604 THE FLORA OF PORTLAND. \_November, 



the latter is generally scattered throughout the island. The sides 

 of the Chines and old quarries are adorned with festoons of Cle- 

 matis, which contrasts beautifully with the dark green of the ivy- 

 clad debris. Here and there Inula Conyza and Solidago Virgaurea 

 form golden patches, but by far the most interesting plant is Oro- 

 banche HedercR, which occurs sparingly here and there on the little 

 ledges made by the trailing ivy-stems, which scarcely seem to suflFer 

 from this succulent parasite. We also found a few specimens of 

 Inula crithmoides on an adjacent maritime cliff, but in a place so 

 precipitous and out of the way, that few would care to gather it, 

 should they be fortunate enough to discover it. 



Among the loose rocks in the Chines the Labiatae have some 

 good representatives, the principal ones being Calamintha offici- 

 nalis, Salvia verbenaca, Teucrium Scorodonia, and Origanum 

 vulgare. Such is the abundance of essential oil in the first men- 

 tioned Labiate, that in hot sunny weather the air is thoroughly 

 impregnated with its odour ; indeed it was by this means we first 

 became aware of its occurrence. Other plants to be met with in 

 the same locality are Circcea lutetiana, Sedum acre and reflexum, 

 Iris fcetidissima, Euphorbia portlandica, and Scrophularia no- 

 dosa, which, strange to say, is very seldom found within a dis- 

 tance of several miles hence. As we approach the south of the 

 island, the cliflFs gradually decrease in height, and the undercliff 

 is altogether lost, but considerable interest is created by the 

 number of seaworn caves, that penetrate for some distance in- 

 land. One of these, known as " Cave's Hole," is always shown 

 to sight-seekers, who gaze with satisfaction on the tumultuous 

 waves, through a hole about fifty yards inland. On rare occa- 

 sions, in winter, the force of the waves is so great as to cause a 

 column of water to .rise through the aperture. On such cliffs we 

 shall not fail to see Crithmum maritimum and Statice spathulata, 

 and in one rocky gully Foeniculum vulgare.^ On the western 



* An obliging correspondent has dii'ected our attention to the incongruous juxta- 

 position of this plant and Asparagus with Marshmallow, on the Spit, opposite Yar- 

 mouth, Isle of Wight. We cannot help these wild freaks of Nature ; she will some- 

 times associate things separated by our greatest systematists. Whence came the 

 Fennel that adorns the cliffs of Portland island? — from seeds or roots rejected 

 from gardens in the vicinity, and swept round by the current ? Credat Jiidaus 

 Apella. We are content to receive the fact without troubhng ourselves about the 

 vexata qucestio, " Unde venit ? " — a question that does but rai-ely get a satisfying 

 answer. 



