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NOTES ON THE SUFFOLK FLORA
The above is extracted from some notes left by Mrs. Rivis, " to be given to the Suffolk Naturalists at my death " . She died 18th January, 1958, leaving Rosehill House and land to the Suffolk Naturalists " for the general purposes of the Society and in particular for a place of quiet enjoyment and a sanctuary for wild life." C.
NOTES ON T H E SUFFOLK FLORA. by
F. W.
SIMPSON
RECORDERS for the Distribution Maps Scheme organised by the Botanical Society of the British Isles and for our own County Flora Scheme have so far discovered few new species for the County and they have not been able to re-find very many of the rare or local plants recorded by the excellent botanists of the 19th Century. T h i s is not really surprising as the majority of the more interesting habitats have undergone many changes or been completely destroyed. In checking the Suffolk cards I have noticed that a fair number of common or frequent plants, shrubs and trees have apparently been widely overlooked, and it is hoped that the gaps will be filled enabling us to plot accurately the distribution of the more important species. The results of this survey will be published in due course, chiefly in map form and in our Flora, so that it is very important that the recordings should be as complete and accurate as possible. Some of the larger groups have hardly been touched and there are very scanty records indeed for the Brambles, Roses and Hawkweeds and only limited finds among the Grasses and Sedges. These are, of course, difficult groups for the beginner, but there are specialists who are prepared to identify material.
This survey when completed will enable us to form a general picture of the mid-20th Century flora of the British Isles. Records must be properly checked and where some doubt may exist a specimen may be required even if the botanist feels confident and that such a check is quite unnecessary.