1808.] Monthly Botanical Report. ~ §73 
tow colour of its flowers, but these circumstances will not afford specific characteres Mr. 
Gawler has however remarked an important difference in the form of the stigmayy which im 
Erythronium Dens canis is split into three revolute segments, but in this is trig inay - clpb- 
shaped and pubescent at the apex. It would have been more satisfactory if Mr. Qexier pad 
enjoyed the opportunity of examining a greater number of specimens. 
The other four plants by Dr. Sims are, Tewcriam betonicum; a valuable greenhouse shrub, 
native of Madeira, introduced by Sir Joseph Banks. Jacquin had given a small figure of 
this plant in his Collectanea, not knowing from what country itcame. The specimen fray 
which the figure here given was taken, seems to bave been less vigorous than usual, the 
flowering branches are generally more erect and its branches go off at right angles; hence we 
find “‘ caule fiorifero brachiato,” one of its Specific characters.—Aristolochia g/avca and sers- 
perwirens, two nearly allied species, and perhaps not before satisfactorily distinguished.—« 
Prunus aigra; the common black plum of North America, as is here supposed, but it would 
have been more satisfactory had Dr. Sims examined the fruit which is called a Cherry in the 
Hortus Kewensis.. Vhe drawing of this shrub is among the most beautiful in the work. 
~ “The English Botany, of which we have omitted making any mention for the last three 
months, approackes so near toa termination, as to phenagamic plants at least, that we now 
frequently meet with figures, taken from garden or foreign specimens of planrs, supposed to 
be indigenous to Britain, but which cannot be positively ascertained te be so. The number 
for April contains Elymus geaieulatus, first explained as being distinct from E. arenarius 
by the late Mr. Curtis, Jt was discovered by Mr. Dixon in the marshes near Gravesend 5 
yet the Ggure here given was taken from a plant in the Liverpool garden !—.Galium spurium 5 
again drawn from a garden specimen compared with native ones. Orchis militaris. Variety 
& before figured, is considered by Swartz as a distinct species: Mercuriaris perennis, a very 
common plant in many parts of the country. Dr. Smith ohserves that the minute petals 
(rather than nectaries) are peculiar to the fertile flowers only; a remark of consequence, as 
according to Dr. Smith, such plants as have no difference in the structure of the male and female 
flowers ought mot to be separated from the classes to which they would belong were their 
fiowers monoclinovs. Inthe number published onthe ist. of May, we Gnd Bromus mu/tifo~ 
rust notwithstanding the pains Dr. Smith has taken both here and elsewhere, we should be 
afraid to undertake to distinguish at all times this species from B. seca/inus; the pubescence of 
the florets of the former is the most important character, but is allowed by Dr. Smith him- 
self not to be constant, nor do we find that any one character is brought forward which cam 
be at all depended upon for constancy: the number, or greater or iess approximation of the 
florets canbe made little use of, the former varying with soil and season, the latter with its 
period of growth. Bromus sguarrosus is a species very dubious indeed as a native of Britainy 
standing as such selély onthe authority of Mr. Hudson.—Ulmus campestris and montanus, the 
common and Wych Elm, two species very important to be distinguished, as the former is so much 
moore valuable as timber than the latter. The June number contains Rosa colina, & species 
said to be common in Sussex, but which we think will hardly be found to be distinct from 
Rosa canina; nor will the next Rosa scabrivicula, from R. tomentosa. Dr. Smith seems to 
apologize for the introduction of these dubious species, by the observation that in our pre 
sent state of knowledge it cannot be decided what are species and what are mere varieties, in 
this genus. Salix ciaerea and wiminalis, the last. a very important species, being the come 
mon osier so useful for the manufactory of baskets, &c. 
The first plate of the last number of the Botanist’s Repository, represents a species of Gor- 
teria, which seems not to be among those last described and figured in the Memoire of the 
Copenhagen Society of Natural History: it ishere called the Peacock Gorteria, G. Pavonia 
{more properly pawoxina oz pavonacea). It is one of the more splendid species of this inter= 
esting Cape genus. The flower is among the largest: the petals of the radius are orange (not 
gold-coloured) and roll up when under the influence of the sun; a quality they have in come 
mon with those of some other plants of the s»me crder, 
Lachneza duxifolia of Lamarck. This is Ginidia fi/amentosa of Linneus; but not having 
any scales at the orifice of the calyx, and finding that the eight filaments mentioned by Lin- 
néus the younger, are nothing but the threads of the stamina deprived of their anthers, La- 
marck very properly referred the plant to Lachneay under the above name, and we are glad ta 
see him followed by Mr. Andrews, who has the merit of having given the first and, indeed, a 
very good figure of this handsome shrub, a native of the Cape. r 
Podalyria hirsuta; probably the same with the dirsuta of the Hortus Kewensjs, though the 
leaves are less rounded inthe former 3 a difference here accounted for by the different modes 
‘of cultivation. The shewy blue flowers of this species will recommend it to the attention of 
cultivators. 
An odd looking dwarf species of Protea, from: Mr. Hibbert’s collection, called P. caespitosa by 
Mr. Andrews, aa appellation derived from the turf-like appearance here ascribed toit. The 
Boral scales are of a fine red. 
eusllia (perhaps more properly Justicia) fulgida 5 a new species with many bright scarlet 
4 red 
/ 
