ABSTKACT, 77 



ABSTRACT. 



Shetland Plants. By G. Clabidge Druce. 

 (See page 14.) 



In July and Au-ust of 1920 I visited the mainland and Unst 

 in compauv with Prebendary the Eev. R. J Burdon. The wea her 

 was not propitious, for we followed a spell of dry weather ^^h ch 

 hastened the flowering period, while the ram we met was t^o 

 recent to have had much influence upon the vegetation. We 

 Imd the advantage of having Mr. Beehy's notes, made on his 

 nu.nerous visits, and we can testify to the general accuracy of his 

 nninstaking and unwearied labours in this by no means easily 

 ;xplored cfistrict. I was able to add the following «PfCies to 

 the flora --CVmsfmm siihtetrandrum, Bursa Brittonn, Rhiuanthus 

 horealis, Potamogeioa sueclcm, P. ruUlus, and PoavrmjaU'. 



Seneko aquaticus Huds. is common and diiferstrom tl.e southern 

 form in its leaser stature, more conspicuous hgnles, and its more 

 compact inflorescence which, as Beeby says forms an u.vered 

 uvramid. S. Jacobcea L. is practically absent, being limited to a 

 small area of the coast near Scallouay, wbereas .S aqimticas ,s 

 frequent as a roadside weed, and is especially noticeable mi allow 

 and derelict potato- or oat-fields, where from a distance it sug- 

 gests Chn,scmthemum segetum. (Dr. Druce suggested the name 

 var. ornatus for the Shetland form.) 



Plantano. On the wind-swept disintegrated serpentine hills to 

 the north of Balta Somid grow many forms of P. mardima^Mi 

 P Comnopm and variable P. lanceolata. One plant m particular 

 belon.nn- to the maruhna section was quite striking from its 

 conspicuous woody rootstock thickly beset witl. the persistent 

 leaves of former years' growth ; the, leaves themselves crowded, 

 broad, short, and very hairy with loose rather short shaggy hairs; 

 the inflorescence short. This form is not, I think, represented 

 in Beebv's gatherings ; nor does it seem to be known from the 

 P-iroes ■ It may be in part what some botanists call mtuor llook. , 

 others would refer it to hirsiUa Syme. Hooker founded hismuwr 

 unon an Ork.iev plant described as having linear lanceolate leaves. 

 Svme (Eug. BJt. vii. 172) changed the name to hlrs^<ta describmg 

 the leaves as linear-strap-sl.aped or semi-cylindrical. Such a 

 form does occur both in Orkney and Shetland, but the torm now 

 described (for which Dr. Druce suggests the name P Edmon- 

 stoni) has shorter broader leaves which recall those ofc Lcluveria 

 often having a pruinose sheen. The P. ^tncea .^. lano.a o\ 

 Rdmonston's Mora Shetl., a narrow-leaved plant ui which the 



