ANNALS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 





XXXIV. — Notes on some Viviparous Plants. By George 

 Dickie, Esq., A.L.S., Lecturer on Botany in Marischal 

 College, Aberdeen. 



If by the term viviparous is meant the production by the 

 parent of young and perfect plants instead of the usual method 

 of propagation, then, this expression is used rather indiscri- 

 minately, and in some instances very improperly. The pre- 

 sent remarks being chiefly applicable to British plants, it may 

 be needless to state that comparatively few of them deviate 

 from the usual mode of reproduction ; such are chiefly alpine 

 plants, Polygonum viviparum, Saxifraga cernua, Festuca vivi- 

 para, Aira alpina, and Poa alpina, and some others, especially 

 some species of Allium, &c, — and I possess a specimen of Poa 

 fluitans which presents an appearance similar to Poa alpina, 

 and a like variety of Cynosurus cristatus is of frequent oc- 

 currence. 



In Poa alpina the palece (Lindley) are generally of a soft 

 succulent texture and dark green colour, the outer cuticle 

 being easily detached and possessing numerous stomata ; some 

 of the florets have every appearance of being perfect, inclosing 

 stamens and an ovary ; in some instances however the stig- 

 mata are absent, and in others the ovary is partially trans- 

 formed into a membranous leaf, and the stamens are some- 

 times similarly changed and adherent to one another. In Aira 

 alpina the same transformations are seen, and the awn of the 

 one palea is most frequently adherent throughout, and some- 

 times free only at the apex. In these instances, as well as in 

 Festuca vivipara, the parts which chiefly deviate from the na- 

 tural condition are the paleae ; they acquire an increase of de- 

 velopment, perform all the functions of leaves, and no doubt 



Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol.5. No. 32. July 1840. y 



