THE BOTANICAL HISTORY OF ANGUS. 323 



Bfuuuis (seculiiiiis grows in some ccjnificlds several miles south Iroiii 

 Forfar. In the 'Appendix to the Flora Scotica ' it was mentioned to 

 grow in similar situations behind the Botanic Garden, but I hardly think 

 it will be found there now. 



Scabiosa C'o/Mwifln'fir was inserted in the ' Flora Scotica' on the authority 

 of Sibbald, but no place of growth mentioned. It has been observed 

 within a mile of Arbroath, in dry pastures. 



Qallnm erectum, of Hudson, I was informed, had been found near 

 Brechin, but the information cannot be altogether depended upon, as I 

 saw no specimens. I thought, however, as it is not mentioned by Mr. 

 Lightfoot, that this information was worthy of notice. 



Lys'wiachia thyrvflora grows in marshy ground beside the Schoeuiis 

 Marinciis, and likewise in a similar situation betwixt Montrose and lire- 

 chin. This plant was not found by Mr. Liglitfoot, nor has it, I believe, 

 been observed by later travellers in North Britain. 



Eryiigiiim murilimiim, or Sea Holly, grows plentifully on the sandy 

 beach near Montrose, and in many other like situations on the coast. 



Ligiisticum scoticnm was likewise observed, though very sparingly, on 

 the coast betwixt Montrose and Arbroath. 



Slum angustifolium I observed in ditches about Forfar. I do not men- 

 tion this plant altogether on account of its scarcity, but because it has 

 given rise to a mistake in the ' Flora Scotica.' This species itself is in- 

 serted in that work, and a description added which is very characteristic. 

 But, on the authority of Mr. Yalden, the S. latifulium is mentioned in 

 the appendix as a native of Scotland, and the only place of growth assigned 

 is the King's Park. That tlie plant here called S. latifoUum is nothing 

 else than the real S. augnstlfoHiim there can be little doubt, for Mr. 

 Yalden, in a catalogue which he has given of the plants in the King's 

 Park, and which is published in the end of Mr. Liglitfoot's work, men- 

 tions the S. latifollani, although it is well known that the S. anrjustifulinm 

 grows plentifully in that place, and, as far as I have observed, no other 

 species of this genus. 



Cicuta virom is very plentiful in the ditches about Forfar, and in other 

 parts of the country ; but, although it is thus frequent, I never yet heard 

 of its having been the cause of any fatal accident, although one of the most 

 virulent poisons of the vegetable kingdom. In other parts of Britain it 

 is providentially very scarce. 



Linum Radiuliim I likewise observed in wet ground in several parts of 

 the country. 



Drosei-a rotnndifolia is a plant not unfrecpiently to be met with on 

 marshy ground. According to Mr. Lightfoot, the longifolia is equally 

 common in Scotland, but this is far from being really the case. It has 

 of late been asserted that the leaves of the Dronera have the power, when 

 a small body is applied to their upper surface, of contracting and enclosing 

 the substance so applied, by this means in many cases proving a trap to 

 those insects which happc^n to light upon them. The examination of this 

 curious fact is certainly well worth the attention of the naturalist. In 

 the second edition of Withering's ' Botanical Arrangement,' it is alleged 

 that this phenomenon was observed immediately to follow the application 

 of the substance. But it appears I'rom works of a late German author 

 that several hours generally elapseil before the leaf was completely folded 

 together. The same author observes that when an insect is placed u|)ou a 



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