THE WOODS IN MAY 135 



ground was wet and swampy, just such a habitat as the 

 snowflake delights in, and the plants were vigorous and 

 healthy. There was no human habitation near, and 

 several large arable fields separated the wood from the 

 highway. A few weeks later I was lunching with the 

 owner of the property, when, knowing his interest in 

 the flora of the neighbourhood, I told him of my dis- 

 covery. He seemed, I fancied, a trifle annoyed at the 

 information. He knew, he said, of one place where 

 the snowflake grew, but he thought he was the only 

 living soul who was aware of it. Sending for the large 

 tithe-map of the estate, he asked me to point out the 

 exact spot where the plant grew. I did so. Our 

 localities were identical. I promised that I would not 

 divulge the secret. The old squire is dead now and 

 lies in the family vault beneath the floor of the village 

 church, and I wonder if anyone, save myself, knows the 

 wood in Hampshire where the snowflake dwells. It is 

 in full blossom now. 



There are two interesting species, to be found in 

 certain woods in May, which never fail to appeal to my 

 botanical instincts. They are both very local plants, 

 but withal abundant where they occur. One is the blue 

 cowslip or Pulmonaria angustifolia, L., and the other 

 the true oxlip of Primula elatior, Jacq. It is of the 

 oxlip that I now wish to speak. 



Only in comparatively modern times has the plant 

 been recognised as a distinct species. Up to the middle 

 of the last century it was confused, at least in England, 

 with the well-known hybrid between the primrose and 

 the cowslip, not infrequently met with in our woods 

 and called " oxslip " by the village children. The true 

 oxlip, Primula elatior, Jacq., is now known to be entirely 



