12.
day.
Against these additions to the Essex list,
we have to report the possible loss of the
Purple Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense) which did
not appear in any of its stations last year,
and the probable extinction of the Mersea Pea
(Tetragondolobus maritimus). Having last seen
the plant growing in rough grass by a car-park
near Empress Avenue in 1956, I paid a visit to
the site during August. The Pea grows abundan-
tly in a garden now established on the site and
the owners have supplied seed to a number of
botanists. I gather however that even the
experts at Kew have been unable to raise any
seedlings. Attempts to establish it on the
tumulus in the centre of the island were just
as unsuccessful. The local council attempted
to fence off a patch on the greensward near the
car-park some years ago but this subsequently
died out. A solitary plant appeared in rough
grass just west of Empress Avenue last year but
this was destroyed when the grass was mown.
Unfortunately the owners of the house on the
corner of Empress Avenue moved out last Sep-
tember. We should be grateful to them for
keeping the Mersea Pea as the most plentiful
"weed" in their garden. Let us hope that the
new owners will also protect this beautiful
plant so that one day some seed may germinate
successfully in a rough grassy place nearby.
---oOo---
WANTED
An artist to design the next cover of the
Bulletin and to illustrate forthcoming articles.
Offers please to Bob Cowlin, 16 Bruce Grove,
Chelmsford, Essex.
.