226 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



1. L. vulgare (Linn.) common Privet or Prim-print. Engl. Bat. 

 t 764. St. 14. 1. 



Locality. In hedges, woods and thickets, especially on a gravelly 

 or chalky soil. Shruh Fl. June, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Distrib- 

 uted throughout Wilts. A bush with opposite evergreen leaves, 

 imitating myrtle, but of a duller hue; Panicles many-flowered, 

 dense thrice compound. Flowers strongly scented, white ; brown 

 before they fall. Berries globular black ; varying to yellow. 



Fraxinus, (Ltnn.) Ash-tree. 

 Linn. CI. ii. Ord. i. 



Named from the Greek (phrasso), to hedge in or enclose; the 

 ash was formerly used for forming hedges. The English name is 

 said to be from the Saxon " ^sa." Ray says it has its name from 

 the colour of the bark. 



1. F. excelsior (Linn.) taller or common Ash. Fngl. Bot. t. 1692. 

 St. 44. 7. 



Locality. Woods and hedges. Tree, Fl. April, May, before the 

 leaves appear. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Ln all the districts, though it 

 is probably planted in many of its stations. One of our tallest, 

 most graceful trees, with smooth grey bark, and large coal black, 

 rather downy buds. Wood tough, whitish. Leaves pinnate, 

 lea/lets in 4 — 8 pairs, with an odd terminal one, nearly sessile, 

 pubescent on the under side at the base and angles of the veins. 

 Flowers in axillary clusters, appearing before the leaves, at the 

 extremity of the last years wood, small, brown, and very simple, 

 without calyx, or corolla. Capsules with a flat leaf-like termination 

 an inch long and generally of two cells, with 1 seed in each, 

 glittering with rusty meal, like an almond, but bitter and nauseous. 



As an ornamental and picturesque tree the claims of the ash are 

 fully admitted by various writers, whose opinion and taste are 

 acknowledged by all. Virgil marks the character of the ash, as 

 particularly beautiful. 



" Fraxinus in sylvis pulcherrima." 



Gilpin speaks of the beauty and lightness of its foliage, and the 

 fine, easy, flowing line of its stem and branches ; Sir T. Dick Lauder, 



