148 



coppices in early spring, before the curious spathe which encloses 

 the fructification appears, to be in turn succeeded by a cluster of 

 beautiful red berries. Note here that these berries — attractive as 

 they are to children — are extremely dangerous. The whole plant 

 is decidedly acrid and nauseous ; the juice even in small quantities 

 causes a disagreeable and burning sensation when allowed to come 

 in contact with the tongue or palate. 



Lemnace^. The Duckweed order. Lemna tninor is certainly 

 not uncommon, and L. trisulca, the ivy-leaved species, is reported 

 as occurring in two or three stagnant pools in the Patterdale 

 portion of the district. 



NAiADACEiE. In these it might be inferred that our neighbour- 

 hood must be extremely rich. This is far from being the case. 

 Potamogeton nutans : in still water by the edges of the Lake ; in 

 pools, springs, and brooklets on the hills to a considerable elevation. 

 P. heterophyllus, P. perfoliatus, and P. crispus, also occur, frequently 

 forming a sort of vegetable fringe around the edges of the Lake, 

 between shallow and deep water. Zannichellia palustris : many 

 years ago, I observed this plant growing in the bed of Goldrill 

 Beck, close to the Lake. It is possibly still in existence there ; 

 but last year when I sought to verify the old habitat, I found the 

 place unapproachable by a pedestrian, owing to the flooded 

 condition of the stream. 



Alismace/E. Trigloclin palustre : in boggy meadows, frequent. 

 Aiisma plariiago: in pools and ditches about Brothers Water, &c. 

 A. ranuticuloides : on the authority of Hutchinson, said to grow in 

 Patterdale. The swamp at the head of Brothers Water, frequently 

 referred to, and which I have only partially explored, is a very 

 likely locality indeed. The long white fibrous roots of this species 

 sometimes penetrate the soft peat bog to a surprising depth. 



ORCHiDACEiE. Orchis mascuia: common mme^ido'fi?,. O.macu- 

 lata, O. latifolia, Gymnadenia conopsea, Hahenaria viridis, and 

 H. bifolia, inhabit the upland meadows in numbers more or less 

 considerable. Of these H. viridis is the rarest. Lisiera ovata 

 and Epipactis latifolia are also found. 



