112 J. W. REED ON PLANTS COLLECTED IN THE PYRENEES. 



of, I should guess, about 4,000 ft. or 4,500 ft. above sea-level. 

 Edelweiss may grow as low down as that elsewhere, but I had never 

 before collected it except at a much greater altitude. 



Globularia nana, common enough in the Pyrenees, is not found 

 in the Swiss Alps. 



Draba aizoides, plentiful in the Pyrenees, and generally in the 

 mountains of Central and Southern Europe and West Asia, is a 

 doubtful British native. It is found only, I think, on the walls 

 and rocks of Pennard Castle, in Glamorganshire. 



Dianthus plumarius has been naturalized in Britain, being found 

 on old walls in England and Wales. The origin of our garden 

 pinks is to be traced to this species ; Dianthus Caryophyllus, also 

 naturalized, being the progenitor of our garden carnations. 



Helleborus viridis I had never seen growing so freely before. In 

 fact, the only spot where, up to last June, I had met with it in 

 any quantity, was in a wood in Kent, to which a little party, 

 including one whose name will long be held in kindly remembrance 

 by members of this Club — I refer to our late friend Mr. W. W. 

 Reeves — were guided by Mr. Carrington, now the editor of 

 " Science Gossip." Its distribution is from Holland southward ; 

 but, according to Ball, it is not well established north of the 

 Mediterranean region. This seems to point to this species being 

 of southern origin. 



Memories of our old comrade and friend came thick upon us as 

 we collected Gentiana verna, Primula farinosa, Bartsia alpina, 

 Polygonum viviparum, and other plants which had also been 

 collected in his company during a short botanical tour in Teesdale 

 some years ago. I well remember his delight in our Teesdale 

 spoils. Myosotis alpestris, collected in the Pyrenees, was 

 obtained in Teesdale on the same occasion, and it grows also on 

 Ben Lawers in Scotland. It is, according to Bentham, the Alpine 

 form of M. sylvatica ; but most botanists regard it as a distinct 

 species. 



Whatever may be thought as to the northern derivation of the 

 European flora generally, Bartsia alpina is one of the species 

 which, it is pretty certain, has worked south from Scandinavia, 

 which appears to have been and still is its home. 



Polygonum viviparum, a circumpolar species, is found all through 

 the Arctic zone, in both hemispheres. It too has travelled south 

 from the Polar regions. Abundant in the North of Scotland, it 





