Proceedings. 73. 



with it in some abundance in a Sphagnum bog near Aldershot. 

 Unhke our other species of Cotton-grass, the present one does 

 not grow actually on the peat, but apparently entirely among 

 the Sphagnum and roots of bog-plants, at a distance of several 

 feet above the soil. This peculiarity in its habit fully accounts 

 for its disappearance on the approach of drainage. The 

 others are not unfrequently seen in almost dry peat ; but 

 this is never the case with gracile, which is only to be found 

 in the very wettest parts of the bog. 



Among varieties new to Surrey I may mention a Mint 

 which is supposed to be very rare, and indeed no locality was 

 known for it until it was rediscovered in Norfolk a short time 

 ago. It is Mentha hircina, and Mr. Baker considers it to be 

 exactly the plant of Hull. It is usually placed as a variety of 

 M. pubescens ; but it so much more nearly resembles the 

 Common Peppermint, Mentha piperita, under which species I 

 should have placed it, that it seems more than probable that 

 its supposed rarity is due to its having been passed over as 

 the latter plant. It occurs in three stations in Surrey, — in a 

 ditch at Dawes Green, near Eeigate ; near Holmwood Station; 

 and near Chiddingfold, — and is a doubtful native in all three 

 localities. 



A good deal of misunderstanding has existed as to the 

 different forms of Epipactis found in this country. This 

 I believe to be partly due to want of opportunity to compare 

 the different plants in a fresh state, herbarium specimens 

 being mostly quite useless for this purpose. Though some 

 attention was i^aid to these plants last year, I was unable to 

 come to any satisfactory cenclusion as to our Surrey forms, 

 owing to the absence of Epipactis media of Fries. This plant 

 appears to be very rare in Surrey, and I met with it for the 

 first time last August not far from Witley. The discovery of 

 this plant made it plain that, besides the Marsh Helleborine, 

 we have three plants in Surrey, viz., the more common Broad- 

 leaved Helleborine, Epipactis lati/olia ; and also E. media. 

 Fries ; and E. violacea, Durand. Even the late Mr. Watson 

 appears to have misunderstood these plants, and the only 

 satisfactory description we have of them is that fonnd in the 

 8th edition of Babington's ' Manual of British Botany.' 



