22 
The Presidential Address. 
laris), the Marsh Cinquefoil ( Comarum ), and St. John’s-wort 
( Hypericum elocles), the Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia), the 
Ragged Robin [Lychnis flos-cuculi), Mints, Ragwort ( Senecio 
aquations), Fleabane ( Pulicaria dysenterica), Willow-herbs 
[Epilobium), Loosestrifes ( Lysimachia vulgaris, L. nummularia, 
and L. nemorum), Rushes and Sedges, would then have 
flourished far more than at present. 
The aquatic plants I need not enumerate, seeing that with 
the exception of the American water-weed [Elodea canadensis), 
man does not seem to have added one to the list, though 
possibly, in clearing rivers for navigation, he may have 
exterminated some, such as the Pillwort (Pilularia) and 
Moonwort ( Botrychium ), two interesting forms among the 
higher Cryptogams, of which the former grew in Henhault 
Forest in Forster’s time, 28 and the latter near Colchester in 
that of Gerard. 29 
One plant which now grows in meadows liable to floods 
I must mention, since my experience of it leads me to differ 
from the authority of DeCandolle, 30 viz., the Fritillary, or 
Snake-lily ( Eritillaria meleagris). Gibson records it 81 as in 
process of extermination at Bumpsted, being transplanted 
into gardens ; but it is never mentioned as a native by our 
older botanists, it has no old English name, it is beyond its 
continental range, and is limited to a few river-valleys, down 
which it spreads readily. The only locality I know for the 
species in the valley of the Severn is represented only by the 
white variety, and this and ldndredly suspicious circum- 
28 “In Hog-hill Pond on Henhault Forest.” Edward Forster, MS. 
note in ‘Botanist’s Guide.’ 
29 “ Lunaria minor. Small Moonewoort. ... It groweth also in the 
ruines of an olde bricke kill by Colchester, in the grounde of master 
George Sayer, called Miles ende.”—‘ Herb all ’ (1597), p. 329. 
30 Op. cit., p. 693. “ Je penche pour l’opinion du docteur Bromfield, 
qui ne voit pas de motifs suffisants pour nier la qualite indigene de cette 
plante. Elle manque a la Normandie .... aux environs de 
Paris .... aux lies de la Manche . . . . et a l’lrlande. Je ne puis rien 
dire pour Bretagne, mais on retrouve l’esp^ce dans la Loire-Inferieure. 
. . . . L’Angleterre serait l’extreme limite a l’ouest, et la plante y serait 
naturellement plus rare qu’ailleurs, comme toute espeee sur sa limite.” 
31 ‘Flora of Essex,’ p. 316, 
