A DEVO>JSHIRE COPSE RAMBLE, 



225 



as harmless as possible, althougli generally considered to have the power of 

 stinging! And here let a word be said for the little Water Eft, or Evit, as 

 it is more generally called in this neighbourhood, so common in every pool 

 of water, and so much despised for its supposed venomous qualities. It is 

 quite harmless, and does not possess the means of stinging, as any one may 

 prove by taking one into his hand. 



By the side of the stream we may find the Common Watercress flowers 

 (Nasturtium officinale,) and the handsome Yellow Iris, (Ms pseudacorus,) 

 which Withering calls the "Fleur de lis," although other Botanists have 

 given that name to the Purple or Stinking Iris, {Iris foetidissima.) a smaller 

 flower than the last, also conimon here; and Miss Catlow, in her valuable 

 introductory work on "Field Botany," applies it to both. The Yellow Iris 

 is known in many places as the Flag Sedge and Corn Sedge, and by the 

 Scotch as Water Skeggs. In moist situations the pretty flowers of the 

 Guelder Rose, or Water Elder, {Viburnum opulus,) are now opening, and 

 well worthy of notice. The marginal flowers, which open first, and are 

 much larger than those in the middle of the cyme, are destitute of both 

 stamens and pistils. The delicate Butterfly Orchis, {Hahenaiia hifolia;) the 

 Gresn-winged Meadow Orchis, {Orchis morio;) and the feathery cream-coloured 

 flowers of the Meadow Sweet, or Queen of the IVIeadows, {Spircea ulmaria,) 

 are in abundance here. Amongst the grass we occasionally find a few specimens 

 of Golden Rod, (Solidago virgaurea,) but it is more plentiful in Dartington 

 Hill Copse, a little way on; and more rarely still, the beautiful flowers of 

 the Milkwort, {Polygala vulgaris.) Here they are blue, but elsewhere in 

 the neighbourhood they may be found pink and white, the more general 

 colours. 



It would, I fear, tax too much the patience of my companions in this 

 lovely ramble, to introduce to their notice all the plants which flower this 

 month; there are still, however, to be found here the Wood Betony, {Betonica 

 officinalis;) the rosy flowers of the Mallow, {Malva rotundifolia;) the Bugloss, 

 {Lycopsis arvensis,) with its handsome purple flowers and bristly stem and 

 leaves; and the delicate pink ones of the Lesser Willow Herb, {Epilohium 

 parvi florum;) and adjoining the copse the Red Poppy, {Papaver Rhceas;) the 

 Car Woundwort, {Stach/s arvensis;) the Pimpernel, {Anaga'lis arvensis;) and 

 the Wild Heartsease, ( Viola tricolor,) are enlivening the corn-field with their 

 bright-coloured flowers. I trust many who glance over this hasty sketch will 

 visit this delightful spot, and 



"Pay the debt of justice to its worth." 



Totnes, Devon., June, 1851. 



VOL I 2 



