423 



before reaching the summit of Helvellyn. In proceeding, the first 

 plant of interest which attracted my attention was Saxifraga stellaris, 

 scattered in solitary tufts among the crevices of the rock. In Tees- 

 dale this plant is almost entirely confined, so far as I have seen, to 

 boggy places, not on rocks. Further on I noticed Sedum Rhodiola 

 and Oxyria reniformis, the latter in tolerable abundance. On the 

 rocks towards the western extremity of the ridge I found some fine 

 tufts of Cerastium alpinum, a plant frequently met with in Scotland, 

 but not, that I know of, recorded in any botanical work as a native of 

 England. I also saw a Hieracium of dwarf habit, with large downy 

 buds, to which I should like to call* the attention of those who may 

 hereafter visit this spot. Besides these, Salix herbacea in seed, was 

 the only plant I observed worth mentioning. When we reached the 

 summit of the mountain we were completely enveloped with fog and 

 cloud, so that we could see nothing but the upper part of the deep 

 gorges and chasms in the precipitous cliffs with which the top of the 

 mountain is faced. We therefore made our way against wind and 

 rain, down to Gh-isedale Tarn, where I left my companions and the 

 guide, and crossing the hollow between Seat Sandal and Fairfield, 

 took the course of a mountain stream, which ultimately guided me to 

 the Keswick road at a point between five and six miles from the sum- 

 mit of Helvellyn. With another five miles' walk I reached Ambleside 

 in safety about 10 o'clock. 



I may perhaps here mention a few other plants which I noticed in 

 this district. 



Ranunculus hederaceus with remarkably large flowers, pi'obably R. 

 hederaceus /3, grandijlorus of Babington, near the head of Coniston 

 Lake. This may be a common mountain plant, but it was new to me. 



Symphytum tuberosum, near Foxhow, the residence of the lamented 

 Dr. Arnold. This I think was the true tuberosum ; it produced soli- 

 tary stems, rarely exceeding two feet in height, with flowers of a dull 

 pale yellow, and leaves scarcely, if at all, decurrent. 



Teesdalia nudicaulis, among the tumbled rocks on the face of 

 Loughrigg Fell. 



Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, of unusually large size at Dungeon Gill. 

 The longest frond I measured exceeded A^ inches in length ; some of 

 the fronds also were strongly forked. 



Pyrola minor, near Stock Gill Force. 



Geranium Vliaum, foot of Loughrigg Fell. 



Isoetes lacustris, and Lobelia Dortmanna , in Crummock Lake. 



Jas. Backhouse, Jun. 



York, 14th of 1st Month, 1846. 



