74 YEW pnuiT. 



the appearance of being partially decayed — Lungwort Toeing its English name, 

 from its attributed virtue in pulmonary complaints j Vinca minor; Saxifmga 

 umbrosa (this and the two previously-named plants grow in a spot which is 

 of such a character as to throw doubt on the indigenous origin of its 

 occupants;) Gratcegus Oxyacantha. 



Arrived at Knackersknowle, we cross some fields, in which I saw Luzula 

 campestris ; and, on the brink of the Plymouth Leat, Oxalis acefosella. What 

 can be more simple, chaste, and beautiful, than this last-named plant ! On 

 contemplating it, one may well treat with slight the prouder flowers of the 

 garden, and exclaim with the poet — 



"Ye wildings of nature, I dote upon you." 

 I afterwards saw the Wood Sorrel in great quantity in a thicket farther on. 



Again entering the road, I find between these fields and Tamerton, 

 Stachys arvensis (rather stunted, it being very early for this plant;) Plant ago 

 lanceolata; Veronica serpyJlifolia ; Luzula pilosa; Veronica Buxhaumii. I do 

 not remember being ever more forcibly struck with the beauty of a flower, than I 

 was on the occasion of meeting with this plant: it grew in a hedge, having 

 a southern aspect; and with the sunshine falling full upon it, it presented a 

 most lovely appearance; and to add to the effect, close at hand were furze bushes, 

 (Ulex Europoeus,) laden with their blossoms of 'vegetable gold,' and the White 

 Thorn decked with its snow-white bloom. Tussilago Farfara — this is one of 

 our vegetable curiosities, producing flowers before the leaves appear, Agmpliis 

 nutans; Nasturtium officinale. 



Returning, I found between Tamerton and St. Budeaux, Chrysosplenium 

 oppodtifolium — a charming plant, appropriately called the Golden Saxifrage; 

 for, with its clustered flowers, it imparts a lively golden tint to the dark and 

 retired spots in which it is usually found. Orchis mascula; Viola hirta; 

 Litzula Forsteri; Narcissus Pseudo-narsissus; Euphorbia aniygdaloides. 



Between St. Budeaux and Weston Mills, I found nothing unseen before. 

 Hereabouts 1 saw Geranium luciduni, which is the last plant on my list of 

 about fifty, noticed during a walk of four or five hours. 



The foregoing sketch is written currente calarno, and amid the interruptions 

 of business: its faults and deficiencies must, therefore, be excused. If I shall 

 sueqeed in awakening some, however few, to an appreciation of our too much 

 neglected wild flowers, and in inducing only one to take up the study of 

 botany, which is too generally, and indeed erroneously, regarded as difficult 

 and dry; I shall not have scribbled in vain. 



Isaiah W. N. Keys. 



9, Bilbury St., Plymouth, April 10th., 1851. 



YEW FRUIT, (TAXUS :B AGE ATA.) 



It is surprising that there are so many different opinions as to the poisonous 

 or nc»n-poisono;vs properties of the fiaiit of the Common and Irish Yew trees; 



