82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
frequent in some parts of our district, such as Shielhill Glen and 
Target Glen. 
I shall now mention a few Carices which are to be met with in 
the circumscribed area under review. Carex dioica is found on the 
hills behind Greenock, Shielhill Glen, and other places ; C. teretius- 
cula is got in a wet meadow by the side of the Inverkip road near 
Ravenscraig ; C. aquatilis, var. Watsoni of Syme, is found in Shiel- 
hill Glen; C. pendula is also found in the same glen; C. riparia 
grows in a meadow near Dunrod Castle. A reference to a few 
Grasses will conclude the lst of flowering plant. Setaria viridis 
I found on some rubbish in the neighbourhood of Greenock, being 
no doubt an outcast. Avena fatua was got in a corn-field near the 
Whinhill; A. pubescens is found in Shielhill Glen near the middle — 
of the glen. Lepturus filiformis, var. incurvatus, grows in a meadow 
by the shore between Fort Matilda and Gourock. I found this 
plant some years ago, and though not yet included in Hennedy’s 
Clydesdale Flora, there can be no doubt about its being indigenous. 
This grass presents us with a good example of the law of compensa- 
tion ; the spikelets which are lateral have only one glume, the part 
of the rachis opposite the spikelet taking the place of the second 
glume, but .the terminal spikelet, which cannot get protection from 
the rachis, has two glumes. 
I will now notice one or two of the higher Cryptogams, which 
will conclude the present list. Cryptogramma crispa I found near 
Kilmalcolm, where it was discovered many years ago, but | am afraid 
it is now almost if not altogether extinct. Aspidiwm angulare is got 
at Gourock and the Cloch. Aspleniwm viride grows in Shielhill 
Glen and by the side of the Routen Burn near Loch Thom. We 
get the Adder’s tongue, Ophioglossum vulgatum, near the Roman 
Bridge. The Moonwort, Botrichium Lunaria, is found on the hills . 
behind Greenock, at Gourock, and other places in the district. The 
Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis, which used to be found near Gourock 
is now extinct—exterminated I should say. It is much to be wished 
that something could be done to put a stop to the extermination of 
plants for mere pecuniary gain. The only other Cryptogam I will 
mention is the Great Water-horsetail, Hquisetum Telmateia, got in 
Shielhill Glen, where it grows most luxuriantly; one plant” I got 
measured fully six feet in length. = 
It will be observed from what has been said that a good many 
interesting plants are found about Greenock and neighbourhood, 
