BOTANICAL INVESTIGATION IN MIDDLESEX. 397 



are scattered through the Flora Londinensis. Besides many fresh stations 

 for those previously known, Curtis first noticed the following plants in Mid- 

 dlesex : Fumaria capreolata, Nasturtium palustre, TMaspi arvcnse, Sagina 

 suhulata, Spergula, Trifoliicm fragiferum, Epilobiwm tetragonum, Laicoium 

 esstivwm, Sclerochloa distans, S. rigida, Festtica pratensis, Bromus asper. 



In 1789, Mr. Eichard Gough, the antiquarian, edited a new edition of 

 Camden's Britannia. In this the county lists of plants are considerably 

 more extensive than those in Gibson's edition. In the preface it is stated, 

 ' . . . some young friends have exerted their utmost diligence in collecting 

 the plants peculiar to each county from books and the researches of them- 

 selves and other botanists, who have multiplied since Eay in the same pro- 

 portion as the science has improved.' The list of ' rare plants found in 

 Middlesex' occupies pp. 32-39 of vol. ii. Its foundation is Petiver's list in 

 the former edition (fitted with Linnsean names), with additions from Dille- 

 nius's Eay's Synopsis, Blackstone, Hudson, and Curtis. There are also 

 several original, chiefly in the eastern portion of the coimty ; in all, 402 

 species are enumerated. We are informed by Mr. Pamplin that the compiler 

 of this was the late Edward Forster, the well-known Essex botanist. At 

 the time this catalogue was compiled he was twenty-four years of age.* 



The next book we have to notice is called Indigenous Botany, or Habita- 

 tions of English Plants ; containing the residt of several Botanical Excursions, 

 chiefly in Kent, Middlesex, and the adjacent counties, in 1790-92, by Colin 

 Milne, LL.D. and Alexander Gordon, 1793. Only one volume was ever 

 published ; it includes the Linnsean classes to the end of Pentandria. This 

 work is very original in design, and the remarks often judicious ; it appears 

 generally trustworthy, though there are some instances of apparently false 

 diagnosis (e.g. Brosera intermedia, Phyteuma orbicidare, Spartina stricto, 

 and Buffonia). Many original stations in Middlesex are recorded, and a 

 few new species added : Alchemilla vulgaris, Apium, OSnanthe Phellandrium, 

 Borago, Potamogeton obtusifotius ?, Alopecurus genicvlatus, Agrostis alba. 



James Dickson, F.L.S., a nurseryman in Covent Garden, published in 1793 

 the first fasciculus of his Hortus Siccus Britannicus, consisting of twenty-five 

 dried plants, named and mounted. Nineteen numbers were published, the 

 last in 1802. There are a few Middlesex localities given, and three new 

 plants, Hemiaria Ursula, Gentiana Pneumonanthe, and Aira Caryophyllca. 

 He died in 1822 (see a short memoir in Trans. Hort. Soc. Bond. vol. v.). 



The Botanisfs Guide, by Dawson Turner and Lewis Weston DiUwyn, 

 F.E.SS., was published in two volumes in 1805. The Middlesex list is 

 contained in vol. ii. pp. 399-414, and is not very extensive, 144 species only 

 being noticed. The names are those of Smith's Flora Britannica, and the 

 original authority for each locality is always stated. Of the new ones a few 

 were supplied by the authors, but more by Mr. Joseph Woods, who recorded 

 nine species new to the county. Edward Forster's stations are mostly the 



» Forster died in 1849, ist. 84. His herbarium, containing also plants of Mr. Borrer's, 

 Mr. Lambert's, and Mr. W. Wilson's collecting, is now in the British Museum. A short 

 1 'iography Is to be found in Gibson's Flora of Essex, Appendix vi. 



