56 THE WILD-FLOWERS OF SELBORNE 



entirely disappeared, but the hyssop remains, and is 

 as fully established as the pellitory, calamint, and 

 other mural plants which flourish on the picturesque 

 remains of the once " proud abbaye." 



The pellitory-of-the-wall, a curious plant belonging 

 to the nettle and hop tribe, is one of the most gener- 

 ally distributed of the wall-flora. A medicinal plant 

 of considerable repute in the olden times, it is found 

 at Quarr and Carisbrooke, and also on the ledges and 

 " greens " which line the almost perpendicular chalk 

 cliffs at Freshwater; most luxuriant, too, on the walls 

 of Portchester and Beaulieu, and many another relic 

 of mediaeval magnificence — 



" Where the mouldering walls are seen 

 Hung with pellitory green." 



But few wall-loving ferns are to be found in this 

 part of England, and these have a tendency to become 

 scarcer. In Gilbert White's time both the ceterach 

 and the rue-leaved spleenwort were to be seen on the 

 walls of Selborne Church. Both these have entirely 

 disappeared, and also Asplenium Trichomanes in 

 "Temple Lane." The ceterach only just manages to 

 maintain an existence in Hampshire. The writer 

 knew of a single plant at Portchester, and it may still 

 be found in one or two other localities. The maiden- 

 hair spleenwort is commoner, but it is not to be seen 

 in any abundance. The rue-leaved spleenwort i^A. 

 Ruta muraria, L.) is fairly well distributed both in the 

 island and on the mainland. In some localities, as up 

 the Meon Valley, it is comparatively common, and 

 may be seen on many an old wall, including that of 

 the Saxon church of Corhampton. 



One more plant must be mentioned. Every one 



