530 



Notices of ike Flowering Time and Localities of some Plants observed 

 during an Excursion through a portion of South Devon, in June, 

 1851 . By Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.S. 



I COMMENCED my progress on the 27th of May, on the afternoon of 

 which day 1 crossed the estuary of the river Exe at Starcross, and 

 took up my quarters at Exmouth. The flowery signals that pro- 

 claimed the decided advent of the summer season were the elder and 

 yellow Iris, in flower, and Malva rotundifolia, just displaying its pur- 

 ple-veined petals. On the preceding day, when botanizing with some 

 friends at Malvern, I had noticed that not a single corolla of Chry- 

 santhemum leucantheraum had unfolded ; but here the Midsummer 

 daisies were already in full flower. Near "Budleigh Salterton the red 

 sandstone cliffs were resplendent with the sea-pink (Armeria mari- 

 iima), in its finest perfection, varied by extensive masses of the yel- 

 low-flowered " ladies'-finger " {Anthyllis Vulneraria) ; while Silene 

 maritima cast a silver robe of beauty over the lurid, massive cliffs in 

 many places. Spergularia marina also adorned the rocks in numerous 

 spots. 



But by thus marking "the time of flowers," I only intend briefly to 

 remark upon such plants as fell under my notice, either less common 

 than usual, localized at particular points, or in some other way 

 worthy of passing remark. As it will be more convenient to notice 

 them as they met my view, I shall do so rather than arrange them by 

 the orders of any Flora. 



Iris fcetidissima. Profusely abundant all along the southern coast 

 of Devon, its blue-veined flowers forming quite a feature in the woods 

 at this time, and the stiff" green leaves cresting the sides of every 

 shady lane. The bruised foliage has a peculiar smell, something like 

 roast beef, complained of by Hooker and Arnott, in the last edition of 

 the ' British Flora,' as " very disagreeable ; " so that from its fre- 

 quency in Devonshire "one can hardly avoid walking among it"* 

 when herborizing, and being annoyed by the smell. It seems odd 

 that learned botanists should object to the scent of roast beef if unat- 

 tainable at the time ; and I must say that the " roast-beef- plant " ex- 

 hales no unpleasant odour to me. It commences flowering in May, 

 and continues expanding throughout the whole of June, though, as 

 usual, our Floras are behind time respecting it. The corolla soon 

 shrivels up and loses its beauty. 



* Brit. Flor. fith edit. p. 427. 



