TALBOT2841

Glasgow.
March 12. 1834

My dear Sir

I hope that when you send me the description of Hyacinthus dubius you will be kind enough also to send me 2 or 3 flowers (they will travel quite well in a letter). Dissections are absolutely necessary. You will see in Roemer & Schultes ¹ that much of the character of the species depends upon the form of the filaments & even on the color of the Anthers. It is one of the many Sicilian plants with which I am unacquainted. I cannot however help being struck with the similarity of the figure you are so good as to send, with to the Muscari moschatum as figured in Bot. Mag. ² t. 734. Whereas according to Roem & Sch. (v. 7. p. 586) H. dubius has the greatest affinity with H. romana (Scilla, Bot. Mag. t. 939) which is totally different in its corolla. Again in Roem. & Sch. at v. 7. p. 1709, it appears that Reichenbach makes a Bellevallia of Hyacinthus dubius, which he characterizes by a “Peranthium ad medium 6 partitum, which does not appear to be the case with your plant, which looks like a true Muscari.

Most faithfully Yours
W. J. Hooker.

H. F. Talbot Esq. M.P.
31. Sackville street
London.