6 A BOTANICAL SCRAMBLE OX HELVFLLYN. 



which now bade fair for wetting us through, and patch after patch were 

 found, some in flower, but more in fruit. The blue Saw-wort, (Saussuria 

 aJpina,) and delicate-leaved Alpine Meadow Rue, (^ThuUdaiim aJpinum^) the 

 former in flower, and the latter in fine fruit, increased our joy, and made 

 something like pleasure beam on our water-streaked faces. Continuing our 

 scramble among huge masses of green stone towards Stridding Edge, we saw 

 far above us large tufts of the Sea Thrift, (Armeria maritima,) at least 

 three thousand feet above its ordinary habitat by the sea-shore. 



We had both an unexpressed idea that this was by no moans an unlikely 

 spot for the Saxifraga nivalis, but fearing that our hopes were too sanguine, 

 did not mention it. At last the secret did come outj — Mr. Flintoft was a 

 little way above me on the rocks, searching for some more of the Qerastium, 

 when I, imagining that a plant at his feet was different from the ordinary 

 S. stellaris — we had never gathered 8. nivalis before — and pointing it out, 

 asked him what it was. '^It is it," was his reply, suiting the answer to the 

 question in his own mind. A little searching brought up some more, and 

 we returned with a moderate supply of this valuable plant. The plant resembles 

 the common 8. stellaris in general appearance, but is stronger in habit, with 

 rounded and more fleshy leaves, tapering into a foot-stalk, instead of wedge- 

 shaped^ the petals want the orange spots, and are tinted with pink externally. 

 When the plant is once gathered in its native habitat, it will never be effaced 

 from the memory. 



Getting closer to Stridding Edge, we spent some time in looking for another 

 rarity, 8axifraga oppositifolia, nor did we search in vain; true, its purple 

 flowers glad the early spring, and, by the time most botanists commence the 

 season, have passed away; the capsule was there, however, and, with the 

 straggling stem and opposite thyme-shaped leaves, served to distinguish it at once. 

 In the moist little masses of soil occurring in the corners of rocks, the little 

 simple spikes and ovate leaves of the Polygonum viviparwn were to be found; 

 and on one or two spots we got a plant of Salix herhacea. This is a Willow, 

 inhabiting the highest mountains, and so small that an ordinary sized hand 

 will cover some dozens, many of the plants having only three or four leaves, 

 which are smaller than those of the Blaeberry, ( Vaccinium Myrtillus,) and 

 not unlike them in shape; the catkin consists of from four to six capsules. 

 It is not by any means so plentiful on Helvellyn as on the summit of 

 Skiddaw, where, amid the loose gravelly pieces of clay-slate, whole forests are 

 passed over at every step. 



Having enumerated all the rarities, perhaps I had as well stop, but I think 

 it will be pardoned if I say that our boxes received a few less rare, in 

 addition to those found three weeks before at Grisedale Tarn, all of which, 

 with the exception of the 8ilene and Hieracium, enriched our collection on 

 this day. Cystopieris fragilis and Lastrcea oreopteris hung in graceful tufts 

 from the fissures of the rocks; Festuca ovina, vivipara, and Triodia decumbens, 

 made up a considerable proportion of the herbage of the drier parts of the 



