Scheuchzeria palustris, L. Its occurrence 
as a British plant, with a fresh record. 
BY 
GEORGE W. SCARTH, M.A. 
With Plate LX. 
SCHEUCHZERIA PALUSTRIS is associated with Triglochin in the 
family or tribe Juncagineae of the cohort Helobieae. It is the only 
species of the genus, and the genus is not particularly like any of 
its nearest allies. The species is, therefore, somewhat isolated, 
presumably an old and decadent type. Like many such it has 
a wide but rather sporadic distribution. Its range extends 
right round the northern hemisphere, viz., Western, Northern, 
and Central Europe, Siberia, and North America (Rocky Moun- 
tains, Labrador to Hudson’s Bay, New Jersey to Wisconsin). 
In Britain it has been recorded from about nine localities, 
some of them in close proximity. Our knowledge of it was sum- 
marised in 1904 by Mr. A. Bennet in the “ Transactions of the 
Caradoc and Severn Valley Field Club.” The history of the 
plant is briefly as follows :— 
In Yorkshire it has been recorded from— 
Leckby Car (near Boroughbridge).—It was discovered here in 
1787 by the Rev. James Dalton, the earliest record for Britain. 
As late as 1892 Mr. J. G. Baker still recorded it. In 1903 Mr. 
Fisher wrote that it was extinct, and if there was any doubt as to 
the matter then, there is now-none, for Leckby Car is drained and 
planted. | 
Thorne Moor (near Doncaster).—Discovered in 1832 by Mr. S. 
Appleby. One plant was found in 1870; it wes sought in vain 
in 1877-1878; in 1890 a Moss Litter Company leased the moor 
and removed the peat, and Mr. Lees pronounced the plant 
undoubtedly extinct. A great fire in 1896, which destroyed 
1000 acres of peat moss, made doubly sure of the fact. 
Wetherby (Mid-West Yorks) —Mr. Bennet noted the following 
record in Don’s Herbarium Britannicum, issued 1806, “ Marsh 
near Wetherby, Rev. J. Dalton.” There is no mention of this 
locality in Lee’s West Yorkshire Flora, and no recent records. 
{Notes R.B.G., Edin., No. XXII, November 1911.] 
