Page:VCH Northamptonshire 1.djvu/94

 A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE sedges Carex pulicaris, C.flava, C. Hornschuchianay C. binemis, the marsh thistle {Cnicus pratenui), the marsh dropwort [CEnanthe Lachenalii), the butterwort {Pinguicula vulgarii), and Juncus obtmiflorui. About Aynhoe the wall lettuce [Lactuca muralis) is found, and near Croughton Ruhus mucronatus, Daphe Mezereutriy Chara hispida, Brachypodium pinnatum, and Bromus erectus. There are some interesting spinneys and coppices in the neighbourhood of Newbottlc, and in one of these the dame's violet {Hesperis matronalis) is naturalized. The hedges here have occasionally Rosa glauca and R. coriifolia, which are especially common in northern Britain, but become rare in the south. Ruhus Radula is common in the hedgerows, and where the Great Oolite comes to the surface in one or two places we may see the great woolly- headed thistle {Cnicus eriophorus), and as also showing the presence of limestone the Canterbury bell [Campanula glomerata). Venus' looking-glass [Specu/arla hybrida) is found in the corn- fields, and Caucalis nodosa on dry banks. In grassy places Galium erectum has been gathered. The village walls of King Sutton and Newbottle have Poa compressa and Scdum album. The spinneys show the wild cherry {Prunus avium), and in one place the ramsons {Allium ursinum). The piece of artificial water at Astrop Park has the mare's-tail {Hippuris vulgaris), the milfoil {Myriophyllum verticillatum), and the horned milfoil {Ceratophyllum). The Cherwell and the canal between Aynhoe and Chacombe have a good many interesting plants, but space will only allow of a few being here given ; among these however must be mentioned the rare pondweeds Potamogeton alpinus and P. polygonifolius, which have been found in a small stream near Banbury, and the butterwort {Pinguicula vulgaris) formerly grew near the canal banks. Carex paniculata is to be found in luxuriant growth in several places, and the bog lousewort {Pedicularis palustris) also occurs. One of the conspicuous species by the canal is the butter-bur {Petasites vulgaris). The rose bay willow herb {Epilobium angustifolium) is plentiful on the railway banks near Aston. The barberry {Berberis vulgaris) is rather frequent about Chacombe and at Canon's Ashby, and the nzy^Xwovt. {Cotyledon Umbilicus) gwws occasionally on old walls, and especially at the last-named place. Four Slips Copse near Steane, which is situated on the Northampton sands, shows con- siderable variety of soil, from light sand to dark peaty earth and clay. On the whole the flora of this place is less interesting than one would at first sight be led to expect. It yields how- ever among other species the hard fern {Lomaria Spicant), the lady fern {Athyrium Filix- fcemina), the broad shield fern {Dryopteris dilatata), the grass of Parnassus {Parnassia palustris), the bog bedstraw {Galium uliginosum), the marsh valerian {Valeriana dioica), the pennywort {Hydrocotyle vulgaris), the cherry {Prunus Avium), the gooseberry {Ribes Grossularia), and the brambles Rubus dasycarpus, R. Radula, etc. The rarer plants of the Cherwell district in addition to those in the preceding pages are as follows : — Ranunculus hederaceus, L. — heterophyllus, Weber Aquilegia vulgaris, L. [Delphinium Consolida, L.] Diplotaxis muralis, DC. Sisymbrium Thalianum, Gay. Erysimum cheiranthoides, L. Cardamine amara, L. — flexuosa. With. Roripa palustris, Bess. (Nasturtium) — amphibia, Bess. (Nasturtium) [Vogelia paniculata, Medik.] Lepidium campestre, R. Br. Polygala vulgaris, L. Lychnis Githago, Scop. Sagina apetala, Hard. Geranium pyrenaicum, Burm. f. — lucidum, L. Euonymus europaus, L. Genista tinctoria, L. Trifolium medium, L. — scabrum, L. Lotus uliginosus, Schkuhr, Spiraea Filipendula, L. Rubus Selmeri, Lindb. — pulcherrimus, Neum. — foliosus, W. and N. — Lindleianus, Lees. Fragaria muricata. Mill. (F. elatior, Ehrh.) Alchemilla vulgaris, L., var. filicaulis (Buser) Poterium officinale, A. Gray. (Sanguisorba officinale, L.) [P. polygamum, W. and K.] Rosa tomentosa, Sm. (R. mollissima, Willd.) Crataegus oxyacanthoides, Thuill. Pyrus Aucuparia, E. Saxifraga granulata, L. [Ribes alpinum, L.] — rubrum, L. Sedum Telephium, L. [ — album, L.] Myriophyllum spicatum, L. Callitriche obtusangula, Le Gall. Epilobium tetragonum, L. Pimpinella major, Huds. Sium latifolium, L. 60