14 



THE NATURALIST, 



he states " margins straight or concave from the base to the apex of the first 

 lohe" (p. 237.) He further states : — " it appears to me that this shrub, [O. 

 monogyna] is entitled to be considered distinct from the preceding, though 

 intermediate states occur, which render it difficult to agree with the great 

 majority of foreign authors who consider it a distinct species. It blooms 

 about a fortnight later than the last, when they grow in the same locality." 

 In this work they are ranl^ed, as sub-species. Mr. Bentham in his " Handbook 

 of the British Flora," calls the Common Hawthorn, C. oxyacantha^ and 

 totally ignores the existence of any subdivision. 



Whether these two forms should, or should not, be considered distinct 

 species,, is not for me to say, that must be left to far higher authorities and 

 better judges than I can pretend to be, but one thing is certain, apparently, 

 viz., — that two distinct forms do occur, the one flowering from twelve to 

 fifteen days earlier than the other in the same localities, therefore, they 

 should on no account be ignored. Now, that the shrubs in question are all 

 in flower, it will be a good opportunity for all our local botanists to give 

 their attention to them. They should endeavour to ascertain which of the two 

 forms is the more common in their neighbourhood, or if only one occurs ; and 

 also note as closely as they can the times of flowering. Another point 

 worthy of attention will be whether their plants agree in every character 

 with Boreau's diagnosis as given above, or whether there are intermediate 

 forms, connecting the two, and what are the gradations. If all our local 

 botanists would take the trouble to do this, and make exact notes of their 

 observations, a collection of facts might be obtained which would perhaps 

 lead to some settlement of the question of distinct species. Such observa- 

 tions might be communicated to the editors of the Naturalist, and would be 

 of increased value if accompanied by specimens ; or they might be made 

 direct to myself, in which case I would revise the whole, and give a summary 

 in the Naturalist as early as possible. 



I may state that hitherto I have only observed one form in this neigh- 

 bourhood, G. monogyna, but it is possible that further search this season 

 may detect the other form. 



Huddersfield, May 1866. 



