with the appearance of the plants as they exist in Ireland.
Tab. 663, drawn from Yorkshire specimens, represents the
typical form of S. umbrosa, and is distinguished by having its
leaves quite bluntly crenate and spreading. It is so very different
in appearance from that which is now figured, that if
numerous intermediate states did not exist, they might reasonably
be considered as distinct species. The leaves of two
of these intermediate forms are represented on the plate, viz.
/3. crenato-serrata, Bab. (S. umbrosa a. Mack.), having oblong,
bluntish, spreading leaves which are deeply crenate and api-
culate, or subserrate, making the nearest approach to the
typical S. umbrosa of any of the Irish varieties, and found by
Mr. Mackay in 1805 in the “ woods of GlengarifF and on
Connor Cliffs near Dingle; ” and <y. punctata, Don. (var. /3.
Mack.), the common form in Cunnamara, Galway, and not
unfrequent near Killarney, in which the leaves are nearly or
quite round, serrate, and ascending. It ought however to be
stated, that in the neighbourhood of Killarney, where the
forms of S. umbrosa abound, it is not easy to find any two specimens
corresponding exactly with each other, and that therefore
these figures are to be considered only as portraits of
carefully selected individuals of each variety.
The plant represented by our principal figure is the most
extreme deviation from the Pyrenean type of S. umbrosa which
has been observed. It was discovered by Mr. Mackay in the
Gap of Dunloe near Killarney in the year 1804, and supposed
to be peculiar to that place, but in 1836 I found it in Cunnamara,
and in 1841 gathered it in several places near Killarney,
and on Connor Hill near Dingle.
All the varieties of S. umbrosa are distinguished from the
allied species by having dilated petioles, which are quite flat
above and scarcely convex even beneath. The leaves are very
thick and coriaceous. The stem is usually about a foot high,
and the beautifully spotted flowers are in perfection during
the month of June, when they form one of the greatest ornaments
of the woods and mountains near Killarney.
The specimen figured is from the original root, introduced
into the College Botanical Garden at Dublin from its native
locality by Mr. Mackav.—C. C. B.