NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
163 
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, opposite golden saxifrage, — in the 
dark and rocky hollow lanes. 
Gentiana amarella, autumnal gentian, or fellwort, — on the Zigzag 
and Hanger. 
LathrcEa squamaria, tooth-wort, — in the Church-litten-coppice under 
some hazels near the foot-bridge, in Trimming's garden hedge, and on 
the dry wall opposite Grange-yard. 
Dipsacus pilosus, small teasel, — in the Short and Long Lith. 
Lathyrus sylvestris, narrow-leaved, or wild lathyrus, — in the bushes 
at the foot of the Short Lith, near the path. 
Ophrys spiralis, ladies traces, — in the Long Lith, and towards the 
south corner of the common. 
Ophrys nidus avis, birds' nest ophrys, — in the Long Lith under the 
shady beeches among the dead leaves ; in Great Dorton among the 
bushes, and on the Hanger plentifully. 
Serapias latifoliaj helleborine, — in the High-wood under the shady 
beeches. 
Daphne laureola, spurge laurel, — in Selborne-Hanger and the High- 
wood. 
Daphne mezereum, the mezereon, — in Selborne-Hanger among the 
shrubs, at the south-east end above the cottages. 
Lycoperdon tuber, truffles,— in the Hanger and High-wood. 
Sambucus ebulus, dwarf elder, walwort, or danewort^ — among the 
rubbish and ruined foundations of the Priory.* 
Of all the propensities of plants, none seem more strange than their 
different periods of blossoming. Some produce their flowers in the 
winter, or very first dawnings of spring ; many when the spring is 
established ; some at midsummer, and some not till autumn. When 
we see the helleborus fwtidus and helleborus niger blowing at Christmas, 
the helleborus hyemalis in January, and the helleborus viridis as soon 
as ever it emerges out of the ground, we do not wonder, because they 
are kindred plants that we expect should keep pace the one with the 
other ; but other congenerous vegetables differ so widely in their time , 
of flowering, that we cannot but admire. I shall only instance at 
present in the crocus sativus, the vernal and the autumnal crocus, 
which have such an affinity, that the best botanists only make them 
varieties of the same genus, of which there is only one species, not 
being able to discern any difference in the corolla, or in the internal 
structure. Yet the vernal crocus expands its flowers by the beginning 
of March at farthest, and often in very rigorous weather ; and cannot 
be retarded but by some violence offered ; while the autumnal (the 
saffron) defies the influence of the spring and summer, and will not 
blow till most plants begin to fade and run to seed. This circumstance 
is one of the wonders of the creation, little noticed because a common 
occurrence; yet ought not to be overlooked on account of its being 
* This letter in tlie original edition of 1780 concluded here, but in the 4ta 
edition by Mitford what follows was added to it. This has appeared in all the 
editions subsequently as part of the original letter, but we are not aware at what 
time or under what circumstances this was written* 
M 2 • 
