PHYTOLOGY, 



ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND- 



By W. H. BEEBY. 



IN the following notes, the result of a visit of about eight days 

 to the Shetland Islands at the latter end of July last, I have 

 endeavoured to confine myself to the following points, viz. to 

 giving some account of the new and more interesting forms noted ; 

 new county records or confirmations ; a few additional localities 

 for some of the rarer species ; and remarks on a few doubtful 

 plants. In the last case I have mostly confined my remarks to 

 such as have been recorded as common, as I had little opportunity 

 for looking up doubtful plants, occurring in isolated localities, from 

 want of time. I have not embodied the matter to be found in the 

 papers of Mr. Ralph Tate {Journ. Bof., 1866, pp. 2-15), Mr. A. 

 Craig-Christie {Trans. Bot. Soc, Edi/i., Vol. X., p. 165), &c. ; as 

 no attempt at a revision of the whole Flora could be made on so 

 short an acquaintance with it. That the Flora of these islands is 

 well worthy of further attention I am convinced ; and the occur- 

 rence of such a plant as Alsine hirta in the same locality which 

 has already produced Arenaria norvegica and Cerdstium arcticum 

 {Edmondstonii), as well as the occurrence of Luzula maxima var. 

 gracilis, previously known only from the Faroes, is a strong indi- 

 cation that other interesting plants, both Scandinavian and Faroean, 

 may yet be found in the islands. 



After working down the plants collected (about 2,200, referable 

 to 340. gatherings) to the best of my ability, I have largely availed 

 myself of assistance with the more critical forms, for which I have 

 in particular to thank Dr. Lange; whose wide knowledge of Arctic 

 and Scandinavian Floras makes his determinations of peculiar 

 value. For similar assistance I am also much indebted to Mr- 

 Arthur Bennett {Potamogeton, <Sic), Dr. Buchenau (Juneacece) 



