260 The Scottish Naturalist. 



above Orchard Neuk. I have not found it elsewhere in the 

 district. 



Slum angustifolium L. — This by no means common plant 

 in Scotland, frequents the ditches in one or two places in the 

 Carse. I have noticed it about Rossie Priory and Glendoick. 



Sambucus cbulus L. — A rare and local plant in the Carse, as 

 well as, I believe, elsewhere. It is to be found however very 

 abundantly on the wooded banks below the old Castle of 

 Balthayock, and sparingly in the old churchyard at Invergowrie. 

 The leaves and succulent stems when bruised emit a strong and 

 highly unpleasant odour, and, being believed to have the effect 

 of driving away rats and mice, it is said to have been planted by 

 our ancestors for that purpose round their dwellings, hence 

 probably the reason for its being so frequently found in church- 

 yards and round old ruins. 



Galium molhigo L. — A rare plant in Scotland. The only 

 place it has been noticed in the Carse as yet is in the neighbour- 

 hood of Rait, where in company with Mr William Gorrie I 

 gathered it last summer. 



Se?iecio viscosus L. — In one or two places chiefly near the 

 river. On waste ground near Mylnefield and also near Kin- 

 fauns. 



PJiyteuma spicatum L. — A solitary plant of this species was 

 discovered by me some years ago at Seggieden, growing under 

 some old trees, where it still exists. Having I believe only been 

 otherwise met with in the county of Sussex it is not likely to be 

 a native of the Carse, and yet I can find no record of its having 

 been cultivated in the neighbourhood.- — See Botanical Exchange 

 Club Report, p. 12, 1872. • 



Cuscuta trifolli Bab. — In the very hot and dry summer of 

 1870 this dodder was very abundant in the clover fields in the 

 neighbourhood of Seggieden and other parts of the Carse, so much 

 so that in some places the clover was completely killed down, leav- 

 ing large yellow patches composed entirely of the parasite. 

 Though looked for carefully every year since, I never have 

 noticed it again, and can therefore regard it only as a casual, 

 imported in the clover seed, the dryness and heat of the season 

 having been favourable to its growth. 



Verbascum nigrum L. — For several years I have noticed an 

 occasional plant of this handsome species on some shingly 

 banks in the neighbourhood of Seggieden, and although a 

 southerner, and said not to be found further north than Stafford, 



