lApril, I860.] 97 



PLANTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF DUNKIRK. 

 Bij R. E. C. 



Perhaps the following notice of the Flora of Dunkirk may- 

 prove interesting to some of the readers of the ' Phytologist/ as 

 showing the character of the vegetation on the northern extre- 

 mity of the French coast, — how far it agrees with, or differs from, 

 that of our own shores. 



The plants contained in the following list are all from the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood of Dunkirk, — rgathered principally among 

 the dunes, or sandhills, along the coast, from which the town takes 

 its name {Flemish, Duinkercke, ^Church of the Dunes'), or on the 

 level sandy ground immediately behind them. The fiat inland 

 country presents little of interest to the botanist, the few inland 

 plants given below being the only noteworthy species observed 

 there in the course of two summers' residence. It will be seen 

 that Dunkirk can boast of no plants absolutely unknown on this 

 side the Channel, though it has several, such as Eryngium cam- 

 pestre, Silene conica, Anchusa officinalis, of extremely rare occur- 

 rence amongst us. 



It needs only to add in explanation of the localities mentioned, 

 that Rosendael is the little village which lies next to Dunkirk 

 on the north-east, as do Mardyck and St. Pol on the south-west ; 

 and that the canals spoken of run by the sides of all the prin- 

 cipal roads through that flat country. 



Thalictrum minus. Sandhills between Rosendael and the sea. 



Cakile maritima. On the dunes. 



Senebiera Coronopus. On the dunes,, 



Lepidium ruderale. Cornfields by the sea, near Mardyck. 



Sisymbrium Sophia. Sandy roadsides and fields about Mar- 

 dyck. 



Helianthemum vulgare. On the dunes. 



Viola tricolor. On the dunes. 



Saponaria officinalis. On the ramparts close to the Porte du 

 Fort-Louis. 



Silene nutans. Bank of the canal to Mardyck. — Leaves much 

 narrower than in the Nottingham plant, with which I think I am 

 right in identifying it. ? i- • 1.-- -i ;4 



Silene conica. Sandy fields near the sea. 



N. S. VOL. IV. O 



