THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
231
in Epping Forest, was found by Miss Evitt. Ths following is a list of the
species found:—
Badhamia utricularis,
Physarum nutans, and the var. leucophaeum.
Leocarpus fragilis.
Comatricha nigra.
Lamproderma violaceum.
Diclydiaethalium plumbeum.
Trichia varia.
T. scabra.
T. decipiens.
T. Botrytis.
Hemitrichia Vesparium. Uncommon in Epping Forest,
Arcyria denudata.
A. cinerea.
Perichaena corticalis.
Some 60 species of Fungi were noted during the ramble, the more inter-
esting forms being Cantharellus infundibuliformis,Coprinus lagopus, Mutinus
caninus (some of the undeveloped peridia being distinguishable when only
2.5 mm. in diameter), Tremella tuberculata, T. foliacea, and Helvella lacunosa.
Mr. Hall reported 39 species of mosses as having been noted during
the Foray. He remarked that of the total number of mosses (no) recorded
from Epping Forest, 35% were spring-fruiters, 39% summer-fruiters, only
.08% were autumn-fruiters, and 26% fruited in winter; the no species
included some 26 species which very rarely fruited, and these comprised
some of the commonest mosses, such as Leucobryum glaucum, Tetraphis
pellucida, the species of Campylopus, etc., found in the drier spots, which
reproduced themselves by vegetative means.
Mr. Sherrin mentioned that at last year's foray Webera proligera had
been found, and this identification had since been confirmed. He also re-
ferred to the difficulty of separating Dicranum bonjeani and D. scoparium,
var. paludosum, except by microscopical examination.
Miss Lorrain Smith discussed the rate of growth of lichens, and recorded
that of a species of Parmelia, which attained 35 mm. X 22 mm. in eight
years, not a large amount.
The President, after recording the finding of Verrucaria aquatilis
growing on pebbles in a running brook in the Forest at Loughton (a new
record for the County), took up Miss Smith's challenge, and gave instances
of rapid development of lichens, which he had found growing on such sub-
strata as the bones of dead sheep and rabbit-droppings on the ground.
Mr. Thompson added his testimony on the subject in support of the
President's view. He instanced a specimen of Parmelia perlata, measuring
4 inches (i.e., 101 mm.) in its larger diameter, which he had found growing,
with other well-developed lichens, on the freely-flaking bark of young
plane-trees at Sandown, Isle of Wight, and which he had placed in the
Club's collection.
Cordial thanks were passed to the conductors, and the meeting broke up,
the visitors groping their way along the dark Forest roads to Loughton and
Chingford Stations.