Localities. — In Lakes in Scotland and the west roast of Ireland; rare. — 
SCOTLAND. Inverness-shire ; First observed in the isle of Skye by Mr. 
Robertson, in 1768, according to Dr. Hope ; but by the Rev. Dr. Walker’s 
Herbarium, in Mr. Maughan’s possession, it appears to have been discovered 
there, Sept. 11, 1764, by Sir John Macpherson, along with Dr. Walker, in 
a small lake by the road-side leading from Sconsar to Giesto. Sir John 
Macpherson, who saw it hist, leaped from his horse, waded into the lake, and 
brought it out. See Hooker’s FI Scot. In two or three small fresh-water 
lochs, about a mile west of Loch-Sligachan, in the isle of Skye, but particularly 
in a small lake called l.och-na-Caiplich, close to the road-side between Sliga- 
chan and Drynoch, in such abundance that the white fibres of the roots are 
thrown upon the edges of the loch in the same manner as wrack and other weeds 
on the sea-shores: Lightfoof. In Skye, Coll, and a few of the neighbouring 
islands of the Hebrides: Sir W. J. Hooker. — 1RKLAND. On the edges of 
all the loughs, great and small, in Cunnamara ; and il is to be met with in many 
places in the county of Galway : Dr. Wade ; see Memoir of Sir J. E. Saiith, 
v. ii p. 148. Very plentiful in many of the small lakes in Cunnamara ; and in 
small ditches within four miles of Galway on the Oughterard road, and in several 
small lakes between Newport and Mount Nephin, county of Mayo : Mr. J.T 
Mackay. Abundant in the lakes of Rosses, Donegal: K. Morphy, Esq. 
Perennial. — Flowers in August and September. 
Roots creeping, with numerous, long, white, curiously jointed 
fibres , which penetrate deep into the mud. Leaves radical, numer- 
ous. channelled, smooth, two or three inches long, tapering gradually 
from a broadish base, to a hair-like point, and so pellucid as when 
held between the eye and the light to exhibit very distinctly their 
beautifully cellular internal structure. Scape from a few inches to 
nearly two feet high, with a tubular sheath at the base, solitary, 
simple, naked, beautifully cellular, a little twisted, having about 
seven angles, occasionally more or less, with flat interstices. Flowers 
numerous, minute, collected into a compact terminal head; each 
flower with an inversely egg-shaped, membranous, concave scale 
(fig. 1.), nearly as long as itself. Calyx of the Sterile Flowers 
(see fig. 2.) of 2 doubly-keeled, purplish sepals ; corolla of 2 petals, 
which are white, and united for a great proportion of their length, 
so as to be 2-lipped at the extremity, each lip bearing a stamen, 
and above that a black sessile gland (see fig. 3.) ; and on each side, 
between the two lips a stamen ; in the centre between these are two 
black stalked glands, (probably abortive styles). Calyx of the 
Fertile Flowei- (see fig. 4. d,d.) similar to that of the sterile one. 
Corolla (see fig. 4. c.) of 2 distinct petals, each with a black, sessile 
gland at the extremity. Germen of 2 globose lobes. Style short, 
stigmas 2, long, awl-shaped. See Sir W. J. Hooker’s Brit. FI. 
This very curious plant is said to have been found in no other part of the 
world than in the habitats recorded above. The plants sometimes form large 
floating islands, by means of their densely matted toots ; the heads of flowers 
and part of the scape alone rising above the water. The root is slightly acri- 
monious when chewed. Eriocaulon decangulare of Linn aos, is distinct 
from this, and has never yet been found wild in any part of Britain. 
The Natural Order Restiaof*., of which the present plant is the only 
British example, consists of herbaceous plants or under shrubs, either with 
simple, narrow leaves, or none. The flowers are generally aggregate, in 
heads or spikes, and are separated by scales (see fig. 1). The perianthium 
(see figs. 2,4, & 5.) is inferior, and from 2- to 6-parted, seldom wanting. The 
stamens are definite, from 1 to 6. 'The ovary (see fig. 7.) is 1- or more- 
celled, each cell with one, pendulous, ovule. The fruit (see fig. 8.) is capsu- 
lar or nut-like; and the seeds are inverted, and have a lenticular embryo, 
which is outside the albumen, and distant from the hilum. 
