9G WILD FLOWERS. 



every Other part of England, this is the wild peony, 

 {Ptsonia corallina,) which lifts its red blossom 

 on the island in the Severn, called Steep Holmes. 

 It is stated by Gerard e, to have been found, in 

 his time, near Gravesend ; but if it grew there 

 in those days, it has disappeared since. The 

 rev. W. Lisle Bowles thus notices it : — 



" The cliff abrupt and high, 

 And desolate, and cold, and bleak, uplifts 

 Its barren brow ! barren ; but on its steep 

 One native flower is seen — the peony — 

 One flower wliich smiles in sunsliine and in storm. 

 There still companionless, but yet not sad, 

 She has no sister of the summer held. 

 None to rejoice with lier, when spring returns . 

 None, that in sympathy may bend its liead 

 When evening winds blow hollow o'er the rock 

 In autumn's gloom ! " 



This flower is distinguished by the nam.e of 

 the entire-leaved peony, because its leaves, 

 unlike those of the garden species, have straight 

 uncut edges ; the blossoms too are single. 



The dark purple flag, or iris, {Irisfoeticlissima,) 

 called, when planted by gardeners, the gladwyn 

 iris, may be found in May and June, on meadow 

 lands and in thickets, in the south and west 

 of England. In Devonshire it is a very com- 

 mon flower ; it is not unfrequent in some parts 

 of Kent. In the northern and midland coun- 

 ties, it is rare, and has not been known to grow 

 wild in Scotland. This flower has a strong 

 odour of roast beef ; the leaves and roots steeped 

 in beer, are taken as a medicine. 



One or two species of Lyduiis are now in 

 bloom ; and in meadows and corn-fields, the 

 bright flowers of the red lychnis, or campion, 



