S8 BEITISH HIEEA.CIA. 



rounded below, frequently constricted at the base after flowering. 

 Outermost phyllaries small, slender, rather lax j inner acuminate 

 or sometimes tapering and acute j all clothed more or less densely 

 with scattered brittle hairs. Florets shortly but distinctly pilose 

 at the tips. Styles livid. 



The var. anglicum may be known by its shorter, less rigid, 

 simple or hrancAed stem, and elongated arcuate ascending lateral 

 peduncles. Eoot-leaves frequently dentate below, with teeth 

 spreading or pointing forwards. Stem-leaf usually solitary and 

 rather large. 



Var. acutifolium is strongly marked by its glabrous, very 

 acute, usually coarsely and sharply toothed root-leaves, which are 

 however occasionally obovate, slightly hairy, sub-entire, and so 

 broadly winged as to appear sessile ; also by its attenuate, acute 

 inner phyllaries. 



Though, conspicuously distinct in appearance in their wild state, 

 the above-mentioned varieties bo approximate and resemble each 

 other under cultivation, as to leave no doubt on my mind of their 

 specific identity. The typical form and both the varieties, under 

 these circumstances, become branched irom every axil ; the strongly 

 clasping stem-leaves of the former, as well as the sessile ones of the 

 varieties, become slightly clasping, showing every gradation. The 

 truncate or constricted iavolucre and lax outer scales are by no 

 means constant, while all the forms resemble each other in having 

 ventricose iavolueres, slightly pilose florets, and livid styles. Our 

 typical form seems to agree well with the description of S. oerin- 

 tlwides in Fries' Monograph, and is identical with that species in 

 the opinion of Fries. I am therefore compelled to reject the name 

 of " anglicum " as denoting a species ; for although that/w»i is far 

 more abundant in this country than the typical one, I believe that 

 full investigation and careful cultivation will prove that they are 

 not speciflcaUy distinct from each other. 



A plant occurs on basaltic and limestone rocks of the north coast of 

 Antrim, Ireland, which in many respects closely resembles the variety 



