R. G. Stapledon and T. J. Jenkin 59 



Plantago lanceolata^ is probably a secondary plant on the majority 

 of the types ; it attains to a more dominant position on old than young 

 leys. 



Species which are not advisedly sown. 



Rhinanthus spp. This is a secondary plant on all types. It gains 

 rapidly on the land under meadow conditions, especially in these districts 

 where the hay is habitually cut late, usually reaching its zenith at about 

 the fourth or sixth year; under subsequent grazing for three to five 

 years it is greatly decreased. Strong competition with Dactylis glomerata 

 does not appreciably decrease it, although giving it a relatively lower 

 percentage productiveness. 



Ranunculus repens. A dominant secondary plant on all types, 

 being equally abundant as an arable weed it may be excessive even 

 in the first year; but from a clean seed bed usually only attains to 

 dominance in the later years of a ley, but may attain to its maximum 

 figure by the sixth year. Evidence is not lacking to suggest that 

 Trifolium repens competes favourably against it^. 



Bellis perennis. Prunella vulgaris, and Sagina procumhens are puzzhng 

 and interesting plants concerning which we are at present unable to 

 generalise usefully. 



Potentilla erecta and Galium saxatile are primary plants on all semi- 

 natural types derived from heath, which seldom reappear on tended 

 land before the fifth or sixth, and frequently not until the tenth or 

 fifteenth year. 



VI. SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS. 



(1) Grassland has been classified as natural and semi-natural; 

 both classes have been further sub-divided according to the botanical 

 composition of the herbage in relation to habitat (pp. 27-36). 



(2) The plants which colonise natural grasslands have been called 

 primary indigenous species; and those which come in without being 

 sown and contribute largely to the herbage on semi-natural types have 

 been designated secondary indigenous species (p. 37). 



^ Since the plant is still largely sown above 600' and used to be sown to an even greater 

 extent, and is still abundant as an impurity in clovers, it may well be, like Holcus lanatus, 

 a heritage of the husbandry practised on the types above 600' and not a secondary plant. 



^ Ranunculus bulbosus, the chief Ranunculus on the Cotswolds where it is not an 

 arable weed, invariably makes a late appearance on leys. 



