XVI 



ON HEATH, DOWN AND MOOR 



On the exposed and more or less bleak heath, down and moor we 

 do not meet with many species of spring flowers, and for this reason 

 we have included both spring and summer blossoms in the same 

 chapter. 



It must not be supposed, however, from the above statement, 

 that we regard these exposed situations as devoid of interest, or 

 even lacking in flowers, for the small number of species flowering 

 early in the season is often compensated for by the profusion in 

 which their blossoms are produced. 



The golden blaze of the Furze or Gorse, aided more or less by the 

 similar flowers of its little relative — the Petty Whin, is alone 

 sufficient to add a charm to the scene, while the large yellow blos- 

 soms of the Broom often take the place of, or add to, the glorious 

 display, which is frequently varied by the globular flowers of the 

 Whortle, and the catkins and early leaves of the Dwarf Willow. 

 Occasionally the scene is still further varied by the evergreen, needle- 

 like foHage of the Juniper, intermixed with the Kttle axillary cat- 

 kins ; while among the siurrounding grass we see the pretty flowers 

 of the little Eyebright ; the brown flowers and hairy leaves of the 

 Field Woodrush, often growing as thickly as the grass itself; and 

 the short, stiff leaves and sessile spikelets of the Spring Sedge. 



Among the more gaudy flowers we may note the large purple 

 heads of the Musk Thistle, a common plant on the heaths of some 

 southern counties ; and in boggy districts we may see the abundant 

 white, silky tufts of the Hare's-tail Cotton Grass ; and the flower- 

 clusters of the Yellow Sedge. 



These and the few other spring flowers of heaths and moors are 

 described, in their order, among the summer flowers of the present 

 chapter. Some of them are exclusively spring blossoms, and are to be 



