SHORT NOTES 257 



Although we have been unable to detect any distinct morpho- 

 logical feature distinguishing the littoral variety, the constant 

 combination of the comparative differences noted confers upon it 

 a distinct facies which is appreciated at first sight. Its compact 

 clumps, with numerous low, stout, flowering-stems and largo 

 flowers produce a tout ensemble which is in striking contrast with 

 that of ordinary Parnassia palustris, with its tall, slender, flexuose 

 and mostly solitary stems, and smaller flowers. We have unfor- 

 tunately not seen examples of P. palustris from the moss-lands of 

 Cheshire, so that we do not know how they compare with the 

 littoral plant. Specimens from lowland localities in Yorkshire 

 (Askham Bogs, and the coast hills near Scarborough) agree in 

 all respects with the type, and show no approach to the var. 

 condensata. 



The latter is evidently a maritime form, which has a parallel 

 in the var. arenaria of Pyrola rotundifolia L., and, in our opinion, 

 it is quite as worthy of recognition. Both plants, it may be 

 added, grow side by side among the dunes of the Lancashire 

 coast, other associated plants worthy of mention being Salix 

 repens, Orchis incarnata, Helleborine longifolia, Sagina nodosa, 

 Samolus Valerandi, Monotropa Hypopitys, Anagallis tenella, Ery- 

 thrcea littoralis, Carex (Ederi, Selaginella selaginoides, Amblyodon 

 dealbattis, Meesia trichoides, Gatoscopium nigritum, Bryum pseudo- 

 triqtietrwn, B. pallens, Brachythecium Mildeanum, Hypnum elodes, 

 H. polygamum, &c. 



The influences at work in the production of this modification 

 of type in Parnassia palustris have been under consideration, but 

 we cannot at present enter into their discussion. It is, however, 

 worth while calling attention to the fact noted by Kerner,* that 

 in the alpine garden of the Blaser (alt. 2195 m.) the plant was 

 only one-third to a quarter as tall as at Vienna, and the floivers 

 were also reduced to nearly half the size. It is apparent that the 

 var. condensata cannot be classed with the dwarf forms described 

 from boreal and alpine situations. 



Its distribution, as at present known to us, is : West Lancashire 

 (v.-c. 60), South Lancashire (v.-c. 59), and Cheshire (v.-c. 58); all 

 embraced within the limits of the Mersey province of Watson. 



Our thanks are due to Dr. F. N. Williams for kind assistance 

 in drawing up this paper. 



SHORT NOTES. 



Helleborine v. Epipactis. — In the recently published 

 (thirteenth) volume of the Flore de France M. Rouy retains 

 Epipactis, apparently because Hill's genus Helleborine also in- 

 cluded Cephalanthera, and because Persoon (Syn. ii. 512, 1807) 

 used Helleborine for Serapias. But Helleborine had already been 

 estabHshed by Hill and other writers. Moreover, Epipactis 



• The Natural History of Plants, Kerner & Oliver, 1902, vol. ii. p. 509. 



Journal of Botany. — Vol. 50. [August, 1912.1 t 



