A HISTORY OF KENT 



Tunbridge Wells, which sheds light upon some defects in the earlier book. 

 Among the chief Kentish botanists of this period were Edward Forster, 

 William Borrer, Joseph Woods and N. J. Winch. 



The Phytologist (1841—54) often refers to plants of the county. Its 

 new series (1854-63) includes several discoveries by W. Pamplin and 

 A. Irvine. 



T. B. Flower's Flora Thanetensis (1847) contains numerous errors. 



In his various books (1835-74) H. C. Watson brought to light 

 several important additions, made by himself or others. 



Professor Babington, A. G. More and W. W. Reeves all contributed 

 to the investigation of the county. A still more energetic explorer was 

 J. T. Syme (afterwards Dr. Boswell). 



Since 1863 the recognized organ of British botanists has been the 

 Journal of Botany. Its present editor, Mr. James Britten, has always 

 readily given us the benefit of his assistance and advice. 



While preparing the Flora of Kent, began in 1872 but not com- 

 pleted until 1899, we were fortunate in securing the aid of many willing 

 helpers ; but we have not space to name them all here. Of those who 

 have passed away, the following may be mentioned : W. W. Newbould, 

 Henry Trimen, F. M. Webb, Charles Darwin, G. Dowker and G. B. 

 WoUaston. From those who happily still survive we select : J. G. 

 Baker, W. H. Beeby, Arthur Bennett, J. S. Clarke, G. Claridge Druce, 

 J. F. Duthie, H. and J. Groves, E. M. Holmes, B. Daydon Jackson, 

 W. R. Jeffrey, H. Lamb, Maxwell T. Masters, J. Cosmo Melvill, Bishop 

 Mitchinson, W. Moyle Rogers, C. E. Salmon, C. W. Shepherd, G. C. 

 Walton, Sydney Webb, W. Whitwell and A. H. WoUey-Dod. 



Instead of drawing up separate lists of rarities for each district, we 

 propose to briefly mention the more uncommon plants in various Orders, 

 which will give a better notion of the county vegetation as a whole. 



Ranunculace^. — Thalictrum favum, L. (meadow rue) is most 

 plentiful in the Medway valley. T. collinum, Wallr. may have been found 

 by Parkinson on Margate cliffs ; if so, it has long since disappeared. A 

 ^/a^-flowered form of Anemone nemorosa, L. (wood anemone) grows near 

 Tunbridge Wells. A. ranunculoides, L. is recorded by Hudson from 

 Wrotham, and A. apennina, L. has been observed at Trottescliffe and 

 Tonbridge ; but they are not natives. Adonis autumnalis, L. is well 

 established in chalky fields, though apparently decreasing ; and Myosurus 

 minimus, L. is thinly but generally distributed. Among the Batrachium 

 section of Ranunculus, R. peltatus, Schrank ; R. heterophyllus, Weber ; R. 

 circinatus, Sibth. ; R. trichophyllus, Chaix. ; and R. Drouetii, Godr. are all 

 more or less frequent. (Messrs. Groves found a new hybrid, R. Baudotii 

 X Drouetii, in Plumstead Marshes.) R. Baudotii, Godr. also abounds in 

 many submaritime localities. R. lutarius, Bouvet (intermedius, Hiern, 

 non Knaf ) has only been gathered near Tunbridge Wells ; and but three 

 stations in districts 8 and 9 are known for R. Lenormandi, F. Schultz. 

 Among the true buttercups, R. Lingua, L. and R. sardous, Crantz 



50 



