A HISTORY OF KENT P. canescens, Sm. generally look like aliens ; but P. tremula, L. (aspen) is truly wild, and abounds in the Wealden woods. Ceratophylle^. — Both species of hornwort {Ceratophyllum demer- sum, L, and C. submersum, L.) are rather common ; but the latter does not grow at any great distance from tidal waters. Hydrocharide^. — Elodea canadensis, Michaux (American weed) has become as plentiful in Kent as in the neighbouring counties. Stratiotes aloides, L. grows in a pond near Dymchurch, where it was almost certainly introduced. Orchidace^. — No British county excels Kent in the number of its orchids, though these are sadly diminished since a century ago, largely owing to the rapacity of collectors. Malaxis paludosa, Sw. (bog orchis) has only been found for certain near Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook. Neotfia Nidus-avis, Rich, (birds'-nest orchis) abounds in chalky woods. Cephalanthera ensifolia. Rich, has been obtained near Cobham, Cuxton, Falkham and Tunbridge Wells ; while C. pallens. Rich, {grandijiora, Bab.) is an ornament of most beech-groves. Epipactis violacea, Bor. has been recorded from Ryarsh, Cobham, Cuxton, Walder- share, Ospringe, Dunton Green and Cowden ; but it is sometimes confused with the much more frequent E. media, Bab., a species perhaps too closely allied with the common E. latifoUa, All. (broad-leaved helle- borine). E. palustris, Crantz (marsh helleborine), known for about fifteen localities, is abundant in some of them. Orchis hircina. Scop, (lizard orchis), once locally frequent in district 2, has disappeared from nearly all the old stations ; but a fine specimen is still known near Wye, and a trustworthy informant tells us that thirty plants were found at one spot in 1900. O. ustulata, L. (dwarf orchis), perhaps extinct in district 2, still occurs in districts 5, 6, 7, 10 ; O. purpurea, Huds. being locally plentiful in districts 2, 5, 6, 7. O. pyramidalis, L., O. Morio, L., O. mascula, L., O. latifolia, L. and O. maculata, L. are all more or less abundant ; whereas O. incarnata, L. has been discovered only in Minster Marshes (Thanet), and at Ham Ponds and Lamberhurst. Aceras anthro- pophora, R. Br. abounds in many places on the chalk ; as do Ophrys apifera, Huds. (bee orchis), O. muscifera, Huds. (fly orchis), and the more local O. aranifera, Huds. (spider orchis). O. arachnites. Lam. is now practically restricted to the south-east in districts 7, 10 ; but Her- minium Monorchis, R. Br. (musk orchis) has a wide range, and is fairly common in districts 2, 7. Habenaria conopsea, Benth. (fragrant orchis), H. bifolia, R. Br. and H. chloroleuca, Ridley (butterfly orchis) occur freely ; while the frog orchis {H. viridis, R. Br.) is decidedly scarce, and H. albida, Br. has only been observed at Lyminge. Iride^. — The stinking iris {Iris fcetidissima, L.) is pretty common in several districts. /. Pseudacorus, L. (yellow flag) usually occurs as the var. acoriformis (Bor.). The pale-flowered var. Bastardi (Bor.) appears to have been once found at Hayes. Amaryllide^. — Narcissus biflorus. Curt, and N. poeticus, L. are not true natives, though the former is well established occasionally ; the 64
