NOTES OF A RAMBLE OX THE RAIT-WAY. 47 



I observed the Marsh Valerian^ ( Valeriana dioica,) a pretty plant with flesh- 

 coloured flowers; and on a wall, close by the stone stile, the Red Valerian, 

 (GentrantJius ruber,) gi'ows of a rich crimson colour. I went a little out of my 

 course up a hill to the left, after crossing the stile, as I had previously 

 observed the Gromwell, (LitJiospermum officinale,) and found it now in flower 

 — its straw-coloured flowers almost hid by the leaves; its seeds are four in 

 number, and exceedingly hard: hence its name of Lithospermum from Lithos 

 — a stone, and sperma — a seed. 



A short walk through the village brought me into the Exeter turnpike road, 

 about half-a-mile beyond Gatcombe. Here in a hedgebank I saw a withered 

 specimen of Black Mullein, ( Verhascum ^nigrum,) the only one I have ever 

 seen hereabouts; and occasionally the Great Mullein, ( V. Thapsus,) three or 

 four feet high, covered with large handsome woolly leaves, which Clare calls 



"Antique mulliens flannel leaves," 



and terminating in a dense spike of beautiful yellow flowers. Its generic name 

 appears to have been originally Barhascum, from Barba — a beard; on account 

 of its shaggy leaves. It was formerly used in niedicine. In the hedge in this 

 road the handsome Bee Orchis, {Ophrijs apifera,) may be found earlier in the 

 season : now, I could not obtain a single specimen, and am indebted to a kind 

 friend for one from this spot. Here too the Deptford Pink, (Dianthus armeria,') 

 its flowers pink, speckled with white; and the little Eyebright, (Euphrasia 

 officinalis,) one of the most beautiful of our wild plants, grows in a dry 

 hedgebank. The flowers of the Eyebright are of a very delicate white, slightly 

 striped with purple and yellow. The plant was formerly much used in diseases 

 of the eye : hence its English name. This and the Cow Wheat, (Melainptyrum,) 

 are said to be parasitic on the roots of grass. 



I turned into a piece of rugged, barren ground near the Inn, and was well 

 repaid for my trouble. The ground was literally covered with the Bird's foot 

 and Hop Trefoil; the former beautifully tinged with red; the little Thyme- 

 leaved Sandwort, {Arenaria serpyllifolia;) the Milkwort, {Polygala vulgaris;) 

 the Pink Centaury, (ErytJircea Ce7itaurium,) in all directions — a handsome little 

 plant, used as a domestic medicine. The Rest Harrow, and many others 

 which have been enumerated, earlier in the season. 



Between Gatcombe and the turnpike I found one specimen of the Melilot, 

 (Melilotus officinalis), which is used in making the Swiss cheese, called 

 "Schabzieger;" and the Common Agrimony, (Eiipatoria Agrimonia) — its spilce 

 of yellow flowers just making its appearance. I noticed the Tutsan, {Hyper- 

 icum Androsoimum,) and Hairy St. John's Wort, {H. lursutum,) which may 

 be distinguished from the others by the calyx being fringed with small black 

 glands and downy leaves. Close by the turnpike grows the little London 

 Pride, {Saxifraya umbrosa,) so well known in all our gardens: a rare flower 

 in Devonshire, and not included in the "Flora Devonensis." In Ireland it is 

 called St. Patrick's Cabbage. In the Quarry, near Bridgetown, the Wild 



