Chapter XXI · 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—Geraniaceæ,—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. Flörkeanum.

Phascum rectum. curvicollum. cuspidatum. bryoides. var γ

Pleuridium subulatum. alternifolium.

Astomum crispum.

Gymnostomum microstomum. tortile. var β subcylindricum.

Weissia controversa. mucronata.

Seligeria calcarea. calcicola.

Dicranella varia.

Dicranum scoparium. palustre.

Ceratodon purpureus.

Pottia cavifolia. var δ gracilis. minutula. truncata. Heimii.

Anacalypta Starkeana. var ß braehyodus. caespitosa. lanceolata.

Didymodon rubellus. luridus.

Trichostomum subulatum. mutabile. flavo-virens. tophaceum. flexicaule.

Tortula aloides. unguiculata. var β 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 ß 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 ß subcylindricum of which occurs on a hill near Greenway Station, Phascum curvicollum, Pottia cavifolia, Trichostomum mutabile, and Trichostomum crispulum. Anacalypta Starkeana, ß brachyodus, are all frequent, and Webera carnea, at Black Rock.

The sides of Woolsonbury have numerous species, as follows;—Phascum bryoides var γ, 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 ß 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 δ 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.