Botany of the Craigmillar District. 129 



other "select lists" which have been drawn up, some 

 may be surprised at finding certain names included, 

 and others — it may be their own special favourites — 

 left out. In all such cases one can only crave indul- 

 gence, and plead in extenuation the difficulty of the 

 task. A general idea may now be given of the floral 

 wealth of the included area, by special reference to 

 some of what may be termed the outstanding plants. 

 Beginning with Craigmillar Castle, one or two 

 plants which have possibly been connected with its 

 occupation by Queen Mary, or by others at a some- 

 what later date, may be noted. Thus on the walls 

 of the old building there is still found a pot-herb 

 known as "French Sorrel" {Riimex scutatus), which 

 may have been used by the cooks of the royal house- 

 hold, and thus got a footing here. This plant, however, 

 though now found in several parts of Scotland and the 

 North of England, and often connected with monkish 

 culture, is not native. Another plant formerly used 

 for culinary purposes is growing near the walls of the 

 castle, namely, the Sweet Cicely [Myrrhis odorata). 

 Both the popular and the scientific names of this 



