* Bradley-Houfe, October 18, 1706. 
nn rastey cui o 79 
* Before the arrival of this, you will probably have received a box containing fome fpecimens of the Lobelia 
urens, which I fent from Axminfter yefterday morning by the coach. I was difappointed in not finding a 
* fingle plant in flower, having found it laft year on the 10th of O&ober in the higheft perfe&ion; this 
difference can only be attributed to the forwardnefs of the laft fpring, and the backwardnefs of the preceding. 
one. It grows in a poor gravelly foil, on the flope of a heath, called Kilmington-Hill, from the parifh in _ 
which it is fituated, and about two miles from Axminfter. It is here confined to a fpot, not exceeding half 
an acre, clofe to the road, and about fifty yards from the entrance of the heath, on the right-hand fide in 
going from Axminfter to Honiton. I have been thus particular in the defcription of the place, as I fearched 
for.it in feveral other parts of the heath (which is extenfive) without finding a fingle plant. It is furrounded 
by Ulex europeus, Erica vulgaris, cinerea, and tetralix, Betonica officinalis, and Serratula tinétoria, all in a 
* dwarf ftate, and thrives beft when a few inches of the ftem are clofely covered by other plants. A, 
© [ remain, 
S I R; 
* Your obedient humble Servant, 
“WEBB SEYMOUR. 
The roots fent, being planted. in pots, grew readily, and flowered the enfuing autumn; from the leaft 
luxuriant of thofe our drawing was made: it will be found more branched than the plants ufually are on 
Kilmington-Hill; but not more fo, we prefume (if we may judge from figures) than the plant is when found 
wild in other places. | 
The name of wrens has been given to this fpecies from its hot and burning tafte, not from any flinging quality ; 
it certainly is a very acrimonious plant: the leaves foon after being chewed, excite confiderable heat in the 
mouth, attended fometimes with ficknefs: Mr. SvybpgNHAM Epwakps, my draughtfman, to whofe ingenuity I 
am under great obligations, and who has acquitted himfelf fo honourably and meritorioufly towards me, having 
handled a branch of this plant broken off from the main ftem, and afterwards rubbed his eyes flightly, had a 
violent pain and temporary inflammation excited 1n them thereby ; which however foon went off, on wafhing 
them with cold water. 
As a rare plant, and indeed as an ornamental one, this fpecies is deferving of culture; it may be raifed 
without any great difficulty from feeds, or increafed by parting its roots, which are perennial, not biennial or 
annual, as authors have made them. | 

