290 WILD FLOWERS. 



open on a stem of eight, ten, or even twelve, inches 

 high, in all our dry pastures or open road-side spaces ; 

 and the broad-leaved centaury (E. latifolia), with 

 its broadly-elliptical and ribbed leaves, and its dense- 

 forked tufts of blossoms, which occurs sparingly on 

 the coast of Lancashire, in the islands of Anglesea 

 and Staff a, and in the county Down,* with, perhaps, 

 some few other localities. These two plants rank, 

 without doubt, as distinct species ; but I fear that 

 the following have no legitimate claim to the dig- 

 nity, though bearing the names of the dwarf-branched 

 (E. pulchella) and the dwarf-tufted (E. littoralis) 

 centauries. Though both varieties if such they 

 be, and I see no reason to suppose them anything 

 else gain much in the exquisite and gem-like 

 beauty of their tribe by the climate or other in- 

 fluences which dwarf and cluster them in their 

 growth : as is more especially the case when either 

 occurs on the thin and sandy soil which spreads 

 over the summit of some stern limestone and sea- 

 laved cliff. Here, stunted up by the cold blasts of 

 winter and the salt-spray of the sea, exposed to 

 every storm- wind that blows, they scarcely attain 

 to a greater height than one or two inches, and 

 yet unfold pink and jasmine-like blossoms brighter 

 than any they would bear in more favoured spots. 

 The very mention of the plant seems to conjure 

 up pictures of the lonely cliffs where the sea lies 

 blue and dark beneath our feet, though glowing on 

 the far horizon like molten gold ; and the white- 

 winged sea-bird sails, spirit-like, athwart the dark 

 * See Hooker's "British Flora." 



