623 



prevalence on the walls of that castle which the muse of Scott has 

 rendered familiar to all the world. 



Linaria Elatine. In waste and cultivated ground, gardens, tillage 

 fields, on hedge and ditch-banks, sometimes in wet boggy places and 

 woods ; common almost everywhere throughout the county and Isle 

 of Wight. Plentiful on the eocene or freshwater formation, as well 

 as on the chalk ; less frequent perhaps on the greensand than on the 

 two preceding deposits. Our corn-stubbles and fallows are often co- 

 vered with this and the next species at the close of summer. Besides 

 many other points of difference betwixt the present and the following 

 species, may be mentioned that the peduncles of L. Elatine are much 

 more slender than in L. spuria, not hairy as in that, excepting slightly 

 so near both ends, and when in flower diverge from the stem nearly 

 at a right angle, being for the most part finally reflexed as the cap- 

 sules approach maturity. The peloria condition with regular three, 

 four or five-spurred flowers I have found both in this and L. spuria 

 in chalky fields at Twyfbrd, near Winton. 



spuria. In precisely similar stations with the last over the 



county and island, but of rather less frequent occurrence in general, 

 being more, though not exclusively attached to calcareous soils, and 

 seldom straying beyond the limits of cultivation. Frequent about 

 Ryde, Sandown &c. Very common in Undercliff. Often as abun- 

 dant as the last in stubble-fields in autumn, either taking its place or 

 growing in company with it. Flower-stalks much stouter than in L. 

 Elatine, hairy all over like the stem, and spreading from the latter at 

 a moderate angle only, never, I think, reflexed in seed. I have often 

 wondered that these two species of Linaria have not been brought 

 into cultivation to ornament wmdows and halls, as they equal several 

 of our greenhouse creepers in elegance, and the flowers, though not 

 showy, are pleasing from the singularity of form and combination of 

 colours (yellow and rich purple-brown) they display. The foliage 

 too is not devoid of elegance, and the innumerable slender stems, 

 which in the wild state not unfrequently attain to three or four feet 

 in length, hang gracefully over the vase that contains them. As the 

 more delicate plant, L. Elatine would be preferred by many, whilst 

 L. spuria would come recommended to others by its greater robust- 

 ness of growth, more conspicuous flowers, and larger size of its round 

 velvety leaves. For further remarks on these two species and their 

 geographical distribution see ■ Phytologist' i. p. 168. It is worthy of 

 notice here, that commonly as these plants are found growing together, 

 and closely as they are allied in habit and character, I have never 



