SOME ADDITIONS TO THE DOHSET FLORA. 7 'J 



tlie Cotton-grasses of more than one bog in vain, I detectod a fair 

 quantity of tlie right plant, first in a little swamp where I needed 

 my companion's hand (Mr. E. M. Holmes) to reach it without 

 disaster, and soon after on ground where it was possible to stand 

 without discomfort or trepidation, so much was the bog dried ui). 

 At this spot E. ijracile and the common species, IJ. cuKjustifoliuin, 

 were growing together, so that at a little distance it was doubtful 

 which species was before us. When close at hand there was no 

 difficulty in distinguishing the two plants. E. gracile, Koch 

 (which must not be confused with E. gmcile, Sm., a slender and 

 small form of the common species), is not only more slender, but 

 usually rather taller than average E. ayigustifulium ; the peduncles 

 are clothed with short pubescence ; the glumes arc greener when 

 young and eventually a lighter grey ; the tuft of cottony hairs is 

 much narroAver and neater, liaving the look of a paint brush from 

 the tuft being rather truncate at the end ; and the nut is narrower 

 and of a brownish-grey. It usually grows in deep watery bogs, 

 where there is no firm bottom for 2-3 feet, sending out slender 

 ascending suckers, which have leaves only at first, but become 

 flowering plants the following year ; and generally the pressure of 

 the foot is enough to submerge, gradually or more precipitately, the 

 soaking fibrous mass in wliich it roots. 



The other Cyperaceous plant I referred to is Carex filiformis L., 

 which was observed last May at IMorden Decoy by the Rev. R. P. 

 Murray and myself. The day we were together scarcely any but 

 barren plants met our view ; these were abundant, but were 

 insufficient to name the plant with certainty. A few days later I 

 searched other parts of this extensive bog and met with the Carex 

 abundantly, and on this visit procured several fruiting spikes. As 

 this Carex is found in Devon, Hants, and Somerset it was to be 

 expected in Dorset ; its distribution in England farther north is 

 curious ; four counties in East Anglia,then from Stafford north- 

 wards ; I have gathered it in Skye and on the north coast of 

 Sutherland. There is a likeness here to the distribution of Carex 

 limosa, which is also rather abundant in ]\Iorden Decoy. This is 



