60 
I’EK SON ALIA. 
sort may occur in the same place. The sorts differ in many ways; in the 
cutting of the successive root leaves, rarely the first almost entire and 
most trilobed in various ways, the lobes varying greatly in shape and 
cutting, so that good root leaves are required for good specimens. The 
size and height vary, and the breadth and cutting of the stem leaves. 
Flowers may have five good petals, hut more usually one or more of the 
petals is wanting or abortive, and sometimes all the petals are replaced 
by leaves like the sepals, i.e., smaller, paler, without shiny surface 
above. The fruits are also different in some kinds. 
As so many herbarium specimens consist of only one or two plants 
it is difficult to say whether any differences seen indicate that more than 
one kind grow together, or whether such differences are merely variation 
of a single kind, and until the different kinds occurring in the British 
Isles are known, it is difficult to investigate the matter in the herbarium. 
Short series (six if possible but three are useful if they look the same) 
ai-e, therefore, required from as many localities as possible where the 
taking of so many specimens can be effected without harm to the 
locality. They should show the full series of root leaves and both) flowers 
and fruits, which might have to be collected allowing a week or so for 
the development of the fruit. As the petals fall easily, plants should 
be sent between newspapers tied between cardboard, so that they start 
being pressed in transit and drying can be continued when received, 
otherwise notes on the petals should be made in the field; but the best 
specimens for study will be those sent fiat in papers as suggested. Will 
those who can assist in the investigation of our British forms send such 
series to A. J. Wihnott at the Natural History Musuem, Cromwell 
Road, London, S.W.7, next spring, postage to be refunded. Most of 
the specimens in the herbarium there are from the south of England, 
and series from the south-west, Wales, north of England, and especially 
Scotland (where some different kinds appeal to occur) will be par- 
ticularly welcome. If it appears that more than one kind grows in any 
locality, a series of each kind should be sent if that can be done. The 
label should indicate the sort of habitat in which the plants were found, 
i.e., in a wood, in scrub, in the open, on mountain rocks, and so on, 
and also if the soil is just damp, or wet, and so on, so that the pre- 
ferences of each sort can be ascertained. It is strange that the 
existence of several different kinds in this “ species ” has remained so 
long unknown and the co-operation of British botanists in unravelling 
the coiifusion is needed. 
A. J. WiLMOTT. 
POTERIUM AND SANGUISORBA 
Mr T. R. Laycock is working on the above genera and is anxious to 
exchange specimens (excluding these genera) for foreign specimens of 
Poterhim and Soiiouisorlxi . Siiecimens should be addressed to him 
at 3 Bent Street. Longsight, Manchester, 12. 
