MISCELLANEA BRYOLOGICA 359 



Crtphidium dilatatum (H. f. & W.) Broth, op. et loc. cit. (1905). 

 Syn. CryphcEa dilatata (H. F. & W.), Fl. N.Z. ii, 102 (1855). 

 Dendropogon Mulleri Hampe in Linn. 1856, p. 212. 

 Cryphidium Mulleri, Broth, op. et loc. cit. 



SIEGLINGIA DECUMBENS IN LINCOLNSHIEE. 

 By E. Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock, F.L.S. 



This species was first recorded for this county in 1851 by 

 H. C. Watson. It is found in ten out of our eighteen divisions, 

 and always under given conditions. The heath peat, however 

 thin, must be limeless, and for certain months of the year fairly 

 moist. As regards soils, it is found with the following frequency": 

 3 on blown sand; 3-4 on river sand gravel, and on Sphagnum peat; 

 4-5 on heath peat, on Lincolnshire limestone, on modern river 

 gravel, on old river gravel, and on plateau gravel ; 5-6 on upper 

 chalk : all in heath peat conditions more or less. It is recorded 

 for the following habitats : 3-5 on moorlands w^hen not too wet, 

 on the open spaces of pine-oak-birch woodlands ; 4-5, limestone 

 heaths ; 5-6, Eoman Eoad-sides and parks, when on limestone ; 

 6, chalk heaths. 



I had 106 notes with exact soils and circumstances to work 

 out the records for this county. The following notes seem worth 

 putting into the county flora, which is only waiting for the end of 

 the war. My brother Max told me that wild ducks are specially 

 fond of the seeds of this grass, and in July and August frequent 

 spots on the peaty heath for them ; at this time they are moulting, 

 and can fly with difficulty. If a duck be shot absolutely dead on 

 the ground while feeding on Sieglingia, more or less of the seed 

 may be found on its back. It is undoubtedly spread on limestone 

 heaths by this means, and by the circular storms and whirlwinds 

 of the same time of year. It is eaten by rabbits on moorlands of 

 N. Lincolnshire (54) and on the Eoman Eoad-side in S. Lincoln- 

 shire (53), but they do not now sow it, so far as I can make out. 



Sieglingia is distinctly a damp-loving species, but not a lime- 

 water lover. I have no note of it for carr peat or Hypnum peat. 

 Though it is 3-5 on Nardus grass moors, it is not recorded for the 

 Great Fen land proper, though it was once the home of millions 

 of ducks. On heaths, moors, and commons where Calluna can 

 just grow, more frequently where Nardus does on moorland, i. e. 

 on places fairly dry from April to September. 



The plant has not been recorded for Lincolnshire for carr peat 

 by anyone, but exactly why I cannot make out. Perhaps our carr 

 peats are too limy. I have tw^o notes of it on Carex-Sphagnum 

 peat out of this county: in neither case did I test for lime; it 



* l = very common, 2 = common, 3 = fairly common, 4 = rather rare, 

 5 = rare, 6 = very rare. 



