78 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Antirrhinum, (Linn,) Snapdragon. 

 Linn. CI. xiv. Ord. ii. 

 Name. Antirrhinon or Anarrhinon is a word used by Pliny; de- 

 rived probably from (and), resembling, and (rldn), a nose, in allusion 

 to the form of the flowers. 



1. A. majus, (Linn.) great Snapdragon. Engl. Bot. t. 129. 

 Locality. Naturalized on walls and old buildings; frequently 



the out-cast of neighbouring gardens, not very common. P. Fl. 

 July, September. Area 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



In all the Districts. Flowers large, on short pedicles, imbricated 

 in dense terminal racemes. Corolla various shades of purple red, 

 rose-colour, or white ; in all cases with a bright yellow downy 

 palate : when pressed laterally between the thumb and finger it 

 gapes, closing again when the pressure is removed ; hence the vulgar 

 name, which is, however, equally applicable to the genus Linaria. 



2. A. Orontium, (Linn.) lesser Snap-dragon ; (orontion) is an 

 old Greek name. The ripe capsule, viewed in front, bears a strong 

 resemblance to the face of an animal. Engl. Bot. t. 1155. 



Locality. In cultivated fields amongst corn, and dry waste 

 places, on sandy, gravelly, or chalky soils. A. Fl. July, August. 

 Area, 1. * 3. 4. * 



South Division. 



1. South-east District, " Corn-fields in chalky soils about Down- 

 ton," Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. " Amesbury," Dr. Southby. 



3. South-west District, " Corn-fields between Downton and Charl- 

 ton," Major Smith. " Warminster," Mr, Wheeler. 



North Division. 



4. North-west District, Corn-fields at Spye Park, Bromham, and 

 Sandridge. "Corn-fields near the George Inn, Sandy Lane," 

 Flor. Bath. 



Not frequent in Wilts, and as yet unrecorded in Districts 2 and 5. 

 An erect, annual, seldom above a foot high, much more slender than 

 A. majus, with narrower leaves. Flowers rose-colour, with yellow 

 palate ; remarkable for the great proportional length of the calyx, 

 whose linear segments equalling the corolla when first expanded 

 soon extend far beyond it. 



