K..S
The Scarce Plants of Essex. Part 2.
[Horse Radish is another plant that similarly seems to be spreading all over the place and yet is not
supposed to set seed this far north]. Perhaps ripe seed of both species is being introduced by birds from
the continent. It is easily recognised by its trigonous stems and umbellate inflorescences that are exceeded
by their subtending bracts. The record from the pond at Epping Green, however, (Jermyn 1974) is
suspect, as the pond now supports a large colony of Bolbochoenus (Scirpus) maritimus which could
have been mistaken for it. The 1 x 1km sq records have been summarised on a map, as we have few
additional details for many of the sites. 34 monads. See map.
Cyperus longus
Daphne mezereum L. Mezereon
Although apparently originally a native plant in Britain, it is difficult to be sure whether this attractive
plant was ever native in Essex. Despite the lack of any recognised native site Essex hectads on the
Scarce Plants Atlas map, however, the record from a wood at Feering by Dr Varenne, where he said the
local labourers were in the habit of transplanting the shrubs to their gardens, suggests a native site, as
does the record from Peverell's Wood by Joseph Clarke. Gibson (1862) stated that it had 'not been
found recently' in the county, suggesting that removal into gardens had been the fate of any surviving
native plants. It is however still commonly grown in gardens, and seeds itself readily into semi-natural
habitats. These modern records have not been listed however, as they tend to be ephemeral.
TL(52)53 55,35 19 Peverell's Wood, Debden. Joseph Clarke (Gibson 1862)
TL(52)54 19 Between Lt Walden & Bartlow, Jabez M Gibson (Gibson 1862)
TL(52)81/82 19 Feering, in a small wood on a farm, wood now stubbed up, Dr
Ezekiel Varenne. (Gibson 1862).
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)