Page:Journal of botany, British and foreign, Volume 9 (1871).djvu/251

 THE FLORA OF HYDE PARK AND KENSINGTON GARDENS. 229

vive a mouth or two is quite of secondary importance. Our list of ' casuals' miglit doubtless, with constant observation for a season or two, be run up to 200 or 300 species, but such a list, even when completed, would afford us curious rather than valuable information ; but, though I would gladly have disencumbered myself of these casuals, this list might mislead if this were done, since several species appear, I conceive, in the Gardens and in newly-sown places, in the character of casuals ; and also in the Park turf in that of natives. Chrymnthemum Leucanthemum and Plantago lanceolata may be quoted as examples. Besides, in many in- stances, it is nearly impossible to say to which category a given species is to be referred ; and, lastly, if we rigidly excluded flower-bed weeds, we should have to condemn such plants as Veronica jmlita and Lamium 2)iirpnreum, which, as has been said above, are as much native here as in any provincial district.- Thus, from the wish to enter no more plants of this kind than absolutely necessary, I have deemed it more tech- nically correct to exclude, as literally just outside our limits, an interest- ing number of species observed on the Gore at Kensington by the authors of the 'Flora of Middlesex,' to which I beg to refer the reader. In conclusion, this list, which contains about 190 species, is manifestly im- perfect. Conscious of this, I only hope its publication may induce some one to amplify and improve upon it. But 1 venture to trust that any botanist to whom this list is the means of indicating any Park rarities will refrain from rooting up specimens.

All my records of plants apply to the present summer (.Tune and July, 1871) unless I distinctly specify otherwise. Later in the year such genera as Bidem, Ckenopodium, and Poly(jonum would be more fully represented. All records beyond my personal obseiTation are accompanied by the name of the authority, which is in nearly every case Trimen and Dyer's 'Flora of Middlesex.' The abbreviations used are, — Fl. of M.=' Flora of Middlesex ;' P.:==Hyde Park ; G.=Kensington Gardens. The names used are those of the ' London Catalogue.'

Ranunculus hedemcens, L. " Hyde Park, 1817. Goodger and Rozea's herbarium." — Fl. of M.

R. sceleratus, L. A plant this year in the gravel of the Serpentine Bridge. A few plants on the Serpentine margin near the bridge, 1868. " Trench between G. and the Park."— Fl. of M.

R. Ficaria, L. G., here and here. Turf south of the Palace, and in the north-east corner near Buck Hill Gate. Not observed in the Park.

R. acris, L. P., in the Magazine enclosure within rails. I have not seen it in the open turf. It must be of rare occurrence within our pre- sent limits. " Kensington Gardens." — Fl. of M.

R. repens, L. P., the strip. G., some fine plants of the smaller but typical form in the depression across the Ring Road east of the Magazine, towards the Humane Society's Receiving House.

R. bulbosus, L. P. and G., here and there in both. A few plants in the " strip " north of the Magazine.

Chelidonium majus, L. G., casual in flower-beds near Queen's Gate.

Nasturtium officinale, R. Br. "In Hyde Park, 1817, Herb. Goodger and Rozea."— Fl. of M.

N. tsi/lvestre, R. Br. G., "inside of Kensington Garden railings, south-cast corner." — Fl. of M.

Si>iymbrium officinale, Scop. P., a few plants in the slri near the trench ; more commoD in the enclosed places.

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