NOTES ON POLYGONUM AVICULARE. 141 
several species. In 1860 I gathered several Polygona in this 
county, which struck me on account of the great diversity of 
character which they exhibited. Thinking it not improbable 
that they had been separated into species by the French botanists, 
I forwarded specimens to Mr. J. G. Baker. Mr. Baker also 
considering these forms very interesting, was kind enough to 
enclose them in a parcel he was dispatching to the learned 
French botanist, M. Boreau. M. Boreau identified them as 
Polygonum microspermum (Jordan), Polygonum rurivagum 
(Jordan), Polygonum arenastrum (Jordan), and a fourth form 
taken by Mr. Baker in Yorkshire, he referred with doubt to 
Polygonum agrestinum (Jordan). Before proceeding to give a 
rough sketch of these plants, I must say a word on the reason 
why I draw attention to them. I would wishit to be understood 
that I donot put them forward as necessarily species, but as forms 
highly interesting, well worth studying, andat any rate possessing 
claims to specific distinction, fully equal to those on which many 
so called species are inserted in our modern Flora. These plants 
having been received and named as species on the continent, it 
is, I conceive, at least the duty of the British botanist to 
endeavour to discover if there are these and such like plants 
growing in our island, and if they find them, then to proceed to 
investigate the validity of the claim which has been advanced in 
their behalf by our neighbours, who would raise them to a higher 
position in systematic arrangements, than they have hitherto held 
in our estimation. We have no right to pronounce decided 
opinions upon “ Segregate species,” or to declare them to be 
““mere varieties,” unless we have familiarized ourselves previously 
with the plants in question, and carefully and, honestly weighed 
the opinion which we may be ourselves disposed to adopt. Not 
having the descriptions of M. Boreau, or M. Jordan at hand, I 
merely give the following rough notes on the several forms as 
observed by myself in this county. 
Polygonum rurivagum, Jordan. — Stem solid, very slender, 
flexuous, generally erect. Leaves linear-lanceolate, an inch or 
more long, length to breadth as 10 to 1. Stipules much lacerated, 
being ultimately split up into thread like segments, pale, scarious, 
