Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/102

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A HISTORY OF KENT stations in Kent ; C. ang/ica, L., however is plentiful northwards by tidal rivers and salt marshes. Its var. gemim, Hort {Hortii, Syme), erroneously assumed to be the type in our flora, has occurred about Woolwich and Queenborough, and may be not uncommon. Sisymbrium Sophia, L. is scarce except in the north. Erysimum cheiranthoides, L. may be native here and there on river sides, but is usually a colonist or casual, and rather scarce. Brassica oleracea, L. (wild cabbage) is cer- tainly indigenous on the southern cliffs from Folkestone to the South Foreland ; and B. Sinapioides, Roth {nigra, Koch [black mustard]) is equally so on the coast, though only a colonist inland. Diplotaxis temii- folia, DC. has many natural stations; and D. muralis, DC. (first observed in 1778) has spread from Thanet over many parts of the north and east. Lepidium latifolium, L., though decreasing, still occurs about Upnor, Broadstairs, Sandwich and Folkestone ; L. hirtum, Sm. [Smithii, Hooker), a plant of light soils, is uncommon ; but L. Draba, L. accidentally introduced at Ramsgate about a century ago, has become abundant in many places. Iberis amara, L. (candytuft) used to be found at Shooters Hill, Cobham, Aylesford and Deal. Hutchinsia petraa, planted (by Dillenius .?) on a wall at Eltham, is extinct. Teesdalia mdicaulis, R. Br., abundant on the shingly beach at Lydd and Dungeness, also occurs about Kingsdown, Stourmouth and Cranbrook. Crambe maritima, L. (seakale) is now almost limited to the coast between Walmer and Folkestone. Raphanus maritimus, Sm. has but one station, at Broadstairs. VioLACE^. — Viola palustris, L. has its main range in districts 8, 9. V. odorata, L. (sweet violet) is certainly native on the chalk. While V. ericetorum, Schrad. {canina, auct.) is fairly general on dry heaths, V. lactea, Sm. has only been observed about Tunbridge Wells, and between Leigh and Penshurst Park. PoLYGALE^. — Polygala oxyptera, Reichb. is scarce, P. calcarea, F. Schultz locally abundant, on the downs ; to which also P. austriaca, Crantz (only found outside Kent in one British station) is restricted. It has been gathered near Wye, Charing, Hartlip and Shoreham, and probably occurs elsewhere. Frankeniace^. — Fratikenia Icevis, L. (sea heath) may be found here and there from Sheppey to New Romney. Caryophylle^. — Dianthus Armeria, L. (Deptford pink), though not rare, is decreasing ; D. deltoides, L. (maiden pink) being very scarce. D. plumarius, L. and D. Caryophyllus, L. (aliens) linger on two or three ruins. D. prolifer, L. is native about Hythe. Silene conica, L. abounds on Deal sandhills and at Romney Warren ; S. anglica, L. being strangely rare, and S. quinquevuhiera, L. merely sporadic. S. nutans, L. (Notting- ham catchfly) has a considerable range in the south-east ; its near ally S. italica, Pers., long known near Dartford, also grows at intervals from Dungeness to St, Margaret's Bay. S. noctijiora, L, is not well established, except in Thanet. Cerastium quaternellum, Fenzl {Mcenchia erecta, Sm.) is local and of uncertain appearance ; but C. arvense, L. occurs frequently on the chalk. Stellaria palustris, Retz {glauca. With.) has been found