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THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



embankment." In the Flora of West Lancashire, 1907, p. 195, 

 the following note occurs : — " The plant of the sand-dune tract has 

 a distinct facies, owing to its numerous short stems and larger 

 flowers." It will be noted that whilst Pariiassia pahistris occurs 

 on the low-lying moss-lands of Cheshire, it is quite absent from 

 the large areas of moss-land in West and South Lancashire 

 probably because the soil is too peaty. 



We have observed this littoral Parnassia for several years 

 and, after a careful comparison with typical Grass of Parnassus 

 from upland localities, we are of opinion that the characters which 

 entitle it to varietal rank may be summarized thus : — 



Parnassia palustris L. var. condensata, nobis (var. nov.). A 

 forma speciei normali in notulis sequentibus differt : Planta com- 

 pacta humilior, 2-5-15 cm. Ehizoma plerumque superne furcato- 

 ramosum, vel (in exemplis minoribus) simplex. Folia radicalia sub- 

 coriacea numerosa, brevius petiolata ; petiolis lamina paullum lon- 

 gioribus vel ssepe brevioribus. Scapi numerosi (4-20), breviores 

 crassiores et rigidiores. Bractese folia subgequantes. Mores ma j ores. 



Habitat. Wet hollows of the sand-dunes on the coasts of 

 Lancashire and Cheshire. 



Plants low and compact in habit ; rhizome in well-grown 

 specimens often much divided at the crown, producing a tufted 

 growth. Eadical leaves crowded, with short petioles (usually but 

 little longer than the lamina, frequently somewhat shorter). 

 Scapes more numerous, shorter, stouter and stiffer than in the 

 type. Bract placed low down, often among the radical leaves, or 

 raised but little above them. Flowers larger, from 2 -5-3 -75 cm. 

 Capsule larger. Flowering from mid-July to October. 



The differences will be most readily understood by contrasting 

 in tabular form the characters and relative proportions of the 

 typical plant and the littoral variety : — 



P. palustris Linn. 



Height 15-36 cm. 

 Ehizome simple, or 

 forked. 



:arely 



Lamina of the radical leaves 

 usually much shorter than 

 the petioles. 



Bract conspicuously elevated 

 above the leaves. 



Scapes few (1-3). From 1 to 1-3 

 mm.indiam. In fruiting speci- 

 mens they are slightly thicker, 

 14 being a good average. 



Flowers 1-25-2-0 cm. in diam., 

 sometimes 2-5 cm. 



Capsule described by Syme as 

 being 0-9-1-2 cm. long. 



var. condensata. 



Height 2-5-15 cm. 



Ehizome usually divided at the 

 crown, except in young or 

 starved plants. 



Lamina of the radical leaves 

 about as long as, and some- 

 times longer than, the petioles. 



Bract immersed amongst, or 

 only slightly exserted above, 

 the leaves. 



Scapes many (4-20). Usually 

 1-5-1-6 cm. in diam., and 

 in the fruiting state up to 

 2 mm. 



Flowers usually 2-5 cm., and 

 frequently 3-75 cm. or more 

 in diam. 



Capsule from 1-2-1-6 cm. in 

 length. 



