LXXXI1!.] 



OF SELBORNE. 



227 



Small Teasel (Dipsacus pilosus), in the Short, and Long Lithe. 



Narrow-leaved, or Wild Lathyrus (Lathyrus sylvestris), in the bushes at 

 the foot of the Short Lith, near the path. 



Ladies' Traces (Ophrys spiralis), in the Long Lithe, and towards the south 

 corner of the common. 



Birds' Nest Ophrys (Ophrys nidus avis), in the Long Lithe, under the shady 

 beeches among the dead leaves ; in Great Dorton among the bushes, and on 

 the Hanger plentifully. 



Helleborine (Serapias latifolia), in the High-wood under the shady 

 beeches. 



Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola), in Selborne-hanger and the High- 

 wood. 



The Mezereon (Daphne mezereuni), in Selborne-hanger, among the shrubs 

 at the south-east end above the cottages. 



Truffles (Lyeoperdon tuber), in the Hanger and the High-wood. 



Dwarf Elder, Walwort or Banewort (Sambucus ebulus), among the rubbish 

 and ruined foundations of the Priory. 



Of all the propensities of plants none seem more strange than 

 their different periods of blossoming. Some produce their flowers 

 in the winter, or very first dawnings of spring ; many when the 

 spring is established ; some at midsummer, and some not till 

 autumn. When we see the Helleborus fcvtidus and Helleborus 

 niger blowing at Christmas, the Helleborus hyemalis in January, 

 and the Helleborus virid-is as soon as ever it emerges out of the 

 ground, we do not wonder, because they are kindred plants that 

 we expect should keep pace the one with the other. But other 

 congenerous vegetables differ so widely in their time of flower- 

 ing, that we cannot but admire. I shall only instance at present 

 in the Crocus sativus, the vernal and the autumnal crocus, which 

 have such an affinity, that the best botanists only make them 

 varieties of the same genus, of which there is only one species ; 

 not being able to discern any difference in the corolla, or in the 

 internal structure. Yet the vernal crocus expands its flowers 

 by the beginning of March at farthest, and often even in very 

 rigorous weather ; they cannot be retarded but by some violence 

 offered : while the autumnal (the Saffron) defies the influence 

 of the spring and summer, and will not blow till most plants 

 begin to fade and run to seed. This circumstance is one of the 

 wonders of the creation, little noticed because a common occur- 

 rence : yet it ought not to be overlooked because it is familiar 



