Page:VCH Worcestershire 1.djvu/82

 A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE to be found. In the valleys between the hills occur Adoxa Moschatellina, Allium ursinum, Asperula odorata. Campanula latifolia, Cardamine amara, C. impatiem, Chrymplenium alterni- folium, Epipactls purpurata, var. media, Geum rivale and Myoioin sylvatica. On the upland pastures is Ophioglossum vulgatum, which, however, is not confined to the hills, but grows freely in several localities. In the valley between Clent and Walton hills Scrophularia umbrosa has been located, and at its mouth Cotyledon Umbilicus and Erodium maritimum re- corded, neither of which is now to be found there. Deep ravines have been cut through the softer measures by the numerous streams, and for the most part these are shaded by belts of woodland. Here are to be found Agrimonia odorata, Carex pallescens, Chlora perfoliata, Erythriea Centaurium, Dipsacus pilosus, Geum rivale, Genista tinctoria, Hahenaria conopsea, Lathraa squamaria. Ononis spinosa, Paris quadrifolia, Senecio Erucafolius and Trifolium medium. Equisetum Hyemale occurs at Frankley, Carlina vulgaris on nearly the highest part of the slope near St. Kenelm's church, and Sagittaria sagittifolia and Butomus umbellatus in the canal at Halesowen. The island of Worcestershire constituting Dudley, situated outside the north-west portion of this district, is chiefly given up to pit mounds and ironworks, forming part of the Black Country, and therefore it does not afford good botanizing ground. In the north part of this island an intrusive arm of Staffordshire includes the limestone hill on which Dudley Castle is situated, and .robs this district of Atropa Belladonna, which is always to be found in the Castle courtyard. On the north-eastern slopes of the Clent Hills the streams run into the Rea, while Yardley, the extreme north-easterly parish of Worcestershire, drains into the Cole. This parish formerly contained many rare plants, but the proximity of growing Birmingham has changed its character. There have been found there Butomus umbellatus, Cardamine amara, Carex Goodenovii, Carex vesicaria. Nasturtium amphibium, and Ranunculus heterophyllus, vars. peltatus and pseudo-fluitans. Twenty-nine plants are peculiar to the Lickey district, not having been recorded else- where in the county ; one of them, Claytonia perfoliata, probably by this time having established itself in the other districts also, has lately been seen near Worcester. ACOTYLEDONES Ferns, Horsetails and Club-Mosses Some few of these plants have been mentioned while dealing with the Botanical Districts into which Worcestershire is divided. Twenty-five kinds of ferns have been recorded for Worcestershire, but of these several are now extinct, and one, Polypodium Phegopteris, is only doubtfully reported from the Teme valley, and another, Polypodium Robertianum, quite as doubtfully from Broadway. Polypodium Dryopteris is possibly extinct in all its old Worcestershire localities, but one plant has lately been seen in Pepperwood, Belbroughton. Osmunda regain once grew at Moseley, and to a later time maintained its existence near Kidderminster, but has now disappeared. Cryptogramme crispa was at one time to be found on the Herefordshire Beacon at Malvern, but only one plant remained in 1 851. Cystopteris fragilis, recorded in all the districts except Malvern, has possibly disappeared, or lingers only on Bredon Hill. Aspknium viride grew on Ham Bridge across the Teme up to 1853, when it was destroyed during some repairs to that structure. Near Bell End, in the Lickey district, Nephrodium Oreopteris flourishes exceedingly, the fronds in some instances being four feet long. One fine patch of this fern was unfortunately discovered some years ago by a peripatetic fern-gatherer, and was entirely swept away, doubtless to be sold for sixpence a root in Birmingham Market Hall. This fern occurs in all the districts except Avon, but is quite rare. Asplenium Ceterach is a rare fern throughout the county, but in the Lickey district is widely distributed, though growing only sparsely where it is found. Asplenium Ruta-muraria is common, and reaches an abundant development on the wall that surrounds Lea Castle, in Wolverley. The hart's- tongue, Scolopendriu/n vulgare, is by no means common, but grows finely at Rosebury Rock, in the valley of the Teme. In the northern part of the county it is only to be seen in a stunted condition on some dry wall, or lining the inside of a well in the Red Sandstone, while in the extreme north-east it is nearly unknown. Asplenium Adiantum-tiigrum, though gener- ally distributed, is seldom seen ; and Lomaria Spicant, which formerly occurred abundantly in the Lickey district, and on the higher parts of the district of Severn and Malvern, is becoming less frequent. It is not reported from the Avon district. Aspidium lobatum is becoming rare 44