Botany of the Parish.
We are indebted to the Rev. Thomas Salwey, Vicar of Oswestry, for the subjoined interesting paper on the Botany of the Parish. It gives evidence of his ardent attachment to this pleasing branch of Natural History, and its publication may lead others to follow his example, in studying a science which delightfully leads the mind of its possessor to an increased admiration of the beauty and wisdom of the Creator’s marvellous works:—
“By cooling streams and softening showers
The vegetable race are fed;
And trees and plants, and herbs and flowers
Their Maker’s bounty smiling spread.The flowing tribes all blooming rise
Above the faint attempts of art;
Their bright inimitable dyes
Speak sweet conviction to the heart.”
“The interest and variety of the Botanical productions of any district will always be found to depend upon its geological character; and in this respect there are perhaps few Parishes which comprise within their boundaries so many different geological formations as that of Oswestry. The lower part of the Parish, from the neighbourhood of the Town to the Queen’s Head, consists of the new red sandstone; or rather to that part of it which is called by modern Geologists the Permian formation, and which is so called because this formation is most amply developed in the District of Perm, in Russia. The Town itself is situated upon the coal-measures. With this is associated the usual sandstone grit and chert, breaking out in Sweeney Mountain and Mynydd-y-Myfyr. Immediately at the back of these hills the mountain, or carboniferous limestone, breaks out, running in a line through the parish from Cynynion, through Pentregaer, Trefonen, and Treflach, to Porth-y-waen. This is here and there broken through by detached masses of Trap Rock, as at the point on which the Tower of Pentregaer is built, and upon the western slope of the Moelydd; whilst on the slope of the hill from Cynynion, and under Coed-y-Coch, the Silurian system begins to shew itself. In such a district we may reasonably expect a corresponding variety of plants. In the following list, however, it is by no means intended to give anything like a complete enumeration of the plants to be found within the district, which would be inconsistent with such a publication as the present. Such plants only have been selected as will show the character of the Botany, and be a sufficient guide to any Botanist in conducting his researches.
“Great, however, as is the variety of Geological formation within the Parish, there is one feature, always of the greatest interest to the Botanist, which unfortunately it does not possess, namely, old woods, with their ancient oaks, the growth of centuries, and the deep mossy dells which are so favourable to the production of the scarcer cryptogamic plants. We have no scenery of this kind in our Parish, or even in the immediate neighbourhood, and hence our mosses are only those which are found everywhere. The beautiful little Dicranum bryoides (the moss which so revived the spirit of the unfortunate Mungo Park when fainting in the deserts of Africa), may indeed be found in Broom Hall lane; and the Hypnum commutation may be gathered at the foot of the Moelydd. The Bryum palustre may also be found above Morda pool; and the Bryum roseum, and the large and handsome Bryum ligulatum, in some of the wet and shady lanes in the upper part of the Parish; but beyond these I am not aware that there are any mosses of peculiar interest to be found amongst us. We have, however, a greater variety of ferns than perhaps any other district of equal extent could produce; but here again only the more scarce ones are enumerated.
“The more minute cryptogamic plants, and especially those under the head of Fungi, will of course be the least interesting portion of the list; but any notice of the Botany of the district would be incomplete without the introduction of a proportionate number of these obscure, but, to a Botanist, highly-interesting plants.
“The following are some of the plants which will be found in the parish, or close to its immediate boundaries:—
Phœnogamæ.
Circæa lutetiana—Penylan and Llanforda lanes
Scirpus lacustris—Llynclys pool.
Arundo phragmites—Llynclys pool. [215]
Myosotis collina—Hedge banks about Pentreshanel,
Anchusa sempervirens—Croes-wylan, and Llanforda lane.
Menyanthes trifoliata—Bog above Morda pool.
Campanula trachelium—Hedges between Cynynion, and Pentregaer.
Viola hirta—Limestone rocks, Trefonen.
Artropa Belladonna—Porthywaen.
Gentiana amarella—Moelydd.
,, campestris—Ditto.
Parnassia palustris—Meadows between Sweeney and Morton; and in a field on the west side of the Brick-kilns, at the High Vawr.
Galanthus nivalis—Upon the ledge of a low rock on the west side of Sweeney mountain.
Allium ursinum—Lanes and moist places about the upper parts of the Parish; and in the Nant-Mawr.
Colchichum autumnale—Meadows at Sweeney and elsewhere.
Paris quadrifolia—Thickets about Treflach.
Adoxa moschatellina—Broom Hall lane; Penylan lane; and other places.
Chrysosplenium alternifolium—Near the mill at Llanforda; and in other similar wet places.
,, oppositifolium—Ditto.
Saxifraga tridactylites—Walls about the Town; and rocks at Pentregaer and Craig-y-Rhu.
Cotyledon umbilicus—In the lane below the Race-ground, on the east side.
Sedum anglicum—Rocks below Coed-y-coch; and between Craig-y-Rhu and Cynynion.
Prunus padus—Below Penylan mill.
Pyrus aria—Craig-y-Rhu.
Rosa villosa—Pentregaer.
Tilia parvifolia—Croes-wylan lane.
Cistus helianthemum—Rocks at Trefonen, above the Nant-Mawr.
Aquilegia vulgaris—Thickets at Treflach, where it is also found with white flowers.
Ranunculus parviflorus—Not uncommon on hedge banks; Maesbury road, near the Gallows-Tree Bank.
Trollius europæus—Fields in the upper part of the Parish; and below the house at the Hayes.
Teucrium chamædrys—This was found some years ago upon an old wall (since taken down) at the Hayes. It may be found now upon the wall of a garden in Brook-Street, lately belonging to the Vicar, having been transplanted there from the Hayes. It grows also sparingly upon the old walls of Whittington Castle.
Scrophularia vernalis—Penylan and Llanforda lanes; brought there probably by the celebrated naturalist, Mr. Lloyd, who lived formerly at Llwynymaen.
Hutchinsia petræa—Pentregaer and Trefonen; upon the slope of the hills facing Llansilin.
Arabis hirsuta—Pentregaer.
Geranium colum binum—Hedge banks, occasionally.
Fumaria claviculata—Craigforda.
Ornithopus perpusillus—Moelydd, and Pentregaer.
Anthyllis vulneraria—Treflach, and Trefonen.
Tragopogon pratensis—Llanforda (1st park).
Tussilago petasites—Meadows near Llwynymaen.
Hieracium paludosum—Maesbury.
Achillæa ptarmica—Upper part of the Parish.
Listera ovata—Road-side near Mount Sion.
Myriophyllum spicatum—Pool at Llanforda.
Typha latifolia—Morda, and Llynclys pool.
Carex paniculata—Llynclys pool.
,, hirta—Llanforda
Cryptogimia.
FILICES.
Polypodium phegopteris—Craigforda.
Grammitis ceterach—Crickheath Hill and Treflach Hill, above Porthywaen and Blodwel rocks
Cystea dentata—On the loose heap of stones below the Tower at Pentregaer; also upon a high wall, at the back of the house, at Broom Hall.
Hymenophyllum Wilsoni—Upon a rock in a wood at Treflach.
Osmunda regalis—Maesbury.
Botrychium lunaria—In the 1st park at Llanforda; and on the brow of the hill between the tower at Pentregaer and Craig-y-Rhu.
Ophioglossum vulgatum—Fields about Llanforda and Llwynymaen.
Equisetum limosum—Morda.
,, fluviatile—Maesbury.
MUSCI.
Dicranum bryoides—Broom Hall lane.
Bryum palustre—Above Morda pool.
,, roseum—Wet and shady lanes in the upper part of the Parish.
,, ligulatum—Ditto.
LICHENES.
Calicium furfuraceum (Coniocybe Fries)—Upon the hedge bank of the Vicar’s field on Cyrn-y-bwch.
Opegrapha chevallieri—Craigforda.
,, saxatilis—Ditto.
Lecanactis lyncea—Llanforda.
Sphærophoron coralloides—Craigforda.
,, b. cæspitosum—Ditto.
Endocarpon miniatum—Ditto.
,, læte-virens—Mynydd-y-myfyr.
,, rufo-virescens—Craigforda.
Verrucaria plumbea—Pentregaer, and Craig-y-Rhu.
,, gemmifera—Craigforda.
,, umbrosa—Ditto.
,, codonoidea—Craig-y-Rhu.
,, immersa—Craigforda.
,, epipolœa—Treflach, Trefonen, and Craig-y-Rhu.
Pyrenothea leucocephala—Park Sychant.
Variolaria conspurcata—Limestone rocks, Craig-y-Rhu.
,, globulifera—Upon an old ash tree at Craig-y-Rhu.
Urceolaria calcarea—Limestone rocks, Pentregaer.
Lecidea morio—Upon the loose stones under the Tower at Pentregaer.
,, lapicida—Mynydd-y-myfyr.
,, premnea—Upon an old oak in Middleton lane.
Lecidea griffithsia—Treflach, near Woodhill
,, aromatica—Wall in Llanforda lane, just under the house.
,, enteroleuca—The saxicolar form—same habitat as above.
,, synothea—Upon an old gate-post near Treflach Hall.
,, immersa—Limestone rocks, Pentregaer.
,, pruinosa—Wall in the lane below the house at Llanforda.
,, speirea—Limestone rocks, Pentregaer.
,, incompta—Elm-trees in the Church-yard at Oswestry; and upon a wych elm at the Hayes.
,, canescens—Occasionally found about Oswestry; but not common.
,, quernea—Pentreshanel and Llanforda.
,, œruginosa—Upon an old gate-post, Treflach Hall.
,, quadricolor—Mynydd-y-Myfyr.
,, rupestris—Limestone rocks, Moelydd, &c.
,, pineti—Llanforda (scarce).
,, lutea—Llanforda.
,, polytropa—Mynydd-y-myfyr.
,, lucida—Pentreshanel, and other places.
,, erythrella—Llanforda.
,, cœruleo—nigricans—Moelydd.
Lecanora rubra—Craig-y-Rhu (very scarce).
,, hæmatomma—Craigforda.
,, crassa—Moelydd and Craig-y-Rhu.
,, candicans—Pentregaer.
,, repanda—Pentregaer.
Parmelia glomulifera—Upon a single tree in Llanforda (2nd Park).
,, Borreri—Upon oak trees opposite to the house at Woodhill.
,, conspersa—Craigforda.
,, pityrea—Upon a decayed oak near Old Port; and upon trees opposite to the house at Trafalgar.
,, aquila—Mynydd-y-myfyr, upon a single isolated piece of rock on the south end of the hill. This is a very unusual habitat for this plant, which is usually a marine lichen.
,, cæsia—In fruit; but rarely at Pentregaer and other places.
Sticta pulmonaria—Pentregaer.
Collema fragrans—Llanforda and Pentregaer.
,, ceranoides—Llanforda and Pentregaer.
,, multipartitum—Moelydd.
,, marginale—Pentregaer.
,, tunœforme—Pentregaer.
,, dermatinum—Pentregaer.
,, muscicola—Pentreshanel.
Peltidea scutata—In fruit upon ash trees at Pentregaer.
Peltidea aphthosa—Craigforda; at the bottom of the wood a little above the brook (scarce).
,, spuria—Upon a hedge bank, near Aston.
Gyrophora polyphylla—Mynydd-y-myfyr (scarce).
Borrera furfuracea—Mynydd-y-myfyr.
Cenomyce cæspititia—Craigforda.
Cornicularia aculeata—Craigforda.
CHARACCÆ.
Chara hispida—Ditches above Morda Pool.
ALGÆ.
Ulva calophylla—Walls of Oswestry church; east end and lower part of the wall in the great walk; but not found every year.
,, crispa—Oswestry church-yard; and other places about the town.
Lemania fluviatilis—In the Morda.
Zygnema nitidum—In the lane by the cottage at Porkington.
Batrachospermum moniliforme—In the well at Pen-y-lan; and in other places near the Morda.
Draparnaldia plumosa—In the Morda, below Penylan bridge.
Meloseira varians—In the Morda, below Craigforda, and below Penylan bridge.
Fragilaria hyemalis—In the Morda, below Craigforda.
Diatoma vulgare—In the Morda.
,, flocculosum—In the pool, in the wood, at Llanforda.
Meridion circulare—In the well at Penylan; and in a ditch near the Morda, above Morda pool.
Cymbella minor—Penylan mill.
FUNGI.
Agaricus rubescens—In the shrubbery at Porkington.
,, cristatus—Craigforda.
,, phyllophilus—Craigforda.
,, laccatus—b. amethystinus—Craigforda.
,, clavus—Blodwel woods.
,, galericulatus—Llanforda.
,, stellatus—Llanforda (rare).
,, disseminatus—Near the Lawnt.
Cantharellus cibarius—By the lower pool, at Porkington.
Dædalea betulina—In a timber yard at Oswestry.
Polyporus sulphureus—On the yew trees in the church-yard, at Oswestry; but not found every year.
,, salicinus—On stumps of trees, near Penylan mill.
Polyporus abietinus—On fir poles at Treflach.
,, scoticus—Llanforda, in the wood above the garden.
,, incarnatus—Upon broom by the pool in the wood, at Llanforda.
Fistulina hepatica—Upon a Pollard oak, at Penylan.
Thelephora purpurea—Llanforda.
Thelephora quercina—Llanforda.
,, lactescens—Llanforda
,, incrustans—Upon an old felled trunk below Penylan Bridge.
,, incarnata—On laburnum in the wood, by the pool at Llanforda.
Clavaria rugosa—Llanforda.
Peziza reticulata—Penylan.
,, aurantia—Upon the stump of a tree near Trafalgar.
,, humosa—Upon an old mossy trunk at Llynclys pool.
,, anomala—Llanforda.
,, cyathoidea—On stems of herbaceous plants, Oswestry.
,, cinerea—On fallen branches, Oswestry.
Bulgaria sarcoides—On an old stump at Llanforda.
Exidia glandulosa—Llanforda.
Næmatelia encephala—On larch and fir rails in Llanforda park (scarce).
Sclerotium scutellatum—On oak leaves at Llanforda.
Phallus caninus—On an old stump by the pool, in the wood, at Llanforda (scarce).
Sphæria concentrica—Upon an old ash tree at Maesbury.
,, multiformis—On rails in Llanforda (first park), and at Craigforda.
,, nummularia—Upon an ash tree near Penylan bridge.
,, lata—On dry wood near Penylan mill.
,, leiphæmia—On dead oak branches, Oswestry.
,, laburni—On laburnum, Oswestry.
,, cupularis—On lime branches, Oswestry.
,, elongata—On broom, Llanforda.
,, yuccæ—On yucca glancescens, Oswestry.
,, sanguinea—On timber, at Llanforda.
,, moriformis—On an old tree under the Blodwel rocks.
,, pulvis-pyrius—Llanforda.
,, eutypa—On a dead tree near Llwynymaen.
Phacidium patella—About Oswestry.
Scleroderma vulgare—Woods at Llanforda and Porkington.
Lycogala epidendrum—Llanforda.
Reticularia umbrina—On a decayed larch pole, Oswestry.
Trichia fallax—Llanforda.
,, clavata—Llanforda.
,, turbinata—Llanforda.
Trichoderma viride—On fallen trees, Oswestry.
Tubercularia granulata—On lime branches, Oswestry.
Torula antennata—On fallen timber, Llanforda.
Puccinia saxifragarum—On adoxa moschatellina; lanes about Oswestry.
Æcidium violæ—Mynydd-y-myfyr.
Uredo scillarum—Llanforda.
Geology, &c.
The town of Oswestry is situated upon and near the southern termination of the North Wales Coal Field, which extends a little farther south of the town, and, north-west, through Ruabon, Brymbo, Flint, Mostyn, and on to the sea, near the Great Ormshead. Running parallel, and lying at the back, or to the west of these coal-measures, is the great belt of mountain limestone, commencing at Llanymynech Hill, and extending also, north-westerly, to the Ormshead, and from thence dipping into the sea.
The metalliferous character of the district is distinguished for the production of lead, copper, and zinc. Trials have been made for minerals at Treflach Wood, and portions of carbonate and sulphuret of copper, of average qualities, have been found, but not in sufficient quantities to justify extended operations. At Llanymynech Hill both copper and lead, sulphurets and carbonates, with carbonate of zinc, or calamine, have been raised in large quantities by various companies, and occasionally the ores have reached a high per centage, ranging from five to twenty-five per cent. The ores are found in beds or flats, at from thirty to fifty yards from the surface, and lying between, and running parallel with, the strata of limestone that inclose them. It is an extraordinary fact, that the metalliferous belt of limestone abruptly terminates at the south end of the hill, and cannot be traced farther. Proceeding west, at the back of Oswestry, in Treflach Wood, there are some fine beds of Derbyshire marble or entrochal limestone, that have been worked for mantle-pieces and other ornamental purposes.
Trials have been made, and small quantities of lead and copper found in this limestone belt, extending to Minera, including the Eglwyseg range which bounds a portion of the Vale of Llangollen, near to Ruabon.
The Minera district is too well known for its rich mineral products, especially of lead and zinc, to require particular notice, and the same may be said of the Mold, Halkin, and Holywell mineral formation, passing on with continued fine mineral deposits, to Talargoch, near Prestatyn, in Flintshire.
The coal-measures in the district of Oswestry abound in fossils, Lepidodendrons, Sigillaria, Stigmaria, and Calamites, &c.; and the carboniferous limestone is much more prolific of that class of fossiliferous productions which usually accompany the old mountain limestone.
The application of capital and scientific labour to mining operations, during the last ten years, has given to the district an active and business-like character, and brought with it a large increase to the working population. At Llanymynech Hill, in addition to mining operations, there are annually raised about 60,000 tons of limestone, which is chiefly used for farming purposes in Montgomeryshire and Shropshire. At Porth-y-Waen rocks, in the same range, there is nearly the same quantity of limestone raised. The united quantities hewn and blasted from these vast limestone rocks produce about 70,000 tons of burnt lime, thus showing the extended use now made of limestone in the cultivation of farm lands in the immediate district.
The manufacture of iron is most extensively carried on in Ruabon parish, principally by the New British Iron Company, the quantity of good bar iron made amounting on the average to 350 tons per week. These works give employment to about 2,500 people, men and boys. The Company works its own collieries, and consumes nearly all the coal its numerous pits produce. In the same parish there are two extensive manufactories, for the conversion of the ores of calamine and black jack (carbonate and sulphuret of zinc) into zinc or spelter, and at each of these places from twenty to thirty tons of these metals are made.
The coals raised from the coal-fields in and around Oswestry, worked by Messrs. Croxon and others, amount to about 40,000 tons per annum; whilst nearly 250,000 tons are raised in the Ruabon district, and a much larger quantity at Brymbo.
At Minera a powerful Company is actively engaged in working the old mines that produced so much ore during the former operations upon them. These mines were closed from the influx of water, and the inadequacy of the machinery then employed to carry it off. The present Company have, with an enterprising spirit, adopted the highest class of machinery, and employed the best mining talent that could be procured. By these means, which have called forth the application of at least £50,000 to this gigantic undertaking, the Company has fortunately succeeded in discovering rich veins of lead-ore, which produce from 100 to 150 tons per month. Other mining companies are also largely engaged in the district, some of which are producing large quantities of lead-ore.