1912-13.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 139 



the main stem, forming a false whorl, sometimes ascending 

 much longer than main stem. Flowering racemes sub- 

 corymbose, scarcely lengthening, flowers and fruit agglo- 

 merated ; lengthening of the racemes does sometimes take 

 place, especially under shade conditions, but the shape of 

 pod and leaf characters remain constant. Flowers opening 

 several at a time, but in the early spring not opening at 

 all, self-pollination taking place. Pods very turgid, dis- 

 tinctly truncate. Early flowers bright pink, later ones 

 white. 



I have records from v.c. 25. 58. 82, S3, 85, 101. 



This is the common plant in the Forth area. 



For the proper identification of a Cochlearia it is necessary 

 to have freshly opened flowers, as the petals lengthen and 

 change considerably in shape with age, those which have 

 an abrupt narrowing from the limb to the claw as in C. 

 aZpina may, in the older stages, be almost spathulate in 

 shape. This is least so the case, however, in C. danica, 

 where they remain fairly constant in shape. 



In the early part of the season, at least in Scotland, the 

 flowers of C. danica in many cases do not open at all. and 

 are self -pollinated by the long stamens. I have observed 

 no flies visiting it in the Forth area, where var. agglomerata 

 is the common plant. This absence of insects may be due to 

 the exposed positions usually occupied by the plant there ; 

 but in none of the specimens which I have examined have 

 I seen any trace of nectaries. In (c) agglomerata especially, 

 I believe that self-pollination is the rule, as I find that the 

 long stamens almost invariably dehisce before the flowers 

 open ; they are also bent over towards and pressed against 

 the stigma, so that self-pollination can hardly fail to take 

 place The short stamens do not come to maturity until 

 after the long ones have dehisced, and ultimately they reach 

 almost an equal length and bend over towards the stigma 

 likewi-e. 



The plant is usually an annual or " winter annual," but 

 var. (c) is, I think, sometimes perennial ; certainly it is so in 

 cultivation. 



The pods of C. danica do not vary so much in shape as 

 in some of the other species ; they have a slightly truncate 

 appearance when observed sideways, which distinguishes 



