S I R, 
Bradley-Honfe, Ofiober 1 8 , 1796 . 
“ Before the arrival of this, you will probably have received a box containing fome fpecimens of the Lobelia 
“ urens, which I fent from Axminfter yefterday morning by the coach. I was difappointed in not finding a 
“ fingle plant in flower, having found it laft year on the 10th of O&ober in the higheft perfe&ion ; this 
“ difference can only be attributed to the forwartfnefs of the laft fpring, and the backwardnefs of the preceding 
“ one. It grows in a poor gravelly foil, on the flope of a heath, called Kilmington-Hill, from the parifh in 
ec which it is fituated, and about two miles from Axminfter. It is .here confined to a fpot, not exceeding half 
“ an acre, clofe to the road, and about fifty yards from the entrance of the heath, on the right-hand fide in 
‘ c going from Axminfter to Honiton. I have been thus particular in the defcription of the place, as I fearched 
“ for it in feveral other parts of the heath (which is exte’nfive) without finding a fingle plant. It is furrounded 
“ by Ulex europams, Erica vulgaris, cinerea, and tetralix, Betonica officinalis, and Serratula tin&oria, all in a 
“ dwarf ftate, and thrives beft when a few. inches of the ftera are clofely covered by other plants. 
“ I remain, 
S I R, 
“ Your obedient humble Servant, 
“WEBB SEYMOUR.” 
The roots fent, being planted in pots, grew readily, and flowered the enfuing autumn; from the leaft 
luxuriant of thole our drawing was made: it will be 'found more branched than the plants ufually are on 
Kilmington-Hill ; but not more fo, we prefume (if we may judge from figures) than the plant is when found 
wild in other places. 
The name of urens has been given to this fpecies from its hot and burning tafte, not from any flinging quality; 
it certainly is a very acrimonious plant: the leaves foon after being chewed, excite confiderable heat in the 
mouth, attended fometimes with ficknefs : Mr. Sydenham Edwards, my draughtfman, to whofe ingenuity I 
am under great obligations, and who has acquitted himfelffo honourably and meritorioufly towards me^ havino- 
handled a branch of this plant broken oft from the main Item, and afterwards rubbed his eyes (lightly, had a 
violent pain and temporary inflammation excited in them thereby ; which however foon went off) on wafhing 
them with cold water. 0 
As a rare plant, and indeed as an ornamental one, this fpecies is deferving of culture ; it may be raifed 
without any great difficulty from feeds, or increafed by parting its roots, which are perennial, not biennial or 
annual, as authors have made them. 
