BOYHOOD, 15 



Hooker's Silene inflata is still with you. It differs from 

 S. maritima l in not having fleshy leaves, and some few other 

 particulars. The specimen in thy Herbarium is surely .8. mari- 

 tima, gathered among the rocks at Miltown. " Petals crowned," 

 evidently means with little teeth at the top of the claws where 

 it joins the limb. They occur in many Caryophyllete — also in 

 the Boraginete. Our common Fumaria is Officinalis ; let it curl 

 its stems as it pleases. Bicheno told me it was Capreolata, but 

 afterwards said he was wrong. I have examined Asjndium 

 fiUx-fsemina, 2 and find him right in referring it to Asplenium ; 

 but I cannot conceive how he makes out Aspidium dilatatum 

 (a true Aspidiwm) a variety of it, unless his plant differs from 

 ours. I mean to investigate it closely. 



To the Same. 



1830. 

 I was two weeks at Miltown, and occupied chiefly with 

 investigating Confervse, at which I have made some progress ; 

 and though not yet acquainted with a quarter of the species, 

 yet, as a subject, I have brought them under control, and nothing 

 but opportunity is wanting to master them. Would it were 

 thus with lichens. They are still a chaos. At Miltown I only 

 added two phaenogamous 3 plants, Scutellaria galericulata, 4 and 

 Geranium 5 pusillum. The latter is probably to be found 

 with you. It is very like Ger. molle. The petals are less 

 cloven, of a darker colour, and the fruit very hairy. I am glad 

 of Geranium minimum. I hope thou art sure of it. 



I rejoice at the revolution in France. Those Bourbons ! — 

 will they never get sense ? 



I have received from Dr. H — y Veronica montana ! — the true 

 plant — very different from our variety of V. officinalis. It 

 might readily be mistaken for a variety of V. chamsedrys by 

 an unpractised eye. It is known by its large flattened fruit. 

 I am convinced that Veronicse are best distinguished by the 

 shape of the capsules. Dr. H — y also sent me Jasione montana, 6 

 as a new species. I thought of Sherardia arvensis? 



1 Sea Campion. 2 Lady-fern. s Flowering. 



4 Common Skull-cap. 5 Cranesbill. 6 Mountain Scabious. 



7 Little Field Madder. 



