37 



arrived at tlie follo-n-ing computation : — Dividing- the plants into 

 five classes, according- to tlie frequency or rarity of their occur 

 rence, we have described in the Plora of Dorset, 



A. Generally distributed, or very common . . 289 species 



B. Common . . . . . . . . . . 151 ,, 



C. Frequent 280 



D. Eare 237 



E. Very rare . . . . . . . . . . 43 ,, 



amounting in all, very curiously, to the exact number of 1,000 

 species. Besides this there are 30 species, probably once found 

 in the county, but now extinct ; five admitted through mistakes 

 on the part of "authorities," and two species now excluded 

 from British lists. Four out of the five mistakes must be 

 charged against Dr. Pulteney, namely, 



Arabis perfoliata (a species of Brassica). 

 Trifolium ochroleucum ( = maritimmn). 

 Chenopodiiun glaucum ( = ficifoliimi). 

 Euphorbia Stricta ( = platyphylla). 

 Mr. Salter is resjionsible for the fifth, his Crepis biennis being, 

 no doubt, the large form of Crepis virens, which is not uncom- 

 mon in various parts of the county. 



The two species now excluded are Petasites fragrans and 

 Cannabis sativa. 



Some very interesting additions have been lately made to our 

 Flora, and there is some hope that a portion, at least, of the 

 plants that once grew in the county may yet be recovered.* But 

 in any case, I think it may confidently be asserted that it would 

 be difficult to find any County Flora that surpasses our own 

 in interest and variety, and that very few counties can at all 

 compare with it. 



If I take so small a portion of the county as the parish of 

 Holwell as the subject of a local Flora, I am led to do so, among 

 other reasons, because it has one special item of value — it is almost 



* This hope has already been realized in three instances, Polycarpum 

 tetraphyllum, Euphorbia Peplis and Lycopodium Selaigo, the second 

 having been discovered by Mrs. J. Clark, of Street, the other two by our 

 President. 



