Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/102

A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE 1 1 . Kington This district comprises the upper course of the River Arrow and its tributary brooks so far as they belong to the county of Hereford. Its short north-east side bounds on the Aymestrey district ; its longer south-east side follows the high road from Shobdon to Bollingham chapel, whence it runs along the watershed in the same direction until it meets the county boundary on Brilley Mountain. On its south-west and north-west sides it is bounded by the county of Radnor. Geologically speaking this district is a continuation of the Silurian rocks of the Aymestrey district. Stanner Rock with its exceedingly interesting geology and botany belongs to the county of Radnor, being excluded from Herefordshire by a few hundred yards only. Hergest ridge in this district rises to an elevation of 1,394 ft., Rushock to 1,137 ^^- "T^^^ prevailing type of vegetation in this area is again of a montane character, including also several bog and stream-side species very rare in Herefordshire. It possesses a rich bramble flora which again is of a prevailingly hill type. The following plants seem worthy of especial mention : — The hill meadow rue [Thalictrum montanum) has been found at one spot near Kington ; in the same neighbourhood the globe flower [TrolUus europaeus) ; the climbing corydalis [Corydalis claviculata) grows at Shobdon ; shepherd's cress {Teesdalia nudicaulis), the vernal sandwort {Arenaria verna the marsh stitchwort {Stellaria palustrls). the lesser persicaria {Polygonum minus), and the white sedge [Carex canescens); all these, confined to a single station in Herefordshire, are found near Kington. The bog and stream-side species comprise the greater spearwort [Ranunculus Lingua), the bitter brook cress [Cardamine amara), the marsh St. John's-wort {Hypericum elodes), and the marsh cinquefoil {Potentilla Comarum). The full list follows : — Thalictrum minus, L., var. montanum, Wallr. Myosurus minimus, L. Ranunculus circinatus, Sibth. — penicillatus, Hlern. — Lingua, L. Trollius europaeus, L. Aconitum Napellus, L. Nuphar luteum, Sm. Corydalis claviculata, DC. Fumaria purpurea, Pugsley Cardamine amara, L. Teesdalia nudicaulis, R. Br. Cerastium quaternellum, Fenzl. Stellaria palustris, Retz. Arenaria verna, L. Hypericum montanum, L. — elodes, L. Geranium sanguineum, L. Rhamnus catharticus, L. Rubus plicatus, W. & N., var.hemistemon(P.J.Muell.) — carpinifolius, W. & N. — nemoralis, P. J. Muell., var. glabratus, Bab. var. Silurum, A. Ley — Lindebergii, P. J. Muell. — dumnoniensis, Bab. — mercicus. Bag., var. bracteatus, Bag. var. chrysoxylon, Rogers — Selmeri, Lindeb. — leucandrus, Focke — silvaticus, W. & N. — macrophyllus (sp. coll.), var. macrophylloides (Genev.) . — Sprengelii, W. I — hypoleucus, P. t- Muell. — hirtifolius, MuffU. & Wirtg., var. danicws (Focke) Rubus mucronatus,Blox. f. mucrona- toides, A. Ley — melanoxylon, Muell. & Wirtg. — infestus, W. — ericetorum, Lefv. - — • scaber, W. & N. — fuscus, VV. & N., var. nutans, Rogers — longithyrsiger, Bab., var. botryeros, Rogers — rosaceus (sp. coll.), var. silvestris, R. P. Murr. — velatus, Lefv. Potentilla palustris, Scop. Jasione montana, L. Scutellaria minor, Huds. Polygonum minus, Huds. Carex canescens. L. Alopecurus geniculatus L., sub-sp. folvus, Sm. 12. Pembridge This is a long narrow district stretching in a north-easterly direction from the Wye to the Lugg. It is bounded on the north-west by districts 10 and 11, and on the south-east by district 8. Geologically it belongs entirely to the Old Red Sandstone, rising where it bounds on district 1 1 at Brilley Mountain to 1,000 ft. Some plants rare in Herefordshire are found in this district. The common horsetail {Hippuris vulgaris) and a rare pond-weed [Potamogeton plantageum) are found m the Pinsley Brook, an affluent of the Lugg ; a rare hawk-weed [Hieracium rigidum, var. scahrescem) has been found near Brilley ; the wood stitchwort [Stellaria nemorum), and the knotted spurrey {Sagina nodosa) occur in this district; the bramble flora is characterized by the great abundance and luxuriance of Rubus ericetorum, especially near Eardisley. Rubus nitidus at Shirl and Rubus viridis at Winforton Wood are^:c7-^Trcd<& these stations in the county, mention as remarkable for a rich and interesting bramble flora. Ranunculus fluitans, L. Lathyrus sylvestris, L. _ penicillatus, Hiern. Rubus nitidus, W. & N. Stellaria nemorum, L. — ^ffinis, W. & N Sagina nodosa, Fenzl. — carpmifolms W. & N. Rhamnus catharticus, L. _ mcurvatus, Bab. _ Frangula, L. - nemorahs, P. J. Muell., Genista anglica, L. var. S.lurum, A. Ley 50 The latter-named station deserves The following list is given : — Rubus mercicus. Bag., var. bracteatus, Bag. var. chrysoxylon, Rogers — Selmeri, Lindeb. — leucandrus, Focke. — thyrsoideus, Wimm. — silvaticus, W. & N.