34 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
periodical white spots. In general appearance, the two 
plants are both rugose, sometimes villous ; and the flowers 
of maculatum are in colour either white or purple. The only 
point of difference then, that I can perceive, is in the number 
of flowers borne on the whorls ; which, in album is reported 
to be twenty, and in maculatum ten ; and this, I would ven- 
ture to suggest, is no more entitled to the honour of the term 
specific distinction , than variations in colour. 
With regard to L. purpureum : — I have not had sufficient 
experience with this species to enable me to decide on its 
exact affinities with those of which we have been treating; 
but, from Hooker’s and Reichenbach’s observations, I should 
consider it equally subject to acquire the white patches on 
the leaves ; I think myself justified in stating, that if careful 
attention be paid to the three species, the marks of distinc- 
tion between purpureum and vulgatum (or album and macu- 
latum combined) will be found to be but trifling indeed. It 
would also serve to give us some just notions of the various 
gradations which plants undergo, there being doubtless in 
existence specimens intermediate between the species of 
many genera. And as we proceed in our investigations, we 
shall find that no subject in nature is isolated, but that each 
and all form a regular series of connecting existences ; our 
distinctions of species being in many instances imaginary, 
and mistaken for realities, because we cannot observe the 
whole series, but only a link here and there. 
Mr. Reynolds continued his remarks on the Plants de- 
scribed in a Kirscher’s China illustrata.” 
MAY 4th. 
Mr. White in the Chair. 
Mr. Reynolds concluded his observations on the Plants 
of China. A paper was read from Mr. Arthur Wallis, en- 
titled, “ A Catalogue of some of the rarer Plants, growing in 
the vicinity of Chelmsford, Essex.” 
Although the Flora of this part of Essex presents no very 
striking peculiarities, yet, nevertheless, several rare and in- 
teresting species are to be found, ornamenting the hedges 
and fields, with the multitudinous variety of colour, form, 
