134 Plant-formation of Siliceous Soils 



The small gorse ( Ulex Gallii) is never so prominent on the 

 southern Pennines as, for example, on the Malvern Hills, 

 in Devonshire and Cornwall, on the Wicklow Hills 

 (Plate X), or in the west of Ireland; but it occurs in 

 patches in dry and fairly exposed localities. Rushes 

 (Juncus effusus, and sometimes J. conglomeratus) , in 

 damp places, and independently of conditions of shelter 

 or exposure, are abundant and characteristic associates. 

 The bracken and the rush, in fact, are in many places 

 harvested by the upland farmers. 



The relationships of the various facies of the Nardus 

 association may be indicated diagrammatically as 

 follows : — 



Nardetum strict^ 



Faoies with 

 Agrostis tenuis 



Faoies with 

 Deschampsia fiexuosa 



Faeies with Faoies with 



Ulex Gallii \ Juncus effusus or 



I J. conglomeratus 



Facies with 

 Pteris aquilina 



Just as there are many localities which are difficult to 

 describe as wood or scrub, so there are many localities 

 which are difficult to describe as scrub or grassland ; and 

 the transitions between these physiographical types are 

 complete. Doubtless, the great bulk of the area now 

 occupied by scrub or grassland was formerly woodland ; 

 and, in fact, several localities now occupied by scrub or 

 grassland retain the place-name "wood." Several species 

 of plants which are characteristic of woodland occur here 

 and there ; and, whilst some of these are no doubt recent 

 migrants, they may, on the whole, be fairly regarded 

 as relics of pre-existing woodland (see also Moss, 1911). 



The following is a list of the more typical and abundant 



