280 



bably only apparently so, from its small size. On Ryde Down, and 

 a few other places in the Isle of Wight. 



Lotus corniculatus. Everywhere most abundant in fields, pastures 

 and on heaths ; particularly fine on the sea-banks in Sandown Bay, 

 usually with somewhat fleshy leaves (the var., I suppose, y. crassifo- 

 lius). Another form, with long, silky hairs on the stems and leaves 

 (the var. /$. villosus), occurs in several parts of the island in damp 

 .pastures and on ditch-banks. The state with filiform, decumbent 

 stems, and narrow, fleshy leaves and stipules (L. corniculatus, var. te- 

 nuis) is not unfrequent in drier places by way-sides, &c, and looks very 

 much like a species. Mr. Borrer suspects this last is at most biennial, if 

 not annual, since he cannot preserve it in his garden, the old plants 

 dying off after perfecting seed, a fact which would go far to establish 

 its claim to distinction. 



major. Common in wet meadows, by ditches, &c. 



angustissimus. Abundantly for at least fifty yards on a 



bank facing the south, in Stokes Bay, by Gosport, a little to the west- 

 ward of Anglesey, Miss Jane Garrett !!! Not yet found in the island. 



Anthyllis vulneraria. Pastures, but not very common, at least in 

 the Isle of Wight. A very large variety, two feet high, with far larger 

 leaves and paler flowers (the A. maritima of Schweigger), grows abun- 

 dantly on the steep banks at the upper end of Sandown Bay, forming 

 great tufts. The red-flowered variety, &. Dillenii, has not been found 

 in this island or county. 



Astragalus glycyphyllos. Very rare, at least on the island, where 

 it is confined to three localities, in rough, rocky pasture ground, near 

 Niton, but there most abundant and very fine. 



N. B. — Astragalus hypoglottis, recorded* in ' Botanist's Guide ' as 

 found on Carisbrook Castle Hill by Mr. Griffith, certainly does not 

 grow there at present, and I question if it ever did. Mr. Griffith 

 seems to have been a most inaccurate observer, as I shall have occa- 

 sion to show subsequently, and to have committed strange mistakes 

 in his reports of species. 



Vicia hirsuta. Common in corn-fields, woods and pastures. In 

 great profusion on sandy banks near the Culver Cliff, in Sandown 

 Bay, growing by itself in great patches, and of extraordinary size. 



tetrasperma. In similar places with the last, and about 



equally common, sometimes approaching the following pretty closely, 

 even to rendering distinction difficult. 



gracilis. In cultivated fields, woods and hedges not unfre- 

 quent and sometimes very abundant in the Isle of Wight, but uncer- 



