u6 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



THE RUBIACE/E OF KINCARDINE, ABERDEEN, 



AND BANFF. 



By JAMES W. H. TRAIL, A.M., M.D., F.R.S. 



I HAVE been able to add a good deal to my knowledge of 

 the distribution of the species of Galium in these counties 

 during the past year or two, and a brief statement of their 

 distribution, as far as known to me, may be not without 

 interest. 



G. boreale, L. (Northern Bedstraw). Is plentiful along the Dee, 

 occurring still as far down as the Bridge of Ruthrieston, 

 though artificial changes in the course of the Dee have 

 destroyed it nearer the mouth of the river. A few years ago I 

 saw a patch on the sandy links east of Old Aberdeen. That 

 patch seems to have been destroyed by recent alterations made 

 on the links ; but in August 1903 I found another habitat on 

 sandy links, about five miles north of Aberdeen, the plant 

 there covering two or three square yards. It has been found 

 in only a very few localities in Aberdeenshire, beyond the 

 valley of the Dee. In Kincardineshire it is very rare beyond 

 the valley of the Dee ; though I have seen it on the links of 

 St. Cyrus, and in Banff it is also very local. 



G. Critciata, Scop. (Cross-wort Bedstraw). In marked contrast to 

 its abundance in many parts of southern Scotland, this plant is 

 extremely scarce in the counties round Aberdeen. In Murray's 

 "Northern Flora" (1836), it is said to have been found "in 

 Buchan," but the record has not been confirmed. In Dickie's 

 "Botanist's Guide" (1860) it is said to grow "in a hedge at 

 the Manse of Keith, Rev. Mr. Cowie," but the record is 

 erroneous, the plant being Asperitla taurina, a garden escape. 

 G. Cruciata has for several years been known to grow in two 

 places within the municipal boundaries of Aberdeen, over two 

 miles apart. In these it seems to be indigenous. I do not 

 know of any other locality for it in the district. 



G. verum, L. (Lady's Bedstraw). Is one of the most frequent of 

 wild-flowers. On the coast sand-dunes it often occurs in a very 

 dwarf prostrate form with few flowers. 



G. Mollugo, L. (Great Hedge Bedstraw). A plant is recorded 

 under this name in the "Botanists' Guide" as "rare," and two 

 localities are enumerated for it in Kincardine, two in S. 

 Aberdeen, and one in Banff, east of the Deveron, all as com- 

 municated by correspondents. Of these localities I have seen 



