1858.] botanical notes, notices, and queries. 381 



Long Purples of Shakespeare. 



One would think Orchis mascula more likely to represent the plant in 

 question than 0. Morio ; the former is frequently met with having spikes 

 of flowers from nine to fifteen inches long : the latter might very weU be 

 called Short Purples. W. P. 



NoTUL^ ON Botanical Notes, etc. 



1. Flora of the Pyrenees (from Dub. Nat. Hist. Eev. ' Phytologist,' vol. 

 ii. p. 351). — It might be inferred from the writer's remarks, that it is 

 very doubtful if Asplenimn fontamim, Bernh., has ever been seen really 

 wild in England. He lays some stress on its omission by Mr. Newman 

 in his last edition of the British Ferns, but does not deny its admission 

 without hesitation by other authors. I would respectfully ask what ordi- 

 nary British Asplenia in their young state bear a close resemblance to tjiis 

 plant. Surely not A. Ad.-nigrum nor A. Trichomanes ! He further states 

 that immatui'e fronds of larger species, collected near Cork, have been 

 referred to A. fontanum. This might be said of England also : but it 

 should not discredit the positive testimony of departed and living bota- 

 nists who have collected the rare plant in England. I received and am 

 in possession of specimens collected by the Bev. W. H. Hawker (see 'Phy- 

 tologist,' N. s., vol. i. p. 221), and to the Bev. collector of these I would 

 refer those who have any doubt on this point. My testimony is only 

 second-hand. — A. I. 



2. Wahlenhergia hederacea is stated as occurring abundantly, with the 

 remark, " Not uncommon in Ii'ish bogs, but here growing on dri/ clayey 

 soil." In the uppermost and driest part of St. Leonard's forest, about the 

 rabbit-holes, this elegant plant grew in profusion, and probably still grows. 

 It abounds in many parts of St. Leonard's and Tilgate forests, both on 

 moist and dry places. — A. I. 



3. Orchis (Phyt. p. 352). — I also beg to inform W. S. that Orchis is not 

 a solitaiy anomalous case of a suppression of the English name and the sub- 

 stitution of a Latin or even Greek name. The compilers of Floras have 

 not room for all the names by which a plant or a series of plants may be 

 known, and they select, on principle, the name or names under which the 

 plant is most familiarly known. The following examples are offered : — 

 The Greek Anemone is a more familiar name than Wind-flower, its exact 

 translation, or even than Pasqu€- or Paschal- or Pasch-flower. Colts-foot, 

 Foal-foot, and Horse-foot are not so common, even in Scotland, as the 

 Latin name, Tussilago. Columbine is well known ; Cock's-foot, its Eng- 

 lish counterpart, not at all. Fritillary is not uncommon, but Guinea-hen, 

 its English representative, is. Dandelion is well understood ; Fisse-en-lit, 

 the French as well as the English equivalent, is to be found only in books 

 to which both lettered and unlettered Britons are strangers. Veronica is 

 more popular than Speedwell. The flower to which " our liberal shep- 

 herds give a grosser name " than the cold maids, if aU its appellations, 

 from the Channel to Buchanness, were collected, might rejoice in twice as 

 many names as a Spanish grandee, or as many quarterings as adorn the 

 shield of a German baron. — A. I. 



