1913-14.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 273 



instances, illustrate general facts regarding the adaptation 

 of plants to their environment. 



The area chosen for review had much to recommend it 

 as a convenient unit. It is, in its chief botanical features, 

 representative of the district of which it forms a part, the 

 commonest species and their associations being equally 

 characteristic of surrounding localities. In addition, it has 

 the advantage of being not too large for easy accessibility 

 and thorough review from a single centre. A special point 

 of interest lies in the inclusion of the two geological systems, 

 which give opportunity for observation that they do not 

 exhibit any correlated contrast in the general character 

 of their respective vegetations, but that nevertheless a few 

 isolated species nourish on the Old Red Sandstone which are 

 either absent or rare on the Metamorphic Highland Rocks. 

 Among these species the most notable instances are Galium. 

 verum, Linn.; Ononis spinosa, Linn.; Linaria mdga/ris, 

 Mill., found only on the Sandstone, and Scoloperidriv/m 

 vidgare, Sm., found off it only as a species of extreme 

 rarity. 



The points in which the area falls short of being repre- 

 sentative should also be noted. One of these is the 

 scantiness of the alpine flora. Higher hills to the North, 

 and even some which do not exceed Cruach nan Capull in 

 altitude, but have a larger area reaching approximately to 

 the same height, possess a considerably greater variety of 

 alpine plants. Secondly, some species, which are not rare 

 but of partial distribution, have been found in neighbouring- 

 localities, but not within the area. Among those are some 

 which are undoubted natives, such as Hymenophyllum 

 unilaterale, Willd. ; Antennaria dioica, Br.: G&nMama 

 campestris, Linn.; and Salicomiu lun-bacea, Linn. 



This, then, concludes a review which has been the result 

 of many lonely rambles both before and during its compila- 

 tion. It has been the outcome of an appreciation for, and 

 interest in, the wild plants in their native haunts where 

 natural beaut}' is still unspoiled by the devastating hand of 

 civilisation. It has had its origin in a desire to make an 

 attempt, however imperfect, to attain, by means of original 

 observation, some insight into that great and attractive 

 field of botanical science known as ecology. 



