42 



NOTES ON THE FLORA OF MID-SOMERSET. 

 By the Rev. R. P. Murkay, M.A. 



In December, 1875, Mr. Baker commimicated to the ' Journal 

 of Botany' a list of plants noticed by liim as growing in the 

 neighbourhood of Somerton, the ancient capital of Somerset, 

 during a fortnight's visit late in the summer of that year. I 

 propose now to lay before the readers of this Journal some addi- 

 tional notes on the Botany of this district, and of the country 

 lying immediately to the north, which is drained by the River 

 Brue. In its upper portion the valley of the Brue much resembles 

 that of the Barrett : below Glastonbury the character of the valley 

 changes, and we find ourselves on extensive peat-moors, which 

 still afford many scarce plants, though the number of these is 

 gradually diminishing. At present, however, I do not intend to 

 deal with the Botany of the moors. 



Ranuncidus tricliophijllus, Chaix. — Very common in ditches 

 about Baltonsboro'. Some specimens from this locality have been 

 referred doubtfully by Prof. Babington to R. radians, Rev. 



E. Drouetii. F. Schultz. — I find what I believe to be this species 

 in one ditch close to Baltonsboro'. 



R. penicillatus, Hiern. — In the Brue at Castle Gary. 



R. circinatus, Sibth. — Very common in this district. 



R. hederaceus., L. — In a pond at Kingweston. 



R. sceleratus, L. — Abundant below Glastonbury, but a^jparently 

 scarce higher up the valley. 



R. arvensis, L. — Common in arable land, Keinton-Mandeville. 

 Baltonsboro', rare. 



Acunitnm Xajiellus, L. — In plenty on both sides of small stream 

 between Milton- Clevedon, and Batcombe. 



Nupliar lutea, Sm. — Common in the Brue. 



Chelidunimn majiis, L. — About most of the villages. 



Sinapis niijra, L. — Common by the Brue. 



MalacJduvi aquaticum, Fr. — Very common in the valleys. 



Hypericum hirsutuni, L. — One of the characteristic plants of the 

 district. 



Geranium pratejisc, L. — Common. 



G. culumhinum., L. — Fields, Charlton-Mackrell. 



G. lucidum. L. — Baltonsboro'. Otherwise scarce in the district. 



Astraijalus (/lijcijpJiijllos, L. — In a hedge below the wood to the 

 right of Snaphill, as you go from Somerton. 



Vicia (jracilis, Lois. — Kingweston. 



Lathj/rus Aphaca, L., and L. XissoUa, L. — I am informed by the 

 Rev. Gilbert Smith that he had gathered both these plants close 

 to the vicarage, Barton- St. David ; they are, however, no longer 

 to be found there. 



L. sylvestris, L. — Between Bruton and Milton-Clevedon. Also 

 near Wells, and at Stowel, near Templecombe. 



