THE WILD FLOWERS AND MOSSES ABOUT BRIGHTON.
To an unobservant eye the vicinity of Brighton possesses no wild
vegetable productions worthy of notice, and, apart from the cultivated
fields, all else appears a barren waste, save and except the short sweet
verdure whereon our favourite South-Down flocks luxuriate. Upon peering,
however, into the hedgerows, and the waysides and the furrows, a volume
is opened to the student of Botany, and there is that whereon he may
sumptuously feast. Fifty years since, the observation that "Brighton was
a place without trees," was a truism; but since then, irrespective of the
success in planting the Squares, Enclosures, Steines, and the ornamental
gardens of private residences in the town, where formerly, only hardy
tamarisk grew, belts and copses of thriving trees have reared their
towering heads, and the elm, fir, sycamore, horse-chesnut, larch, beech,
hazel, birch, hawthorn, and the holly and other evergreens, having, by
culture, become acclimatised, thrive so well as to induce the belief that
they are indigenous to the South East Coast.
Immediately along our sea-shore, to the westward, upon leaving the
grass-plot at Adelaide Crescent, a low trailing plant is met with, and is
more or less abundant at some distance beyond the reach of the tide, as
far as the lock of the Shoreham Harbour Canal, at Fishersgate. It is
known as the Orach--_Atriplea postulcoides_,--and has succulent silvery
leaves, upon a woody stem. The Yellow Horned Poppy--_Glacium luteum_,--is
equally abundant in the same localities, and a few years since was very
thriving on the sites of Adelaide Terrace, Mills's Terrace, and the
houses adjacent. Its leaves are sea-green, and its flowers are of a pale
yellow, resulting in long seed pods. It has a tap root, which, on being
broken, exudes an acrid juice. A species of Samphire, or Jointed
Glasswort, grows in profusion about the pools in the vicinity of
Copperasgap. It is gathered and pickled; but it is altogether of a
different character to the Samphire which is gathered on the cliffs of
the Isle of Wight, and at Dover. Thrift Grass, about the wide expanse of
the beach in the vicinity of the Canal Basin, flourishes in extensive
patches, and its lilac flowers are a pleasing relief to the eye during
the bright rays of the meridian sun in Summer. The most prolific plant
in this neighbourhood is the Stonecrop, known by the several names,
Ginger, Wall-pepper, and Gold-chain. It is leafless, and grows as it
were, in links, from which issue golden flowers of dazzling brightness.
The vitality of this little plant is incredible, and, like the several
species of the _Cacti_, it absorbs and retains a vast amount of moisture.
It may be propagated from very small portions of the plant. A dwarf kind
of the Bitter Sweet Nightshade--_Solanum dulcamara_,--abounds in the same
locality. It differs from the Deadly Nightshade, the former having
purple flowers and yellow stamens; whereas the latter bears a large
cup-shaped flower. The berries of both are poisonous. A rough hairy
plant, the Viper's Bugloss--_Echium vulgare_,--also grows here. It bears
large and handsome purple or blue flowers. A very common plant along the
banks of the Canal, and likewise on the banks of the shelving cliffs,
between Hove and Kingston, is the Sea Starwort, or Michaelmas
Daisy--_Aster tripolium_. It is of the same kind as that which formerly
was so common in flower gardens. Another plant which grows abundantly
about here, is the Common Mallow--_Malva sylvestris_,--and bears purple
flowers, succeeded by seeds, well-known amongst children as "cheeses."
Formerly, the whole range of the dwarf cliff from Russell Street to Hove,
abounded with the Common Mallow, the leaves of which possess valuable
properties when boiled and applied as a poultice to whitlows. There
also, as many an ass well knew, the Milk Thistle--_Carduus
marianus_,--which was formerly held sacred to the Virgin Mary, was very
prolific. Specimens of it may be found now upon the banks south of the
turnpike road beyond Hove. Some years since, some rare roots of this
superbly prickly plant protected the bank which forms the northern side
of the cricket ground belonging to Hove House School. It may be known by
the white streaks on its leaves. The unfinished embankment between the
Chain Pier and Kemp Town is a fine nursery for this thistle, emblematical
of the amazing quantity of the same species which occupied the rugged
slopes that formed some portions of the East Cliff, now the Marine
Parade, before the erection of the sea wall.
The other plants along the sea-side are the Wild Beetroot--_Beta
maritima_,--bearing greenish white flowers on a straggling stem, with a
large root; the Sea-side Campion, or Catchfly, a white trailing flower
with a globular calyx and dark stamens; the Starry-headed
Clover--_Trifolium stellatum_,--the Tree Mallow--_Lavater arborea_, and
three species of Plaintain--the Common Plaintain, with acorn shaped seeds
grouped up a rat-tailed stem, the kind given to birds; the Ribwort
Plantain, bearing similar seeds, borne in a cluster at the end of a
similar stem; and the Buck's-horn Plantain, so called from the irregular
shape of the leaves, resembling a stag's horn, with the seeds like the
other kinds.
In the fields in general, about Brighton, is the Scentless
Mayweed--_Matricaria inodorata_,--with a large radiating flower like a
daisy, having a yellow centre and white outside. The simple, yet pretty
Daisy abounds about the general field herbage:
Daisies, the flowers of lowly birth,
Embroiderers of the carpet earth,
That stud the velvet sod.
The most prolific source of the wild flowers near Brighton is the
plantation on the Dyke Road, upon the estate of Lady Ogle. There
The Violet in her greenwood bower,
Where birchen boughs with hazels mingle,
May boast herself the fairest flower,
In glen, or copse, or forest dingle.
Both the Sweet Violet--_Viola odorata_,--and the Dog Violet--_Viola
canina_,--grow there, the latter in profusion. The Wild Heartsease--_Viola
tricolor_,--is not to be found there; but it abounds in the hedge-rows
about Preston, where also the Sweet Violet may be found. In this
plantation are the several kinds of Nightshade; the Bitter-sweet, as
before described; the Black Nightshade--_Solanum nigrum_,--a rare species
in this district; and the Deadly Nightshade--_Atropa belladonna_,--which
may be known by its large dark tobacco-leaf shaped leaves, cup-shaped
purple flowers, and cherry-like fruit, the produce of a root,
That takes the reason prisoner.
Considering the easy access to this plantation, and other copses where
this death-plant flourishes, and reflecting upon the natural proneness of
children to pilfer and consume all within their reach, when they are upon
their marauding expeditions, it is really surprising that there are not
numerous instances of poisoning by misadventure. It can be but the
special Providence, which it is presumed watches over children, that
prevents the tasting of the forbidden fruit.
The Black Bryony--_Tamus communis_,--thrives here to perfection. Its
flowers are of a greenish yellow, but its berries, like the Nightshade,
are poisonous. The Geranium--_Geraniace_,--signifying Crane's Bill,--from
the seed vessel and pistil resembling a crane's head and bill,--may be
found here of three distinct species. Each, being in its wild state, is
very diminutive; but they all are as perfect in their form and colours as
the most highly cultivated of the genus. In the hedges by the London
Road, just beyond Preston, the Lewes Road, beyond the Cavalry Barracks,
and Preston Drove, the Dove's-foot Geranium,--_Geranium molle_,--vegetates.
Its flowers are pink or purple, and its leaves, which grow in clusters,
are flat, and velvety to the touch.
An English species of the Arum Lily is very common in this and other
plantations, and in the damp and shady hedge-rows to the north of
Brighton. Its leaves are of a dark green, spotted with purple, and it
has, instead of a flower, a sort of leaf, containing a green spadix,
which is also purple. The stem of this leaf has a ring of glands,
beneath which are anthers and ovaries, which, as the plant matures, are
succeeded by scarlet berries, that are commonly known as Lords and
Ladies. The plant yields an acrid juice, which is very poisonous; and
about eighteen years since, a servant girl at the Synagogue, in
Devonshire place, unwittingly poisoned herself, in consequence of eating
some Lords and Ladies. The juice, mixed with vinegar, was formerly taken
as an antidote against the plague, and even against other poisons.
The two species of Stitchwort, the Lesser--_Stellaria graminea_,--and the
Greater--_Stellaria holostea_, or satin flower,--grow on the bank by the
Dyke Road copse. Both kinds are beautiful star-like wild flowers. And,
a little further on, the Wild Marjoram--_Origanum vulgare_,--is very
plentiful amongst the furze that dots the green sward. Buttercups and
cowslips grow plentifully in the Hove fields, and in the meadows which
abut the railway at Preston.
The three several species of Nettle are met with in various localities.
The largest is the Roman Nettle--_Urtica pilulifera_,--from the pill-like
shape of the flowers,--formidable in its appearance, and pungent to the
touch. The next is the Common Nettle, with which most persons are
conversant; and the other species is the Burning Nettle--_Urtica
ureus_,--which grows about a foot high, and whose leaves are a very dark
green. All these species have a venomous sting of a hair-like character,
which possesses at its root a poisonous bulb that discharges itself when
the sting is pressed gently. When, however, the stings are grasped
firmly, the fine points become bent or broken, and are thus rendered
harmless. They point upwards, so that if the hand be passed up the plant
briskly the sting is ineffectual. The Dead Nettle--_Lamium album_,--has no
sting. Its flowers are white, whereas the blossoms of the stinging
Nettles are green.
The hedge-rows of the Hove and Preston Droves are composed principally of
Brambles, Dog-wood, the Wild Rose, a species of willow, called Palm;
Black Horehound, Traveller's Joy, Alder, Ash, and Ivy. By the pathway on
the upper road to Shoreham, and on the London, Ditchling, Lewes, and Dyke
roads, just upon the outskirts of Brighton, the Burdock--_Arctium
lappa_,--commonly called the Dock, thrives amidst burdens of dust. The
flower is purple, and is thrown out from a ball, after the manner of the
bloom of the Corn Flower. A thistle-like cone succeeds, and forms a
means for amusement to schoolboys, who gather them and stick them on
persons' clothes.
The Wall Pellitory--_Parietaria officinalis_,--which has reddish stalks and
flowers, and hairy leaves, yields a cooling extract. It is found in
different localities, but does not require much nutriment for its dwarf
growth. The Shepherd's Purse, so called from its heart-shaped seed pods,
resembling old-fashioned money purses, is found growing about most
hedged-in fields. On many of the hillocks upon the meadow land Knot
Grass is very prevalent. It may be found also amongst the vegetation
between the carriage road and pathway just beyond Preston.
On the Ditchling Road, and the Roman Encampment on Hollingbury Hill, Wild
Mignionette, Heath, Thyme, Gentian, Whitlow-grass, Carline and Plume
Thistle, and Hawkweed grow in profusion; and in the fields immediately
south of the pond there, Dandelion, Adam's Needles, Centaury,
Convolvulus, Yellow Snapdragon, Yarrow, Cockle, Perriwinkle, Poppy,
Milkwort, Dropwort, Cropwort, Fleabane, Yellowwort, Henbane, and
Groundsell form a pleasing diversity; while, in the copses contiguous,
the Rock Rose and the Sun Rose give their Summer refreshing odours.
In speaking of the Mosses in the vicinity of Brighton, the area will be
restricted to the range of the Downs in which the Town is placed, and the
coast line of the same distance. Therefore, assuming the limit to be
bounded on the east by the Cliffs as far as Newhaven, and the Downs that
slope to the west side of the river Ouse, and gradually heighten until
passing Lewes, Offham and its chalk-pits are reached. Following, then,
the base of the hills by the Devil's Dyke, and the Fulking Downs to
Beeding, and thence continuing the marginal line to Shoreham, a tract of
country will be embraced, that will be bounded on the south by the
sea-shore. Thus, the sandstone plants, and those found in arenaceous
soil will be represented by the species from the banks on the beach, near
Aldrington Basin, and a few from the tertiary sandstone at Newhaven
Cliffs--chalk, clay, and argillaceous soils determining the remaining
species.
The list is as follows:--
Archidium phascoides.
Acaulon muticum.
triquetrum.
Flrkeanum.
Phascum rectum.
curvicollum.
cuspidatum.
bryoides.
var {~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}
Pleuridium subulatum.
alternifolium.
Astomum crispum.
Gymnostomum microstomum.
tortile.
var {~GREEK SMALL LETTER BETA~} subcylindricum.
Weissia controversa.
mucronata.
Seligeria calcarea.
calcicola.
Dicranella varia.
Dicranum scoparium.
palustre.
Ceratodon purpureus.
Pottia cavifolia.
var {~GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA~} gracilis.
minutula.
truncata.
Heimii.
Anacalypta Starkeana.
var braehyodus.
caespitosa.
lanceolata.
Didymodon rubellus.
luridus.
Trichostomum subulatum.
mutabile.
flavo-virens.
tophaceum.
flexicaule.
Tortula aloides.
unguiculata.
var {~GREEK SMALL LETTER BETA~} apiculata.
fallax.
vinealis.
insulana.
squarrosa.
revaluta.
Hornschuchiana.
convoluta.
muralis.
subulata.
laevipila.
ruralis.
rupestris.
papillosa.
Encalypta streptocarpa.
Schistidium apocarpum.
Grimmia pulvinata.
Racomitrium canescens.
Orthotrichum saxatile.
tenellum.
affine.
rupestre.
Lyellii.
diaphanum.
leiocarpum.
pulchellum.
Ludwigii.
Ulota crispa.
phyllantha.
Zygodon viridissimus.
Atrichum undulatum.
Polytrichum commune.
piliferum.
Webera carnea.
albicans.
Bryum pseudo-triquetrum.
cernuum.
inclinatum.
intermedium.
bimum.
torquescens.
capillare.
var flaccidum.
Donianum.
Billarderii.
caespiticium.
sanguineum.
atropurpureum.
argenteum.
roseum.
Mnium affine.
rostratum.
hornum.
undulatum.
Funaria hygrometrica.
Physcomitrium pyriforme.
fasciculare.
Fissidens bryoides.
adiantoides.
taxifolius.
Leucodon sciuroides.
Cryphaea heteromalla.
Leptodon Smithii.
Neckera pumila.
crispa.
complanata.
Anomodon viticulosus.
Cylindrothecium Montagnei.
Homalothecium sericeum.
Thuidium tamariscinum.
Plagiothecium denticulatum.
sylvaticum.
Rhyncostegium tenellum.
Rhyncostegium depressum.
confertum.
megapolitanum.
Thamnium alopecurum.
Eurynchium circinnatum.
striatulum.
striatum.
praelongum.
Swartzii.
hians.
pumilum.
crassinervium.
piliferum.
Isothecium myurum.
Brachythecium velutinum.
rutabulum.
campestre.
glareosum.
albicans.
Scleropodium illecebrum.
Camptothecium lutescens.
Amblystegium serpens.
riparium.
Hypnum polymorphum.
chrysophyllum.
cupressiforme.
resupinatum.
molluscum.
filicinum.
cuspidatum.
purum.
Hylocomium splendens.
brevirostrum.
squarrosum.
loreum.
triquetrum.
_Tortula Hornschuchiana_, _Orthotrichum rupestre_, and _Orthotrichum
Ludwigii_, _Bryum torquescens_, _Eurynchium circinnatum_, and _Eurynchium
striatulum_ have been found by Mr. Mitten only, about Woolsonbury Hill.
The plants growing on chalk, are: _Seligeria calcarea_, on inclined faces
of chalk pits, and occasionally on detached chalk. _Seligeria
calcicola_, in similar situations on Woolsonbury. This is nearly allied
to _Seligeria pusilla_, and has the capsule always ovate. _Anacalypta
caespitoso_ in some seasons is in plenty on Woolsonbury. Only two
localities are known in Sussex, and it is not found elsewhere in Britain.
_Bryum intermedium_ is frequent in chalk pits, and remarkable for having
the fruit on the same tuft in all stages of maturity. _Encalypta
streptocarpa_, Woolsonbury, under beech trees. _Neckera crispa_, on
Woolsonbury and Newtimber; in fruit on the first hill. _Cylindrothecium
Montagnei_, Saddlescombe. _Rhyncostegium depressum_, Newtimber woods.
_Hypnum polymorphum_, Patcham embankment. _Hypnum chrysophyllum_, common
everywhere. _Eurynchium circinnatum_, Clayton.
The clay summits of the hills, as at Woolsonbury, give _Phascum
alternifolium_ and _Weissia mucronata_, and _Physcomitrium fasciculare_
on Pyecombe downs. _Racomitrium canescens_ is frequent in similar
localities, and fruited on Woolsonbury in December, 1858. _Tortula
subulata_ and _Eurynchium hians_ are also frequent, the latter differing
from _Eurynchium Swartzii_, its near ally, in its wider, not acuminate,
leaves.
The stiff soils of the hills furnish _Phascum rectum_, _Phascum
curvicollum_, _Astomum crispum_, _Gymnostomum microstomum_, _Pottia
minutula_, _Anacalypta lanceolata_, _Didymodon luridus_, _Tortula
convoluta_, also _Phascum bryoides_ in disused roads.
A rivulet at Grin Gap, near Newhaven, with its miniature ravine, gives
_Webera albicans_, in fruit, _Trichostomum topnaceum_, and _Hypnum
riparium_.
On the cliffs, east of Brighton, are found _Acaulon triquetrum_, the only
British locality for this; also, _Gymnostomum tortile_, the _var
subcylindricum_ of which occurs on a hill near Greenway Station, _Phascum
curvicollum_, _Pottia cavifolia_, _Trichostomum mutabile_, and
_Trichostomum crispulum_. _Anacalypta Starkeana_, _ brachyodus_, are
all frequent, and _Webera carnea_, at Black Rock.
The sides of Woolsonbury have numerous species, as follows;--_Phascum
bryoides var {~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}_, _Archidium phascoides_, _Fissidens adiantoides_,
_Dicranum palustre_, _Hypnum molluscum_, _Brachythecium glareosum_,
_Bryum bimum_, _Bryum pseudo-triquetrum_, _Bryum roseum_, and _Bryum
Billarderii_; this last plant is exceedingly rare. It is the only known
British locality, and it is not known to have been gathered elsewhere
north of the Colosseum at Rome.
_Brachythecium campestre_ is common in fields among grass, differing from
_Brachythecium rutubulum_ by its gradually tapering, not suddenly
acuminate leaves. _Bryum capillare flaccidum_ is found in a field in
Newtimber valley. On walls _Tortula vinealis_, _Tortula revoluta_,
_Tortula rupestris_, _Grimmia pulvinata_, _Orthotrichum saxatile_,
_Orthotrichum diaphanum_, and _Rhyncostegium tenellum_, are luxuriant;
but _Bryum sanguineum_ is rare.
In Poynings springs _Mnium affine_ and _Hypnum filicinum_ are frequent.
In the stubble fields at Aldrington are found _Acaulon Florkeanum_ and
_Acaulon muticum_, and in the near hedge-banks, _Anacalypta Starkeana_,
_Tortula insulana_, _Bryum Donianum_, _Scleropodium illecebrum_. Once,
in November, 1858, the very rare fruit of _Eurynchium piliferum_ was
gathered.
Around Aldrington Basin are seen _Tortula ruralis_, _Tortula squarrosa_,
_Trichostomum flavo-virens_, _Pottia Heimii_, _Pottia cavifolia {~GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA~}
gracilis_, _Physcomitrium pyriforme_, _Bryum cernuum_, _Bryum
caespiticium_, _Bryum inclinatum_, _Bryum atropurpureum_, and
_Rhyncostegium megapolitanum_; also fertile _Brachythecium albicans_ and
_Camptothecium lutescens_.
In woods are _Bryum torquescens_, _Orthotrichum Lyellii_, _Orthotrichum
Ludwigii_, _Orthotrichum rupestre_, _Mnium hornum_, _Mnium rostratum_,
_Mnium undulatum_, _Anomodon viticulosus_, _Neckera pumila_, _Neckera
complanata_, _Isothecium myurum_, _Leucodon sciuroides_, _Cryphaea
heteromalla_, _Leptodon Smithii_, (fruiting at Poynings), _Plagiothecium
denticulatum_, _Plagiothecium sylvaticum_, _Eurynchium Swartzii_, and all
the species of _Hylocomium_: the last mentioned abundantly, with
capsules, at Clayton. On detached ash trees at the feet of the hills,
_Orthotrichum tenellum_, _Orthotrichum pulchellum_, and _Tortula
papillosa_ are not unfrequent. On beech stems about Woolsonbury,
_Zygodon viridissimus_ fruits freely, and a most diminutive state of
_Schistidium apocarpum_ is seen.
The Mosses already indicated are not the only species found on these
soils; for, on the Arundel Downs, precisely similar in formation to those
of our range, _Encalyta vulgaris_, _Antitrichia curtipendula_, _Thrudium
abietinum_ and some others may be met with.
In proof of the extreme beauty of the form of these objects and the
marvellous design of our Great Creator, a more positive instance of the
perfection of vegetable organization could not be adduced than _Acoulon
Florkeanum_. Taking a single plant, radicles are found, corresponding to
roots in flowering plants, at the bottom of the stem. Next rise the
overlapping leaves, disposed, for instance, as are those of the lettuce.
When these leaves are dissected off, the stem is exposed to view,
consisting of a pedicle with a capsule at the top, terminating in an
oblique apiculus or small point, and covered by a membrane, called a
calyptra, or hood. And clustering around the base of the pedicle are the
sexual flowers. The whole plant does not exceed the sixteenth of an inch
in height and width, the size of a small pin's head.
Thus, after enumerating most, if not all the Wild Flowers and Mosses
which attach themselves to the natural history of Brighton, we may say,
Beautiful children of the glen and dell,--
The dingle deep--the moorland stretching wide,
And of the mossy fountain's sedgy side,
Ye, o'er my heart have thrown a lovesome spell.
And though the worldling, scorning way deride--
I love ye well.