MR. G. E. HUNT ON THE BOTANY OF MERE. 41 



IV. Notes on the Botany of Mere, Cheshire. 

 By George E. Hunt, Esq. 



Bead November 29th, 1870. 



The border of Mere Mere has for long been a locality 

 famous to the botanists round Manchester. 



The first published Manchester floras bore its name as 

 the habitat of the rare Elatine hexandra and Limosella 

 aquatica. 



In 1855 Mr. Wilson's ( Bryologia Britannica' gave a 

 still greater notability to the place by the record of several 

 extremely rare mosses from thence — among others, of 

 Physcomitrium sphcericum, which is thus recorded by 

 him : — 



" On the dried mud of pools, Mere, Cheshire, September 

 1834, W. Wilson; not found in any subsequent year; 

 the only known locality in Britain." 



The following are also recorded in the same work as 

 occurring at Mere : — 



Phascum serratum /3. 

 „ sessile. 

 „ rostellatum. 



I was led in 1864 by these various notices to commence 

 a systematic and continuous exploration of Mere, with 

 the view of discovering as many of the recorded mosses 

 as might still exist there. Some of them being exceed- 

 ingly minute, it has taken a considerable time to detect 

 all ; and it may be of service to other bryologists in the 

 district to mention those which grow there at the present 

 date, and also the nature of soil which they prefer. 



1. Physcomitrium sphcericum. A careful search in 1864 

 led to the rediscovery of this species in very minute quan- 



