CONTRIBUTIONS TO A FLORA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 233 



The following account of the Orchids of the Isle of 

 Scarp by Mr. Duncan, is of interest, as showing the habitats 

 much more fully than usual. 



MALAXIS PALUDOSA, Sw. 



1. Among grasses and sedges in very shallow slowly flowing 

 water beside Loch Steoavat, on the south side of Strone 

 Udemul at 430 feet altitude, but small. 



2. Among very short, damp sphagnum, in two other spots 

 on the south side of the same hill, and at the same altitude. 



3. In and beside a small pool of stagnant water on a natural 

 terrace on the east side of the same hill, at 800 feet, here 

 it is as large as it grows in North Harris in pure water, and 

 among abundance of green sphagnum. 



4. On shallow disintegrated peat which is damp and often 

 rather watery on the south-east, at 360 feet, near the pass called 

 " The Cloup." 



5. On ground which has been out of cultivation a good 

 many years, on a narrow ridge covered with a dense coat of 

 grass, with an open drain on either side, on the south-east side 

 of the hill, at about 250 feet. Here it is very small. 



LISTERA OVATA, R. Br. On a grassy knoll on the east side of the 

 same hill, at 100 feet alt. This is the rarest orchid of the island. 



L. CORDATA, R. Br. Common in the northern part of the island, 

 among or covered by heather, and in open ground in damp 

 soil, at almost all elevations. It flowers as early as April. 



ORCHIS MASCULA, Linn. Frequent on ledges of the coast-cliffs in 

 the north, and extending a short way inland ; large, but with 

 unspotted leaves. In North Harris, just across the Sound of 

 Scarp, among grass it is poor. Also in South Harris on 

 the heath, but south of Scarista it is as large as the Scarp 

 specimens. 



O. LATIFOLIA, Linn. Frequent in the east, occasional elsewhere. 

 In deep, damp soil this and the next often grow together in 

 great luxuriance. 



O. INCARNATA, Linn., var. ANGUSTIFOLIA, Bab. Frequent. In 

 parts where the coast is low it grows in the sand close to the 

 stones rolled up by the sea, and a few paces inland among 

 grass it is very large. Farther north the sand is often drifting, 

 and then often the spikes only appear out of the sand, and 

 look very odd. In this state it also occurs on the coast of 

 the Harris mainland. 



O. MACULATA, Linn. Almost at all elevations. The flowers are 

 often slightly fragrant. 



LIBRA R Y 



