250 
RARE PLANTS OF THE SEVERN VALLEY. Nov., 1892. 
is their occurrence at similar heights. It should be pointed 
out that there is evidence in Shropshire of a south easterly 
drift, viz., the occurrence of Oolitic fossils at Wellington, 
Salop, Chalk and Liassic and Oolitic fossils near Wolver¬ 
hampton and Shifnal. (Vide T. M. Reade’s paper on Glacial 
Geology, “ Geological Magazine,” July, 1892.) I have on view 
here six mounted photographs of the Gloppa, three of the 
sand-pit when in work, the one of which shows the current 
bedding of the deposit; and the other three are interesting as 
showing the contour of the esker ridge and mounds.* I have 
also put together specimens of a few of the more generally 
characteristic shells (31 species) which may be of interest. 
The stones of the Gorsedd circle of Wrexham Eisteddfod, 
1889, came from Gloppa. Time will not permit of further 
remarks ; however I trust I may have been able to make clear 
some of the leading features of this deposit. 
NOTES ON PLANTS OF RARE OCCURRENCE IN 
THE SEVERN VALLEY.t 
BY CARLETON REA, M.A., B.C.L. 
To those members who perchance have not had the 
opportunity of closely observing the plants growing in the 
Severn Valley, I venture to offer these few notes concerning 
the plants of rarer occurrence therein. Commencing at the 
Mytlie Hill near Tewkesbury I found on my last visit with 
the club the Dyer’s Woad ( Isatis tinctoria ); it was growing on 
the face of the precipitous marl bank that adjoins the 
Severn. This is, so far as I am aware, the only British 
station for this plant, though when the aborigines dyed their 
bodies with its juice it must have been of frequent occurrence, 
and in later times it was cultivated for its valuable dye, now 
superseded by indigo. At the coppice near the Mytlie Hill 
Alexanders ( Smyrnium olusatrum) still flourishes. In the 
brickfields at Diglis the fine-leaved Water Dropwort( (Enanthe 
Phellandrium) still flourishes, and is rarely met with elsewhere 
throughout the county. At Kepax Ferry the Meadow Rue 
(Thalictrum flavum) is found, together with its accompanying 
cluster-cup, the secidiosporous condition of Puccinia persistens, 
* The reader is referred to the “ Quarterly Journal of the Geological 
Society,” Feb., 1892 (Vol. 48) for the sectious aud one of these photo¬ 
graphs. 
t Read before the Worcestershire Naturalists’ Field Club, Julv 
12th, 1892. 
