1912-13.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 131 



dition may be briefly outlined as follows : — At the south 

 end where the land comes in contact with meadow, certain 

 grasses such as Poa pratensis, Linn., Holcus lanatus, 

 Linn., Agrostis alba, Linn., and Anthoxanthum odoratum, 

 Linn., predominate. 



Further north the dominant social species in addition 

 to grasses are Rubus idaeus, Linn., and Pteris aquilina, 

 Linn. ; subordinate associations being characterised by 

 Ranunculus repens, Linn. ; Lychnis diurna, Sibth. ; 

 Oxalis Acetosella, Linn. ; Trifolium repens, Linn. ; Spi/raea 

 Ulmaria, Linn. ; Sanicula europaea, Linn. ; and Cnicus 

 arvensis, HofFm. 



This decidedly mixed vegetation gives way, nearer the 

 middle, to a more consistent type. Here the dominant 

 plants are rushes (Juncus effusus, Linn.) and seedling 

 birches, the latter, owing to the proximity of an older 

 natural self-sown birch wood on the other side of the 

 railway line, being present in great abundance. Subor- 

 dinate associations in this zone are Epiloblum angtusti- 

 folium, Linn.; Senecio viscosus, Linn.; Cnicus palustris, 

 Willd. ; Prunella vulgaris, Linn. ; Rumex Acetosa, Linn. ; 

 and R. Acetosella, Linn. 



Epilobium angustifolium is notable as a "clearing" 

 plant especially on burnt patches. Indeed it is known as 

 " Fire weed" in America. 



This zone passes into a rather different one again, 

 about eighty j^ards in length. Here Juncus effusus, Linn., 

 and Rubus idaeus, Linn., are the dominant social species. 

 In some places they are associated together, but in others 

 the former is found with Potentilla erecta, Hampe, while 

 with the latter are found small societies of Veronica 

 officinalis, Linn. Poa pro.tensis, Linn., is here notable as 

 a marginal plant, subordinate associations being Rumex 

 Acetosella, with Anthoxanthum odoratum ; while of the 

 smaller societies Carex distans, Luzula campestris, Galium 

 saxatile, and Agrostis alba may be mentioned. From this 

 point onwards the land slopes gently until it becomes 

 quite low lying, that is, tends to become a " flush " or bog. 

 Juncus effusus, Linn., with J. articulatus, Linn., and 

 Deschampsia caespitosa, Beauv., are the dominant plants : 

 the rasp is locally abundant : while subordinate associations 



