267
Essex Plant Notes, 1959
By Bernard T. Ward
THE year was memorable for the long dry summer which did
not, however, give rise to any remarkable changes in the
vascular plants. A number of plants of interest have been seen
on the various field meetings during the year. One of the most
rewarding excursions was that to Lee-over-Sands, when members
were able to see a varied littoral flora. In addition to the more
usual shore plants Vicia angustifolia L., was seen in some quantity
together with the Sea Heath, Frankenia laevis L., and some
vigorous plants of Henbane, Hyoscyamus niger L. In the same
area some members of the club had the pleasure of seeing a well
established colony of the Balm-leaved Figwort, Scrophularia
scorodonia L. In Britain this rare Figwort with large greyish-
pubescent leaves and squarish un-winged stems is found chiefly
in Devon, Cornwall, Scilly and the Channel Isles. It is dis-
tinguished by the glandular-hairs on the stem and leaves. How
this plant came to be in Essex and why it continues to flourish
so far from its visual haunts is a mystery. I learn that the plant
had been known at this place for about five years and has
increased considerably since first being noticed. If any Essex
botanist or other Essex resident can enlighten me as to the origin
of this colony I shall be glad to have details.
Another fruitful field meeting was the President's Meet at
Walton on the Naze when the littoral flora was seen somewhat
later in the season. Amongst other plants we noted Ranunculus
sardous Crantz, Atriplex laciniata L. (A. sabulosa Rouy), Salsola
kali L., Cakile maritima Scop., Eryngium maritimum L., Peuce-
danum officinale L., and Agropyron junceiforme (A. & D. Love)
A. & D. Love. A field meeting of special importance was that
paid to some chalk pits in Kent, almost opposite the correspond-
ing pits at Grays. Mr. and Mrs. Side, who led the excursion,
showed us some of the botanical treasures of the area and enabled
us to make comparisons with the flora on the Essex side of the
Thames. We were very grateful to our leaders for the hard work
they put into making the meeting so enjoyable.
One effect of the long dry summer was the shrinkage in the
ponds and streams. At Coggeshall the River Pant was very low
and the rare Umbellifer, the River Water Dropwort, Oenanthe
fluviatilis (Bab.) Colem., flowered profusely. Despite the low
water level, or perhaps because of it, Mr. S. T. Jermyn discovered
Callitriche intermedia. Hoffm., in a stream near Manningtree. The
lowest submerged leaves of this species have the apices of the
leaves widened and emarginate causing the tip of the leaf to
resemble a bicycle spanner. Mr. Jermyn was also able to verify
a report that the Toothwort, Lathraea squamaria L., was still to
be found in the county. It would seem from his description of the
site that the plant still exists at the locality mentioned by G. S.