166
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
given in Gibson's "Flora of Essex" for this plant were Epping Forest
near Hale End and Highbeech. He added that it grows on the borders
of the county in Cambridgeshire. In Buxton's guide to the Forest the
plant is included but there is no trace of any subsequent note of its
occurrence. The meadow thistle is well established in one place where
it has found the peaty condition necessary for its happy and successful
growth.
To Mr. E. Saunders must be credited the discovery for the first time
in the county of the slender rush Juncus tenuis Willd. A native of
America it was first recorded in Britain in 1883 but as recently as 1952
was absent from the east coast counties. The plant was found in
Epping Forest near a large pond and subsequently at Grays. Mr.
Jermyn reports the occurrence of Geranium sanguineum L., the bloody
Cranesbill as being well established along the disused railway track
between Woodham Ferrers and Maldon. The hairy Vetchling Lathyrus
hirsutus L., a plant almost entirely confined to Essex, has considerably
extended its range with several additional localities. The rubbish tips
at various places in the county have not been neglected and three
plants which have not been mentioned in earlier reports have been
found. At Waltham Abbey the acrid lobelia Lobelia urens L. was
found. As a native plant this species is confined to sandy heaths in
the south of England but is slowly extending its range. Another plant
Cryptostemma calendulaceum R.Br. in Aiton. I cannot find a common
name, has bright yellow marigold-like blooms, purplish-brown on the
reverse side of the petals was probably introduced with shoddy or other
woollen material. The Japanese hop Humulus japonica S. & Z. was
probably thrown out from a garden but was flourishing on a tip.
It has very harsh stems and rather different flowers.
In conclusion I wish to thank all those, members of the Club or
otherwise, who have furnished me with notes or specimens during the
past year.
Lichens of Hatfield Forest
BY K. L. ALVIN
The only published lists of lichens from Hatfield Forest are those
given in the reports of two of the Club's meetings held in the
forest, viz. (1) in October, 1890 (Essex Nat IV, p.221) and (2) in
June, 1924 (Essex Nat. XXI, p.88). Although in the guide to the forest
it is stated that there is now a distinct lack of lichens, the following
forty species were nevertheless collected or noted during the meeting
held on 31st May. 1958: —
Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach.
Parmelia fuliginosa Nyl. var. laetevirens (Flot.) Kichz.
**P. scortea Ach.