38 
FIELD MEETINGS, 1949 
rather wooded track to the top of, a low hill of Lower Lias. The flora 
was a typically calcareous one, and many species, distinctly local in 
vice-county 5, South Somerset, were observed.! 
A list of all the identifiable species of phanerogams and vascular 
cry()togams was made. No particularly rare species was observed, but 
members from the north of the country were pleased to see Sorhns for- 
minalis and lUibia peregrina, whilst Viscinn album, growing in an over- 
grown liedge of Crataegus rnonogynri, is worthy of mention. Luzula x 
Jiorreri, the natural hybrid between L. Forsteri and L. pilosa, was found 
in some quantity with both parents in the wood on the summit east of 
Thurlbear. A strange plant to find with calcicole species in a derelict 
arable field was Melampyrnm pratense. 
On Saturday evening some' of us walked along the canal towards 
Bath])ool, and found Potamogeton densus, P. perfoliatus and P. crlspus 
in great quantity. Carex Otruhae and C. riparia var. gracilescevs were 
also collected and specimens are in the Kew Herbarium. Another 
Potamogeton was seen in profusion in the River Tone m the parish of 
Bishop’s Hidl Without, but it was not possible to collect material for 
determination. 
On Sunday, 22nd May, the party went by coach to visit the famous 
sand dunes and foreshore at Berrow (v.-c. 6). Mr Neal was unable to 
be jiresent on this day, but the party was ably leil by our member. Dr 
J. H. Davie, who came over from Clifton for the day, bringing with 
him some keen members of the Clifton College Natural History Society. 
Dr Davie had prepared an account of the changes which had taken place 
in the salt marsh in recent years, largely due to the spread of the rice- 
grass, Spartina Townsen^di. This account, together with sketch-maps, 
was distributed to all pre.sent, thus enabling them to understand more 
fully the significance of the vegetation they were to see. To those of 
us who had not been to Berrow for many years, the abundance of- 
llippopha'e Phamnoides came as a shock. Where years ago the rich and 
interesting sand-dune flora was flourishing, now there is a monotonous 
impenetrable thicket of sea buckthorn. It seems that the spread of 
Ifippophae, which was slow at first, has recently gained momentum 
and has now got completely beyond control, causing serious damage to 
the native dune flora. Tt is hoped that other areas of sand-dunes 
around our coasts may escape the colonization of Hippophae, and Local 
Secretaries are asked to inform the General Secretary of any notice- 
able increase of this plant on sand-dunes in their areas. 
The dune flora of Berrow is well known, and no useful purpose would 
be .served by listing the species observed by the party on this occasion. 
Suffice it to say that many members were enabled to see plants that 
they had not seen before, and others enjoyed renewing old acquaint- 
ances. Plantago lanceolata var. anthoviridis ivas observed on the 
tUoth this locality and that visited near Blagdon on Monday fall into District 
in, as used liy Murray, Flora ol Somerscl. p. x\ : isfiG. 
