BOTANY 



summits of our downs are covered with a shallow layer of turf, which 

 has been said to be the finest natural carpet in the world, and there is 

 every reason to suppose that they were always open, dry, and as we now 

 see them so they existed in primeval days. With the exception of the 

 Hangers on the northern slope, which are also probably of very ancient 

 date, the woods which now cover some of their summits, such as those 

 near Goodwood and Arundel, have been all made within the memory of 

 man or within the reach of record. From Shoreham to Eastbourne the 

 average depth of the soil is not more than four or five inches, and on 

 this some of our plants become so dwarfed and altered in appearance 

 and habit as scarcely to be recognized as being of the same species with 

 their representatives on lowland soil. The permeable nature of the chalk 

 has a remarkable effect on the superincumbent vegetation and renders it 

 well suited to our orchids, presently to be specially referred to. 



Taking our down plants seriatim we notice first the pheasant's eye 

 {Adonis autummlis), with its bright scarlet petals not common in the 

 county, but to be met with occasionally at Portslade and Rottingdean in 

 cultivated fields, as is too that curious little species the mousetail [Myos- 

 urus minimus). The hairy violet [V. hirta) is not infrequent westward. 

 Many leguminous plants love the downs. By Duncton Hill, near the 

 chalk pits, grows the rare sweet milk vetch {Astragalus glycyphyllos), 

 with leaves which taste like liquorice. At Bury, Parham and Amberley 

 we find the pretty narrow-leaved everlasting pea {Lathyrus syhestris)^ 

 and in the same neighbourhood the yellow vetchling {L. aphaca). The 

 horse-shoe vetch {Hippocrepis comosa) is rare westward but common on 

 the eastern part of the range. Of the Rosacea we here note only the 

 dropwort {Spircea Filipendula), which abounding in some of the districts 

 is absent from others. Among the Composites we have the flea wort 

 {Cineraria campestris) on the downs between Shoreham and Brighton, 

 but it is local and uncommon, while the beautiful musk thistle 

 {Carduus nutans) and the curious carline thistle {Car/ina vulgaris) are 

 abundant. The bell-flowers are among the most lovely of our down 

 plants. Every one knows the pale blue harebell {Campanula rotundifolia). 

 The nettle-leaved bell-flower (C. trachelium) is to be found in chalky 

 lanes, and certainly one of the handsomest ornaments of our hills is the 

 clustered bell-flower (C. glomeratd) with its blossoms of a deep rich 

 purple. Occasionally it may be seen transferred to cottage gardens, and 

 it certainly well deserves culture. 



AUied to these is the round-headed rampion {Phyteuma orbiculare), 

 locally known as the pride of Sussex, and by many considered the 

 loveliest ornament of the British flora. It is confined to the south of 

 England, occurring only in Sussex, Hants, Dorset, Wilts and Kent very 

 sparingly. Old Gerarde quaintly describes it two hundred years ago as 

 having ' flowers of a purple colour, which part themselves into fine 

 slender strings with threads in the middle, which decaying are succeeded 

 by little cups, ending in fine little pointels and containing a small yellow 

 seed.' Ray in 1670 speaks of it as growing on the downs of Sussex in 



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