110 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Sess. lxxvii. 



This wood is on rising ground. A few spruce and larch 

 are mixed with the dominant Scots pine. On the outskirts 

 of the wood are deciduous trees — beech, oak, birch, rowan, 

 elm, and sycamore, seedlings of the rowan being common. 

 Where the shade is dense and the covering of needles thick, 

 plants are absent. In the opener spaces, however, most of 

 the above are found along with Oxalis Acetosella, Linn. ; 

 Lonicera Periclymenum, Linn. ; Veronica Chamaedrys, 

 Linn. ; and Ranunculus repens, Linn., towards the outside 

 of the wood. In a wood farther to the west, where birch 

 and rowan are numerous, the rasp (Rubus iclaeus, Linn.) is 

 abundant. 



A study of the coniferous woods reveals the following 

 characteristics of this formation and association : — 



1. The dense shade affects both the trees and the 

 undergrowth. The lower branches of the trees themselves 

 decay, leaving bare stems with a dense crown. The under- 

 growth is either absent or very sparse, the plants present 

 being mainly the two Xerophytes, Deschampsia flexuosa, 

 Trin. ; and Vaccinium Myrtillus, Linn. 



2. The covering of decayed and decaying needles also 

 prevents the development of undergrowth. 



3. Calluna, when present, is found only in the opener 

 and drier parts of the woods. 



4. Deschampsia caespitosa, Beau v., Cnicus palustris, 

 Willd., and Juncus, spp., are characteristic of the wetter 

 parts. 



5. AtJtyrium and Lastrea form patches, occasionally of 

 some extent, in the less dense parts of the woods. 



6. Seedlings of birch, rowan, and willow frequently 

 occur. 



7. Many of the plants are invaders from the surrounding 

 heaths or pastures. 



The parish is by no means rich in woodland flora ; in 

 fact there can hardly be said to be any true woodland 

 plants as such, except perhaps in the woods on the banks 

 of the streams. The following, in addition to those already 

 mentioned, are found : — Anemone nemorosa, Linn. ; Viola 

 Riviniana, Reichb. ; Stellaria Holostea, Linn. ; Hypericum 

 pulchrum, Linn. ; Vicia sepium, Linn. ; V. sylvatica, Linn, 

 (recorded by Dr. Grossart for Fairybank district) ; Spiraea 



