Botany. 



151 



lidus. Some years since I introduced this plant from Oxford into my 

 garden, whence, by means of its volatile seeds, it has made its escape, and 

 has now, for a long time, voluntarily and firmly established itself on the 

 walls and waste banks of this village. Sir J. Smith observes, in English 

 Botany, that iS'enecio squalidus " grows abundantly on almost every wall in 

 and about Oxford, and, though long since noticed there by Sir Joseph 

 Banks, it has not found its way into the Flora Oxoniensis." Sir J. Smith 

 was probably not aware of the doubtful origin of the plant, nor that the 

 " Senecionis species," mentioned in Dr. Sibthorp's preface, alluded to Si 

 squalidus. — W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, Sept. 8. 1829. 



Typka latifolia. — Sir, Having 

 lately examined many specimens 

 of Tjpha latifolia, and finding in 

 them a character not noticed in 

 several botanical works which I 

 have consulted, I take the liberty 

 of sending you the accompanying 

 sketch and description {fig. 33.), 

 thinking it may interest some of 

 your readers. 



Before the plant comes into 

 flower the whole of the spike is 

 enveloped in a sheath with mem-^ 

 branous edges, which rises from 

 the base of the female catkin, 

 and terminates in a leaf, which, 

 with the sheath, is about twice the 

 whole length of the spike. This 

 leaf first falls as the flower swells, 

 previously to the male catkin coming 

 into blossom. At the base of the 

 male catkin, and with its membra- 

 nous base sheathing the whole of 

 it, arises another leai, which is alto- 

 gether about twice the length of 

 that part of the spike : above this 

 are several other alternate mem- 

 branous leaves or bracteae (4 to 8") 

 diminishing in size as they approacn 

 the top of the catkin, which they 

 all re^ch, and the lower ones some- 

 times extend a little beyond it.. 

 Several of the upper ones are very 

 small and linear. I am. Sir, &c. 

 — W. C. T. Wallington, July 31. 

 1829. 



'' A monstrous Cowslip. — Sir, I reside in a country abounding with the beauties of Flora ; 

 and, ere long, it is probable that I may be able to present you with a somewhat particular 

 account of them. Among other flowers, we have abundance of that beautiful and useful orna-^ 

 ment to our meadows, the cowslip (Primula veris). There is something remarkable in the 

 arbitrary choice of situation (if I may use the expression), which this plant evinces. I find it 

 diffusely, and pretty regularly scattered over our downs ; abounding in such profusion, as to throw 

 over our meadows, in some particular spots, an almost unmterrupted tint of golden yellow ; while 

 in other situations, and those not remote from the last mentioned, not a single cowslip is to be 

 seen. In the year 1824, I brought home a good root, with about seven or eight blossom buds on. 

 it, and planted it in my front court. The soil was composed chiefly of calcareous sand and vege, 

 table earth, blackish, and perfectly light. In 1825 the cowhlip, as far as I can recollect, came into 

 flower again, but without exhibiting any striking appearances. In 1826, I noticed that the ad- 

 vancing umbel, while yet buried in the centre of thi leaves, exhibited a vast and bulk> mass. I 

 watched its progress, and at length it threw up, and fully expanded, the flower which 1 now send 

 you. The peduncle, or flower-stalk, did not retain its usual cylindrical form, but was grooved and 

 channeled, as if two or three stalks had become laterally united. We counted fifty-three blossom* 



L 4 



fl, A leaf arising at the base of the female catkin, 

 sheathing the whole of the spike. 



b, A leaf arising at the base of the male catkin, 

 and enveloping that part of the flower. 



c. The base of the leaf a, at the commencement 

 of the sheath. 



d, A membranous leaf on the male catkin, above 

 the leaf 6. 



e. Small linear membranous leaves, or bracteae, 

 near the top of the male catkin. 



