97 



THE OXFORD BRITISH PLANT LIST. 



G. CLARIDGE DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S.,: 

 Ox/oi'd. 



In the very masterly review of the above work, from the pen 

 of my old friend Dr. Arnold Lees, in which he has been so very 

 appreciative a critic (a marked contrast from that adopted in 

 certain other quarters, where the vantage ground of knowledge 

 of field botany was not so evident a standpoint), the writer 

 singles out points on which I may be able to add some informa- 

 tion. 



First, Rhinanthus grcenlandicus Chabert ; this was only 

 made known to me after my list had been printed off. It is in 

 the new ' Addenda ' with many others. Doubtless the micro- 

 species of this genus and Euphrasia, etc., are out of proportion 

 when compared with the species of Melampyrum. In fact, I 

 think with Dr. Lees, that too great prominence is given to them. 

 The difficulty is in grouping them. I at first, thought of choos- 

 ing another type for the subordinate species, and in a second 

 edition, I may do so, but eternal vigilance is required in avoiding 

 mistakes when several types are used. The ' micro-species ' 

 of Rhinanthus appear fairly constant : borealis is a high northern 

 plant, with broader leaves than the other small alpine Drum- 

 mond-Hayi. My name simply appears connected with them 

 from the fact that Dr. Sterneck described them as species of the 

 genus Alectorolophus, while I use the generic name Rhinanthus, 

 although borealis and monticola were first found by me. It is 

 quite possible that the latter will be found on the Yorkshire 

 moors, and the former possibly on the higher hills. It is 

 distinctly alpine. 



Dr. Ostenfeld has recently suggested that Euphrasia 

 foulaensis and scotica are really forms of the widely-spread con- 

 tinental E. minima, of which indeed, a form has recently been 

 found in Somersetshire. The mountain forms of Rhinanthus 

 already alluded to, are absolutely native, and occupy areas 

 untouched by man. The name R. Perrieri Chab. as given in one 

 of the other lists, cannot stand. Chabert established it on a 

 character which is common to many of the forms not necessarily 

 restricted to rusticulus. For that reason, Dr. Sterneck adopted 

 the latter, and as the species name, which also is due to Chabert. 



Orobanche arenaria is omitted from my ' list ' because there 

 is no satisfactor}- e\'idence of its ever having been found, as 



igoy March i. 



