THE BOTANY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 75 



physical nature of the soil. Such are Thalictrum flavum, Nasturtium 

 sylvestre and N. amphibiuin. Erysimum cheiranthoides, Stellaria aquatica, 

 Lythrum salicaria, Apium graveolens, Oenanthe aquatica, Hottonia 

 palustris, Symphytum officinale, Polygonum hydropiper, etc. 



On the other hand, the dry gravelly banks and terraces of old Trent 

 alluvium oflfer a congenial home for many of the sand-loving plants 

 characteristic of District II. 



A few species which are more or less common in District III are of 

 equally frequent occurrence in District IV, but almost or entirely un- 

 known in Districts I and II. Among these are Conium maculatum, 

 Sison amomum, Peucedanum sativum, Dipsacus sylvestris, Senecio 

 erucifolius, Picris echioides. Lactuca virosa, Hordeum nodosum, etc. 



The Rhaetic deposits which are included in District III form a narrow 

 band of such insignificant extent along the eastern edge of the Keuper 

 as to be of no botanical importance, and may therefore be ignored. 



District IV 



The Liassic beds of Nottinghamshire consist of a series of blue clays 

 and shales with bands of limestone, belonging to the lower part of the 

 Lower Lias, and forming a long strip overlying the Triassic rocks along 

 the south-eastern border cf the county. There are also two considerable 

 outliers capping the hills south of the Trent between Thrumpton and 

 West Leake. Sison, Peucedanum sativum, Senecio erucifolius and a few 

 others are common plants in this district; Cnicus eriophorus occurs in 

 quantity in one or two stations ; and among other species almost or 

 entirely confined to this formation are Lotus tenuis, Carum segetum, 

 Caucalis arvensis, Galium tricorne, Linaria spuria, Calamintha nepeta, 

 Galeopsis angustifolia and Carex binervis. 



In parts of District IV, as at Langford and Wigsley, the Lias clay is 

 covered by a mantle of gravelly drift supporting the usual assemblage of 

 sand-loving plants, such as Teesdalia, Cerastium semidecandrum and 

 C. arvense, Polygala serpyllacea, Galium sylvestre, Filaga minima, 

 Gnaphalium sylvaticum, Senecio sylvaticus, Calluna, Erica cinerea. 

 Myosotis versicolor, Salix repens. Nardus, etc. Langford Moor and 

 Wigsley Wood were formerly wet swampy moorland, and although long 

 drained and planted with oak and fir, still show traces of their ancient 

 flora. Erica tetralix, Lysimachia vulgaris, Myrica gale, Molinia coerulea 

 and Lastrea spinulosa still persist in fair quantity, as well as patches of 

 Sphagnum; and a solitary plant of Osmunda, probably the last in the 

 county, was seen about 40 years ago, but has since disappeared. Wigsley 

 Wood, too, is the only Nottinghamshire station for Convallaria majalis 

 which is abundant there. 



Cellular Cryptogams 



Limitations of space forbid a detailed review of the cellular cryptogams 

 of Nottinghamshire, but a full account of the local Mosses. Liverworts, 

 Lichens, Algae and Fungi occurring in the county, with notes on their 

 distribution, will be found in Vol. I of the Victoria History of Notting- 

 hamshire. A detailed list of the Myxomycetes of the county is given in 

 the Transactions of the Nottingham Naturalists' Society for 1910-11. 



