62 



VEGETATION OF THE PEAK DISTRICT 



[CH. 



Tummel shows a flora almost identical with that already given 

 as characteristic of the oak coppice." 



R. Smith {loc. cit.) also stated that the ground vegetation 

 of other examples of the Perthshire birch woods scarcely differs 

 from the vegetation of the adjoining grassland or moorland. 

 This, too, is the case with regard to some of the birch woods of 

 the southern Pennines. Birches, when growing spontaneously, 

 allow a great deal of light to pass through the canopy; and 

 this fact, especially when coupled with the greater altitude of 

 the birch woods, is sufficient to account for the smaller number 

 of sciophytes or shade-loving plants and the greater number of 

 photophytes or light-loving plants. The following lists, taken 

 from two oak-birch woods of the Peak District, show the nature 

 of the ground flora and vegetation : — 



