50 CRUCIFER^ 



above the surface. "In the dry summer of 1798," says this gentleman, "as I 

 walked in the bed of a lake, called Llyn Lly wenan, in the parish of Bodedern 

 (Anglesea), whence the water had retired about two months before, I unex- 

 pectedly discovered this plant in great abundance. Notwithstanding that 

 its appearance was very different from what I had been used to see in the 

 Arvonian Alpine lakes, where it always blossoms and seeds at the bottom, 

 imder Avater of considerable depth, yet it did not seem to regret the privation; 

 the foliage was spread, the leaves somewhat reclining, and the flowering- 

 stems procumbent ; the calyx and corolla were fully expanded ; the petals, 

 which are white, and of an obovate form, were horizontal, the seed-vessels and 

 seed quite perfected ; and, on the whole, it seemed to indicate a quite different 

 plant." 



9. Whitlow-grass (Drdba). 



1. Vernal Whitlow-grass (D. n'rna). — Flower-stalks leafless ; petals 



deeply cleft ; leaves narrow, pointed, somewhat toothed, hairy. Plant annual. 



This is well named a vernal flower, and is truly welcome for its early bloom, 



bringing to remembrance the elegant fancy which Westwood has conceived 



of the Snowdrop : — 



" It is the herald of the flowers, 

 Sent with its small white flag of truce, to pleal 

 i''or its beleagiir'd brethren : suppliantly 

 1 1 prays stern Winter to withdraw his troop 

 Of winds and blustering storms, and having Avon 

 A smile of promise from its pitying foe, 

 Eeturns to tell the issue of its errand 

 To the expectant host." 



The blossom of the Whitlow-grass would hardly attract the regards of any 

 save those who truly love wild flowers, for it grows in small clusters, on a 

 stem about two, or, at most, three inches high ; though, when growing in 

 any quantity, it whitens the summit of the Avail or dry l^ank, during February 

 and March. The leaves f oi'm a circle around the root, but seldom spread out 

 so far but that a half-croAvn piece would hide them ; and specimens of miiuite 

 beauty may sometimes be seen, in Avhich floAver and foliage too would be 

 enclosed in a circle not larger than a lady's ring. It sometimes peeps up 

 above the snoAv ; and the author has seen its tiny floAvers emerging from the 

 white mantle which covered the summits of some of the old walls about 

 Rochester Cathedral. Our fathers used to imagine that Avhen it appeared in 

 any quantity, it foreboded short crops of corn in autumn ; an idea, perhaps, 

 not altogether without foundation, because it flourishes best in a rainy season, 

 and such a season helps to fill the corn-field Avith A^^eeds. The small white 

 flowers of the Whitlow-grass droop during rain. The plant is very acrid, and 

 is found on walls, banks, and dry rocky places throughout Europe. There 

 are many distinct forms of this common species. A A'ariety was found by 

 Sir William Hooker and Dr. Arnott among the shelving rocks at Ben 

 LaAvers, Avhich is remarkable for its inflated pouches ; it is recognised as a 

 sub-species, D. injlata. 



2. Yellow Alpine Whitlow-grass {D. aizoides). — Flower-stalk hdi- 

 less, smooth ; petals notched, tAvice as long as the calyx; sbyle much longer 



