312 THOMAS CLARK AND SOMERSET PLANTS. 



In 1856 Clark contributed " A Catalogue of the Rarer Plants of 

 the Turfmoors of Somerset " to the Proceedings of the Somerset- 

 shh-e Archaeological and Natural History Society, of which he was 

 a member. He had a most intimate and thorough knowledge 

 of the moors at a ^Deriod when their Flora was probably at its 

 richest, and he seems to have noted down nearly all the interesting 

 plants that were ever found there, and very few new discoveries 

 remained upon the peat for those who came after him. He was 

 unable to find some of the eighteenth century records of Sole, 

 including Parnassia and Helosciadium inundatum. He describes 

 Sole as being in the habit of paying annual visits to the moor, and 

 says further that it is not likely that so experienced a botanist was 

 in error as to any of the plants which he has recorded, — words 

 applicable to Clark himself. 



However, notwithstanding the advance of drainage and culti- 

 vation, there are few if any of Clark's Turfmoor plants which a 

 careful search would not reveal today. 



Being of a modest and retiring nature he seems to have been 

 content with quietly working in his own way, corresponding only 

 occasionally with the great botanists of his day ; and he left it to 

 his friend Collins to contribute the numerous records with which 

 the latter is credited in The Neiv Botanist's Guide [Supplement). 



In the yotes supplemental to the Flora of the Bristol Coalfield, 

 1888, my kind friend Mr. J. W. White makes a suggestion to the 

 effect that Collins may have mistaken Papaver Argemone for P. 

 hyhridum as growing " abundantly in fields at the mouth of the 

 river Parret, at Steart and Burnham," for the latter species had not 

 since been noticed. Good specimeus of P. hyhridum from Bridg- 

 water as well as P. Argemone from Burnham were, however, found 

 in Clark's herbarium ; and it is gratifying to note that the former 

 was rediscovered last summer, not far from the same district west 

 of the Parret, by my friend the Rev. C. W. Whistler. 



The great majority of Collins' records published in the New 

 Botanisi's Guide have been confirmed by actual specimens from 

 Clark's herbarium, or by the observations of more recent botanists, 

 but there are still some perplexing old records which want clearing 

 up, and it would be very interesting to know if any of our readers 

 can throw any light upon the following : — 



Arabis stricta. *' Cheddar ; rocks on the Quantock Hills near 

 Merridge. J. C. Collins MSS." Mr. Murray remarks in his 

 excellent Flora of Somerset, " Almost certainly errors ; probably A. 

 Sagittata, D.C. was the plant intended." 



FLutchinsia petraa. "Cheddar. J.C.Collins. MSS." 

 There is no reason why both these plants should not grow at 

 Cheddar, in similar places to those at Bristol. 



Brassica oleracea. ''Berrow; Brean ; Steep Holmes. J. C. 

 Collins MSS." 



Cramhe maritima. '* Burnham, on the coast near the church. 

 J. C. Collins MSS." 



Eaphanus maritimus. ' ' At the base of Brean Down towards 

 Berrow, very rare. J. C. Collins MSS." 



