162 



rMtum (Robson), found in Yorkshire. A specimen of Poa Borreri was exhibited, collected by The Rev. G. 

 E. Smith, at Lymington ; which, although presenting the characters of that species, actually exhibited in 

 two panicles a strong tendency to the reflexion of the adult branches, as in Poa distans. Mr. Adam Gerard 

 presented some interesting plants from Sierra Leone, collected by Mrs. Blyth. The Society had also received 

 a large collection of foreign mosses from Dr. Muhlenbeck ; and specimens of Seseli Libanotis collected in 

 Herts, by The Rev. W. H. Coleman. Books had also been presented by Mr. Gutch, Mr. Luxford, Mr G. 

 Rich, and the Shropshire Natural-History Society. A letter was read from Dr. Nees Von Esenbeck, thanking 

 the Society for electing him a foreign member. 



A paper was read from Edwin Lees, Esq. F.L.S., " On the Flora of the Malvern Hills, and the suiTound- 

 ing Distiict, in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire," (accompanied by an excellent map illus- 

 trative of the stations of plants). The author observed that the Malvern Hills, in an undulating narrow ridge 

 of nine miles in length, running very nearly due North and South, form " a great back-bone" between the 

 counties of Worcester and Hereford, while Gloucestershire joins the two former counties at the extreme South- 

 em end of the chain. The mass of syenite itself, of which the hills geologically consist, is so narrow that but 

 little advantage would be gained by attempting to note the plants of the Hills irrespective of the District 

 aroujid them, most of the rarer plants in fact occurring rather in the valleys or at the base of the chain, than 

 on the rocky summits themselves. 



Mr. L. proposed to trace the vegetation of the district in three divisions, which will accord as well with 

 the superficial aspect of the country as with its geological character ; and it will then be more readily seen 

 what influence (if any) the nature of the soil exercises upon the habitats of the various plants found within its 

 boundaries. 



The first division comprises the flat country eastward of the hills to the Severn, whose course, setting aside 

 curvatui-es, is nearly parallel to the Malvern chain, the distance from the river varying in the space between 

 Worcester and Tewkesbury, from five to about seven miles. The whole of this plain consists of red marl, 

 with deposits of diluvial gravel in various places close to or to vnthin short distances of the river. To the 

 South of Upton several isolated hills of lias limestone occui-, and North of that town various tabular or ra- 

 ther roof-shaped hills of red marl, more or less covered with wood, run parallel with the Severn, and beauti- 

 fully diversify the scene. Even nearer the hUls, especially southwards, many fortress-like eminences start 

 up in a picturesque manner, and, robed with foliage, greatiy relieve the tame flat that would otherwise present 

 itself. The drainage of the whole district is received by the Severn, even from the limestone on the western 

 side of the ridge ; for the Ledden, that, flowing past Ledbury, collects the streams from the southward, after a 

 further course of ten or twelve miles flows into the Severn at Gloucester. Throughout the whole eastern 

 plain no lake or even pool of any striking dimensions occurs, but the streams that flow from the hills in the 

 direction of Eldersfield, the Berrow and Longdon, being precluded from reaching the Severn directly by the 

 intervention of steep banks of marl, and having only one ouUet to that river with scarcely any fall, necessa- 

 rily accumulate in the flat meadows, forming marshes of considerable extent and entu-ely overflowed in the 

 autumnal season. Many efforts have been made to drain these marshes, and deep ditches beset them on 

 eveiy side ; but having only one sluggish outlet, and being in fact in many places below the level of the bed 

 of the Severn, it appears impracticable to provide an adequate drainage for them. However, the boundaries 

 of the marshes have doubtless been much restricted of late years, for Mr. L. was informed that within the 

 memory of persons stiU in existence, the ague was a common complaint in all the neighbouring parishes, but 

 is now almost unknown ; and the author had met with men who could tell tales of thii-ty yeai-s ago or more, 

 when the ignis fatims or wild-fire has led them a strange midnight dance, though now unseen for many a day. 

 Mr. Lees proposed to treat of the two other divisions in futui'e papers ; and the present paper concluded 

 with a copious list of habitats, and specimens of aU the plants (many of which were exhibited) are deposited 

 in the Society's herbarium : and it is the intention of Mr. L. to send the Society specimens of all the plants 

 (including Cryptogamia) in the Malvern district. 



The following are the habitats of some of the interesting plants. 



Isatis tinctoria : On a precipitous clifi" of red marl forming the left bank of the Severn, immediately op- 

 posite Sam Hill, at a place called the Mythe, one mile North of Tewkesbury, and a few hundred yards from 

 the new iron bridge over the river. Mr. L. had noticed this plant here for above twenty years. Koniga ma- 

 ritima : Near the chalybeate well. Great Malvern : found in August 1 841. Vicia Bithynica : In a field East 

 of Malvern Wells, between the Admiral Benbow and Benbow's Farm-house. In the original edition of 'Eng- 

 lish Botany,' Dr. Abbot is said to have gathered it a few miles to the North of Great Malvern. Smiirninm 

 Olusainim : On the red marl cliff" at the Mythe Tout above Tewkesbury, close to the Severn, where some un- 

 derwood extends up the acclivity. Iris fcetidissima : On Sam hiU, near Forthampton, very luxuriant. 

 Also at Cruckbarrow, South of Worcester, and on the BeiTOw hill, two miles from the southern end of Mal- 

 vern chain eastwards. Crocus vcrtnis : Battenhall, a litfle South of Worcester. Dijjsaciis jrihsus : Below 

 the Abbey, Malvern, eastward, and Bubble Brook, Worcester. Verbascum BlaUaria : Fonhampton, and 

 between that place and Longdon. Siiiecio sgualidus : Old buttresses, Worcester. Delphinium Consoli- 

 da : On the border of WellaiiU Common. Hellfhorus fuctidus : Cotheridge. OriiillMgalmii umbcllatum: 

 Cotheridge, betwetu Worcester and Malvern. — G. E. D. 



