INTRODUCTION IxV 



of Abingdon almost immediately below. The view to the north and 

 east over Oxford, which Turner painted and Matthew Arnold has 

 sung, is scarcely less extensive and is perhaps of still greater beauty ; 

 in the near distance is Iffley, with its Norman Church and picturesque 

 lock, the rich green meadows of the Thames, and the bright-coloured 

 College barges, the stately tower of Magdalen College, the spire of 

 St. Mary's Church, the dome of the Eadcliffe Library, and in the 

 farther distance the Buckinghamshire hills of Muswell and Brill. To 

 the south-east are the Chilterns already mentioned, and northwards the 

 alluvial meadows of the Upper Thames. In the north-w-est the view 

 over Eynsham and Wytham Beacon and the valley of the Thames is, 

 at this evening hour, scarcely to be seen distinctly, but from its 

 indefiniteness is not the less impi'essive. 



The Thames meadows from Oxford to Abingdon, in addition to 

 many of the plants mentioned in the previous list, yield Thalidrum 

 /lavum, Myosurus minimus, Ranunculus Jluitans, B. peltatus, R. Drouetii, 

 E. trichophtjUus, R. hederaceus, R. Lingua, R. Flammula, R. sceleratus, 

 Castalia sjjeciosa, Roripa sijlvestris, R. amphibia, R. palustris, Cardamine 

 amara, Enjsimum cheiranthoides, Brassica stjhestris, B. nigra, Cochlcaria 

 Armoracia, Stellaria aquatica, S. palustris, Hypericum acutum, Geranium 

 pratense, Poterium officinale, Hippuris, Myriophyllum verticillatum, M. spicatum, 

 Callitnche oUusangiila, C. hamulata, Sium latifoHum, S. ereciimi, Oenanthe 

 fistulosa, Oe. silaifolia, Oe. Phellandrium, Bidens tripartita, Petasites, Hoitonia, 

 Samolus, Limnanthemum, Symphijtum officinale, Veronica Anagallis, Ulricu- 

 laria vulgaris, Mentha aquatica and verticillata {saliva) in varying forms, 

 Polygonum minus, P. mite, P. macidatum, Rumex Hydrolapalheum, Alnus, 

 Salix purpurea, S. triandra, S. undidata, S. ferrugima, S. rugosa, Cerato- 

 phyllum, Elodea, Hydrocharis, Stratiotes, Orchis incarnata, 0. latifolia, Leucojum 

 aestivum, Fritillaria, Tijpha latifolia, T. angustifolia, Sparganium erectum, 

 S. neglectum, S. simplex, Acorus Calamus, Lemna trisulca, L. gibba, L. 

 polyrhiza, Alisma Plantago, Sagittaria, Butomus, Potamogeton natans, P. prae- 

 longus, P. densum, P. {zoster aefolius) compiressum, P. Friesii, P. pusillum, 

 P. interruptus, Zannichellia palustris, and var. repens, Eleocharis acicularis, 

 Scirpus Caricis, Carex acuta, C. vesicaria, C. Pseudo-cyperus, C. distans, Phrag- 

 mites, Catabrosa, Panicularia plicata, Bromus commutatus, B. racemosus, Equi- 

 setum limosum, Chara fragilis, C. foetida, C. contraria, Tolypella prolifera, 

 and T. intricala. 



The meadows at Marcham have already been stated to be of an 

 interesting character. They are to some extent watered by springs 

 which have percolated through the Coralline Oolite, and are thrown 

 out by the impervious layer of Kimeridge Clay on which it rests ; the 

 waters are charged with a considerable percentage of saline matter. 

 The course of the brook maybe traced by the copious growth ofApimn 

 graveolens. Wliere the soil has been to some extent denuded of grass 



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