72 
THE ANKER VALLEY AND ITS FLORA. 
male fern, Lastrea Mix-mas. The common Polypody, Poly- 
podium vulgare, usually abundant on hedge banks in Warwick¬ 
shire, I have only seen as a single plant near Weddington. 
The Maiden-hair Spleen wort, Asplenium Trichomanes ; the 
Wall Rue, Asplenium Ruta-muraria ; Mountain Shield Fern, 
Lastrea Oreopteris, all occur near Atlierstone ; the Prickly 
Shield Fern, Aspidiurn aculeatum , at Hartshill and Gulley 
Common; and in the woods at Bentley, Hartshill, and 
Arbury I find both forms of the Ladyfern, Athyrium filix- 
fcemina , Lastrea dilatata, L. spinulosa, and the noble-looking 
L. Borreri. 
But however wanting the district may be with regard to 
rare plants, the student who pursues that most thorny and 
intricate study, the Brambles, will here find material enough 
and to spare, for in these plants the district is rich indeed, 
giving not only abundance of individuals but also wonderful 
variety ; it is, in fact, the richest bramble district in Warwick¬ 
shire. Fifty-one species and varieties have been observed by 
myself, and two, viz., Rubus Grabowski and R. rubicolor , are 
recorded by Mr. Bloxam, which I have not yet found. 
Rubus Bloxamii , originally found in Hartshill Hayes by 
Mr. Bloxam, occurs not only in that wood but is also the 
prevailing bramble of the Hartshill quarries and lanes. 
R. foliosus is abundant on Ansley coalfield, in Hartshill 
quarries, and near Mancetter. R. Bellardi , R. infestus, 
R. Guntheri , R. Lejeunii, and R. mucronulatus are abundant 
in Hartshill Hayes, Parley Park, and Bentley Woods. A 
form intermediate between R. ram os us and R. Lindleianus pre¬ 
vails in the Hartshill quarries, in lanes near Wolvey, and 
near Anker bridge. Mr. Archer Briggs also finds this form, in 
Devonshire, abundantly. The true R. ramosus occurs some¬ 
what abundantly near Shuttington. R. rosaceus, R. villicaulis , 
are abundant in Bentley Park and Gulley Gap ; and in the 
district about Anker bridge and Burton Hastings R. concinnus 
and R. pilosus are the prevailing brambles. Beside these and 
many others I find in great abundance and at wide intervals 
a bramble which Coleman named R. Bloxamiana, a very 
noticeable plant, midway, I think, between R. scaber and 
R. fusco-ater, but at present undescribed in our English 
floras. In fact, any industrious student of these plants would 
find in this district most of the acknowledged species and 
varieties, and more than one not at present described in our 
text-books. 
Of the genus Rosa I find R. micrantha , two forms of R. 
tomentosa, and twenty-four varieties of R. canina , but as a 
rule both R. tomentosa and R. micrantha are very rare. Of 
