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248 BOTANICAL NEWS.
Dr. Seemann and Capt.aiii Berlford Pirn, R.N., have just piiblislied, conjointly
(Chapman and Hall), a book of travel in Nicaragua, Panama, and Mosquito,
under the title of ' Dottings on 'the Roadside,' in which will be found some
naatter interesting to botanists.
We have received a copy of Prof. C. C. Babingtou's long-expected ' British
Rubi,' on which we shall have occasion to speak at length. It is published
by Mr. Van Voorst, but, unfortunately, at present without the plates, which
we believe were placed in the hands of an artist notorious for delay. But as
half a loaf is better than no bread at all, we are thankful that Prof. Babington
has at least given us the letterpress.
Botanical Society of Edinbukgh, April 8.—The following communica-
tions were read :— I. Notes on Range in Depth of Marine Algse. By Pi'O-
fessor Dickie {vide p. 148). II. Remarks on Scirpus parvulus. By A. G. More,
Esq. III. Notes on the Varieties of Tea cultivated in India. By Mr. William
Bell. IV. Notes on a Botanical Excursion to Shetland m 1868. By Alexander
Craig-Christie, Esq. V. Notice of Plants Naturalized on the Banks of the
Gala and Tweed. By Gilbert C. A. Stuart, Esq. Many of the plants referred
to by the author are new to Scotland, most of them are rare even in England,
and )iot a few of them are evidently entire strangers to Great Britain. Only
one or two specimens of some could be found, but many of the others were
abundant, and bore all the appearance of having established themselves.
Among the plants mentioned in the paper were : Camelina sativa, Lepidium
ruderale, Saponaria officinalis, Silene Anglica, Medicago maculata, Medicago
denticulata, Lythrum hyssopifolium, Polycarpon tetraphyllum, Daucus gum-
mifer, Caucalis daucoides, i^rig&ron acris, Centaurea solstitialis, Xanthitim
spinosum, Solarium nigrum,, Amaranthus B/ittim, Chenopodium muralc, Rumex
palustris, Cannabis sativa, Setaria viridis, Apera Spica-venti, Polypogon Monspeliensis,
P. liltoralis, Gastridium lendigerttm, Festuca uniglumis, and Sordeum
pratense. He considei's that tlie plants must have been introduced with
the wool brought to the manufactories in the district. VI. On some British
Plantagines allied to Plantago marifima, L. By Dr. Buchanan White. The
author's attention was called to this genus of plants by the occurrence of a
Plantago in great abundance in the interior of Ross-shire, and after careful
examination of all the species belonging to the P. maritima group contained in
the hei'baria of the University of Edinburgh and the Botanical Society, he has
come to the conclusion tliat instead of P. maritima being the only British
representative of the group, there are altogether three species in Britain, viz.,
P. alpiua, L., P. maritima, and P. serpentina. He concluded by giving descrip-
tions of the different species. VII. Notice of some New and Rare British
Mosses. By Mr. John Sadler. The first species referred to was Grimmia
anodon, discovered for tlie first time in Britain on Artliur's Seat, in Marcli
last, by Mr. William Bell ; second, JDidymodon luridtis, which had been
gathered by James Fernie in March, and Mr. William Bell in April, in the
neighbourhood of Edinburgh ; third, Potlia minutula, found in considerable
quantity in the Queen's Park, near the powder magazine. VIII. Report on
the Open-air Vegetation in the Royal Botanic Garden. By Mr. M'Nab.
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