1858.] botanical notes, ^fotices, and queries. 479 



Portability in Manuals of British Botany. 



In the review of the new 'Field Book,' by Mr. Childs, in the July 

 number of this Journal, there are some remarks on the portability of that 

 work. Now it has frequently occurred to me, that however desirable 

 large margins may be in other works, in botanical field-books they are 

 quite misplaced : accordingly, acting upon this idea, I have had my Ba- 

 biugton's ' Manual ' (the //«c/--paper copy) cut down, and bound in thin 

 leather, and it makes a very nice portable volume, 6^ inches by 4 inches, 

 and not quite 1 inch thick. If the tkin-Tpaper copy were to be treated in 

 a similar maimer, it would be of the same size, and just f inch thick, 

 leaving little to be desired on the score of portability ; and I do not think 

 that any one possessing the Manual, and trying the experiment upon it, 

 would regret having done so. Some may be inclined to think these re- 

 marks wholly unimportant and trivial, but I believe that many will be of 

 opinion that anything which may conduce to the comfort and convenience 

 of the botanist in his ramble of twenty or thirty miles a day is not to be 

 lightly disregarded. G. H., Birmingham. 



Starch, from Horsechestnut. 



The following is from the ' Californian Farmer,' which some kind friend 

 obligingly sent to the office of the 'Phytologist.' — "A Neio Product for 

 Starch. — We call the attention of our starch-makers to the fact, and if it 

 should prove of value, the ' Buckeye ' of California is so abundant, we 

 have another product now wasted that can be turned to good account. 

 The Indians use these nuts as food, and we hope the trial will be made 

 of their capability for starch." 



Twin Mushrooms. 



Perhaps your correspondent W. F. may not be aware that an instance 

 of Siamese-twin Mushrooms, like that he mentions in your last number, 

 was exhibited at a meeting of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, and 

 was figured in the ' Annals of Natural History,' 2nd series, 9th vol., fol. 

 xvi., page 435. A like explanation is there given as to how it came to 

 ^pass. Maxwell T. Masters. 



Specimens of "Things NOT generally known." 



Development of Plants and Identity of Species. — The Cowslip, Primrose, 

 Oxhp, and Polyanthus, which were always regarded as distinct species, are 

 now found to be producible from one set of seeds, under various condi- 

 tions ; they are radically one plant. So also the Clove Pink and Carna- 

 tion are only varieties of a flower growing among the ruins of some of 

 our old castles, i\\& BiaMhus Caryophyllus. The Artichoke of the garden, 

 and the Cardoon (a kind of Thistle) of the South American wildi are held 

 as distinct species in all botanical works ; yet the Artichoke, in neglect, 

 degenei'ates into the Cardoon. The Ranunculus aquatilis and the Rayiun- 

 culus hederaceus are, in like manner, set down as distinct species ; but behold 

 the secret of their difference ! While the former plant remains in the water, 

 its leaves are all finely cut, and have their divisions hairy ; but when the 

 stems reach the surface, the leaves developed in the atmosphere are widened, 

 rounded, and simply lobed. Should the seeds of this water-plant fall upon 



