366 FLORA OF HERM. 



Cochlearea danica. Armeria maritima. 



Silene maritima. Plantago coronopus. 



Sagina ciliata. Beta maritima. 



Cerastium triviale. Rumex acetosella. 



C. tetrandrum. Poa pratensis. 



Lepigonum rupestre. Sclerochloa loliacea. 



Trifolium repens. Dactylis glomerata. 



Lotus corniculatus. Festuca rubra. 

 Solanum dulcamara. 



Now, it is extremely interesting as well as instructive to 

 compare this list with tAvo others which have been compiled 

 for somewhat similar islets in our area. One of these islets, 

 called Houmet Homptolle, is situated just off the north- 

 eastern extremity of Guernsey, and measures about 80 yards 

 long by 60 yards wide ; that is to say, more than double the 

 size of Plat Houmet. But it possesses fewer plants, and a 

 different flora, as will be seen on referring to my Flora of 

 Guernsey, p. 475, where a list of the plants of Homptolle is 

 given. The other is the comparatively large and barren islet 

 of Burhou, situated almost in mid-channel, between Alderney 

 and the Ca^quet Rocks. Although Burhou is very many 

 times the size of Plat Houmet, being nearly three-quarters of 

 a mile in length, its flora is inferior, and considering its area, 

 remarkably small. In each case the plants have been 

 exhaustively catalogued, and the numbers are as follows : — 



Plat Houmet 17 species. 



Burhou , 16 species (and 2 ferns). 



Houmet Homptolle 15 species. 



Only three plants are common to all the three islets ; 

 four species are found on both Plat Houmet and Burhou ; 

 three on both Burhou and Homptolle ; and nine on both 

 Homptolle and Plat Houmet. A very remarkable peculiarity 

 which Plat Houmet shares with Burhou is that the Compo- 

 site (the Order which includes the largest number of British 

 plants) are not represented at all. 



On the 8th of August we again crossed over to Herm, 

 this time on a three days' visit. Many of the small cliff 

 plants were unfortunately dried up beyond recognition ; 

 consequently only three novelties were found. The most 

 interesting of these was the rare leek Allium Ampeloprasum, 

 which (as a true native) is peculiar to Guernsey. In Herm 

 it grows plentifully amongst a dense growth of brambles and 

 bracken on the hillside above the houses, and the tall flower- 

 heads were very conspicuous in the month of June. I feel 

 certain, however, that this fine species is a comparatively 



