602 THE FLORA OF PORTLAND. [November, 



of the beacli are undoubtedly Lathyrus maritimus and Schoberia 

 fruticosa, and although they are more abundant on that part 

 furthest from Portland^ yet are to be found in small quantities 

 within four miles of the island. Chenopodiacea is the reigning 

 family^ for besides the rare species already mentioned, we found 

 Atriplex patula, with its variety angustifolia, also A. littoralis 

 (in this locality the rarest species of th^ genus) , Schoberia mari- 

 tima, Halimus portulacoicles, Salsola Kali, Salicornia herbacea, and 

 S. radicans and Beta Inaritima. On such a decidedly maritime 

 habitat, we cannot wonder at the number of genera with the spe- 

 cific title "^maritimus^^ affixed ; they number thirteen, and contain 

 the following : — Lathyrus, Schoberia, Beta, Plantago, Raphanus, 

 Crithmum, Silene, Triglochin, Glaux, Armeria, Cakile, Alsine, 

 and Eryngium. Other plants to be met with are^riticum jun- 

 ceum, Festiica uniglumis, Euphorbia Paralia'^, and ''^. port- 

 landica ; Trifolium fragiferufn,, scabrum, and arvens/, Glaucium 

 luteumfl Convolvulus Soldanelld, Saxifraga tridactylites, Erodium 

 cicutariuin, Sagina nodosa, which, strange to say, is rare in this 

 neighbourhood ; and lastly, though most abundantly, Geranium 

 robertianwn. Many of these are to be found on the sandy waste 

 near the " Ferry " bridge, which spans the back-water that sepa- 

 rates the beach from the mainland. We must not forget to 

 mention the curious fact of having found some examples of Or- 

 chis Morio on this sandy waste. The circumstance will appear 

 more remarkable when we consider that the land owes its origin 

 to the sands of the adjacent shores, and is constantly receiving 

 fresh impregnations of salt from the spray of a boisterous sea. 



Having disposed of the Flora of Chesil Bank, we will proceed 

 to enumerate the species to be met with in Portland. A large 

 portion of the noticeable Flora is to be found on the undercliff, 

 which forms a belt that extends the greater part of the circum- 

 ferential distance of the peninsula, being wider at the eastern 

 and western sides, and diminishing gradually until it is finally 

 lost altogether at those parts contiguous to the promontory 

 known as the " Bill.^' On most parts of this undercliff" the ve- 

 getation is abundant, notwithstanding the prevalence of debris, 

 and the occurrence of huge rocks, which, greyed by the weather 

 and incrusted with Lichens, present a beautiful contrast with the 

 green tints of the thickets. Here the Burnet Rose loads the air 

 with its perfume, and the bases of the rocks are covered with 



