NOTKS ON SPBING FLOWERS, ETC. • 220 



"In spite of all 

 Some shape of beautj' moves away the pall 

 From our dark spirits. 



Such are Daffodils, 

 With the green world they live in." 



Endymion. 



The Lesser Celandine, (Ranunculus Jlcaria, or Ficaria verna,) is now in 

 flower, with its pretty shining, golden petals— nine in number; and the Straw- 

 berry-leaved Cinquefoil, {Potentilla fragariastmm,) is abundant in the hedges. 

 This latter plant is very similar to the Wood Strawberry, (F. vesca,) which 

 flowers later in the season, but by a little careful examination may easily be 

 distinguished. The fruit is small, dry, and hairy; whilst that of the Wood 

 Strawberry is fleshy. In the former the calyx leaves appear between each 

 petal. On a hedge in Folly Copse, near the Dart, the Lesser Periwinkle is 

 just coming into bloom, covering the bank with its beautiful pale blue flowers. 

 It grows quite wild here, and at Bunkers Hill, Bow Hill, and Havbertonford, 

 in this neighbourhood. A white variety is also occasionally found : name sup- 

 posed to be derived from Vincio — to bind. 



March 5th. — The following are in flower at this date: — Perennial, or Dog's 

 Mercury, (^Mercurialis perennis;) Lamium purpureum, or Red Dead Nettle; 

 Coltsfoot, {Tassilago farfara,) the flowers of which appear before the leaves; 

 Common Stitchwort, (Stellaria media;) the Ivy-leaved Speedwell, {Veronica 

 hederifolia;) Hairy Wall Cress, {Arabis hirsuta;) and Marsh Marigold, (Caltha 

 palustris.) 



March 20th. — The woods and banks of streams are covered with the beautiful 

 white petals of the Wood Anemone, or Windflower, as it is called in some 

 parts, (Anemone nemorosa,) tinged underneath with pui-ple. It is said to be 

 poisonous to cattle. It derives its name from Anemos — the wind, in allusion 

 to the beautiful appearance their feathery leaves produce when waved by the 

 wind. 



"The coy Anemone, that ne'er uncloses 

 Her lips until they're blown on bj' the wind." 



On more careful examination of the specimen gathered on the banks of the 

 Dart, recorded at page 199, vol. i. of "The Naturalist," which I at first supposed 

 to be A. pidsatilla, appears to be only a red variety of A. nemorosa. I can 

 merely add a few more plants which appear between this and the end of 

 March. The Black Thorn, (Prunus spiaosa,) Cuckoo flower, (Cardajnme 

 pratensis, Shepherd's Purse, (Thlaspi Bursa pastoris, Ground Ivy, {Qlechoma 

 hederacea,) Early Purple Ochis, (Orchis mascula,) Red Campion, (Li/chnis 

 dioica, Stellaria holostea, or Great StitchWort, Early Field Scorpion Grass, 

 (Mi/osotis collina,) Wood Spurge, (Euphorbia ainygdaloides,) White Dead 

 Nettle, (Lamium album,) Wood Strawberry, (Fragaria vesca,) .Tuberous 

 Moschatel, (Adoxa moschateUina,) Golden Saxifrage, (Ghri/sosplenium opposit- 

 ifolium,) and Wall Flower, {Cheiranthus Cheiri.) 



VOL. II. 2 o 



