XXX11. THE FLORA OF HALIFAX. 



mollis. Aira caryophyllca, Rumex obtusifolius and Acetosa, with 

 Heracleum, Plantago major, Capsclla, Ranunculus acris, Teucvium 

 Scorodonia (on the older ground only), Hieracium boreale, Poly- 

 uum lapatlufolium, and Cnicus lanceolatus formed the third group 

 of plants not generally distributed. 



The plants of the fourth group, of which either only one or 

 very few individuals w r ere noted, included a young willow 

 (S. caprca), figwort, dandelion, groundsel, sowthistle, Centaurea 

 nigra, Hypochceris radic-ata, Achillea Ptarmica, Polygonum Convolvidus, 

 Mclilotas altissima, Lotas corniculatus, Silene inflata, Saponaria 

 Vaccaria, St achy s sylvatica, Rumex cvispus, Alopecurus agrestis, 

 Festuca rigida and Eqaisetum arvense. 



The number of species, the character of the dominant ones, 

 the subordinate position of the grasses, though over a dozen 

 were present, all illustrate the immaturity of the flora of this 

 railway bank. A few seedlings of willow and a small specimen 

 of furze were the only representatives of shrubby vegetation, 

 but there were brambles, with bracken, at the foot of the slope. 



Whilst there is much in common between the grass associ- 

 ations of the meadow and pasture, and both are found together 



ascending to iooo or even 1400 feet, in favour- 

 Meadow able situations, the hill pasture has a strongly 

 Plants. marked character of its own, and the consider- 

 ation of it is better postponed for the present. 

 But as there is very little meadow land above 900 feet, it is 

 more appropriately included as a feature of the lowland area. 



The commonest and most abundant grasses met with in 

 these " mow r ing fields " are : — 



Anthoxanlhum odoratum (Sweet Vernal), Poa pratensis, 



Alopecurus pratcusis (Foxtail), Festuca duriuscula, 



( ynosnrns cristatus (Dogstail), Bromus mollis, 



Dactyl is glome rata (Cocksfoot), Lolium perenne (Rye). 



Yellow Oat-grass, Trisctum flavescens is abundant, but more 

 local in its occurrence ; Holcus mollis is common along the field 

 borders, and couch grass is more frequent than it should be. 



The herbage of any meadow is sure to be made up of at 

 least a dozen species in addition to the grasses. Those that 

 occur invariably, and usually in great abundance, are : — 

 Ranunculus acris (Buttercup), Bellis perennis (Daisy), 



Anthriscus sylvestris, Taraxacum (Dandelion), 



Rumex Acetosa (Sorrel). 



