5
commoner relations it has exploding capsules.
The Water Pepper is another plant which wages
botanical warfare. Its leaves taste very hot,
and an extract will protect leaves of other plants
from being eaten by caterpillars. The Purple
Moor Grass is another problem plant in overgrazed
areas like the Peak District. It has little
food value for grazing animals, and can be recog-
nized as one of the few grasses with a ligule of
hairs.
Beyond the woodlands we entered the agricultural
desert lands more typical of Essex countryside
and made our way to "The Green Man" at Toot Hill,
where most people seem to lose their resolution
to walk any further. After lunch we found that
navigation provided a problem, which was actually
due to an error in the guide. However, we
decided which way was correct, and stopped to
photograph a biological clock to confirm we had
not spent too long in the pub. The clock was
the Scarlet Pimpernel, which opens in sunny
weather at 8.00 a.m. and closes around 2.00-3.00
pm
Greensted Church is probably the oldest wooden
church in the world. It is Saxon and was built
around 845 A.D. The oak trees in its walls were
growing when the Romans invaded England. In this
church the body of St. Edmund rested in 1013 on
its way to Bury St. Edmunds for re-interment.
Beyond the church one can look towards the
market town of Chipping Ongar, crossing Cripsey
Brook to reach it. The Bur-reed grew here; a
wind pollinated plant, with separate male and
female flowers on one plant, producing fruits
resembling a rolled up hedgehog.
The way crosses Chipping Ongar High Street past
the Norman church, on past the castle and out
across the A 414 to give you your first view of
the River Roding. Along its banks grow Teasel,