176 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Forma 3. pendulina, Blytt. With us the peduncle is 

 often over 6 cm. long, and the lower spikelet often has a 

 small spikelet at its base. It is found at the same elevations 

 as the var. brunnescens, but in deeper and more sheltered glens. 

 There is a fine patch of this at the base of Beinn Chaluim. 



Forma 5. longipalea, Neuman. This is the only other 

 form, so far as I am aware, we have ; it is found pretty well 

 up on the hills in such places as the marsh on the saddle- 

 back between Ben Lawers and Meall Garbh ? I have never 

 seen it with the fruit so well developed as to cause the 

 spikelet to droop. 



Of the varieties described by this author, var. brunnes- 

 cens, Anderss., is our common hill form, from about 250-750 

 meters, easily distinguished by its narrow leaves which are 

 much longer than the stem, and the brownish appearance of 

 its spikelets, although the glumes are often for the most part 

 white and membranous. 



Var. borealis, Hartm., is not a rare variety with us, but 

 it is very rare in fruit. It may have one or two spikelets, 

 but they are always closely sessile. Although found at 

 higher altitudes than the var. brunnescens, the perigynia when 

 present are always better developed than in that variety at a 

 lower altitude. It is easily known, even when barren, by its 

 long involute leaves, and is a plant of the saddle-backs from 

 750 meters upwards, if water is constant. 



C. vesicaria, L. The so-called varieties of this plant 

 have always been a mystery, and no two authors seem to 

 agree about them. This is due, of course, to the want of 

 field-experience of the variations. Begin at the shores of 

 Loch Dochart and follow this plant up the mountains and 

 you will see the following changes taking place. The type 

 occurs on the exposed shore, the form elatior in the muddy 

 bays, the dwarf form 30 cm. high, and smaller in all its parts, 

 in the meadows ; then as we ascend the mountain we lose 

 sight of it altogether, and not till we reach 750 meters do we 

 come across it again from 30-60 cm. high, with very short 

 erect spikelets, when it is known as C. Grahami, Boott ; and 

 associated with it we find another form 20-30 cm. high, with 

 its lower spikelet hanging on a long hair-like peduncle. Now 

 let us take these two last forms in their order. 



