206
NOTES.
Grimmia commutata, Hubn., in Essex.—A moss which I have observed
for several years on an old tiled roof at Wickham Bishops, Essex, has been
determined by Mr. Mitten to be Grimmia commutata, Hubn. In view of the
small number of Scotch localities, and the single locality, so far as I am aware, of
Rydal Water, south of the border, one is tempted to derive the occurrence of this
plant in the eastern counties from the transportation of the spores by wind from
Scandinavia, where it is common ; and this especially in consideration of the
general absence of fruit in these islands. This would be borne out by the
presence of some other isolated Scandinavian species of plants in the eastern
counties, whose presence has been accounted for in the same way. I have
observed the moss for two or three years without finding any trace of fruit—
H. N. Dixon in "Journal of Botany" for October, 1887.
Essex Plants.—While Mr. Paulson and myself were collecting at Walton-
on-the-Naze, in August last, we took, amongst commoner plants, Bupleurum
tenuissimum and Artemisia gallica, the latter not quite in flower. The former
has, I believe, been recorded from two or three localities in Essex, but I am not
aware that Walton is among them. It was growing on a salt-marsh, just above
high-water mark, and was much infested with a micro-fungus which has been
submitted to Dr. Cooke. The Artemisia was not in any quantity, although the
species maritima, of which it is a variety, was fairly abundant. When growing,
these two forms are distinguishable at a glance.—J. T. Fowell, Clapton,
October, 1887.
Note on an Essex Bramble.—Amongst some Epping Forest Rubi, kindly
named for me by Mr. J. G. Baker, is Rubus saltuum, Focke, formerly R. guntheri,
Bab., and now R. flexuosus, M. and L. (Lon. Cat., 8th edition). This bramble
occurs sparingly in Surrey and Middlesex, and is apparently an addition to the
Forest list. At present I have seen it only near High Beach, where there are two
or three bushes. In the "British Rubi" it is recorded from Barrack (or Barach)
Wood, Warley. This elegant bramble is easily recognised by its long wavy
panicle, the rachis forming an angle at each joint, by the flat, usually ternate,
leaves, and by the sepals being reflexed in fruit.—T. T. Powell, Clapton,
October, 1887.
The Epping Forest Ponds.—During the recent drought many of the smaller
pools and ponds were dried up, and those that had not quite disappeared were
very low. The decaying organic matter in these gave, when stirred, not only the
smell peculiar to marsh gas, but the stronger odour of sulphuretted hydrogen.
Where the water remained clear, several of the ponds teemed with great numbers
of Volvox globator. Every dip of the bottle brought up hundreds of specimens.
These taken home and placed with weeds and additional water in bottles in a
sunny place, increased marvellously. A few days afterwards many of these had
developed internally a large number—as many as thirty in some individuals—of
reddish brown bodies instead of the usual green "daughters." In "Science Gossip,"
vol. xviii. (1882), page 185. a writer describing this kind of Volvox, says he was
fortunate enough to find in Epping Forest the Volvox stellatus of Ehrenberg,
and further mentions it as being very rare. In Dr. Cooke's "Fresh Water Algae,"
full particulars are given, and it is now known to be a condition of Volvox,
frequently very common, the small reddish bodies being the Oospores. Thinking
the light too bright for the Volvox, I removed the bottle to a shady corner of the
room. In two days all traces of the existence of Volvox were gone, and a careful
search with quarter inch glass among the debris at the bottom of the bottle failed
to reveal the presence of a single oospore or anything like it. This summer I have
not been fortunate enough to find a single specimen of Melicerta, Floscularia or
Stephanoceros in the Forest Ponds.—A. P. Wire, Harrow Green, September
7th, 1887.
Apamea Ophiogramma, Esper., at Brentwood.—I was much surprised
at capturing a specimen of this rare noctua flying about in a lighted room in my
own house on July 23rd last. It was a fine female, and deposited a few eggs,
which, unfortunately, proved to be barren. I at once set to work, and sugared
tufts of grass, trees, etc., about my garden, but without any success. On August