112
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Books
A Hand List of the Plants of the London Area, Flowering. Plants, Ferns
and Stoneworts, compiled by Douglas H. Kent and J. Edward Lousley.
Parts I and II, 1951 and 1952, 40 + viii and map and 72, each part with
two plates. '2s. 6d. each part. London Natural History Society.
This most useful reference hand-list of the flowering plants, ferns and
stoneworts of the recording area of the London Natural History Society
should be in the hands of all botanical workers in the district covered. The
area is defined as including all places within twenty miles of St. Paul's
Cathedral, and its limits are shown on the map in Part I. It therefore
covers a very considerable part of the County of Essex, extending from
Roydon in the north, through Ongar and Brentwood to Tilbury in the south,
and embraces that part of Essex where the growth of the metropolis may
be expected to have the greatest effect upon the flora.
Part I includes the Sections Ranunculaceae to Portulacaceae, and Part II
the Hypericaceae to Rosaceae. It is therefore in the order well known to
users of Bentham and Hooker, although the nomenclature adopted for the
British and naturalised alien species is based on that of the new British
Flora of Tutin, Clapham and Warburg. Whilst tribute must be paid to
the compilers for the care with which the list has been prepared and edited,
it must not be overlooked that it is a compilation and represents the work
of many observers over several decades, to whom credit must be given.
There can be no doubt that the area has been fully and adequately covered,
although it is interesting to note that a portion of Essex, i.e., that part to
the north-west of the Epping road and extending to Nazeing and Roydon
which is not easy of access save on foot, has been least well recorded.
Following current practice, plants which may be described as "Casual
Aliens" are included in smaller type, and these items alone make interest-
ing reading and will form a valuable reference work, both to the species
which have been seen in recent years and as a basis of comparison for the
future.
Even in such an overpopulated area as that covered by the hand list, it
is noteworthy to see that plants can maintain their stations for long periods,
e.g., Saponaria officinalis L. was recorded from the railway bank at
Clapton in 1910 and is still at that place in 1952, where it should persist
unless structural alterations to the railway are made. The compilers and
the Society are to be congratulated on providing a most comprehensive and
useful hand list.
B.T.W.
Poplars, by T. R. Peace, M.A., Forestry Commission Bulletin No. 19,
H.M.S.O., 1952, 50 & iv with 49 plates, 7s. 6d.
Written chiefly for the forester and silviculturist, this bulletin contains
much of interest for both the botanist and general naturalist. The poplars
are a source of rapidly-gown timber used for many purposes, and are likely
to be grown in odd corners which are unsuitable for agricultural purposes.
The field naturalist finding such examples is likely to be puzzled as to the
identity of some, as during the past twenty years work on hybridisation of
poplars has yielded many varieties which are not yet described in current
floras. The bulletin contains a key for the identification of these trees which
will need careful testing. It is to be regretted that the opportunity was not
taken of including a more complete description of each species to amplify
the key. The publication shows that there is still a lack of co-operation
between the forester on the one hand and the systematic botanist and field
naturalist on the other, and the bibliography omits some of the current