301 BOTANY OF BEN LAWERS. [Octobcr, 



but is, I have no doubt, specifically distinct. .It is downy, not 

 silky ; much more rambling in habit, and has flowers equally 

 large. It is scattered over a large distinct, including the highest 

 peak of Ben Lawers, and down to the lake on the east of the 

 summit. 



Cerastium alpinum occurs in the same region, and in count- 

 less thousands over the micaceous mountains of the district; 

 but where mingled with the above-mentioned, it retains its usual 

 characters, and does not, so far as I noticed, show any tendency 

 to intermediate forms. 



Juncus castaneus. Sparingly, in very wet places on the 

 Ben Lawers range, and in Glen Lochay ; always (?) having a 

 northern aspect. 



Myosotis alpestris adorns the high ledges on Ben Lawers 

 with a grand display of its unrivalled blossoms. 



Arenaria rubella was abundant among the micaceous shale of 

 the highest " corries " of Ben Lawers. 



Cystopteris montana. This Fern was met with on Ben Lawers, 

 occupying the moist ledges of a crag, where access was rather 

 difficult. The fronds were short, not fertile, and but sparingly 

 scattered over a distance of fifty to a hundred feet. On a clifi" 

 overlooking Glen Lyon, we found it in great profusion, cover- 

 ing the mossy ledges, for nearly a quarter of a mile, with thou- 

 sands of fronds. The largest specimens were twelve inches high ; 

 one was six to seven inches in width, and several were in tine 

 fructification. Its range of altitude was apparently three to 

 four hundred feet. On the same rocks were Bartsia alpina (very 

 luxuriant), Pyrola rolundifolia, Pyrola secunda; and countless 

 masses oi Saussured alpina, Salix reticulata, herbacea, and venu- 

 losa ?; Saxifraga oppositifolia, S. aizoides, Cerastium alpinum, 

 Silene acaulis, Cherleria sedoides. Car ex capillaris, Dry as octo- 

 petala, and Sagina saxatilis. 



The micaceous crags of this district are mainly carpeted with 

 Silene acaulis. Sax. ojjpositifolia and aizoides, Cerastium alpinum, 

 and Cherlerea sedoides. They form the principal herbage ; hang- 

 ing in fine sheets from the rocks, or densely carpeting them 

 with soft green cushions. Intermingled with them may often 

 be seen the nodding heads of Luzula spicata, or tufts of the tall 

 and elegant Careaf atrata, waving in the wind. Close search on 

 the wettest ledges will frequently be rewarded with abundance 



