Excerpta Botanica . 475 

were considered to constitute a fertile soil ; the compoun 4 was 
well watered and planted with several vegetables ; they how- 
ever would not thrive till the water was changed for the 
drainings of a dunghill. Plants have been placed in a variety 
of substances, as sulphur, pounded glass, &c., and carefully 
moistened with distilled water ; in this state they have existed 
for some time, but it is beyond all experience to suppose, that, 
in such a condition, they should perfect the several functions 
required of them by nature. It is only by a proper supply of 
organized matter in the soil that vegetation can proceed with 
vigour 5 some portion of this is supplied by animals, but by 
far the greater and more important is yielded by plants, which 
is thus returning to the form and uses from which it had pre- 
viously issued. 

Every year brings in the alternation of its seasons changes 
in the vegetable kingdom ; as soon as spring has set in new 
life is given to every herb and shrub, the buds unfold, deve- 
loping flowers and leaves ; the former soon fade and fall, in 
time the fruit follows, and towards the end of summer the 
rising winds drive the leaves in clouds from the trees. Heavy 
rains now succeed, and the broken branches, portions of shed 
bark and other vegetable remains, the refuse of the autumn, 
are soon saturated with moisture and hasten to decomposi- 
tion. In countries with excessively moist climates the quan- 
tity of fallen vegetation is immense ; large trees, the noblest 
members of the forest, sinking under the effects of a con- 
tinually moist atmosphere, literally lie in tiers, and give a foot- 
ing, though often a treacherous one, for hundreds of yards 
without it being necessary to touch the soil. A portion of 
this decaying matter is dissolved by the rain-water, and pene- 
trating the earth carries nutriment to the roots against the de- 
mands of the ensuing spring. What remains gradually mixes 
with the mineral constituents of the soil, and more slowly be- 
comes subservient to the same end. 

[To be continued.] 


LII. — Excerpta Botanica, or abridged Extracts translated 
from the Foreign Journals , illustrative of or connected with> 
the Botanu of Great Britain . By W. A. Leighton, Esq., 
B.A., F.B.S.E., &c. 

No. 10. Revisio Tiliarum. Auctore Eduardo Spach. (Ann. 
des Sc. Nat. vol. ii. n . s . p. 381.) [So far as respects our 
British species.] 

TILIA, Linn. 

Arbores, coma subrotunda vel ovali, densissima. Cortex interior 
flexilis, tenax. Lignum lseve. Ramuli ssepk ab autumno ad ver 

2 I 2 


476 Excerpta Botanica. 

purpurascentes vel sanguine*. Gemmae axillares, squamosse. Pubes- 
centia sparsa vel stellato-tomentosa. 

Folia alterna, disticha, petiolata, simplicia, indivisa (nonnunquam 
angulosa, in varietatibus quibusdam pinnatifida vel palmata), serrata, 
acuminata, plerumque subrotunda, insequilateralia, basi obliquk cor- 
data truncatave et palmato- 4-7-nervia, subths ad venarum axillas 
barbata ; petioli teretes, basi et apice incrassati, saepfc graciles ac la- 
mina subsequilongi. Stipulse geminse, caducse. Folia cotyledonea 
palmatifida. 

Flores umbellati vel corymbosi, vel ssepius trichotome cymosi, odo- 
rati ; pedunculi ad petiolorum latus exterius solitarii, graciles, pen- 
duli, supernb deflexi, infemb costae bractese chartacese reticulatae lin- 
gulatae adnati* ; pedicelli ebracteolati, stricti, apice dilatati, inferne 
glandulis verruciformibus sparsis instructi. 

Sepala 5, libera, reflexo-patentia, decidua, concava, obsolete tri- 
nervia, sericea, vel tomentosa, inths basi subbarbata et foveola mel- 
lifera instructa, aestivatione valvata. 

Receptaculum pentagonum, brevissimum, ferb planum, nectario 
tenuissimo obtectum. 

Pet ala 5, hypogyna, libera, sepalis alterna, subspathulata, concava, 
albida, vel lutescentia, tenu& venosa, vesiculis multis diaphanis (oleo 
essentiali repletis) adspersaf, sub anthesi erecto-conniventia, de- 
mum elongata, distantia, subpatentia. 

Stamina 25 — 80, hypogyna, pluriseriata, decidua. Filamenta li- 
bera, vel basi irregulariter polyadelpha, filiformia, albida, saepe apice 
bifurca, aestivatione recta, subimbricata, ante anthesin flexuosa, de- 
mum divergentia. Antherae luteae, thecis 2 rimci longitudinali de- 
hiscentibus, medifixis, discretis, plus minusve divergentibus. 

Staminodia (petala interiora) 5 (in quibusdam speciebus nulla) pe- 
talis anteposita et subconformia at minora, filamentorum basi adnata, 
aestivatione staminibus interiore. 

Pistillum : ovarium sericeum vel tomentosum, subglobosum, 5 -locu- 
lar e : loculis biovulatis. Ovula superposita, angulo centrali appen- 
dentia. Stylus indivisus, teres, erectus, basi articulatus, post anthesin 
accrescens plus minusque exsertus, demftm deciduus. Stigmata 5, 
brevia, dentiformia, triquetra, sub anthesi arete conniventia, demhm 
erecto- divergentia vel patentiaj. 

Pericarpium : mix lignosa (in specie unica chartacea), subpisi- 
formis, 5-costata (costis nonnunquam demum evanidis), evalvis, 
abortu unilocularis, 1- vel raro 2-sperma. 

Semen placentae demum parietali hilo lineari mediante adnatum, 
obovoideum, basi attenuatum. Epispermium crustaceum, rufescens. 
Chalaza apicilaris, mammiformis. Perispermium corneum, oleosum. 
Embryo rectus, medianus, longitudine perispermii, recens viridis : 

* Pedunculi, quum manibus distenduntur, strepitu rumpunt peculiari. 

f His procul dubio tribuendum florum odor fragrantissimus eorumque vir- 
tutes stimulantes ; bracteae pedunculi sepalaque autein mucilagine copiosa 
scatent. 

X Characteres specierum e stigmatorum directione desumti fallacissimos 
esse, pro certo habemus. 


Excerpt a Botanica . 477 

radicula oblongo-clavata, elongata, infera, per germinationem e nucis 
basi circumscissa excrescens ; cotyledones foliaceae, subcordatae, flex- 
uosae, pennato- 5-lobatae : lobis inaequalibus, subcon volutis. 

§. Staminodia nulla. Stamina 25-45, petalis longiora, stylumetiam 
post anthesin superantia ; filamenta vix apice bifiirca, basi nunc 
libera, nunc pentadelpha : phalangibus 5-8-andris, petalis antepo- 
sitis, cum filamentis 1-3 liberis alternantibus. Nux aut chartacea, 
fragilis, costis filiformibus, aut lignosa, costis prominulis. 

Species omnes Europae incolae. 

A. Folia {pr ester barbulas paginal inferioris) petiolis ramulisque glabra. 

a. Nux obliqua, chartacea , fragilis : costis filiformibus , tomento floe - 
coso nonnunquam absconditis. 

T1LIA SYLVESTRIS, Desfont. — T. foliis e basi oblique cordata v. 
dimidiato-cordata, v. truncata, v. rotundata orbicularibus v. subro- 
tundis, v. transversb ellipticis, v. ovatis, v. ovato-ellipticis, cuspi- 
dato-acuminatis, inaequaliter serratis, suprk obscur& viridibus, sub- 
lucidis, subths glaucis, barbatis ; petiolis foliorum superiorum la- 
mina subaequilongis v. dimidio usque brevioribus; pedunculis 2-9- 
floris (plerumque 7-floris); nuce obovata v. ovato-globosd, umbo- 
nata. — Tilia sylvestris , Desfont. Cat. Hort. Par. — T. parvifolia , 
Ehrh. — Borkh. — Eng. Bot. t. 1705. Schk. Handb. 1. 141. Hayn. 
Arzn. iii. 46. Guimp. et Hayn. Deutsch. Holz. 1. 106. — T. micro - 
phylla y Vent. Diss. 1. 1. fig. 1 . — T. europcea , y. Linn. — T. ulmifolia , 
Scopol. — T. europesa borealis , Wahlenb. 

Prae caeteris varietatibus sequentes insigniores, characteribus in 
singulis individuis satis constantibus, transitu tamen uniuscuj usque 
in alteram facile recognoscendo. 

Yar. a. ovalifolia sive minor. — Foliis minoribus (j-2 pollices longis, 
10-15 lineas latis), e basi truncate v. rotundatd vald&que obliqua 
subovatis : ramulorum floriferorum summis vix petiolo longioribus 
sive isto paulo brevioribus. — [Hospitatur in Horto Parisiensi ubi 
Tilid sylvestri rotundifolid mense fer& praecocius, medio Junio 
nemp^ florescit.] 

Var. /3. cordifolia sive major {Tilia parvifolia , Guimp. et Hayn. 1. c.)- 
— Foliis majoribus (3 pollices circiter longis, 2 J pollices latis), cor- 
datis v. cordato- ovatis, basi plus minusve obliquis : ramulorum flo- 
riferorum summis plerumque petiolo longioribus. 

Var. y. rotundifolia {Tilia microphylla, Vent. 1. c.). — Foliis 1-3 pol- 
lices latis, latitudine plerumque brevioribus, subaequilateralibus, e 
basi cordata subrotundis : serraturis saepissime latis rotundatis ; pe- 
tiolis foliorum summorum lamina nunc subaequilongis, nunc dimidio 
brevioribus. [Formae hue spectantes in Gallia caeteris vulgatiores 
videntur.] 

Arbor altitudinem 80-pedalem diametrumque 6-pedalem attingens. 
Cortex truncorum vetustorum rimosus, e fusco nigricans, juniorum et 
ramorum laevigatus, olivaceus. Ramuli annotini viridescentes, vel 
lutescentes, vel rubelli. Rami patuli, comam conico-pyramidalem 
efformantes. Gemmae ovatae, obtusae, incurvae, rufescentes. Foliorum 


478 Excerpt a Botanica. 

lamina 1-3 pollices longa, nunc longitudine aequilata, nunc angustior, 
basi 5- v. 7-nervis, membranacea, subtus in axillis nervorum lanafloc- 
cosa rufescente vel lutescente barbata; serraturae triangulares vel 
rotundatae, plus minusve approximatae, vel distantes, inaequales vel 
subaequales, mucrone brevi, cartilagineo, albido, nonnunquam apice 
calloso mucronatae ; petiolus gracilis, 6-24 lineas longus (foliorum 
infimorum semper lamina brevior). Pedunculi plerumque folio paulo 
longiores (semper petiolo longiores) ; bractea lanceolata, v. lanceo- 
lato-oblonga, apice rotundata v. attenuata, flores superans pedicellisve 
superata, nunc usque ad basin pedunculi decurrentes, vel ab ea plus 
minusve remota ; pedicelli umbellati, v. corymbosi, v. trichotomy cy- 
mosi, pedunculi parte libera nunc longiores, nunc breviores. Sepala 
vix ultra 2 lineas longa, oblongo- v. ovato-lanceolata, obtusiuscula, 
subtus glabra v. pulverulenta, supra sericeo-tomentosa. Petala 2J-3 
lineas longa, lanceolate- v. oblongo- spathulata, obtusa, albida, apice 
obsolete crenulata. Stamina 25-30, libera (an semper ?), petalis de- 
mum dimidio longiora. Ovarium sericeo-tomentosum. Stylus glaber, 
post anthesin staminibus vix superatus. Nux pisi minoris volumine, 
tenuis, fragilis, tomento rufescente, floccoso, demum deciduo induta, 
immatura turbinata v. pyriformis. 

Habitat in Europa fer£ tota, prsesertim borealiori, necnon in mon- 
tibus Uralensibus ac Caucasicis, inque Siberia Australiori (v. v. c. et 

sp-)- 

b. Nux coriacea , subaquilateralia : cost is prominulis . 

TILIA INTERMEDIA, DeC.— T. foliis e basi subaequaliter v. ob- 
lique cordata v. dimidiato-cordata, v. truncata, v. rotundata subro- 
tundis, v. ovato-subrotundis, v. ovatis, cuspidato-acuminatis, in- 
aequaliter serratis, supra laety viridibus, subtus pallidioribus (vix 
glaucis) : summorum petiolo lamina dimidio — duplo breviore. Pe- 
dunculis 2-7-floris ; nuce subturbinat& vel obliqu^ obovatd, umbo- 
natd,velutina. — Till a intermedia , DeC. Prodr. — T. europcea , Smith, 
Eng. Bot. t. 610. Svensk, Bot. t. 40. Flor. Dan. t. 553. — T. vul- 
garis , Hayn. Arzn. iii. tab. 47. Guimp. et Hayn. Deutsch. Holz. 
t. 107. — T. Tecksiana, C. Bauh. 

Arbor 40-60 pedalis ultraque. Cortex vetustior nigricans, rimo- 
sus. Rami divergentes, suberecti, comam pyramidalem vel conico- 
pyramidalem efformantes. Ramuli annotini olivaceivel lutescentes. 
Gemmae ovatse, subcompressae, laevigatae, olivaceae vel purpuras - 
centes. Foliorum lamina 2-3^ pollices longa, 18-45 lineas lata (fo- 
lia surculorum sterilium usque ad4j pollices lata totidemque longa), 
membranacea, basi 5- v. 7-nervis, supra laevigata, subtus in venarum 
axillis lana floccosa dilute fulva v. lutea, v. castanea barbata ; serra- 
turae triangulares, v. rotundatae, plus minusve inaequales, mucrone 
brevi cartilagineo saep^ apice sphacelato acuminatae ; petiolus 6-20 
lineas longus, gracilis. Pedunculi foliis fere aequilongi, vel paulo 
breviores, plerumque 4-7-flori; pedicelli parte libera pedunculi sub- 
aequilongi, vel paulo breviores, umbellati, vel corymbosi, vel dicho- 
tome sive trichotome cymosi ; bractea lanceolata, v. lanceolato-ob- 
longa, subobtusa, plerumque usque ad basin pedunculi decurrens. 
Sepala ovato- v. oblongo-lanceolata, obtusiuscula, supr& glabra, sub- 


Excerpta Botanica. 479 

tus marginib usque tomentosa, 2^ lineas longa. Petala 3 lineas longa, 
lanceolato- v. oblongo-spathulata, obtusa, apice obsolete crenulata, 
pallid^ straminea. Stamina 30-35, basi irregulariter pentadelpha 
(secundum cl. Hayne libera). Ovarium sericeo-tomentosum. Stylus 
glaber, post anthesin staminibus subaequalis. Stigmata obtusa, mar- 
giDe denticulata, post anthesin nunc arrecta, nunc patula. Nux 3-4 
lineas alta, diametro 2^-3-lineari, sublignosa, pentagona, tomento 
floccoso lutescente induta, demum glabrescens. Semen obovoideum, 
castaneo-fulvum. 

Habitat in Europa media et boreali ; specimina Gallica spontanea 
haud vidimus; hospitatur autem in hortis ac arboretis, e. g. circa 
Parisios in ambulacris sylvae Bois de Boulogne dictse. 

B. Nux lignosa : costis valde prominulis. Ramuli junior es, petioli ac 
foliorum pagina inferior plus minusve hirti. 

TILIA MOLLIS, Spach. — T. foliis e basi cordata, v. dimidiato-cor- 
data, v. rotundata,v. truncata orbicularibus,v. subrotundis,v.ovato- 
subrotundis, v. ovatis, cuspidato-acuminatis, inaequaliter serratis v. 
crenato-dentatis, subaequilateralibus v. obliquis, utrinque puberulis, 
subtus ad nervos venasque hirtis : summorum petiolis lamina sub- 
aequilongis vel triplo usque brevioribus ; pedunculis S-7-floris ; nuce 
turbinata, v. pyriformi, v. obovata,v. ovata,v.ellipsoidea, umbonata, 
v. acuminata, velutina, v. incano-puberula. — Tilia mollis , Spach,* 
— T. platyphylla , Scopol. Cam. — Vent. Diss. 1. 1 . f. 2. Duham. ed. 
nov. 1. 1. 50. — T. cordata , Mill. Diet. — T. cor difolia, Bess. Gal. — 
T. europcea, Desfont. Cat. Hort. Par. Hook. FI. Lond. 1. 190. E. 
Bot. Suppl. t. 2520. — T. pauciflora , Hayn. Arzn. iii. t. 48. Guimp. 
et Hayn. Deutsch. Holz. 1. 108. — T. corallina, Ait. Hort. Kew. — 
T. rubra, DeC. Prodr. — T. corinthiaca, Bose. Nouv. Cours d* Agri- 
cult. 

Prse c ceteris ferb innumeris varietatibus forsanque hybridis hujus 
speciei sequentes facilius agnoscendse : — 

Var. a. vulgaris (T. platyphyllos, Vent. 1. c. Duham. 1. c . — T. pau- 
ciflora, Hayn. Guimp. et Hayn. 1. c.). — Foliorum superiorum la- 
mina petiolo 2-3-plo longiore ; pedunculis 2-3-floris ; pedicellis 
bracteam subsessilem basi rotundatam superantibus ; nucibus velu- 
tinis vel incanis, turbinatis, plerumque sequilateralibus. — Forma 
videtur in sylvis vulgatissima. (V. v. c.) 

Var. /3. pluriflora. — Foliorum superiorum lamina petiolo vix dimidio 
longiore, basi plerumque truncata, obliquissim& ; pedunculis 5-7- 
floris ; pedicellis divaricatis, bracteam laneeolato-ligulatam a pe- 
dunculi basi distantem vix superantibus vel subaequantibus ; nuci- 
bus turbinatis, saeph obliquis, velutinis.— Transitum sistit a prse- 
cedente in sequentem. (V. v. c.) 

Var. y. longepetiolata . — Foliorum superiorum lamina petiolo subaequi- 
longa vel paulo breviore, basi inaequaliter truncata ; pedunculis 5- 
7-floris ; pedicellis divaricatis, bractea lanceolato-ligulari a basi 

* De synonymis antiquioribus nullum accepimus, quia omnia formas 
nonnisi variabiles speciei designant. 


480 Excerpt a Botanica. 

pedunculi distante superatis ; nucibus turbinatis, velutinis, sepe 
obliquis. (V. v. c.) 

Var. d. bracteosa. — Foliorum superiorum lamina petiolo subequilonga 
vel dimidio longiore, ovata v. cordata *, pedunculis 3-5-fioris ; pe- 
dicellis divaricatis, bractea lanceolato-ligulari a basi pedunculi di- 
stante longe superatis ; nucibus obovatis, subacuminatis, incanis, 
sepe obliquis. (V. v. c.) 

Var. e. leptolepis . — Foliorum superiorum lamina petiolo paulo lon- 
giore, subovata, basi oblique truncata v. rotundata ; pedunculis 
paucifloris ; pedicellis bracteam anguste lanceolatam subsuperan- 
tibus ; nucibus ellipsoideis, subacutis. (V. v. c.) 

Var. £. brevipes. — Foliorum superiorum lamina petiolo 2-3-plo lon- 
giore, subrotunda, basi subequaliter cordata ; pedunculis 3-5-floris, 
brevibus ; pedicellis bractea lanceolato-oblonga longe superatis ; 
nucibus subglobosis, vel ovatis, v. ellipsoideis, obtusissimis, inca- 
nis, equilateralibus. (V. v. c.) 

Var. r). corallina. (T. corallina , Ait. — T. europcea. Hook. /. c. — T. ru- 
bra , DeC.) — Foliorum superiorum lamina petiolo longiore ; pedun- 
culis 3-7-floris ; pedicellis bracteam oblongo-ligularem, latissimam, 
plerumque sessilem subequantibus vel paulo superantibus ; nucibus 
globosis vel ovatis, umbonatis (rar6 acuminatis), tomentoso-velu- 
tinis*. — Ramuli annotini nunc per totum annum, nunc hyeme tan- 
tum sanguinei, etiam in precocitatis varietatibus haud rarb occur- 
runt. 

Varietates a. et rj. species forsan duas sistunt distinctas, permultis 
hybridis hortensibus intricate. 

Arbor 60-100-pedalis, diametro 2-3-pedali. Cortex vetustus gri- 
seo-fuscus, rimosus. Rami cinerei, verrucosi, arrecti. Coma ovalis 
vel subpyramidalis. Ramuli annotini olivacei, vel lutei, vel virides, 
vel sanguinei, v. violacei, punctati. Ramuli juniores pilis patentibus 
hirti. Gemme ovatse, obtuse, fuscescentes. Foliorum lamina 1-4 
pollices longa (surculorum sterilium folia nonnunquam semipedalia), 
nunc totidem lata, nunc longitudine angustior, supra subrugosa, letk 
vel obscure viridis, subtbs pallidb virens sepeque lucida, basi 5- v. 7- 
nervis, serrature vel crenule plus minusve approximate, mucrone 
brevi albido subcartilagineo apice sphacelato acuminate ; petiolus 
i-3 pollices longus, hirsutus v. velutinus, simul ac axille, costa, nervi 
veneque pagine inferioris pilis mollibus patulis hirti v. hirsuti. Brac- 
tee foliorum longitudine, vel paulo breviores aut longiores, 3-8 li- 
neas late, liguliformes, v. lanceolate, v. lanceolato-oblonge, obtuse 
vel acute. Pedicelli divaricati plus minusve arrecti, nunc pedunculi 
parte libera longiores, nunc breviores, plerumque bractea paulo supe- 
rati, umbellati v. corymbosi, v. subtrichotome cymosi. Sepala ovato- 
lanceolata, obtusiuscula, dorso glabrescentia, facie marginibusque 
sericea, 2^-3 lineas longa, pallide lutea. Petala 3-4 lineas longa, 

* Nuces juniores quasi ecostatse videntur (talesque tribuuntUr ab illustr. 
DeCandolle Tilice sue rubrce ), tunc coste, demum prominentissime, tomento 
denso velantur. 


Dr. Cantor on the Flora and Fauna of Chusan. 481 

straminea, spathulato- v. obovato-oblonga, obtusa, integerrima, vel 
apicem versus obsolete crenulata. Stamina 30-45 : filamenta libera 
v. pentadelpba, ovarium sericeumvel tomentosum. Stylus glabervel 
basi barbatus, post anthesin 2 lineas longus. Stigmata obtusa, de- 
mum ssepb patentia. Nux 2-4 lineas alta, diametro ^-3-lineari; 
costse plus minusve prominentes, ssepissime crassse. Semen ovatum 
v. obovatum, fusco-castaneum. 

Habitat in Europa, prsesertim media et australiori. Parisiis florescit 
medio Junio : individua tamen reperiuritur singula jam initio Junii vel 
tantum initio Julii florida. 


LIII . — General Features of Chusan, with remarks on the Flora 
and Fauna of that Island. By Theodore Cantor, M.D., 
Bengal Medical Service, &c. 

[Continued from p. 370.] 

Animals observed at Chusan. 

1. MAMMALIA. 

Cheiroptera. 

*Vespertilio irretitus f. V. auriculis capite brevioribus, rotundatis; 
trago lanceolato ; rostro brevi, obtuso, nigro ; labiis mentoque crini- 
bus longioribus sparsim tectis ; vellere dorsi capitisque molli, brevi, 
griseo-brunnescenti, abdominis pulvericolore ; membro virili maximo ; 
caud& corpus longitudine sequante, e membrana interfemorali, subtus 
sparsim hirsuta, paululum exsertgL 

Ears rounded, shorter than the head ; tragus lanceolate ; muzzle 
short, obtuse, black, the lips and chin with scattered, lengthy, bristly 
hairs ; fur of the back and head short, soft brownish gray, that of the 
abdomen dust- coloured ; male genital organ highly developed ; tail as 
long as the body, slightly protruding from the interfemoral mem- 
brane, the abdominal surface of which is thinly covered with short 
hair. 

Dentition : — Incis. jrjj ; canin. molar, g— . 


Dimensions. i nC h. lin. 

Length of the head ^ 0 

body 1J 1 

tail 1 1 

ear 0 2J 

Breadth of the ear 0 2 

Length of the tragus 0 1 

Extent of the wings 8 0 


* Animals marked with an asterisk have been sketched at Chusan in 
1840 by Dr. Cantor, who has supplied the names unless otherwise observed. 

f Irretire f from its being frequently arrested in the strong web of two 
large spiders, Epe'ira bilineata and heraldica (vide infra), which circum- 
stance has given rise to the common erroneous belief that those and similar 
spiders feed upon bats. 


