1861.] NORTHUMBERLAND BOTANY. . 195 



far from the town of Alnwick, there is a locality for Helleborus 

 viridis ; not a common plant in any part of the British Isles. 

 This station is rather too well known, and the roots are frequently 

 dug up and carried off; and at present (April, 1861) there is but 

 little of it to be taken. It is an ancient and still popular remedy 

 in the pharmacopoeia of the cow-leech (see ' Phytologist ' for 

 May, 1861) . Dr. Turner, in his " Herball," writes, " Dyuerse hus- 

 bandmen iised to put the roote of Berefoot into beastes eares, and 

 called the putting in syterynge of beastes, and in sume places 

 called the herbe Syterwurte." This practice is not unknown in 

 modern days in other parts of the kingdom. 



Viola odorata occurs a little further up the riverside ; and east 

 of the old lodge, Corydalis solida is found in abundance, asso- 

 ciated with a few plants of Pulmo7iaria officinalis. The latter 

 plant is believed to be an introduction ; the former one has all 

 the appearances of being in its natural habitat. 



By the sides of the drive that intersects this part of the ducal 

 domain, there are numerous patches of Chrysospleniuni ojypositi- 

 folium and C. aUern/folium, both of them in perfection at this 

 time (May 8th, 1861) ; Polygonum Bistort a abounds in the same 

 locality. 



On the west side of the old lodge, in a plantation a few yards 

 from the drive, Lycopodium clavatum grows ; and in an open space 

 further on towards the deer-park, Ophioglossum vulyatum and 

 Hieracium aurantiacum are found. Of the latter there is plenty ; 

 but perfect specimens are rarely found, as the grass is often 

 mown before the flowering of the plant. This last-named species 

 also occurs in some other parts of Scotland, but not without a 

 suspicion of the probability of its having been introduced at some 

 period not very remote. 



Paris quadrifolia and Epipactis latifoUa are found in many 

 parts of the park, and in none more plentifully than in woods 

 near the old house. 



The plants on and about the ruined remains of Hulne Abbey 

 are the following, and it may be observed that, in the language of 

 modern botany, they are mostly introductions or suspected aliens ; 

 for in botany no period of time, however long, gives to certain 

 species the privileges of nationality. 



Hesperis matronalis grows, but sparingly, close to the drive ; in 

 a plantation on the opposite side of the road, Lathrata squamaria 



