the Linncea borealis. 303 



flower, varies in different seasons, from about the beginning of 

 May to the end of June ; and as the plant is usually confined to 

 an isolated locality, seldom exceeding one or two square yards, 

 it is most probable that all the flowers will be nearly, at the 

 same time, in a state of maturation : the inflorescence, too, is 

 very ephemeral, seldom exceeding a week's duration ; and as no 

 fruit has, as yet, been found in Britain, all traces of the flower- 

 ing are obliterated with the fall of the corolla. It is, therefore, 

 very possible that a person not closely attending to the Linnaea, 

 from these circumstances might be led into the opinion, that the 

 plant never had been in a state of inflorescence. He might visit 

 the station at two periods, separated by a very short interval ; at 

 the one, the plants might appear bearing their numerous and 

 beautiful corollae, calling forth the homage of every admirer of 

 Flora, while, at the other, they could shew him no traces of 

 their former glory. 



The Linnaea is usually discovered in shady and old fir woods, 

 and is, by Linnaeus, stated to occur interwoven with ivy. The 

 station on the Knock of Alves is, by no means, so sheltered as 

 might be supposed ; there are few trees in the very immediate vi- 

 cinity, and they have been but lately introduced. The plants 

 grow in a very vigorous condition, though on a thin and exces- 

 sively barren soil, partly covering the bare sandstone rock with 

 its slender and trailing stems interwoven into a very dense mat, 

 completely clothing the ground and extirpating every other plant 

 from the station. The size of the patch is about two square 

 yards. 



The station I have now made known, may be considered as 

 the most northerly locality for the Linnaea as yet discovered 

 in Britain, as I am informed that the plants found near Inver- 

 ness have all been carried away or destroyed. It was discover- 

 ed in full flower on the Knock of Alves in June last by Mr 

 Wilson, tlie learned and scientific schoolmaster of the parish^ who 

 was struck with its peculiar beauty and elegance. It was en- 

 tirely new to him, and, carrying home a single stem for exami- 

 nation, he was agreeably surprized to find, by referring to Smith's 

 Compendium, that it was the far-famed Linnaea ; thus verifying 

 the opinion of its late lamented author, that the discovery of the 



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