IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



V.\{) 



sylvatica, Salix herbacea, S. reticulata, Arenaria 

 verna, A. rubella, Dryas octopetala, Vaccinium 

 uliginosum, Myosotis alpestris, Sibbaldia pro- 

 cumbens, Sedum villosum, Cherleria sedoides, 

 Alchemilla alpina. — Grasses: Sesleria cserulea, 

 Poa alpina. — Cariccs : Carex fulva, C. palesceus, 

 C. curta, C. rigida, C. pauciflora, C. capillaris, 

 C. ampulacea, Kobresia caricina. — Rushes .• Juncus 

 triglumis, G. trilidus, Luzula spicata.— Ferns : 

 Asplenium tricbomanes, A. viride, Aspidium 

 Loncbitis, Woodsia byperborea. — Mosses : Grimmia 

 maritiina, G. torta, G. spiralis, Ortbotricburu 

 Drummondii, O. Brucbii, O. stramineum, O. 

 Ludwigii, 0. crispum, O. Lyellii, Hypuum splen- 

 dens, H. loreum, H. crista-castrensis, H. anuulo- 

 sum, H. falcatum, II. sarmentosum, H. pulcbellum, 

 Bryurn alpinum, 13. elongatum, B. Zierii, B. 

 san<mineum,01igofrichum bercynicum, Pterigonium 

 filiforme, Arctoa fulvella, Conostomum boreale, 

 Diphyscium foliosum, Physeomitrium ericitorium, 

 Dicranum Stark ii, D. Blythii, D. fulcatum, Aulo- 

 comnium palustris, Splachnum vasculosum, Tetra- 

 plodon mnioides, Zygodon laponnicus, Stylostigium 

 csespiticium, Blindia acuta, Racomitrium lanu- 

 ginosum. 



'■* Botany op the Black Country.— It is 

 generally supposed that tbe "black country" is 

 a dark, dreary district, with nothing but coal- 

 pits, forges, snnoke, and chimney-stacks, and 

 botanically, a place without interest. The follow- 

 ing imperfect sketch of its flora may not, therefore, 

 be uninteresting to some of your roaders. Of all 

 places hereabout, Dudley Castle and the Wren's 

 Nest Hill are perhaps the most pleasantly situated 

 and most interesting, more particularly from a 

 geological point of view, as they are abundantly 

 rich in trilobites and other Silurian fossils. Botani- 

 cally, they are not rich in rare specimens, but have, 

 nevertheless, an abundance and variety of vegeta- 

 tion, the old ruins being covered with tbe common 

 wall-flower {Cheiranthus Cheiri), with here and there 

 a specimen of Echium vulgare, and on the castle 

 tower the graceful Linaria Cymbal aria (no doubt 

 originally introduced), which has been very plentiful, 

 although decimated of late by visitors. On various 

 parts of the hills may be found the pretty little 

 Poly gala vulgaris, Sanicula europaa, Cornus 

 sanguinea, Picris hiemcioides, Tussilago Petasites, 

 Lactuca muralis, Atrcpa Belladonna, Arum macula- 

 turn, Carex acuta; beneath the trees a great pro- 

 fusion of Mercurialis perennis, and a fewrspecimens 

 of Lathrcea squamaria ; besides several plants 

 peculiar to, or more frequent in, limestone districts ; 

 as Carlina vulgaris, Carduus eriophorus, C. nutans, 

 and Plantago media, in considerable numbers. The 

 pit-banks and "swags" caused by mining, which 

 present so dreary and deserted an aspect to the 

 casual observer, are to the botanist very interesting, 



being rich in vegetable life ;*the hanks producing 

 Sisymbrium officinale, Reseda luteola, Genista 

 tinctoria, Potentilla procumhens, Conium maculatum, 

 Matricaria Chamomilla, Erigeron acris, various 

 Senecios, Linaria vulgaris, Arctium Lappa, and many 

 other species of Crucifers, Cloveworts, and 

 Composites : and tbe " swags," Ranunculus 

 aquatilis, R. sceleratus, and R. Flammula, Pota- 

 mogeton nutans, P. crispus, and P. pectinatus, 

 Barbarea vulgaris, Nasturtium palustre, Myrio- 

 phyllnm, llel osciadium nodiflorum, Bidens cernua, 

 and B. tripartita, Ceratophyllum demersum, tbe 

 common water-pest Anacharis alsinastrum, several 

 varieties of Juncus, Carex, and Scirpus, Sparganium 

 ramosum, Equisetum, and Chara ; and are full of 

 interest for the microscopist, being loaded with 

 Diatoms, Desmids, Rotifers, &c. If we stroll the 

 semi-country lanes, we see here the hedgerows 

 covered with the stems of Hunmlus lupulus, 

 Bryonia clioica, and Convolvulus septum, or black 

 with the leaves of Tamus communis, and the ditches 

 filled with Caltha palustris, Senecio erucifolius, and 

 S. aquaticus, Inula dysenterica, and /. Conyza, 

 Mentha aquatica, Dipsacus pilosus, and Polygonum 

 Bislorta, aud redolent with the odour of Spiraea; 

 there the banks bright with the flowers of Galium 

 Mollugo , and other Stellates, Lactuca muralis, 

 Solanum nigrum, Verbascum Thapsus, and with the 

 graceful leaves of Sanguisorba, or the corn-fields 

 studded with Thlaspi arvense, Cameiina sativa, 

 jEthusa Cynapium, Chrysanthemum segetum, Cicho- 

 rium Intybns, and other weeds of cultivation. In 

 the woods and dells we have the pretty Lysi- 

 machia nemorum for a carpet, with Hypericum 

 dubium, &c, Adoxa moschatellind, Lamium galeob- 

 dolon, and Convolvulus minor ; aid in and near 

 the streams Nuphar lutea, Nasturtium amphibium, 

 Eupatorium cannabinum, and Sagiiiaria sagittifolia. 

 This short sketch gives an idea of the number of 

 species to be found in tbe district. There is still 

 a wide field for research, and ample scope for the 

 student. — W. Bradley, Dudley. 



Gagea lutea and other Plants in North- 

 amptonshire. — Some three years ago I was 

 shown a plant of Gagea lutea which had been 

 gathered in the county, but which, after diligent 

 search, I was unable to find. Last year I was 

 rewarded by finding the leaf, and this year the 

 plant itself, though rather past flowering. It 

 occurs but very sparingly on an old shady hedge- 

 bank, where it is almost choked by a rank growth 

 of Mercurialis, hyacinth, and little adoxa. The 

 Gagea, though rather widely distributed, is, I think, 

 a plant seldom found in England. From tbe great 

 length of Northamptonshire, nearly seventy miles, 

 a thorough investigation by one individual is almost 

 out of the question ; but by the aid of our newly- 

 started Naturalist Society we hope to make a 



