Grownd Vegetation of Oakwood 79 



oak-forest. The bark of coppiced oak formerly had a high 

 value for tanning hides in the process of making leather. 

 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and birch (Betula tomentosa and 

 B. alba), frequent or abundant constituents of natural 

 oakwood, are also often found among the coppiced shrubs, 

 and so is maple (Acer campestre) . Beech {Fagus sylvatica) 

 and Spanish chestnut (Castanea sativa, planted) are occa- 

 sionally met with, but are far more characteristic of the 

 dry oakwoods. 



Other very abundant members of the shrub-layer of 

 the damp oakwood are hawthorn (Cratmgus monogyna), 

 sloe or blackthorn {Prunus spinosa), briars (Rosa canina, 

 B. arvensis) and brambles {Buhus fruticosus agg.). These 

 do not of course form coppice shoots and are largely 

 absent from well-kept coppice. 



The ground vegetation of the damp oakwood is con- 

 ditioned very largely by the amount of light 

 vegetation ^^ obtains during the growing season. Under 



the shade of oak growing in close canopy, or 

 of old (10 — 20 years) and well-grown hazel coppice, the 

 vegetation is very open and consists exclusively of species 

 which can endure deep shade (Plate I a, II a). 



In about 14 square yards (about 9'3 square metres) of oakwood, with 

 the trees about 35 years old and growing in close canopy, in which the 

 shrubs (bazel, sloe and hawthorn) were too deeply shaded to produce 

 abundant foliage, the following species were found forming an open 

 association, with much bare soil between the plants, on good mild humus 

 above a loamy soil. 



Trees. 

 Querous Eobur (3, and 2 seedlings). 



Shrubs, 



Prunus spinosa (several shrubs and many seedlings). 

 Crataegus monogyna (several shrubs and seedlings). 

 Corylus Avellana (1 shrub, 1 seedling). 

 Rubus sp. (several with trailing shoots). 



