ESSEX   BOTANY   AND   MYCOLOGY  GROUPS 

Native. This small inconspicuous sedge of flushes in somewhat eutrophic, silty, calcareous mud  is easily overlooked. It was formerly thinly scattered across southern England but has now virtually retreated to its strongholds in west Wales and from Cumbria north to Scotland, now being virtually absent east of the 40 north-south 100m grid line. Although its demise has been attributed to habitat loss through drainage, the sharpness of the dividing line would perhaps suggest a contributory climatic element. On the evidence of one specimen, we can however, claim it as a once extant Essex plant. A specimen collected by Joshua Clarke in 1864 resides in the Gibson Herbarium at Saffron Walden Museum and has been authenticated by A.C.Jermy. It was collected on Galleywood Common.