NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 163 



Chrysospknium oppositifolium,) opposite golden saxifrage, in the 

 dark and rocky hollow lanes. 



Gentiana amarella, autumnal gentian, or fellwort, on the Zigzag 

 and Hanger. 



Lathrcea squamaria, tooth- wort, in the Church-litten-coppice under 

 some hazels near the foot-bridge, in Trimming's garden hedge, and on 

 the dry wall opposite Grange-yard. 



Dipsacus pilosus, small teasel, in the Short and Long Lith. 



Latliyrus sylvestrls, narrow-leaved, or wild lathyrus, in the bushes 

 at the foot of the Short Lith, near the path. 



Ophrys spiralis, ladies traces, in the Long Lith, and towards the 

 south corner of the common. 



Ophrys nidus avis, birds' nest ophrys, in the Long Lith under the 

 shady beeches among the dead leaves; in Great Dorton among the 

 bushes, and on the Hanger plentifully. 



Serapias latifolia, helleborine, in the High-wood under the shady 

 beeches. 



Daphne laureola, spurge laurel, in Selborne-Hanger and the High- 

 wood. 



Daphne mezereum, the mezereon, in Selborne-Hanger among the 

 shrubs, at the south-east end above the cottages. 



Lycoperdon tuber, truffles, in the Hanger and High-wood. 



Sambucus ebulus, dwarf elder, walwort, or danewort, among the 

 rubbish and ruined foundations of the Priory.* 



Of all the propensities of plants, none seem more strange than their 

 different periods of blossoming. Some produce their flowers in the 

 winter, or very first dawnings of spring; many when the spring is 

 established ; some at midsummer, and some not till autumn. When 

 we see the helleborus fcetidus and helleborus niger blowing at Christmas, 

 the helleborus hyemalis in January, and the helleborus viridis as soon 

 as ever it emerges out of the* ground, we do not wonder, because they 

 are kindred plants that we expect should keep pace the one with the 

 other ; but other congenerous vegetables differ so widely in their time 

 of flowering, that we cannot but admire. I shall only instance at 

 present in the crocus sativus, the vernal and the autumnal crocus, 

 which have such an affinity, that the best botanists only make them 

 varieties of the same genus, of which there is only one species, not 

 being able to discern any difference in the corolla, or in the internal 

 structure. Yet the vernal crocus expands its flowers by the beginning 

 of March at farthest, and often in very rigorous weather ; and cannot 

 be retarded but by some violence offered; while the autumnal (the 

 saffron) defies the influence of the spring and summer, and will not 

 blow till most plants begin to fade and run to seed. This circumstance 

 is one of the wonders of the creation, little noticed because a common 

 occurrence; yet ought not to be overlooked on account of its being 



* This letter in the original edition of 1780 concluded here, but in the 4to 

 edition by Mitford what follows was added to it. This has appeared in all the 

 editions subsequently as part of the original letter, but we are not aware at what 

 time or under what circumstances this was written. 



H 2 



