form only one variable species; but this is a question which
remains to be decided by further observation and by experimental
culture.
The root is annual. Stem ascending or oftert erect, from
a few inches to 2 feet or more in length, branched, covered
with minute glandular spots, thickened slightly above the
joints. The ochreae are lax, fringed with very short ciliae,
the floral ones bearing a kind of horn formed by an abortive
petiole. JLeaves lanceolate, narrowing gradually into the
petiole, usually slightly wavy, often having a dark spot in
their centre, their margin fringed with hairs pointing forwards,
their disc usually nearly glabrous but sometimes with
minute hairs upon both sides; the under side thickly covered
with minute glands, a few of which may be discovered upon
the upper surface. The petioles scabrous and slightly glandular.
The panicles usually slender, erect, rather densfe ;
the peduncles rough with minute stalked glands intermixed
with scabrous points. Sepals 4 or 5, smooth or bearing a
few minute glands. Stamens 6—8. Styles 2.. Fruit lenticular,
compressed, its faces nearly round, with a short
acute point, which appears, when young, as if it were the
base of the style, slightly rough but shining, a good deal
shorter than the fruit-bearing calyx, which is closed over it
in such a manner as to take an ovate-attenuated form. A
variety has occurred, in Cambridgeshire, with the under side
of the leaves woolly, and with scarcely any glands.
This plant flowers in the autumn and inhabits damp
gravelly places: the more attenuated form has been observed
at Woodford, Essex, by Mr. E. Forster (from whom our
specimen was received), and at Cambridge. The more
densely spiked variety was gathered by myself near the railroad
at Chalk Farm, London, and I have also observed it
in Jersey.—C. C. B.