IMarch, 18G0.] 65 



BOTANY OF THE BEEADALBANE MOUNTAINS. 



One Bay's Botanizing on the Breadalbane Mountains in the 

 Summer of 1859. By James Backhouse, Jun. 



Leaving our quarters at an early hour, we pursued our course 

 for many miles, slowly ascending towards a great range of crags 

 which, though gloomy enough in general aspect, looked pro- 

 mising in a botanical point of view. It was evident that our so- 

 journ was to be among the clouds, and that cold and wet were to 

 be our portion for the day; but all this was calculated for in 

 advance. Two compasses, a plentiful supply of provisions, and 

 thorough equipment in light Mackintosh apparel, made us all 

 but totally indifferent as to what kind of weather was in store. 

 The " ground" was new to both of us, and we had planned a 

 course that neither guide-books nor maps could materially assist 

 us in, so far as the detail of the journey was concerned. 



On reaching the cliffs, we found them abundantly carpeted over 

 with Silene acaulis and Saxifraga oppositifolia, intermingled with 

 tufts of Poa alpina and P. casia, Potentilla alpestris, Alchemilla 

 alpina, Thalictrum alpinum, Galium montanum ?, and here and 

 there waving tufts of the handsome Carex atrata. Skirting the 

 base we saw abundance of Saxifraga aizoides, and a few tufts of 

 Woodsia alpina. Polystichum Lonchitis was abundant, and As- 

 plenium viride and A. Trichomanes not unfrequent. Portions of 

 the cliff produced Salix reticulata and S. lapponica, along with 

 Vaccinium uliginosum, Vicia sylvatica, Saussurea alpina, and 

 Saxifraga nivalis. A few Hieracia were met with, viz. H. an- 

 glicum and its var. amplexicatde (the " H. cerinthoides'' of my 

 ' Monograph of British Hieracia'), H. prenanthoides, and H. 

 lingulatum. Once or twice we gathered the exquisite Veronica 

 saxatilis, still in bloom. Continuing our course, we found Dryas 

 octopetala, and a profusion of Cerastium alpinum (which, with 

 Sax. oppositifolia and Silene acaulis, may be said to cover acres 

 with scattered tufts, as they form a material portion of the 

 herbage for miles together in positions at all favouring their 

 growth) . Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi was also abundant, together 

 with Saxifraga hypnoides. Ascending higher, we encountered 

 several plants of Juncus castaneus, J. biglumis, and /. triglumis ; 

 and found vast sheets of Carex pulla, C. curta, and C. rigida, 



N. S. VOL. IV. K 



