64 HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY. 



There is also an elm, probably Uhmis montana Stokes, what 

 is probably Angelica sylvcstris L., two or three species of Flax, 

 and " five kindes of Cuckovve flowers or Ladie smockes." 



About 17 of Gerard's Essex records seem to be the first 

 British notices of the species, viz. : — 



Mathiola siniiata R.Br. Popiilus alba L, 



Alihoca officinalis L. Ccphalanthera ensifolia Rich. 



Melilotus officinalis Lam. C. pallens Rich. 



Potcntilla palitstris Scop. Asparagus officinalis L. 



Rosa spinosissima L. Convallaria majalis L. 



Dwtis candidissima Desf. Poa annua L. 



Staticc limonium L. Aspleniuni marinum L. 



Cynoglossoin gernianicuvi JRcq. A. ruta-muravia L. 



A triplex laciniata L. 



Nearh' all the species are illustrated by figures, some quite 

 indistinguishable, others wrongly assigned, but some remarkably 

 good. As Gerard's Herhall is now a rare work, and a good deal 

 of interest attaches to these early records and the identification 

 of the species intended, I propose transcribing all the passages 

 referring to Essex plants, adding modern names and a few notes. 

 They run as follows: — 



p. 4. " Gramen minimum album. The white Dwarfe grasse .... 

 doth grow very plentifully among the hop gardens in Essex." [Poa amma L.] 



Hops are still much grown in the Colne valley, and Poa annua 

 is still a common weed. 



p. 100. " Hyacinthus albus Anglicus. White English Hare-bels or lacint 

 and . another sort which hath flowers of a faire carnation colour 



grow in the woods by Colchester in Essex." [Scilla festalis Salisb.] 



p. 124. " Common, or the best knovvne Saffron groweth plentifully in 

 Cambridgeshire, Saffron Walden and other places thereabout, as come in the 

 fieldes." [Crocus sativus L.] 



p. 168. "Orchis Frisia & Orchis Leodinensis, Friezland Ladie traces and 

 Liege Ladie traces . . The yellow kinds growe in barren pastures and 



borders of fields about Ouenden and Clare in Essex. Likewise neere unto 

 Muche Dunmowe in Essex, where they were shewed me by a learnedgentleman 

 master James Twaights, excellently well seene in the knowledge of plants.'' 

 Gyrostachis autumnalis Dum.] 



p. 187. " Dittander is planted in gardens, and is to be found wild also in 

 England in sundrie places, as at Clare by Ouenden in Essex." [Lepidium 

 latifoiium L.] 



