382 ON THE MISSELTOE. 



Mr. Murray, growing upon beech trees ?* In Radnorshire, not- 

 withstanding a careful and extensive search, instituted for tlie 

 purpose, by one of the authors of these observations (Dr. Davis,) 

 it has been found only just within the limits of the county ; and in 

 Anglesea, anciently the head quarters of Druidism, and where it 

 w as therefore not unlikely to have been abundant, we are informed 

 by Mr. Lees that it is now entirely extinct. 



The Misseltoe is not uncommon in many places on the continent 

 of Europe, and in Greece especially it has been observed on the 

 Fin 11 6 picea, or silver fir, and sometimes though rarely on the 

 oak.f According to Sir James Smith the Loranthns europoeus, 

 which grows abundantly on some of the fir tribe, was the original 

 or most common Misseltoe, the i^os of the Greeks,:}: but he 

 observes that our Misseltoe, the Viscum album, was the most 

 esteemed, probably on account of its growing on the sacred oak. 



There are several other species of Viscum or Misseltoe, none of 

 which, however, are natives of Europe ; amongst these are the 

 Viscum ruhrum, with red berries, and V, purpureum with purple 

 berries, growing in Carolina ; V. opuntioides, and V. verticillatum, 

 both of them with small red flowers, and oval black shining berries, 

 in Jamaica ;|1 V. terrestre, growing on the ground in Philadelphia ; 

 V, Liga, of Gillies, V, falcifrons, of Hooker and Arnott, upon 

 laurels, V. chilense, Hooker and Arnott, and V. ambiguum, Hooker 

 and Arnott, upon myrtles, in South America. § 



It is a question of much interest to determine the causes influ- 

 encing the distribution of this plant. We have before remarked 

 that it is scarcely to be found in Radnorshire, and indeed so rare 

 is the Misseltoe in that county, that it is a frequent observation that 

 it does not exist within the limits of its boundaries. To its literal 

 extent the remark is not true, for the plant has been met with, as 

 before stated, just within the borders of the county ; but when you 

 remove to a short distance from the boundary line, separating it 

 from the apple country (Herefordshire,) orchards are found in all 

 the stages of growth, maturity, and decay, without a trace of the 

 parasite : the orchards, too, be it observed, being planted in the 

 centre of hollows and narrow vallies, thus counterbalancing any 

 differences arising from climate, supposing such to exist, though 

 at the same time, in the Herefordshire orchards, it abounds. 

 Whence does this exemption arise ? The sorts of apples are the 

 same, the mode of cultivation alike ; yet, within a few miles, nay 

 even in less than a mile, the difference above stated is found to 

 exist. 



It is well known that St. Patrick drove the venomous creatures 

 from Ireland, which may account satisfactorily, we presume, to 

 those who arc disposed to receive the legend, for the viper and 



* Hook. Fl. Scot. p. 288. f Smith, Prod. Grsec. v. 2, p. 266. 



X Smith Engl. Fl. v. 4. p. 257. || Memoirs of Dr. Wright, p. 303. 



§ Hook. Bot. Misc., v. 3, p. 355. 



