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NOTES ON THE SEEDS OF PLANTS FOUND
IN THE ALLUVIUM OF THE RIVER
LEA, AT WALTHAMSTOW, ESSEX.
By CLEMENT REID, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S.
With remarks by A. S. KENNARD and B. B. WOODWARD, F.L.S., F.G.S.
THE seeds on which the list is founded, were obtained by
Mr. Kennard while working over the alluvial material for
mollusca. The reader is referred to the paper in the present
volume (ante p.p. 13-21) for geological and other details.
Nothing in this list suggests a date earlier than Roman or
much newer than Romano-British. The plants correspond
closely with those found in Roman Silchester, and include many
of the same cultivated species and weeds of cultivation. Grape-
seeds show that the deposit containing them is not older than
the Roman period. The absence of many common weeds of
later introduction, and the presence of the vine, suggest that the
deposit is not much newer than Roman, though it is still
uncertain to what extent the cultivation of the vine died out
after the Saxon invasion.
Ranunculus aquatilis, L. Viburnum opulus, L.
repens, L. Polygonum convolvulus L.
Nuphar luteum, L. „ amphibium, L.
Vitis vinifera, L. (Grape) Alnus glutinosa, L.
Acer campestre, L. Corylus avellana, L.
Prunus spinosa, L. Quercus robur, L.
„ domestica, L. (Damson) Ceratophyllum submersum, L.
,, avium, L. Iris pseudacorus, L.
Rubus fruticosus, L. Sparganium ramosum ? L.
Crataegus oxyacantha, L. Potamogeton natans ? L.
OEnanthe lachenalii, Gmel. Scirpus lacustris, L.
,, crocata, L. Carex riparia, Curtis
Cornus sanguinea, L. Triticum sativum, L. (Wheat)
Sambucus nigra, L.
Remarks by A. S. Kennard and B. B. Woodward.
In our paper on the mollusca, cited above, we expressed the
opinion that the beds from 3 to 10 feet in thickness were the
equivalent of the 60 feet found at Tilbury. Since this statement
was made, Mr. T. V. Holmes has published an account (Essex