MAN'S INFLUENCE ON INDIGENOUS FLORA OF ABERDEEN 239 



Glaux maritima, L. In turf near the Don. 



Triglochin palustre, L. Formerly in moorland swamps, and by the 

 estuary of the Dee ; now limited to the low ground on the Old 

 Aberdeen Links. 



T. maritimum, L. Almost extinct near the 'Dee, but still plentiful 

 on the Links near the Don. 



Potamogeton pectinatus, L. In the pools on the Links, but not 

 known elsewhere near Aberdeen. 



Eleocharis uniglumis, Schultes. Still plentiful on the low part of the 

 Links, though already on a much restricted area. 



Scirpus pauciflorus, Lightf. This must have occurred in suitable 

 wet and nearly bare places on most moors, and by the estuary 

 of the Dee ; but it now appears to be limited in Aberdeen to 

 the low part of the Links, and will probably die out when the 

 tide is shut out. 



S. maritimus, L. By the stream and in the shallow pools, on the 

 Links, in patches, still fairly plentiful. 



Glyceria maritima, Wahlb. Plentiful among short vegetation on 

 the low part of the Links. 



Even more marked in the influence on the flora of the parish 

 than the disappearance of species, of which some had always been 

 locally rare, is the diminution in numbers of many species that had 

 formally been conspicuous and widespread, so that some of these 

 are now restricted to the rocky or stony banks of the rivers, others 

 to Rubislaw Den, or to the debris of quarries or to water collected 

 in the pits of these quarries, or to occasional spots too barren for 

 cultivation or left unoccupied for any other reason. Some of the 

 species also may not improbably disappear from within the limits of 

 Aberdeen. 



To enumerate those species that were plentiful at a former 

 period, but are now rare in Aberdeen, would be tedious. They were 

 largely dwellers on wet or peaty soils, and have been unable to 

 survive drainage and cultivation of the soil. Hence they find their 

 refuge on the rough banks of streams, or on the slopes on the coast, 

 especially if moist, or on debris of quarries and similar materials, or 

 in such places as railway cuttings. 



Some of the plants of natural pastures are also apt to suffer, such 

 as Pimpinella Saxifraga, Conopodium denudatum, Stellaria Holostea, 

 and numerous others, which appear unable to thrive properly in 

 ground brought under cultivation. Against the extirpation or 

 diminution of many species of indigenous Flowering Plants due 

 to man's influence may be placed the great increase shown by others, 

 which can adapt themselves to the new conditions, and become 



