BOTANY 



The white mountain rock-rose {Helianthemum polifoHum) is very rare as a British plant, 

 and along Torbay is one of the most striking features in its flora ; it was recorded by Jones 

 and Kingston in 1829 as occurring on the cliffs at Babbicombe and Torquay. 



The tree mallow [Lavatera arborea) was recorded as a frequent Devon plant by Hudson in 

 1778 ; it was found on the Thatcher, Torbay, by the Rev. Aaron Neck as recorded by Jones 

 and Kingston in 1829. 



The extreme abundance of Geranium lucidum in the Trusham neighbourhood is quite a 

 feature in the flora, and one that can hardly fail to catch the eye of even non-botanical 

 observers ; it covers walls and hedge-banks and occupies favourable spots in the woods (Moyle 

 Rogers). In the same vicinity, according to Moyle Rogers, Trifolium subterraneum is especially 

 plentiful, as well as in south-east Devon generally ; the turf wherever undisturbed is usually 

 full of it, almost to the exclusion of the common clovers ; in some of the more stony fallows 

 and on the open downs T". filiforme and T. glomeratum dispute the ground with it. T. striatum, 

 T. arvense and T. procumbem are also frequent ; T. minus is to be met with everywhere in the 

 lanes and woods and along the borders of fields, while in one or two bare rocky spots at 

 Trusham, and at the Chudleigh Rocks, T. suffbcatum is in as great quantity as almost any 

 other species ; T. scabrum Mr. Moyle Rogers found nowhere else in the neighbourhood than 

 at the last mentioned station, where it is abundant together with most of the other species ; 

 T. hybridum was rapidly spreading throughout the region, and T. medium was observed only 

 in the neighbouring parish of Ashton in the Exeter district {Journ. Bot. 1878, p. 18). 



Lotus hispidus was found by Mr. J. Woods near the castle at Dartmouth in June 1828 

 {Journ. Bot. 1892, p. 308). 



The great sundew (Drosera anglica) was recorded by Hudson in 1778 as inhabiting 

 Devon marshes, a precise locality probably being on Bovey Heathfield, according to a manu- 

 script note of Sir Francis Henry Drake [Journ. Bot. 1884, p. 169). 



Bupleurum aristatum was first found in Devon by the Rev. Aaron Neck at Marble 

 Rocks, Torquay, and sent to Sowerby 19 January 1802 ; it was figured in English Botany 

 (tab. 2468) ; recent specimens from the same neighbourhood have been sent to me by Mr. 

 Eden Phillpotts of Torquay. 



The goldilocks {jester Linosyris) was discovered in September 1 8 1 2, by the Rev. Charles 

 Holbeach of Farnborough, Warwickshire, on the rocky cliff" at Berry Head ; it was figured 

 in English Botany (tab. 2505) (see Journ. Bot. 1893, p. 247). 



The wild purslane or purple spurge {Euphorbia Peplis) was recorded by Hudson in 1788 

 as inhabiting the sands of the sea-coast near Exmouth, the precise locality probably being, 

 according to a manuscript note of Sir Francis Henry Drake, among the sands near the first 

 rocks between the Warren and Dawlish ; the species is apparently extinct at this station, for 

 Mr. Moyle Rogers closely searched for it there without success {Journ. Bot. 1878, p. 25 and 

 1884, p. 173); there are however records for other stations in the county. The Devon- 

 shire or Dutch myrtle {Myrica Gale) was recorded by Hudson in 1778, as inhabiting marshes 

 in Devon, a precise locality probably being, according to a manuscript note of Sir Francis 

 Henry Drake, about half a mile from the road following the hedge on the right hand as soon 

 as Bovey Heathfield is reached from Chudleigh, in great plenty ; it still grew on Bovey 

 Heathfield in 1884 {Journ. Bot. 1884, p. 173). 



Romulea Columnce was discovered on 24 March, 1834, by Mr. W. C. Trevelyan and 

 Mr. John Miford on Dawlish Warren and still maintains its place there (for a note on this 

 plant see Dr. Shier in Report Devon Association, 1883, xv. 286-9). 



The grape hyacinth {Muscari racemosum. Miller) was found many years ago at Paignton, 

 and a few plants of it were seen 12 April 1900 at Goodrington by the Rev. H. Carr 

 Smith. 



Erica carnea, L., was recorded by Dr. H. F. Hance in Journ. Bot. 1867, p. 136, as 

 occurring in June 1852 on a heath near Newton Abbot ; he distinguished this species from 

 E. mediterranea, L. ; there is no other authority for either of these plants in the county, 

 and a search for Dr. Hance's specimen in the British Museum (Natural History), where his 

 collection is deposited, has failed to find it. 



Gladiolus communis, L., var. illyricus (Koch), was reported by W. G. Smith in Journ. Bot. 

 1865, p. 220, on the authority of Mrs. Gulson, to occur sparingly at Bitton Wood near 

 Teignmouth. The late Rev. Anson W. H. Cartwright of Teignmouth, 6 March 1902, kindly 

 sent to me the following note : ' I made enquiries again yesterday of an old friend who has 

 lived adjoining the Bitton property for more than forty years and in Teignmouth all his life, 

 and he told me that he had never heard of Bitton Wood, but that his children in the ' sixties' 



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