242 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Carum Oarui (Linn.) Engl. Bot. t. 503. Meadows at Christian 

 Malford, {District 4.) Mr. J. Poole, MSS., " Watson's Bot. Guide." 

 Possibly naturalized in the above locality, having been long culti- 

 vated, for its aromatic carpels. 



Bunium, (Linn.) Earth-nut. 

 Linn. CI. v. Ord. ii. 



Name. From (bounion) a species of turnip or radish, which the 

 root of bunium resembles ; the English name earth-nut, has a similar 

 reference. 



1. B. flexuosum (Linn.) Pig-nut, or twisted Earth-nut. So called 

 from the twisted form of the stem between the tuber and the sur- 

 face of the ground. Engl. Bot. t. 988. B. bulbocastanum of 

 Hudson and others ; not of Linnseus. B. denudatum De Candolle. 



Locality. Woods and pastures in a gravelly soil. P. Fl. May, 

 June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Frequent throughout all the Districts. 

 An elegant plant, whose umbels of bright white flowers are very 

 conspicuous through the month of June. The tuber has a 

 sweetish and slightly pungent taste, and is sought after by children 

 of the Wiltshire peasantry under the name of Earth-nut, or Earth- 

 chestnut, from its resemblance to the latter fruit in flavour, when 

 the pungency is removed by roasting. 



2. B. Bulbocastanum (Linn.) Chestnut-bulbed Earth-nut: So 

 named from bulbus (Lat.) a bulb, and castanea, a chestnut, the root 

 having the form of the former and taste of the latter. Engl. Bot. 

 Suppl, t. 2862. Carum Koch. De Cand. 



Locality. In cultivated fields, on the chalk marl not uncommon 

 on that formation. P. Fl. July, August. Area, * * * * 5. 



North Division. 



5. North-east District, " Pewsey Downs," Mr. C. Steadman, Rev. 

 T. F. Ravenshaw, MSS. This interesting species has recently been 

 added to the " Wilts Flora," by Mr. C. Steadman. Not having 

 myself seen specimens, or as yet visited the locality, I am quite un- 

 prepared to state whether the plant occurs sparingly or in any 

 quantity. Our common pig-nut B. flexuosum, was long supposed 

 by British botanists to be identical with B. bulbocastanum, which is 



