cxvi Journal of Proceedings.
found patches of the sea wormwood, giving a very peculiar silver
grey colouring to the landscape, while the ever present and ever
changing background of the sea, crested with snow-white foam, served to
fill in many a charming picture. Mr. Shenstone gave an exposition of
many of the plants gathered during the walk to the decoy. These
included the Thrift (Armeria maritima), Sea Lavender (Statice
limonium) and the famous Eryngo-root (Sea Holly, Eryngium
maritimum*) for which, Mr. Shenstone remarked, Colchester had been
famous for 200 years. It was sold in a candied form, and was a
sufficient luxury to be presented to princes and others of high position.
He pointed out in the shore garlic (Allium vineale) the little bulblets
among the flowers or in the umbel, which, if planted, would grow like
seeds. One of the most characteristic sea-shore plants was the Beet
(Beta maritima) and Marram (Psamma arenaria), (one of the grasses)
common on the Essex coast, was so useful that in some parts of England
to pluck or destroy any quantity of it would be an offence visited with
heavy fines. It had fibrous spreading roots which served to bind the
loose sands together, and thus protected our coasts.
Another plant of some interest was the Marsh Samphire (Salicornia
herbacea) found abundantly about the coast, and used to make a pickle.
Mr. Shenstone said that this plant must not be confused with the real
Samphire (Crithmum maritimum), which did not grow, he believed, in
Essex.* It was found in Kent, generally growing just above the point
reached by the tide. Marsh Samphire, on the other hand, grew on the
marshes which were covered by the tides. It was not nearly so good for
pickling as the true Samphire, but it formed a fairly acceptable substi-
tute. They had on their Essex coasts another plant called Samphire,
the Golden Samphire (Inula crithmoides). Mr. Shenstone then gave an
exposition of the remaining plants in his vasculum, collected during the
ramble, most of which are noticed in his papers on the flowering plants of
the Colchester district, published in the ' Essex Naturalist.'
Dr. Laver and Mr. Shenstone were thanked for their addresses and
demonstrations, and then, walking back to West Mersea, the carriages
were regained. Although the homeward journey was not commenced
until considerably after five o'clock, it was felt that the visitors should
not miss the opportunity of inspecting the main scene, perhaps, of the
destructive force of the earthquake. A halt was accordingly made at
Langenhoe Church, which remained as it was left by the shock, even the
fallen debris being in its original position. With its shattered and dis-
mantled tower, its rent and fissured walls, its interior a wreck of smashed
pews, broken tiles, stones, and wood, the" building presented a most
desolate and woe-stricken appearance.
Mr. Meldola, addressing the assembly under the shadow of the tower,
said that they had before them a building which had been ruined under
* The true Samphire has since been found near Great Oakley by Mr. W. H.
Harwood; see Mr. Shenstone's paper in 'Essex Naturalist,' vol. i., pp. 26-27.