FIRST REPORT OF THE BOTANY COMMITTEE.

REPORT of the Committee-consisting of Miss Rose E. Carr

Smith, Sir Alfred Croft, Dr. H. Humphreys, Miss C. E. Larter, Dr. H. G. Peacock, Dr. A. B. Prowse, Mr. C. E. Robinson, Miss Helen Saunders, Mr. T. Wainwright, and Mr. W. P. Hiern (Secretary), with power to add to their number-for the purpose of investigating matters connected with the Flora and Botany of Devonshire.

Edited by W. P. HIERN.

(Read at Launceston, 28th July, 1909.)

QUESTIONS Occasionally arise, in relation to botanical records, as to the precise delimitation between H. C. Watson's vice-counties, III (South Devon) and IV (North Devon). In the fourth volume of his Cybele Britannica, published in 1859, Watson explained that his “South and North Devon are separated by an imaginary line, adapted to the water-shed; commencing at the Tamar, about midway between Tavistock and Launceston; passing over the ridge of Dartmoor, and joining the western canal at Tiverton." The small map, which Watson supplied, to illustrate the lines of separation for the provinces, subprovinces, counties, and vice-counties in England and Scotland, was drawn roughly on a linear scale about 1 to 4,000,000. The only further assistance given by him consists in the general principle that "in thus subdividing the counties any natural peculiarities were taken, or even well-marked lines traceable on maps, or findable on the actual ground; such as water-sheds, roads, canals, rivers, etc.

In order to settle the question and to give fixity to it, the following exact definition, which is compatible with Watson's words, and which follows the course indicated in his map, is here proposed. It has already met with the

approval of some local botanists, to whom it has been submitted and who are concerned in the matter:

The south-western end of the imaginary line is taken at the river Tamar, where the parishes of Milton Abbot and Dunterton meet; this point is about 10 kilometers distant from Tavistock, estimated in a straight line, and about 9 kilometers similarly from Launceston; the direct distance between Tavistock and Launceston is about 18 kilometers. The north-western or northern boundaries of the parishes of Milton Abbot, Brentor, and Lydford are thence successively followed, until on Dartmoor a point is reached, on the confines of Bridestowe and Sourton Common, nearly in a direct line between Great Links Tor, and Logan Rock, Stinka Tor, about 13 kilometer distant from the former and kilometer from the latter. The line of the water-shed on Dartmoor is thence taken, by way of Kitty Tor, Amicombe Hill, Great Kneeset, and (leaving Cranmere about kilometer distant on the north) Hangingstone Hill, Wild Tor, and Hound Tor. western or northern boundaries of the parishes of Throwleigh, Drewsteignton, Hittisleigh, Crediton Hamlets, Sandford, Kennerleigh, Poughill, Cheriton Fitzpaine, and Cadeleigh are then in succession followed, as far as Worthy Bridge, where is touched the municipal borough and parish of Tiverton. From Worthy Bridge the middle of the road is taken by way of Seven Crosses to the town of Tiverton and to the Grand Western Canal there. The central line of the canal is thence taken to the Somerset county boundary, at the limit of the parish of Holcombe Rogus, near Brinscott.

The

In this manner the Barnstaple and Torrington botanical districts remain entirely in Watson's IV (North Devon) vice-county; the South Molton, Exeter, Torquay, and Tavistock botanical districts are each partly in Watson's III (South Devon) and IV (North Devon) vice-counties; and the Honiton and Plymouth botanical districts remain entirely in Watson's III (South Devon) vice-county. In the Tavistock botanical district the large parish of Lydford is the only one which suffers intersection by the imaginary line separating the vice-counties III and IV. The only other botanical district, the parishes of which suffer intersection by the imaginary line, is the Exeter botanical district, and in that one the five parishes of Tiverton,

Halberton, Sampford Peverell, Burlescombe, and Holcombe Rogus are so intersected; these five parishes, except part of Holcombe Rogus, are wholly drained by streams leading to the southern coast of the county.

The records of species and varieties and the rest of the notes are arranged under the eight botanical districts of the county to which they respectively relate. These districts were fully set out in the botanical chapter of the Devonshire Victoria History, Vol. I, published in 1906.

1. BARNSTAPLE BOTANICAL DISTRICT.

Aconitum Napellus L. West Down.

Radicula sylvestris Druce. Ilfracombe.

Sisymbrium Sophia L. Braunton (Miss C. E. Larter). Brassica monensis Huds. Morte-hoe (Mr. T. Wainwright). Viola silvestris Kit. Berry Narbor (Miss C. E. Larter). Drosera longifolia L. Braunton.

Millegrana Radiola Druce. Morte-hoe.

Melilotus officinalis Lam. Braunton, Heanton Punchardon,

Westleigh.

M. indica All. Northam (Mr. E. Vidal).

Ulex minor Roth. Bratton Fleming.

Pimpinella Saxifraga L., var. dissecta With. Barnstaple.

Myrrhis Odorata Scop. Bratton Fleming.

Anthemis nobilis L. Braunton (Mr. A. Sharland).

Tragopogon porrifolius L. Bishop's Tawton (Mr. R. Taylor). Hieracium Schmidtii Tausch, var. eustomon Lint. Ilfracombe, Berry Narbor, Countisbury, Lynton.

H. torticeps Dahlst. Stoke Rivers (apparently referable to this species).

H. sciaphilum Fr., var. transiens Ley. Combe Martin.
H. anfractum Fr., var. cacuminatum Dahlst. Stoke Rivers.
H. diaphanoides Lindeb. Alwington.

Specimens of the hawkweeds have been submitted to the Revs. E. F. Linton and A. Ley, and their determinations are here given.

Centaurion pulchellum Druce. Westleigh.

Melampyrum pratense L., var. hians Druce. Brendon.
Lamium amplexicaule L. Lynton.

Marrubium vulgare L., var. lanatum Benth. Braunton.