A SURVEY OF THK LOWER TKES MARSHES 135 



from being so propitious as those offered iiere. My sole con- 

 jecture is that some long forgotten fue, helped by the choking 

 action of fen vegetation, has so affected a plant almost 

 destitute of roots as to prevent its recovery. 



However, to balance these losses, Statice hiimilis, Saiicornia 

 radicans, Erythraea pvlchella and Potaiuogeion compressiis have 

 been discovered to add to the local Flora. Of these, the 

 existence of the first two could almost have been predicted in 

 view of their presence in Coatham Marshes just opposite. 

 And their detection was very opportune, so very precarious is 

 their hold. Both hereabouts attain the limits of their northern 

 range, and the tenure of plants favouring the Mediterranean 

 cannot be a happy one here — a fact that the further northward 

 extension of the genus Statice in the guise of 6". limoniuvi does 

 not affect. Though Saiicornia is not so definitely southern in 

 its preference, of the two, it will be first to disappear; even 

 now only a few straggling wrecks represent it. 



How Erythraea pidchella eluded the eyes of the early 

 observers I cannot understand, unless the reasons be its late 

 flowering and lowly habit ; in very many places it simply 

 abounds. Furthermore, it appears to be the Tees Mouth 

 speciality destined to survive, so easy is it to satisfy in its 

 requirements, if only the soil contains a little salt. 



In recording these additions I have not ventured to include 

 such segregates as Orchis incarnata, Stellaria Boraeana, and 

 the various Salicorniae, Riippiae a.r\d Zaimichelliae ; no reflection 

 is cast on older authors for failing to observe these. Only 

 recently have the bulk of them been studied and separated 

 from their aggregates with any certitude. In this category 

 my discoveries include Saiicornia dolichostachys, S. disarticulata, 

 S. ramosissima, Ruppia spiralis and Zannichellia maritinm. 



Little as has been the time devoted to the Cryptogams they, 

 too, have yielded their quota of rarities, several very rare 

 mosses and hepatics having rewarded my restricted efibrts ; 

 had time and opportunities permitted I feel confident that 



