84 



Woodhead : N'otes on the Bluebell. 



going- on, and althoug-h much of it is hidden from view, a study 

 of this underground history constitutes one of the most interest- 

 ing phases in the Hfe cycle of the plant. 



Having seen that the bluebell may propagate itself, not only 

 by its seeds but by bulbs (and this accounts largely for its 

 social habit as a species), it becomes a matter of some interest to 

 inquire into its distribution over a definite area. The material 

 for this study was obtained in Birks Wood, about three miles to 

 the south-east of Huddersfield. It forms part of the northern 

 limit of extensive woodlands known as Woodsome Woods, 

 which lie mainly on the Grenoside rock and on shales between this 

 sandstone and the Elland Flagstone of the Lower Coal Measures. 



Fig. 8. Map of l^irks Wood showing distribution of bluebell. 



As indicated in the diagram (Fig. lo) the wood faces north- 

 west, its slope and altitude are shown by the contour lines, the 

 highest point is nearly 500 feet above sea level, descending to 

 350 feet along the road. Near the middle of the wood is a tiny 

 stream arising from a small spring above, it marks the western 

 boundary of a bed of clayey loam, and disappears below in the 

 sandstone at st. Another small stream is shown to the east. 



The details were worked out on the 25 inch to the mile 

 Ordinance Survey map, and Fig. 8 is a plan of the wood 

 reduced, on which the distribution of the bluebell is shown. In 

 the south-east corner, as indicated by the darker symbols, the 

 plant occurs in great abundance. To the north and east it thins 

 out and soon disappears. 



Naturalist, 



