234 n a t u r a l h i s t o r y
L E T T E R XLL
TO TH E S A M E .
D E A R S IR , Seleorn e, July 3, 1778.-
I n a diftrift fa diverlifted with fuch a variety of hill and dale,
afpedts, and foils, it is no wonder that great choice of plants
fhould be found. Chalks, clays, fands,- fheep-walks and downs,,
bogs, heaths, woodlands-, and champaign fields, cannot but furnifh
an ample Flora. The deep rocky lanes abound with filices, and
the paftures and moift woods with fungi. I f in any branch of
botany we may feem to be wanting, it muft be in the large aquatic
plants, which are not to be expedited on a fpot far removed from
rivers, and lying up amidft the hill country at the fpring heads.
T o enumerate all the plants that have been difcovered within our
limits would be a needlefs work; but a (hort lift of the more rare,
and the fpots where they are to be found, may be. neither, unacceptable
nor unentertaining:—
Helleborus fcetidus, Sinking hellebore, bear’s foot, or fetterworth,
all over the High-wood and Coney-eroft-hanger: this continues a great
branching plant the winter through, blofloming about January, and
is very ornamental in {hady walks and lhrubberies. The good
women give the leaves powdered to children troubled with worms;
but it is a violent remedy, and ought to be adminiftered with
caution.
Helleborus
Helleborus viridis, green hellebore,—in the deep ftony lane on
the left hand juft before the turning to Norton-farm, and at the top
o f Middle Horton under the hedge: this plant dies down to the
ground early in autumn, and fprings again about February, flowering
alnioft as foon as it appears; above ground.
Vaccinium oxycoceos, creeping bilberries, or cranberries,— in the
bogs of Bin’s-pond;
Vminium myrtillus, whortle, or bleaberries,— on the dry hillocks
of Woolrtier-forejl;
Drofera rotundifolia, round-leaved fundew. In the bogs
- longifotia, long-leaved ditto. J of Bin’ s-pond.
Comarum palujlre, purple comarum, or marlh cinque foil,— in
the bogs of Bin’'s-pond;
Hypericum androfemum, Tutfan, St. John’s Wort,— in the ftony,
hollow lanes;
Flnca minor, lefs periwinkle,-r-in Selborne-hanger and Shrub-
wood;
Monotropa hypopithys, yellow monotropa, or birds’ neft,— in Selborne
hanger under the lhady beeches, to whofe roots it feems to
be paralitical— at the north-weft end of the Hanger;
Chhra perfoliata, Blackjlonia perfoliata, Hudfoni, perfoliated yellow-
wort,— on the banks in the King’s-field;
Paris quadrifolia, herb Paris, true-love, or one-berry,— in the
■ ■ Church-litten-coppice;
Chryfofplenium oppojitifolium, oppofite golden faxifrage,— in the
dark and rocky hollow lanes;
Gentiana amarella, autumnal gentian, or fellwort,— on the Zigzag
and Hanger;
H h 2 Lathraa