PLANTS OF THE KENMUIR DISTRICT. 9 



companions. Not that we consider rare plants more interesting, 

 however. The botanist, who is not merely a plant collector, 

 always regards as most interesting those species which are 

 characteristic of the locality, and these are not necessarily the 

 rare ones. Rare plants are chiefly interesting on account of 

 their rarity alone, whereas the commonest species are usually 

 those most perfectly adapted to their environment, and this 

 adaptation is the point of greatest interest to the student. 



On the north bank of the river, between Cambuslang Bridge 

 and the Bogle Hole, there is a wide haugh where, at the water's 

 edge, is a dense growth of willows, and beside them the sandy 

 soil is covered with butter-bur. A number of interesting plants 

 have found a lodgment here ; and, indeed, at this point nearly 

 every bit of bush and shrubbery shelters quite a host of attractive 

 species. 



I shall not attempt, however, to describe specifically the various 

 localities included within the boundaries I have named, but 

 merely take the different species, arranging them according to 

 their natural orders, and indicating their occurrence in the 

 district. The list makes no claim to completeness, as I only 

 mention those species which have some particular interest. 



RaNUNCULACEjE. 



Of the common species of ranunculus, I have already alluded 

 to the great abundance of the lesser celandine {Ranunculus 

 Ficarid). The flowers of this plant have a tendency to become 

 white — a phenomenon which can be easily observed in the 

 woods in the district. 



R. Bulbosus, rather an uncommon species in our district, 

 grows abundantly on the south bank at Cambuslang. 



R. auricomus, the goldilocks. According to Hennedy, this 

 plant was formerly a denizen of the Carmyle Woods; but it 

 appears to have become extinct. At all events, I have never 

 been able to find it in the locality named. 



R. fluitans. — This curious plant is common in the Clyde 

 opposite Daldowie and below Carmyle. Unlike the other 

 aquatic ranunculi, this plant prefers rapidly flowing water, and 

 in the rocky bed of the Clyde hereabouts it attains considerable 

 luxuriance. 



