Localities. — In hedges, and shady places; very rare. — Essex; “In the 
margin ol' my copy of Ray’s Synopsis, against Cucubalus Plinii (C. bacciferj, 
a former possessor of ihe book has written as a habitat, Springfield. From the 
colour of the ink and style of writing, it is evident this entry was made soon after 
the Dillenian edition of the Synopsis appeared. Perhaps some of your readers, 
on seeing this note, will search in the neighbourhood of Springfield for this plant, 
which may very readily have been overlooked.’’ H. O. Stephens, in The 
Phytologist, v. i. p 295. — Middlesex ; “ In the Isle of Dogs, on the banks of 
the ditch on the left-hand of the road from Blackwall to the Ferry-House ; and 
there, if not truly indigenous, it is at least perfectly naturalized. I also feel 
convinced that I have met with it in similar situations in other parts of England ; 
but the plant not being in flower, 1 have passed it, as I did the first time I saw 
it in the Isle of Dogs, thinking it to be merely Cerastium aguaticum, which in 
that state it much resembles. It is probable that, like Polygonum dunietorum, 
this plant only requires to have the attention of Botanists directed to it, to lead 
to its discovery in other localities.’’ Mr. G. Luxford, in Tr. of Linn. Soc. 
v. xviii. p. 687. See also, “ The Phytologist,” v. i. p. 255. — WALES. 
Anglesea ; Gathered in hedges in Anglesea, and communicated to Dr. Richard- 
son : Dillenius, in Hay’s Syn. The Rev. Hugh Davies, who was well ac- 
quainted with the botany of A nglesea, could never find it there. — S'JOTLAND. 
In hedges in the Isle of Man : Mr. Roeson. — Edinburghshire ; “ Notwith- 
standing Sir .1. E. Smith has rejected this plant as not being of British origin, 
(see Eng. FI. v. ii. p. 290), we have seen it growing plentifully along with Silene 
in/lata, by hedge sides, not far from Roslin Castle near Edinburgh, in the year 
1817 Mr. G. Don, in Gen. Syst. of Gard. and Bot. v. i. p. 398. 
Perennial. — Flowers in May, June, and July. 
Root creeping. Stems from 2 to 5 feet, or more, long, weak 
and straggling, leafy, cylindrical, hollow, somewhat hairy, much 
branched ; branches opposite at each joint, horizontal or reclining 
downwards. Leaves opposite, on short petioles, egg-spear-shaped, 
entire, downy. Flowers axillary and terminal, drooping, solitary, 
on slender, downy peduncles (flower-stalks). Calyx large, bell- 
shaped, downy, thin, permanent, frequently tinged with purple. 
Corolla greenish-white, or cream-coloured ; petals distant, spread- 
ing, cloven ; claws very narrow, generally more or less crowned at 
the mouth, but in that respect they vary. Stamens inserted into 
the petals, and the receptacle alternately. Fruit an oval, fleshy 
capsule, resembling a berry, very black when ripe, smooth and 
shining, with one cell, and many seeds. Seeds shining, wrinkled, 
kidney-shaped, blackish. 
This plant is a native of Germany, Flanders, France, Switzerland, Carniola, 
Italy, and Spain, in woods and hedges. SirJ.E. Smith admitted it into his 
Flora Britannica, and his English Botany , on the authority of Dii.eenius’s 
edition of Ray’s Synopsis ; but as no one had observed it afterwards up to the 
time of the publication of his English Flora, he considered himself under the 
necessity of excluding it from that work. Its discovery, however, in the localities 
above cited seems to give it a claim to a place in this work. Johnson, in 
Gerarde’s Herbal, as long ago as 1633, speaks of it as being wild in England, 
but he had himself only seen it in a garden ; and Parkinson (in 1640) says, in 
his Theatrum Botanicum, p. 760, “ I have sometimes found it by hedge sides 
in our own Land.” — The berries are said to be poisonous. 
