RARE PLANTS NEAR TRURO. 247 



brownish hue, and it has nothing in its entire appearance to 

 recommend it to notice. In the larger trout stream, and a little 

 more to the north, might be found Fontinalis squamosa; but the 

 clay works in the parish of St. Enoder having of late years 

 changed the pure water into a vehicle of decomposed granite, it 

 has probably vanished. 



To return to Frogmore, Mr. Cragoe mentions a field near that 

 place in which grows the Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgar e, h.). 

 Probably it was in the same place, that grew, a few years ago, a 

 fine specimen of the plant. The height of the whole plant was 

 not recorded ; but that of the flowering stem alone was 2 ft. 3 in. ; 

 and there were about sixty minor flower-stalks, each terminated 

 by pink buds and curled racemes of calices. The lower blooms 

 stood out well from the main stalk, and the whole formed a mass 

 of brilliant blue ; the very light green of its stem, and its deep 

 purple spots, adding much to its apj)earance. It was a beautiful 

 sight. There were some more in the same hedge ; but not one 

 equalled this. The plant does not appear to be very common in 

 this county; but on the Surrey hills it occurs plentifully, with 

 paler florets. In a field belonging to the same estate of Bodrean 

 grew, a few years ago, a plant of humble nature, but which, in its 

 humility, has caused discussions among the dons of botanical 

 science. Mr. Bentham is inclined to believe that this plant — the 

 Cream-coloured Violet (Viola lacfea, Sm. j, is not a distinct species ; 

 still it has points which distinguish it from the common Viola 

 canina, from which it differs in its whole aspect, though it were 

 difficult to define that difference in words. The sepals are nar- 

 rower and longer ; and the spur is longer and more club-shaped, 

 not tapering as in the Dog Violet. The Cream-coloured Violet 

 also flowers later in the season. These peculiarities, as well as the 

 lance-shaped leaves, seem to point it out as distinct ; and the late 

 Sir W. J. Hooker, in the 8th Edition of his British Flora, calls it 

 Viola stagnina. It loves a strong soil ; and, in the locality above 

 mentioned, the plough, that great enemy of botanists, has long 

 since uprooted it. If any now remain, it must be in a snug corner 

 of the field, retired from observation. It is not, however, a very 

 rare plant in the county. 



On the hedge near Frogmore may be found a rough bristly 

 sort of Bramble, with narrow petals of a pinky white, a very leafy 



