104 



with their disappearance. In Ham Marshes they might still 

 be expected to appear, but Mr. Dowker has never found either, 

 or heard of any one that had done so. 



Epipactis latifolia — is tolerably abundant still, and also the sub- 

 species purpurata. 



Epipactis palustris — is not nearly so common as formerly in the 

 Wingham Marshes, or elsewhere. 



Cephalanthera grandiflora — is common ; but ensifolia and rubra 

 Mr. Dowker has never found. 



Orchis fusca — the usual Kent form now called purpurea is not 

 nearly so common as formerly. It seems prone to go to 

 varieties, but none of these assume the form of Orchis militaris 

 proper, and Mr. Dowker could never satisfy himself therefore 

 that this orchis existed in E. Kent. 



Orchis hircina — has never been met with of late years.* 



Aceras anthropophora — is not nearly so frequent as formerly. 



Ophrys apifera — seems on the road to extinction from the plant 

 vendors digging it up wholesale. 



Ophrys arachnites — is now very rare. 



Ophrys aranifera — appears also much less frequently than 

 formerly. 



Ophrys muscifera — the same may be said of this. 



Herminium monorchis — many of the chalk downs have been 

 broken up where it formerly grew. 



Hahenaria viridis—Xhe same may be said of this. 

 HTDEOCHAEiDACEiE : Elodoca Canadensis — first noticed in E. Kent 

 in 1864, see letter to "Kentish Gazette," Oct. 18th of that 

 year. It increased with enormous rapidity, but is not so rank 

 growing as formerly, and appears upon the decrease. 

 Ttphace^ : Sparganium simplex — the long floating variety is 

 common in the Stour, where, however, it is seldom allowed 

 to bloom. 



Passing on to Grasses it may be said there seem to be a few 

 new introductions, as for example : 



Setaria viridis — near Sandwich.f 

 TiLicES : Ceterach officinarum — was formerly growing on Eastry 

 Church, and on the walls of Old Park, near Canterbury, 

 although it can hardly be considered a Kentish fern. 

 Lastrea oreopteris — grew on the bog, Mersham Hatch. It is not 



usually a Kentish fern. 

 Osmimda regalis— grew plentifully in Chartham Hatch and 

 Perry Woods, but it is now quite exterminated. 



G. DOWKER. 

 J. EEID. 



* See Note on Rare Plants. S.E. Naturalist, part II. p. 6o. Eds. 

 t And see others mentioned, last reference note. Eds. 



