SHORE AND SALT-MARSH 335 



sea-holly like a kind of thorny cabbage shine coolly among 

 the sand-hills where the shimmering heat mirage of July 

 streams aslant in the breeze from the sea. Sea-convolvulus 

 runs among the same hills of sand, helping to bind them 

 firmly when the harsh marram grass has succeeded in winning 

 the first hold. This convolvulus is larger than the pink 

 corn-convolvulus, but smaller than the white bindweed. The 

 bindweed has a seaside trick of ' sporting ' into pink, and so 

 entrapping the unwary flower-lover into the belief that it is 



SAND-HILLS AND MARRAM GRASS 



the real seaside species; but it clings to hedges and the 

 herbage of grassy banks and ditch-sides, while the sea-con- 

 volvulus twists upon the sand. True samphire is a plant of 

 the steep cliffs, so that its collection would be truly ' a peril- 

 ous trade,' if there were nowadays enough competition to 

 induce samphire gatherers to climb the more dangerous 

 crags for it. But pickled samphire is now not greatly in 

 demand, and its succulent branched leaves and stiff umbel of 

 white bloom can be found, for curiosity's sake, without much 

 risk for the active. Marsh samphire is a spurious imitation 

 which grows on the level saltings. It has much the same 



Z2 





