1857.] BOTANICAL SKETCHES. 231 



the grey streak of morning was giving way to the splendid rays 

 of the sun^ that rose so ruddy from a bank of clouds which were 

 just disappearing beneath the horizon. A few sparrows, early 

 birds like ourselves, were promenading the deserted road, intent 

 on picking up a scanty breakfast ; whilst only here and there a 

 smoking chimney showed signs of returning animation. Before 

 proceeding further however, we will give some idea of the country 

 through which we were to pass; this requires no lengthy de- 

 scription, it being for the most part hill and dale, except where 

 Lodmoor and the Preston beach present a dreary level, intersected 

 by dykes and sluices. We will now proceed with the Flora. 



The first plant we observed worthy of notice was a specimen 

 of Atriplex rosea, growing by a wall on Greenhill, while, further 

 on, Helminthia echioides occurred in great abundance. The pro- 

 pinquity of Melilotus officinalis soon became apparent, from the 

 fragrance of its fading flowers, which give a perfume similar to 

 the Asperula odorata and Tonka- bean, due^ in all probability, to 

 the presence of cumarin, an alkaloid obtainable from these 

 sources. On passing the first sluice, we observed the Aster Tri- 

 polium, a pretty seaside gem, often found raising its capitulum of 

 yellow disc and lilac rays from the masses of Zostera alid wrack 

 thrown upon the shore by the waves. In the marsh on the left, 

 Ruppia maritima may be found, while Silene maritima is common 

 throughout the Avhole length of the beach ; nor must we forget 

 the elegant flowers and scarlet berries of the Dulcamara, growing 

 so plentifully by the roadside. " Years ago " this beach was the 

 habitat of the Vicia l(Bvigata, its only known station being on 

 the beaches near Weymouth ; it has, however, long since disap- 

 peared. A small patch of V. lutea still exists, straggling amongst 

 the loose stones which once boasted of its rarer relative. On 

 our left, near the toll-gate, we found Salsola maritima and Sali- 

 cornia herbacea, which latter is reputed to have been eaten by 

 our cockney brethren as Samphire, — a substitute to which, we 

 should say, they would have considerable dislike. Notwith- 

 standing a strict search, we were unable to discover any speci- 

 mens of Silene anglica, which used to grow sparingly near here. 

 Thrift {Armeria maritima) however is very plentiful at this part ; 

 indeed it is generally distrib^^ted over the whole of Lodmoor, on 

 the dyke-banks of which may be found some few plants of Tri- 

 glochin maritimmn, or Sea Arrow-grass. Zannichellia palustris 



