FLORA OF SCOTTISH LAKES 
249 
east end, as well as here and there about the shore, small areas of 
marsh occur. Excepting for the marshy areas and a rocky part on 
the south-west, the shores consist of muddy gravel, and merge imper- 
ceptibly into the grassy banks. The water is clear, not peaty, and 
apparently of a steely grey colour, probably due to the copious 
deposit of black mud on the bottom, which arises from the rapid 
decomposition of a very luxuriant aquatic Hora. Many of the 
submersed plants are heavily coated with a deposit of calcium 
carbonate, and others, particularly Littorella lacustris, are overgrown 
to an extraordinary degree with Diatomaceae. On the north side 
there is a large association of Polygonum amphibium, which is 
frequently mixed with Potamogeton natans, and a belt of the latter 
extends along the outside of the Polygonum in deeper water. A 
similar phenomenon also occurs upon the south side. Potamogeton 
Zizii and P. lucens are both very abundant, and cover large areas of 
the bottom to a depth of 10 feet. Heleocharis acicularis not only 
occurs in the water to a depth of 3 feet, but also forms a sward upon 
the dry shore. A large .number of other plants occur here, but 
Bryophytes, with the exception of a few ordinary marsh mosses, are 
scarce. 
Kilconquhar Loch is about two miles north of Elie. It is a very 
shallow circular loch about half a mile across, and is so completely 
surrounded with marsh and reed swamp that the water can only be 
approached at a few places ; consequently there is no definite shore. 
The village of Kilconquhar is situated on the north side of the loch, 
and the gardens from the adjacent cottages run down to its margin. 
The ornamental grounds of Elie House, which are wooded or park- 
like, adjoin and beautify the south side. Upon the east and west sides 
the loch is surrounded by acrricultural land. The bottom of the loch 
at the north and west sides consists of deep black mud ; but at the 
south and east sides the bottom is less muddy, and in many places is 
formed of firm sand. Near the shore the depth of water is from 
3 to 5 feet, but towards the middle it is somewhat deeper, seldom, 
however, exceeding 7 feet. The water is clear, but has a stagnant 
appearance, which may be described as dead, in comparison with 
the sparkling water of a pellucid highland loch. In consequence 
of such favourable physical conditions, the whole of the bottom of 
this loch is more or less overgrown with plants. The marginal swamp 
vegetation is chiefly composed of associations of the following 
plants : — Scirpus lacustris, Equisetum limosum, Phragmites communis, 
Heleocharis palustris, Carex rostrata, Hippuris vulgaris, Typha 
latifolia, Epilobium hirsutum, Menyanthes trifoliata, Sparganium 
ramosum, and Phalaris arundinacea. The plant associations in the 
water are chiefly of the following species : — Polygonum amphibium, 
