246 Scottish Mountain Plants. [Sess. 



received, or anyway has to-day, a scanty allowance. The 

 remarkable Bulbous Saxifrage (Saxifraga cernua) and the 

 Blue Sow-thistle (Sonchus alpinus) of the Grampians, also 

 Bryanthus taxifolius, may be cited as examples of plants 

 scarce and restricted in distribution here, but comparatively 

 frequent in Northern Europe. It is noticeable, too, that a 

 number of plants, although found in Scandinavia, &c., did 

 not reach Britain. A charming Basque - Flower (Anemone 

 vernalis), the Arctic Kaspberry (Kubus arcticus),^ Silene 

 rupestris, two Ericaceous genera, Cassiope and Ledum, are 

 among those that might be expected to occur in Scotland, 

 but apparently do not. 



Notwithstanding the non- occurrence of certain North- 

 European plants, the presence of others here is quite 

 sufficient to give reasons for the belief that a portion of 

 our mountain flora is derived from the larger ones of 

 Northern and Arctic Europe. The general appearance of 

 the vegetation of the Scottish Highlands, especially in the 

 predominating presence of xerophilous plants with small 

 " heathy " foliage (as Calluna and Empetrum), is strongly 

 akin to that which prevails in many parts of Norway, &c. 

 It is unlike the general type of vegetation of the Swiss 

 Alps. Other distinctive plants of northern origin, in addition 

 to those named above, are several Saxifragas, the Dwarf Birch 

 (Betula nana), Salix Lapponum, the Scottish Asphodel 

 (Tofieldia palustris), the Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossi- 

 fragum), Luzula arcuata, &c. 



The Scottish and the Swiss Mountain Flora. 



Comparisons have been made between the mountain floras 

 of Scotland and Switzerland, and the tabulated results show 

 what might naturally be expected — namely, that a number 

 of the same plants occur in both countries. Many of these 

 species are ubiquitous, or widely distributed over the northern 

 or temperate regions of the Old World, while others are 

 confined to considerable areas in Europe. Many of the most 

 conspicuous plants of the Alps are, however, entirely wanting 



^ Said to have been gathered in Scotland by Don, but if a native, unknown as 

 such to-day. 



