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ON THE BOTANY OF MALHAM. 



By L. C. Miall, Esq. 



Part I. 



The list of plants which follows is one of several which were prepared 

 by the writer while engaged upon the Flora of the West-Riding. It was 

 subsequently thought sufficiently interesting to justify a separate re-publi- 

 cation, and the first part accordingly appeared in " The Phytologist" for 

 July, 1863. (New Series, No. 99j. The sudden extinction of that periodi- 

 cal, which ceased to appear after the number mentioned, put a temporary 

 stop to the project, which is now revived under the auspices of " The 

 Naturalist." 



A few introductory observations may prove serviceable to those who 

 do not know the locality in question. The little village of Malham, in 

 Yorkshire, has long attracted visitors by the wonders of its scenery, and 

 the rare interest of its flora. Ray, Willisel, Curtis, Dillenius, and Richard- 

 son are but a few of the older botanists who have left accounts, more or 

 less extensive, of their discoveries in Gordale and the neighbourhood. 

 For nearly two centuries the limestone rocks of that strange spot have 

 been explored by an uninterrupted succession of naturalists, nor have 

 their pains been ill rewarded. Much doubtless remains to be discovered 

 in every corner of this comparatively well-examined country, but it is not 

 probable that of those species of plants which are already determined, 

 many will now be found at Malham for the first time. 



Malham is situated at the head of Airedale. The river which gives its 

 name to that valley rises at the southern end of Malham Tarn. After 

 flowing about half a mile, it sinks, reappearing at the foot of the Cove, a 

 distance of more than a mile. Another stream, equal in volume, rises 

 from the heights and " clowders " north-east of the tarn, rushes through 

 the precipitous cleft of Gordale, and under the name of Gordale Beck joins 

 the other rivulet between the villages of Malham and Kirby Malham. A 

 third tributary flows from Kirby Fell and Scosthrop Moor, uniting itself 

 to the Aire about a mile below the fork. 



No. U, Nov. 15. P 



