184 



NOTES OF A BOTANICAL STROLL 

 IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF PLYMOUTH. 



NO. III. 



Monday, May 19th. — Revisited the ground gone over on the 12th., as 

 described in my last communication, returning by way of Hooe. Added the 

 following plants to my list: — Bromus mollis, B. commutatus, Trifolium repens, 

 T. minus, Galium cruciatum, Carex divulsa, C. prcecox, Vicia sativa, Ervum tet- 

 raspcrmum, Rumex acetosa, Loliam perenne, Saxifraga tridactylites, Aim prcecox, 

 Pyrus malus. I noticed one tree of the Wild Apple, growing on a rock 

 jutting over the sea, in the most luxuriant state of bloom — scarcely a leaf to 

 be seen; it was one beautiful mass of roseate blossoms, and redolent of the 

 most delicate perfume. Geranium coliimlinnm, Bannnculus acris, B. hulbosvs 

 Fedia olitoria, Euphrasia officinalis, (Eye-bright.) What a charming little 

 flower this is! and how poetical its English name, which is derived from 

 the circumstance of the plant possessing ophthalmic virtues! The gaudier 

 flowers of the garden commend themselves to our notice by their larger size 

 and brighter colours; but this unpretending daughter of Flora, enshrined in 

 its lowly dwelling, might boast a corolla that, for richness of hue and delicacy 

 of pencilling, would outvie the proudest denizen of the parterre. When 

 examined by the aid of the magnifying glass, its beauty is wonderful. Alcliemilla 

 arvensis, Veronica arvensis, Jasione montana, Lepidiurn campestre. Tormentilla 

 officinalis, Dactylis glomerata, Sihthorpia Ewopxa, (Cornish Money-wort.) There 

 is an indescribable loveliness about this elegant little plant, creeping, as it 

 does, among Moss and Lichen, by the shady side of purling brooks, and so 

 intermatted therewith as to be almost inextricable; at least when torn from 

 its parent beds, a quantity of extraneous matters come away with it, which 

 tend to detract from the beauty of the plant; so that to be thoroughly 

 admired, it must be viewed while undisturbed in its native haunts. I am 

 at this moment rapt in delight, as with my '^mind's eye" I gaze upon it 

 trailing there, with its light green long-stalked leaves, round and notched, 

 and its pink-tinted minute flowei'S. Lamium purjjureum. 



June oth. — Orohanche amethjstea, a solitary specimen, found on rocks under 

 the Hooe, Plymouth, by Mr. Bunker. This circumstance is worthy of record, 

 as the plant had boen hitherto found only in Whitsand tJay, a few miles 

 distant, with sea intervening. 



June 6th. — Having made an appointment to meet a friend at Maristow, 

 the seat of Sir Ralph Lopes, which is situated most pleasantly on the east 

 bank of the Tavy, about seven miles south of Tavistock, I started about 

 nine o'clock this morning, although the clouds were lowering. I rode as far 

 as Bickleigh Down, where I descended from the vehicle, the rain falling 

 thickly, and went on the Down to collect Viola lactea, Smith. I gathered 

 a goodly number of specimens; and found, on laying them in paper, that I 

 not only had this plant, named by Thore V. Jancifolia, but the true V. 



