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.. towards the base. Smith observes, "there can scarcely be found a tree of the Aria on which some leaves do not answer to this variety." Such undoubtedly is the plant of Castell dinas y Brân, near Llangollen, so long observed by Mr. Griffith, and mistaken by Hudson for the Linnæan Sorbus hybrida, whence the confusion which has till recently prevailed. Penmaen Mawr produces a plant nearly similar, described by Mr. Griffith as "an upright stiff tree, with cuneate leaves, entire at the base, and only serrated at the apex." This is the Afaleur Pren, or Lemon-tree, well known in Carnarvonshire, and noticed by modern tourists, but why so preposterously designated is not obvious. E.)

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WHITE-BEAM TREE. WHITE WILD PEAR TREE. (WHITE-LEAF TREE. P. Aria. Willd. Sm. Hook. Grev. Winch. Crataegus Aria. Linn. Huds. With. to Ed. 7. Sorbus Aria. Crantz. E.) Woods and hedges, especially in mountainous situations and calcareous soil. Mountainous parts of Derbyshire, from the fissures of precipices, without any appearance of soil. Mr. Woodward. Wick Cliffs, and on rocks in Leigh Wood, opposite the Hot-wells, Bristol. Mr. Swayne. In Eden Dean. Mr. Robson. (Grass Wood, and Dib near Coniston. Whitaker's Craven. Woods in Purbeck; Cranbourne Chase, about West Lodge, and Hanley. Pulteney. Box Hill, Surry. Mr. Winch. Turnpike road side from Painswick to Gloucester, fronting the Roman encampment. Mr. O. Roberts. King's Park. Mr. Maughan. Grev. Edin. On St. Vincent's Rocks, just below the sea-walls, indicating a spot near to which grows Arabis stricta. E.) T. May.* SPIRE'A. Cal. five-cleft: Petals five: (Pericarps three to twelve, one-celled, two-valved: Seeds one to three in each cell. Hook. E.)

S. SALICIFOLIA. Leaves egg-spear-shaped, blunt, serrated, smooth: flowers in a compound raceme.

Fl. Ross. 21-(E. Bot. 1468. E.)-Gmel. Sib. iii. 39-Kniph. 3-Clus. i. 84. (Grows in straight rods, branches inclining to yellow. Leaves alternate, nearly sessile, broad-spear-shaped. Fl. Brit. E.) A shrub about four feet high. Serratures of the leaves not very regular. Flowers rose red, paler when expanded, (forming a dense sort of spike. E.) (It increases rapidly by suckers, but seldom or ever perfects its seeds in this island, whence it has been inferred not to be properly a native; but, when we consider that it flourishes in the frigid clime of Siberia, and

It loves dry hills and open exposures, and flourishes either in gravel or clay. It bears lopping, and permits grass to grow under it. The wood, being hard, tough, and smooth, is used for axle-trees, wheels, walking-sticks, carpenters' and other tools. The fruit is catable when mellowed by autumnal frosts, and an ardent spirit may be distilled from it. It seldom bears a good crop of fruit two years together. Sheep and goats eat it. On Breidden Hill it is very difficult of access. Mr. Aikin observes that the goats devour every plant within their reach.-The wood affords an excellent charcoal for the makers of gunpowder. Mr. Gough. (The White-beam is by some considered ornamental, and is said to be engaging at all times of the year, and catches the attention even in winter; for then we see it stand, though naked of leaves, with a fine straight stem with smooth branches, spotted with white, at the end of which are buds swelled for the next year's shoot, giving the tree a bold and fine appearance." Encyc. Brit. E.)

+(From ipa, that which admits of being twisted, from its flexibility, or woven into garlands, to which use Pliny alludes. E.)

the lone spots in which it is observed in Britain, we can scarcely doubt its title to admission in our Flora. E.)

(WILLOW-LEAVED SPIREA. Welsh: Erivain helyg-ddail. E.) Mr. Gough of Kendal, who first remarked it as indigenous, says it occurs in moist hedges in Westmoreland, in many places on the borders of Winandermere, and that it has lately been observed by Mr. Dalton, of Manchester, by the road between Pool Bridge and Colthouse, near Hawkshead, Cumberland. (Hedge between Green Hammerton and Knaresborough, far from any house or garden. Teesdale. In a wood at Hafod, Cardiganshire, near a gate, in the eastern approach to the house. Sir J. E. Smith. Sides of fields about Pitcaithly, Perthshire, and in woods on the banks of Alt-Graad, Frith of Cromarty. Mr. Anderson. Banks of Cartlane Crags, Glasgow. Hopkirk. In a hedge in the parish of Llanwillog, between Bryngola and the church, Anglesey. Welsh Bot. In Gibside wood, Durham. Mr. R. Wigham. Eng. Fl. E.) S. July. S. FILIPENDULA. Leaves interruptedly winged: leafits strap-spearshaped, irregularly serrated, smooth: flowers in tufts: (styles many. E.)

(Hook. Fl. Lond. 125. E.)-Fl. Dan. 635-E. Bot. 284-Blackw. 467Kniph. 3-Fuchs. 562-Trag. 883-Lonic. i. 220. 2-Ger. 900. 1-Matth. 865-Clus. ii. 211. 2-Dod. 56. 1-Lob. Obs. 420. 3-Ger. Em. 1058. 1 — Park. 435. 1—Pet. 71. 6—H. Ox. ix. 20. row 1, left hand figure. (Roots consisting of numerous black, oval, farinaceous knobs or glandules, connected by slender fibres. Stems herbaceous, from one foot to a yard high or more. Leafits mostly alternate, smooth on both sides and shining. A pair of little leafits sessile on the leaf-stalk between each pair of larger leafits. Fruit-stalk bent before the flowers expand. Petals cream-coloured, purplish underneath, deflexed. Styles eight to twelve. Leaves high, slender, mostly radical. Plant varying greatly in size. E.) DROPWORT. (Welsh: Crogedyf. E.) Mountainous meadows and pastures, in calcareous soil. Swaffham Heath, Norfolk. Mr. Crowe. Rip ton, Huntingdonshire. Mr. Woodward. Bredon Hill, above Overbury, Worcestershire. Nash. Near Madresfield, Worcestershire. Mr. Ballard. St. Vincent's Rocks, Bristol. Mr Swayne. Rocky ground between Dundee and Broughty Castle. Mr. Brown. About Stone Henge. (Debris of Salisbury Craigs, Edinburgh. Dr. Greville. At Baydales and Conniscliffe, near Darlington. Mr. Robson. In fields on the coast, near Whitburn. Winch Guide. Between the church and the Llanerchymêd road, in the parish of Llanbedr, Anglesey. Welsh Bot. E.) P. June-July.† S. ULMA'RIA. Leaves interruptedly winged: leafits egg-shaped, doubly serrated, hoary underneath, (the terminal one largest and lobed: styles numerous: E.) flowers in tufts.

Curt. 340-(E. Bot. 960. E.)-Ludw. 23-Fl. Dan. 547-Blackw. 465Kniph. 1-Clus. ii. 198. 1—Dod. 57-Ger. Em. 1043—Park. 592. 1— Pet. 71.8-H. Ox. ix. 20, row 1. 1. fig. 3d.-Ger. 886—J. B. iii. 488. 2.

(Long cultivated in gardens and shrubberies by the name of Spiræa frutex, and generally propagated from suckers. The young shoots, being tough and pliable, are often used for the tops of fishing rods. E.)

The tuberous pea-like roots, (whence the trivial name, E.) dried and reduced to powder, make a kind of bread, which in times of scarcity, is not to be despised. Hogs are very fond of them. Linn. When expanded and enlarged by cultivation, sometimes with double flowers, this plant is a beautiful addition to the flower garden.

(Styles six or eight. Root fibrous. Stem three or four feet high, furrowed, leafy. Flowers white, small, very fragrant. Fl. Brit. E.) Stem angular, reddish. Leaves bright green above, white underneath, irregularly serrated; the terminal leafit divided into three segments. Flowers yellowish white, numerous. Calyx segments and petals sometimes four. Capsules five to eight, but mostly six, twisted spirally together. MEADOW-SWEET. QUEEN OF THE MEADOWS. (Irish: Airgia Lovaghra. Welsh Erivain; Chwys Arthur. Gaelic: Lus-chneas-Chuchullainn. P. June-Aug.

:

E.) Moist meadows, and banks of rivers.

POLYGYNIA.

RO'SA.† Petals five: Cal. urn-shaped, five-cleft, fleshy, contracted at the neck so as to form at length a coloured berry of one cell, opening at the top: Seeds many, hispid, dispersed in the pulp.

(The Editor has admitted a large accession to the species of this beautiful and interesting genus of plants; not, indeed, so much upon his own entire conviction of their permanency, as in conformity with the opinions of several eminent Botanists, whose opportunities for observation, and attention to the subject, merit every consideration. So far as the identity of the respective plants could be ascertained, the reformed specific characters of Smith have been adopted, while the descriptive details have been carefully compared with those of the most accurate recent authorities. The tribe of Roses is become intricate, and in no small degree perplexing, from the difficulty of pointing out characteristics at once discriminative

(The leaves and tops of this plant are used in medicine as an astringent, and will tan leather. In the few countries where primitive manners are yet to be observed, the custom of scattering fragrant herbs on floors remains; and for such purpose Meadow-sweet has ever been highly extolled, as thus by Gerard: "The leaves and flowers far excel all other strowing herbes, for to decke up houses, to strowe in chambers, hals, and banketting houses in the sommer time; for the smell thereof maketh the hart merrie, delighteth the senses; neither doth it cause headach, or loathsomnesse to meate, as some other sweete smelling herbes do." In language less uncouth has it also been celebrated :

"Mid scents as varied as the scene,

Distinct is thine, fair Meadow's Queen,

With buds of pearly dye;

Graceful thy foliage and thy bue,
In softest shades of green and blue,
Attracting still a closer view,

They fix the admiring eye." S. H.

Some compare the scent to that of Hawthorn, but to our senses it is more sickly;

"While in the moistened plain

The Meadow-sweet its luscious fragrance yields."

Varieties with double blossoms and striped leaves are produced in gardens. E.) The flowers infused in boiling water give it a fine flavour, which rises in distillation. Sheep and swine eat it. Goats are extremely fond of it. Cows and horses refuse it. Sphinx scellata and Filipendula feed on both species. Linn.

(Derived from the Celtic rós, or rhos, the primary root of which may be rhood, or rhudd, red. E.)

and invariable. The leaves, (from which a true specific difference ought to be deduced,) in many instances too nearly resemble each other; whilst the hips, or fruit, which have by some been deemed of primary consequence, unfortunately preserve no absolute character either as to form, colour, smoothness, or roughness; and even were that not the case, could indicate their respective species only during a short period of the year. Sir J. E. Smith and Mr. Woods attach considerable importance to the presence or absence of setæ, (glandular bristles,) on the stems or branches of Roses; and, in a secondary degree, to the form of the aculei, (prickleɛ,) whether straight and slender, suddenly originating from a broad depressed base; or hooked, dilated gradually downward, and more or less compressed. Much stress has likewise been laid on the circumstance of pubescence, its absence, presence, and quantity; yet a careful observer may perceive, in this respect, every gradation. Linnæus himself even doubted whether any certain limits between the species and varieties of this genus had been prescribed by nature. However valuable may be the observations of Smith, Lindley, Woods, Hooker, Winch, and Swartz, cultivation alone seems likely to determine these obscure points, and to remove this opprobrium from the science. E.)

(1) Fruit globular.

R. ARVEN'SIS. (Fruit globose or elliptical, smooth: flower-stalks glandular: calyx pinnate, deciduous: prickles hooked, scattered: leafits simply serrated: floral receptacle slightly convex: styles combined, smooth. Sm. E.)

(Hook. Fl. Lond. 123. E.)-E. Bot. 188-Walc.-J. B. ii. 44. 1. (Fruit scarlet, round or oblong. Flowers more cup-shaped than any other British Rose, white with a yellow base, sometimes pink. The styles, united in a long smooth column, distinguish this from all British species except R. systyla, from which it differs in having long trailing shoots, not stout assurgent ones, which are of a dull glaucous green, generally tinged with purple, and not of the bright green colour of R. systyla. Hook. E.) Nearly allied to, if not the same as, the garden Ayrshire Rose. WHITE TRAILING DOG ROSE. (Welsh: Ciros gwyn. E.) Hedges and heaths. This is the most common Rose in the west of Yorkshire, and about Manchester. Have not seen it within fifty miles of Darlington. Mr. Robson. (King's Park. Mr. Neill. Grev. Edin. In Anglesey. Welsh Bot. Prevalent in Devonshire. E.) S. July. Var. 2. Huds. Wild Dog Rose, with only one flower. Ray Syn. Indic. Between Hackney and London, and Bishop's Wood, ib. (In woods and hedges at Friar's Goose, near Gateshead; and between Sadberg and Norton, Durham. Mr. W. Backhouse, jun. In woods at St. Anthony's, and Elswick, near Newcastle, Northumberland. Mr. Winch. E.) R. SPINOSIS'SIMA. (Flower-stalks without bracteas, mostly smooth, as well as the simple calyx: fruit globose, abrupt, somewhat depressed prickles of the stem straight, unequal, numerous, intermixed with glandular bristles: leafits roundish, smooth, with simple serratures. Sm. E.)

E. Bot. 187-Fl. Dan. 398—Ger. 1088~J. B. ii. 41. 1-Park. 1018, 8— Clus. i. 116. 1-Dod. 187-Ger. Em. 1270. 3—J. B. ii. 40. 2. (A dwarf, compact, dark, (sometimes reddish,) green bush, with creeping roots. Branches short, stiff, much divided, beset by very dense, unequal prickles or seta, some of the former being usually falcate. Leaves

close together, quite free from pubescence. Stipulae either narrow or dilated, of nearly equal breadth. Petiols setigerous and prickly. Leaflets about seven, bright green, flat, simply serrated, orbicular, or nearly so. Flowers solitary, without bracteas, cyathiform, blush-coloured, (white, or cream-coloured, E.) Peduncles naked, or rough with glands or setœ, as are the calycine segments, which are short and entire. Tube ovate, or nearly round, naked. Petals emarginate, concave. Disk not thickened. Styles villous, distinct. Fruit ovate, or nearly round, black or dark purple, crowned by the connivent or somewhat spreading segments of the calyx. Lindl. Fruit sometimes slightly spinous. The plant occasionally very diminutive, and rarely exceeding two feet in height. E.) BURNET ROSE. PIMPERNEL ROSE. (Welsh: Mwccog. R. spinosissima. Linn. Sp. Pl. R. pimpinellifolia. Linn. Syst. Nat. E.) Heaths and sandy places. Hedges near Yarmouth, frequent. Mr. Woodward. Perran Downs, Cornwall. Mr. Watt. Hedges and ditch banks about Worcester. Dr. Stokes. Frequent in the sandy country about Bewdley. (North shore, Liverpool. Dr. Bostock. Plentifully on the Eastern Cliffs of Portland. Pulteney. By Duddingston Loch, near Edinburgh. Lightf. Frequent on hilly ground in the neighbourhood of Warwick. Perry. In woods about Derwent-water. Mr. Winch In hedges near Teignmouth. E.) P. June-July.*

Var. 2. (R. Ciphiana. E.) Blossoms red, striped with white. Sibb. Scot. t. 2. Lightf. (Fruit red. Winch. E.) Ciphian Rose.

Links at Cockenzie, near Edinburgh. Maughan. (In several hedges in the parishes of Llangaffo, and Llanddeinier, Anglesey. Welsh Bot. E.)

Var. 3. Fruit-stalks prickly; flowers cream-colour, changing to white. (The stems appear to be still more strongly armed with spines than the common kind. E.)

Specimen from Lanscale Haws, Lancashire; sent by Mr. Atkinson, who informs me that it covers several acres of sand, to the exclusion of every other vegetable. (The Editor has recently received the same from the hills near the sea at Aberystwith. E.)

(R. RUBELLA. Fruit globose, somewhat bristly: flower-stalks bristly: stem spreading, clothed with straight, slender spines: leafits elliptical, smooth: segments of the calyx entire.

E. Bot. 2521.

The ripe fruit is eaten by children, and has a grateful sub-acid taste. The juice, diluted with water, dyes silk and muslin of a peach colour; with the addition of alum a deep violet; but it has little effect on woollen or linen. Its dwarfish growth, and the singular elegance of its little leaves, which resemble those of the upland Burnet, entitle it to a place in the flower garden. Indeed it would appear to be a favourite with the French florists, for M. Desportes informs us they have no less than 123 distinct varieties.

(The charms of the Ciphian var. having elicited an Ode Laudatory from Sir R. Sibbald; we extract a descriptive portion :

"Multiplex qualis Rosa splendidisque
Lineis albis decorat Ruborem
Caryophyllis, nitet in Tulipis
Purpura qualis.

Ne terat saltu petulante Vaga
Ales, audax arripiat manusre,
Spiculis densis Rosa tuta Sævum

Vulnerat hostem." &c. E.)

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