Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/113

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

BOTANY S. ramosissma, Woods apparently not unfrequent. S. appressa, Dum. grows at Seasalter and New Romney ; S. radicans, Sm. being plentiful in the marshes of district 3 and near Sandwich, besides occurring on the Isle of Grain and at Deal and Romney. PoLYGONACE^. — Polygonum dumetorum, L. has only been noticed about Woolwich, Faversham, Trinley and Ashford ; P. Raii, Bab. on Grain Spit, and at Whitstable, Sandwich and Sandgate. P. minus, Huds., figured in English Botany from Blackheath, has also been found at Seal Chart, and possibly near Tunbridge Wells on the Kent side. P. mite, Schrank, a species easily overlooked, is recorded from Lewis- ham, Chislehurst, Minster (Sheppey), Hadlow and Tunbridge Wells ; P. maculatum. Trim. & Dyer, being widely, though somewhat thinly, spread. Outside district 8 P. Bistorta, L. (snakeweed) must be described as a rarity. Rumex maritimus, L. (golden dock) has only been gathered in the Thames marshes, and about Hythe and Romney ; its near ally, R. limosus, Thuill. {palustris, Sm.) from Charlton to Erith, at Whitstable, and perhaps between Margate and Sandwich. Thymel^ace^. — Daphne Mezereum, L. (mezereon) is extremely scarce, the only known stations being at Cobham, Godmersham and near Broome Park ; thus offering a great contrast with the abun- dance of the spurge laurel (D. Laureola, L,). EL-ffiAGNACE^. — Hippophce rhamnoides, L. (sea buckthorn), though extinct in Sheppey, abounds at intervals round the coast from Deal to Romney. LoRANTHACEuE. — Viscum album, L. (mistletoe) is uncommon, but grows in every division except district 10. Santalace^. — Thesium hutnifusum, DC, long sought for in vain, has recently been discovered by the Rev. E. EUman near Bishopsbourne. EupHORBiACE^. — Euphorbia platyphyllos, L. (warted spurge), though unknown only for districts 5, 6, is rare, especially northwards. E. Cyparissias, L. (cypress spurge) may be a true native on chalky hill- sides near Dover ; while E. Paralias, L. (sea spurge) has become extremely scarce owing to the inroads of the sea. E. Lathyris, L. (caper spurge), usually an obvious escape, has some claim to be thought indigenous near Cobham, Boxley and Milton ; as has Buxus sempervirens, L. (box) at Boxley. Urticace^. — Our two species of elm are both questionable natives, unUke the hop [Humulus Lupulus, L.), though that is so extensively cultivated. The Roman nettle (Urtica pilulifera, L.) has quite disappeared from Romney and Lydd. Myricace^. — Myrica Gale, L. (bog myrtle), not found recently at Tunbridge Wells or Willesborough, may yet be discovered in two or three other neighbourhoods. Salicine^. — Salix aurita, L., S. Caprea, L., S. cinerea, L. and S. repens, L. are certainly, S. fragilis, L. and S. purpurea, L. probably native ; the other species are usually, if not always planted. Several hybrids occur Smithiana forms being common. Populus alba, L. and 63