2 LANARKSHIRE RAMBLES. 



fluffiness visible afar. Of grasses, the most abundant and note- 

 worthy is the blue grass (Molinia carulea). Common, too, are 

 the milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), the bog-asphodel (Narthecium 

 ossifragum), the cinquefoil (Comarum palustre), the bogbean 

 (Menyantlies trifoliata), the cranberry ( Vaccinium Oxycoccos), the 

 grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris), and the two insectivorous 

 plants, the butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) and the round- 

 leaved sundew (Drosera rohmdifolid). The English sundew 

 (Drosera anglica) is also found, but is not common. By the 

 burns in early spring grows the golden saxifrage with alternate 

 leaves (Chrysospleniwn alternifolium), while the commoner one 

 (C. oppositifolium) flowers in similar places the summer through. 

 The hairy stonecrop (Sedum villosum), a rare plant in most of 

 Britain, is plentiful in damp places. On drier banks and knolls 

 flourish the golden broom (Sarothamnus scoparius) and whin 

 (Ulex europaus), while the needlegorse (Genista anglica) is not 

 quite unknown. Here, too, the scented thyme (Thymus 

 Serpyllum), the lovely mountain-pansy ( Viola luted), the blue 

 gentian (Geniiana campestris), the fragrant orchis (Gymnadenia 

 conopsea), the little tormentil (Potentilla Tormentilla), and other 

 lowly herbs grow. Of ferns, the bracken (Pteris aquilina) is the 

 chief, while the fragrant heath-fern (Lastrea Oreopteris) is perhaps 

 the most delightful in its greenness and perfume. There is not 

 wanting the waving beauty of others, as the broad shield-fern 

 (Lastrea dilatata), the lady-fern (Athyrium Filix-fcemina), and the 

 male-fern (Lastrea Filix-mas). The common polypody (Polypodium 

 vulgare), the hard fern (Blechnum boreale), and the bladder-fern 

 (Cystoptcris fragilis) abound. The moonwort (Botrychium 

 Lunaria) is not uncommon, and the adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum 

 vulgatum) is found, though rare, while in shaded places grow the 

 beautiful beech and oak ferns (Polypodium Phegopteris and 7 J . 

 Dryopteris). 



The cultivated districts have only wayside and field weeds of 

 an ordinary type. The prevalent stiff clayey soil is not favourable 

 to weed profusion or variety. Farmers, besides, now leave hardly 

 any ground waste, and there are no rich hedgerows to exhilarate 

 the botanist as in some parts of England. In the cornfields the 

 gaudy corn-rose (Papaver Phceas) is wanting, but the less brilliant 

 long-headed one (Papaver dubium) may be seen. The variegated 



