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Perisporium nitidulum. Nitidum nigrum in maculas congregatum; peritheciis minutis hemisphericis; sporidiis subglobosis minutis fuscis. Welw. No. 38. On dead leaves of Agave Americana with Nectria sanguinea, Sphæria herbarum, &c., near Situbal. Forming little black patches consisting of numerous shining black hemispherical minute perithecia. Sporidia minute subglobose or broadly subcymbiform. I have not seen asci, but in several species these are very soon absorbed and the habit is that of Perisporium.

"Phoma Erythrine. Peritheciis ostiolisque prominulis; sporis oblongo linearibus hyalinis. Welw. No. 46. On dead branches of Erythrina Crista Galli; Lumiar and elsewhere near Lisbon; mixed with Sphæropsis crassipes, scattered. Perithecia prominent raising the epidermis which remains unaltered and piercing it by a rather prominent ostiolum. Spores linear, oblong, one three thousandth of an inch long, one sixth as much thick, sporophores about twice as long delicate.

"Sphæropsis crassipes, Mont. MSS. Gregaria epidermide tecta ; maculis peritheciorum irregularibus atris centro albis; sporis oblongis; sporophoris subrobustis. Welw. No. 46. On dead branches of Erythrina Crista Galli; Lumiar. The perithecia occur in irregular patches extending several inches. The cuticle above each perithecium is of a shining black, but white in the centre. Sporophores nearly twice as long as the spores, rather stout; spores oblong, subelliptic, one seventeen hundred and fiftieth of an inch long.

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Septoria brunneola, Berk. Peritheciis epidermide brunneo tectis; sporophoris rectis; sporis sursum curvatis filiformibus dimidio. brevioribus. Welw. No. 46. On dead branches of Erythrina Crista Galli, sparingly; mixed with Sphæropsis crassipes, Mont. Perithecia scattered or arranged two or three together in a line covered with the cuticle, which is raised just above them, and of a dull brown. Spores filiform, curved, about one eight hundred and seventy fifth of an inch long, about twice as long as the filiform straight sporophores. "Valsa Welwitchsii. Pustulis parvis circumscriptis; stromate pallido; peritheciis globosis immersis albofarctis, collis longiusculis ; ostiolis convexis subpunctiformibus; ascis tenellis; sporidiis curvulis. Welw. No. 47. On the smooth bark of elms; Cintra. Pustules scarcely one third of a line broad, elevating the bark; disk narrow; stroma pale; perithecia globose immersed about five in each pustule, sometimes however solitary, neck rather long; ostiola convex subpunctiform; asci short, very delicate, sporidia eight minute oblong curved.

Depazea crepidophora, Mont. MSS. Maculis orbicularibus fuscis sero griseis fusco limitatis; peritheciis minimis; ascis crepidiformibus minutis; sporidiis oblongis uniseptatis. Welw. No. 51. On living leaves of Viburnum Tinus, near Caldas da Rainha, August, 1850. Obs. I have not been so fortunate as to find perfect fruit in this species, and I therefore describe it from a sketch by Dr. Montagne.

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Septoria Pisi. Maculis parvis orbicularibus; sporis filiformibus breviusculis robustioribus. Welw. No. 64. On leaves of Pisum sativum, in fields near Ajuda, March. Distinguished by its more robust and shorter spores.

"Phoma Cacti. Maculis suborbicularibus 1. effusis; peritheciis majoribus prominulis; sporis minutis oblongo ellipticis; sporophoris filiformibus. Welw. No. 72. On dead Cactus peruvianus; Lumiar. Obs.-Bursting through the cuticle and having the aspect of a minute Diplodia."

'The London Catalogue of British Plants. Published under the direction of the Botanical Society of London. Adapted for marking Desiderata in Exchanges of Specimens, &c. Fourth Edition. London William Pamplin, 45, Frith Street, Soho. 1853. Price 6d.'

The issue of a fourth edition of this Catalogue affords irrefragable evidence of the progress of British Botany, and of the success of that Society whence it emanates. The prominent characteristic of the Botanical Society of London is the exchange and dissemination of well-named specimens ; and in this it has fairly distanced every competitor. Indeed, so decidedly is this the case, that, numerous as are the notices and advertisements which have reached us, we scarcely know whether any of the competing Societies have outlived their announcement, whether they still exist, or still aim at carrying out their views according to their own programme. Perhaps we cannot do the botanists of this country a better service than recording, we might say reiterating, the conditions under which the distribution of specimens is carried out.

"The Botanical Society of London is a central institution for effecting exchanges of Specimens between Members of the Society in any part of Britain; also, for exchanges with Foreign Botanists, who are not required to become members in order to obtain the same privilege. "Members send their spare duplicates to the central depôt in

London, and are entitled to claim, in return, such British or Foreign species as the Society's store of duplicates may afford. A preference in the supply of their desiderata is given to those contributors who most exactly conform to the subjoined Regulations.

"The Annual Subscription entitles any member to claim fifty species, without the obligation of contributing specimens to the store; priority still being given to the claims of actual contributors in selecting desiderata.

"Desiderata of Members.-These can be applied for by prefixing short horizontal marks (—) to the names of the desiderated species or varieties in a copy of the 'London Catalogue of British Plants,' published for this purpose by the Society. If a manuscript list be sent instead, it must correspond exactly with the printed Catalogue, latest edition, in the names and prefixed numbers or letters, and also in their order of sequence.

"Desiderata of the Society.-Lists of desiderata will be sent to the contributing members annually. To prevent the accumulation of useless specimens, and to avoid the needless destruction of rare plants, contributors are requested to send only the species asked for by the Society. An exception to this rule may properly be made in the case of newly discovered species not yet entered in the Catalogue, or of any remarkable varieties not included therein.

"Time of sending Parcels.-This is optional with the contributor; a return parcel being made up as soon as practicable after the receipt of one from him. But the best return can be made for parcels received near the end of the year; and it is also most convenient to the Society that parcels should arrive in December;-least convenient, between December and April.

"Number of Specimens. In a parcel of British plants, it is generally more convenient to the Society that there should be only few species (say, one to ten species) and many duplicates (say, ten to a hundred specimens, according to rarity), of each species.

"Character of Specimens.-The specimens should be such as to show clearly the distinctive characters of the species, and be otherwise as perfect examples of it as possible. Small plants should be sent entire, roots included. Long plants should be bent or folded before drying. No fragments ought to be sent, unless those of trees or other large and branching plants which cannot be folded within suitable dimensions if entire. Unsuitable specimens are destroyed, and unprofitably waste the time of the distributors in separating and removing them.

"Size of Specimens.-The Society's paper for duplicates is seventeen inches in length. Specimens should be two inches shorter than the paper, in order to lessen the risk of breakage, consequent on repeatedly turning over the duplicates while selecting desiderata.

"Preservation of Specimens.-The specimens are to be pressed in porous paper, sufficient in quantity to dry them rapidly, and thus to preserve their colour; and to be placed under a pressure sufficiently heavy to keep their leaves from becoming wrinkled, and consequently too brittle when dry.

“Labels.—All British specimens are to be sent ready labelled by their contributors. The labels are to be attached to the specimens, either by a slit at their base or otherwise, as convenient; care being taken that the name and number of the plant are never concealed or obscured by any part of the specimen lying across them. The labels are expected to show the following particulars:-1. The No. of the species, or No. and Letter of the variety, according to the London Catalogue,' placed at the upper left-hand corner of the label.-2. The name of the Species or Variety, from the same Catalogue, always with the addition of the authority after the name.-3. The name of the County in which the specimen was gathered; together with any more exact description of the locality which the contributor may think desirable.-4. The name of the Contributor, placed at the bottom of the label; that of the Collector also being added, if not the contributor himself.-5. The words' Botanical Society of London' are not to be used on the labels of contributors unless by express authority from the distributors in London.

"N.B. In the 'London Catalogue' the names of authorities are occasionally too much abbreviated, from want of space in the line. "Attention to Regulations. Exact attention to the preceding regulations is earnestly entreated. Where specimens have to be examined, sorted, arranged, and re-distributed in many thousands annually, uniformity and exactness become matters of the utmost importance. It is impossible for distant members to know how greatly any deviations (such as may be fancied very trifling deviations from rule) will impede the routine of management in London, and thus very inconveniently increase the heavy duties of the distributors."

VOL. IV.

7 F

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES, &c.

THE PHYTOLOGIST CLUB.

One Hundred and Fiftieth Sitting.- Saturday, October 22, 1853. MR. NEWMAN, President, in the chair.

The President read the following communications:

New Westmoreland Station for Woodsia Ilvensis.

"A new station for Woodsia Ilvensis has been found in Westmoreland. As it is many miles from the Teesdale habitat, I consider it an interesting and important discovery. It was found by Isaac Hudhart, a gardener, who has studied the ferns, and has been very successful in finding all the best ferns of this district. He has very wisely told no one about the locality of the Woodsia but myself; for I consider it absolutely necessary to keep secure the habitats of good ferns now, as, if known, they are sure to be exterminated. There may be about twenty plants. I enclose a frond, to enable you to verify my statement."-Frederic Clowes; Holly Hill, Windermere, September 14, 1853.

The President observed, that the fronds kindly transmitted with this note are similar to those gathered on Falcon Clints.

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Lastrea rigida near Bath.

Observing in the last number of the 'Phytologist' (iv. 1101) that a solitary plant of Lastrea rigida had been found near Bath, by J. E. Vize, Esq., may I suggest the possibility, if not the probability, that it had been planted there by Potter, a well-known fern-collector, now dead, en route to Cheddar for Polypodium calcareum; having heard from his own mouth that he did so with other plants, in order to save their extermination."-G. B. Wollaston; Chiselhurst, Kent, October 5, 1853.

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Agrimonia odorata in Hampshire.

I have much pleasure in announcing the discovery of Agrimonia odorata, Miller, in the northern part of Hampshire. I gathered it on the 13th of September, at Tucker's-Hill Farm, in the parish of Kingsclere; and at Inhurst Farm, in the parish of Banghurst. In both places it was growing in considerable abundance; and, at the latter,

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