NOTES ON THE FLORA OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 43 



the county. As might be imagined, the rainfall in the western and 

 much more elevated portion of the county is considerably higher 

 than the lowlands of the eastern side. 



Adopting the river system as a basis of division into botanical 

 districts, the following seems to be the best arrangement : — 



1. The Cherwell district, drained entirely by that river into the 

 Thames basin, includes some interesting marsh ground near King 

 Sutton and Croughton, where Epipactis palustris still lingers, New- 

 bottle Spinney, and the hills about Charwelton. 



2. The Avon district, drained by the Learn and Avon into the 

 Severn basin, includes the hills of Staverton, the high ground of 

 Barby, and Honey and Hempslow Hills. 



3. The Ouse district, drained by the Ouse and Tove into the 

 Ouse system, contains the old forest of Whittlebury, Cosgrove 

 Quarries, and some interesting ground about Wappenham. 



4. The Welland district, drained by the Welland from Naseby 

 to Crowland, is a narrow strip of land which about Harring worth, 

 Wakerley, and Colly weston is very rich in rarities. 



5. Nene a district. The portion drained by the two heads of 

 the Nene till they join at Northampton includes Salcey Forest, 

 Badby and Plain Woods, Harleston Firs and Daventry Reservoir. 

 In this district occurs Boro' Hill, Holdenby, and Naseby. 



6. Nene b district. That portion drained by the main stream 

 of the Nene from Northampton to Thrapstone and its tributaries, 

 the Ise and Harpers Brook. It contains portions of Rockingham 

 Forest, and the woods of Sywell, Yardley Chase, and Brigstock. 



7. Nene c district. The portion drained by the main stream of 



Nene from Thrapstone to the Cambridge border below Peterboro', 



and also that drained by the Willowbrook. This includes the 



famous quarries of Barnack and Weldon, the magnificent woods of 



Bedford Purlieus, Barnwell Wolds, Southorpe and Wittering 



Heaths, and the great level of the fens. It includes considerable 



variety of soil, and is undoubtedly the richest in rarities of all the 

 districts. 



flavum. L. By Nene side, near Northampton ; also 



Myo 



Welland 



Occurs in sandy 



cornfields on Hunsbury Hill, Nene a; Grendon, Mm Brent, 

 Nene b. 



Ranunculus fluitans, L. In River Nene, Welland, and Tove; 



plentiful above Northampton in shallow swift-running water. 



R. Drouetii, Schultz. At Blisworth, Nene a; a large-flowered 



form occurs at Grafton Regis, Ouse. Dykes below Peterboro' in 

 plenty. 



R. trie hop hyllua, Chaix. In a pond at Gayton water charged 

 with lime, Nene a. 



R* penicillatus, Hiern. Nene b, below Northampton ; rare. 



R. Linyua, L. Extinct in Morton's localities. Plentiful and 

 fine in pond near Harpole with Car ex Pseudo-cyperus, Nene a. 



R. parviflorus, L. Abundant on moat-side of Fotheringhay 

 tastle, Nene c. 



