m 



Carex Boenninghauseniana: an addition to the 

 Flora of Northumberland. 



By Rev. J. J. M. L. Aiken, B.D., Ayton. 



An excursion by tlie Club, in August 1906, to Cricliton 

 and Borthwick Castles in Midlothian, afforded the opportunity 

 of examining tlie Bog in the dean which connects these historic 

 fortresses, and which possesses a special botanical interest in 

 that it is said the rare 8edge (Carex Boetininghauseniaiia) 

 was gathered there some years ago. The early summer had 

 proved very wet, and had rendered the marsh practically 

 impassable ; but that indefatigable worker, Mr Wm. B. Boyd, 

 Faldonside, and myself, under the escort of a local enthusiast, 

 determined to search it, and supply, if possible, corroboration 

 of the previous discovery. In this we were unsuccessful ; but 

 in the course of our scrutiny we noted abundant tussocks of 

 C. j?aniculaf,a, though without any traces of C. remota, the 

 other reputed parent of the Sedge in question. In con- 

 sequence of this disajDpointment, a good deal of discussion 

 took place regaining the Norther-n stations from which it had 

 been i-eported (specimens fi-om at least two being in the 

 herbarium at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh), and a 

 fresh impetus was given to the pursvut of Sedge collection. 



On the day pi-eceding the Club's excui'sion to Linhope, in 

 July 1908, we were again associated at Whittingham, and 

 occupied the afternoon in exploring a bit of natural wood, 

 which lies to the South of Low Learchild, alongside the 

 Alnwick and Coldstream railway. The scrub proved dense 



