26 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lv. 



From the many interesting historical associations con- 

 nected with the place, one is led to think of the means by 

 which the plant first established itself on the dry wall-top, 

 and how many years it has been in possession. With 

 regard to both points I have no data. It extends a dis- 

 tance of at least four hundred yards. Although not now 

 found elsewhere in the neighbourhood, there may have been 

 a time, and that comparatively recent, when it grew close 

 by. At the present time a roadway extends along one side 

 of nearly the whole length of the wall, so that seeds and 

 bulbils which may fall on that side have little chance of 

 surviving. On the other side there is either well-worked 

 garden ground or healthy pasture, which is usually grazed. 



The plant is admirably adapted to its locality. The 

 leaves are very narrow and offer little resistance to the 

 wind. The scape, though tall, is wiry and strong. The bulb 

 being invested with a very thick, dry felt of old tunics, and 

 sunk a considerable depth in the turfy soil, is more favourably 

 circumstanced than one might be inclined to suppose. 



On the wall the height of the stem varies considerably. 

 It may attain 18 inches. The head is single, so far as I 

 have observed, and is probably formed of bulbils only. It 

 was too late in the season to ascertain whether any flowers 

 appeared mixed with the bulbils, when I determined to bring 

 this note before the Society. 



The question of the bulbiliferous and non-bulbiliferous 

 condition of the genus is an interesting one. In Hooker's 

 8t'iulent''s Flora (3rd edition, 1876), three varieties of A. vineale 

 are given : — A. vineale proper, having the heads composed of 

 flowers and bulbils ; A. capsulifcrum, with heads of flowers 

 only ; and A. comjMctum, with heads of bulbils only. A. 

 compaotum is stated to be the common form. Its heads are 

 described as cnie or two togetlier. It is probable that our 

 form corresponds with A. compactum. 



Bentham* considers A. vineale " very near A. sphmroeepha- 

 lum, and perhaps only the bulb-l)caring form of that species." 

 A. sphiBrocephalum is found in Britain near Bristol only. The 

 other British species which bear bulbils are A. oleraceum, A. 

 Scorodop)rasum, and A. Ampeloprasum. The last named, 

 according to Hooker, appears in three varieties : — A. Ampelo- 

 * Handbook of the British Flora, 4th edition, p. 487. 



