A BOTANICAL RAMBLE, 201 



Dadylis glomerata, Rare, spui' sliort and thin, not more than half an inch 

 in lengthy and curved. Craigmiller Castle, Edinburgh, August 1849. 



Eli/mus (jiganteus, Spur, three-fourths of an inch in length, thick and full 

 formed: section not so dark as in Rye. Crolden Acre Nursery, Edinburgh, 

 September llth., 1851. 



I am under the impression that besides seeing this disease in a specimen 

 of Fhalaris arimdinacea, from Philadelphia, I have also seen it in a l>ritish 

 specimen of this plant, as well as in several other grasses, as Ammophila 

 arenaria, etc. Could some of your readers afford any information on this 

 subject? 



The following are all the variegated grasses I can at present call to mind : — 



Fhalaris arundinacea, (Common Gardener's Gcirter,) a border plant in every 

 cotter's garden. 



Dactylis (jlo7nerata, also pretty generally known in gardens. 



Agrostis vuhjaris, A Gardener's Garter in little, probably intended for some 

 of the junior branches. Not so common as cither of the preceding, and 

 with them in Edinburgh Botanic Garden^ Golden Acre Nursery, Edinburgh, 

 etc., etc. 



Other variations have been noticed in Lolium perenne, (Common Rye 

 (xrass.) — The spike for two-thirds of its length dividing into two, each half 

 forming a perfect spike. Linlithgow, July 1850; Sands of Barrie, Forfarshire, 

 August 1850; near Kew, August 1851. 



Lolium suhnuticum, presenting the same character. Golden Acre Nursery, 

 Edinburgh, September llth., 1851. 



Bmeium loliaceum. The lower spikelet becoming pedicelate, and producing . 

 another spikelet from its axil. Duddingston Loch, Edinburgh, July 1851. 



Dactylis glomerata, The outer glumes of the flowers varying from one- 

 tenth to eight-tenths of an inch in length. Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, August 

 30th., 1851. 



Ocloher \st., 1851 



A BOTANICAL RAMBLE. 



BY MR. J. A. R0DINS0^f. 



Botanical Rambles are now almost as plentiful in print as the flowers 

 which their various authors describe; but, generally speaking, they relate to 

 some of the most favoured spots in our island, such as Devonshire and other 

 parts of the south of England. If I may crave the space in your journal, 

 I will attempt to give you a sketch of what may be picked up in a Botanical 

 Ramble near this village, unknown probably to most of your readers. Southport 

 is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, south of the mouth of the Ribble, 

 and is exposed to the full force of the westerly winds; and the soil being 

 for a considerable distance inland, almost entirely of a sandy character, it 



VOL. L 2 D 



