A HISTORY OF SUSSEX have been lately much on the increase. On the open Downs the bulk of the turf consists of Festuca ov'ma and Bromus erectus, with here and there an admixture of Kceleria cristata, and on the northern slopes the very conspicuous Brachypodium pinnatum. On the broken de- clivities and ridges of cultivated ground grow Rosa micrantha, Rosa rubiginosa, rarely Rosa spinosissima and Rosa septum^ the last named being very local. Juniperus communis is extremely rare here, and only grows to the height of a few inches. The wooded parts are chiefly com- posed of beech and ash ; oak only occasionally occurs. Taxus baccata is invariably planted. Ranunculace^ EranthU hyemale Salisb. Ranunculus Lingua L. Delphinium Ajacis Reich. CrUCIFERjE Nasturtium amphibium Br. Thlaspi perfoliatum L. Caryophvllace^ Silene noctiflora L. HyPERICACEjE Hypericum montanum L. Leguminifer^ Trifolium maritimum Huds. Vicia lathyroides L. Anthyllis vulneraria v. Dillenii. Rosacea Rosa sepium Thuil. R. tomentosa v. subglobosa S«. R. canina v. lutetiana Leman V. sphaerica Grem. V. urbica Leman V. arvatica Bak. v. tomentella Leman Umbellifer^ Seseli Libanotis Koch. Gentianace^ Gentiania campestris L. Limnanthemum peltatum Link. Labiate Melittis Melissophyllum L. PoLYGONACE^ Rumex maximus Schreb. EuPHORBIACE« Euphorbia pilosa L. Umentifer^ Salix pentandra L. Orchidace^e Orchis ustulata L. Habenaria albida Br. Ophrys aranifera Huds. Herminium monorchis Br. Amaryllidace^ Leucojum aestivum L. Naiadace^ Potamogeton Friesii Rupr. Charace^ Chara fragllis v. Hedwigii Desv. Nitella transit Agardh. V. The Cuckmere In tracing the limits of this district we take the East Rother boundary to Cross-in-Hand, and then turn west of Passingworth Woods to Hawkhurst Common, East Hoathly, Stone Cross (to the west of Vert Woods), across the Dicker to Berwick, Alfriston and Climping, thence to the signal house on the coast west of Cuckmere Haven. The drainage of the western and largest part of this district is effected by the Cuckmere, which has two principal streams uniting at Hellingly. An independent stream, the Ashburn, drains the eastern portion and reaches the sea near the Red House at Pevensey. The outfall of the Cuckmere at Cuckmere Haven is bounded on the east and west by chalk cliffs, and is frequently blocked up by the shingle, which the set of the tide under the action of a south-west wind accumulates, and affords a favourable locality for marine plants. The highest points in this district are the South Downs, on the south-west, which rise to 536 feet at the noble promontory of Beachy Head. The Wealden beds here are to a great extent brought under cultivation, and the wood- lands are comparatively few. There is one large plantation however of about 1,000 acres, which chiefly consists of oak ; this includes Abbot's Wood, Wilmington Wood, Folkington Wood, and Gnat Wood, which latter has been thoroughly explored, and affords many interest- ing species. The Pevensey Levels, consisting of alluvium, form an extensive flat extending for nearly seven miles along the shore, and running for about six miles inland ; bordering this is a shingle beach about a mile in width at Langley, and forming thence a narrow belt from Pevensey to Bexhill. Here, although an unpromising place, a list of 152 plants was made some time ago, and this has since been extended. 56
Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/102
This page needs to be proofread.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/VCH_Sussex_1.djvu/page102-1024px-VCH_Sussex_1.djvu.jpg)