PLOBA OF THE BBISTOL COAL-FIELD. 119 



Valerianella Auricula, D G. 



In tho herbarium of the late Dr. H. 0. Stephens 

 there are specimens of several plants collected by 

 him. many years ago in the neighbourhood of 

 Bristol, which either have escaped tho observation of 

 other botanists, or have possibly been lost. Among 

 these is a shoot of V. Auricula, D C, vrithoiit date, 

 labelled " Eastwood, Brislington." It is therefore 

 gratifying to bo able to record tho re-discovery of 

 this species by Mr. David Fry last August (1886) 

 in an arable field between Kcynsham and Stock- 

 wood. It was found in considerable abundance, 

 o-rowing with several other interesting and uncom- 

 mon plants, e.g., Specularia hyl)rida,B C; Qalium, 

 tricorne, With.; Papaver Lecoqii, h&mot.; AnagalUx 

 ccerulea, Sclireb. ; Avena fatua, L. (var. pilosissima, 

 Gray), aiid a single specimen of Silene nodijlora, L; 

 which last, although probably only a casual, may 

 be worth noting, as it does not appear to have been 

 previously recorded from any part of Somerset, or 

 elsewhere in tho Bristol district. 

 Carduus arvensis, Gurt., var. p setosus. 



By the rivor Avon, towards Bath, where it was ob- 

 served by Mr. J. G-. Baker in 1884, and subse- 

 quently by Mr. A. E. Burr, who very kindly 

 furnished mo with fresh specimens. As one of the 

 rarest and most remarkable of British thistles, I 

 chronicle tho presence of G. setosus in tho district 

 with much pleasure. Classed as a variety under 

 (7. arren.si.s-, the plant in this country has so littl 

 affinity for the type, that it would probal)ly be ac- 

 corded specific rank were it not that on tho Conti- 

 nent intermediate states are said to occur, which 



e 



