227 
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTICES OF THE PLANTS AND MINERALS 
OF THE ISLANDS OF ARRAN. 
[See Antiquities, p. 79.] 
Rare Plants observed in the largest Island of Arran, in October 1805. By James 
Townsend Mackay. 
CORNUS sanguinea, Common Dogwood. 
Cistus Helianthemum, Dwarf Rock Rose, or Sun Rose. The only place in Ireland 
where it has been found. £. 
Lavatera arborea, Tree Mallow. 
Humulus Lupulus, Common Hop. 
This I was told had been introduced many years back. The plants I saw were 
most luxuriant, and extended their shoots to a great length, over the lime-stone 
rock, near to which they grew, and produced excellent Hops. 
May not the plant Mr. OFlaherty mentions, as having been used by the natives for 
dying blue, be the Isatis tinctoria or Dyer’s Woad, which may have also been intro- 
duced and cultivated for use? I did not however observe it in the largest Island, 
which was the only one I visited. 
The Woad is much used by the dyers in England for its blue colour, and it is the 
basis of many other colours. It is cultivated there for use; but is, even in England, 
rather rare in the wild state. 
Rhodiola rosea, Rose-Root. The root in the wild state, when bruised, has the 
fragrance of a rose. 
Polypodium vulgare. A beautiful variety of this fern is plentiful in Arran. It is 
readily distinguished from the common variety by having its fronds mostly bipinnati- 
fid. ‘The same variety grows in the Dargle. 
Adiantum Capillus-Veneris. True Maiden-hair. This rare and most elegant fern, 
I found growing in the greatest profusion im the crevices of ‘the lime-stone rock, of 
which the greater part of the surface of the island is composed. It is the only place 
in Britain or Ireland where it Has been fonnd of late. 
; 4 
vOL. XI¥. ~ 11 
oo 
