270 THE BOTANICAL EXCHANGE CLUB OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 
have seen one or two specimens— without adult leaves, and perhaps 
not of British origin— which may be S. phylicifolia x S. purpurea. 
Combined filaments in S. phylicifolia are not, however, confined 
to “ Croweana.” Such occur in some specimens named by Borrer 
“ Weigeliana ” and considered by him to be a monstrous condition. 
Some other specimens of “ Weigeliana ” are gynandrous. Borrer, 
while thinking that the combined filaments of “ Croweana ” 
were only accidental, seems to have upheld Croweana — as well as 
some of the other supposed species manufactured out of S. 
phylicifolia — on the ground of its leaf-characters. Most of these 
“species” appear to have been founded on individual bushes, but, 
even when not so restricted, their characters are neither sufficiently 
constant nor distinct enough to merit their retention even as varieties. 
Whilst £ forms 5 or ‘ conditions * are innumerable in willows, my 
experience is that true varieties (i.e. states distinguished by well- 
defined and constant characters) are not of common occurrence. 
Hybrids on the other hand cannot be classed as, thoi 1 -ey may be 
mistaken for, varieties. A few — but only few — of the pay Afolia and 
nigricans ££ varieties ” seem to be really hybrids. Amongst these 
“ Croweana! ’ has no place, nor can it be regarded as a true variety.” — 
F. Buchanan White. 
Salix lapponum , Linn., var. arenaria (L. ex. p ). Clova Mountains, 
Forfar, 12th July, 1889. — -W. R. Linton. “ There are no characters 
of sufficient importance or constancy by which British S. lapponum can 
be divided into forms and much less into varieties. An exception 
must be made in the case of S. glauca , Sm. ( non L.) which is the 
same as S. helveiica , Vill. — a variety or sub-species of S. lapponum. 
This must not be confounded with the £ var pseudo-glauca , J of recent 
lists which has no important characters. S. helvetica has apparently 
not been found in Britain for many years, but I have seen a 
specimen collected (if the label is correct) on Ben Lawers by Winch 
and named £ Salix g/auca.’ ” — F. Buchanan White. 
Orchis Simia, Lamk. Chalky ground, Oxfordshire. More 
frequent this year and spreading, it is to be hoped, to a less exposed 
situation. O. militaris did not appear this season, but a new locality 
was discovered for it in Bucks, or rather an old locality verified. 
These specimens have been dipped in sulphurous acid and i 
methylated spirit in the hope of preserving their colour. It has j 
rather deepened the tint May, 1889. — G. Claridge Druce. A 
valuable contribution. Mr. Druce is to be congratulated upon his j 
success in retaining the colour of the flowers. — J. G. 
Simethis bicolor , Kunth. Abbey Island, Darrynane, Kerry, 9th 
July, 1889. Iam afraid that most of the specimens sent are not 
satisfactory examples of the usual Kerry state of this plant. My visit 
to Darrynane was late by several weeks to gather the Simethis at its 
best. Growing in the cracks about rocky knolls, the leaves of this 
plant sometimes attained eighteen inches in height and a third of an 
inch in breadth, but two or three weeks of hot weather had brought 
the plant to a light brown, and nearly all the capsules were shed. 
The only place I could find the Simethis not too advanced to gather, 
