92 



ERYTHR/EA PULCHELLA Fr. 



An Addition to the Flora of the N. Riding of Yorkshire, and Uther Records. 



p. FOX LEE, 



Deu'iburv. 



During the two weeks, 26th Jul}- to 9th Aiis^ust 1905, 1 had a 

 g-lorious time amonifst the coast-hne flora at Whitby, Saltburn, 

 Marske, and Redcar, and inland at Middleton-in-Teesdale and 

 Higfh Foss. Besides enjoying- the pleasure of seeing- many species 

 of plants not previously observed growing anywhere (all 

 recorded, however, in Mr. J. G. Baker's classic ' North York- 

 shire,') I was fortunate in discovering an addition to the flora of 

 the Riding, namely, Erythrcea pulchella, or Slender Centaur}-. 



Mr. Baker, the veteran author of ' North Yorkshire,' has 

 verified my record, saying in a letter, ' The Erythrcea is certainly 

 dwari pii/chella, which is new for the North Riding.' Passing 

 through Middlesbrough by train, a naturalist might easi'y think 

 he had come to some active volcanic region, the grimy smoke- 

 laden atmosphere of the district is fairly alarming, but after all, 

 it is comforting to reflect that the ballast-hills have not yet 

 invaded all the ground. Although they do spread out in huge, 

 unsightly tongues of slag, they are gradually being disintegrated 

 and covered with plant life. At the present time, some of the 

 slag is being utilised in various ways commercially. There is 

 much marsh-land still free and open for the seaside-loving plants. 



The tiny specimens of Erythrcea pulchella — pretty as the 

 name denotes, and but one to two inches in height — with rose- 

 pink, star-shaped flowers, were growing freely on several of the 

 drier sandy hillocks in one of the salt-marshes near the East 

 Coatham sand-hills. 



The following coast plants were associated with the Erythrcea, 

 namely : — Btula media, Trifolium fragiferum, Glaiix nuiritinuiy 

 Jiuiciis niaritimus, Triglochin viaritimtan, Lepturus Jiliformis, 

 and many commoner species. Unfortunately the abnormally 

 dr} season had both hastened the maturing and stunted the 

 g'"rowth of many of the plants observed on the sand-hills and 

 boulder-clay cliffs between Redcar, Marske, and Saltburn, such 

 as Thalictriim (hincuse, i\irli)i(i vulgaris, ih-chis latifolia, Scirpits 

 Carices, and Eqiiisetitm maximum. 



The only other records of Ervthnva pulchella for \'orkshire 

 hitherto made are near Scarcroft, Kinningley, and Bawtry, in 

 Mr. F. Arnold Lees' 'West Riding Flora,' p. 324, and at Brid- 

 lington Qua}' (a very old record) in J. Fraser Robinson's ' Kasi 

 Riding Flora,' p. 144. 



Naturalist, 



