NOTES ON SOME ESSEX WOODS. 29
have found upwards of twelve species in the area under dis-
cussion, and every one of these, I believe, may be found in the
woods, but they are by no means common. Some few, such as
the Butterfly Orchis (Habenaria) and the Birds-nest Orchis
(Neottia) do not go away from the woods, but some others occur
outside, in certain years in some abundance. All, however,
without doubt, emanate from the woods, and when the woods
fail most of the Orchids will become extinct. The collector
will do well to search the remotest recesses of the woods, and
sometimes the most shady, for specimens of these curious plants,
and it is also in these greatest seclusions that he will find other
species which, on account of their infrequency, are much sought
after. Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), Adoxa moschatellina (the
Moschatel) and Wood-Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) affect these
shades, although the latter is certainly not a characteristic of
Essex woods.
When the sun gets into an opening or clearing of the woods
we have among the grasses that spring up a few plants of the
rarer type, generally inconspicuous, that will reward a search.
The Crimson Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) is one of the best
examples. That we have in all these shy plants a representation
of au ancient flora seems to be borne out by the fact that very
few of them ever get into the town markets of to-day, for it is
very well-known how keen the search is among the country
weeds. If, therefore, they had a great or even moderate repre-
sentation in the country they would appear in the flower-stalls.
We have already, perhaps, sufficiently shown that they cannot
possibly be new arrivals.
Another common little plant, although not generally regarded
as a woodland species, deserves a special notice. It is the Lesser
Celandine or Pile-wort (Ranunculus ficaria). This is the most
hygrometric flowering-weed, if I may use the expression, that I
know of. It will not grow if the atmosphere is not charged with
a certain amount of humidity. With that condition it will grow
and flourish even in a dry soil. I find it in the woods occasionally,
but, except in wet meadows, not otherwise in the area under
discussion. This is a sufficient proof that the woods affect the
humidity of the atmosphere, and indeed the weeds of wet
meadows can often be collated with those of the woods.
In thus attempting a sketch of the undisturbed woods of