306 FLORA OF ESSEX. [October, 



London a century ago, and there is no reason why his successors 

 should be in the dark about its appearance in its old haunts. 



Myrrhis odor at a. — I am not so sceptical about this plant as 

 the author of the ' Flora of Essex/ and believe that Blackstone 

 or his aunotator found the plant then and there. 



This fine species has long been cultivated in cottage gardens ; 

 and the name attached to it, viz. " Sweet Fern," is some cor- 

 roborative evidence that the entry in Blackstone is correct. 



Artemisia Absinthium. — A broad-leaved variety of this plant is 

 plentiful in the marshes near Purfleet; and there is not far from 

 it a large-flowered variety of Salvia verbenaca — a form that about 

 ('Obham Park, on the other side of the river, might pass for 

 S. i^ratensis. 



Antennaria margaritacea. — Does this plant still grow in moist 

 meadows in Essex, and particularly in a meadow near Bocking ? 



Inula Helenium. — It would be desirable to hear how many of 

 the Essex stations for this fine plant still produce it. In the 

 ' Cybele' it is called a native. The author of the ' Flora of Essex^ 

 ignores its claims as a native of his county. • Is it a genuine, 

 unsuspected native of any of the neighbouring counties ? 



Crepis biennis. — Mr. E. Forster, in ^Phytologist,' vol. ii. p. 610, 

 states most decidedly that this Crejns did not then, 1846, grow 

 at Purfleet ; but that C. taraxacifolia had been mistaken for the 

 rarer species. How is it that C. biennis is entered, on Mr. 

 E. Forster's authority, as a plant of the marshes of Purfleet? He 

 says, "Having searched many times since (1805?) and found no 

 trace of this species, I am well convinced that there is only Bark- 

 hausia taraxacifolia to be found there." 



According to the 'Essex Flora/ this C. biennis is the com- 

 moner species, being found in seven districts. 



According to Mr. E. Forster, C. taraxacifolia, recorded as the 

 growth of only two districts is the most widely distributed. 



The doctors difffer. AVho can decide ? 



Senecio viscosus is registered in the ' Flora of Essex' as an 

 Epping plant. It might possibly grow near "Woodford. It is 

 found on the other side of the river, viz. in Kent. 



Vinca minor, a doubtful native in ' Cybele,' passes muster in 

 the 'Flora of Essex' as a genuine species. I have seen it at They- 

 don Bois with variegated flowers, })art white and part pink. Va- 

 rieties with variegated leaves are not uncommon. 



