Ixxii FLORA OF BERKSHIRE 



The more elevated portion of the Pang district, which is drained by 

 that river itself, is also well diversified. The bare high ground about 

 East Ilsley is but a continuation of the Unwell and Lowbury Downs, 

 already described, and has a similar flora to them, except that it is 

 much less I'ich in sylvan species ; but a little further south this 

 deficiency is supplied by the extensive woods of Ashridge, which 

 yield a most interesting species, namely, Ornithogalum pyrenaicum. It 

 is associated with Colchicum auf.umnale, Vicia sylvaiica, Lathyrus sylvestris, 

 and a most beautiful growth of Polygonatum multiflorum. 



The hilly common and woods of Oare, where the London Clay is 

 worked for brick-making, has a vegetation rather unlike that of the 

 woods previously mentioned. Here are to be found the graceful 

 Equisetum sylvaticum and the elegant Carex pallescens, in addition to many 

 of the plants previously mentioned. Its upland common has Ulex 

 minor (nanus), Erica TeiraHx, Juncus squarrosus, Molinia, Salix repens, 

 Sieglingia, Juncoides multijlorum, Nardus, Sagina ciHata, Deschampsia Jlexiwsa, 

 Carex pilidifera, &c. 



Another beautifully wooded tract of country is to be found on the 

 east side of Hermitage Station, where the Fence Woods are situated 

 on a hilly piece of ground, dry and sandy on the top, but with 

 deep gullies and shady dingles, where peaty slopes and sphagnum 

 bogs are to be found. Close by is Grimsbury Castle, occupying a com- 

 manding situation upwards of 460 feet above sea level, with its circular 

 rampart now overgrown with trees and whortleberry. The camp had 

 two entrances, the northern one of which was reached by a narrow 

 road with steep banks on either side ; it would appear from the deposit 

 of peat in this spot that a considerable portion of the surrounding 

 country was at one time under water. The higher portion of Fence 

 Wood leads to the elevated plateau forming Cold Ash Common, from 

 which a glorious prospect of the surrounding country can be obtained. 

 One of the special charms afforded by this view is the character of the 

 scenery, which is more bi'oken up than is usually found in the county. 

 To the south we have the bold escarpment of the Chalk with the 

 wooded heights of High Clere, the bare slope of Walbury Camp, 

 and the distant hills of Wiltshire. Below these is the area on which 

 are the heaths of Greenham, Crookham, and Mortimer ; to the east is 

 the wooded hill of Yattendon ; and to the south of this in the distance 

 may be seen, between Caversham and Wargrave, the hills of Oxford- 

 shire and Buckinghamshire. In conjunction with this common of 

 Cold Ash may be mentioned the elevated commons of Bucklebury 

 and Chapel Kow, for these are also capped with Bagshot Sands, 

 and have a somewhat similar flora. A walk along them is very 

 enjoyable, and will yield a considerable number of plants, some of 

 whicii attain to their most northernly position in Berkshire. The 



