Page:VCH Northamptonshire 1.djvu/98

 A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE {Linaria spuria) associated with L. Elatina, or the blue-flowered pimpernel {Anaga/lis femina). The hedges on the Oolite will show a luxuriant growth of traveller's joy {Clemat'n yitaiha), the buckthorn {Rhamnus catharticus), the dog-wood or cornel {Cornus sanguinea), the maple {_Acer campeitre and occasionally the glabrous-fruited form, and the spindle tree {Euonymui europaus) will be seen ; and the banks will show thyme {Thymus Si-rpyl/uni), the rock rose {Heii- anthemum Chatmecistus), and here and there the small cranesbill {Geronium pusillum), while the blackberries will be represented almost exclusively by Rubus ulmifolius, although in woodland tracts R. Ratlula will also be occasionally found. Where clay predominates the maple and spindle tree is rare and the traveller's joy absent, and the meadow cranesbill {Geranium pratense) instead of G. pusilhon will occur, while Rubus corylifoHus and R. aesius will supersede but may not entirely replace R. ulmifolius. Instead of the grasses Bromus erectus, Avena pubescens and Fatuca rigida, which are found on the limestone pas- tures, their place on the clay is taken by the coarser Dacty/is, Alopecurus pratensis and A. gcniculatui On the steep sides of a cutting of the London and North-VVestern Railway two ferns, the limestone polypody and the brittle bladder fern, have been introduced probably by spores brought with the air following passing trains, or possibly borne by the wind from the west of England. Here we have also the milkwort {Polygala vulgaris). The spoil banks in the vicinity afford the zigzag clover {Trifolium medium), the lady's fingers {Anthyllis Fulneraria), which is curiously absent from a large area of the district, white- flowered red clover {Trifolium pratense), the rough hawk's-beard {Picris Hieracioides), and on lime- stone soil in the neighbourhood the lady's traces {Gyrostachis autumnalis) and fellwort {Gentiana Amarella). By the railway we have a considerable number of adventitious species which include Camelina fcetida. Salvia verticillata, Caucalis latifolia, Melilotus arvensis, Setaria viridis, Anthemis tinctoria, Saponaria Faccaria, Eruca sativa, Couringia orientalis, Ammi majus, Lepidium sativum, Iberis amara, Barbarea pracox and Calendula, On the grass-covered dibris of the Cosgrove quarries on the Great Oolite the hound's tongue {Cynoglossum officinale) is often to be found in considerable quantity, and the henbane Hyoscyamus niger) and vervain {Ferhena) occur erratically ; but the grasses Avena pratensis, A. pubescens, Kxleria cristata, the cinquefoil {Potentilla reptans, var. microphylla), the Canterbury bell flower {Campanula glomerata), the rock rose {Helianthemum Chamacistus), the knotted parsley {Caucalis nodosa), the small cranesbill {Geranium pusillum) and other xerophilous species are frequent. The wild licorice vetch {Astragalus glycyphyllos) occurs on the borders of the road in the neighbourhood. A marsh near Maidford affords the bog-bean {Menyanthes trifoliata), and the bladder sedge {Carex rostrata) the orpine {Sedum Telephium) and the saw wort {Serratula tinctoria) are in the woods. Occasionally in the brickwork of the village wells, as at Yardley Gobion, the hart's- tongue fern {Phyllitis Scolopendrium) may be seen. The most interesting plants of the Ouse district in addition to those already mentioned are as follows : — Thalictrum flavum, L., var. riparium (Jord.). Ranunculus heterophyllus, Weber — Drouetii, Schultz Helleborus viridis, L., var. occidentalis, Druce — foetidus, L. Papaver Rhoeas, L., var. Pryorii, Druce Erophila prascox, DC. Cerastium semidecandruni, L. Sagina ciliata, Fries. Silene Cucubalus, Wibel., var. puberula (Jord.). Arenaria serpyllifolia, L., var. scabra, Fenzl. Hypericum quadrangulum, L. [Linum angustifolium, Huds.] [Geranium sanguineum, L.] Acer campestre, L., var. leiocarpon, Wallr. Trifolium fragiferum, L. — pratense, L., var. leucobraceum, Asch. & Prail. Lathyrus sylvestris, L. Spiraea Filipendula, L. Poterium officinale, A. Gray Rosa Eglanteria, L. (rubiginosa) Potentilla procumbens, Sibth. Crataegus oxyacanthoides, Thuill. [Pyrus Aria, Ehrh.] Epilobium angustifolium, L. — obscurum, Schreb. — palustre, L. Sedum Telephium, L. [ — reflexum, L.] Myriophyllum verticillatum, L. — spicatum, L. Callitriche intermedia, HofFm. (C. hamulata, Kuetz.) — obtusangula, Le Gall. Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. 64