JULY. 145 



that the incautious cress gatherer may have 

 mixed witli it some sprays of the water parsnip, 

 (Sinm nodijlorum,) a plant common in streams, 

 and which is very poisonous in its nature. 

 Inexperienced persons may mistake one of these 

 plants for the other, but a little observation will 

 detect the difference between them. In the 

 water-cress, the leaf which grows at the ter- 

 mination of the leaf-stalk is rounder and larger 

 than the other leaflets ; while that of the water 

 parsnip is smaller than the rest. The blossoms 

 of the water-cress are white, small, and cross 

 shaped. This plant is now much cultivated in 

 streams, near London, Paris, Edinburgh, and 

 other large cities. 



The salt marshes near the shore, and even 

 the sands of the sea, now show a few blos- 

 soms. The white or pink heads of the thrift, 

 {Statice anneria,) often called sea-turf, are very 

 plentiful. The sea-lavender, (Statice limotnium,) 

 with its htindsome spike of blue lilac flowers, 

 and that elegant cypress-like shrub, t!ae tama- 

 risk, {Tamarix ffallica,) with rose-coloured blos- 

 soms, which show to great advantage among 

 its light and graceful foliage, often enliven the 

 salt marsh, or the rocky cliff. 



On some of our shores too, the tall sea-holly 

 (EnjHffiuni maritiiuum) makes its a})pearance 

 on the sands. It is a stiff and rigid plant, with 

 firm prickly leaves beautifully veined ; and, 

 like those of the generality of our sea-side 

 plants, of a pale sea-green hue. Its flowers 

 are blue, and shaped much like the thistle's. 



