42 Mr. W. H. Beeby on Additions to the Flora of Surrey. 



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- 

 folia, 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 

 found in the 8th edition of Babiugton's ' Manual of British 

 Botany.' 



Special attention has been given this year to the brambles, 

 and, without going into detail, I may say that of the twenty-four 

 subspecies into which Mr. Baker divides the fruticose Rubi, 

 twenty-two are represented in Surrey by one or more of their 

 forms. Probably one of Brewer's species will have to be cut out 

 as an error, but, on the other hand, a dozen or more new forms 

 have to be added. Owing to the valuable assistance of Mr. 

 Baker, both in examining plants submitted to him and in hunself 

 studying the Surrey forms out of doors, the account of this most 

 difficult group bids fair to be a most satisfactory one. 



I may mention a new station for the great hairy wood-rush, 

 Luztda sylvatica, previously only known from one locality. It 

 occurs abundantly in a dry wood by Leigh Mill-pond, near 

 Godstone. 



The last plant I have to speak of is the common buttercup, 

 Ranuncuhis acris. The varieties Steveni and vulgatum, the a. and 

 b. of Syme's ' English Botany,' together constitute the common 

 plant of the county. These two varieties, however, do not seem 

 to be always readily separable, and not infrequently present 

 intermediate characters. They are both characterised by a 

 creeping rootstock. 



But, besides these, we have a very distinct form, which will 

 perhaps eventually be conceded subspecific rank. I allude to 

 the Ranunculus Bormanus of Jordan. This has been looked for 

 in Surrey, but, as far as I know, has not been met with until 

 this year, when I found it by the Thames side near Eunnymede, 

 and also near Byfleet. It is distinguished from the last chiefly 

 by its rootstock being vertical instead of creeping. 



In conclusion, I may say that I fully expect that next year's 

 work will suffice for the completion of the necessary out-door 

 work in connection with the Surrey Flora. A few only of the 

 twelve districts require working, both as regards some critical 

 and some common plants, and this I hope to complete in the 

 course of next summer. 



