THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
231
The much taller specimens of Aster tripolium which grew on the bare
mud of the numerous creeks, as compared with those individuals growing
on the general surface of the saltings, was remarkable. This is due to the
necessity of the plants keeping their heads above water during the flowering
stage in a position flooded several feet deep at each ordinary high tide.
As the tide came in the flowers were seen standing out of the water, while
the stems were wholly submerged.
The worn-down remains of a small "Red-hill" near the Strood, which
rose like an islet some two feet only above the marsh level, was found
to be covered by an entirely different assemblage of plants from that
constituting the salt-marsh flora round about. The following plants
were noted growing on this mound :—Bupleurum tenuissimum, Cnicus
lanceolatus, Galium sp. (not flowering) Lotus corniculatus, Artemisia
maritimum. Atriplex littoralis, A. portulacoides, Plantago coronopus and a
Lichen, Cladonia furcata.
The undermentioned Lichens were noted by Messrs. Paulson and
Thompson during the day :—
On oak stakes at high water mark :—
Ramalina calicaris. Parmelia fuliginosa.
R. farinosa. Lecanora expallens.
R. fastigiata. L. chlarona.
Physcia parietina. Buellia canescens, cum. fr.
P. polycarpa. B. myriocarpa.
P. stellaris sub-sp. tenella.
On the sea-wall :—
Cladonia pyxidata. C. furcatca var. racemosa.
C. furcata. Peltigera canina.
On Roman foundations at West Mersea :—
Physcia pulverulenta. Lecanora galactina.
A fine fruiting specimen of Ramalina evernioides was found growing
on an oak post on the sea wall near the Strood, associated with Lecanora
umbrina.
This is really a notable list of lichens observed on a day's ramble,
especially as there probably exist no published records of lichens from the
Essex coast.
A list of flowering plants observed, drawn up by Mr. Turner, is ap-
pended to this report.
Mr. John French, who was present at the Meeting, draws attention
to a form of the Elm with a peculiarly small leaf which is to be found on
the island. "This variety is more plentiful as Clacton is reached. The
leaves, so far as I have noticed, never exceed 11/2 by 3/4 of an inch, and are
not generally quite so large. When it attains to a forty-foot tree, of which
I have seen a few specimens, its habit is that of the "English" or "hy-
brid" elm, but when the plant is sub-arboreal it much resembles the
sallow."
Geologically, Mersea Island owes its existence to the fact that it is
formed by an isolated patch of River Gravel, laid down by the ancient
Thames at a time when that river, joined with the Medway, flowed to
seawards of the present coast line and the sea was far to the north ; this