308 BY THE DEEP SEA. 



spoon-shaped. The flower-stalks bear drooping cylindrical 

 flowers, greenish-white in hue, densely crowded, and all 

 hanging downwards. It is a very striking ornament of the 

 places where it is common, especially from June to August, 

 when it flowers. 



In company with the Navelwort, on rocks and walls, will be 

 found one, if not two, species of Stonecrop (Seduni}. One of 

 these, the common Yellow Stonecrop or Wall- Pepper (Sedum 

 acre), is too well-known to need describing. The other is the 

 White Stonecrop (Sedum anglicuni), of similar habit, but with 

 the inevitable glaucous leaves (those of S. acre are not glaucous, 

 but bright green) ; though sometimes these take on a reddish 

 hue. The flowers are more star-like than those of 5. acre, 

 and of a whitish or pinkish colour in evidence from May to 

 August. 



I do not pretend to furnish an exhaustive list of the 

 plants of the sea-shore : that properly treated would make a 

 volume by itself. Such as I have mentioned belong almost 

 solely to a habitat where they can receive the salt spray upon 

 their leaves. Mention should also be made of the Sea- Spleen- 

 wort (Asplenium marinunt], among ferns, that loves to grow 

 over the entrance to a sea-cave, there hanging down its 

 boldly-cut and well- varnished dark -green fronds, well out of 

 reach. Then there is a distinctly marine Carex, the Sea- Sedge 

 (Carex, arenarid) , which shares with Marram-grass (Ainmophila 

 arenarid), the work of binding the sands together with its 

 thick, creeping rootstock. 



But the seaside visitor, with botanical tastes, will find the 

 shores abundant in vegetation generally, and he must have 

 recourse to a special handbook to help in their discrimina- 

 tion. 



Were it not for fear of laying himself open to a charge of 

 presumption, egoism, favouritism, and a few other isms, 

 the author would, in this connection, recommend his own 

 " Wayside and Woodland Blossoms," Second Series,* which 

 includes many of the maritime flowers. 



