having the margin very much wider at the rounded apical angles than below. If any Chinese species is to be reduced, it will probably be P. elegans, Wall., which is likely to prove a form of P. Japonica, Houtt. Of the latter plant I possess good specimens from two Japanese localities, from Formosa, and from Australia Felix (for I entirely agree with Dr. Mueller and Mr. Bentham in considering Mueller's former P. veronicea as not distinct; it is a stunted form, with smaller flowers, but otherwise quite like the Asiatic plant). There is little to distinguish the Chinese from the Japanese species, except that the former has usually rather acuter calyx-wings: in the lateral or terminal position of the racemes, and the number of flowers in each, I find no constant difference, and both plants are conspicuous for the gradually-diminished size of their leaves from above downwards. A few years back I received specimens from Foochow,-not, to my regret, now accessible for re-examination—which I was quite unable to refer to the one or the other species with any certainty. By true P. glomerata I mean the typical Chinese plant, which is by no means rare here and in Hongkong, though never, I believe, growing gregariously like P. elegans, but always found as isolated specimens. Dr. Thwaites has referred to P. glomerata two Ceylon plants (C. P. n. 592 ! and 1079!), the one his variety a. pedunculosa, the other P. hirsutula of Arnott. But, with all respect for my acute friend's opinion, it appears to me that the habit, weaker stems, scattered leaves, slender elongated peduncles, larger purplish flowers, and narrow-winged fruit of both these plants, whether distinct inter se or forms of one species, decidedly negative such a combination. The most discordant and confused views prevail amongst all writers as to the species of this genus. To prevent misapprehension as to my own moderate conservative opinions, I may state that I do not consider many of the European species proposed of late years, as, for instance, P. Desangelisii, Ten.!, and P. Lebelii, Bor. !, to have anything like a well-established claim to specific rank; and, moreover, I believe all the reputed modern species grouped round the old Linnæan P. vulgaris need a careful and prolonged comparative study before any decided opinion can be formed respecting them. But still there should be a method in inquiries, and to adopt the extreme views of some botanists is to my mind impossible. MM. Grenier and Godron, while admitting several of the most doubtful species split off from P. vulgaris, nevertheless combine such extremely dissimilar plants (so at least they seem to me) as P. rosea, Desf., and P. Preslïï, Spr. Certainly P. rosea is far more allied to P. major, Jacq., than to P. Presli, if, at least, characters, habit, and aspect are to have any weight; and, if not, how are we to judge any species? In the 'Florula Adenensis,' Dr. T. Anderson writes, under the name of P. triflora, L., no less than twelve reputed species, on which combination Mr. Edgeworth remarks (Journ. Linn. Soc. vi. 199):-"I have examined the original specimens in the Hermann herbarium in the British Museum, have carefully compared them with the numerous specimens in the Kew herbarium, and have satisfied myself that there are three or four distinct species." So far as I have been able to compare some of the Indian species mentioned by Dr. Anderson, with Kotschy's Nubian ones distributed by the Unio Itineraria, I must express my entire dissent from Dr. Anderson's views. The late Mr. Webb, too, (Fragm. Florulæ Æth.-Ægypt. 32), kept these latter plants distinct. Again, whilst Bunge (Reliq. Lehmannianæ, 45) asserts P. Sibirica, L., and P. tenuifolia, Willd., to be beyond all doubt distinct, both Ledebour and more recently Regel (Radde, Reis. in Ost-Sibirien, Botanische Abth. Bd. 1 Heft 2. p. 277) with equal confidence unite them. VEGETATION OF THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT. The vegetation of the country around the Great Australian Bight is as yet so imperfectly known, that the limits to which the bulk of West Australian plant extends eastwards, and the line to which the inland flora from the Burdekin, Darling, and Murray Steppes advances to the west remain to be ascertained; and any, even the most trifling addition to our knowledge on this point cannot but be acceptable. Mr. E. A. Delisser, an explorer, who, on several occasions has faced the obstacles which the aridity of the Bight country opposes to the progress of "squatters," and who lately advanced from the head of the Great Bight in a north-west direction over level, not materially scrubby, but permanently waterless country, brought with him the following plants from the remotest parts reached by him, which show the vegetation to be that of the eastern colonies, and not that of West Australia :— Salsola Australis, R. Br. Arthrocnemum Arbuscula, Moquin. Eremophila Latrobei, Ferd. Mueller. E. alternifolia, R. Br. Var. latior. E. Delisserii, Ferd. Mueller. narrow pinnatisected leaves; the Lavatera plebeja, R. Brown. -It will be observed that the last-mentioned plant is the only one which belongs to the West Australian flora exclusively, while all the others are either forms of the East Australian, or such as are common to both sides of the continent. Eremophila Delisserii is the only new plant of the collection. It is a well-marked species of a genus of which now about forty species are described; and partakes of several characters of the section Pholidia; the leaves are opposite and roundish. FERD. MUELLER. FLORA OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE. NEW GLOUCESTERSHIRE PLANTS, COLLECTED BY Specimens of plants mentioned in the following list, have been seen by Mr. J. G. Baker. It is supplementary to a list published in last year's Report of the Thirsk Botanical Club (vide 'Journal of Botany,' Vol. III. p. 121.) None of the species are given by Mr. Watson for the South Severn sub-province. Papaver somniferum, L.-In fields and waste ground near Upton. Alyssum calycinum, L.-In fields near Dursley. Cardamine sylvatica, Link.-On banks, Newent Canal. T. intermedia, De Cand.-Longhope Wood. Rosa sarmentacea, Woods.-In hedges near Birdlip. R. dumetorum, Woods.-In hedges near Dursley. R. glaucophylla, Bak.-In hedges near Cleeve. R. verticillacantha, Bak.-In hedges near Gloucester. Epilobium rivulare, Wahl.-On banks of the Severn, Gloucester. Tragopogon minor, Fr.-On the borders of fields near Upton. Monotropa multiflora, De Cand.-In Frith Wood. Cuscuta Trifolii, Bab.-In clover fields near Painswick. C. rubrum, L.-In waste ground near Gloucester. C. ficifolium, Sm.-On heaps of rubbish near Gloucester. Salix pentandra, L.—In a lane near Tewkesbury. Apparently planted. S. rugosa, Sm.-In hedges near the Mitcheldean Station. S. acuminata, Sm.-On banks of the Severn near Gloucester. Allium compactum, Thuill.-On rocks near Beachley. Anacharis Alsinastrum, Bab.—In all the canals around Gloucester. Juncus cœnosus, Jacq.-In marshy grounds near Beachley. L. congesta, Sm.-Heath, Mitcheldean. Panicum Crus-galli, L.-On the borders of fields near Gloucester. Briza minor, L.-Lancaut Cliffs. Brachypodium pinnatum, Beauv.-Dursley Hill. Poa subcærulea, Sm.-On the borders of fields near Gloucester. Triticum pungens, Wahl.-Sandy shore near Beachley. INTRODUCED PLANTS. Saponaria Vaccaria, L.-On heaps of rubbish near Gloucester. Linaria purpurea, L.-On old walls near Coleford. Salsola Tragus, L.-In waste ground near Berkeley canal. Malva parviflora, L., or M. borealis, Wallm., Syme's Eng. Bot. ii. p. 169. In waste ground and meadow land near Gloucester. Phalaris minor, Retz.-On heaps of rubbish near Berkeley canal. WELWITSCHII ITER ANGOLENSE. CORRIGENDUM. From the absence of Dr. Welwitsch in Paris while the sheet describing his new Bignoniaceae was passing through the press, the name FERNANDOA was misprinted Ferdinandia (Vol. III. p. 330). CORRESPONDENCE. Leucojum vernum, Linn. J. C. Mansel, Esq., of Longthorns, writes that he has visited Bridport, and is able to confirm Mr. Hardy's suggestion as to Leucojum vernum being probably a British plant (ante, p. 88). He found it growing in abundance for a distance of more than a quarter of a mile on the banks and sides of a thick hedgerow in a remote valley, in which there are no houses. Mr. Mansel having been good enough to forward fresh specimens, we shall in an early number give a figure of the plant, and we reserve till then the further particulars which Mr. Mansel has communicated. Fagus Forest in New England, Australia. Mr. Charles Moore, the able Director of the Botanic Garden of Sydney, returning from a botanical excursion through the dense forests of the highlands of New England, discloses, for the first time, the existence of an extensive Fagus forest in that part of Australia. It covers the elevated ranges between the rivers Bellingen and Clarence, in belts from two to three miles in length. The Fagus is allied to F. Cunninghami, but the leaves are remarkably acute, their teeth smaller and more numerous; moreover the leaves attain a larger size, being not rarely 2 inches long, and measuring, in young plants, fully 4 inches in length. The subalpine nature of this Fagus country, which, in continental Australia, readily reminds of the Baw Baw ranges, is indicated by the presence of Gualtheria hispida. Several interesting and rare trees accompany the Fagus, for instance, Elæocarpus holopetalus, Geissois rubifolia, Cuttsia viburnea, Croton Verreauxii, a new Lomatia (L. lasiantha, F. M.), etc. The new Beech is to be described as Fagus Moorei, in the thirty-sixth number of the 'Fragmenta Phytographia Australia.' FERD. MUELLER. Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Dec. 26, 1865. |