312 



false, and therefore unworthy the adoption of men with whom the love 

 of truth should ever reign paramount. 



J. L. Drummond. 



Belfast, August 16, 1851. 



Surrey Locality for Leersia oryzoides. 

 By Alfred W. Bennett, Esq. 



The detection of a rare or local plant in a locality distant from 

 those where it has been before observed, must always be a matter of 

 pleasure to the lover of botany, and especially to the student of the 

 local distribution of plants. Some of the readers of the ' Phytologist' 

 may therefore be interested in hearing that the beautiful and local 

 Leersia oryzoides, hitherto known only as an inhabitant of the two 

 counties of Sussex and Hampshire, has been detected in the adjoin- 

 ing one of Surrey. It is no doubt to the circumstance of my having 

 gathered the Leersia the previous week at the Brockenhurst station 

 that 1 owe the discovery of it in this locality. On the 18th instant, 

 when crossing the bridge over the river Mole, at the village of Brock- 

 ham Green, 1 noticed a large patch of grass growing in the river, 

 which struck me as bearing a strong resemblance to the Leersia, and 

 on examining it more closely I found I was not deceived. The plant 

 is growing in several large patches, among reeds, on both sides of the 

 bridge, and full in view of the public road, at a spot we must have 

 passed hundreds of limes. In many specimens the panicle is just 

 protruding beyond the sheath. This is, I suppose, the most northerly 

 locality in which this grass has yet been observed in England. I 

 have not yet succeeded in discovering its usual companion, Isnardia 

 palustris ; but as there are many other spots in the river in which the 

 Leersia is very likely to be found, in some of them the Isnardia may 

 yet be detected in company with it. From the occurrence of this 

 grass in three counties of England, it is probable that it may be found 

 to be not uncommon in the southern counties, though from the re- 

 semblance of its foliage to that of several other grasses, and the cir- 

 cumstance of its rarely disclosing its panicle, it is necessary to have 

 seen it growing before one can hope to detect it in a new locality. 



Alfred W. Bennett. 



Brockham Lodge, Betchworlh, 

 8lh mo. (August) 20, 1851. 



