SAXIFRAGA 211 



difference in the size, shape, and colour of the haws in our hedgerows 

 must have been noticed by botanists. 



Var. KYKTOSTYLA (Fingorh. ex Schlecht. in Linnaea, iv. (1829') 372, 

 as a species), another variety is included in our British lists, 

 differentiated by the hairy peduncles and retiexed styles, which 

 I have noticed in Hampstead Marshall Park and may not be un- 

 frequent, but special attention has not been given to this form. 



Writing of the Boar's Hill range, Matthew Arnold, in Thyrsis, says: — 

 ' But many a dingle on the loved hill-side, 



With thorns once studded, old, white-blossomed trees.' 



Very handsome thorns are to be found in Windsor Park, Wytham 

 Park, Ashampstead Common, Hampstead Marshall Park, &e. 



East Ilsley stands on the site of the famous Nachededorne, which 

 derives its name from a remarkable thorn-tree crowning the summit of 

 a neighbouring hill. In 871, says Asser, the Danes were defeated by 

 Alfred on the hill where it stood, and round which they had carelessly 

 assembled. 



It may be worth noting that in the dry spring of 1896, the Haw- 

 thorn, which in the valley of the Kennet was nearly oA^er flower on 

 May 31, was not in full flower (that is, a good proportion of unopened 

 flowers were present) on the bushes which grow on Gibbet Hill at an 

 elevation of about 900 feet. 



C. Oxyacantha occurs in all the bordering counties. 



Obs. In Withering's i?oi. Ari'. of British Plants, ed. i, 292 (1776), the Glaston- 

 bury Thorn is said to grow about Eeading in Berkshire ; the record is repeated 

 by Stokes in ed. 2, ii. 512 (1787) of the same work. This variety, as is well 

 known, is interesting irom the fact that a few blossoms are put forth aboiit 

 Christmas time. 



SAXIFEAGACEAE, DC, Fl. Fr. iv. 358 (1805). 



SAXIFRAGA, Linn. Gen. n. 494 (Tom-nefort, Inst. t. 129). 



S. tridactylites, Linn. Sp. PL 404 (1753). Rue-leaved Saxifrage. 

 Top. Bot. 181. Syme, E. B. iv. 74, t. 552. iSTyman, 274. Fl. Oxf. 129. 

 Native. Glareal. On old walls, and dry sandy ground. Widely 



distributed and locally common. Preferring sunny exposures. 



A. March-June. 

 First record. S. tridactylites, Dr. Noehden, Mavor's Agr. BerTxS, 1809. 



1. Isis. Cumnoi\ Wytham. Longworth. Faringdon. Coleshill. 



Buscot. Appleton. 



2. Ock. Denchworth, Wait. Hinksey, Whitwell. Blewbury Hill, 



and on thatched houses in that vicinity, Lousley. Marcham, 

 Walker. South Hinksey, Kennington, Tubney, Fl. Oxf. Cothill. 

 Abingdon. Frilford. Appleford. Didcot. Lockinge. Letcombe. 

 Pusey. Sutton Courtney. Sparsholt. Goosey. Shellingford. 

 Hanney. In the camp of Uffington Castle about 840 feet. 



P 2 



