Yorkshire Naturalists at Filey. 
225 
almost cushion like — Spiraea Ulmaria, a Rubus of the Caesii 
group with remarkably large and lacerated white petals, 
Potentilla sylvestris, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Apium inundatum 
(also a first record for one of the ponds of the Flat Cliff), 
(Enanthe fistulosa, Silaus flavescens, Valeriana dioica, Eupa- 
torium cannabinum with Spircea Ulmaria in big, dense beds. 
Pulicaria dysenterica, Tussilago Farfara — the first plant appar- 
ently to establish itself on the bare face of the boulder clay 
cliff — Cnicus palustris, Primula veris, Anagallis tenella, Men- 
yanthes trifoliata with an intricate network of rhizomes almost 
filling up the partially dried up pond, and flowering profusely, 
Myosotis palustris. Polygonum amphibium, var. terrestre, Listera 
■ovata, Orchis mascula, Juncus glaucus, Sparganium simplex, 
Lemna trisulca, Alisma Plantago-aquatica, Potamogeton natans, 
and the sedges, Carex rostrata and C. vesicaria. The grass, 
Deschampsia ccespitosa was in very numerous tussocks. Three 
ferns, viz., Athyrium Filix-femina, Lastrcea Filix-mas and 
L. dilatata, were observed on the Flat Cliff ; and in the ponds 
Equisetum limosum. 
Referring to the almost cushion-like appearance mentioned 
above concerning Ulex europceus (furze) and Prunus spinosa 
(sloe), it may be observed that the reason for the remarkable 
habit seemed for the first time to be quite apparent to us. All 
the trees and shrubs that are in exposed situations on our 
coast have their apices and topmost branches partially dead 
and rotting ; the cause whereof being due to the tenderest 
growth succumbing to the all too prevalent attacks of cold 
East winds combined probably with frequent douches of salt 
spray. Below the dead portion of each shoot, where an 
excess of nutrient material is bound to congregate, numbers 
of buds burst forth which ultimately become shoots and are 
afterwards treated in the same fashion as the now partially 
dead branches. What is done in the garden and shrubbery 
with say, privet, hawthorn, etc., to secure a dense growth 
instead of a tall and spindly one, is done at Filey in a natural 
way. 
The geologists who took the northward route towards 
Gristhorpe and Cayton Bays were not unobservant of plants 
they passed, and in addition to those mentioned above the 
following may be noted, viz : — 
Pedicularis sylvatica, Euphrasia officinalis and Rhinanthus 
Crista-galli, all three semi-parasitic plants, chiefly on roots of 
grasses, were growing quite close together in a field on the top 
of the cliff. Orchis Morio together with Ophioglossum vulgatum 
(Adder’s tongue fern) were also seen in the same locality. 
{To be continued). 
1914 July 1. 
