82 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



luxuriance and profusion^ but of late years this elegant species has 

 considerably decreased in quantity, through the rapacity of collectors. 

 Root creeping, highly aromatic, and astringent. Stem 2 or 3 feet 

 high, with a very large, leafy compound erect umhel. Spikes shining, 

 brown, narrow, erect, 5 or 6 together, loosely spreading in two 

 directions. Stigmas 3. The figure in "English Botany" was 

 drawn from a garden specimen. 



Rhtnchospoea, (Vahl.) Beak-Rtjsh. 

 Linn. CI. iii., Ord. i. 

 Name. From rynchos, (G-r.) a leak ; and spora, (Gr.) a seed, the 

 permanent base of the style forming a beak to the seed. 



1. R. alba, (Vahl.) white Beak-rush. Schanus, Linn. Engl. 

 Bat. t. 985. St. 40, 6. 



Locality. Wet pastures and turfy bogs, P. Fl. July. Area, 1, 

 ^ ^ * * 



South Division. 

 1. South-east District. "In bogs, Alderbury Common," Dr. Maton, 

 Nat. Hist. Wilts. Mr. James Hussey has more recently confirmed 

 this station. Spilcelets of flowers white or whitish, collected so as to 

 form a level surface at the top. Achene obovate, compressed, smooth, 

 distinctly margined, tapering at the base into a short stalk. Style 

 persistent, dilated at the base, not so broad as the seed, but easily 

 distinguishable from the shining achene by its colour and texture. B,. 

 alba has been reported to me to have been found in bogs at Easterton, 

 near Market Lavington, and at Bromham, but I have seen no 

 examples. 



Eleocharis, (R. Br.) Spike-Rush. 

 Linn. CI. iii., Ord. i. 

 Name. Erom helos, a marsh, and chairo, to rejoice. 

 1. E. palustris, (R. Be.) marsh or creeping Spike-rush. Engl. 

 Lot. t. 131 St. 9, Eeich Icones, vii. 297. 



Locality. Sides of ditches, and wet marshy places, frequent. P. 

 Fl. June. Area, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Root creeping, black and shining 

 as well as the external sheaths of the stem. Bristles in the flower, 

 only 4, longer than the ripe fruit. Recejptacle elongated below the 



