The Scottish Naturalist. 19 



Carduus arvensis L. A curious form of this grows at the base 

 of Ben Lawers. It may be termed var. or form elegans, and 

 differs from the usual fofm by its very spinous leaves, the 

 segments of which are strongly involute ; by the arrange- 

 ment of the flower stalks, which are less umbellate than 

 usual, and rather assume a spike-like appearance — i.e., in- 

 stead of the lateral flowering stalks attaining nearly the 

 level of the primary one, they are shortened. The colour 

 is of a paler, more yellow-green than in the common plant. 

 It is difficult, however, to describe the difference, though 

 when growing the plant has a striking appearance. 



Pyrola minor L. At an altitude of 2,300 feet, on Ben Lawers. 



Gentiana nivalis L. Cam Creag, near Craig Chailleach. We 

 do not know if this locality has been recorded before. It 

 was found on Maol nan Tarmachan by Mr. J. B. Balfour ; 

 but this appears to be a different station. 



Bartsia alpina I,. Abundant on Ben Laoigh. 



Taxus baccata L. The " Fortingal Yew," whose age, if we err 

 not, has been computed at something like 2,500 years, is 

 still in vigorous health, though but little of the main stem, 

 which once measured 56 ft. in circumference, now remains. 



/uncus castaneus Sm. Ben Laoigh, Cam Creag, and Ben 

 Lawers ; as usual, sparingly. 



J. biglumis L. Cam Creag and Ben Lawers ; very local. 



Kobresia caricina Willd. Ben Laoigh and Ben Oss ; not un- 

 common. This plant appears to like the spongy ground on 

 wet hillsides, when it grows with Carex pulicaris and other 

 small sedges. 



Woodsia hyperborea R. Br. Ben Laoigh, etc. 



Cystopteris montana Link. Ben Laoigh ; sparingly. 



We took the altitudes of a great number of plants, and found 

 them at higher elevations than have been recorded for them in 

 this country. These, however, will be published hereafter. 



It may be of some interest to give a list of the flowering 

 plants which grow at the top, or within 10 or 12 feet of the 

 top, of Ben Lawers, the highest mountain in Breadalbane, and 

 which attains 3,984 feet. We found there : — Thalictrum alpi- 

 num, Draba rupestris, Cer ostium alpinum, Silcne acaulis, Sagina 

 procu7iibens (?), Cherleria sedoides, AlcJiemilla vulgaris, A. alpina, 

 Saxifraga nivalis, S. oppositifolia, S. stellar is, S. hyp no ides, 

 Gnaphalium supinum, Achillea millefolium, Euphrasia officinalis, 



