Page:Journal of botany, British and foreign, Volume 9 (1871).djvu/350

 322 or authority in most cases unquestionable, safely mention as natives of Angus.

Before, however, we enter upon the investigation of the particular objects here to be treated of, it may not be amiss to observe that in different parts of this, as well as of every other country, even in situations almost perfectly similar, the plants produced are by no means the same; nor do we find that those which are common in one part of this kingdom are equally so in another. It may not be improper to illustrate this by a few examples relative to the present case. Hypericum pulchrum is far from being frequent in this neighbourhood, but it grows in most parts of Angus in the greatest profusion. Single specimens of the Fucus esculentus or F. pinnatifidus can hardly be met with on the seashores of this part of the kingdom. Both these plants, however, are so plentiful in the county alluded to, that the collecting and selling of them, especially of the former, afford even an almost constant employment for a particular class of the poorer sort of people.

Before prosecuting my subject I have only further to remark, that besides merely mentioning the plants as they occur, I shall, when it appears requisite, make a few observations on those whose Linnæan names do not yet seem sufficiently determined; not that in such cases I can pretend altogether to clear up the ambiguity, but principally with a view to the remarks of the ingenious members of this Society. I shall likewise add a few observations on such plants as are inserted in the 'Flora Scotica,' either from dubious authority or where no particular place of growth is mentioned.

I shall now proceed, therefore, to the enumeration proposed, taking the plants as they stand in the Linnæan system; beginning with the Utricularia minor, which grows plentifully in pools of stagnant water near Forfar. In other parts of Scotland this plant is very rarely to be met with; the only place mentioned in the 'Flora Seotica' is some peat pits near Kirkmichael in Dumfriesshire.

Schœnus Mariscus, which is not mentioned in the 'Flora Scotica,' grows in marshy ground north-east from Forfar. The spot in which it grows was formerly a small loch, which has lately been drained for the sake of its marle, and since that period the plant has never been observed in flower, but is in a very weak state.

Scirpus sylvaticus is likewise to be met with in this country in ground which is overflowed in the winter betwixt Brechin and Montrose.

Eriophorum alpinum, a plant hitherto unknown as a native of Britain, I observed near the same place with the Schœnus Mariscus. Within a mile of this place I likewise observed a species of Agrostis, which appeared considerably different from any of those commonly described as of British growth. It was then late in the season, and I did not find more than one specimen in flower. Afterwards, on comparing it with some grasses lately sent to the Botanic Garden here by Mr. Curtis, I found it exactly corresponding to his Agrostis tenuifolia. As, before I could do this, it was necessarily much later in the season, the plants were not in flower; but by the shape of the leaves from which the specific name tenuifolia has very aptly been taken, I could easily see the plants were perfectly similar. But till Mr. Curtis's plants flower, nothing can be said with certainty on the subject. At present I shall only add that, as I am very little acquainted with the 'Flora Londinensis,' I am not certain whether or not Mr. Curtis has as yet published any observations on this species.