1913-14.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 259 



observed in the floras of the two situations. Some few- 

 plants, such as Festuca ov'rao. and Xardus stricta, with 

 their wiry setaceous leaves, are common to both, while on 

 the moors Nardus has an additional protective character 

 in its roughness which renders it distasteful to sheep. 

 Linear leaves are represented on the moor by forms like 

 Car ex, but succulent and woolly types are practically 

 absent. Peculiar to the moor is the insectivorous type 

 represented by Drosera and Pinguecula,. 



The moorland plants generally are low-growing and 

 small-leaved. Some ubiquitous forms, such as Potentitta 

 Torment >lh i . Scop. ; Euphrasia ofhcinalis, Linn. ; Trifolium 

 repens, Linn.; and Plantago lanceolata, Linn., which in 

 lowland situations are often found growing tall among the 

 meadow grasses, are here small and stunted, flowering low 

 down in the short turf. Ulex europaeus, Linn., largest 

 among moorland plants, has disproportionately small leaves ; 

 while those of Vacciniv/m Vitis-Idaea, Linn., which are 

 larger than most, are of the leathery type, which like those 

 of smaller size, reduce transpiration to the utmost extent. 



On the most exposed situations a creeping habit is 

 adopted, as in the case of Ehnpetrum nigrum, Linn.; 

 Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, Linn.; Lycopodium alpinum, 

 Linn. The general tendency to reduction in size and in 

 height is well illustrated in the dwarf form of Salix 

 herbacea, Linn. This little plant, whose creeping stem 

 may be trodden on unobserved on the barren hilltops, is 

 interesting as the mountain representative of a genus, the 

 commonest species of which are the tall White Willow of 

 the sheltered water-courses, and Salix Caprea, Linn., and 

 S. aurita, Linn., of intermediate situations. 



It is to be noted that all of the species enumerated as 

 forming the typical vegetation of elevations above 1500 

 feet, are perennials, a condition of things correlated with a 

 short growing season, and common at high altitudes. 



3. Meadows, Postures, and Arable Land. 



Arable Land. — The acreage under cultivation is not of 

 great extent, and consists of low-lying and gently sloping 

 fields at Toward Point and at the southern extremity of 

 the main area. Much even of this ground has not been 



