54 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [S 



ESS. LXXX 



Notes on the Flora of the Orkney Isles. 

 By Arthur Bennett, A.L.S. 



(Read 9tli December 1915.) 



Mr. Magnus Spence's Flora Orcadensis has brought 

 together the numerous papers on this interesting group, 

 lying as they do between the Shetlands and the mainland 

 of Scotland. A glance through this Flora suggests the 

 following notes : 



The number of species listed for the Orkneys seems to 

 hold a middle place between those for Shetland and 

 Caithness. The Orkneys have about 84 species not found 

 in Shetland, and 27 not found in Caithness ; while Shetland 

 has 40, and Caithness 118 not found in Orkney. 



Compared by area, Orkney has 510 square miles, Shet- 

 land 325, and Caithness 712.' 



I have appended a star to plants not included in Mr. 

 Spence's list, but there are several species given in the old 

 lists that cannot be accepted unless refound, while others 

 are obvious errors. 



Ranunculus hulbosiis, Linn, is a rare species in Orkney, 

 but other stations are given by Col. Johnston in the 

 Scottish Annals. 



R. arvensls, Linn. — Given for Orkney in Top. Botany, 

 15 (1883). 



A curious absentee is Troll lies euro/MeiLS, Linn., which 

 occurs both in Caithness and Shetland. 



*Fumari,a eonfiisa, Jord. — Locally fretiuent in cornfields 

 above the N.W. end of Loch Stennis, Mainland. 16tii July 

 1900. Rev. E. S. Marshall sp. named by Mr. Pugsley. 



*F. Bastardi, Bor.— Mainland. E. S. IMarshall, No. 2415. 

 Pugsley, Supp. Journ. Bot., 1913. 



*F. capreolata, Linn., var. Babln(/fonii, Pugsley. — 

 Birsay, Trail, 1888. " Nearer sppcio.sa than jw II idi flora" 

 Pugsley, I.e. 



F. purpurea, Pugsley.— CornH(;lds above Loch Stennis, 

 ^Mainland. E. S. Marshall, 1900. 



*/'. densiflora, DC. — Mai)ilan<l. Ti-ail in Scottish 

 Naturalist, 1889, 112. 



S'djulario. (if/uallca, Linn., and Viola ranina. ].riini., are 



