STELLARIA NEMORUM L. SUBSPECIES GLOCHIDISPERMA 125 



not seen this description, but mounted on the sheet with the specimen is a printed diagnosis 

 which, though somewhat inadequate, is sufficient in itself to constitute vaUd nomenclatural 

 pubhcation. This material is undoubtedly the same taxon as S. nemorum subsp. glochidi- 

 sperma and, whilst the name S. montana Pierrat seems to have been overlooked recently, 

 it was apparently treated at one time as synonymous with the typical subspecies, known 

 to-day as subsp. nemorum (Murbeck, 1899 ; Hegi, 1911a and b). However, this isotype 

 material shows this interpretation to be incorrect. Ascherson ?nd Graebner (1919) 

 suggest that the two taxa may be the same but say that they have seen no authentic material 

 of S. montana, whilst Rouy and Foucaud (1896) treat it as a variety and with it, but separate, 

 list var. suhehracteolata FenzL Fortunately, if we retain the subspecific rank for this plant, 

 and there do not seem sufficient grounds for considering it as a separate species, there is 

 no need for a change of name, glochidisperma being the earliest epithet in the rank of 

 subspecies. 



STELLARIA NEMORUM L. subspecies GLOCHIDISPERMA Murbeck, 

 1892, Acta Univ. Lund., 27, (5), 156-157. 



An ascending or erect herb, 15-30 (—50) cm. high, usually smaller than subsp. 

 nemorum. Leaves ovate, the upper ones broadly so, cordate to deeply cordate, the ultimate 

 pair subcordate to truncate (truncate to rounded in subsp. nemorum) ; petioles longer than 

 in subsp. nemorum, the lower ones up to 5 cm. long, the upper pair usually at least 1 cm. 

 long as compared with 0*5 cm. or less in subsp. nemorum. Bracts of the inflorescence 

 diminishing abruptly in size after the first dichotomy of the cyme, the second pair rarely 

 more than a quarter the length of the first, the third pair scale-like, 1-5 (—2) mm. or less 

 in length. Seeds furnished round the margin with long cylindrical papillae, 0-15 mm. 

 in length. 



Detailed British Distribution 



The following specimens of Stellaria nemorum subsp. glochidisperma have been seen : 



v.c. 35, Monmouth ; Llandogo, at the falls, 1832, ex Herb. F. Farre, (E); Llandogo, 1836, /. Bell, 

 (B.M.); Llandogo Glen, 1877, A. Ley, (Birm.), (N.M.W.). 



46, Cardigan; woods in Cwm Rhaiadr Valley, 1885, A. Ley, (Birm.); Glaspwll, Llyffnant Valley, 



1924, H. Salter, (N.M.W.); oakwood in Llyffnant Valley, 1938, W. B. Turrill, (K.). 



47, Montgomery; Llyffnant Valley, 1941, /. A. Webb, (N.M.W.). 



48, Merioneth; Llechwedd Wood, nr. Harlech, 1903, W. G. Hamilton & D. A. Jones, (N.M.W.). 



In addition there are the following specimens of possible hybrid origin : subsp. 

 glochidisperma X subsp. nemorum : 



v.c. 34, W. Gloucester ; streamlet in boggy wood between Bigsweir and St. Briavels, 1893, W. A. Shoolbred, 

 (N.M.W.). 



35, Monmouth; wooded bank of stream, Llandogo Glen, 1897, W. A. Shoolbred, (N.M.W.); 



Manor Wood, Whitebrook, 1942, S. G. Charles, (N.M.W.). 

 46 or 47, Cardigan or Montgomery ; Cwm Rhaiadr, 1860, A. Ley (Birm.). 



(The following are the abbreviations used to denote the herbaria in which the speci- 

 mens listed above exist : Birm. — Birmingham University. B.M. — British Museum 

 (Natural History). E. — Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. K. — Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 Kew. N.M.W. — National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.) 



In the collection at Kew is a sheet with a mixture of specimens of subsp. nemorum 

 and subsp. glochidisperma marked " Suffolk, Herb. Hookerianum 1867." It is difficult 

 to believe that these plants really came from Suffolk which is right outside the range of 

 both subspecies, and in view of the fact that the sheet is mixed and that Hooker received 



