197
Some Essex Plant Notes
During the past year some interesting plants have been noted in our
county. Probably the most unusual was the discovery by Mr. S. T.
Jermyn and myself of a large and handsome Dodder on a rubbish shoot
at Barking, which proved, upon examination, to be Cuscuta australis R.Br,
var. cesatiana (Bert.) Yancker. As the same species had appeared at Enfield,
Middlesex, just outside the county, only a few days earlier, it leads one
to conjecture whence they came. The Enfield plant was found parasitising
some cultivated plants of the Chinese Aster, and it may well be that a
Barking gardener, finding his plants similarly afflicted, may have thrown out
the Dodder, where, however, it was found growing on Artemisia verlotorum
Lam. and Senecio squalidus Linn. On the 5th December, 1953, I received
from Miss M. K. Colman, of Colchester, a flowering plant of Galinsoga
ciliata (Rat.) Blake which had been discovered growing in a road at Dover-
court. This is an interesting extension of the range of an alien species
which has become of frequent occurrence in London.
Two brambles collected by me during the year have been named by
Mr. W. C. R. Watson as Rubus angustifrons Sudre, which was found in
Harts Wood, Brentwood, in August; and the other bramble, from Blake's
Wood, Danbury, proved to be Rubus Moylei Bart. & Ridd. Mr. Watson
informs me that he has had no previous records of these Rubi from
vice-county 18 (South Essex), for which they constitute new records.
Bernard T. Ward.
Verbascum pulverulentum in Essex. At Rochford on 29th July, 1953,
I had the pleasure to observe a vigorous plant of the Hoary Mullein
(Verbascum pulverulentum Vill.) in full bloom at the edge of a field of
mangold-wurzel. The plant was about three feet in height, with numerous
branches, and presented a striking appearance with its crowded clusters of
yellow flowers. The species is a biennial and occurs sparingly in the eastern
counties.
Wm. Howard.
Mycetozoa in Epping Forest
in 1952-53
BY JOSEPH ROSS
Searching foe MYCETOZOA in Epping Forest in the twelve months ended
28th February, 1953, once more testified to the recognised fact that the
appearance of these organisms is largely governed by weather conditions;
rainfall is a prominent factor, but the period mentioned also furnished
evidence of the adverse effect of chill and drying northerly and easterly
winds. In this aspect of the local study of Mycetozoa, I must acknowledge
my indebtedness to the help given by the very valuable data compiled
yearly by Mr. H. Hawkins, of 119, Beresford Road, Chingford; to have
general and at times hazy recollections confirmed by Mr. Hawkins' figures
and tabulations gives a sound basis on which to review the results of
hunting.
Rainfall in the calendar year 1952 was 24.70 inches, or slightly below
the Chingford average of 24.88 inches; but of the year's rainfall, 10.18