A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE Rubus ericetorum, Lefv., sub.-sp. sertiflorus, P. J. Muell. — obscurus, Kalt. — rosaceus (sp. coll.), sub-sp. PurchasianuSjRogers Geum rivale, L. Geum intermedium, Ehrh. Circaea alpina, L. CEnanthe silaifolia, Bieb. Atropa Belladonna, L. Salix triandra, L., var. HofFmanniana, Sm. Orchis incarnata, L. Habenaria conopsea, Benth. — viridis, R. Br. Iris foetidissima, L. Allium oleraceum, L. Sagittaria sagittifolia, L. Butomus umbellatus, L. Carex striata. Good. 8. Weobley This is a tract of picturesque often wooded hills lying north-west of the Hereford district. From Bodenham on the east to Preston-on-Wye this district bounds upon district 7, thence it follows the line of the Wye to a point adjoining Willersley, from which village it runs north-east along the high road from Hay to Leominster : here it falls in with the boundaries of districts 9 and 6, and follows them until it reaches district 7 at England's Gate. The drainage of its eastern parts falls into the Lugg, that of the western into the Wye. The hills of the whole of the district are formed of Cornstone. The vegetation of this district repeats to some extent that of the adjoining Hereford district in the water-loving plants of the Wye and Lugg : the rare winter-cress [Barbarea stricta) occurs on the Wye near Bredwardine : a water crowfoot [Ranunculus pseudofluitans) in the Lugg at Hampton Court. In a tract of rough moorland near Mansell Gamage the greater spearwort {Ranunculus Lingua), the globe flower [Trollius europaeus) and the marsh helleborine [Epipactis palustris) used to be found and may still survive. The wooded cornstone hills abound in interesting brambles of which the names will be found in the accompanying list. Other rarities found upon them are the columnar-styled rose (Rosa systyla), the large-leaved lime {Tilia platyphyllos the bloody cranesbill [Geranium sanguineum), the slender centaury [Erythraea pulchella), the juniper {Juniperus communis) and the blue iris [Iris foetidissima). A cornfield weed very rare in Herefordshire, the common mousetail [Myosurus minimus), has been found at Brobury and Bredwardine in this and the Golden Valley district, and at Chickward in the Kington district. The fuller list follows : — Myosurus minimus, L. Ranunculus fluitans, L. — pseudofluitans, Hiern — trichophyllus, Chaix — Drouetii, Godr. — Lingua, L. — sardous, Crantz Trollius europaeus, L. Helleborus viridis, L. — foetidus, L. Nuphar luteum, Sm. Barbarea stricta, Andrz. Tilia platyphyllos, Scop. Geranium sanguineum, L. Rhamnus catharticus, L. Astragalus glycyphyllos, L. Lathyrus sylvestris, L. Rubus nemoralis, P. J. Muell., var. glabratus, Bab. — silvaticus, W. & N. — infestus, W., var. virgultorum, A. Ley — oigoclados, Muell. & Lefv., var. Newbouldii, Bab. — ericetorum, Lefv. Leominster Rubus fuscus, W. & N., var. nutans, Rogers — fusco-ater, W. Hieracium scanicum, DaEl. Erythraea pulchella, Fr. Atropa Belladonna, L. Janiperus communis, L. Epipactis palustris, Crantz. Iris foetidissima, L. Convallaria majalis, L. Scirpus Caricis, Retz. Eriophorum latifolium, Hoppe This district comprises the tract lying north of the town of Leominster and extending to the Shropshire boundary. The southern boundary is defined by the high road leading from Grendon Bishop on the east to Leominster, and thence following the course of the River Lugg to Mortimer's Cross. On the west it is bounded by the high road from Mortimer's Cross to Richards Castle. The county boundary defines it on the north until it reaches the border of district 5. The whole district consists of the Old Red Sandstone, and is drained by the Stretford Brook and other small brooks through the Lugg into the Wye, with the exception of a small portion near Layster's Pole which drains into the Teme. Although the flora of this tract is not rich, several plants rare in the county are found in it. The rigid water crowfoot [Ranunculus circinatus) is abundant in the large pool at Berrington. The monk's-hood [Aconitum Napellus) was first discovered as a British plant on the Ledwyche brook at Little Hereford in this district about the year 18 19. The common barberry [Berberis vulgaris) is possibly native in thickets near Kimbolton. The lesser chickweed-wintergreen grows in woods at Berrington ; the rare figwort [Scrophularia umbrosa) is abundant both on the Teme at Little Hereford and on the Lugg near Mortimer's Cross. The beautiful form of marjoram {Origanum megastachyum) which is spread through Herefordshire was first discovered as a British plant by the late Rev. W. H. Purchas at Kinsham in this district (in 1852) ; the lesser butterfly orchis [Habenaria hifolia) is abundant near Berrington ; in the same neighbourhood, at Middleton, the snowdrop [Galanthus nivalis) is apparently a true native ; the common Solomon's seal [Polygona- tum multijlorum) is native in a single wood near Leominster ; while the crested hair-grass [Koehleria cristata) was recorded on Bircher Common near Yarpole. It is worthy of note that the foxglove 48
