350 WILD FLOWERS OF 



with the succulent Samphire, making verdant the arid 

 ridge; in others the golden Inula scatters its showy 

 star; the large glaucous foliage of the Sea Kale or 

 Sea Cabbage meets the view ; or the vivid purple of 

 the scentless Sea Lavender, surrounds lone hollows of 

 emerald-tinted water, with loveliness as unappreciable 

 as unexpected. And thus, to the cleared vision, does 

 botany exhibit objects that before, perhaps, were 

 unregarded : because unheeded or despised. 



Let us test this in a ramble up some lofty moun- 

 tain, and look out upon the plants on our right and 

 left, as we proceed in our steepy excursion. We can- 

 not but be gratified, let us move in what direction we 

 will. In this month the different species of HEATHS 

 (Erica) appear in their perfection of beauty, making 

 glad the wilderness wherever they present themselves. 



" The tiny heath-flowers now begin to blow, 

 The russet moor assume a richer glow ; 

 The powdery bells, that glance in purple bloom, 

 Fling from their scented cups a sweet perfume."* 



Sandstone cliffs are splendidly empurpled with the 

 flowers of the Fine-leaved Heath (Erica cinerea,') 

 which often, too, covers the sides of mountains to a 

 considerable height; while, wherever a weeping spring 

 oozes upon the waste, the pale wax-like bells of the 

 Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix), droop in clusters 

 to the ground. Sir WALTER SCOTT has finely depicted 

 in Marmion, a sun-rise in a mountainous country, 

 when the Heath was in flower, and the first golden 

 rays fell upon the mountains- 

 bed of the river Dee, near Llangollen, such " reed-spercled stones" as are 

 here alluded to, the bloody tinge appearing on microscopic examination 

 to be occasioned by a minute fungus allied to the Chlorococcus that red- 

 dens the snow in alpine regions. 

 * LEYDEN. 



