distinctness. The specimens represented on our plate were
supplied from a clover-field near Henfield, Sussex, in August
1844, by Mr. Borrer, who has also observed it in other
parts of that county, where, he tells us, it has abounded the
last two or three years. He adds, that he knew it many years
ago as a destructive weed amongst clover and vetches about
Brighton, but had lost sight of it till very recently. We have
seen numerous specimens from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
Stems filiform, yellowish, or tinged more or less deeply with
red, branching, leafless, but having a small ovate reddish scale
at each subdivision. The clusters of flowers rather large,
bracteated. Each flower larger than those of C. Epithymum,
white or cream-coloured. The calyx long, funnel-shaped,
about as long as the tube of the corolla; segments lanceolate,
about as long as their tube, occasionally tinged with red.
Corolla with lanceolate segments having attenuated points,
and about as long as their somewhat irregularly funnel-shaped
tube. Anthers purple, ovate, apiculate, the lobes rather distant
below. Scales or processes of the corona about half as
long as the tube of the corolla, narrow, their tops converging,
rounded and fimbriated, slightly narrowed below, separated
by deep, broad, rounded spaces in which the connecting membrane
projects so as to form a cup-like hollow between it and
the corolla: the line of attachment extends halfway up each
scale and is rounded between them. Germen truncate, narrowed
below. Styles and stigmas filiform, slightly converging,
purple towards the end.
In C. Epithymum the calyx is bell-shaped and thin, usually
reddish, shorter than the tube of the corolla ; its segments
broad, ovate, apiculate, and longer than their tube. Corolla
with ovate-acute segments rather longer than their tube.
Anthers not apiculate and even notched at the end. Scales
nearly as long as the tube of the corolla, broad, meeting each
other at an acute angle and separated by a deep, narrow space;
the connecting membrane is adpressed throughout, but the
tops of the scales converge. It thus appears that the differences
between these plants are not inconsiderable.
C. Trifolii is most at home when growing upon clover
(Trifolium pratense); but if deprived of its natural victim it can
live upon many other plants. It flowers late in the summer.
—C. C. B.