BRITISH PLANTS. 155 



Ranunculus alpestris, or Alpine lohite Crowfoot. This beautiful 

 flower, although allowed a place in all our floras of Scotland, yet 

 seems to us to have but a slender claim thereto. True Mr. George 

 Don, of Forfar (a botanist who did mucii in the way of exploring the 

 northern hills of Scotland), reported that he discovered the plant in 

 several places by alpine rivulets on the Clovas ; but then no succeeding 

 wanderer in that district has given his testimony in confirmation, al- 

 though the plant, as an extreme rarity, has been often sought for by 

 many of our best British botanists who have perambulated the Clovas. 

 It is a very beautiful species, and is sometimes cultivated, although cer- 

 tainly much more seldom than its exquisite beauty and its botanical in- 

 terest demand. It is a perennial, and its flowers (which are white) 

 generally appear in May. The Ranunculus of the florist is somewhat 

 difficult of culture ; but this species is by no means particular in regard 

 to soil, situation, or treatment ; indeed we have seen it thriving and 

 flowering well on a dry border, exposed to the sun the whole day long ; 

 and we have seen it growing equally healthy, and blooming profusely, 

 at the base of a north wall, where it caught only a parting ray of the 

 setting sun. It will grow well under the treatment usually given to 

 herbaceous plants. Care, however, should be taken to disturb the 

 roots as little as possible in the digging of J:he border in spring time, as 

 it is an early flowering plant ; and no plant should be disturbed when 

 forming flower-buds. 



CocHLEARiA OFFICINALIS, Or Common Scurvy Grass. This is a 

 vernal flower, and resembles much in apj)earance the perennial Candy- 

 tuft of our gardens. It is an annual, and should besown in the au- 

 tumn, so that it may have time to grow, and produce a profusion of 

 blossoms at the proper season. It is of frequent occurrence on rocks 

 and ditch banks, «fec., by the sea-coast, and likewise grows on the ele- 

 vated mountains. The seeds may be gathered plentifully in the sum- 

 mer season in such situations. 



Cardamink fratensis. Ladies^ Smock or Bitter Cress. This is a 

 very showy plant, bearing blush coloured flowers. It grows in moist 

 ground, by streams, and in meadows, and flowers throughout the 

 " merry month of May." It is sometimes found with double flowers, 

 and this variety is tlie one more readily to gain the florist's attention. 

 It is a plant by no means particular in regard to soil, and will grow 

 well, with little care, in almost any situation. No doubt, however, it 

 will grow best in moist ground. We have frequently met with this 

 plant bearing very pale blossoms. 



Heliantuemum vulgare (Synonome: Cistus Helianthemum 

 of LiniiEeus), or Common Hock JRose. A plant well adapted for 

 ornamenting artificial rockwork. It requires a light dry soil, and is of 

 easy cultivation ; but should not be transplanted often. Its natural 

 habitat is dry, rocky, and gravelly places ; and it is of frequent oc- 

 currence in such situations throughout our country. 



Viola iiirta, or Hairy Violet, occurs in " woods and pastures in 

 England, principally in a chalky or limestone soil." It is rare in 

 Scotland ; but is not confined to the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, as 

 stated in Hooker's " British Flora." It is a very showy species, liaving 

 large blue flowers, and as it blooms in April and May, when cserulean 



