THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



white styles. The Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima} differs from the 

 Ribwort Plantain of meadows and tennis lawns in its very long, 

 narrow, fleshy leaves. It is also found on high mountains. The 

 Scurvy Grass (Cochlearia officinalis) is a Crucifer, easily recognised 

 by its spoon-shaped leaves and white cruciform flowers. The 

 Scentless Mayweed (Artemisia maritima) is not confined to rocky 

 headlands, but grows inland ; when growing by the sea it is more 



fleshy. It is one of the Composite, 

 with small flower heads, each con- 

 taining three to five, or six, florets. 



The Tree Mallow (Lavatera ar- 

 borea) is a very local plant. It is 

 found on the cliffs of Bray Head. 

 There is a certain resemblance to the 

 Common Mallow; the flowers are 

 about the same size, and of a pale 

 purple-red. 



The Spurry (Spergularia rupestris) 

 is also found in the same locality. 

 This variety has very hairy stipules, 

 looking almost silvery. The Spurry 

 is closely allied to the Sandworts, but 

 differs from them in the presence 

 of stipules. Both the Sandwort and 

 the Spurry have undivided petals, 

 whereas most of the genera belong- 

 ing to the Caryophyllaceae have the 

 petals very deeply divided. This 

 character helps in the identification of these plants. 



The following description of the vegetation of Brean Down 

 in Somerset, by Mr. Moss, is particularly interesting, as it shows 

 the transition from the Crithmum association of the spray- washed 

 rocks to the Pasture association of the limestone hills. " The pro- 

 montory is formed of a huge block of carboniferous lime-stone, 

 rising to more than 300 feet above the sea-level. Perpendicular 

 rocks, occupied by the Crithmum association, rise from the sea. 

 At the south-western extremity, as soon as the rocks cease to be 

 vertical but yet remain steep, the rock is covered by a thin 



FIG. 7. Common Thrift (Armeria 



vulgaris). 



