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Although hardly recognised as a native plant, the 

 datura or thorn apple (Datura stramonium) has become 

 quite naturalised in the deer-park, the sloping banks of a 

 disused gravel-pit having been known to foster the plant for 

 a full half-century. The large, deeply-divided leaves are 

 very handsome; while the fruit resembles a horse-chestnut, 

 but is far more prickly. The whole plant is narcotic and 

 stimulant, and should not be placed within the reach of 

 children. Curious enough, the pure white convolvulous-like 

 flowers are seen to best advantage about eight o'clock in the 

 evening. Whether the lent lily (Narcissus pseudo narcissus) 

 is really wild it would be hard to say; but, judging from the 

 number of isolated clumps which occur amongst the bracken 

 in the deer-park, and where it is very unlikely to have been 

 planted, I should say it has just claims to be regarded as a 

 native of the district. 



Both species of solanum — the family to which our 

 cultivated potatoe and tomato belong — are to be found in 

 the Park. 



The bitter-sweet, or nightshade (S. dulcamara), occurs 

 near Chesterfield entrance, and the black solanum (S. nigrum) 

 plentifully in many of the shrubberies and borders. 



The meadow saffron or colchicum (C. autumnalis) also 

 occurs in several parts of the Ranger's grounds — in the 

 woodlands, where it is hardly likely to have been planted for 

 effect. Possibly the common primrose would be considered 

 as natural to the Park, in which it is to be found in some 

 plenty; while the cowslip occurs in three distinct places 

 where it is most unlikely to have been introduced by the 

 hands of man. 



In summer, hundreds of visitors almost tread on the 

 latter plant, and yet for three years it has escaped notice- 

 or rather extermination. Three species of campanula are 

 fairly common in the Park : the hairbell (C. rotundi folia), 

 the nettle-leaved (C. trachelium), and the creeping form 

 (C. rapunculoides). The nettle-leaved is abundant in several 

 parts of the Park; while within the grounds of the Magnetic 

 Pavilion the deep-blue flowers of the hairbell are a conspicuous 

 feature during the autumn months. Of aquatic and semi- 

 aquatic plants there is a large and varied assortment in and 

 around the pond, many of which have made their appearance 

 of late years since water-fowls have been encouraged, and the 

 public kept from encroaching too near to the water-margin. 



