TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 103 
mation of genera; we have thus obtained, not natural, but artificial groups. For 
the formation of natural genera it is always necessary to mow also the vegetation 
and the habit, both of which are very often in intimate connexion with tho flowers 
and fruits.. The author has studied for a long time the crocuses and their vegeta- 
tion. The flowers of these plants do not always furnish good characters; the pro- 
portionate length of the stamens and the style, on which botanists lay great value, 
is only relative, and is not always sure. Better characters for the great divisions 
are to be drawn from the vegetation. The author has observed that many crocuses 
twist the leaves spirally when they are dry. The same crocuses have also a corm 
in which the scales or the sheaths are cut across transversely at the base. In this 
tribe of crocuses are found blue, purple, white, and yellow flowers, as in the other 
tribes, where the leaves are straight, and so tenacious that they can be used as 
twine. The corms of the latter have the scales minutely or strongly reticu- 
lated. 
The author gave another example where the vegetation is of the greatest value 
for the systematist. Besides the leaves, the sheaths of the corms of the crocuses 
are also very important. He distinguished by this means four groups; first, 
crocuses with corms in which the scales are circumscissile near the base ; secondly, 
crocuses where the scales are furnished with long and straight nerves; thirdly, 
crocuses where the scales or sheaths are finely, or, fourthly, where they are 
strongly reticulated. 
The bracts and the number of the flowers give also good marks for the distinc- 
tion of the species; we have crocuses with one and with two bracts, and with one 
or many flowers. When the author has finished his observations about the fruits 
and seeds, he hopes to publish a treatise on the subject. 
Notes on the Flora of Skye. 
By M, A. Lawson, Professor of Botany in the University of Oxford. 
During a short stay of a fortnight in the Isle of Skye in company with Pro- 
fessor Oliver and Mr. H. 8. Fox, the author drew up a list of all the plants that 
came under their notice, and, since his return, compared it with others of the 
neighbouring islands and mainland. Of this comparison the following is the 
result. 
Of the 389 species he found in Skye, the following 31 have never been recorded 
from the subprovince 32 of the Supplement to the ‘Cybele Britannica :’— 
Nympheea alba. Vaccinium oxycoccus. 
Draba incane. Veronica montana, 
Arabis petrea. Ajuga reptans. 
Prunus padus. Galeopsis Ladanum. 
Rubus czsius. Stachys betonica. 
—— umbrosus, drrh. Atriplex deltoidea. 
corylifolius. Rumex conglomeratus. 
Epilobium anagallidifolium. Ulmus montana. 
Myriophyllum alterniflorum. Fagus sylvatica. 
Ribes rubrum, var. spicatum. Potamogeton perfoliatus. 
Galium uliginosum, heterophyllus. 
Apargia hispida. Eriocaulon septangulare, 
Hieracium anglicum. Juncus compressus. 
iricum, Scirpus fiuitans. 
Arctium minus. Cistopteris fragilis, 
Carduus nutans. 
Fifty-one species also are not recorded from the outer West Highlands, sub- 
proyince 33, including Islay, Mull, Skye, &e. 
Anemone nemorosa. Rubus cesius. 
Corydalis claviculata. cordifolius, 
Sisymbrium thalianum. — umbrosus, Arrh, 
Stellaria graminea. — corylifolius. 
Cerastium alpinum. Rosa tomentosa. 
