1862.] MAIANTHEMUM BIFOLIUM. 47 



sylvaticum, Pyrus torminalis, and Viburnum Opuhis, Chryso- 

 splenium oppositifoRum, etc. 



It is probable that all the woods about Hampstead and High- 

 gate are coeval with the creation of the world ; that is, they 

 have existed now nearly six thousand years; they are as old as 

 the very oldest of the Yews on Merrow Downs ; they were planted 

 by Nature, many years before Noah's Flood, and therefore both 

 they and the frail vegetation which they sliade, may be presumed 

 to be natives of English or Middlesex soil. 



The great bog behind Jack Straw's Castle yields, as it did lialf 

 a century ago, abundance of the beautiful bog plant Menyanthes 

 trifal'iata, also Drosera rotimdifolia, Viola palustris, and several 

 Carices, such as C. stellulata, C. ovalis, C. CEderi, etc. C. pu- 

 Ucaris has been reported from this very place, and I hope it m as 

 not a starved form of C. stellulata. 



The Lily-of-the-Valley was seen on the heath not many years 

 ago ; this is one of the few species of interest recorded by John- 

 son, more, than two hundred and thirty years ago, as a Hampstead 

 plant. Orobanche major was collected more than twenty years 

 ago on the broomy marly part of the heath, near the lower 

 pond, at the back of North End, and probably this species is still 

 to be found here occasionally. 



Hidory of the Orkjinnl Notice of the FiMlcal'wn of Maianthemum 

 bifolium as a Hampstead Plant. From a Correspondent. 



I will take the liberty of paying the debt of gratitude which 

 British botanists owe to INIr. Hunter, the first observer of this 

 rare plant, and who is the original authority for the first pub- 

 lished notice of its growing in Ken Wood (Caen Wood). 



The following short list of rare Hampstead plants is taken 

 from the histoiy of Hampstead, published by Mr. James Park in 

 1814 ; the names and localities were contributed by Mr. Hunter, 

 who was then land-steward to the noble owner of this fine park. 



Note. The locality is Ken Wood, unless where an additional 

 locality is given, and the authority is that of the above-mentioned 

 Mr. Hunter, his Lordship's steward. A few remarks will be sub- 

 joined :— r 



1. Stipa pennata. 4. Scilla yema. 



2. Empetrum nigrum. 5. Convallaria niaialis. 



3. Myosiirus minimus. 6. Convallaria Polygonatum. 



