516 



I think it is so mentioned in Mr. Watson's 'Botanists' Guide.' But 

 Mr. Flower not observing the plant when he botanized at Swansea, 

 has by implication suggested a doubt as to my observation. Yet the 

 investigating botanist cannot be answerable for the continuation of 

 what, nevertheless, has bona fide met his view. I left Swansea early 

 the following morning; and when, in 1839, I was at the town again, I 

 found the beach where I had botanized before covered up with bal- 

 last, and a painted invitation prominent, inviting "rubbish" to be 

 thrown there. So I fled from the spot in dismay ! Anchusa semper- 

 virens is another of those fugacious species that often appear in se- 

 questered dingles, seeming as wild as anything else then apparent, 

 and I have gathered it at Lancaut, near Chepstow, as well as by the 

 side of the river Mawddach, some distance below Dolgelle, Merio- 

 nethshire ; but I by no means wish to induce any one to search these 

 places, as my experience convinces me the Anchusa shifts its quarters 

 year after year. Onopordum Acanthium and Silybum marianum are 

 known to every botanist as appearing and vanishing with singular 

 uncertainty, ever moving from place to place. 



Reseda fruticulosa is another casual wanderer likely to lead a bota- 

 nist a vain chase, if looked after, yet when presenting itself it must 

 be noted down. I once gathered it in Britannia Square, Worcester, 

 not long after the ground had been partially built upon and made a 

 square, and I have also observed it on the sea-coast at Tenby, South 

 Wales ; yet Nature perhaps had as much to do with its position in 

 the first locality as the last. I would not undertake to find it in 

 either of the spots named at the present time. Centaurea solstitialis 

 once occurred to me among the sand-hills at Barmouth, North Wales, 

 and I gathered several specimens ; yet though placed there by Nature 

 it might have no permanent abode on the spot. 



Saponaria officinalis is a plant that frequently abounds excessively 

 in some places for a time ; and thus I have- seen it on the banks of 

 the Usk, at Crickhowel, and on the Severn above Worcester, and in 

 various other spots, even on the rocks at Malvern ; but conspicuous 

 as it is, I have often lost it from its wonted haunts. 



I could easily name other wandering plants that would be familiar 

 to the knowledge of botanists, and instance notices of their appearance 

 and sudden vanishing. But too much on one subject at a time may 

 be tiresome, and I have penned enough to convince the candid rea- 

 soner, that the present defection of any plant from its old habitats 

 does not invalidate former record and observation. 



Though these remarks have been evoked by the statement of Dr. 



