of Man; for instance, on the southern cliffs, about Peel Castle,[1] on the sands to the north of Ramsey,[2] and at Maughold,[3] remarkable also for its rock scenery, and for its antiquities. There is a deficiency, however, of some southern and south-eastern maritime species, as might be expected from climatal considerations, without reference to any geographical changes. But, confining ourselves to the inland, it will appear upon the whole, that the Isle of Man, like other small isolated tracts of country, is rather limited in the number of its plants, and Forbes was led to philosophise on this point. There appears to be reason to suppose that the island was not isolated from Ireland till (geologically speaking) modern times, and be thought that this agreed with the extension to Man of certain (so-called) Lusitanian species, which he names, Pinguicula lusitanica, Scirpus Savii, &c.; and also that the absence of certain southern species, if it is not from climatal inadequacy, may likewise be set down to an analogous cause, the separation of the outer islands, whilst England still made part of the Continent, thus allowing such plants to extend themselves in it, but not further. As regards truly mountainous—or what is tantamount—northern species, the above absence or paucity holds good, but from another cause. In the main islands some of these have been supposed to have survived glacial times by their fixity on the summits of high mountains, elevation being tantamount to latitude and lower temperature. Perhaps the Manx hills were never very high, but, if may be, half submerged, and receiving their deposits of clays and drifts, whilst those of Scotland and Wales wore the seats of glaciers.
With this floral deficiency it is rather interesting to observe how many plants, which are not truly indigenous, have escaped from ancient homesteads and gardens, and have become quite ab home, ag well as luxuriant; slowing that islands and isolated places often grow in great perfection plants which are not native, when once introduced. Horticulturists are aware of this proclivity of the island. Such interlopers are the following:—Spiren aalteifelia, Senecio suracenicus, Inula Helenium, Gnaphalium margaritaceum, Pyrethrum Balsanita, Balsamite vulgaris,[4] Lavatera maritima, Antirrhinum Orontium, Reseda fruticluosa, Saponaria officinalis, Myrvihis odorata, Petroselinum sativum, Vinca major, and, perhaps, other plants of similar origin. The Irish arbutus, hydrangea, fuchsia, myrtle, ilex, euonymous, jasmine, escalonia, Buddleia, and tree-veronicas are very luxuriant in the open air. The cowslip appears to be absent,
- ↑ Spergula maritima, Cerastium tetrandrum, Chenopodium murale, Arenaria marina, Ilyoscyamus niger. At the Stack of Scarlet, Samolus Valerandi, and Ænannthe crocata.
- ↑ Salsola Kali, Ruscus aculeatus, Cakile maritima, Crambe maritima, Glaux maritima, Convolvulus Solanella, and Tamarix.
- ↑ Crithnium maritinum, Scilla verna, Silene maritima, Allium vineale, and Asplenium maritimun. After a storm, enormous fronds of Lammarta bulbosa, L. saccharina, and A. esculenta are cast on the shore; these deep-water Fuci are most productive of iodine, which, however, can only be here manufactured to pay when the drug is high in price.
- ↑ Costmary, or Ale-cost, smelling strongly of spearmint, but bitter. It was formerly used in brewing, and was introduced from Italy more than three centuries ago. It grows about old cottage enclosures, and the Marx call it sweet-leaf. Unless seen in flower it somewhat resembles Pyrethrum Balsamita, called camphor-plant, which is quite naturalised.
