Outlines of the Botany of the Isle of Wight. 497 



Dipsacus pilosus, Helleborus viridis, and even Taxus baccata, are alto- 

 gether wanting on this side of the Solent, though it is hardly to the 

 absence of chalk or of localities apparently suitable, that this deficiency 

 is to be attributed. 



The paucity of aquatic plants is another remarkable circumstance, 

 though less unexpected in a district too small to give rise to any con- 

 siderable streams. 



The geological features of the Isle of Wight are well known ; as they 

 exert a material influence upon the vegetation, it has been thought that 

 an endeavour to arrange the plants somewhat in accordance with their 

 distribution upon the different formations, will be found convenient, and 

 the groups thus formed will enable visitors, whose stay is limited, to 

 gather a large variety of plants from knowing something of their asso- 

 ciation. With this view it is proposed to divide the Isle of Wight into 

 five principal districts, viz. : 



I. The Sea-shore. 

 II. Northern Tertiaries. 



III. Central Chalk Range. 



IV. Valley of the Greensand. 



V. Undercliff, with the Downs above it. 



It cannot however be expected that in so short a space mention should 

 be made of all the plants which are found growing wild in the island. 

 Only the more interesting and prominent species can find room here : 

 but those who require more complete information, will necessarily refer 

 to Dr. Bromfield's Flora Vectensis, where the localities are most care- 

 fully and exactly indicated, and also to Babington's Manual, which 

 contains the most accurate descriptions of all our British plants. 



The most important streams of the Isle of Wight all fall into the 

 Solent, and terminate in muddy estuaries or inlets of the sea, with which 

 the land is deeply indented on the north shore ; and as these creeks are 

 the head-quarters of the seaside plants, we shall first proceed to notice 

 the maritime vegetation, which amounts to about one-tenth of the 

 whole Flora. 



DIVISION I. 



SEA-SIDE PLANTS. 



The sea-side plants found in the Island comprise some that 

 inhabit 



Rocks and cliffs. 

 Statice occidentalis. 

 Raphanus maritimus. 

 Matthiola incana. 

 Daucus maritimus. 



Crithmum maritimum. 

 Asplenium marinum. 

 Brassica oleracea. 

 Euphorbia portlandica. 



The last grows also in sand, but not with us. 



Raphanus maritimus is sometimes found on shingle or on banks 

 ^sloping towards the sea. 



2 K 



