242 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



number of strange departures from the usual structure in the 

 Cruciferae. I removed the plant into my garden, in order to 

 continue my observations on the floral deviations, but in 

 garden soil it has ceased to flower, and has spread over several 

 square yards by underground shoots. The species is a native 

 of almost all Continental Europe, except the North. In the 

 London Catalogue it has an asterisk. It is generally regarded 

 as an alien in Britain. It had not been found before near 

 Aberdeen. 



Rapistrum rugosum, Berger. This, not seen before in Aberdeen, is 

 also a native of Middle and Eastern Europe. It was scarcely 

 rare in 1893 and 1894, but has quite died out. 



Saponaria Vaccaria, L., a native of Continental Europe except the 

 North and Britain, is occasionally found as a casual in the 

 vicinity of Aberdeen, but never seems to establish itself, even 

 where for a short time fairly common. 



Silene dichotomy Ehrh., native in South-Eastern and Mid Europe, 

 was represented in 1894, for the first time in Aberdeen, by two 

 or three plants bearing flowers and fruits. After 1894 it did 

 not reappear. 



Lychnis alba, Mill. Though occasionally met with in grass fields in 

 this neighbourhood, this plant is too sporadic to be counted 

 on. It is fairly common on the area in question, especially 

 near the mills, but does not increase. 



Stellaria media, Cyr. This very common species was most abundant 

 on the open spots in 1893 and 1894, varying considerably in 

 appearance. One plant presented a most curious appearance, 

 being very compact and richly branched, with short internodes 

 and crowded leaves, which were scarcely larger than those 

 commonly found on Arenaria serpyllifolia. S. media is 

 becoming less abundant as the opener spots become over- 

 grown. 



Spergula arvensis, L. This very common cornfield weed was not 

 rare on the open spaces in the earlier years, but has become 

 scarce as these were covered by coarser plants. The variety 

 vulgaris, Boenn., is extremely scarce near Aberdeen. One or 

 two examples showed themselves on this ground in 1893, and 

 I found a few in a turnip-field three miles south of Aberdeen 

 in August 1894. I know of no other examples of var. vulgaris 

 from the district. 



Malva rotundifolia, L. Though included as native in the 

 " Botanist's Guide," it is confined to habitats (such as gardens 

 and ground bearing refuse) that throw grave doubts on its 

 being so. 



