A HISTORY OF KENT 



P. canescens, Sm. generally look like aliens ; but P. tremula, L. (aspen) 

 is truly wild, and abounds in the Wealden woods. 



Ceratophylle^. — Both species of hornwort {Ceratophyllum demer- 

 sum, L, and C. submersum, L.) are rather common ; but the latter does 

 not grow at any great distance from tidal waters. 



Hydrocharide^. — Elodea canadensis, Michaux (American weed) 

 has become as plentiful in Kent as in the neighbouring counties. 

 Stratiotes aloides, L. grows in a pond near Dymchurch, where it was 

 almost certainly introduced. 



Orchidace^. — No British county excels Kent in the number of 

 its orchids, though these are sadly diminished since a century ago, 

 largely owing to the rapacity of collectors. Malaxis paludosa, Sw. 

 (bog orchis) has only been found for certain near Tunbridge Wells 

 and Cranbrook. Neotfia Nidus-avis, Rich, (birds'-nest orchis) abounds 

 in chalky woods. Cephalanthera ensifolia. Rich, has been obtained near 

 Cobham, Cuxton, Falkham and Tunbridge Wells ; while C. pallens. 

 Rich, {grandijiora, Bab.) is an ornament of most beech-groves. Epipactis 

 violacea, Bor. has been recorded from Ryarsh, Cobham, Cuxton, Walder- 

 share, Ospringe, Dunton Green and Cowden ; but it is sometimes 

 confused with the much more frequent E. media, Bab., a species perhaps 

 too closely allied with the common E. latifoUa, All. (broad-leaved helle- 

 borine). E. palustris, Crantz (marsh helleborine), known for about 

 fifteen localities, is abundant in some of them. Orchis hircina. Scop, 

 (lizard orchis), once locally frequent in district 2, has disappeared from 

 nearly all the old stations ; but a fine specimen is still known near Wye, 

 and a trustworthy informant tells us that thirty plants were found at one 

 spot in 1900. O. ustulata, L. (dwarf orchis), perhaps extinct in district 

 2, still occurs in districts 5, 6, 7, 10 ; O. purpurea, Huds. being locally 

 plentiful in districts 2, 5, 6, 7. O. pyramidalis, L., O. Morio, L., O. 

 mascula, L., O. latifolia, L. and O. maculata, L. are all more or less 

 abundant ; whereas O. incarnata, L. has been discovered only in Minster 

 Marshes (Thanet), and at Ham Ponds and Lamberhurst. Aceras anthro- 

 pophora, R. Br. abounds in many places on the chalk ; as do Ophrys 

 apifera, Huds. (bee orchis), O. muscifera, Huds. (fly orchis), and the 

 more local O. aranifera, Huds. (spider orchis). O. arachnites. Lam. is 

 now practically restricted to the south-east in districts 7, 10 ; but Her- 

 minium Monorchis, R. Br. (musk orchis) has a wide range, and is fairly 

 common in districts 2, 7. Habenaria conopsea, Benth. (fragrant orchis), 

 H. bifolia, R. Br. and H. chloroleuca, Ridley (butterfly orchis) occur 

 freely ; while the frog orchis {H. viridis, R. Br.) is decidedly scarce, 

 and H. albida, Br. has only been observed at Lyminge. 



Iride^. — The stinking iris {Iris fcetidissima, L.) is pretty common 

 in several districts. /. Pseudacorus, L. (yellow flag) usually occurs as 

 the var. acoriformis (Bor.). The pale-flowered var. Bastardi (Bor.) appears 

 to have been once found at Hayes. 



Amaryllide^. — Narcissus biflorus. Curt, and N. poeticus, L. are not 

 true natives, though the former is well established occasionally ; the 



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