THE SALINE FLORA OF STAFFORDSHIRE 
279 
Reports of the North Staffordshire Field Club—whose excursions are 
not confined to the north of the County—for any record of this very 
interesting Saline Flora. What is far more remarkable is the fact 
that the late J. E. Bagnall, in his excellent Flora of the County 
(1900-1), gives no indication that he had met with any of these 
plants—in some cases, indeed, remarking that he had looked for the 
plant in vain, “ could find no trace of it ” ; at the same time he 
inserts all the old records. 
Careful investigation conducted this year by myself and two 
botanical friends discloses the surprising fact that ten species of 
saline plants still exist, scattered, sometimes in profusion, over six 
separate remnants of the ancient salt-marshes. In some spots they 
have the muddy ground entirely to themselves, presenting a truly 
singular appearance in the heart of England. 
The plants noticed are as follows :—- 
JBuda salina Groves. Near Stafford; Baswich; Kingston; Tixall; 
Shirleywich. 
Glaux maritima L. Near Tixall. 
* Plant ago maritima L. Near Tixall. 
Triglochin maritimum L. Near Tixall; Shirleywich. Remark¬ 
ably large and fine specimens. 
Juncus Gerardi Lois. Near Tixall; Kingston by Stafford; 
Shirleywich. 
Scirpus maritimus L. Ditches at Tixall and Kingston. 
Carex distans L. Shirleywich, with Scirpus Taberncemontani 
in a marshy hollow. 
* Sclerochloa maritima Lindl. Near Tixall. 
procumbens Beauv. In great abundance in two muddy 
marshes between Stafford and Baswich. 
*S. distans Bab. Shirleywich, with Triglochin maritimum. 
The plants asterisked appear to be first records for Staffordshire. 
That the Plantago, which is abundant, should have been missed by 
the older botanists seems strange. 
New county localities for Pumex maritimus L. and Samolus 
Yalerandi L., both rare in the county, may be mentioned, and our 
discovery of the very rare Platine JELydropiper L. and Juncus tenuis 
Willd.—both near Rugeley—is also worth recording. It would seem 
that the Elatine has vanished, for the present at least, from Bagnall’s 
locality at Pottall. 
All the above plants were noted by myself in situ ; I may add 
that I have been greatly assisted throughout by the energy and sharp 
eyes of two enthusiastic botanists, the Rev. J. Perry, of Rugeley, and 
Mr. Philip Thornton, of Great Haywood. 
There remains for future investigation a small piece of ground by 
the Trent near Burton, from which Brown ( History of Tutbury ) 
records Scirpus maritimus, Triglochin maritimum, Juncus Gerardi, 
and Apium graveolens. His list was published in I860, and I have 
no later notices of the plants there, though it is cpiite possible they 
are still to be found. 
