108 
NOTES IN AN OLD HERBAL. 
May, 1892. 
Difficult as it may be to believe that Oxford is really situate 
amid drier surroundings in the nineteenth than it was in the 
sixteenth century, yet the disappearance or the diminution in 
numbers of several of our marsh plants gives credence to this 
somewhat paradoxical statement. R. Lingua lingers in the 
upper reaches of the Cherwell and Thames, and also occurs 
near Abingdon. 
308.—“ Herba Paris growes in Merley Wood,” a statement which 
still holds true. 
343.— Pisa sempervirens. —“ Growes in Merley Wood.” 
358.— Mellilot. —“Growes plentifully all about Oxford,” which is true 
of the present time. With the true Melilot, M. officinalis, we 
also have more rarely, as a casual plant, M. arvensis, and our 
rubbish heaps occasionally yield M. indica as well. 
361.— Haresfoot .—“Hard by Stoe Wood.” The fields opposite Stow 
Wood, and from thence to Headington, still yield in abund¬ 
ance the pretty Haresfoot Clover, Trifolium arvense, which is a 
local plant in the county. 
361.— Wood Sorrel. —“It growes plentifully in Shotover Wood.” Oxalis 
Acetosella still occurs there. 
364.— Stichwurt. —“ It growes in Merley Wood and upon Hincksey Hill 
by ye hedges.” Stellaria Holostea, L., is an abundant feature 
in our septal and woodland vegetation. 
386. — Madder. —“Wilde Madder growes in copse by Chyllsy Woods.” 
“ Flowers are white.” Probably Galium saxatile is intended. 
387. — Golden Crosswurt. —“It growes on ye side of Botley Hills in the 
pastures.” Galium Gruciata still occurs here. 
408.— Lange de beefe. —“ It grows on ye sides of ye ditches as ye go from 
Boutley Causeway to Medley.” Helminthia echioides is still to 
be found in the vicinity. 
416.— Earth Chesnut. —“ It grows in Merley Wood and Chylsey Wood, 
and in ye cornefields betweene Shotover and St. Bartholemeios 
Well.” The Pig-nut, Conopodium denudatum, still exists as a 
frequent native plant in our woods. 
445.— Rapistrum. —“There is another sort called Rapistrum aquaticum, 
very common in our Oxford ditches.” This refers to Nasturtium 
amphibium, which is frequent about Christ Church meadow, 
etc. 
448. — Lesser Water Cress. —“ In all the Oxford meadows.” 
449. — Winter Cresses. —“ Upon ye bancks of ditches about Oxford 
everywheare.” Barbarea vulgaris is still abundant. 
449.— Thlaspi. —“ One kind grows on Botley Hills.” The Pennycress, 
Thlaspi arvense, still occurs in our cornfields. 
457. —“ Allium sylvestre growes on a wall as you goe from Baley 
Colledge to Kettle Hall, also on Hincksey Hills.” The Wild 
Garlic, Allium vineale, is no longer to be found on the walls 
in Broad Street, and is probably gone from the Berkshire 
Hills. It still exists on some ruined walls near Oxford. 
“ Ramsons growes in Merley Wood, and in Stow Wood.” 
Both localities still yield the white starry flowers of Allium 
ursinum. 
458. — Sauce Alone. —“It growes in our grove.” The plant referred to 
is Alliaria officinalis, or Hedge Garlic. 
480.— Base Broome. —“It growes plentifully about Oxford.” A state¬ 
ment which now no longer holds true respecting Genista 
tinctoria. 
