THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
257
All parts of the quarry were found to abound with a rich assemblage
of plants of characteristic Chalk facies. In view of the very restricted
area of the Chalk outcrops in South Essex, it will be useful to give a list
of the more characteristic plants recorded on the excursion, as follows :
Clematis vitalba. Centaurea scabiosa.
Diplotaxis tenuifolia. Cichorium Intybus
Lepidium Draba. Helmintia echioides.
Reseda lutea. Crepis capillaris.
Linum catharticum. Lactuca virosa.
Medicago sativa. Leontodon hispidus.
Melilotus altissima. Blackstonia perfoliata.
M. alba. Centaurion umbellatum.
Trifolium procumbens. Cynoglossum officinale.
Lathyrus nissolia. Verbascum thapsus.
Epilobium angustifolium. Linaria vulgaris.
E. parviflorum. Orobanche minor.
Faeniculum vulgare. Origanum vulgare.
Daucus carota. Calamintha acinos.
Dipsacus sylvestris. Populus canescens.
Conium maculatum. Listera ovata.
Smyrnium olusatrum. Orchis pyramidalis.
Erigeron canadensis. O. latifolia.
E. acris. Ophrys apifera.
Inula squarrosa. Trisetum flavescens.
Artemisia vulgaris. Sclerochloa rigida.
Carduus crispus. Festuca ambigua.
The Marestail (Hippuris vulgaris) was found growing profusely, in a
mass nearly 60ft. long by 25ft. across, in a dried-up lime pit ; a notable
sight.
Mr. F. T. Vallins records the following as among the more interesting
Beetles found by him on the excursion and at subsequent visits to the
quarry :—
Harpalus puncticollis Fairm. (fairly common).
Staphylinus stercorarius Ol. (one specimen only, under stones.)
Sphaeroderma cardui Gyll. (common.)
Crepidodera transversa Marsh (common.)
Oedemera nobilis Scop. (abundant on flowers in one spot only.)
This beetle prefers Chalk, but is locally common on other soils.
*Oedemera lurida Marsh (almost exclusively a Chalk beetle).
*Apion viciae Payk (very common, on Leguminosae).
*A. meliloti Kirby ( do. do.)
*A. tenue, Kirby ( do. do.)
A. vorax, Herbst. (one specimen, on Sallow).
A. simile, Kirby (very common, on Birch).
Altogether 15 species of the genus Apion were found, no doubt owing
to the abundant growth of various Leguminosae.
The species marked * appear to be new records for the county, as they
do not appear in the List of Coleoptera given in the Victoria History
of Essex, 1903.
S