A SUIIVKY OF THK LOWER LEES MAllSUES HQ 



As we near Holme Fleet, Glyceria reasserts itself, Lemna 

 weakens and, in consequence, plants displaying submerged 

 leaves appear, the most interesting being /'i?/cz///c^'-^/^// coiiipressus 

 and Myriophyliuin spicatiim with other plants listed for the 

 backwaters of the Fleet itself. Beyond this neighbourhood 

 and toward Swallow Fleet, Scirpus maritiiinis comes to the 

 fore once more, but the companion plants remain the same. 

 This type of vegetation persists until we pass Swallow Fleet, 

 and then plants with submerged foliage reign supreme, a 

 huge \.^x\^^Q){ Myriophyliuin spicahim and some M. vertta'llatmn 

 almost swamping all competitors. However, Ranvnculns 

 Baudotii, Zannichellia paliisiris, Lemna minor, L. irisiilca, 

 Glyceria fliiitans and Enteronwrpha intestinalis occur here and 

 there, and occasionally abound, diversified at intervals by 

 isolated tufts of Scirpus Taberuaemonlani, S. lacustris and a 

 little oftener by ,5". maritimus. 



After we move from Mucky Fleet, the Enteroinorpha still 

 remains thin and straggling with Myriophyllum lying beneath 

 in closely interwoven masses. Next Zannichellia and Potanio- 

 geton pectinatus oust the Myriophyllum in part, and huge inflated 

 ropes of Enteromorpha intestinalis occupy the middle of the 

 channel, edged by impressive clumps of Ranunculus sceleratus 

 which tower through streaming Glyceria fluitans and genu- 

 flecting Alopecurus geniculatus. Hereabouts, Scirpus Tabernae- 

 mo n tan i a.nd S. maritimus alike are scarce, but Carex vulpina 

 still remains, striving on the bankside with a little J^uncus 

 Gerardi. At many points Apium graveolens and Calliti'iche 

 intermedia are frequent members of the association. 



When at length the locks are reached, the Zannichellia 

 Potamogeton, Myriophyllum and Enteromorpha alone tolerate 

 the increasing saltiness of the water. Beyond this area, in 

 the lode parallel to Greatham Creek, retrogression along the 

 same lines sets in, but S. Tabernaemontani in this case, and 

 then only feebly, represents the Scirpi. 



The New Road. 



As yet unopened and the recipient of countless loads of 

 ballast, the new Hartlepool road supports along its first stretch 



