50 



never be able to get to the end of this review. Another rare and 

 local plant is Silene nutans, L., the Nottingham Catchfly. Doubt- 

 less it has often wagged its caryophyllaceous head unseen at those 

 who pass by steamboat under the Old Harry cliffs. It is a pretty 

 plant, and many there are who would like to possess it, but — 

 there is a risk about it ! 



Of the Hypericums , H. dubium, Leers, is certainly rare, and 

 new to our district, while Geranium lucidum, L., is very local. Of 

 leguminous plants we have several interesting species, notably 

 Lotus hispidus, Desf., L. tenuis, W. and K., Vicia gracilis , Lois.> 

 V. sylvatica, L., Lathy rus nissolia, L., and L. sy/vestris, L., the 

 everlasting Pea — an unfortunate adjective. The genus Rosa 

 (which always calls up sweet associations) must be passed over> 

 and likewise the critical Rubi, except in respect of Spiraea, 

 salicifolia, L., which is new to Purbeck ; Agrimonia odorata, 

 Mill, in two fresh places; Pyrus Aria, Ehrh., for which I have a 

 new station, and P. communis, L., the wild pear, recorded for 

 Arne, but which, as the Rev. E. F. Linton, M.A., F.L.S., will 

 hear with regret, has now ceased to exist. Of Chrysosplenium 

 oppositifolium, L., the Golden Saxifrage, I can quote two 

 additional habitats; while Sedum album, L., the White Stonecrop, 

 may also be extended. S. reflexum, L., although only given for 

 Swanage, has many other stations. From walls to bogs may not 

 be a long way, but the vegetation is entirely different. Thus we 

 are brought into contact with the Sundews, and, by association,, 

 with the great naturalist, Chas. Darwin. Of the three species, 

 two are well represented, while the third, Drosera anglica, Huds. , 

 is exceedingly rare, and perhaps, in consequence, ought to be 

 considered with reservation. However, its Purbeck habitat is 

 now known to me through Mr. Sherring — I cannot go further, 

 for he and I have some strong ideas concerning vandalism. 

 Outside Purbeck my diligence has been rewarded, but, at present, 

 I have not divulged the secret to him ! There are many things I 

 must ignore, not because they are uninteresting, but because I 

 must curtail somewhere. The Umbelliferous Order, for instance, 

 with two exceptions — the Sea-Holly (Eryngium maritimum, L.) 

 which does not now exist in its old habitats, but has favoured me 

 with a new one; and Carum verticillatum, Koch, (allied to the 

 Corn-Parsley), which is a delightful acquisition, and to think that 

 this should have been discovered in our little " Isle " and not by 

 me, is deeply to be deplored. However, as the finder is a name- 

 sake of mine it almost looks like a family affair ! For a full 

 account of this new Dorset plant, the Journal of Botany for 

 November, 1914, may be consulted. 



We must now pass rapidly along to the Compo sitae, and even 

 in this group our observations must be brief. I will just note two 

 stations for the white form of the Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium 

 cannabinum, L.), and one each for a double and a proliferous form 

 of the Daisy, before we come to the Elecampane (Inula Helenium, 

 L.), which is of the Sunflower order. One station only is given 



