BRYOPHYTE NOTES FOB 1963 329
ber 1960, v.c. 19. A fairly common species of the acid woodlands of
South Essex; much less common in North Essex. I have since
(February 1964) found it to be abundant in Parndon Wood near
Harlow, v.c. 19.
Brachythecium glareosum (Bruch.) B. & S. From Grays
chalk pit; March 1961, v.c. 18. One capsule was present on
this plant showing the smooth seta and the arcuate capsule—fruit
is said to be very rare.
Phascum cuspidatum Hedw. var. curvisetum (Dicks.) Nees &
Hornsch. From sandy field by River Stour near Wrabness;
October 1961, v.c. 19. This variety seems to grow as single stems
among the normal form and is very noticeable, it has been seen
on several occasions.
Eurhynchium speciosum (Brid.) Milde. Growing by the River
Stort between Parndon & Roydon; September 19, 1959, v.c. 19.
Although no capsules were present the 'flowers' showed the
synoicous condition.
A specimen of Tortula muralis var. rupestris additional to that
recorded in 1962 for v.c. 19 (Saunders, 1962) was found on an
old railway arch near Stow Maries. This variety is not now
considered to be valid and is no longer being recorded. I find this
surprising as it is a very distinct and easily visible form, ap-
parently possessing the same relationship to the normal form that
Pottia intermedia has to Pottia truncata, both of which are
considered to be distinct species.
An error must be reported in the indentification of Pohlia
proligera. (Saunders, 1961). This should be Pohlia annotina var.
decipiens. It is still, however, new to v.c. 19 as even the normal
form of this moss had not been recorded from North Essex.
There has been some confusion over these species as the var.
decipiens has axillary bulbils which resemble those of P. proligera,
a rare northern moss. The var. decipiens is also present in Epping
Forest, v.c. 18, and had been recorded as P. proligera in the 1926
Census Catalogue. It has been omitted from the new Census
Catalogue of 1963.
UNUSUAL SPECIES SEEN DURING THE YEAR
Apart from those already mentioned from Fingringhoe Wick
several others are worthy of note. Large areas of the marshy
gravel pits were carpeted bright red with fruiting Bryum pallens
and plentifully interspersed with it were patches of Blasia pusilla,
a bright green liverwort which has the thallus liberally sprinkled
with star shaped gemmae. This species was recorded for North
Essex by Dr Rose in 1955, from the Stour Woods, as was
Lophozia excisa, another liverwort, a small quantity of which has
also been seen at the Wick.
On an asbestos tiled roof quite an unusual amount of
Orthotrichium affine was seen. Although over the country this
is a common species, in the drier eastern counties it has become
rare. Normally is it found growing in small tufts on trees and