NOTES OX THE BOTANY OF NORTHERN PORTUGAL. 175 



true native, nevertheless it appears to have been introduced at some 

 early period from Western Asia. Now it has thoroughly taken its 

 place as a dominant plant. Eetuming to the station I found I had 

 a few minutes to wait for the train, so strolled down to the shore of 

 the neighbouring lagoon, where I was delighted to find Eryvgmm 

 comivulatum L., well characterised by the central bract of each head 

 being prolonged into a sharp spine, projecting from a quarter to 

 half-an-inch beyond the flowers. Brotero, however, says that the 

 plant is very variable, and that this spine is often wanting. I would 

 willingly have given more time to this lagoon, but I could hear the 

 train in the distance, and it was already so dark that I could 

 botanise only with my fingers; so I returned to the station. 



The banks of the River Douro afford a thoroughly interesting 

 study to the botanist, and I know few things more enjoyable than 

 to be rowed slowly along, landing from time to time to examine any 

 spot that may look promising. The harbour-walls produced Koniga 

 marUima Br. and Traeheliurn caruleam L., the latter possessing 

 exactly the habit of a Certtranthm ; it is possible, however, that 

 these may have been introduced. A marshy stretch just above the 

 town was covered by a profusion of Veronica ana gall (rides Guss. The 

 stalked glands with which the inflorescence is covered give a very 

 distinct look to this plant, but I can see no other character by 

 which to separate it from V. Anagallis L. Soon after, a sand-bank 

 afforded several large tufts of Eragrostis pilom Ptz. and two or three 

 plants of PharnaeeUm Cerviana L. {Mollugo Cerriana Ser. », an 

 addition, as I believe, to the Portuguese flora. Here also ( It mo- 

 podium Botnjs L. occurred. A little higher up the banks became 

 steeper and more wooded, and several interesting plants began to 

 occur, among which I may mention Tunica Sasifrnga Scop., Dianthm 

 monsjmsulanus L. (in great quantity), Pwrelia bUumimm L., Inula 

 xtticina L., Clematis Vitalba L., LinaHa Tournefurtii Lge., and 

 Allium vineale L., this last abundant and always capsuliferous. 

 Here also I collected Scrophularh canina L., var. piRnatifida. 



Another expedition was to the dry and barren granite hills some 

 six miles N.E. of Oporto. These are for the most part treeless, but 

 a certain proportion of the surface is covered with pine and cork- 

 oak. The flora is apparently very limited as regards the number 

 of species, but some of these are of extreme interest, especially 

 Dro&qpkyllum hisitanicum Lk., which was plentiful, growing in the 

 driest and most exposed places, and seeding abundantly. Un- 

 fortunately it was nearly out of flower at the time of my visit 

 (the beginning of July). So far as I could see, the number of 

 insects captured at that time of year was not very great; pro- 

 oably the leaves were more or 1 * exhausted. Tiny B< dling 

 about an inch in height are now (March) quite busy in my gv n- 

 bouse. Associated with the Drmrphytlum were an abundance of 

 Brum umbellate L., and occasional plants of Polygala mictvphylla 

 L. and of Odovti es tami folia G. Don. Here also was Heli* 

 anthemurn ocymoides P. in abundance. In a small wooded glen 

 )vere a few plants of the pretty little Leacojum autumnal* L., and, 

 if I remember right* of Centtmrta uiiginom Broi« I saw it plenti- 



