866 
Wilson.—Plant Distribution in the 
Laureola L.. is often present, and on account of the similarity in its time of 
flowering may be placed in this group. 
(b) The following are included in the dwarf shade flora:— 
Anemone nemorosa, L. Frag aria vesca , L. 
Viola Riviniana , Reich. Potentilla Fragariastrum , Ehrh. 
Viola hirta, L. Veronica Chamaedrys , L. 
Geranium Robertianum , L. Lamium Galeobdolon, Crantz. 
Rubus fruticosus , L. Ajuga reptans , L. 
Geum urbanum , L. 
These plants persist under the shade conditions for a number of years, 
flowering rarely or not at all, and producing stunted leaves and stems. 
With the exception of Geranium Robertianum they are all normally 
perennial, and it is probable that the latter plant under these peculiar con¬ 
ditions persists for several years. The distribution of Anemone nemorosa 
varies considerably with the depth of soil and the density of the shade. It 
is completely absent on the shallowest soils under deep shade conditions, 
but appears on these soils in the vegetative form wherever the illumination 
is slightly greater. Its abundance increases on the deeper soils, and here, 
even in the deepest shade, it occurs frequently and flowers occasionally. 
Finally, on the deepest Chalk soils it is abundant and a large proportion of 
the plants produce flowers. 
Of the remaining plants none are found abundantly, and in situations 
where the Anemone is absent areas of bare soil are often found. Viola 
Riviniana flowers more frequently than the other species, but even in this 
case the number of flowers produced is much less than in situations where 
the light intensity is greater ; Viola hirta is of rare occurrence. The plants 
of Rubus fruticosus are small and few in number, and, as a general rule, 
flowers are not produced. 
Dobner ( 5 ), who has mentioned the occurrence of a similar dwarf 
flora in the Hochwalder of Germany, refers to the persistence of Rubus 
fruticosus in the vegetative state under shade conditions (footnote, p. 4 6 ). 
A great change takes place in the character and abundance of the 
vegetation after the cutting of the copse. Felling takes place usually 
during December and January, and, with the exception of the standards 
and Yews (when these are present), the whole of the underwood is re¬ 
moved. This results in a great increase of the light intensity, and the 
mean temperature of the surface soil is raised. As a consequence, in¬ 
creased evaporation goes on from the surface, and the upper layers of soil 
are much drier in the cleared areas than in those still covered by wood. 
The plants which are found in the following spring and summer are 
