By Thomas Bruges Mower, Esq. 



341 



ORDER. THYMELACEJE. (JUSS.) 

 Named after Thymelaa, a word used by Pliny for a kind of 

 wild olive. 



D'aphne, (Linn.) Daphne. 

 Linn. CI. viii. Ord. i. 

 Name. After the Nymph Daphne, who, in fabulous history, was 

 changed into a laurel or bay tree; some of the plants of this genus 

 have the habit of laurels. 



1. D. Mezereum, (Linn.) Common Mezereon. The name is of 

 Arabic extraction, the plant having long been famous for its me- 

 dicinal qualities, which are intensely acrid. Engl. Bot. t. 1381. 

 Locality. Woods. Shrub, El. March. Area, 1. * * 4. 5. 

 South Division. 



1. South-east District, " Woods about Amesbury," Mr. Sole, IIS. 



North Division. 



4. North-icest District, Limpley Stoke Woods, sparingly. 

 Woods near the Horse and Jockey, Kingsdown, Bury-ditches near 

 Lucknam Grove. 



5. North-east District, "In a large wood at Froxfield, con- 

 tiguous to the estate of General Popham at Littlecot," Mrs. Bartlett. 



Very rare and local in the County and probably introduced by the 

 agency of birds. The well-known Mezereon of our gardens, where 

 its early blossoms and delightful fragrance attract general favour. 

 It forms a bushy shrub, bearing numerous purple flowers, which 

 appear before the leaves, and red berries nestled among the foliage. 

 Elowers sometimes white. 



2. D. Laureola, (Linn.) common Spurge Laurel. Laureola is a 

 diminutive of Laurea, a laurel or bay tree. Engl. Bot. t. 119. 



Locality. Woods and thickets, chiefly on chalk. Shrub, El. 

 February, April. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



South Division. 



1. South-east District, "Plantations near Winterslow," Dr. Maton. 

 Nat. Hist. Wilts. 



2. South Middle District, "Thickets in the neighbourhood of 

 Westbury," Mrs. Overbury. 



2b2 



