and by Mr. Johns, in Cornwall, and has 
been mentioned to me by Miss Warren 
and others. But it remains to be con- 
sidered how far the species are really 
distinct; though it must be confessed 
at, to speak decidedly on the point, 
recent specimens should be examined, 
which are unfortunately not wathin my 
reach. Both Mr. Bowman and Mr. Johns 
have, however, sent me drawings as well 
as specimens of the supposed Z. dentata, 
and both agree in these particulars, that 
the stigma is large, membranous, and 
toothed, the peduncle and pedicels of 
the capsules so short that they may be 
said to be wanting; the fruit is nearly 
sessile, the anthers are two-celled, and, 
according to Mr. Bowman, the embryo 
consists of six to seven folds. In Z. 
palustris, drawn b . Bowman, the 
capsules are decidedly pedicellate and 
seated upon a distinct common stalk ; 
the stigmas, though large, are entire ; 
the anther is distinctly four-celled, and 
the embryo has usually only four folds. 
* Is it not possible, however,” as M. 
Bowman observes, * that notwithstand- 
ing the decided way in which Sir James 
Smith pronounces it distinct, it may be 
but a variety of Z. palustris? Water- 
plants seem less constant than others, 
as may be witnessed in the leaves of Po- 
tamogeton, of e I think we make 
too many speci 
The value of de shasta derived from 
the number of cells of the anther will be 
considerably lessened by the statement 
which has been made lately by Mr. Babing- 
ton, that Z. palustris is sometimes seen 
_ with two, three, and four cells on the same 
. plant. The toothing of the stigma is un- 
doubtedly variable, and not confined to the 
sessile-fruited Zannichellia ; the number 
of folds in the embryo cannot be considered 
A 
have only the sessile or stalked fruit by 
which the two kinds can really be distin- 
the respective individuals: but this forms 
no part of Micheli’s character, and there- 
fore cannot be made a distinguishing fea- 
BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
ture of his plant, the original denta 
where the capsules are just as much pedi- | 
cellate as in his Z. palustris. I think, 
gures, is chiefly characterized by the 
presence of a campanulate spatha; which | 
indeed may readily be seen in the flow- - 
ering state in our palustris, and is 
correctly represented in Mr. Bowman's 
multicrenulatis.—3. Z. polycarpa, Nolte.— 
Reich. Zc. Bot. t. 757; nuculis sessilibus 
levigatis dorso cristatis repando-multiden- 
tatis, stylo demum levissimo.—4. Z. gib- - 
berosa, Reich. Jc. Bot. 759 ; foliis tenuis- 
simis, nuculis stipitatis utrinque cristatis 
repando-dentatis. — 
nulosis levibusve.—6. Z. nnin- 
ger.—Reich. Jc. Bot. t. 758; foliis ternis 
longissimis, nuculis breve stipitatis dorso — 
crista continua. To the latter, this author 
refers the Z. palustris of English Botany. 
Aspidium cristatum, L.—This extremely 
rare and most distinct Fern, of which so 
few stations are known in Britain, has. 
recently been found in Coxton bogs, 
Lunularia vulgaris, Micheli Marcha 
cruciata, Linneus.—This was found = 
Dr. Tori, at Dunkerran, in 1832, and- 
by that gentleman; - Mr. 
having in July, 1835, gathered perfect 
fructification of his Marchantia ? levis. 
(Brit. Fl. v. 2. p. 103.) “ in mod 
