84 THE MUSIC OF WILD FLOWERS 



Close to the swamp where the Ludwigia dwelt an 

 exceedingly rare and local grass, the European cut -grass 

 (Leersia ovyzoides, Sw.), was found by Dr Bromfield, 

 the distinguished botanist, in 1849. He afterwards 

 detected it all along the Boldre river, for nearly three 

 miles above and below Brockenhurst, where it still 

 flourishes. 



But by far the most interesting rarity in the New 

 Forest is the truly beautiful orchid Spiranthes cestivalis, 

 Rich., or summer lady's-tresses. It was first discovered 

 in July, 1840, on a tract of sphagnous bog between 

 Lyndhurst and Christchurch. The honour of the dis- 

 covery seems to belong to a Mr Joseph Janson, who 

 sent specimens of the plant to the British Museum. 

 The species was then new to England, although it has 

 since been found in Wyre Forest, in the county of 

 Worcester. In appearance, both as regards the spiral 

 arrangement of its white flowers and in general habit, 

 the plant proclaims its relationship to the autumnal 

 lady's-tresses, so plentiful in places on the Hampshire 

 Downs, but it is larger and taller. It is satisfactory 

 to know that this rare species of British orchid still 

 flourishes in the very swamp where Mr Janson first, 

 found it in the summer of 1840. I myself saw it there 

 a few seasons ago, and the occasion was one not lightly 

 to be forgotten. The swamp is a spacious one, where 

 sweet gale, sundew, asphodel, cotton-grass and other 

 species grow in abundance. After wading about for 

 some little while in the soft and spongy bog I spied 

 ahead of me a slender spike of pure white blossoms 

 rising from a cushion of green sphagnous moss. Surely 

 it was the long-sought treasure. Splashing towards 

 the spot, I eagerly examined the lovely plant. It was 



