GROWING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF COLCHESTER. 29
Zannichellia palustris, L. Frequent in the brook at Bere-
church, and in the dykes at Fringrinhoe and other places.
Eriophorum polystachyon, L. Found by myself in a marshy
corner of the Government fields at Middlewick, near Colchester,
apparently indigenous.
Agrostis stolonifera, L. At Walton, by Rev. J. D. Gray.
Melica uniflora, Retz. This pretty little grass occurs in
several woods around our town.
Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. This has been sent to me by
Miss Cobbold, from meadows near the Stour at Dedham. I am told
that it also occurs near Wormingford, and probably in other fields
near the river, as it is very easily overlooked in the long grass.
The Adder's Tongue completes my list of species unrecorded in
Gibson. I feel certain, however, that were the district carefully
worked the list could be considerably extended.
It will be noticed that several of these plants occur in the Marks
Tey railway cutting. This would naturally lead to the suggestion
that their appearance has some connection with the fact of a fresh
soil having been tapped. The lowest stratum exposed by the cutting
is Boulder-clay. All the plants grow sparingly within a few miles.
Two of them occur at Kelvedon, Braxted, Rivenhall, and Felix Hall
park. Boulder-clay occurs at Kelvedon and Rivenhall, and London
clay at the other localities for these plants. These facts point, I
think, to the suggestion that the growth of the plants is connected
with the strata uncovered.
I will now turn to some of the more interesting plants noticed by
Gibson as growing in my district.
Ranunculus parviflorus, L. This plant I found at Braiswick,
Colchester, and although I have not seen it lately, yet it could
probably be again found if thorough search were made for it. It
occurs abundantly at Stoke in Suffolk, just over the Essex border.
Papaver dubium, L. var. lecoqii. This poppy grows plenti-
fully in the high fields, Colchester. P. dubium is recorded by
Gibson from Dedham and St. Osyth, but he does not state which
varieties occur at the stations given.
Corydalis claviculata, D.C. This beautiful little plant is still
plentiful in the woods around Colchester.