ioo ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



S. asper, Hoffm. In all. Also a very variable species. 



S. arvensis, Z., var. glabrescens, Hall. Not common. 88, 92, 108. 



Tragopogon pratense, Z., 84. 



T. porrifolius, L. A casual only, 77, 83. 



(To be continued.} 



ALIEN PLANTS NEAR EDINBURGH. 



By JAMES FRASER. 



DURING 1905 the following "introduced" or "alien" plants 

 were observed in this neighbourhood by Mr. James 

 M'Andrew and myself. A few names which already 

 appeared in my former lists (" Annals Scot. Nat. Hist." for 

 April 1904 and April 1905) are here repeated, where con- 

 firmation was required or for other reasons. 



For the sake of brevity the district of " Slateford " is 

 again represented by the number I, and " Leith Docks" 

 by 5, while the abundance of each species in these and the 

 other districts mentioned by name is, as in previous lists, 

 expressed thus : a = once found ; /3 = twice or thrice, but 

 rare ; 7 = neither rare nor frequent ; 8 = frequent ; e = 

 abundant. 



In several cases it is obvious how the plants reached 

 their present habitats. For example, most of those found 

 in Craigmillar Quarry and on the banks of railways which 

 were cut through, or pass among, gardens and nurseries, as 

 at Warriston and Trinity, are beyond doubt garden survivals 

 or outcasts ; to these are added the letters (ouc.) : then 

 plants found in private grounds and policies and in the 

 district named " Near Kirkliston," by their nature and 

 number clearly indicate that they were planted ; to such 

 are added the letters (pi.). 



Striking features of the Slateford district this year were 

 the presence of Triticum ovatum, Gren. and Godr., with Jive 

 beards on the lower glume where there are usually four, 

 Poa bulbosa, L. in large numbers and all viviparous, and 

 two varieties of Sucsda. Slateford is about five miles from 

 the sea. 



