BOTANY Hieracium scLaphilum, Uech., var. strumosum, A. Ley var. amplifolium, A. Ley — septentrionale, Arv. Tou. — scanium, Dahl. — • stictophyllum, Dahl., var. serpentinum, F. J. Hanb. — rigidum, Hart., var. Friesii, Dahl._^ — praenanthoides, VilL — umbellatum, L. Jasione montana, L. Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, L. — Myrtillus, L. Calluna vulgaris, Salisb. Erica Tetralix, L. Anagallis tenella, L. Gentiana campestris, L. Menyanthes trifoliata, L. Myosotis repens, G. Don. Veronica serpyllifolia, L., var. humifusa (Dicks.) Pinguicula vulgaris, L. Litorella lacustris, L. Empetrum nigrum, L. Orchis incarnata, L. Habenaria conopsea, Benth. — albida, R. Br. — viridis, R. Br. Habenaria bifolia, R. Br. Narthecium Ossifragum, H-ds. Scirpus pauciflorus, Lightf. — • caespitosus, L. Eriophorum vaginatum, L. — angustifolium, Roth. — latifolium, Hoppe. Carex stricta, Good. — laevigata, Sm. — binervis, Sm. Alopecurus geniculatus, L., sub-sp. fulvus, Sm. Poa nemoralis, L., var. Parnellii, Hook. & Arn. Festuca sylvatica, Vill. CRYPTOGAMIA VASCULARIA FiUCES [Ferns and Fern Allies) The ferns of Herefordshire (reckoning the species and sub-species recognized by Hooker in the Student's Flora with two additions to be explained below) number twenty-eight ; and in addition to these, nine varieties more or less satisfactory and well marked are here mentioned. This gives a fairly long list : yet it must be admitted that the fern flora of the county is not a rich one. The ■climate is too dry to admit of a vigorous growth of those plants, and moreover it is becoming drier through progressive denudation of timber and other causes, and the fern flora is consequently shrinking or dying out. As an instance of this the Tunbridge filmy fern (Hymenophyllum tun- bridgense), which was an inhabitant of the Ross district in 1883, has since that time disappeared, not through depredation, but entirely through climatal change. The fern and moss flora is decidedly richer in the western than in the eastern regions of the county. The species and varieties are now mentioned in order ; a few remarks on their distribution in the county being added in each case. Hymenophyllum tunbridgense, Sm. (Tunbridge filmy fern). Limited to a single locality in the Ross district and now extinct — unilaterale, Willd. (Wilson's filmy fern) ; District 14. One known locality in the Black Mt. in very small quantity Pteris aquilina L. (Brake). Uni- versal in the county Lomaria Splcant, Desv. (Hard fern). Universal in woods Asplenium Ruta-muraria L. (Wall rue). Universal on walls and occasionally rocks var. elatum, Moore. Limestone rocks on the Great Howard — trichomanes (Maidenhair spleen wort). As the last and equally common var. anceps, Soland. Sand- stone rocks in the Black Mountain (14) A form with deeply in- cised pinnules, is com- mon on dry shady limestone — viride, Huds. (Green-stalked spleenwort), Black Mt. (14) in several localities: un- known elsewhere — Adiantum-nigrum, L. (Black spleenwort). Universally distributed, but not abun- dant : often simulating the lanceolate spleenwort in form of frond Athyrium Filix-faemina, Bernh. (Lady fern). All through the county The var. rhaeticum, Roth. in boggy places ; var. molle, Roth. In dry woods var. incisum, HofFm. Com- mon in shady hilly woods ? Sub-sp. Watsoni, Lyme. A plant answering ad- mirably to Watson's specimens of this rare fern was gathered by the writer in the Black Mt. region (14). (Ad- ditional to Students Flora) Ceterach officinarum, Desv. (Scaly hart's tongue). Rare in the east, common in the west of the county : luxuriant in parts of districts (1) and (13). Scolopendrium vulgare, Sm. (Hart's tongue). Throughout the county ; locally abundant in shady, rocky places Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh. (Brittle 53 fern). Abundant in the Black Mt. (14) ; known at one station in the Ludlow neighbourhood (10) The unsatisfactory varieties dentata, Hook, and angustata, Sm., are both found in the Black Mt. region Aspidium aculeatum, Sm. including var. lobatum (Sm.) (Com- mon shield-fern). Abundant throughout the county. A. lobatum far the most com- mon ; the form aculeatum rare A plant answering to var. lonchitidiodes is not rare on the darens of the Black Mt. (14), but has not been de- tected there fruiting — angulare, Willd. (Soft shield- fern). Universally distri- buted and abundant Nephrodium Filix-mas, Rich. (Male fern). Type univer- sal and very common. The form called var. affinis, Fisch., often occurs on shady lane hedges var.Borreri, Newm.Abun- dant and well marked on mountain sides in Black Mt. (14) ; found also in many other districts
