THE DISTRinUTION OF LIVING tLANTS. Ill 



later blooming Hare-bcll {Cciiiipanu/a roliindifoUa), and the 

 rare Hellcborine {Ccphalanl/uni etisifolia), with its pure 

 white blossoms and long narrow leaves, and round about 

 Evershot the even rarer Great Bell-flower {^Campanula laiifolia). 

 Among the plants of larger growth may here be mentioned the 

 Wild Service tree {Pynis /on/i/'/ia/i's) near the boundaries of 

 Cranbome Chase ; and on the extreme south-west and south 

 slopes of the central Dorset range will be seen the Musk Orchis 

 {Herminium Monorchis) rearing its slender spike of yellowish green 

 flowers. The Bee Orchis {Ophrys apifera) is commonly found at 

 the base of the chalk downs in Purbeck, and many other species 

 of Orchid may often be met with on the calcareous soil of the 

 district under consideration. The Dwarf Gentian finds a 

 suitable habitat in the short grass of the downs, as also the rare 

 Chalk Milkwort {Polygala calcarea). Curtis' Mouse-ear Chick- 

 Aveed {Ceraslha?! pumilum), though very rare, maybe found on 

 the chalk downs. Common Centaury grows in open spots, 

 whilst different species of Crane's-bill keep chiefly to hedge- 

 banks, road-sides, and the borders of woods and meadows. 

 Traveller's Joy {C/ema/is vHalba), though chiefly located on chalk, 

 is also found on oolite, as in the Weares, Portland ; but not 

 on the Tertiary bed in the south-east of the county, nor usually 

 on the heav}^ clays of the west and south. The Wayfaring Tree, 

 or Mealy Viburnum ( Vibiinium laniana), which gets its name 

 from the soft mealy down covering its young shoots and 

 leaves, occurs principally on chalk or limestone, whilst the 

 common Guelder Rose may be found frequently on most soils 

 other than the sandy beds. The Common Flax {Lhium 

 usitalissimum) is somewhat rare, but has been found between 

 Evershot and Cattistock, and also in the south-western Lias 

 district around Bridport. 



There is, perhaps, no occasion to mention more than a few 

 other plants, whose groAvth depends chiefly on the calcareous 

 soil of this part of Dorset, such as : — The INIusk Mallow 

 {iMalva moschata) with its crowded head of large rose-coloured 

 and sometimes white flowers, the Milk Vetch {Ash-agalus 



