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BOTANY


THE LIVERWORTS (Hepaticæ)

The knowledge possessed at the present time of the liverworts or scale mosses of Buckinghamshire is even more fragmentary than that of the mosses; like them, but to even a greater extent, they show a preference for moist situations and a humid atmosphere. The damp woods of the Colne and such places as the boggy parts of Brickhill, Black Park, Alderbourne Bottom and Dropmore are places where several species are found, but a systematic search in other parts of the county would certainly result in adding fresh species to the county. Among the more interesting species which have been found are Riccia glauca, Madotheca platyphylla and Radula complanata gathered by Mr. Holmes near Buckingham; and Mr. Benbow records Lejeunea minutissima from Tilehouse and Stoke Wood, L. serpyllifolia from Brockhurst Wood, Lepidozia reptans from the Denham and Chalfont Woods and at Burnham Beeches, Blepharostoma trichophylla, Cphalozia multiflora and C. sphagnei, C. divaricata, Jungermannia venfricosa, Mylia Taylori, M. anomala and Gynocolea inflata from Stoke Common, C. sphagnei, M. Taylori and M. anomala also occurring on Farnham Common. Plagiochila asplenioides occurs near Lane End, Jungermannia ventricosa above Princes Risborough, Cepbalozia divaricata, Brickhill, C. bicuspidata, at Lane End, and Madotheca platyphylla at Brickhill.

THE LICHENS (Lichenes)

The lichen flora of Buckinghamshire is practically an unworked field, and although the county is not likely to be so rich as some of those in the west of England, yet a large number of species are certainly found in it. But the absence of the primitive rocks and the scarcity of rock surfaces, and the fact that so much of the woodlands consist of beech whose smooth trunks and almost complete shade which they cast are inimical to the growth of these organisms, necessarily tend to limit the total number of the species, but some of the low-lying woods in the Colne and Chess drainage as well as the older woods in the Ouse district are happy hunting grounds. Nor must we omit to mention what a charm is given so frequently to rural scenes by the abundance of the golden lichen (Physcia parietina) on the brick-tiled roofs of many a farm homestead or village barn.

The following list has been given by Mr. E. M. Holmes all from Buckingham except when otherwise stated.

Collema pulposum, Ach. Tingewick
—— glaucescens, Hoffm. Bulstrode
Leptogium minutissimum, Koerb. Butlers Holt, Buckingham
Cladonia sylvatica, Nyl. Farnham Royal
Ramalina calicaris, Nyl
——farinacea, Ach. f. phalerata, Ach. Stowe Park
——fraxinea, Ach.
Ramalina fastigiata, Ach.
——pollinaria, Ach.
——evernioides, Nyl.
f. monophylla, Cromb.
Evernia prunastri, Ach.
Platysma diffusum, Nyl. Maidenhead, Stoke Park
Parmelia perlata, Ach.
—— exasperata, Ach.

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