BOTANY 



were formerly the home of Cheiranthus Cbeiri, and in the grounds is the 

 toothwort (Lathraa Squamaria) and the deadly nightshade (Atropa Bella- 

 donna}. Sedgley Beacon is about 716 feet above the sea, the limestone 

 quarries there being the home of the rare woolly thistle (Carduus hetero- 

 phyllus], the hawkweed (Picris hieracioides], the mignonette (Reseda luted] , 

 the gromwell (Litbospermttm officinale] and the rare soft rose (Rosa mollis}. 

 The igneous rocks of Rowley Regis (820 ft.) do not harbour any special 

 plants. 



In several places in the county salt springs exist, and at Shirley 

 Wich, Ingestre and Salt are the seat of extensive salt works. In these 

 localities maritime plants have been found and sometimes in abundance ; 

 these are lingerers possibly of a former rich maritime flora. Among the 

 more notable are the sea aster (Aster T'ripolium] , the sea milkwort (G/aux 

 maritima), the stork's-bill (Erodium maritimum), the sea sandwort (Spergu- 

 laria maritima) and the celery Apium graveo/ens. Near these localities 

 is Kingston Pool near Stafford, formerly an extensive sheet of water 

 yielding many salt loving plants, as Erodium maritimum, sea sedge (Scirpus 

 maritimus) and the sea dock (Rumex maritimus] ; and at Branstone near 

 Burton-on-Trent salt springs also exist, and here are found jR. maritimus 

 and the celery Apium graveo/ens. 



Marshes and bogs have in former times been extensive in many of 

 the districts, more especially in the north and north-west, where even in 

 comparatively recent times extensive moorlands existed ; but drainage, 

 reclamation and the growth of centres of industry have greatly lessened 

 their area. The remains of what have been extensive bogs or mosses are 

 still found near Biddulph and Congleton Edge, where are the rare marsh 

 hawkweed (Crepis paludosa], the golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositi- 

 folium), sheep's penny rot (Hydrocotyle vu/garis) and the pondweed Pota- 

 mogeton rufescens. 



About Betley and Madeley much of the moorland is still marsh 

 and bog, as at Craddock's Moss, formerly very extensive and the home 

 of many rare bog plants, as the bladderwort (Utricularia minor), the 

 bogbell (Andromeda Polifolia], grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris], 

 the rare water soldier (Stratiotes aloides], the sundew (Drosera longifolia) 

 and the small reed mace (Typha angustifolia) ; and a most notable marshy 

 bog still exists near the ancient Chartley Castle, Chartley Moss. Here 

 until lately the surroundings remained in their primitive condition, 

 and many of the rarest paludal plants were to be found, such as the 

 marsh St. John's wort (Hypericum elodes), the cranberry (Vaccinium oxy- 

 coccus), the bog pimpernel (Anagalis tenella), the bogbell (Andromeda 

 Polifolia), the fen sedge (Cladium Mariscus), the royal fern (Osmunda 

 regalis] ; and in the adjoining woods, the rare shield ferns, Nephrodium 

 crisfatum, N. Thelypteris and N. Oreopteris. In the southern part of the 

 county was an extensive morass, Norton Bog, now a great mining centre ; 

 but here still linger noticeable bog plants, as the black schcenus (Schcenus 

 nigricans), the butter wort (Pinguicula vulgaris), the marsh violet (Viola 

 palustris}, the marsh crowfoot (Ranunculus Lenormandi] and the marsh 



43 



