I-HOIVIAS HOPKIRK OF DALBETH. ^l3 



on rubbish heaps and similar places. The first of 

 these, however, is probably indigenous quite near 

 to the limits of the district. 



He refers to a form of Honeysuckle with notched 

 leaves, " somewhat like those of the oak," as occur- 

 ring in a small wood near Calderbridge. 



Flax was then grown in the neighbourhood, for 

 he states that Cuscuta Epithyviiim was found on its 

 stalks about Hamilton and Woodhall. Very rarely 

 now is a crop of lint to be seen in the bell in any 

 part of Clydesdale, and the parasite has passed away 

 with the plant on which it X3reyed. The species that 

 occurs on Flax is now known as C Epilinum. 



For Meum AthamanticuiJi he gives several stations, 

 including two in Kilbride on the authority of Ure. 

 The district about Newton Mearns, w^here it is now 

 of most frequent occurrence in this neighbourhood, 

 he does not mention. As the root appears to have 

 been made use of at one time as an aromatic and 

 carminative, the frequency of the plant in certain 

 localities may be the result of former cultivation. 



His Siurn verticUlatuin is what we now know as 

 Carum verticillatuvi, a very characteristic West- 

 country plant. He observes that it "is not confined 

 to salt marshes and meadows near the sea; it is 

 very abundant in the neighbourhood of Luss, ten 

 miles from the coast." Lightfoot describes it in the 

 Flora Scotica under the name of Sisori verticillatu7n, 

 and an excellent figure of the plant is given. He 

 states that it is common in many places on the 

 western side of the kingdom. For this district he 

 gives : " In moist meadows about Greenock plenti- 

 fully, first observed by Mr. Houstoun." 



Tlie plant recorded by Hopkirk under the name of 

 GEnanthe pivipineUoides appears to be (E. Lachenaln. 

 (E. crocata is set down as frequent, and (JE. fistulosa 

 as rare. It is doubtful w^hether the latter is now 

 found hereabouts at all. 



Scandix Pecten- Veneris, Venus'-Comb, he states to 

 be common in cultivated fields. It is not now com- 



p 



