[November, 1862.] 321 



NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK BOTANY. 

 Plants of Lopham Fen and the Neighborhood. 



By C. J. ASHFIELD. 



On tlie 1st of September, 1862, 1 paid another visit to Lopham 

 Fen. This being nearly a fortnight earlier in the season than the 

 time of my excursion thither in 1861 (see ' Phytologist ' for No- 

 vember last, p. 321), I hoped to be able, not only to clear up 

 some doubts as to two or three of the plants found on the pre- 

 vious occasion, but also to add some fresh plants to the list of 

 those then found. This hope was fulfilled to a considerable ex- 

 tent, and the following is a report of the results of my recent in- 

 vestigation. The most important of the doubtful plants found 

 last year was that exceedingly scarce one, Liparis Loeselii. I am 

 happy to say that it can no longer be considered a doubtful in- 

 habitant of Lopham Fen, I having, on the first of the present 

 month, and also on a subsequent day, found several specimens of 

 the plant, with the flowering stem still existing and the seed- 

 vessels attached thereto, and not at all too far advanced for the 

 complete identification of the plant. On the occasion of my se- 

 cond visit this year, I was accompanied by a botanist from Edin- 

 burgh, who was on a botanical tour, and whose chief object in 

 visiting this particular district was the hope of seeing the above- 

 named rarity in one of its few native British abodes. I had the 

 great satisfaction of pointing out several specimens of the plant 

 to him, the greater portion of which we left for the benefit of 

 future botanical investigators. The plant grows on the south side 

 of the river, and belongs therefore to the county of Suffolk, and 

 must be described as scarce even there. It is however not likely 

 to be eradicated, as, from its low stature, green aj)pearuuce, and 

 habit of growing close to the stems of rushes, etc., it is very diffi- 

 cult to find — so much so, that even upon my second visit this year 

 I had a long search before I could find a single specimen for my 

 Edinburgh friend. Another plant about which I was doubtful 

 last year, I found in great plenty upon ray two recent visits, viz. 

 Drosera anglica ; it was growing plentifully in many places, 

 mixed with the other two species, D. rotimdifoUa and D. longi- 

 folia. I pointed out to my companion the plant resembling the 

 Michaelmas Daisy ("^ Pliy tologist ' for November last, p. 323), 



N.S. VOL. VT. 2 T 



