by a beautiful provision of nature, raised above the water to favour the proper action of the pollen, but sink to ripen the seed. 1. U. vulgaris, (Linn.) common or greater Bladderwort. Engl. Bot. t. 253. Locality. In deep pools and watery ditches, rare. August. Area, * 2 * * 5. South Division. P. Fl. June, 2. South Middle District, "Ditches near Stratford Castle, very rare," Mr. James Hussey. North Division. 5. North-east District, Canal between Swindon and Purton, sparingly. Corolla large, bright yellow, with purplish-red streaks; spur bent downwards. 2. U. minor, (Linn.) smaller Bladderwort. Engl. Bot. t. 254. Locality. Ditches and pits. P. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. * * * * South Division. 1. South-east District, "In rivulets near the Milk-maid's Grove, close to Salisbury," Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. The only locality at present recorded in Wilts for this species, which should be again verified. I have seen no specimen, and would be obliged for examples from any correspondent. ORDER. PRIMULACEÆ. (VENT.) Linn. Cl. v. Ord. i. Named from primus, first; on account of the early appearance of the flowers in the most common species; in France primevère. 1. P. vulgaris, (Huds.) common Primrose, from Pryme-rolles, the name it bears in old books and MSS. Engl. Bot. t. 4. St. 14. 6. P. acaulis-Jacq. Locality. In woods, hedge-banks, meadows, and the borders of fields, and by the sides of streams. P. Fl. April, May. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Very common and generally distributed throughout the districts. Corolla large, sulphur coloured, sometimes more or less purple1 or rarely white, with a dark radiating spot in the middle; their scent agreeable though slight. If the peduncles are traced to their very base, they will be found to spring from one common point and to constitute a sessile umbel. The variety in which the umbel is raised on a scape, the pedicel shorter, the calyx-teeth shorter, the corolla-limb smaller, more concave and deeper in colour, with the segments narrower is the P. variabilis Goupil, which is not unfrequently distributed throughout Wilts, generally occuring, whenever P. vulgaris, and P. officinalis grow together, but never found in any of the districts inhabited by one of the parents. This form is often taken for the true Oxlip, P. elatior, Jacquin, found only in the Eastern counties of England, particularly about Bardfield in Essex. 2. P. veris, (Linn.) common Cowslip, or Paigle. Engl. Bot. t. 5. St. 14, 4. P. officinalis Jacquin. Locality. On banks, meadows, pastures, and downs, especially in chalky and clayey soils. P. Fl. April, May. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Generally distributed throughout all the districts. Flower-stalks rising above the leaves, bearing an umbel of flowers. Calyx-teeth usually broad and obtuse. Corolla very much smaller than in the Primrose, but varying in size. Linnæus considered the Cowslip, Oxlip, and Primrose, as varieties only of the same plant, though most modern Botanists have usually separated and described them as two, and sometimes three distinct species. More recent investigation has shown that Linnæus's views were correct. The Polyanthuses of our gardens are cultivated varieties of the same species. HOTTONIA, (LINN.) WATER-VIOLET. Name. After P. Hotton, Professor in the University of Leyden; ob. 1709. The English name featherfoil refers to the elegant This beautiful variety, with flowers bright purplish-red, I have occasionally found in woods about Kingsdown (North-west District), and sometimes having a petalöid calyx; this form is well known under the name of P. calycanthemum ; it has a certain interest as illustrating the theory of morphology, being one of the less common forms of monstrosity.-T. B. F. light foliage, which resembles a feather in its deeply pinnatifid sections. 1. H. palustris, (Linn.) Marsh Feather-foil, or Water Violet. Engl. Bot. t. 364. Locality. In ditches and ponds, on a gravelly soil. P. Fl. May, June. Area * * 3. South Division. 3. South-west District, "In the Stour at Stourton," Miss Meredith. The Hottonia is one of the most beautiful of our native plants, and is highly deserving a place with Nymphæa, Nuphar, Butomus, Sagittaria, Villarsia, and Menyanthes, in the Aquarium. The flowers are numerous, and very elegant, and are produced in whorled clusters, raised above the water. Name. LYSIMACHIA (LINN.) LOOSE-STRIFE. Linn. Cl. v. Ord. i. From (lusimachia), in honour of Lysimachus. Loosestrife, is merely a translation of the word. 1. L. thyrsiflora, (Linn.) tufted Loose-strife. Engl. Bot. t. 176. Naumburgia Duby. Locality. Wet marshes and watersides, very rare. P. Fl, June, July. Area,*** 4. * North Division. 4. North-west District, "In a marsh to the right of the foot-path from Wraxhall to the Horse and Jockey," Flor. Bath. This locality cannot I fear be considered an indigenous one, for there is every reason to believe that this very local and interesting plant has been introduced in the above station, probably by the late Mr. William Sole of Bath, having been informed more than once by persons who were well acquainted with him, that he was frefrequently in the habit of bringing plants into this locality with a view of introducing them into the neighbourhood. 2. L. vulgaris, (Linn.) common, or great yellow Loose-strife. Engl. Bot. t. 761. Locality. Sides of rivers, and wet shady places. P. Fl. July. Area, 3. 4. 5. South Division. 3. South-west District, "Riverside near West Harnham," Dr. Maton. Nat. Hist. Wilts. More recently confirmed in the same station by Major Smith and Mr. James Hussey. "Neighbourhood of Warminster," Mr. Wheeler. North Division. 4. North-west District, By the side of the river Avon at Chippenham, Lacock, and Melksham. 5. North-east District, Canal-banks at Marden and Purton. A very local plant in Wilts. An elegant ornament of watery shady places, and the reedy banks of rivers. The stems rise above 3 feet high; the leaves, although generally opposite, often grow 3 or 4 in a whorl. 3. L. Nummularia, (Linn.) Money-wort. Nummulus is Latin for a small coin. "Herb-two-pence" was an old name of this plant, given in allusion to the opposite round leaves. Engl. Bot. t. 528. Locality. On wet ditch-banks, in low moist meadows, and wet clayey pastures; also by the sides of the Kennet and Avon Canal. P. Fl. June, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Generally distributed throughout all the Districts. Flowers much larger and more showy than those of L. nemorum, though of a paler yellow, and more resembling the blossoms of L. vulgaris, or rather of L. punctata. Occasionally naturalized in shrubberies, and on banks near gardens. 4. L. nemorum, (Linn.) wood Loose-strife, Yellow Pimpernel. Engl. Bot. t. 527. Locality. In the black vegetable earth about springs and rills in woods, and on moist shady hedge-banks. P. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Recorded in all the Districts. Stems branched, square, smooth, red and pellucid. Flowers golden yellow. Corolla fringed with minute glandular hairs. As the capsule ripens, the pedicels roll round as in the common Pimpernel. ANAGALLIS, (LINN.) PIMPERNEL. Linn. Cl. v. Ord. i. Name from (anagelao) to laugh; probably in allusion to the delightful anticipation of fine weather experienced on beholding the brilliant appearance of the delicate petals, which expand only in dry states of the atmosphere. 1. A. arvensis, (Linn.) corn or scarlet Pimpernel; poor man's weather glass. Engl. Bot. t. 529. Locality. In cornfields, gardens, and waste places. A. Fl. June, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts. A very common weed of cultivation. Pedicels considerably longer than the leaves, and rolled back as the capsule ripens. Corolla rotate, usually of a bright red. 6. A. cœrulea, Sm. blue Pimpernel. Engl. Bot. t. 1823. Very like A. arvensis in every part except the corolla, being smaller, of a most vivid blue, paler beneath, but generally more robust and more upright; it occurs in light and chalky soils, but is more rarely distributed throughout Wilts. The late Professor Henslow has proved by cultivation from seed, that A. cærulea and A. arvensis are varieties of the same species; on the other hand, Mr. Borrer is of opinion that our two varieties are distinct species, but that each varies with the same tints of colour. 2. A. tenella, (Linn.) Bog Pimpernel. Tenellus (Lat.) means delicate, a term well applied to this elegant little plant. Engl. Bot. t. 530. Locality. On wet mossy banks and bogs. P. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 3. 4. 5. * South Division. 1. South-east District, "Bogs on Alderbury Common," Dr. Maton, Nat. Hist. Wilts. "Salisbury," Mr. James Hussey. "Earldom's Wood, Whiteparish," Rev. E. Simms. "Boggy ground in a meadow at West Dean," Major Smith. "Amesbury," Dr. Southby. 3. South-west District, Boggy ground at Stourhead. North Division. 4. North-west District, Bogs on Kingsdown, Spye Park, and Bowden Hill. "Chippenham," Dr. Alexander Prior. 5. North-east District, Banks of the Canal between Swindon and Purton. "Great Bedwyn," Mr. William Bartlett. Rather rare in Wilts. A beautiful delicate little plant only a few inches long. Flowers very elegant, large in proportion to the |