1857.] PERTH FLORA. 285 



own limited observations go, there is some discrepancy between 

 tlie list of plants there given and the plants now actually found 

 in the habitats indicated. It seems probable that some of the 

 varieties have disappeared from their stations since the date of 

 the great national work alluded to ; and in a few cases this may 

 be due to the improved agriculture, especially draining and thin- 

 ning of woods, in others to the circle of distribution of the plants 

 having been originally very limited. I have searched in vain for 

 Botrychium Lmiai'ia on the North Inch, and for Ceterach offici- 

 narum on the hill of Kinnoull and in the glens of Balthayoch and 

 Pitrodie; and other rarities have equally eluded my search. 

 Again, certain species are doubtfully indigenous, while others are 

 certainly introduced or have escaped from gardens. These re- 

 marks apply for example to Villarsia nyniphceoides, which was 

 sent by a most zealous, enterprising, and accurate botanist, Mr. 

 Gorrie of Annat, to Mr. Miller at Dupplin, in 1800, and is now 

 naturalized in Dupplin loch, covering an acre thereof;. Solidago 

 lanceolata, a North American species, which is a common weed 

 in many parts of the district ; Convallaria majalis, which is plen- 

 tiful in Methven woods ; Fagopyrum esculeyitimi, which has pro- 

 bably been introduced for the feeding of pheasants ; Saxifraga 

 aizoides, whose seeds have probably been washed from the Dun- 

 keld highlands, by the Tay or its tributaries ; Hesperis matro- 

 nalis] which occurs sparingly in the Carse of Gowrie ; and Car- 

 duus Marianus. 



I have not found many absolutely rare plants ; but I have been 

 struck with the local abundance of certain plants which in other 

 parts of the country, for instance round Edinburgh, are somewhat 

 rare, or at least are not commonly with met with. For example, 

 Mimulus luteus is very abundant in the marshes on the Tay im- 

 mediately below Barnhill ToU, where also Senecio aquaticus, 

 Scirpus lacustris and triqueter, and other interesting marsh 

 plants occur. Dipsacus sylvestris grows in great profusion and 

 to a great size and strength on the rocky talus immediately below 

 the precipice of Kinnoull, where Reseda Luteola and Lactuca 

 virosa are also common. The latter grows in rank luxuriance, 

 and exhibits the largest specimens I ever saw. Astragalus gly- 

 cyphyllus and Vicia sylvatica I have met with on the banks of 

 the Almond, a short way above its junction with the Tay. Cam- 

 panula glomerata occurs on the banks of the Tay above the North 



