1 12 



Gmit : Botcmical Survey of a Pashwe. 



strikes an observer in the field, are the few and prominent 

 islands of this grass in the Cynosurus area ; its presence here 

 seems inexplicable, as it is gTowing under conditions which 

 seem to be much wetter than those in which it is usually 

 recorded, or in which it can exist. [Numerous borings were 

 made here in order to detect any local variation in soil, but 

 none was found. The only difference apparent was the decidedly 

 more ' humic ' nature of the first two inches of soil, but this 

 must be accounted for in the large amount of decaying material 

 annually yielded by the aerial parts of Foxtail.] Observation 

 has not extended long enough, but the probability is that its 

 area is increasing, as its habit is similar but more luxuriant than 

 that of Cynosurus, and owing to the land being subject to less 

 inundation than formerly. Its presence and increase would also 

 induce the increase of its associate, Meadow Fescue, which is 

 found in parts to be intimately mixed with it. (In course of 

 time it seems possible, conditions remaining the same, that an 

 entire change in the character of the herbage on this area may 

 take place resulting in the ultimate extermination of Cynosurus). 

 On the other side of the ditch, the Foxtail is chiefly among the 

 ' general vegetation ' and only in cases does it come in direct 

 contact with either Yorkshire Fog or Tussock. 



The Scrub. — This is the only remaining part to be dealt 

 with, but there is nothing to be gained by going into detail. It 

 is of the 'Lowland Oak' type; the following is part of its 

 constituent flora : — 



Qiicrciis. GaluDH saxaiile. 



Rtibiis sp. Galiiini criiciata. 



Rosa sp. Holcus LanaUis. 



Lonicera. Holcus mollis. 



Fraximis. Descliampsia flexnosa. 



Acer pseiidoplataniis. Deschampsia ccespitosa. 



Lathyrus pratensis. Stachys Betonica. 



Lathy r us niotitanus. Scilla fes talis. 



The principal interest lies in comparing the species recorded 

 here with those given as comprising the characteristic vegeta- 

 tion of the 'slope w^ith northern exposure.' Most of them are 

 common to the two areas, and some {La/hyrus vwntanus , Stachys 

 Betonica y and Scilla festalts) are g'ood indicator plants of woods 

 with a light canopy. This evidently admits of only one explana- 

 tion, viz., that the slope in former times was likewise characterised 

 by an Oak wood and flora, remnants of which still survive. 

 That these plants have remained after the removal of the trees 

 is an evidence of their adaptation to changed conditions and 



Naturalist, 



