xliv Journal of Proceedhu/s. 



which the sjiiny variety {Ononis campestris) only prevails thereabouts. 

 The common elm at this locality is a remarkably small-leaved form, the 

 leaves on young and vigorous shoots being diminutive ; and during the 

 whole day Quercus pediinculata was the only form of oak we met with. 

 Plunging into the luxuriant vegetation of a rough sloping bank of waste- 

 land by a green lane we speedily came upon much of interest ; quantities 

 of flea-bane {PuUcaria dysenterica), meadow-sweet {Spircea Ulmaria) with 

 its characteristic gall, the result of the "house holdings" of a small gall- 

 gnat called Cecidomyia Ulmaria, an oak stump with its twigs much 

 affected with both the Devonshire or marble gall (the work of Cynips 

 Kollari) and the very curious artichoke gall [Apliilotlirix yemmce, L., 

 C.fecwidatrix, Hart.), the result of the distortion of the leaf or flower-bud 

 of the oak by the insect. Other plants noticed were some fine examples 

 of thistles {Onopordon Acantliium and Carduus palustris), red campion 

 {LycJniis dizirna), tufted vetch {Vicia cracca), willow herbs, and St. John's 

 worts. The handsome teasels {Bipsaciis sylvestris) with several pairs of 

 connate leaves, forming pitchers crammed with animal matter, suggested 

 some remarks on accidental and purposive structures ; whilst as they were 

 just in flower, they also illustrated the artificial nature of the classification 

 of inflorescences into centrifugal (in which the central flower opens first) 

 and centripetal (in which the order of development is the reverse, the 

 lower flowers opening first) ; in the teasel tribe {Dipsacacece) many 

 examjiles occur, as in D. aylvestris, of a combination of both forms of 

 development. Convolvulus sepitim, generally preferring cultivated ground, 

 was, however, plentiful, as also was the bittersweet {Solanum Dulcamara) ; 

 whilst in fruit were noted the pepper wort {Lepidium campestre), cuckoo- 

 pint {Arum maculatum), black bryony {Tamus communis), and cleavers 

 {Galium Aparine), the abundance of which last afforded a practical 

 exemplification of one mode of seed-dispersal, the curious little rough 

 fruit with its hooked bristles clinging in hundreds to our clothes as we 

 forced our way through the thick herbage. The large compound umbels, 

 hollow or "fistular" stems, and pinnately-di\dded leaves with large basal 

 sheaths, of fine specimens of Angelica sylvestris (suggesting to our 

 entomologists larvcs of Eupithecia) and the cow-parsnip {Heracleum 

 Sphondylium) illustrated the order Umhelliferce. We leave the "siding" 

 to pass through Steward's Green, as it is called, — a long green lane, which 

 seems to possess some interest to the entomologist and botanist. Here 

 we encountered the centaury {Erythrcea centaurium), Hypericum hirsutum, 

 and a remarkably small-flowered Epilohium parvijiorum, which were 

 "bagged" previous to the "interval for refreshment." The bittersweet 

 was luxuriating in a j)ond by which stood some sycamores, free from the 

 fungus Phytisma, and covered with theii- winged "samaras." The 

 " Theydon Oak," growing by a pond not far from the Inn, is now a mere 

 wreck, and was estimated at twenty-six feet girth and to be not less than 

 three centuries in age. The party then plunged into Theydon Garnon 

 or Coopersale Forest, dense with holly and hornbeam, and apparently 



