CERASTIUM. — LINUM. 45 



very common. May-Sept. — 1 have gathered specimens in this neigh- 

 bourhood, and at a very shght elevation, which appear to he referable 

 to the variety alpinum of Koch, Fl. Germ. p. 122. It is remarkable 

 for its large broadly oval leaves, and its larger flowers. — " Having an 

 opportunity of examining the stomach of the Stockdove about July 

 26th, I found it completely crammed with the seed-capsules of C. 

 viscosum." J. Hardy. 



98. C. SEMiDECANDRUM. On earth-captdikcs andwastc grouuds. 

 March-April. 



99. C. TETRANDRUM. Plate I. = C. tetrandrum, Fl. Berw. i. 

 101. Hooker Br. Flora, 4th edit. 188. Koch Fl. Germ. 122. 

 Edmonston's Fl. Shetland, 29. = C. atrovirens, Babington in Mag. 

 Zool. and Bot. ii. 317; Prim. Fl. Sam. 17. — On walls and wasti^ 

 places, common. It evidently prefers to grow within the influence 

 of the sea's atmosphere ; and hence it is plentiful along the entire 

 coast of our district, being found on the sandy links as well as in the 

 clefts and fissures of our hardest rocks. The neatest specimens are 

 to be gathered from the large detached and chinky pieces of rock 

 that lie isolated within reach of the tide. In the interior the plant 

 is less common, but I have gathered it at Greenlaw and in the village 

 of Gordon. "When it grows in the shade, and without a free exposure 

 to the air, it assumes the form of the C. pedunculatum of Babington. 



100. C. ARVENSE. — D. Spittal and Scremerston links. Profusely 

 on the bank above the road at Norham Castle ; and on the islands 

 in the Tweed above HorncliflF and above Norham : Wark Castle. — 

 B. Banks at the Old-Castle ; and at Newwaterhaugh. — Of not un- 

 common occurrence in the district on dry banks, borders of fields, and 

 road-sides. The only ornamental species of its genus, flowering from 

 May to August. The petals are very often gnawed and nibbled away 

 by ants. 



5. Linum usitatissimum. Don's Gard. Diet. i. 453. — dTIav or 

 Hint. — Occasionally specimens may be found growing wild in corn- 

 fields, introduced with seed-corn. In Turner's time, 1551, Flax was 

 grown " very plentuously in the north parte of England*;" and until 

 within the present century, it was cultivated in the district " in small 

 patches for the use of the family of the farmer, and for the wives of 

 the hinds or married ploughmen and herds, as part of their gains, or 

 wages in kind." Even this partial cultivation had ceased until within 

 this year or two, when some efforts have been made to revive the 

 practice, with more extensive views. 



101. L. CATHARTicuM. JfmU'%int ov iffaivV'jf^lnv. — Dry pas- 

 tures and moors, common. June-Jidy. From the abundant harvest?"' 

 of this elegant weed on our upland pastures, prepared and manufac- 

 tured by supernatural skill, the " Good People " were wont, in the 



* Lintlaw, and Linthill in Berwickshire, and Linthaugh in the parish of 

 Ford, pi-obably derived their name from the cultivation of Lint upon them. 



