NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 241 



III. — Notes on the Flora of West Kilbride and Ardrossan. By 

 Mr. D. A. Boyd. 



The botany of the valley of the Clyde has of late years received 

 so much attention, that probably little remains to be done in the 

 way of adding to the list of flowering plants and higher cryptogam 

 which grow in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. The district which 

 lies along the shore of the Firth, between Fairlie and Ardrossan, 

 and which, prior to the opening of the Fairlie railway a few years 

 ago, was comparatively isolated and inaccessible, seems, however, 

 to have been in this respect somewhat neglected. With the 

 exception of the lists compiled by the late Rev. Dr. Landsborough, 

 a well-known Ayrshire botanist, no attempt appears to have been 

 made to preserve a record of the rarer plants which have from 

 time to time been observed in the parishes of West Kilbride and 

 Ardrossan; and as the district is probably known only to a few 

 of the members of the Society, the following notes on its Flora 

 may contain some information which has not hitherto been brought 

 under their notice, The natural conditions of this district, as 

 regards climate and soil, are undoubtedly favourable to the growth 

 of a great variety of plants, especially those of a maritime 

 distribution; aud to these conditions a passing reference may be 

 made, as their influence is of considerable importance. 



The climate of West Kilbride, especially the portion of the 

 parish which extends along the sea-shore, is very ■ mild ; and in 

 winter the frosts are less severe than in inland districts. A range 

 of hills which runs along the line of the coast from above Green- 

 ock to Ardrossan, affords considerable protection from east winds. 

 At Seamill, which is one of the mildest spots on the whole coast, 

 several half-hardy shrubs, such as EscaUonia, grow luxuriantly in 

 the open air. From Ardrossan southwards the country is, for 

 some distance, bleak and unsheltered, and therefore less favourable 

 to plant life. 



The soil of the district is on the whole light and sandy, and in 

 favourable seasons the crops come to very early maturity. A 

 portion of both parishes on the eastern side is uncultivated, 

 consisting of hilly moorland. The whole district is well watered 

 by numerous streams which descend from the hills, passing through 

 wooded glens. There are no lochs of any size, although the moors 

 are generally moist and boggy. 



