252 The New Forest : its History and its Scenery. 



not far from it the cotton-grass waves its white down, and the 

 asphodel rears its golden spike. 



These are the commonest flowers of the Forest, and grow 

 everywhere over its moors. In its dykes and marshes, the 

 common frog-bit and the marsh-pimpernel spring up in every 

 direction. The buckbean, too, brightens every pool on the 

 south side, and is so common near the Avon that many of the 

 fields are called *' the buckbean mead," whilst in the northern 

 parts it is known as "the fringed water-lily." 



Very rich is the Forest in all these bog-plants. In Hin- 

 chelsea and Wilverley Bottoms grow the water - pimpernel 

 (Samolus Valerandi), the lesser bladder- wort, and the bur-reed 

 {Sparganium natans) floating on the water. Here, too, perhaps, 

 the easternmost station known for it, blossoms the butterwort 

 {Pinguicula Lusitanica), with its pale delicate flowers. In 

 the autumn, also, the open turf grounds round Wootton are 

 blue with the Calathian violet (Gentiana Pneumonanthe) ; whilst 

 its little bright congener (Cicendia Jiliformis) blossoms in all 

 the damp places. 



Owing, also, to the presence of iron, the Forest possesses 

 no less than seventeen or eighteen carices. The little thyme- 

 leaved flax, too (Radiola millegrana) , grows in all the moist, 

 sandy dells. 



From this general view it will be seen that the true Forest 

 plants are not so much " sylvestral " as " ericetal," and 

 *' paludal," and " uliginal." Besides these groups, however, 

 the Flora of the district further divides itself into the "littoral 

 plants" along the sea-shores and estuaries, and the "pascual" 

 flowers of the valley of the Avon. In the former division, 

 owing to the want of rocks, no Statice spatJmlata grows on 

 its sea-board. No true samphii'e (Crithvium maritimum) 



252 



