TAMAEISK WATEEWOETS. 49 



the Lizard district surrounding the village of Landewednack, 

 she found a row of Tamarisk shrubs (Tamarix gallica). The 

 branches are beset with tiny glaucous leaves, smaller than those 

 of the Larch, indeed seeming rather like scales than leaves ; 

 and they were relieved by spikes of small pink flowers, very 

 pale and delicate, and boasting five petals and five stamens. 

 This is the largest of our sea-side shrubs. It prevails about 

 Sandgate and elsewhere on the south coast, as well as in the 

 Lizard district. Its name is taken from the river Tambra, in 

 Spain, formerly called Tamariscus, on the banks of which the 

 shrub abounds. Forbes states that in Britain are found the 

 remains of four distinct races of plants. Twelve species are 

 found in the south of Ireland which belong to the Flora of Spain, 

 and I fancy the Tamarisk must pertain to this group. The 

 south-east of Ireland, and south-west of England, bear plants 

 belonging to Brittany and JSTormandy ; while the mountains 

 of Scotland, Cumberland, and Wales exhibit a Flora resem- 

 bling that of Switzerland, and more closely, of Lapland. The 

 general type of the British Flora is chiefly analogous to the 

 German. Many scientific men have supposed that the seem- 

 ingly foreign plants have been introduced in ballast, but 

 Professor Forbes was of opinion that each distinct group be- 

 longed to a different geological period, when a different climate 

 prevailed. He considers the Spanish type the most ancient. 

 The Arctic plants he ascribes to the " drift period." 



The Sea Heath order (FEANKENIACEJE), is distinguished by 

 four or five sepals, five clawed petals and round anthers. The 

 flowers are pale pink and very small. Lindley thus describes 

 them : " Little obscure plants usually inhabiting the neigh- 

 bourhood of the sea, and of no importance to man." 



The WATEEWOETS (Elatinaceae), are still more insignificant 

 and unimportant than the Sea Heaths. They have from three 

 to five petals and sepals, and double the number of stamens. 

 Our British species inhabits the margin of ponds and lakes 

 (Elatine hydropiper). 



