rated, particularly towards the point, covered with longish
white hairs on both sides ; umbel consisting of 5 branches,
which are trifid and then bifid, and much lengthened as the
flowering advances; general bracteas ovate-oblong ; the
partial ones ovate ; all hairy on both sides. Glands of the
involucrum 4, transversely oval. Fruit smooth, densely
covered with woolly hair; seeds obovate, minutely punctured
and covered with fine rugose reticulations, which are
much more prominent near the sides.
This truly distinct species is distinguished from E.pilosa
(:t. 2787) most remarkably by its habit; and although its
scientific characters are less easily observed, yet, in my
opinion, they are fully sufficient, permanent and apparent,
to separate it from all its allies. The feeble root, the widespread
umbel, the obovate universal and ovate partial bracteas,
all of which are hairy and almost woolly, the very
nearly smooth woolly capsules, and the seeds covered with
minute rugose reticulations, completely separate it from E.
pilosa, in which the bracteas are all elliptical and glabrous,
the capsule verrucose, and the seeds quite smooth.
E. procera, to which this plant is referred by Koch, appears,
according to a specimen (No. 1292, in Reich. FI.
Germ. Exsiccata) from “ Wien, bei Himberg,” to be only a
form of E. pilosa ; and both of them probably ought to be
referred to E. palustris, as has been pointed out by Mr. E.
Forster in the Linn. Trans, v. 17. p. 533.
The specimens figured were obtained from Slinfold in
Sussex, in July, 1838, through the kindness of W. Borrer,
Esq., who first observed the plant there about five and
thirty years before. It has not been noticed in any other
part of Britain, and may have been introduced at Slinfold
by the Rev. Mr. Manningham, the friend of Dillenius, and
formerly rector of that parish.—C. C. B.