Genus Statice as represented at Blakeney Point. L 249 
The Broad-leaved Variety (PI. VI, Photo 2). 
This form is almost invariably found growing in the neighbourhood 
of the normal drift line. Its habitat is, so far as level is concerned, thus 
intermediate between that of Statice bellidifolia on the one hand and V. 
binervosa proper on the other. In fact, it has as yet only been found 
at Blakeney, where these two species meet. The most noticeable differ- 
ences from V. binervosa are the form of the leaves and inflorescence. 
The leaves are broader than the type (Text-fig. lyi^e) and are usually 
without theexcurrent vein. The lateral veins are generally well developed, 
and sometimes four are present in place of the normal two. 
The scapes are more or less spreading and branched from near the 
base, but the branches on the lower half are usually sterile. The branches 
of the scape are usually scabrid-pulverulent down to the base. Branches 
much more divergent than in the type and approximating less to one plane. 
Spikelets crowded, imbricate, with from 1 to 4 flowers. Calyx teeth longer 
and more rounded than those of the type, with from 2 to 4 hairy ribs. 
The bracts and bracteoles larger. Inner bract usually from 5*5 to 
6 mm. long and about 4*5 mm. broad. 
The flowering period is earlier than that of the type form, the plant 
being usually over bloom by the middle of August. 
B. Statice bellidifolia. 
The leaves. The leaves are petioled, the slender petiole often exceed- 
ing the blade in length. The latter is narrowly obovate-lanceolate. The 
apex is frequently blunt or ends in a very short mucronate tip. The leaves 
generally wither away before flowering, previous to which they often take 
on a deep reddish brown or purple colour. The margin is hyaline but very 
narrow. Usually but a single vein is present, though two lateral veins may 
be faintly developed. 
Owing to the early withering of the leaves they afford little or no pro- 
tection to those of the following season. In actual fact the new season’s 
foliage can already be found during the winter as a number of ‘ winter buds 
consisting of closely packed leaves, about 6 to 10 mm. in length. As a re- 
sult of the plant’s habitat these buds are usually adequately protected 
by the silting up of sand and mud around the crown of the plant. The size 
of the entire plant varies enormously. Thus the crown in young specimens 
may be unbranched and not more than 1 J cm. in diameter. Such specimens 
usually only produce sterile scapes. In larger specimens the crown alone 
may be 7 to 8 cm. in diameter. 
The largest specimens found at Blakeney had a spread of (including the 
scapes) about 40 cm., but specimens from the marshes at Burnham Overy 
