68 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



A tree of slow growth, but sometimes of considerable size, with 

 a large trunk spreading at the top into many branches, so as to 

 form a large head. Leaves broadly ovate, or slightl} r cordate at 

 the base, with lanceolate or triangular serrated lobes, glabrous. 

 Flowers corymbose, on downy or shaggy peduncles and pedicels. 

 Fruit ovate, brown, partaking of the quality of the Medlar, both 

 in the green and in the ripe state. 



(P. communis, (Linn.) and P. aucuparia, (Graert) have both been 

 occasionally met with in the county ; the former an escape from 

 the orchard, the latter from plantations.) 



ORDER. LYTHRACEiE. (JUSS.) 

 Lythrum, (Linn.) Lythrum. 

 Linn. CI. xi. Ord. i. 

 Name. From lythron, (Lat.) gore ; in allusion to the purple 

 colour of the flowers. 



1. L. Salicaria, (Linn.) Spiked Purple Loosestrife. Purple 

 Willow herb, from salix (Lat.) a willow. Engl. Bot. t. 1061. 



Locality. Banks of rivers, wet ditches, and in watery places 

 frequent. P. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Distributed 

 throughout all the Districts. 



This plant produces its long and beautiful spikes of purple 

 flowers in great abundance during the latter- part of the summer, 

 at which season it is a very elegant and conspicuous ornament to 

 the margins of our Avon, ponds, and watery ditches. 



Peplis, (Linn.) Water Purslane. 

 Linn. CI. vi. Ord. i. 

 Name. From peplis, the ancient Greek name for the genus 

 Portulaea (Eng., Purslane), now applied to this plant from its 

 similarity of habit. 



1. P. Portula, (Linn.) common Water Purslane. Engl. Bot. t. 

 1211. St. 1. 7. 



belonging to George Ayliffe, Esq. In the parke of Kington St. Michael is 

 onely one. At the foot of Hedington Hill, and also at the bottome of the hill 

 at Whitesheet, which is the same range of hill, doe growe at least twenty 

 cervise-trees. They operate as medlars, but less effectually." "Aubrey's 

 Nat Hist, of Wilts;' p. 56. 



