of Ediriburgh, Session 1881-82. cxv 



place. It had been part of the programme to visit Ben Aulder to 

 gather Poli/podium flexile, which is one of the few localities in 

 Scotland where it is found ; but as the tenant of the d«er forest was 

 abroad, and could not be communicated with, we were obliged to 

 forego the pleasure, and reserve it for another occasion. On Monday 

 we left Dalwhinnie for Lawers Inn, and proposed visiting Ben 

 Lawers on the following day. In the afternoon before dinner 

 during a walk by the side of Loch Tay, the following plants were 

 seen: — Rumex alpinus, Parnassia palustris, Orchis macidata, and 

 AnagalUs tenella in beautiful flower ; and on returning by the road 

 great quantities, and very luxuriant specimens, of HabenaHa clilor- 

 antha were seen in the meadow not far from Lawers Inn. 



On Tuesday, 2nd August, the ascent of Ben Lawers was made. 

 The day was fine, and the excursion most enjoyable. We walked 

 up the peat road to Loch na Cat, and struck the rocks to the right, 

 where we got Mijosotis alpestris in great beauty. We all noticed the 

 exceedingly rich dark blue colour of some of the specimens, which, 

 liowever, failed to retain it under cultivation when removed to our 

 gardens. Erigeron alpinus and Veronica saxatilis were got on the 

 same rocks. A little farther round we gathered some nice tufts of 

 Woodda hyperhorea. I do not think the Woodsia Avill ever become 

 extinct on Ben Lawers through the over-enthusiasm of botanists, as 

 we saw many fine tufts quite out of reach of any one, which will 

 remain to shed their spores and produce plants lower down. From 

 the Woodsia rocks we kept up the hill, and after lunching by the 

 side of a small stream where the water was most delightfully cool, 

 we started for the top of Ben Lawers, and on the way the following 

 plants were gathered : — Carex pidla, Cerastium alpinum, Scherleria 

 sedaides, Epilohium alpinum and alsinifolium, Chiaphalium supinurriy 

 Luzula spicata, Poa alpina vivipara, Polygonum viviparam, Salix 

 reticulata and herbacea, Saxifraga aizoides, hypnoides, nivalis, opposi- 

 tifolia, Sihhaldiap)rocumhens, Silene acardis, and Thalictrum alpinum. 

 We also got a nice variety of Aspidium Lonchitis with perfectly 

 smooth pinnae, and when we reached the top Saxifraga eernua was 

 gathered in the crater, and also Sagina saxatilis and Alsine rubella 

 were got near the top of the mountain. As the wind was cold on 

 the top, and the day well advanced, we hurried down to our hotel 

 for dinner. Lawers Inn has been much improved of late years, an 

 addition has been made to the hous;e, and the botanist could not, I 

 think, find more comfortable and convenient quarters, when explor- 

 ing the rocks and corries of the Brejidalbane mountains. 



