Mr. J. Ball on Odontites rubra, with notice of a new species. 29 



Odontites verna, Reich. (0. rubra, Pers. and Benth. in D.C. 

 Prod.) — Stem erect, branching, obsoletely tetragonous, hispid 

 with reflexed hairs, from 6 to 20 inches in height ; leaves ses- 

 sile, lanceolate, narrowed from near the base, and usually blunt- 

 ish, remotely serrate, lower leaves elongated, those of the secon- 

 dary branches and flowering spike with few — 2-4 — teeth, the 

 last remote from the upper extremity of the leaf; flowers shortly- 

 pedunculate, usually shorter than the floral leaves ; calyx seg- 

 ments equal to the tube in length, lanceolate, rather acute', 

 corolla about twice as long as the calyx, pubescent, upper lip 

 slightly convex, suberose, lower lip with three roundish ob- 

 long obtuse lobes, the middle lobe somewhat longer and broader 

 than the others ; filaments hairy, nearly equaling the length 

 of the corolla ; anthers transverse, with a few glandular hairs, 

 included in or slightly protruding from the upper lip of the 

 corolla ; capsule oblong, hairy, when ripe equaling or slightly 

 exceeding the calyx ; style filiform ; stigma minute, capitate, 

 hairy ; seeds oblong furrowed. 



Common throughout Europe. 



O. verna var. elegans, nobis. (O. sei'otina, Reich, non Bert.) — 

 Leaves narrowed at the base, almost linear ; flowers with longer 

 peduncles ; corolla rather smaller, lower lip with three linear- 

 oblong, nearly equal segments ; anthers slightly exserted. 



I possess this form from Buda in Hungary, and from Persia 

 (Kotschy, Plantse Persia? Borealis, 693). I gathered it on the 

 Wynd Cliff near Chepstow, on the 30th of August, 1848. From 

 the observations of Reichenbach it is clear that this and not the 

 following form is that intended by him (Flora Exc. num. 2450). 

 It is probable that this is likewise the plant known to Mr. Ben- 

 tham : I altogether concur in the propriety of uniting it to the 

 preceding, as has been done by that eminent botanist (D.C. Prod, 

 x. 551). 



Odontites Bertolonii, nobis. (Bartsia serotina, Bert.) — Stem as 

 in O. verna, seldom exceeding 12 inches in height, branches 

 usually more numerous and shorter ; leaves very shot'tly petio- 

 late, much smaller than in 0. verna, ovato-lanceolate, teeth more 

 acute and much more approximate; calyx rather less deeply 

 divided ; corolla with a rather shorter tube, lobes of the lower 

 lip nearly equal ; anthers slightly exserted ; ripe capsule much 

 smaller than in O. verna. 



Though perhaps rather difficult to define by written charac- 

 ters, this form appears to me fully entitled to specific distinction, 

 in which opinion I am confirmed by the positive statements of 

 the accurate Bertoloni. The shape and size of the leaves, the 



