198 SOME MINOR PROBLEMS CONCERNED IN THE LOCAL
they really done so? Judging from the records in an old book, I
believe that in the earlier years of this century the Greater and
Less Spearwort (Ranunculus lingua and R. Flammula) were much
more common in Essex than at present. The first is now extinct
in my neighbourhood, and the second is confined to two or three
small ponds about two or three miles distant from each other;
and from the situation of these ponds it can only be regarded as
a lingering form.
But the common Buttercups which now adorn the meadows show
a disposition to vary in numbers, which may be placed upon record,
but cannot be accounted for. As showing a tendency to weakness
or diminution, I should adduce among these familiar forms that of
R. acris. It has to give place to R. bulbosus and to R. repens.
Whether this be due to inherent weakness or to unsuitability of soil,
I do not know. The plant has a variable habit which may only be
another expression for a frequent want of robustness. Anyway, in
the struggle for life, it is ousted by the two forms mentioned ; and,
besides this, it seems to be under difficulties in regard to its seeding.
It now occurs most abundantly and attains its greatest vigour in
alluvial meadows. A field was here laid down for grass some four-
teen years ago, and the first two or three years neither buttercup nor
daisy appeared. Then R. bulbosus appeared in solitary patches,
which gradually spread, and now the meadow compares well with an
old one in regard to its buttercups and daisies ; but among these
R. acris is as yet rare, although it is well represented in the adjoining
meadows, and apparently had an equal chance of establishing itself.
It is quite in accordance with what we know of forms living under
unsuitable conditions that the reproductive organs should early be
affected ; but, in this case, we are uncertain whether the conditions
are unsuitable.
Ranunculus repens, the Creeping Crowfoot, on the other hand,
must be regarded as an aggressive species. Always holding its own,
and continually invading a neighbours territory, it would, were it not
for artificial checks, soon overrun a district and reach its culminating
point.
We will now take a less known family, that of the Orchids. Their
distribution will be a standing problem for a long time, and its
solution has been complicated by recent researches on the fertilization
of the plants. We have about eleven species of Orchids at Felstead.
Of these, some four or five may be regarded as common or frequent,