218 



NOTES ON THE PLANTS OBSERVED ON THE 



FIELD-DAY OF THE CLUB AT OLD EADNOE 



AND STANNER, MAY 24th, 1888. 



[By Rev. A. Ley.] 



The season was late, and few flowerinfr plants were observed. The ground 

 covered lay almost entirely in Radnorshire ; but a few notes of Herefordshire 

 species gathered in the neighbourhood three days previously are added. 



At Uolyhir, the Meadow Saxifrage (S. granulata, L.) was in flower upon 

 the dry limestone rocks ; and afterwards in similar situations at Stanner. This 

 plant, in Herefordshire, is confined to damp meadows and woods. 



Upon Stanner rocks most of the well known and characteristic species 

 virere seen, Tcesdalia nudicaulis, Mcenchia crecta, and Gerastium semidccandrum 

 were in full flower ; the first of them also on Old Radnor Hill. The rare 

 Campion, Lychnis viscaria, L. was seen abundantly, and was just opening its 

 flowers. It grows in the most precipitous parts of the cliflf in company with 

 Basa spinosissima, the Bloody Crane's Bill Geranium sanguineum, the Stanner 

 Stonecrop Sedum Forsterianuin, and the showy Veronica hybrida, all of which 

 were observed, but the visit was too early to allow of their being picked in 

 flower. These rare plants are likely, we are glad to say, to hold their own against 

 collectors for many years to come ; occupying as they do a tolerably large space 

 of inaccessible cliff ; and there is no sign that they are now less plentiful than 

 they used to be. Not so, the other Stanner rarity, Scleranthus pereyinis, L, which 

 was hunted for to-day in vain. It may, however, still exist there, as it is an 

 inconspicuous plant easily escaping observation. Among the less rare species 

 which attracted attention during the day, chiefly at Stanner, the pretty little 

 Tuberous Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina, L.), the Sweet Cicely (Myvrhis odorata, 

 Scop.), the Stork's Bill (Erodium cicutarium, Sm.), the pretty Bitter Vetch 

 [Orobus tuberosus, L.), and Woodruffe (Aspenda odorata, L.), the little Parsley 

 Piert (Alchemilla arvensis. Scop.), and its more conspicuous relative the Lady's 

 Mantle {A. vulgaris), the curious Herb Paris (P. quadrifolia L.), with Cardamine 

 impatiens and sylvatica may be mentioned. Most of these are more or less rare, 

 and are species which a naturalist is },'lad to see in a day's ramble. 



Several rare Mosses were noted, at Dolyhir and Stanner, though the dry 

 and hard east wind made the day unfavourable for their observation. Among 

 these, Funaria calcarea, Grimmia subsqaarrosa and trichophylla, Trichostomum 

 nitidum and Tortula intermedia, Fissidens decipiens, and Brachythecium albicans, 

 may be mentioned as rare or local species. 



Very little botanical work was done in Herefordshire during the day ; but 

 one or two plants were noted in the Kington neighbourhood a few days before, 

 which are thought worth mention. 



Myosotis sylvatica, Ehrh., one of the species commonly cultivated in 

 gardens, is at present growing along the banks of the Arrow, at intervals, for 



