172 BOTANICAL RAMBLES. 



we have here, is considered useful in the preparation of tonic beverages. The 

 leaves were used to clarify ale until the time of Henry VIII. ^ when hops 

 began to be substituted. An infusion of the leaves is commonly taken as 

 tea, and is slightly tonic, expectorant, and aperient. The little protuberances, 

 sometimes observed on the leaves, are occasioned by insects. The distinguishing 

 feature of the order Lahiatce is a two-lipped corolla, as seen in the common 

 Dead Nettle, and at the bottom of the toothed calyx are apparently four little 

 seeds, but in reality, a deeply four-lobed ovary. 



This lane leads us up to the Downs, to Hollingsbury Castle, an old Roman 

 encampment, whence we hav^e one of the finest views of Brighton and the sea 

 coast J anl on a clear day the Isle of Wight is distinctly visible. Instead 

 of turning up here, however, we can continue along the London Road, where 

 we shall find on both sides all the way to Patchara abundance of Sweet 

 Violets, but if we would gather any of the flowers we must get up extremely 

 early in the morning; or those who do not like early rising can take a walk 

 at any time along the cliff at Brighton, where they will find plenty of them 

 at a halfpenny a bunch, that are most probably natives of this road or the 

 neighbouring woods and hedges. About the walls at the bottom of Withdean 

 lane is the Pcllitory of the wall — Paridaria officinalis; and in the hedges and 

 hedge-rows the Dandelion, White Dead Nettle, [Lamium album,) and the 

 Celandine, (Banunculus ficaria, the earliest of the Buttercups, besides our old 

 friend, Viola odorata. 



Towards the top of the lane in the coppice is the Yew, (Taxus haccatn,) 

 in full flower. It is very dangerous to allow cattle at this season to wander 

 near the Yew-tree, as they are fond of the young shoots, which are of so 

 poisonous a nature that I have known them cause the death of the finest 

 cart-horses in a few hours. Here also is the Great Round-leaved Sallow, 

 (Salix caprea,) with its bright yellow catkins hanging on the leafless branches. 

 It is commonly called Palm, from the ancient custom of carrying the branches 

 of yellow blossoms in procession on Palm Sunday, at which season it is in 

 full bloom. Withering says ''The catkins are vulgarly called 'Goslings,' from 

 their striking resemblance in colour, and their appearance at the same time as 

 Goslings are hatched. These catkins are the male, or stameniferous flowers; 

 the female catkins are green, and grow on a distinct tree; both kinds are here 

 near to each other. Bees and other insects convey the pollen from the male 

 to the female blossom, which is thereby fructified, and afterwards produces the 

 cottony seeds that may be seen in a month or two flying about in every 

 direction. 



The genus Salix belongs to the natural order Salicinece. It contains, ac- 

 cording to Hooker, thirty-seven British species; Withering reckons fifty. Among 

 these are trees and shrubs of every size, from the lofty timber tree of sixty 

 feet in height, to the creeping Salix herbacea of the Highlands and Alps, 

 which scarcely rises above the ground. 



"Tiic many important uses," says Hooker, "rendered by the different species 



