42 
EXCURSIONS^ 1947. 
was also a patch of Ileleochuris unlyhiinis. The drained fen to the 
north, however, was of greater interest to nieinhers, a^? here were several 
l)6aty ditches with a rich aquatic vegetation, including Utricularia vul- 
i/aris (flowering well in this hot sunny sunnner), Potaiiiogetun coloratus, 
/'. pusillus, and Curex lepidocarjKi. Elodea was found with male 
flowers, and also some plants of a small white water lily — aiiparently 
only a form of Nymphaea alha. Gra])iiels were of great use here. 
The afternoon was spent in exploring the area forinerlj" known to 
botanists as “ Ham Ponds.” No ponds now exist here, hut although 
much has been lost, some interesting relics of primitive fen still exist, 
and also peaty water-meadows and ditches Avith a rich A’egetation. 
The best relic of fen examined .still contained abundant Cladium 
Mariscus in fine fruit, Dryopteris Thelypteris, SoHx repens var. arenaria 
and Ep'ipactis palustris, besides numerous other species. Wet meadows 
nearby produced much Blysinus coiapressus (very rare in S.E. England), 
numerous CanceSj and Pedicidaris palustris in its only modern Kent 
locality. The ditches showed an interesting aquatic flora like that at 
Wingham. 
Monday, September 8. 
Only a comparatiA'ely small number of members were able to stay 
for the Monday excursion; but this was in some Avays the mo.st profit- 
able day scientifically, as tAvo plants Avere found which had not been seen 
in Kent for many years — Utricularia minor and Stellaria palustris. 
In Worth JMinnis, amidst an abundance of Potainugeton coloratus 
and Utricularia vulgaris, a small quantity of Utricularia minor (Avith- 
out floAvers) Avas seen. The same small form of Nymphaea alba was seen 
here that had been seen at Wingham. 
The raihvay sidings at Richborough were examined for Uianthus 
prolifer, but this Avas not .seen this year, though still there in 1946 (and 
seen again in 1948). The beach at Pegwell Bay was next examined with 
the object of finding Atriplex ped/unculatd (last seen about fourteen 
years before), but it Avas not seen. Artemisia Absinthium, howeA'er, 
AA'as found on the beach, and a little Crambe maritima among many 
Eryngium maritimum seedlings. 
Preston coui-t marshes Avere the last ])lace examined. Here Stellaria 
Udleniana Avas found on the edge of a ditch. Another ditch was 
sprinkled Avith some thousands of spikes of Utricularia vulgaris, among 
Avhich Avas a A'ery little Utricularia minor. Aluch of the area is noAV 
Phrag mites SAvamp and very Avild. 
’After examining a feAv more ditches for Potamogeton, the excur- 
sion closed Avith tea at the hotel at GroA'e Ferry. 
It Avas hoped that Liparis Loeselii, found at Ham Ponds by Dilhvyn 
in 1802, might ]ierhaps be refound. This rather remote hope Avas not 
realised, though one suitable area for it Avas found. Nor Avere Elymus 
arenarius, Erodium maritim um , or Polygonum Paii refound on the 
sandhills. 
