Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/94

A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE native in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. In the south-west of Here- fordshire in the parishes of St. Weonards and Garway it occurs in great plenty in thickets in damp situations in places which preclude the possibility of its being planted. The yellow star of Bethlehem {Gagea luted) occurs in Herefordshire in two widely separated localities, one near Ross, one at the western base of the Malvern Hills. Herefordshire woods are remarkable for the abundance in suitable spots of the rare sedge Carex strigosa, and of the wood-rush Luzula Forsteri. Wherever the latter occurs in conjunction with the spring wood-rush {Luzula vernalis) the hybrid [Luzula Borreri) is never far to seek. A grass rare inland {Gastridium lendigerum) occurs occasionally in and near dry Hereford- shire woods, appearing after the coppice has been felled and then disappearing for many years. Turning to special areas of the county, the Black Mountain region border- ing on the counties of Brecon and Monmouth deserves especial recognition as contributing the greater number of the montane and sub-montane species. The Hatterell Hill in Herefordshire proper here maintains a level of 2,000 ft. and over for about 5 miles. Including the isolated Grwyne valley and certain portions of the Black Mountain system lying in Monmouthshire and Brecon- shire many species of interest are found here alone in the area falling under this review. For particulars the reader is referred to the account of district 14. In conclusion one small tract — the Doward Hills of the lower Wye valley — deserves especial mention in any account of the Herefordshire flora. The area of these hills is about 2,126 acres; and in this limited space 682 species and named varieties of flowering plants and ferns and 223 of mosses have been recorded. In a single winter day's ramble on these hills the writer saw and catalogued 1 20 species of mosses. These totals are year by year being added to. Some of the interesting flowering plants of the Dowards are particularized under district 2 (Ross). BOTANICAL DISTRICTS The county of Hereford was divided by the late Rev. W. H. Purchas and his kWovi- workers about the year 1852 into fourteen districts for botanical purposes. These districts are as foUovsrs : — I, St. Weonards; 2, Ross; 3, Woolhope ; 4, Ledbury; 5, Bromyard; 6, Frome ; 7, Hereford; 8, Weobley ; 9, Leominster; 10, Aymestrey ; 11, Kington; 12, Pembridge ; 1 3, Golden Valley ; 1 4, Black Mountain. These districts were again grouped as follows : — 1—3, South; 4— 6, East ; 7-8, Central ; 9-12, North; 13-14, West. The principle on which these districts were formed seems to have been as much convenience of investigation as geological or geographical features, these latter being inapplicable to the circumstances of much of the county ; the districts are therefore mainly grouped round the main towns and villages, and bounded by the main roads existing in the county. Subordinate to this principle, however, geological and orographical features were taken into account. Descriptions of the several districts with their leading botanical features follow : — I. St. Weonards This district occupies the south-west angle of the county, and consists mainly ot the basin of the Garron Brook, together with the tract to the north-west, extending as far as the Worm Brook. From Ganarew on the south to Llangua on the north the district bounds on Monmouthshire ; its opposite longer side and southern apex follow the line of watershed between the Garron and the 42