238 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



forms of R. pseudo-reptans ; entirely overlooking the fact that 

 the repent forms often root at the nodes when growing erect 

 among other vegetation, and as a rule have the thickest 

 stems, and that R. Flaininnla proper has, for its length, the 

 most slender stem of all the forms, yet stands up to the wind 

 on the margin of an exposed lake, or in the rill on the 

 mountain side. R. petiolaris has possibly the thickest stems ; 

 but, if the fluting and thickness are taken into consideration, 

 the stems of R. subcrcctus should be the strongest of all the 

 forms. Yet although found growing in muddy situations 

 among Jnncus com.rn.unis and similar plants, which would help 

 to support it, it only raises its head as it comes into flower. 

 These creeping forms seem to creep " because it is their 

 nature so." Situation has no more to do with these forms than 

 it has with the forms of other plants. In fact, one of my 

 typical Flainmida forms was got growing within three feet 

 of one of my typical suberectus forms. 



As to R. reptans proper, with the exception of the form 

 named R. radicans, it has very little in common with any 

 of the above forms, and is easily distinguished from all of 

 them so much so that it is well worthy of specific rank. 

 There is no doubt in my own mind that the plant sent out 

 as R. reptans, Linn., by the Botanical Ex. Club of the British 

 Isles, with Mr. Bailey's name attached to it, is not the same 

 as the Loch Leven R. reptans, but is the form mentioned 

 above as R. radicans. This form is not uncommon in Scot- 

 land. There is a patch of it on the shore of Loch Tay, about 

 one hundred yards west of Lawers Pier, that I have had great 

 difficulty in convincing myself is not R. reptans ; and if it 

 had not been for the fact that after carefully taking up a 

 plant or two I was able to take off the adventitious shoots 

 and leave the stem whole, I would have sent it to Mr. 

 Bennett as R. reptans. 



There is one good bay in Loch Leven, about one mile 

 from Kinross, where the finest specimens of reptans are to 

 be got growing among the forms above named Flainmula, 

 pseudo-rcptaus, and radicans ; but reptans seems to prefer to 

 grow among Littorella lacustris. Specimens growing farther 

 inland are always small: it took me about an hour to lift my 

 specimen of reptans, and even then I had the bad fortune to 



