209 
ON LEUCOJUM VERNUM, Linn., AS A BRITISH PLANT. 
By J. C. Manset, Esq. 
(PLATE XLIX.) 
In consequence of a communication from Mr. Hardy, of Manchester, 
I made an excursion, in the beginning of March this year,.in the 
neighbourhood of Bridport, Dorset, in search of Leucojum vernum, 
Linn., which had not hitherto been recorded as growing wild on ‘this 
side of the English Channel. I was successful in my search, and 
found it in great abundance. To substantiate its claim to be consi- 
dered as a British plant, and not one artificially introduced, it may be 
well to consider its local position in Dorsetshire in connection with 
its distribution on the Continent. Here it grows on the banks and 
sides of a thick hedgerow on the declivity of one of the various Green- 
sand heights which, as usual in that part of the country, overlie the 
Lias. The surrounding lands are arable, the soil being loamy from its 
admixture with the Greensand, and the drainage is conveyed by a 
watercourse which follows the line of hedge on which the Leucojum 
grows. At the bottom of the valley, the hedge ha into a narrow 
belt of copse, where the showy corolla of this rare plant mingles with 
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. I traced it, in more or less profusion, 
for upwards of a quarter of a mile by the side of the same watercourse, 
to the termination of the cultivated land. Its sudden disappearance 
is probably owing to the change of soil, which here becomes a thick, 
impervious, stubborn clay. I cursorily examined a small wood on the 
Opposite side of the valley, but found there no traces of the plant. 
ere is no reason, however, for concluding that it is confined to this 
remote valley, where no vestige of human habitation occurs, except 
two modern labourers’ cottages near the summit of the hill, and which 
are not likely to have been the artificial cause of its introduction. The 
plant grows in sufficient abundance to resist the onslaught of an army 
of Vandal invaders, who, alas! too often ruthlessly extirpate rare. 
and choice plants. It grows r obustly, and appears to be surrounded 
with conditions most favourable for a healthy and vigorous propaga- 
tion. With regard to its European distribution, Germany is pre-emi- 
nently its centre; from thence it radiates in all directions, preferring 
apparently the suheipine regions. It is profusely distributed through- 
VOL. Iv. [JULY 1, 1866.] P 
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