of Oxf. p. 78. — lrv. Loud. FI. p. 195. — Mock. Catal. PI. oflrel. p. 98. — FI. Hibern. 
p. 121. — Stum umbellatum repens, Johns. Gerarde, pp 256 Sc 258. n. 3. ; ex- 
cluding the reference to Delech.' Hist. Lugd. 1092. — Kay’s Syn. p. 211. 
Localities. — In ditches and rivulets ; frequent. 
Perennial. — Flowers in July and August. 
Root creeping. Stems procumbent, or floating, occasionally 
creeping, various in length, rooting at the joints, stout, angular, 
furrowed, smooth, leafy, hollow ; with numerous widely spreading 
branches. Leaves alternate, distant, pinnate, smooth, each of from 
2 to 4 pair of sessile, egg-shaped leaflets, with an odd one, all 
equally serrated ; the terminal one largest, and sometimes conflu- 
ent with the next pair below it. Petioles ( leaf-stalks ) dilated at 
the base with a broad membranous border. Umbels opposite to the 
leaves, often nearly sessile, but generally on peduncles varying in 
length, but never equalling the umbels. Involucrums dilated and 
membranous at the edges ; general one of a single leaf, or mostly 
wanting ; partial one of several, egg-shaped, pointed, concave 
leaves, white with green ribs. Flowers small. Calyx very short. 
Petals white, egg-shaped, entire, slightly inflexed. Styles some- 
what incurved. Fruit roundish egg-shaped, short, smooth, with 
3 dorsal, prominent ribs, and 2 remote lateral ones, to each carpel 
(see fig. 3), 
The juice of this plant is recommended in cutaneous disorders. 
Three large spoonfuls are given, mixed with milk, twice a day. 
Smith. — The leaves greatly resemble those of the true Water-cress, 
(t. 27 1 .) for which they have been sometimes mistaken, but they 
may readily be distinguished by the dilated sheathing base of the 
leaf-stalk, which is not sheathing in the Water-cress. 
The Green Polype, Hydra viridis of Linnteus, figured in Shaw’s 
Naturalist’s Miscellany, v. i. t. 20., is often to be found on the stems 
and leaves of this plant, under water. This extraordinary little 
aquatic animal was first shown to me, many years ago, by the late 
Mr. James Bexwell*. 
* Mr. Jamfs Benwell was, for more than forty years, emploved in the 
Oxford Botanic Garden. He was, although uneducated, a very intelligent man, 
and his accurate knowledge of British Plants, and of their localities in the vi- 
cinity of Oxford, and a singular talent for observation in every branch of Natural 
History, rendered his services highly valuable. lie attended the late Dr Joun 
SiBTiiottP, Professor of Botany, in his botanical excursions in Oxfordshire, when 
collecting materials for his “ Flora Oxoniensis,” published in 1794. and was 
the first who discovered the station for Paris quadrifolia, and one or two 
other rare plants, in the county. His integrity, and industry, and a natural 
propiiety, and civility of manners, gained him the respect and esteem of all who 
knew him. He died on the 7th of October, 1819, aged 84 years. A print of 
him, a very striking and characteristic likeness, engraved by Mr. Skelton, of 
Oxford, from a drawing by that excellent artist, Mr. A. It. Buiit, was published 
about two years before his death. I shall always lemember, with the most sin- 
cere gratitude anil respect, the kind and disinterested assistance I received from 
this honest and kind-hearted man ; and from another highly valued and lament- 
ed friend, the late Mr. John Maddox, when 1 first turned my attention to the 
study of British Botany. Mr. Maddox was, for many years, gardener at Christ 
Church; he was an excellent practical gardener, a great advocate for the 
Linn«an System of Botany, and a remarkably well informed man; he pos- 
sessed, indeed, such a general knowledge of the natural sciences as is rarely to 
botnet with amongst men in his station of life, lie died on the 8th of Aptil, 
1828, in the 80th year of his age. It is remarkable, that himself and his wife 
died within a day or two of each other, and were both buried on the same day, 
in one giave, in the church-yard of St. Aldate’s, Oxford.— W. B. February 27, 
1841. 
