WOODLAND PLANTS 345 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

 WOODLAND PLANTS 



Features to observe in the study of a wood. The vegetation 

 of woods varies considerably in different localities, accord- 

 ing to elevation, slope, and aspect, nature of the soil, and 

 water-supply, but in all cases the striking species are the 

 trees. In the study of woodland plants an attempt should 

 be made to answer the following questions and to make 

 the following observations : 



(1) Which is the dominant species of tree : i.e. which 

 species is it that on the whole makes its influence most 

 apparent ? 



(2) What are the subordinate trees ? 



(3) Does their arrangement or the character of the species 

 suggest artificial planting, or have the trees grown spon- 

 taneously and formed a natural wood ? 



(4) Look for seedlings, and see which trees are repro- 

 ducing themselves from seeds. 



(5) What are the dominant species of the ground flora ? 



(6) Is their distribution influenced in any way by the 

 overshadowing trees ? 



(7) Compare the shade produced by the different species 

 of trees, especially that of Beech, Elm, Pine, Oak, Common 

 Ash, and Birch. 



(8) Is the vegetation the same under trees with a close 

 canopy, like the Beech and Elm (shade-endurers), as 

 under trees with an open canopy, like the Oak, Ash, or 

 Birch (light -demanders) ? 



(9) Compare the parts closely planted with the more 

 open parts. 



(10) What is the nature of the soil, (a) siliceous or cal- 

 careous, (b) coarse, stony, shallow, and dry, or fine-grained, 



