i8o WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



latest years of his life. The flower had been 

 lost sight of, and the privilege of having found 

 it again made him glad. 



With the economy of a lover of nature, who 

 never wastes, however great the wealth may seem 

 to be, he gathered, in remembrance of that Clova 

 idyl. The late Professor Balfour on one of his 

 excursions came that way, and the finder sent a 

 little to where the botanist was staying. It is 

 said that certain playful youngsters of the student 

 band caused the treasure to be placed under cover, 

 and served up for dinner : and we can well believe 

 that the old enthusiast forgot his hunger in his 

 delight. 



This wild flower is only reported from the one 

 site, but may have been overlooked on two or three 

 of the heights of the same north-west corner of 

 Forfar. Beyond this restricted area it has only 

 as yet been found in the north of England, where 

 it grows, at a much lower elevation, to a greater 

 height. 



This would seem to show it is no denizen of the 

 hills by birth and long tradition, but only one of 

 the Shetland pony order of fairy plants, which, 

 under more favourable conditions, would probably 

 lose its alpine characteristics. I have seen it 



