190 BOTANICAL STROLLS. 



the Toads were dead, the other two alive, but greatly emaciated. 



Doubtless the above may be new to many readers of "The Naturalist/ 

 and thus be worthy of a spare sheet. 



Devizes, March loth., 1852. 



BOTANICAL STROLLS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 

 OP PLYMOUTH. 



NO. V. 



SiNCK my last communication was printed, mislaid notes of two other 

 botanical excursions made in 1851 have turned up, and I accordingly transmit 

 them for publication in the pages of "The Naturalist." 



On Friday, July 18th., I had a day's botanizing, in company with two 

 friends, who, although uninitiated in the science, were soon captivated by its 

 charms. On the limestone of Catdown the following plants were in bloom : — 

 Galium verum; which, with its light green leaves, and its golden yellow 

 panicles of flov/ers, densely crowded into a kind of terminal spike, contrasted 

 agreeably with the deeper tint of the surrounding vegetation. Convolvulus 

 arvensis, (Small Bind-wced,) an humble, but one of the most beautiful of 

 our wayside plants. What pencil could imitate the lovely roseate streaks on 

 its petals? and its fragrance, how refreshing! Horchum murinum, (Wall 

 Barley,) in plenty; Beseda lulcola, (Dyer's Rocket.) This, as well as R. 

 lutea, which I have, I think, before mentioned as growing here, are of the 

 same genus as the favorite Mignionette, so much cultivated both as borders 

 to flower-gardens and in pots, but of a much larger and coarser growth. 

 "Used in dyeing woollen stuffs yellow." — Hoolcer. Qtioere. — Is it at the present 

 day cultivated for this purpose? 



-From Catdown we crossed in a boat to Ilooe; and between this place 

 and Langdon Hall observed Scrophularia nodosa, (Knotted Figwort.) The 

 botanical name of this plant is from the disease scrophula, which it was 

 supposed to cure. Its flowers are small, and of a peculiar greenish purple 

 hue, which, with the dull green of the foliage, gives the plant a lurid and 

 uninviting aspect. Arctium Lappa, (Common Burdock.) The involucra 

 have hooked bristles, by means of which the heads of flowers readily fasten 

 themselves to the coats of animals and to clothes. Who in his boyhood has 

 not found sport in throwing these at his companions, and thus unconsciously 

 aided in the diffusion of the species? Shakspere, the great poet of nature, 

 has not overlooked this plant. In "Henry V." he has introduced it as one 

 of the "hateful" weeds which infest neglected land; and in other plays he 

 has drawn from it similes of attachment and constancy. Ex. gra: — 



"Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr, I shall stick." 



"MeASUKE FOK IVfEASUllF,. 



