?Pulmonaria officinalis. In similar places with the last species, but far more rare, if, indeed, it be distinct therefrom; nor does it seem to have been gathered in the subjoined localities subsequently to the date of its first discovery in that station, and which itself rests on very uncertain authority. Common in Exbury Wood; Mr. Rudge in Bot. Guide: but there are strong grounds for suspecting that P. angustifolia was the plant intended both in this and the remaining stations quoted in that work,* and I believe Mr. Borrer has searched at Exbury in vain for specimens. The figure in E. B., t. 118, depicts a form of P. angustifolia very frequent in the county, with broad, ovate, upper stem-leaves; that given in tab. 1628 of the same work as the true angustifolia, is likewise a very common form here, as are also figs. 2 and 3 of Gerard's Em., the latter representing the extreme narrow-leaved state of the plant, such as I have often gathered in this island, and to which my examples with white flowers likewise belong. That there is a Pulmonaria found in various parts of Europe, and very common in English gardens, if not wild in some counties, having the root-leaves broadly cordate-ovate, and which is the P. officinalis of Linnæus and others, cannot be doubted; but excepting in the greater breadth of the lower leaves I do not know in what it differs from P. angustifolia, which last, in some of its broader forms, approaches the other pretty closely. I confess, however, to having never seen a complete amalgamation of both species by an unbroken series of connecting links, or such examples as there would be any difficulty in referring to one or the other; and since the geographical distribution of the two plants is not quite the same, and the continental botanists, who enjoy better opportunities of studying them in a native state than we do, are generally agreed in keeping them distinct, it is perhaps advisable still so to consider them in the absence of positive evidence to the contrary. Lithospermum officinale. In woods, copses, on bushy banks and in dry stony or waste places, corn-fields, &c., but not very common, at least in the Isle of Wight. In Quarr Copse, by Binstead, in the pits or hollows (old stone workings), not unfrequent. At Nettlestone * That of a wood by Holbury House, in the New Forest, given as if on the authority of Ray, is in fact due to John Goodyer in Gerard Em., and from reference to the figure, is plainly P. angustifolia. Merrett's station of Kinswood, or rather Kingswood, by Mr. Loggins (Pinax, p. 99), though referring to Gerard's figure of P. officinalis (Herball, p. 808, p. maculosa), is in all likelihood our angustifolia, as these plants were then not properly distinguished, and Merrett, who was himself scarcely more than a compiler, does not appear to have seen specimens. VOL. III. 4 F Point, and along the shore between it and the Priory. Frequent in Bloodstone and Eaglehead Copses near Ashey, and elsewhere in the island. Near Fontley Mill; Mr. W. L. Notcutt. Probably frequent throughout the county, but I have not paid attention to the point as yet. Lithospermum arvense. In corn-fields and waste ground, very com mon. Often much too abundant amongst corn at Bembridge, Cowes, &c., and I presume of equal frequency throughout the county. OBS.-L. purpuro-cæruleum, distinguished by its large tubular flowers of the most vivid azure, and narrow, very acute leaves, should be looked for in chalky woods and thickets. Myosotis palustris. In clear pools and ditches, on the banks of streams, and in marshy places; a frequent plant in mainland Hants, but singularly uncommon in the Isle of Wight. In à boggy meadow by the stream side a little above Calbourne village, or towards Calbourne Lodge. Margin of a small pool in the Brick-kiln Butt, facing Wackland farm house; the late Mr. Robert Loe, Sept., 1843 !!! In moist ditches, not uncommon; Mr. W. D. Snooke: but I fancy the next species to be the one which Mr. S. had in view, and which is often taken for the true forget-me-not. Profusely in various places along the stream from Selborne church to Oakhanger and Short Heath, enamelling the margin of the limpid brook with its lovely skyblue flowers and herbage of the liveliest green; very fully in flower, September 17th, 1848. About Bishopstoke. Wet place by the road-side between Boldre Bridge and Passford farm, near Lymington. Wallington, Maindell, &c.; Mr. W. L. Notcutt; and in many other places. repens. In similar places with the last, as likewise in moist woods, and far the more common of the two, which are often confounded together. Frequent in the Isle of Wight, as in the marsh ditches about the Wilderness, abundantly, and elsewhere. common species in the county generally. A very cæspitosa. In ditches and pools, but not very frequent, at least in the Isle of Wight. In Sandown marsh ditches, not uncommonly. In a small pool in a field near Coppid Hall, by Havenstreet. In one of the cuts or drains at the entrance of the marsh at Easton (Freshwater Gate), which was quite filled with it July 18th, 1843. Profusely abundant in a pool formed by the stream a little above Mottiston Mill. Ditches in the meadows at the bottom of Brading marshes; Mr. Wm. Wilson Saunders. I have no mainland station at present to record for this species, but I can scarcely suppose it to be less frequent there than in the island. Besides the very good technical characters, this most distinct species is marked by its pale green, watery hue, its smooth, shining, translucent aspect, and extremely cæspitose mode of growth, its matted roots and lax interwoven stems, forming tufts of great magnitude and weight in the water of the ditch or pond, which it sometimes fills up entirely. Myosotis sylvatica. In woods and shady places; very rare? At Lyss, near Petersfield; Rev. G. E. Smith! The only example of this beautiful species I have seen from the county, which I owe to the kindness of its discoverer, is remarkably pubescent all over. It will probably be found in other parts of Hants, but it is a much more frequent plant in the north than in the south of England. arvensis. Common almost everywhere in open fields, fallows, waste ground, on hedge-banks, and in shady places, groves, &c. collina. On wall tops, banks and waste ground in dry, sandy soil; very common during spring and early summer in the Isle of Wight, and doubtless over the entire county as well. versicolor. In like places with the last, as also in moist meadows and pastures; very commonly. Solanum nigrum. In waste ground, about houses and farm yards, on dunghills, rubbish-heaps, in neglected gardens, and in sandy places near the sea; very frequent in the Isle of Wight, and I believe over the whole county. At Ryde, on the Dover, &c., frequent. Plentiful, and very large in some sandy or gravelly pits on the spit below St. Helen's, where, as amongst the sand-hills and on the flat beach of the south shore of Hayling Island, it grows in its most truly natural and wild state. Common about farm houses and in weedy gardens in most parts of the island; at Sandown, Bonchurch, Ventnor, Cowes, Arreton, Godshill, St. Helen's, &c. Portchester; Fareham; Mr. W. L. Notcutt. I have remarked it in various places on the mainland, but have neglected making notes of a plant so generally diffused over the south of England as this. Several varieties, some of them perhaps species, occur on the continent of Europe, and which will probably be found to inhabit Britain. Of these the most remarkable and distinct is that with berries of an orange red, S. miniatum of some authors, and a variety with the fruit of a yellowish green when mature, is found in Sussex and other parts of England, and will probably be discovered in Hants. I have only found the common blackberried form here as yet, which, with some insignificant differences in aspect, is widely dispersed over the temperate and warmer parts of the globe. The common American form, S. virginianum, differs in no respect from the ordinary European state of the species, but I have gathered in the West Indies (Trinidad) a variety with a more slender habit and smaller flowers and berries than in the English plant, which is much used by the negroes as an ingredient in their vegetable soup called callaloo, and a similar use is made of S. nigrum by the blacks in Africa and in the Mauritius. In this county the garden nightshade passes for an active and poisonous plant, and at one time obtained some repute in medicine. To judge from its appearance and smell, it is the last thing one would choose to make soup of, though in the process of stewing it may become as innocent, and I dare say quite as palatable, as "nettle brose," which the author of the useful and agreeable Flora of Forfarshire' extols as delicious. The flowers of S. nigrum, gathered in warm, close weather, occasionally exhale an odour of musk as powerfully as do the blossoms of Mimulus moschatus, as I have myself remarked, but the smell is very transient, ceasing in a few moments after it becomes perceptible. Eastmount House, Ryde, Isle of Wight, WM. A. BROMFIELD. [To be continued.] On the Wiltshire locality for Lysimachia thyrsiflora. It is only within a very recent period that the attention of botanists has been more especially directed to the geographical distribution of British plants. And since the publication of Mr. Watson's valuable 'Cybele Britannica,' together with the many excellent local floras and interesting contributions to the pages of the 'Phytologist,' much valuable information has been obtained, both as regards the distribution and range of species. And although much care has been taken of late years to avoid the propagation of error, through the medium of these sources, yet occasionally it cannot be prevented; and of which the following will afford a striking illustration. Having had, for some time past, considerable doubts as to whether Lysimachia thyrsiflora could be considered truly indigenous in Wiltshire, there is now, I believe, every reason for supposing, from information I have been able to collect, that this rare plant has been introduced into the county, by the late Mr. Sole, of Bath. Mr. Babington, in his 'Flora Bathoniensis,' gives the following station for it :-" In a marsh to the right of the footpath from Wraxhall to the 'Horse and Jockey." The late Mr. Jelly, in his 'Flora Bathonica,' which, from unforeseen circumstances, was never published, gives the locality in these words: "Sides of the Avon going to Tiverton." Sole, in his 'Flora Bathonica,' written in the year 1782, with an intention of publishing it, but which his death prevented, writes the following: "I have not yet had the good luck to find this plant, but having had it given me, I have planted it in a low place by the side of the Avon, 100 paces below Mr. Brett's timber-yard-where it flourishes very well." This I make no doubt is the same station alluded to by Jelly, his Flora having been written some years after Mr. Sole's death, and therefore he could not have known of its having been planted by Sole in the locality mentioned. The plant has not been found in this station for some years. With regard to the Wraxhall station, I have more than once been told, by persons who were well acquainted with Mr. Sole, that he was frequently in the habit of bringing plants into this locality, with a view of introducing them into the neighbourhood of Bath: therefore I think we may fairly presume that the Lysimachia was planted here also. And what is rather singular, it has now disappeared from this locality; not a single specimen, as far as I can learn, having been found since 1841. These statements, I think, very clearly show that the plant has been introduced into the neighbourhood of Bath, and can have no further claims to be considered indigenous; and that we should not be too hasty in deeming an introduced plant truly wild. Seend, near Melksham, June 14, 1849. T. B. FLOWER. Notice of A Manual of Botany; being an Introduction to the Study of the Structure, Physiology, and Classification of Plants.' By JOHN HUTTON BALFOUR, M.D., &c., Professor of Medicine and Botany in the University of Edinburgh. It would be difficult to point out any instance of more judicious appointment to a Botanical Chair, than was made in the choice of Dr. Balfour to perform the duties of that office successively in our two principal northern universities. In each instance a competition occurred which excited at the time a lively interest in botanical circles. It was a struggle between special qualifications for the responsible |