322 THE BOTANICAL HISTORY OF ANGUS. 



or aiitliority in most cases unquestionable, safely mention as natives of 

 Annus. 



Before, however, we enter upon the investigation of the particular 

 objects here to be treated of, it may not be amiss to observe that in 

 different parts of this, as well as of every other country, even in situations 

 almost pel fectly similar, the plants produced are by no means tlie same ; 

 nor do we find that those which are common in one part of this kingdom 

 are equally so in another. It may not be improper to illustrate this by a 

 few examples relative to the present case. Ilypi^ricum pidcltrum is far 

 from being frequent iu this neighbourhood, but it grows in most parts of 

 Angus in the greatest profusion. Single specimens of the Fiicns esculentus 

 or F. piiinatifidiis can hardly be met vvith on the seashores of this part of 

 the kingdom. Both these plants, however, are so plentiful in the county 

 alluded to, that the collecting and selling of them, especially of the former, 

 aft'ord even an almost constant employment for a particular class of the 

 poorer sort of people. 



Befoi-e prosecuting my subject I have only further to remark, that 

 besides merely mentioning the plants as they occur, I shall, when it 

 appears requisite, make a few observations on those whose Linnrean 

 names do not yet seem sufficiently determined ; not that in such cases I 

 can pretend altogether to clear up the ambiguity, but principally with a^ 

 view to the remarks of the ingenious members of this Society. I shall 

 likewise add a few observations on such ]dants as are inserted in the 

 ' Flora Scotica,' either from dubious authority or where no particular 

 place of growth is mentioned. 



I shall now proceed, therefore, to the enumeration proposed, taking tlie 

 plants as tliey stand in the Liinifean system ; beginning with the Utrkn- 

 laria minor, which grows plentifully in pools of stagnant water near 

 Forfar. In other parts of Scotland this plant is very rarely to be met 

 vvith ; the oidy place mentioned in the ' Flora Seotica ' is some peat pits 

 near Kirkmicliael in Dumfriesslnre. 



Schcenns Mcirhcus, which is not mentioned in the ' Flora Scotica,' grows 

 in marshy ground north-east from Forfar. The spot in which it grows 

 was formerly a small loch, which has lately been drained for the sake of 

 its marie, and since that period the plant has never been observed in 

 flower, but is in a very weak state. 



Scirpiis sylvaticns is likewise to be met with in this country in ground 

 which is overflowed in the winter betwixt Brechin and Montrose. 



Kriophomiu ulpinum, a plant hitherto unknown as a native of Britain, 

 I observed near the same place with the ScJiceniis MariscMS. Within a 

 mile of this p'are I likewise observed a species of Agrostis, which appeared 

 cousiderably iliflVrent from any of those commonly described as of British 

 growth. It was then late in the season, and I did not find more than one 

 specimen in flower. Afterwards, on compiring it with some grasses 

 lately sent to the Botanic Garden here by Mr. Curtis, I found it exactly 

 corresponding to his Agrostis tennifoUa. As, before I could do this, it 

 was necessarily much later in the season, the plants were not in flower ; 

 but by the shape of the leaves from which the specific name feiiiiifolia has 

 very aptly been taken, I coukl easily see the plants were jierfectly similar. 

 But till Mr. Cnrtis's plants flower, nothing can be said with certainty on 

 the subject. At present I shall only add that, as I am very little ac- 

 quainted with the ' Flora Londinensis,' I am not certain whether or not 

 Mr. Curtis has as yet published any observations on this species. 



