104 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



produce double flowers is sometimes very strong, thus Kcrria japonica 

 in cult 7 'ration is never seen except with double flowers. Saponaria 

 contains Saponinc, which imparts to it saponaceous qualities. The 

 same principle is found in species of Silene, Lychnis and Cucubalus. 



Silene, (Linn.) Catchfly. 

 Linn. CI. x. Ord. iii. 



Name. Supposed to be from Sialon, (Or.) Saliva, in allusion to 

 the viscid moisture on the stalks of many of the species, by which 

 flies of the smaller kinds are entrapped, hence the English name of 

 the genus Catchfly. 



1. S. anglica, (Linn.) English Catchfly. Engl. Bot. t. 1178. 



Locality. On arable land where the soil is light, sandy or gravelly. \ 

 A. Fl. June, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. * 



South Division. 



1. South-east District, " Alderbury near Salisbury," Mr. Joseph 

 Woods, and Mr. James Hassey. " Amesbury," Dr, Southby. 



2. South Middle District, " Sandy cornfields near Market Laving- j 

 ton," Miss L. Meredith. 



3. South-west District, " Cornfields near Corsley," Miss Griffith. 



North Division. 



4. North-ivest District, " Bowden Hill," Dr. Alexander Prior, and \ 

 Mr. C. E. Broome. " Cornfields near the Old Horse and Jockey, i 

 Kingsdown," Flora, Bath. 



One of the most inconspicuous of its genus, it will possibly prove! 

 to be more frequent throughout Wilts than the above area of 

 distribution indicates. 



2. S. nutans, (Linn.) Nottingham Catchfly. Engl. Bot. t. 460. 

 Has been observed by Miss L. Meredith at Scratchbury Hill near 

 Warminster, where it appears to have been introduced. But no- 

 where is it seen in greater perfection by the collecting botanist 

 than upon the brow of the once rude, now tufted and glowing 

 heights of Encombe, in the adjoining county, (Dorset). When 

 night has hidden the glories of the garden it expands its narrow 

 petals, and fills the whole air and every breeze with most delicious 

 fragrance. 



