50 RARE PLANTS NEAR CALLINGTON. 



by Mr. Kempthorne of Callington, who found it growing in a 

 field near Newton Ferrers. 



- On grassy knolls, among the heath and furze of Vernico, where 

 the Physospermum is particularly plentiful, may be seen in autumn 

 the upright purple flowers of the little annual, Gentiana campestris ; 

 and the furze themselves in the same place are hung with festoons 

 of the Lesser Dodder (Cuscuta epithymum), whose threadlike 

 stems, floating from spray to spray, give the appearance of gos- 

 samer. This is one of our few parasitical plants. Another, more 

 interesting on account of its greater rarity and the peculiarity of 

 its structure, being a leafless plant, the Greater Broom-rape 

 (Orohanche major), may be found growing on the roots of furze in 

 the deep wooded glen which reaches down to the Tamar, between 

 Vernico and Pentillie Castle. In itself the Orohanche has no beauty 

 to boast of, for it might easily be passed by as a dead twig 

 accidentally stuck upright in the ground. — In this same valley 

 occur the AVild Balm (Melittis melissophyllum) and the Tway-blade 

 (Listera ovata), as well as the Common Columbine in great 

 abundance. Concerning the latter there is a tradition that Sir 

 James Tillie, of Pentillie, was so fond of it that he used to go 

 about his woods with his pockets filled with the seed, which he 

 scattered in all directions. It is found however in all the woods 

 on the banks of the Tamar between Saltash and Launceston, and 

 on both sides of the river. The Melittis is one of the most 

 beautiful of our native plants, and peculiar to the western counties. 



Another western plant, Yellow Bartsia (Bartsia viscosa), the 

 flowers of which are as beautiful as those of the Common Garden 

 Musk, which they much resemble, is found in almost every bog. 

 Indeed the bogs in this neighbourhood may well be said to be 

 rich in botanical treasures. Mounds of Sphagnum Moss are 

 frequently dotted all over with the lovely little bells of Campanula 

 hederacea, and look like large soft j)in-cushions, fringed with the 

 pink and equally beautiful flowers of the Bog Pimpernel (Ana- 

 gallis tenella). In wetter places, more difficult to get at for those 

 who are afraid of damp feet, grow the singular little Sundews 

 (Drosera rotunclifolia and D. longifolia). The former is commonly 

 found in every bog ; the latter is by no means so common. They 

 are curious fly-catchers, imprisoned insects being found dead on 

 every plant, caught by the thread-like fingers which extend from 



