162 ON A RUMEX FROM THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND. 
tubercle broader and rather more prominent than those of nae 
ut of the same greenis ish-gold colour’ which gives the bright 
esa to that species. “The nut is considerably larger than in the 
This description of the ripe petals is made from fertile flowers in 
which the nuts become properly ‘matured. In very few, however, 
out of the thousands of flowers produced does this happen. 
rest the nut is small and shrivelled, and the petals therefore do not 
acquire their full development, but at their ripest condition remain 
all (about the si i 
ie explanations of this condition present themselves. The = 
may be an unhealthy or undeveloped and barren state of 2. marti 
Boswell Syme, to whom specimens were submitted for 
Vv 
Warren’s plant certainly points in the direction of undue nutrition and 
too much shade, and the scarcity of ripe fruit ’ would be a 
it must be supposed that they were subjected to the same influence’, 
The other explanation is that of hybridity. This is a hypo 
easily proposed and equally difficult to prove or disprove. oe per 
i ase A 
genus, when it is found that the plant presents chara ete 
e of those of its compani ons. The collector noted, by come 
described, from the maritimus in the direction) | care 
less blunter ones of R. conglomeratus. I am, a y ounds 
that the question cannot be decided in this manner: a is a hybri 
* Flora Hanoverana excurs, (1849), p. 471+ 
CSS ST a © er Ot a ee hae 
