154 Botanical Society of Edinbwgh. 



in the Lewes, are contained in the Journal of tlie Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England. The results of Messrs. Lawson's experiments 

 will be found in the last edition of their Treatise on the (/ultivated 

 Grasses. 



3. Mr. James Backhouse, jun., " An account of the rare Alpine 

 plants picked by him in the Clora, Glen Isla, and Braemar districts, 

 in Aug. 1850." The following are the plants noticed, with his re- 

 marks upon them : — 



Hieracium cerinthoides (Fries). On the mica rocks, in the gorge 

 of the Eannach, near Loch Lee ; also at the head of Glen Fiadh, and 

 in the ravme of the White Water. Found originally by the late Mr. 

 G. Don. 



H. Oreades (Fries). Ravine of the White Water ; Cairntoul. No 

 British station previously known ? 



H. sj). nova 1 Resembles //. melanocephalum of Fries, but has 

 large broadly obovate bluntish leaves, forked panicles, and enormously 

 large shaggy heads. Two specimens gathered in a vertical fissure 

 (almost inaccessible) on the great crag of Lochnagar. 



H. ccesium (Fries). Canlochen Glen. White Water, &c. &c. 



H. rupestre (Allioni, Koch and Fries). A new and interesting 

 species, which seems to be unquestionably the above-mentioned plant. 

 Cairntoul. 



H. atratum (Fries). Maintains the same distinct character, on 

 Loch Esk Craig, Clova, Lochnagar, Canlochen, Garachary and Ben- 

 na-bourd. 



H. pallidum (Fries) var. ? Near to H. persicifolium (Fries) : a 

 curious and interesting plant, 



n. alpinum, typical. On Lochnagar and Ben-na-bourd ? Exactly 

 the same as the plant from Glara-mara (Cumberland) . It is covered 

 all over with long shaggy white silk, and has broad-based short in- 

 volucral scales. Its ligules are strongly ciliated. Under cultivation 

 this plant becomes still less like //. melanocephalum. 



H. sp.l Allied to H. alpinum, but differs in several respects, and 

 seems to keep its characters. Ben-na-bourd and ravine of the Gara- 

 chary. 



H. nigrescens. On granite rocks almost exclusively. 



Poa casia. Very abundant and fine in a ravine in Canlochen Glen. 



P. Balfowiil Along with the previous one. I have not the 

 slightest hesitation in pronouncing my P. Bal/ourii 1 specifically 

 distinct from P. ceesia, with which it grows, but retains a perfectly 

 different character. The two species may be described as follows : — 



P. ccesia. Plant 4 to 6, (sometimes) 8 inches high, erect, rigid, 

 bluish green, or slightly tinged with purple in the florets. Branch- 

 lets of the panicle spreading rigidly at right angles when growing. 

 Florets acute ; free. Leaves broad and short ; joints covered and 

 confined to the lower fourth of the stem. Ligules very long. (P. 

 ccesia loses its character by pressing.) 



P. Balfouriil Plant 6 to 9 inches high, erect, rather slender, 

 purplish green (not at all csesious), spike often rather lax, branchlets 

 spreading, but not at all rigid. Florets ovate, slightly webbed. 



