208 THE COAST-FLORA OF THE CLACTON DISTRICT. 
they grow. Among Scirpus, a very slender form of Atriplex 
patula, as well as a singularly frail form of Suceda maritima, 
may be found, indications that the soil is still saline though only 
slightly. I found one circular dip where three zones were very 
distinctly visible : at the top Agropyrum repens, then a belt of 
Juncus compressus and in the centre Glaux maritima and Plantago 
maritima (Sea Plantain). On another depression of the soil 
]uncus maritimus could be seen in company with CEnanthe pimpi- 
nelloides. In the higher and drier parts such plants as thistles 
[Carduus arvensis, C. lanceolatus), Senecio erucifolius, Trifolium 
arvense (Hare’s-foot Clover), grasses of the ordinary meadow, an 
occasional specimen of Bupieurum tenuissifolium (Slender Hare’s- 
ear), which latter is said to be halophilous, Silene maritima (Sea 
Campion) and Armeria vulgaris (Thrift) may be met with. 
Apium graveolens (Sea Celery), Rumex maritimus (Golden 
Dock), Scirpus maritimus and others grow in the ditches (behind 
sea-walls), filled with brackish water, often together with other 
plants that have no connection with the sea. The water, how¬ 
ever, is still distinctly salt by filtration of sea-water through, and 
storm splashing over the sea walls. 
It would require great labour and ingenuity to explain 
fully all these facts of minute zonation, and, perhaps, doubtful 
adaptations. Not only present oecological facts would have to 
be considered, but historical ones, as the development of the 
coast flora would have to be kept in view. 
A few words may be added on the vegetation of elevated 
places, dams and cliffs, which are entirely out of the reach even 
of the highest tides, but are supplied with some salt by the 
spray on stormy days. There is not, as far as I can see, any 
clear zonation ; but an increasing number of non-halophilous 
plants enter into competition and finally suppress halophytes 
altogether. 
A distinction may be made between the vegetation on fixed 
soil, consisting of clay or artificially supported gravel and sand, 
and on the other hand the vegetation on the latter materials 
unsupported. 
On the fixed soil and within reach of storm splashes we notice 
Beta maritima, Atriplex portulacoides, Lepidium ruder ale, Brassica 
muralis, Cochlearia officinalis (Scurvy Grass), Spergularia media 
(Sand Spurry) ; among grasses the commonest are : Agropyrum 
