534 BOTANICAL NOTESj NOTICES^ AND QUERIES. [AugUSt, 



Synoicous. 



There is some discussion in the last number of the ' Phytologist ' as 

 to the necessity for this term. Wilson, in Bry. Brit. p. 432, gives the 

 following definition of it as distinguished from " monoicous " and " dioi- 

 cous:" — Synoicous : antheridia and archegonia on the same receptacle. 

 Monoicous : barren and fertile flowers on the same plant, but not on the 

 same receptacle. Dioicous : baii'en and fertile flowers on distinct indivi- 

 duals." So that the term refers especially to the peculiar disposition of 

 the male and female organs in Mosses. 



In some species, e.ff., Bryum iyiter medium, the antheridia and arche- 

 gonia are found mingled together in the same perichsetium ; in others, e. g., 

 jB. pallescens, the archegonia and antheridia are stdl found on the same 

 stem, but enveloped in separate floral buds. By the old nomenclature, 

 both forms would be called " monoicous ;" but practically this difference of 

 inflorescence is found of great value in distinguishing species. Hence the 

 necessity for a name to indicate the peculiarity. 



The only question therefore appears to be, whether " synoicous " or the 

 ugly term " hermaphrodite " should be preferred. B. C. 



Sparganium natans. 



Sir, — My attention has lately beeu drawn to the species of Sparganium, 

 about wliich, as you are aware, there has been much difference of opinion 

 and no little controversy. Tn Hooker and Arnott's ' British Flora ' (ed. 7), 

 four are given, their natans being that of Linnseus, whilst they adopt the 

 name of minimum for the natans of Smith. I have not found any plants 

 exactly agreeing with their description of minimum, but have some which 

 ^ seem to answer in every respect to the S. natans of Linnseus. Now as I 

 !:^^ -saw these growing in abundance in a shallow pool in the county of Surrey, 

 \ *fV"'^hereas Hooker and Arnott limit its locality to Scotland and Snowdon, 

 "^^adding that they have seen no sjtecimens of it, I was led to make more 

 minute examinations of the forms and habitats of such of the describtid 

 species as had come under my notice, and am much inclined to think that 

 the differences are not so much specific as arising from the conditions of 

 growth, such as depth of water, richness of soil, etc. A friend of mine, 

 who lives close to the spot whence I obtained the S. natans, and has the 

 other two, called simplex and ramosum, also growing near his house, is 

 going to transplant them, and carefully keeping them from any intermix- 

 ture, will watch if any change takes place in them ; and it has been sug- 

 gested to me by one of the authors of the ' British Flora ' to make this 

 communication to you, that should you think it worthy of being inserted 

 in the ' Phytologist,' some of your readers who have the opportunity may 

 be induced to make similar experiments, and assist in clearing the difficul- 

 ties and removing the doubts which still surround these plants. 



Cleveland Terrace, Syde Park, W. J. E. HalL. 



Okigin of Species. 



It appears from the German extract, p. 415, vol. ii. N.s., that Professor 

 Koch did not believe in the doctrine tliat there was only an individual 

 plant of the perfect Orders, viz. hermaphrodite species and Monoecious 



