120
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
By courtesy of Mr. F. R. Mulliss I was enabled to examine the
open ground in the Leather Cloth works in Stratford and was pleased to
find a flora of nearly 70 different species flourishing on the site. The most
interesting items of which were a Black Mulberry, Morus nigra L.. which
exhibited to a remarkable degree the various leaf forms this species can display;
and the rare alien grass the Bur or Bough Bristle Grass, Setaria verticillata
(L.) Beauvois, which may be distinguished from the more frequently seen
Green Bristle Grass S. viridis (L.) Beauv., in that the minute teeth on the
bristles point downwards so that the difference can be readily detected by
running one's fingers upwards along the spike to feel the roughness. I hope
to be able to visit this spot again at a different season next year.
The Chinese Mugwort Artemisia verlotorum Lamotte, mentioned above,
which was first noted in Essex on the old tip at Barking has since been found
in the garden at Stubbers, North Ockendon, as mentioned in the last issue of
the Essex Naturalist (p. 57), and at several places on Stratford Marsh. In
August I found a small colony of the same species growing beside the River
Stort near Roydon railway station, so it has extended its range into the more
northerly of the two vice-counties into which Essex is divided for botanical
purposes. Mr. David Allen reports the occurrence of Calendula arvensis L.,
on some waste ground to the north-east of Witham railway station. This plant
is usually taller than the common Pot Marigold, C. officinalis L., with narrower
leaves and flower-heads under 1 inch in diameter. The outer fruits are large
and spiny on the back. In a wood near Thaxted Dr. J. G. Dony, the author
of the Flora of Bedfordshire, discovered the Wood Barley. Hordelymus euro-
paeus L. Harz, a grass which is not infrequent in the chalk woodlands in
Buckinghamshire. Gibson in the Flora of Essex (1862) gave three localities for
this rare grass and its occurrence at this additional station is worthy of special
note. Mr. Malcolm Edmunds has sent in numerous interesting records for
the Harlow district during the past year. In view of the growth of Harlow
New Town changes in the flora of the area are to be expected, and so Mr.
Edmund's notes are of great value for comparison. He has also supplied notes
on the occurrence of the Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Campanula trachelium L.,
in the Harlow area. Mr. Parker of Brentwood Grammar School has kindly
furnished me with details of the plants noted by the members of the school
Natural History Society. These notes fill two books and will take some time
to analyse and transfer to the record cards. Our best thanks are due to Mr.
Parker for making these notes available to the Club.
Members of the Essex Field Club and others who wish to have plants
named should send them direct to me at 24, Long Deacon Road, E.4. Fresh
specimens should be wrapped in dry freshly pulled grass and then rolled in
some dry (not damp) newspaper with a tie-on luggage label for the name,
address and stamp. Packed in this way plants will travel well and arrive in
good condition. All specimens, whether pressed or fresh, must be accompanied
by a separate label attached to each plant for naming, giving the exact
locality, the type of habitat, e.g. Oak wood, sandy roadside, salting, etc., etc.,
together with the date of collection and the finder's name. Any other details
of interest such as the names of other plants growing with the specimen,
altitude, soil, etc. will be of value. When the finder wishes the plant to be
returned sufficient postage should be enclosed for the purpose.