616 FERTILIZATION OF IMPERFECT FLOWERS. [NovemheV, 



Achillea Ptarmica, Goose-tongue or Sneezewort, was plentiful 

 enough, but barely in flower. 



The only Ferns observed on the moss were Lastrea dilatata 

 and Osmunda regalis : the latter is scarce, and except in one 

 spot, viz. in a ditch by the rail, not far from Bury Lane station, 

 we saw no flowering fronds, nor fronds of any sort, above six or 

 eight inches long. 



Just outside the marsh, on a bank, we noticed fine plants of 

 Epilobium angustifolium flowering beautifully, and, in the corn- 

 fields adjoining, Viola tricolor, Lepidium campestre, Galeopsis 

 Tetrahit, and probably G. versicolor, not yet in flower. 



Hypericum quadrangulum, Rhynchospora alba, Lathyrus pra- 

 tensis, and Epilobium palustre, with the above-mentioned, con- 

 stituted almost all the plants we saw in a walk over the Moss of 

 about four hours, and probably of an extent of six or seven miles. 

 The vegetation of Chat Moss is probably a fair specimen of that 

 of all the mosses in South Lancashire. 



On the Fertilization of Imperfect Flowers. 

 {With a Woodcut.) " 



Dinant-sur-Meuse, July 9, 1858. 



Sir, — In No. 31 of the ' Phytologist,' page 279, under the 

 head of " Lamium amplexicaulej'' one of your contributors, after 

 mentioning the fact that these plants produce perfect carpels 

 from unexpanded flowers, observes that the same occurs in seve- 

 ral species of Viola. He then asks if any botanist has ''ever 

 noticed stamens and pistils where the flowers have not been de- 

 veloped ? " etc., adding that " it would be desirable to notice ex- 

 actly the parts present in these fertile imperfect flowers." This 

 challenge seems to have passed unnoticed, as up to this date I 

 have not seen any answer to your correspondent's inquiry in 

 your Journal. 



Having met with an article in the ' Botanische Zeitung * (No. 

 43, of last year), which seems to give all the desired information 

 on the subject, and believing this purely scientific periodical to 

 have a limited circulation in England, I take the liberty of en- 

 closing a translation from it, which I trust may prove interesting 

 to you and your readers. 



