THiE DISTRIBUTION OF LiViNG 'PLANTS. 1 23 



some species of Poppy, also some members of the Fumariacece 

 family, such as Fiimaria con/usa. Smith's Dog Violet ( Viola 

 lacfea), the Common Allseed, and the soft-knotted Trefoil 

 {TriJoUiim siriatinn), with many others, make this part of Dorset 

 a source of much interest. Erica ciliaris and E. ciliaris x 

 Tctralix deserve notice, as especially characterising this district ; 

 the latter has been found in comparative plenty in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Parkstone. That rare plant, Simethis bicolor, has 

 been observed in Branksome Wood. 



Taking now the extreme west of the county, we find a 

 district (forming almost a square bounded by lines drawn from 

 Chardstock to INIosterton, from INIosterton to Bridport, from 

 Bridport to Lyme Regis, and from Lyme Regis to Chardstock) 

 given up entirely to beds of Lias and Midford Sands, with the 

 exception of a few elevated caps of cretaceous beds such as 

 occur at Stonebarrow and Weald Warren and Eype and 

 Blackdown Hill near Thorncombe. Among the rarer plants of 

 the district may be mentioned Whitlow Grass {Draba muralis), 

 Purple Spurge {Euphorbia Peplis), Spring Snow-flake {Leticojiim 

 veniu7)i), the Hay-scented Fern {Las/nra ccmnJa), and the Heart- 

 leaved Tway-blade {Listcra corda/a). 



The coast of this part of Dorset offers much to rouse our 

 interest in the beauty and variety of the flowers which Nature has 

 attracted there by providing for their special requirements. Here 

 the Yellow Horned Poppy [Glaucium flavuni), the Purple Sea 

 Rocket {Cakile maritima) and Sea Kale {Crambe maritima) find a 

 home. A few other plants, rather rare on this shore, but found 

 also in sandy and gravelly places on or near other parts of the 

 coast, are the Sea-Stork's-Bill {Eroditim viaritimuvi), the Sea 

 Pea {Lathvncs maritimiis) with its spike of bluish purple flowers 

 and hairy pods ; and, on the cliff's between Lyme Regis and 

 Charmouth, the sweet-scented white blooms of the Butterfly 

 Orchis {Habeiiaria bifolia) may be met with. Among the shore- 

 loving plants frequently found may be mentioned the Sea Pink 

 {Armeria marilima), Sea-Milkwort {Glaux viaritimd), and Sea 

 Beet [Beta viaritima). A few other more or less scarce plants 



