THE HEATH. 107 



such like, it quits the root, and, like a coshering* 

 parasite, lives upon another's trencher, and, like 

 an ungrateful guest, first starves, and then kills, 

 its entertainer." Threlkeld is not right in saying 

 that the plant " quits the root," for a little thread 

 issues from the seed as soon as it begins to germi- 

 nate, and immediately sends out shoots which in- 

 sinuate themselves into the stems of the plant 

 they fix themselves in, which they weaken, and 

 sometimes destroy. 



Another parasitic plant is occasionally found 

 attached to the roots of the furze, called " Broom- 

 rape, "-f- It consists of a stout erect stem of a 

 brownish hue, beset with numerous scaly leaves, 

 if leaves they can be called, for they have a dry 

 withered appearance, and are not furnished with 

 stalks. The lower portion of the stem, which is 

 concealed under the ground, is much swoln, and 

 resembles, in some measure, the bulb of a lily, 

 except that its substance is harder, and colour 

 much darker. The upper part of the stem bears 

 numerous largish flowers, of a dirty yellow colour, 

 tinged with brownish purple. There are several 

 species, most of which grow on different plants. 

 The one, for instance, which I have described, 

 prefers the furze, another, the roots of ivy, a third, 

 clover. On the sandy sea-shore of Cornwall one 

 variety chooses the roots of the sea-carrot, and is 

 very abundant in such situations. That which 

 grows on the furze is the largest, frequently at- 

 taining the height of two feet, and overtopping 



* Visits paid by landlords to their tenants in Ireland, when 

 they help themselves liberally to whatever strikes their fancy, 

 are called " coshering visits." 



t Orobanche major. 



