Oxford
1909
Sept. 9 [September 9, 1909]
(No 2)
rank, growing partly in the shallow water, partly on the face of
the bank. This is composed chiefly of flags, similar in appearance
to our trout flags and 2 to 4 feet in height, and of the attractive 
Willow Herb still covered with its rose red flowers which, at a
distance, look not unlike New England asters. There is also Purple
Loosestrife, now nearly out of bloom, and a tall, coarse dock
which I cannot distinguish from our ordinary garden weed
of that name. There are everywhere the most conspicuous &
common plants. Among them are others, of course, such as
thistles and nettles with some to which I can give no names.
I am struck by the apparent absence of ferns of every kind;
not one have I seen along this river.
The Cherwell
  The water in the river is fairly clear and, as one looks down
into it whether in sunlight or in shadow, of a decided, if light,
greenish tint. I see the bottom distinctly enough where it is
three or four feet in depth. It is fairly alive with fishes
of various kinds, both large and small, and everywhere abundantly
supplied (but nowhere choked) with aquatic vegetation. There are
Cow lilies (but no white water Lilies) a species of Potamogeton with
large leaves, a broad bladed Eel grass (?), a rank plant with
fern like foliage (always completely submerged). Prettiest of all to my
fancy is a little floating Duckweed very bright green in color and
not in the least shiny like our species, which it otherwise resembles.
There are many dragon flies along this river, the only place I have
ever found them common in England. All appear to be of the
same kind, a large rusty-brown species strong of flight and
occasionally seen in fields at a distance from water and even
in flower gardens in the heart of Oxford. Of these there are
always one or two & sometimes as many as five or six, in
sight from the spot where I am now writing. I see
no Agrionidae here although I noted a few along the Thames a
month ago.