Common and Sharpnage Well, Ley & Purchas: near Penteloe Brook, Woolhope, Ley & Purchas. Pembrokeshire :-St. Issel's, near Tenby, Purchas. W. Kent:-Hedgebank between Cranbrook and Bedgebury, Marshall. E. Kent:-Dry clayey bank in a meadow outside Chiddenden Woods, towards Tenterden, Marshall. Surrey:Clayey bank, between Witley and Grayswood, Marshall (this is the plant mentioned in B. E. C. Report for 1892).

P. procumbens x Tormentilla (P. suberecta Zimmeter). Staffordshire :-On a walled bank at the Railway Station, Rocester; between the Railway Station and the Hotel, Rudyard; between Reap's Moor and Longuor; between Alstonefield and Longuor; all Purchas. Derbyshire-Bradley, W. R. Linton. Herefordshire:-Near Garway Hill, 1850, Purchas & Lingwood. Brecknockshire:-Llanwrtyd, Purchas. S. Devon-Hedgebank by Cann Plantation, between Colebrook and Shaugh, Archer Briggs (this closely approaches P. procumbens, for which it was gathered). Ireland, Co. Down:Dry hedgebanks, Newtonbutler, 1849, Dr. Mathew.

P. reptans Tormentilla (P. italica Lehm. 1849, P. Gremlii Zimm. 1884, P. adscendens Gremli). Surrey:-Roadside near Grayswood, Witley, 1887, Marshall. E. Kent:-Clayey ride in Chiddenden Woods, Marshall. The specimens are somewhat young, in this case, and procumbens × reptans is a possible alternative; but they seem to be better named as above. The hybrid has not previously been determined as British on good authority, so far as I am aware; but it can hardly be very scarce, having regard to the apparent frequency and wide distribution of procumbens × rep

tans.

It may be useful to translate Dr. Focke's descriptions and remarks (l. c. pp. 820-1); premising, however, that (as he indeed. hints) considerable latitude must be allowed in dealing with such variable forms as hybrids commonly assume. Specimen-matching alone will not help us much :

"1. P. procumbens × Tormentilla. . . Stem hardly rooting, loosely panicled above; lower stem-leaves shortly stalked, upper not stalked; stipules more or less deeply incised; flowers almost as large as in P. procumbens; pollen with many imperfect grains; fruit mostly abortive. Connecting the two species by many intermediate forms. As P. procumbens is usually associated with P. Tormentilla, the hybrid forms may be almost universally found where P. procumbens grows, often far more frequent than it.

...

"2. P. reptans × Tormentilla. . . . Often very like P. procumbens ; stem long, creeping, and often rooting; leaves stalked, 3-5-nate; leaflets more glabrous and often larger than in P. procumbens; stipules ovate-lanceolate, entire, or with solitary, deep, lateral incisions; flowers showy; pollen containing but few well-developed grains; it fruits very little. A per-tormentilla form is like a strong P. Tormentilla, but is easily distinguished by the larger flowers and the stalked lower leaves; stipules occasionally undivided, generally rather strongly incised; pollen with many normal grains; fruit not rare. This form is very like procumbens × Tormentilla. Tormentilla and P. reptans as a rule grow in different situations;

P.

but where they occur in company, particularly in light wooded spots on loamy soil, the hybrid forms are also apt to be plentiful.

"3. P. procumbens × reptans. . . . Basal leaves quinate; stem creeping, rooting; flowers solitary, showy, to some extent 4-partite, but principally 5-partite; stem-leaves stalked, stipules undivided."

NOTES ON THE FLORA OF BERKSHIRE.

BY G. CLARIDGE DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S.

DURING my residence in Oxford, dating from 1879, I have been working at the Flora of the above county--until 1885, however, only in a secondary degree to that of Oxfordshire. On the completion of my Oxfordshire Flora, and hearing from Mr. Britten that he did not contemplate the continuance of the work inaugurated in his useful · "Contributions towards a Flora of Berkshire," which was printed in the Transactions of the Newbury Field Club for 1871, I decided to undertake the task of completing a Flora of Berkshire. Unfortunately I have had but few coadjutors, and as some parts of the county are rather difficult of access to one living in the extreme corner, the distribution of all the plants is by no means exhaustively investigated; yet the salient features, at any rate, of its Flora have been made out during my explorations of the last eight years.

I have also examined all the records which are scattered through the works of Turner, Lobel, Gerard, Parkinson, How, Merrett, Morison, Ray, Dillenius, and the more recent authors. The herbaria of Dubois, Bobart, Sherard, Dillenius at Oxford; that of Sir Joseph Banks, as well as the British herbarium of the British Museum, and that of Sir James E. Smith in the possession of the Linnean Society, have also been examined. Many valuable MSS. of Goodyer, Lightfoot, Wm. Browne, Dillenius, Sheffield, Baxter, and others have been placed under requisition, so that the forthcoming Flora will contain as far as possible all that is now known of the plants of the district.

Perhaps it may be well to state that while many of the old authors are cited in Britten's "Contributions," a rather important list is omitted, i. e., that given in Dr. Mavor's General View of the Agriculture of Berks, published in 1809, which really forms the basis of the County Flora, consisting as it does of about 500 species, many of which are localised; it contains, however, many errors.

The various species given in Britten's "Contributions" have now, with comparatively few exceptions, been verified by me. The following, up till the present time, I have not been able to find. These may be divided into four categories:

1st. Plants of casual occurrence, or which were not indigenous, but were probably correctly recorded :—Anemone apennina L. In a copse at Shillingford, Baxter. Paonia officinalis L. This, which, according to How, in the Phytologia Britannica, occurred in a close at Sunningwell, has long ago disappeared. - Isatis tinctoria

L. Near Wantage, Dr. Trimen. Silene nutans L. One plant in Wellington Grounds, Rev. C. W. Penny.-Silene Armeria L. Near Sonning. S. conica L. S. conica L. One plant near Newbury, H. Boswell.— Linum angustifolium L. Farm at Crowthorn, Rev. C. W. Penny. This may belong to a higher grade of citizenship. Geranium phæum L. A garden straggler. - Mespilus germanica L., given in the Newbury list as occurring in orchards and hedgerows, is a denizen in Oxon.-Smyrnium Olusatrum L. About Windsor Castle, Blackstone. Anthriscus Cerefolium L. Hedge near Windsor.— Lonicera Caprifolium L. Bagley Wood, Rev. A. Bloxam. This may belong to the denizens. Filago gallica L. Has occurred in Berkshire. It may be a colonist; I have been unable to find any other record than the above vague note.-Polemonium cæruleum L. Two localities are on record; both of garden origin? - Veronica spicata L. Three or four plants in a brickfield at Wellington College, Rev. C. W. Penny. Chenopodium Botrys L. Bray, 1861. -Narcissus biflorus Curtis. Grange Farm.

2nd. The following perhaps have more claims to be included as Berkshire plants :-Adonis autumnalis L. Three localities are given in the Newbury list. Lythrum Hyssopifolia L. Only recorded from Cholsey by Henslow, who was vicar there, and from near Windsor. Tordylium maximum L. The record in the Botanist's Guide for Eaton Wick intends not the place of that name near Oxford, but the Eaton Wick near Eton, Bucks, and may be really in that county. I have seen a specimen from the neighbourhood of Tubney, gathered some twenty years since.-Inula Helenium L. has apparently disappeared from the locality given in Walker's Flora. Campanula Rapunculus L. also has disappeared from Newbury, &c.

3rd. The plants which have become very rare, or possibly extinct:-Dianthus prolifer L. From near Windsor.-Caucalis daucoides L. About Reading. Is now a very rare plant in Central Britain. Gnaphalium dioicum L. The records in the Newbury list are possibly erroneous, but it may yet be found on the north escarpment of the chalk. Gentiana Pneumonanthe L. I am afraid lost from Sulehampstead. It occurs in Surrey and Hants, just outside the county, and has been recorded from Wild Moor Bottom, near Wokingham, a place not known in the locality. Should it have been Lungmoor or Broadmoor? - Scrophularia vernalis L. About Bucklebury. There is no very recent record. Orobanche Rapum Thuill. A decreasing plant in all its Midland stations.-Teucrium Scordium L. I have been unable to find it in the marshy meadows of Abingdon and Eynsham, which formerly yielded it. They are still damp enough. The Godstow locality was in Oxon. Orchis Simia Lam. Almost or quite extinct. Damasonium Alisma Mill. I have carefully searched the Bracknell and Southcote localities without success. Lastrea Thelypteris L. Formerly in Windsor Park and Sunningwell Bog. Is there a more recent record ?— Lycopodium clavatum L. Although not recently found, surely it will yet be discovered about Bagshot Heath.

4th. Plants recorded in error, or of which there is only a slight

probability of being correct. Mr. Lousley contributed many records to the Newbury list, but they are so full of gross inaccuracies as to throw doubt on all his statements. His records of Lathyrus palustris L., Illecebrum verticillatum L., Polycarpon tetraphyllum L., Salvia pratensis L., Euphorbia platyphylla L., Habenaria albida Br., and Allium Scorodoprasum L. are all erroneous. The list of plants found about Pangbourne by Mr. Pamplin also contains several misnomers :-Viola Curtisii Forst. is a form of V. tricolor L.--Trifolium subterraneum L. requires verification.--Sedum Forsterianum Sm. is probably a mistake for S. reflexum L.; his Myosotis sylvatica is M. arvensis var. umbrosa; his Cardamine impatiens L. is C. sylvatica.--Cephalanthera ensifolia is not correct; his Aceras anthropophora is probably Habenaria viridis; the Lamium incisum is a variety of L. purpureum; and there are doubts as to the correctness of Carduus tenuiflorus, Artemisia Absinthium, and Habenaria bifolia.

Other records which are errors are--Geranium sylvaticum in Bot. Guide for G. pratense L. Drosera anglica Huds. To this is referred Bobart's record in Morison's Hist. iii. 620; but Bobart did not discriminate between D. anglica and D. intermedia; both species are on the same sheet in his herbarium. Lepidium latifolium, recorded by Mr. Bicheno from the peat-pits near Newbury, is probably a lapsus calami; he was a fairly competent botanist.Probably Aceras anthropophora and Thlaspi perfoliatum from Flower's list are both errors, the last certainly so.--Blackstone's record of Lathyrus palustris, although never verified, is not altogether improbable; so far, it has eluded me.--Pyrus scandica, which Prof. Babington mentions from Pangbourne, but which Dr. Syme was unable to find, may be rediscovered.--Chrysosplenium alternifolium, given as a Berks plant on faith of the Cliefden Wood locality, but this belongs to Bucks.-Bagley Wood, given in my Flora of Oxon on faith of Rev. E. Fox, is an error for C. oppositifolium.--Cicuta virosa L. in Wellington list is an error, as is the record in my Flora of Oxon by Rev. E. Fox.--Rubia peregrina L. In the neighbourhood of Kintbury or Inkpen, Reeks. A very improbable record.-Hieracium murorum, from the downs above W. Woodhay and from walls at Elcot, by Mr. Reeks, is a probable misnomer for H. vulgatum. Scrophularia Ehrhartii Stev. Near Cumnor. A misnomer; the plant from there is S. nodosa L. var. Bobartii Pryor.Limosella aquatica L. The Binsey locality is in Oxon. -- Orobanche cærulea Vill. Near Cookham, but the purple-flowered form of 0. minor was mistaken for it.-- Stachys germanica L. According to Bromfield, in Phyt. iii. 685, is plentiful in Berks, but never verified. It is also recorded from Ducklington, but that parish is in Oxon. The plant should be found on the north side of the coralline oolite plateau.--The station for Asarum europæum L., between Henley and Maidenhead, is most likely in Bucks. -- Potamogeton heterophyllus Schreb. The locality for North Berks in the "Contributions' I am inclined to think incorrect, as is Mr. Tufuail's Burghfield record in Flora Oxf., which more likely belongs to P. rufescens.-P. heterophyllus is a plant which should occur.

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In Mavor's list of plants, which, he says, "he owes in great measure to Dr. Noehden, of Windsor, and Mr. Bicheno, of Newbury," he remarks of Dr. Noelden's records, "that he has only to regret that the Doctor, having kept no written memoranda, and having made his excursions some years ago, was unable to name the exact habitats of the plants he discovered. The district which he examined, however, includes the vicinity of Windsor, and extends on one side as far as Bagshot Heath, and on the other to Bisham Woods." The following plants in the list I have not been able to verify:--Allium Schænoprasum L. Meadows and pastures, Noehden, who also gives A. vineale L., which is frequent; can the former be a var. of the latter? Callitriche autumnalis is of course C. hamulata. Carex arenaria L. is an error. C. caspitosa is C. Goodenowia; and C. axillaris, C. distans, and C. stricta are most probably names rather than plants.--Drosera anglica and Geranium moschatum are D. intermedia and Erodium cicutarium respectively.-Lycopodium Selago L., Dr. Beeke records from a bog on Ufton Common, a locality more suited for L. inundatum.--Medicago arabica Dr. Mavor says is by no means rare throughout the upper part of the county, partially cultivated. "Native." I have never met with it. Can he have meant M. lupulina? Melampyrum arvense L. "Frequent." Probably Bartsia Odontites, which he does not give. --M. cristatum L. and M. sylvaticum are undoubted errors.-Dianthus deltoides L. On old walls, Mr. Bicheno, is either a misnomer or a casual. Peucedanum officinale L. Dr. Noehden. An error.--Prunus Padus L. A misnomer for P. avium L.-- Salix pentandra L. An error. Stellaria nemorum is a mistake for

Cerastium aquaticum. Veronica hybrida is also a misnomer. Ranunculus hirsutus, from moist clayey places, is doubtless an error. --Tillæa muscosa, which Mr. Bicheno records from near Frilsham, is a plant which I have vainly searched for in the district.

Among other erroneous records may be mentioned Draba inflata, from a bank opposite Reading Castle; see Phyt. 1856, p. 334, which is a form of D. brachycarpa that occurs in Oxon and Warwick.

Any information upon the foregoing, or upon any Berks records, would be greatly valued. They may be sent to 118, High Street, Oxford.

GOSSYPIUM LANCEEFORME MIERS MS.

[THE recent investigation by Dr. Watt of the genus Gossypium has brought under our notice an apparently unpublished paper on the genus by Mr. John Miers, containing the description of a Mexican species collected by Pavon. So far as we can discover, this plant has never been described, but it was referred to in a review (by Dr. Masters) of Parlatore's Le Specie dei Cotoni, published in the Gardeners' Chronicle for July 28, 1866 (p. 710):-"There is in the British Museum a specimen of Pavon's from Mexico, which is different from any species known to us in the peculiarly long tails to the leaf-lobes, and in the segments of the involucre, which