. 



Orchis. 



If my memory serves me rightly, I have seen it stated in these pages 

 that " Long-purples" was the English expression for one at least of oxxi 

 Orchids. Be this as it may, it appears to me somewhat anomalous that 

 this word Orchis (in common with a few other generic names) is left in our 

 Ploras without any English translation or equivalent term. That com- 

 pilers of these works should have scrupled to give the bare translation of 

 the word as understood by the ancients will appear by no means strange 

 to any one who takes the trouble to consult his Lexicon on the subject. 

 Pliny characterizes the plant as one "radice testiculis simdi," and the 

 common people of this country use several names which are but free trans- 

 lations of his description. But there are exceptions to every rule, and 

 accordingly I was considerably sm-prised to find the word 'Beldairy'— a 

 much more euphonious and less offensive synonym for Orchis than I had 

 I'iiherto met with — in common use in the Buchan district of this shire. 



Aberdeen. W. S. 



Deoseka intekmedia as a Plant or Braemar. 



■ Will Mr. Barton have the kindness to re-examine the plant referred 

 (Phyt. vol. ii. p. 309} to B. intermedia ? I ask this because, first, 

 D. intermedia is at present unknown on the east side of Britain, north- 

 ward of Yorkshire ; and secondly, because sometimes the mountain forms 

 of anglica simulate the other species so closely as to deceive experienced 

 observers. He can have specimens of D. intermedia for comparison, if he 

 will forward his address. J. G. Baker. 



Is the fertile state of Vitis riparia of Michaux, Pm'sh, and others, (vol. 

 i. p. 48,) at all known in England? 



Is Gac/ea lutea associated with, or usually not far off fr'om, Lathrcea 

 squamaria ? 



Communications have ieen received from 



John Barton; Censor; T. B. Flower; F. C. ; W. S. ; C. Barter; 

 R. K. ; Professor Bentley, F.L.S. ; William Sutherland ; C. C. Babing- 

 ton, E.L.S. ; Scraps; H. B. ; G. E. S. 



BOOKS EECEIVED FOE REVIEW. 

 Patison's Gleanings among the British Perns. 



EEEATA IN ' BRITISH BOTANY. 



Page 195, var. argenteus, l.c./o*' (17) read 13 b. 

 Page 196, R. pallidus, -h.c.for [&) read (27). 



