A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



dense-flowered trefoil {T. suffocatum), the teasel-headed trefoil (Tl mari- 

 timum), the subterranean trefoil {T. subterraneum) and the strawberry- 

 headed trefoil (7". fragiferuni) are all to be found. A passing allusion 

 can only be made to the starry-headed trefoil {T^. stellatum), since rapa- 

 cious collectors are to be dreaded. Allied to these is the elegant birdsfoot 

 fenugreek {Trigonella ornithopodiodes), minute and rather rare. On sandy 

 banks are to be seen the biting stonecrops {Sedum acre) and the English 

 stonecrop {S. Anglkum). The samphire {Crithmum maritimum), once 

 abundant with us, as on Beachy Head, is still to be met with in almost all 

 our districts, but sparingly. It once gave employment to our clifFsmen, 

 and is in perfection towards the end of May. Having tasted pickled 

 samphire by way of experiment I am bound to commend it. This is 

 however to be looked on as a lost Sussex industry, and it may be doubted 

 whether it will ever give occupation to our seafaring men again. 



From the coast we have derived divers of our vegetables. Here 

 we find the wild carrot {Daucus carotd), the wild celery [Apium graveo- 

 kns), the alexanders {Smyrnhim olusatrum), formerly cultivated and still 

 to be seen around old gardens, the sea cabbage {Brassica o/eracea), and 

 the wild spinach or sea beet {Beta maritima). This I am of opinion 

 surpasses the cultivated spinach as having a slightly saline flavour, and is 

 less collected in the spring than it should be. The yellow horned poppy 

 {Glaucium luteum) is not uncommon eastward. It usually grows along 

 the beach just beyond the reach of the tide, but I have met with it on 

 chalk as far inland as Bramber, On the cliffs below Shoreham we have 

 the narrow-leaved flax {Linum angustifolium) and the star thistle {Cen- 

 taurea calcitrapa), and as we approach Brighton two plants that are rare 

 westward occur, namely, the seaside bindweed {Convolvulus Soldanella), 

 and the sea holly {Eryngium maritimum)^ whose blanched shoots are some- 

 times substituted for asparagus, also a prostrate form of the woody 

 nightshade {Solarium Dulcamara, known as S. marmum), which trails along 

 the shore. 



Onwards towards Eastbourne we come to the shingle beach extend- 

 ing to Pevensey, formed by rolled flints derived from the erosion of the 

 chalk cliffs. Here some interesting species occur, including the least 

 lettuce {Lactuca saligtia), the stinking hawksbeard {Crepis fatida), and 

 the soapwort {Saponaria officinalis), while the lovely viper's bugloss 

 {Echium vulgare) is very conspicuous. With the flora of Winchelsea 

 and Rye we terminate our coast plants, coming upon the little bur 

 medic {Medicago minima), and the sea buckthorn {Hippophae rhamnoides) 

 on the Camber Sands, a very rare species, discovered there a few years 



2. Plants of the Downs. — After a journey into Sussex, Gilbert 

 White enthusiastically described our South Downs as majestic mountains. 

 They may better be termed a chain of bold chalk hills, which stretch 

 away in a south-easterly direction from the Hampshire border to Beachy 

 Head. On the north they are steep and abrupt in the direction of the 

 Weald, while they descend on the south with a gentle declivity. The 



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