Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/101

BOTANY {Digitalis purpurea) is absent from the Leominster neighbourhood for several miles. Several local brambles occur in this district. The ' Leasow bramble ' {Rubus virguliorum), which is far more abundant northwards in Shropshire than in any part of Herefordshire, was first discovered in the ash thickets locally termed leasows at Kimbolton. Rubus Lindebergii, likewise a northern form, and the rare form R. rubiginosus, are found in the same neighbourhood. The following is a full list : — Ranunculus circinatus, Sibth. Rubus fuscus, W. & N., Helleborus viridis, L. Aconitum Napellus, L. Berberis vulgaris, L. Anthyllis Vulneraria, L Lotus corniculatus, L., sub-sp. tenuis, Kit. Onobrychis sativa. Lam. Lathyrus sylvestris, L. Rubus Lindebergii, P. J. Muell. — infestus, W., var. virgultorum, A. Ley var. macrostachys (P. J. Muell.) — fiisco-ater, W. — hirtus, W. & K. (sp. coll.), sub-sp. rubiginosus (P. J. Muell.) — corylifolius, Sm., var. sublustris (Lees) Rosa spinosissima, L. Pyrola minor, L. Scrophularia aquatica, L., sub-sp. umbrosa, Dumort. Origanum vulgare, L., var. megastachyum (Link.) Orchis pyramidalis, L. Habenaria viridis, R. Br. — bifolia, R. Br. Ophrys apifera, Huds. Galanthus nivalis, L. Polygonatum multiflorum, All. Koehleria cristata, Pers. 10. Aymestrey This district forms the extreme northern angle of the county. On the south-east it bounds on the Leominster district (9) from the county border at Ludlow to Mortimer's Cross ; thence the boundary runs along the Hay, and afterwards the Presteign high roads, to the county boundary. Its whole north-west and northern sides are bounded by Radnorshire and Shropshire. The geological character of the district is almost entirely Silurian ; it is drained by the Lugg on the south and the Teme on the north, both rivers flowing through deep gorges flanked by wooded hills. Shobdon Hill lies on the south, the hills of Deerfold Forest in the centre, and Bring- wood Chase with the High Vinnalls on the north. The whole region is therefore one of great picturesque beauty. Its highest points are Reeve's Hill, 1,300 ft. ; Harley's Mountain, 1,266 ft. ; High Vinnalls, 1,235 ft. ; Coles Hill, 1,097 ^^- The chief characteristic of the vegetation of this district is the occurrence here first in Herefordshire of Welsh and Shropshire plants. Among the former are to be noted the climbing corydalis [Corydalis daviculata), the pansy [Viola tricolor large flowered hemp-nettle [Galeopsis versicolor), and creeping forget-me-not [Myosotis repens). The brambles are numerous and interesting, and many belong to the Welsh type : Rubus afflnis, carpini- foUuSj incurvatus, Silurum and Selmeri belong to this category. Among plants more common in Shrop- shire are especially to be mentioned Forster's stonecrop {Sedum Forsterianum) and maiden pink [Dianthus deltoides both of which are found on the Shropshire border of this district. Here also fall some brambles, especially Rubus infestus, with its variety virgultorum. Among plants meriting independent mention the asarabacca {Asarum europaeum), which has long been known at one station in Deerfold Forest, though with no claim to be considered native, stands first. The large- leaved lime [Tilia platyphyllos) seems to be native near Aymestrey, and has been largely planted in the gorge of the Teme at Downton. The bloody cranesbill grows also in this gorge, while the monk's-hood [Aconitum Napellus) is found at Sunny Gutter, near Ludlow. The following list of interesting plants is given : — Ranunculus circinatus, Sibth. Aconitum Napellus, L. Corydalis claviculata, D.C. Viola tricolor, L. Dianthus deltoides, L. — plumarius, L. Tilia platyphyllos, Scop. Geranium sanguineum, L. Genista anglica, L. Trifolium striatum, L., var. erectum, Leight. Ornithopus perpusillus, L. Rubus sulcatus. Vest. — affinis, W. & N. — carpinifolius, W. & W. — incurvatus, Bab. — nemoralis, P. J. MuelL, var. Silurum, A. Ley — Lindebergii, P. J. Muell. — Selmeri, Lindeb. Rubus macrophyllus (sp. coll.), var. macrophylloides, (Genev.) — Sprengelii, W. — hypoleucus, Lef. & Muell. ■ — hirtifolius, Muell. & Wirtg. — criniger, Linton — Gelertii, Frider — anglosaxonicus, Gelert._/r — infestus, W._/i var. virgultorum, A. Ley — Borreri, Bell Salt. — fuscus, W. & N., var. nutans, Rogers — pallidus, W. — rosaceus (sp. coll.), sub-sp. adornatus, P. Muell. — fusco-ater, W. — velatus, LefV. Geum rivale, L. 49 J- Rosa mollis, Sm. Sedum Forsterianum, Sm., var. glaucescens, H. C. Wats. Viburnum Lantana, L. Dipsacus pilosus, L. Pyrola minor, L. Myosotis repens, G, Don Scrophularia aquatica, L., sub-sp. umbrosa, Djmort. Origanum vulgare, L., var. megastachyum (Link) Galeopsis versicolor, Curt. Asarum europaeum, L. Juniperus communis, L. Habenaria viridis, R. Br. — bifolia, R. Br. Scirpus caricis, Retz. Alopecurus geniculatus, L., sub-sp. fulvus (Sm.) Phragmites communis, Trin.