THE FLORA OF WARWICKSHIRE. 13 



The unreclaimed laud of the county is of inconsiderable extent, and 

 the commons, once remarkably numerous, are now mostly enclosed 

 and cultivated, or used for grazing. The most extensive heathlands 

 are those of Sutton Coldfield, having an area of about 3,500 acres, and 

 embracing tracts of woodland, moorland, and several large pools. 

 Next to these are the heathlands near Coleshill, Kemlworth Heath, 

 and Yarningale Common. In many districts, however, more 

 especially in the northern portion of the county, the lanes and less 

 frequented roads assume a heath-like character, and still yield a 

 characteristic Flora. 



Owing to the high state of culture in the county, bogs and 

 marshes are of limited extent. The extensive marshlands near 

 Hampton-iii -Arden, still called Bradnock's Marsh, have been drained, 

 and are all under cultivation. Some marshy and boggy land occurs 

 near Coleshill Pool, and also in Sutton Park, but in both cases very 

 limited in extent, hence marsh plants are very local, and in some cases 

 extremely rare. 



It should also be mentioned that near Leamington, Southam, and 

 Itchington Holt, salt springs occur, yielding in the twc latter places 

 some few maritime plants, such as Rumex maritimus, Juncus eom- 

 pressus, Scirpus glaueus, and Carex distans. 



Warwickshire, though well watered, has only two rivers of any 

 magnitude — the Upper Avon, which is tributary to the Severn, and 

 the Tame, which is tributary to the Trent. The other rivers of the 

 county flow directly or indirectly into one or other of these two rivers. 

 There is, however, an insignificant stream running south-east of the 

 Edge Hills, which ultimately reaches the Cherwell near Banbury, and 

 thus drains into the Thames. But, with this unimportant exception, 

 Warwickshire forms part of the basins of those two important rivers — 

 the Severn and the Trent. 



It would have been well to divide the county into Botanical 

 districts, by means of the various rivers intersecting it. Space, how- 

 ever, will not allow this. I shall, therefore, content myself with 

 dividing the county into two large districts— the Avon basin and the 

 Tame basin. 



To render these two districts more intelligible, I will briefly 

 describe the course of the rivers, noticing, at the same time, the 

 country which they drain. 



The Avon rises at Naseby in Northamptonshire, and enters War- 

 wickshire near Clifton. It runs a meandering course south-west, 

 passing some little distance north of Rugby, where it receives on its 

 right bank the small River Swift. After leaving Rugby it runs past 

 Lawford and Brandon, receiving on its left bank two small streams 

 draining the surrounding country. Passing near Ryton-on-Dunsmore 

 and Bubbenhall, it flows through Stoneleigh Park ; here it receives on 

 its right bank the River Sow. It now becomes a stream of greater 

 magnitude, and taking its course by Ashow, passes on through the 



