LANARKSHIRE RAMBLES. 1 5 



variety of the great maple ; an old wych-elm that about a foot 

 from the ground sends out ten great upright branches; and a 

 Spanish chestnut (Castanea vulgaris) towards the river that girths 

 i4 T \- feet. There are some good oaks, and in front of the 

 modern mansion, one, round which a seat has been placed, 

 measures 14,% feet. 



Perched on the steep bank on the other side of the river, right 

 opposite to the old castle, are the ruins of Blantyre Priory. All 

 about is delightful with fine woods diversified with rock, and 

 altogether lovely. Here grow some plants that are probably not 

 native, like those referred to on the Bothwell side. Perhaps the 

 most interesting herb about the ruins is the dusky crane's-bill 

 {Geranium pha'iim). 



The river flows calmly on past this enchanting boskiness that 

 sets so well the fragments of the priory and the ruddy ruins of 

 the ancient fortress. After some curving and winding it reaches 

 Kenmuir Bank (Excursion 3rd April, 1886), which has long been 

 a favourite resort of Glasgow botanists, and, indeed, of the people 

 generally. Here there was formerly a wood of natural growth, 

 pleasant in many ways. There was no fine or valuable timber, 

 and its money value must have been paltry. It was cut down a 

 year or two ago. The bank looks bare, and the river seems to be 

 making inroads more than formerly. Here, in spring, come the 

 young botanists of the city to discover much new to them in the 

 world, as the curious flowers of the moschatell (Adoxa moschatel- 

 lina), the dioeciousness of the red-campion (Lychnis diurna), and 

 the wonderfulness of even the commonest herbs. Here, too, are 

 found the large loosestrife, Dutch rushes (Equisetum hyemale), 

 the great leopard's-bane (Doronicum pardalianches), along with 

 the characteristic plants of the district, as the luckengowan, 

 goldilocks, wild hyacinth, giant bell-flower, etc. Further down, 

 about Carmyle, the goat's-beard ( Tragopogon pratensis) is common, 

 and the toothwort has been found ; while a little inland, about 

 Tollcross, the bird's-foot (Ornithopus perpusillus) and the least 

 filago (F. minima) are at home on the sandhills. 



The bistort (Polygonum Bistorta) grows abundantly on the 

 embankment on the south side of the river (Excursions nth July, 

 1888, and 14th May, 1890), and the blunt-topped horse-tail 

 (Equisetum umbrosum) is found on the banks of the river near 



