Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/94

 A HISTORY OF SUSSEX many places. It abounds on Beachy Head, and is to be frequently met with in the direction of Hampshire. A pretty dark blue flower is the autumnal gentian (G. amarella), which decks the higher grounds in patches, and to the same family belongs that striking plant the yellow wort [Chlora perfoliata) of vivid hue and glaucous foliage. The tall mulleins are conspicuous in shady lanes. The great mullein {Verbascum Thapsus), known in Sussex as the blanket plant, which occasionally reaches six feet in height, is common. The dark mullein {V. nigrum) is local, occurring chiefly towards the west, as at Sutton, Harting and Racton. The white mullein {V. lychnitis) found at Halnaker and Dale Park is rare. The bastard toadflax {Thesium humifusum) is met with only on the chalk. It was discovered to be a parasite, attached by its roots to various plants, by the Sussex botanist Mitten. This curious little species has very small greenish white flowers and stems which creep along the ground, as its name implies. In Arundel Park I have noticed it in plenty. Certain of the grasses which are found on the downs are beautiful and others useful. A handsome grass is the glabrous oat grass [Avena pratensis), shining with its bronzed plumes. Another is the rarer barren false brome [Brachypodium pinnatum) to be seen on Roche's Hill, Good- wood, and a pretty species is the crested hair grass (Kceleria cristata), but none is more useful than the sheep's fescue {Festuca ovina), to which is attributed the superiority of our South Down mutton, although some assert that this is owing to the zoned snail [Helix virgata), which we frequently find climbing up the stems of this grass, and of which no doubt the sheep eat quantities. To turn now to our orchids, in which Sussex is richer than any county in England, with the exception of Kent. A large proportion love the chalk, many delight in our beechen hangers, and others have their homes in the boggy lands at the foot of the downs. As to the insectiform species, we have the bee [Ophrys apifera), capricious in appearance, usually met with on the downs, but occasionally in low situations, as by Chichester Canal ; the pretty fly (0. muscifera), almost always at a considerable elevation ; the early spider (O. aranifera), in east Sussex, near Piecombe, and its variety the drone (O. fucifera), specimens of which I had sent me from Lewes. Some of our orchids flower at different seasons in different localities, so that one would suppose that they were of distinct species. As instances, the frog orchis [Orchis viridis), which flowers at Fishbourne in the low ground quite a month earlier than it does at Harting and Goodwood, and similarly with the fragrant orchis [Gynadenia Compsed), which is comparatively small on the downs compared with its very luxuriant growth in the valley of the Ems. The pyramidal orchis [Orchis pyramidalis), with its dense spike of lovely rose, is common along the whole range. We have both the greater butterfly [Habenaria chhranthd) and the lesser butterfly [H. bifo/ia). The curious green man orchis [Aceras anthropophoni) occurs at Horeham, and Hurstpierpoint. The dwarf dark-winged orchis (O. ustulatd) is only found eastward, but 48