46 BOTANICAL TOtJR IN THE 



reach was in flower, and hence it would require the aid of one 

 better skilled in the diagnostics of the genus than we are to come 

 to a satisfactory decision about them. 



Rubus saxatilis was gathered, or rather the root-leaves of the 

 plant; for those we saw had no stems. We were rather sur- 

 prised at this, for the plant, both in flower and in fruit, abounds 

 about Gordale and Malham, Yorkshire, among the stony debris 

 of the limestone rocks. Alsine Cherleri, Fenzl, Cherleria sedoides, 

 Lin., and Sibbaldia procumbens (Potentilla Sibbaldi) abounded, 

 the former in rather extensive patches on the hanging rocks, 

 the latter was widely scattered over the bare, stony parts of the 

 mountain. Epilobium alpinum was but sparingly collected on the 

 borders of these alpine rills, and none of the specimens were 

 more than a very few inches high. 



Solidago Virgaurea, with lanceolate leaves, abounded ; so did 

 the large-flowered prostrate variety of Veronica serpyllifolia. 

 Polygonum viviparum, Oxyria reniformis, and several species of 

 Juncacea, Cyperacea, and Graminea were noticed. We have not 

 yet had time to identify them all, but Juncus castanew, Luzula 

 spicata, Carex atrata, and Sesleria c&rulea were among the 

 number. Very high up the mountain a solitary specimen of 

 Habenaria bifolia occurred. We did not observe any other 

 Orchid at this elevation. Beyond the ridge, and down a rather 

 steep descent, there is a bog abounding in Cotton-grasses and 

 Sedges. Here plenty of Salix herbacea, which we did not observe 

 before, was collected. This minute Willow is not more herba- 

 ceous than S. repens or any of the minute forms of the genus 

 that abound on our own open heaths. There is scarcely any 

 ligneous plant that could ripen wood on any of the summits of the 

 Ben Lawers ridge. All the Willows would become herbaceous 

 at this height, or, what is the same thing, their stems would perish 

 annually, which is the character of an herbaceous plant. 



By this time the day was more than half gone, and the highest 

 head of Ben Lawers was still more than half covered with its 

 misty cap. The wind and the rain were gradually increasing as 

 we ascended, and there was no prospect of any abatement of their 

 violence. The state of the weather and other considerations in- 

 duced us to relinquish the pleasure of threading the rocky pas- 

 sages on and near the summit of the mountain, which pleasure we 



