The Distribution of Simethis Bicolor. 85 



Wilkins had in 1846 discovered the Simethis, viz., in 

 the woods of Branksome Tower, E. Dorset, makes the 

 following remarks, here quoted in full : — 



" Simethis bicolor, very recently discovered on moory 

 ground, about two miles W. of Bournemouth, towards 

 Poole, but within the Dorsetshire boundary, will, it 

 can hardly be doubted, be discovered ere long on 

 the Hampshire side of that vast heathy tract called the 

 Poole Basin, which is as remarkably uniform in its 

 botanical as in its geological features. I visited the 

 station, by Mr. Borrer's directions, in October last 

 (1849), and found the dried remains of the leaves, stems, 

 and flower-stalks. Its detection still more recently in 

 Ireland fully confirms it as a genuine native of Britain, 

 and leads us to hope that it will ultimately prove indi- 

 genous in many parts of the south-west of England." 



These hopes have not been realised. Upon insufficient 

 data the plant has been once reported from a similar 

 situation in Hampshire ; but it still remains, though 

 unfortunately now much threatened by building opera- 

 tions, restricted to the same peculiarly small area, but, 

 thanks perhaps to its tenacious and very deep-rooted 

 radical fascients, has been able to hold its own, and 

 slightly extend during the past 50 years. 



Sir J. D. Hooker, in his last Edition III. of his 

 " Student's Flora," calls it extinct in England. This is, 

 of course, erroneous. 



The Derrynane locality has never for one moment been 

 doubted; but the plant is considered genuinely native 

 there. My own private opinion is that the known 

 geographical distribution of this plant being mainly 

 occidental, it is more likely to be an isolated survival of 

 an ancient indigenous vegetation in this one locality at 

 Branksome. I am bound to say, however, that no less 

 than three authorities, and these most competent to give 



