A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE Nephrodium spinulosum, Desv. (Narrow buckler fern) . Rather rare but recorded in six districts var. elevatum. In old pool beds, rare (district >i) var. exaltatum. In woods damp or dry ; the com- mon form — dilatatum, Desv. (Broad fern). Universal throughout the county var. genuinum. In old pool beds and wet woods, rare V-ir. tanacetifolium. The common form — glandulosum (Bennett's fern). I have ventured to give this a separate number as a sub- species although placed as a var. under N. dilatatum by Hooker. Rare, in wet woods; always in company with N. spinulosum and dila- tatum. Four or five sta- tions are known for this fern (districts 3, II, 13 and 14) in the county. Long extinct at the station where it was discovered by Mr. Alfred Bennett, the writer believes it to exist at more than one station in West Gloucester, Monmouth and Brecon Nephrodium aemulum, Baker (Hay-scented fern). Only in the Ross district (z) and there extremely local — Thelypteris, Desv. (Marsh fern). At a single station in the Black Mt. (14) ; and there in great danger of extermination — Oreopteris, Desv. Hill and mountain banks, unknown in the east of the county ; fine and abundant in the Black Mt. (14) Polypodium vulgare, L. (Poly- pody). Common through- out the county var. serratum, Willd. Lane hedges at one station in the Ross dis- trict (2) , — Phegopteris, L. (Beech fern). Known in three districts (i, 10 and 14). Very fine near hill brooks at several stations in the Black Mi. (14), in which district it is also frequent among stones on the mountain sides Polypodium Dryopteris, L. (Oak fern). Known also in three districts (2, 10 and 14). In the Black Mt. (14) it is found with the last upon the hill sides — Robertianum, HofFm. (Lime- stone fern). Only known on the Great Doviard (2) and the Black Mt. (14). It is remarkable that the limestone fern occurs in great luxuriance among loose rocks under more than one of the darens of the Black Mt. although exclusively of sand- stone formation Osmunda regalis, L. (Royal fern). Found in two districts (11 and 14) ; in the latter now exterminated Ophoglossum vulgaum, L. (Adders' tongue). Found throughout the county, and locally com- mon Botrychium Lunaria, Sm. (Moon- wort). Rare and seldom found, but recorded in ten of the fourteen districts of the county the Equbetaceae and Lycopodiaceae These orders are represented in Herefordshire by six Equisetums and three Lycopodiums ; one of latter, however, being only found in the portion of Breconshire which here comes under
- w. They are as follows
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Equisetum arvense, L. (Common horsetail). Common and recorded from every dis- trict — maximum, Lam. (Great horse- tail). In swampy woods, not common. In 9 out of the 14 districts — sylvaticum, L. (Wood horsetail). Locally common in wet clay fields and woods, 9 districts — palustre, L. (Marsh horse-tail). Common in swamps and marshy meadows ; record- ed in all the districts except Equisetum limosum, L. (Smooth horsetail). In pool margins rather common ; recorded from 6 districts — hyemale, R. (Rough horse-tail). In boggy copses, rare. Known only at two isolated stations in the Ross (2) and Bromyard (5) districts Lycopodium clavatum, L. (Com- mon club moss). Rare in Herefordshire. Found only at one or two stations in the Jymestrey (10), Kington (i i), and B/ack Mt. (14) districts. Suprisingly rare on the Bbck Mt. Lycopodium alpinum, L. (Alpine club moss). Known only at a single station on the northern flank of the Black Mt. above Hay, Breconshire — Selago, L. (Fir club moss). Rare and only in the Black Mt. (14) MUSCI {Mosses) Up to the present date (1905) no fewer than 632 species and sub-species of mosses have been recorded for the British Islands. The natural features of Herefordshire are such as to give rise to a rich moss-flora, and 324 species have been observed in the county. Its mosses had been worked with such thoroughness by the authors of the Flora of the county, that since 1889, when it first appeared, further investigation has resulted in the addition of only fifty species to the list given with localities and interesting notes in that work. It is to be regretted that the Hepaticae, never much in evidence in this somewhat dry climate, have not as yet found a systematic student. With the exception of swampy ground which is scarce, favourable habitats of mosses are general in the county. As full information on its geology has been already given in this volume, it will be only necessary to observe here that, as might be expected, the mosses are found to be 54
