BOTANY OF THE DISTRICT.
In shallow portions of the Severn, we have several varieties of the River Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans), which, with their long slender stems and pure white blossoms, form a conspicuous feature; also the Canadian Water-weed (Anacharis alsinastrum), which has found its way as high up as Shrewsbury. In marshy flats bordering on the river, are found the Yellow Flag (Iris pseud-acorus), the Water-dock, (Rumex Hydrolapathum), the Water Drop-wort, Soap-wort, Frog-bit-water-lily, and the creeping Yellow Cress; whilst the little Lily of the Valley, the Giant Bell-flower, the Spreading Bell-flower, the rare Reed Fescue-grass, and the tall, handsome Fox-glove, which,
“On fair Flora’s hand is worn,”
adorn the woods along the slopes.
Other plants are found as follows:—
Ranunculus parviflorus (Small-flowered Crowfoot) . . . Stagborough.
Cardamine impatiens (Narrow-leaved Bittercress) . . . Stagborough.
Poterium sanguisorba . . . Stagborough.
Campanula latifolia . . . Owton and Stagborough.
Campanula patula . . . Owton and Stagborough.
Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle) . . . Arley Wood and Stagborough.
Heleborus fœtidus (Stinking Hellebore) . . . Farlow.
Geranium phseum (Dusky Crane’s-bill) . . . Farlow.
Rhamnus catharticus (Common Buckthorn) . . . Farlow.
Prunus padus (Bird Cherry) . . . Farlow.
Geum rivale . . . Farlow.
Artemisia Absinthium (Common Wormwood) . . . Farlow.
Artemisia campestris . . . Farlow.
Habenaria viridis . . . Farlow.
Lathræa squamaria . . . Ribbesford Wood.
Orobanche minor . . . Ribbesford Wood.
Mentha piperita (Peppermint) . . . Near Horshill, Ribbesford.
Thymus serpyllum and T. glandulosus . . . Near Horshill, Ribbesford.
Calamintha Nepeta and officinalis . . . About Ribbesford.
Daphne Laureola (Spurge Laurel) . . . About Ribbesford.
Fagus sylvatioa (Common Beech) . . . About Ribbesford.
Paris quadrifolia . . . About Ribbesford.
Cardamine amara (Bitter Ladies’ Smock) . . . Blackstone.
Cerastium arvense (Field Chick-weed) . . . Blackstone.
Hypericum montanum (Mountain St. John’s-wort) . . . Blackstone.
Sedum dasyphyllum . . . Blackstone.
Viola canina (Dog’s Violet) . . . Hartlebury Common.
Radiola millegrana (Thyme-leaved Flax-seed) . . . Hartlebury Common.
Comarum palustre (Purple Marsh Cinquefoil) . . . Hartlebury Common.
Menyanthes trifoliata (Buck-bean) . . . Hartlebury Common.
Chenopodium ficifolium . . . About Bewdley.
Chenopodium polyspermum . . . About Bewdley.
Chenopodium urbicum . . . About Bewdley.
Chenopodium Bonus Henricus . . . About Bewdley.
Rumex sanguineus . . . About Bewdley.
Bryonia dioica . . . About Bewdley. (In hedges.)
Anacharis alsinastrum . . . In the Severn, near Bewdley.
Habenaria viridis . . . About Bewdley.
Spiranthes autumnalis . . . About Bewdley.
Cephalanthera ensifolia . . . About Bewdley.
Tulipa sylvestris (Wild Tulip) . . . About Bewdley.
Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem) . . . About Bewdley.
Hieracium vulgatum . . . Bewdley and Broseley.
Papaver Argemone (Prickly-headed Poppy) . . . Corn-fields, near Bewdley.
Turritis glabra (Tower Mustard) . . . Near Bewdley.
Sisymbrium Sophia (Flax weed) . . . Near Bewdley.
Hypericum Androsœmum (St. John’s-wort) . . . Woods around Bewdley.
Vicia sylvatica (Wood Vetch) . . . Woods about Bewdley.
Prunus Cerasus (Wild Cherry) . . . About Bewdley and Norton Prescot.
Potentilla argentea (Hairy Cinquefoil) . . . About Bewdley.
Epilobium angustifolium . . . Near Bewdley.
Myrrhis odorata . . . Between Brosely and Ironbridge.
Artemisia Absinthium (Common Wormwood) . . . About Bewdley.
Doronicum Pardalianches . . . About Bewdley.
Hieracium umbellatum . . . About Bewdley.
Campanula latifolia . . . Ditto, and Coalport Dingle.
Nepeta Cataria (Cat Mint) . . . . Fields about Bewdley and Stourport.
Leonurus Cardiaca (Mother-wort) . . . Occasionally found about Bewdley.
Thalictrum flavum (Meadow Rue) . . . Banks of Severn.
Nasturtium sylvestre (Creeping Nasturtium) . . . Banks of Severn.
Sinapis nigra (Common Mustard) . . . Banks of Severn.
Saponaria officinalis . . . Banks of Severn.
Malachium aquaticum (Water Chick-weed) . . . Banks of Severn.
Geranium pratense (Blue Crane’s Bill) . . . Banks of Severn.
Astragalus glyciphyllus (Sweet Milk Vetch) . . . Banks of Severn about Linkham.
Œnanthe crocata (Hemlock Water Drop-wort) . . . Banks of Severn.
Inula Helenium meinlen (Elecampane) . . . Near the Severn, below Quatford Low, near Clee Hills.
Campanula latifolia . . . Banks of Severn.
Lysimachia vulgaris (Yellow Loose Strife) . . . Banks of Severn.
Scirpus sylvaticus . . . Banks of Severn.
Juniperus communis (Common Juniper) . . . Wyre Forest, near Furnaw Mill.
Gymnadenia conopsea . . . Wyre Forest.
Habenaria bifolia (Small Butterfly Orchis) . . . Wyre Forest.
Habenaria chlorantha (Yellow Butterfly Habenaria) . . . Wyre Forest.
Neottia Nidus-avis (Common Bird’s Nest) . . . Wyre Forest.
Epipactis latifolia . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Epipactis palustris . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Cephalanthera ensefolia . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest. (Abundant.)
Convallaria magalis . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Narthecium ossifragum (Bog Ashphodel) . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Luzula sylvatica (Great Hairy Woodrush) . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest. (Abundant.)
L. pilosa (Broad-leaved Wood-rush) . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Triglochin palustre (Marsh Arrow-grass) . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Eriophorum angustifolium (Cotton-grass) . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Eriophorum latifolium . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
Carex muricata, C. vulpina, C. teretiuscula . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
C. ovalis, C. pendula, C. pilulifera . . . In plantations at Willey, and in Wyre Forest.
C. fulva . . . Wyre Forest.
Melica nutans and uniflora . . . Wyre Forest.
Equisetum sylvaticum and E. hyemale . . . Wyre Forest.
Lycopodium clavatum and L. inundatum . . . Wyre Forest.
Thalictrum minus . . . Wyre Forest.
Aquilegia vulgaris (Common Columbine) . . . Wyre Forest.
Rhamnus catharticus and R. Frangula . . . Wyre Forest and Farlow.
Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet) . . . Wyre Forest.
Rubus saxatilis, and most of the other species of Rubi . . . Wyre Forest.
Rosa spinosissima (Burnet-leaved Rose) . . . Wyre Forest and Weldon.
R. villosa and R. tomentosa . . . Wyre Forest.
Pyrus Malus, P. Aria and P. aucuparia, and P. torminalis . . . Wyre Forest.
Epilobium angustifolium (Rose bay Willow) . . . Wyre Forest.
Gnaphalium sylvaticum (Highland Cudweed) . . . Wyre Forest.
Serratula tinctoria (Saw-wort) . . . Wyre Forest.
Hieracium murorum . . . Wyre Forest.
Pyrola minor, and P. media . . . Wyre Forest.
Gentiana Amarella (Autumnal Gentian) . . . Wyre Forest.
Lithospermum officinale (Grey Millet) . . . Wyre Forest.
Pedicularis palustris (Marsh Louse-wort) . . . Wyre Forest.
Scutellaria minor and galericulata . . . Wyre Forest.
Anagallis tenella (Bog Pimpernel) . . . Wyre Forest.
Daphne Laureola . . . Wyre Forest.
Populus tremula (Aspen) . . . Abundant over the Forest.
Fagus sylvatica (Common Beech) . . . Abundant over the Forest.
Quercus Robur and Q. intermedia. (Two very distinct species, Q. intermedia occupies almost exclusively the whole of Wyre forest.) . . . Abundant over the Forest.
Polemonium cæruleum (Jacob’s Ladder) . . . Bridgnorth.
Campanula patula, or spreading bell flower . . . Bridgnorth and near Berrington.
Sambucus Ebulus (Dwarf Elder) . . . Bridgnorth.
Lathræa squammaria (Greater Tooth-wort) . . . Bridgnorth.
Camelina sativa (Common Gold of Pleasure) . . . Bridgnorth.
Vicia sylvatica (Wood Vetch) . . . Bridgnorth.
Astragalus glycpyhyllus . . . Bridgnorth.
Parietaria officinalis . . . Bridgnorth.
Lactuca virosa (Strong-scented Lettuce) . . . Bridgnorth.
Scirpus sylvaticus . . . Bridgnorth.
Erigeron acris (Blue Fleabane) . . . Bridgnorth.
Adonis autumnalis (Pheasant’s Eye) . . . Coalport.
Monotropa Hypopitys (Yellow Bird’s nest) . . . Coalport.
Ligustrum vulgare (Privet) . . . Benthall Edge.
Erigeron acris . . . Benthall Edge.
Bee Orchis (Ophrys apifera) . . . Benthall Edge.
Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butter-wort) . . . Wrekin.
Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry) . . . Wrekin.
Danthonia decumbens . . . Wrekin.
Eriophorum angustifolium . . . Wrekin.
Isolepis setacea (Bristle-stalked Moor-rush) . . . Wrekin.
Myosotis collina (Early Field Scorpion grass) . . . Wrekin.
Polypodium dryopteris . . . Wrekin.
Amongst the ferns of the district may be mentioned—the Royal fern (Osmunda regalis), which has been found sparingly at Shirlett, in Willey Park, and in Dairley Dingle; the beautiful Beech fern (Polypodium Phegopteris), which grows in the greatest luxuriance in Dairley Dingle, also in a wood in Willey Park; and the Hay fern (Lastrea fænisecii), in Coalbrookdale, and upon Shirlett. Also several other commoner species, as Lastrea Oreopteris, Lastrea spinosa, Lastrea dilatata, and its variety glandulosa, Lastrea filix mas, and its variety Borreri; Aspidium aculeatum, and Aspidium augulare.
In giving the above list, I willingly acknowledge the assistance of my friends, Messrs. Baugh, Jordin, and Maw.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
In 1 volume, crown 8vo., handsomely bound in cloth, and gilt, price 7s. 6d.; or in cloth, and not gilt (Second Edition), price 5s. 6d.,
The Severn Valley; A Series of Sketches. Descriptive and Pictorial, of the entire Course of the Severn, containing Notices of its Topographical, Industrial, and Geological Features, with Glances at its Historical and Legendary Associations. By John Randall, F.G.S.
“This work will be an admirable guide-book for the tourist, and is so beautifully printed as to be worthy of a place on any drawing-room table, although the price is modestly fixed at 7s. 6d. only. Mr. Randall sketches landscapes with artistic taste, lingers here and there for anecdote, drops in at the wayside hostelry, and picks up pleasant chit-chat on angling and other subjects. He is evidently a lover of nature, and possesses a pleasing style of demonstrating his devotion in print.”—Worcester Herald.
“Mr. Randall’s style is pure and unaffected; it flows equably and cheerfully along as the river he so lovingly describes. To tourists this elegant and interesting book will prove an invaluable companion, and as such we cordially commend it.”—Eddowes’s Journal.
“This is a valuable addition to the story of literary information connected with this and neighbouring counties, and we doubt not the work will prove as popular as undoubtedly it is interesting.”—Worcestershire Chronicle.
“The author has made judicious selection of the abundant materials presented, and draws a series of graphic and pleasing pictures of all the more noticeable features of the country which are to be found along the extensive and meandering course of the Severn.”—Gloucester Journal.
“The book which has furnished our theme is perhaps the best account of the Severn and the Severn Valley in existence.”—Gloucester Chronicle.
“Always easy and flowing, and sometimes approaching almost to the force of poetry in its simple elegance of expression, the legendary and historical associations which belong to the scenery of the Severn blend naturally with the most glowing pictures of descriptive beauty, and there is never any appearance of labour or constraint.”—Shrewsbury Chronicle.
“The ground—which to the great majority of tourists must be comparatively new—presents some of the finest scenery in the kingdom. Its antiquities, its historical and legendary associations, are full of interest; whilst to the student of nature, whether his special subject be geology or botany, it is no less rich and attractive. On all these subjects, as well as on the industrial features of the district, Mr. Randall is at home.”—Shropshire News.
“Mr. Randall is a good guide. He is thoroughly acquainted with his subject. He has long been familiar with the Severn Valley, and knows its geology, its traditions, its historic records, its myths, its poetry, and its loveliest scenes. On all these topics he dilates with the freshness which ever arises from deep love.”—Literary Companion.
“An itinerary abounding with interesting material of a very varied kind, of which the author has availed himself to write a most agreeable guide-book.”—Art-Journal.
“We can most conscientiously recommend it to our readers, for there is food for all tastes and temperaments in its ever-varying pages. For a day’s out to any place on the Severn, we do not know a better guide.”—Birmingham Post.
“The wood-cuts, though small, are artistically drawn and neatly engraved.”—Army and Navy Gazette.
JAMES S. VIRTUE, AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.