406 



appears to me that some confusion exists with regard to the species 

 called F. vivipara by Smith. The plant figured by that author [Eng. 

 Bot. 1355], and abundant on all our more elevated hills, especially 

 those of a micaceous character, seems to be distinct from the common 

 F. ovina of our plains. It is not improbable that the alpine plant is 

 the viviparous state of a distinct grass, which, from the great disposi- 

 tion of alpine grasses to assume the viviparous character, is seldom 

 seen in its normal form, and is therefore sunk into F. ovina. The 

 study of the alpine plant would repay any one conveniently situated 

 for that purpose. I may notice, en passant, the curious tendency of 

 alpine grasses, such as Aira alpina, Poa alpina, &c., to become vivi- 

 parous. It would almost appear an effort of nature to make up for 

 the paucity of seeds matured in such situations. 



Pimpinella magna. I am not aware of this having been detected 

 previously in Scotland. It occurs abundantly by the hedge-sides, 

 shortly after leaving the village of Collinton, and proceeding west- 

 wards ; probably merely a luxuriant variety of P. Saxifraga. The 

 Collinton specimens agree perfectly with those from the Isle of Wight 

 and numerous others in my collection. 



Polygonum Rati. This is surely often confounded with the mari- 

 time variety of P. aviculare (I presume " P. maritimum, L." of the 

 Edinburgh Catalogue), for the true plant occurs abundantly on both 

 sides of the Firth of Forth. This is surely not the P. Koberti of the 

 continental botanists, of which I possess specimens from the shores 

 of the Adriatic, &c. 



Ranunculus Jluitans, Lam. Though now raised to the rank of a 

 species, I cannot believe this to be anything more than one of the 

 multifarious varieties of R. aquatilis ; the differences merely lie in the 

 very peculiar habit. It is sometimes two or three feet long, but this 

 is occasioned by its growing in deeper water ; it has also a curious 

 tufted and sometimes almost geniculated appearance. Lochend. 



Rubus nitidus, rhamnifolius, suherectus. Craigmillar Castle. I 

 doubt not that many more of the reputed species of bramble may be 

 found in this neighbourhood, and those fond of multiplying specific 

 distinctions in this troublesome and intricate genus, will have abun- 

 dant opportunity about the above-named station, the Peebles road, 

 Dalkeith, Craigleith, and numerous other localities near Edinburgh. 

 I will not attempt to name any but the above three, and I must con- 

 fess, from my mite of experience, that I do think, without the slightest 

 danger of confounding distinct plants, the arrangement of Koch might 

 be followed in distinguishing nearly all our British species. 



