22 SCROPHULARINE^ 



cle Succession, acquired, however, a notoriety of which it was undeserving, for 

 the water distilled from it is simply an astringent, and by no means a power- 

 ful one ; it was, therefore, doubtless used in these deleterious preparations 

 from an ignorant misconception of its properties. 

 We seldom look upon 



"The ivy-foliaged Toad-flax twined, 

 With purplish tendrils," 



without recalling an anecdote which was related by Schultz, in his " Botanical 

 Visit to England," and which gives us a j)leasanter association with this 

 flower. Shortly after the publication by Linna3us of his arrangement of 

 plants, the latter, then a young man and little known, came over to England. 

 He went to Oxford, and there visited Dillenius and Sherard. The latter 

 botanist gave him a hearty welcome, but Dillenius, probably from that dislike 

 to innovation more prevalent then than now among scientific men, received 

 him very coldly. During a conversation which the two Oxford friends held 

 together, Dillenius remarked that this was the young fellow who was putting 

 botany and botanists into confusion. Though unacquainted with the English 

 language, the quick ear of Linnseus detected the word canjiuschien, as Dillenius 

 with his German accent pronounced it ; and readily connecting it with the 

 Latin confusio, he at once understood the feeling of the botanist towards 

 himself. They all three Avalked together up and down the Oxford garden, when 

 Dillenius stopped before a wall ornamented with masses of the Ivy-leaved 

 Toad-flax. Some difficulties respecting the structure of this plant had recently 

 occupied the attention of the Professor, and he now questioned Linnseus 

 as to his opinion on the subject. The doubtful points were all clearly under- 

 stood by the young Swede, and fully explained in his usual lucid manner ; 

 other difficulties respecting various plants were discussed in the conversation 

 which followed, and were explained with equal felicity, and the prejudice 

 which Dillenius had at first entertained for Linnwus was succeeded by regard 

 and admiration for his genius and science. Before the three botanists 

 separated, they had become friends ; but on taking leave, Linnteus could not 

 refrain from saying to Dillenius that he should have been very sorry to have 

 brought confusion into the garden at Oxford. Dillenius blushed at this refer- 

 ence, and immediately apologised for his unkind but inadvertent expression. 



2. Round-leaved Toad-flax (L. spuria). — Leaves roundish, egg- 

 shaped ; spur curved upwards ; floA\^er-stalks hairy ; stem procumbent ; 

 annual. This plant trails over the ground in many gravelly and sandy corn- 

 fields, but is chiefly confined to the east and south-east of England. It is 

 abundant in many parts of Norfolk and Suftblk, and not uncommon in Kent. 

 It is in blossom from July to November, and the flowers are small, solitary, 

 and axillary, yellow, with the upper lip purple. The foliage is of a greyish 

 dusty-looking green colour, and the leaves have sometimes one or two teeth 

 on the margin. In some cases the flowers are regular, with five spurs. 



3, Sharp-pointed Fluellin or Toad-flax (X. eldtine). — Leaves broadly 

 halberd-shaped, downy ; flowers solitary, axillary, on long stalks ; annual. 

 This species much resembles the last in the form of its floAvers, and the colour 

 of its leaves, AvbJcIi is never of a bright green; and, like it, is a trailing 



