SAGINA SCOTICA 89 



We have seen the effects of a boreal climate in specimens 

 from sands at Spiggie, Dunrossness, Shetland (W. H. Beeby), 

 kindly lent to us by Mr. A. Bennett. These are very small 

 plants with short scapes, small flowers, and microphylline 

 foliage, the petioles being very elongate, and the bracts dis- 

 tinctly elevated above the leaves. The effect of a milder climate 

 is seen in the luxuriant foliage and larger flowers of our variety, 

 but any tendency to tall growth is severely checked by lack of 

 shelter and exposure to strong winds. To this may probably 

 be attributed the stoutness, great relatively, of the scapes and 

 petioles. In attempting to gauge the influences which have 

 determined the production of the var. condensata, its prolonged 

 vegetative and flowering period, as compared with that of boreal 

 and upland forms, must not be overlooked. Odd plants have 

 been seen in flower by the second week of June, but the bulk 

 of the blossoms are seen in July, and the latest ones may be 

 found in open seasons towards the middle of October. 



Mr. Bennett has shown us examples of the var. condensata 

 from Largo Links, Fife, which were collected by Syme, and Mr. 

 Druce has gathered it also on the Forfar coast, and at Whitepark 

 Bay, Co. Antrim, thus considerably extending its range. We 

 have seen no Continental examples, but Dr. Moss, in the New 

 Phytologist, xi. 404 (Dec. 1912), says he has seen what he believes 

 to be the same form in similar situations in Brittany ; and he 

 understands from Dr. Ostenfeld that it occurs in Denmark. 



We may add that a good supply of specimens has been 

 distributed through the Botanical Exchange Club, and that a 

 plate figuring both type and variety will be found in the Lanca- 

 shire Naturalist for August, 1912, which by the kindness of the 

 editor we are enabled to reproduce. 



SAGINA SCOTICA Deuce.* 



By G. Claeidge Druce, M.A., F.L.S. 



While ascending Ben Lawers on the hot sunny day of 

 August 17th, 1911, with the members of the International Phyto- 

 geographical Excursion, this interesting Sagina attracted my 

 attention ; it seemed to me a new Sagina, which had somewhat 

 the appearance of a petaloid pentamerous procumbens. As we 

 proceeded up the hill the attention of the other botanists was 

 directed to it, and it was observed in plenty over a range of from 

 1200 to 3500 ft. The consensus of opinion was against its being 

 procumbens, but Dr. Ostenfeld, whose critical acumen carries great 

 weight, suggested that it was a hybrid of procumbens with 

 saginoides ; Dr. Graebner, on the other hand, thought it was a 

 distinct species and perhaps a form of glabra. I may say that, 

 although I know Ben Lawers very well — this being my twenty- 



* In Eeport Bot. Exchange Club for 1911, 14 (1912). 



Journal of Botany. — Vol. 51. [March, 1913.] h 



