134 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
abundance a J ugoaetee officinalis, both on the cliffs and in the 
cultivated 
The serious are excellent, especially when the overcast 
sky is considered; one of a ‘“ Flowering cushion of Silene acaulis 
m6” shows hundreds of flowers expanded. Another r, 
« Street in Thorshaven showing ae vegetation on the roofs,” is 
very peer and sharp. 
esult of later investigations is that some species, reported by 
ace cienvens and classed as errors, have been refound, such 
as Ranunculus auricomus, Oxalis Acetosella, and Sec alpina. 
ARTHUR BENNETT. 
BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ¢de. 
Ar the meeting of the Linnean Society on February 20 a very 
interesting paper was read by Mr. Arthur W. Sutton, “ On nom d 
es and Species of the eineniierer Solanums.” He stated 
earing 
January 17th, 1884, and published in its Journal, xx. 498. Many 
ybrid s 
cross made in July 1887, and though cultivated a — years 
it has shown no sw periotity over ordinary potatoes so-call 
Solanum Commersonii * Violet,” was stated to be a sites ob- 
tained actigt bud variation from oe wild Solanum Commersonit 
In opposition to this claim many growers assert that it 
Paulsen. Many wild types of tuber-bearing Solanums have 
rimented with during the last few years, including Sola- 
num tuberosum, two forms from Mexico, S. polyadentwm Greenm., 
verrucosum Schleoht., S. Maglia Schlecht., S. etuberoswm Lindl, S. 
mii Dunal, received from Uruguay, rondi Carr., vs 
tuberosum var. boreale (syn. S. Fendlert). All these wild ty] 
flower freely, but in every case where a wild type produces fruit it 
has, with the exception of Solanum etuberosum, reproduced itself 
absolutely pure from seed; whereas all varieties of the cultivated 
potato which produce seed give rise sal the greatest possible varia- 
tion in the ngs, none corresponding exactly to the parent. 
There is ss a = difference in the form of the pollen-grains 
of the wild types of tuber-bearing Solanums compared with pollen- 
grains of cultivated renee: the former being elliptical, and the 
latter very gies — form. Solanwm etuberosum is the onl 
