Mr. Babington on discuta epilinum and halophyta. 



565 



Silice tlie reading of this paper I have gathered Cuscnta epUhium among flax 

 both in the county of Mayo and in Aigyleshire, and add a description drawn 

 from living specimens. 



Segments of the calyx 5, ovate, attenuated above into an acute point, very 

 fleshy, with peculiarly large cells ; some of them often so much thickened 

 as to become deltoid. Tube of the corolla \\ times as long as the limb, 

 slightly inflated, the lobes triangular acute ; stamens inserted very near 

 to the summit of the tube ; filaments short ; anthers cordate ; the limb 

 of the corolla is often very fleshy. Scales bifid, each lobe either entire or 

 2- or 3-fid, short. Styles 2, short, bent round each other. Bractes not 

 always present, broadly ovate, obtuse, with a minute point, often pur- 

 plish. Flowers whitish-yellow, sometimes tinged with pink. Anthers 

 bright yellow. 



I have reason to believe that this plant is not a native of the British Isles, 

 but that it has been, and continues to be, introduced with the flax-seed from 

 Odessa and other ports of Southern Russia. Flax raised from American, and 

 also, I believe, Riga seed, is free from this destructive parasite. 



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