slightly emarginate, varying from half an inch to an inch
in length,—characters which, so far from changing, become
even more marked in the cultivated plant. Upon the
whole I am disposed to consider it a species, and it certainly
possesses equal claims to that rank, with some
others of the genus, admitted in works of authority. In the
second edition of the Species Plantarum, where the plant
occurs, for the first time in that work, as distinct, France
and Austria are the only habitats mentioned, and the only
figure quoted is that of Vaillant, from whom Linnaeus
seems to have adopted the species : for the sample in his
herbarium, which he appears to have received afterwards,
being without the usual mark of authenticity, cannot be
reckoned of any authority. This last, distinguished by its
more upright growth, larger leaves, and much smaller
flowers, is what is figured in the Botanical Magazine, and
is the P . amara, var. a. of Wahlenberg, ours being his
var. /3. alpestris, with the epithet “ insipida” inserted in the
character ; but, in my opinion, neither it nor vulgaris is entitled
to be called insipid, for they both possess a disagreeable
bitter taste. The Kentish plant accords precisely
with Vaillant, t. 32. f . 2. and Flora Danica, 1.1169, and likewise
with the samples of P. amara from the elder Jacquin,
in the Smithian herbarium. The P. austriaca of Crantz
(Austr. t. 2 . f 4.) differs from both by its diffuse, branching
stems, uniform spathulate leaves, and short clusters of
smaller flowers and capsules. This is the P . amara, var. a.
of De Candolle, who quotes under his var. j3. Vaillant’s
t. 32. f . 3. which I should consider a good representation
of vulgaris, but he takes no notice off 2. of the same accurate
author. Our limits preclude me from entering further
into detail on this subject, but I recommend the study and a
proper application of the synonyms of these presumed species
or varieties to those who possess the materials for that
purpose.
Plant perennial, forming little tufts ; throwing out numerous
leafy shoots. Root simple, fibrous. Stems many,
procumbent, or ascending, sometimes nearly erect, from
two to three inches high, simple, leafy, green, or occasionally
of a dull purplish colour, thickly beset with minute,
elevated crystalline dots ; the upper half distinctly angular;
the lower part perfectly round and filiform. Leaves copious,
alternate, somewhat fleshy, bright green on both
sides; the upper side smooth and glossy, and sometimes, as
is the under side more especially, covered, like the stem,with
minute, crystalline dots ; the lower ones, and those of the
barren shoots, larger, spreading, stalked, obovate, or spa-
thulate, blunt, occasionally emarginate, or slightly mucro-
nulate, attenuated at the base into a short, flattish footstalk,
which is distinctly articulated at its connexion with
the stem ; varying in length from half an inch to an inch,
and from three lines to a nail in breadth, furnished on the
lower side with a prominent midrib, which is thickened towards
the base; the margins blunt and even ; those of the
upper part of the flowering stems lanceolate, or strapshaped,
scarcely stalked, erect, mostly obtuse, four or five
lines long, furnished with a very narrow, perfectly entire
membranous border, becoming more visible towards the
extremity. Footstalks very short, slightly concave above,
with their base adpressed to the stem. Racemes terminal,
simple, solitary, many-flowered. Flowers drooping, of a
deep blue. Pedicels short, a line or two long, compressed,
two-edged, of the colour of the flowers. Bracteas three, the
intermediate one oblong, navicular, blunt, the length of the
pedicel, with membranous margins, and, except the thick,
obtuse keel, which is green, of the same colour as the
flower ; the two lateral ones considerably smaller, lanceolate,
pointed, and generally remaining longer than the intermediate
one, which falls off before the expansion of the
flower, leaving an elevated tubercle to which it is articulated,
and in which the pedicel is inserted. Calyx membranous,
persistent, five-leaved, coloured, minutely dotted;
two inner leaves (wings) large, obovately-oblong, scarcely
mucronulate, attenuated towards the base into a short claw,
with three ribs, which are much branched in the lamina,
and but rarely confluent and never reticulated ; three
others scarcely half the length, oblong, concave, slightly
mucronulate, furnished with a single prominent midrib,
but destitute of veins. Petals three, about the length of
the wings, closely united at the base, so as to resemble one
deeply trifid, rolled together into a tube, which is bearded
within ; lateral ones oblong, plane, blunt, veined, but not
reticulated ; intermediate one about the same length, but
of a dissimilar form, cucullate, geniculate, the edges con