PHANEROGAMS AND FERNS OF SOUTH ARDGOIL. 31 
Hard Fern (Blechnum boreale, Sw.)—Very common on fairly 
dry banks, especially near the top, in which position it is 
characteristic of the roadside vegetation. It occurs among 
bracken, on banks of streams, in the woods on banks and 
stumps, and on the hills in shady places among rocks up to 
1750 feet. 
Bracken (Pteris aguilina, Linn.)—Abundant and strongly 
developed wherever the ground slopes sufficiently to give good 
drainage ; from sea-level up to about 800 feet. It sends strips 
and patches in sheltered hollows up to about 1100 feet, 
at which level its development is weakened and gives place to 
other social species, It is displaced by Aspidiwm Oreopteris in 
the alder and hazel woods, but dominates the ground vegetation 
in the birch and oak woods; it is displaced in many places on 
the hillsides by rushes or by heather. 
Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh.) — Very 
frequent under rocks in moist earth from 1400 to 1800 feet, 
and occasionally descending the allts as low as 600 feet. 
Under some of the ledges it is very plentiful. 
Scottish Filmy-fern (Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, Hook.) — 
Occasional on rocks in the allts from low levels upwards, and 
forming cushions on the rock ledges of the Saddle at 1400 feet. 
TREES AND SHRUBS. 
Birch (Betula alba, L.)—The commonest tree a]l round the 
shore slopes, sometimes alone, more often associated with oak 
in coppice up to about 600 feet; trees are generally young, 
very few large ; ascending the allts to 1000 feet. 
Alder (Alnus glutinosa, Gaertn.)—Forms woodland with 
hazel near Lochgoilhead, and also common on the slopes into 
Corran Bay ; its occurrence elsewhere not observed; limited 
to about 500 feet. 
Hazel (Corylus Avellana, L.)—Common along the roads and 
up the allts, but best developed with alder in the woodland 
near Lochgoilhead. Frequent up the allts, and generally 
limited to about 500 feet. 
Oak (Quercus Robur, L.)—After birch, the commonest tree 
all round the coast and up the allts, the woodland strip vary- 
ing in altitude but attaining about 600 feet, many scattered 
oak trees occurring on the otherwise bare hillsides; trees are 
mostly young or under a hundred years. 
