52 
FLORA OF FORFARSHIRE. 
gathered there by Mr G. Don, Mr J. Cruickshank , and 
others. 
Orobus, L. Bitter-Vetch. 
Br. sp. and v. 4. F. 4. 
0. tuherosus , L. Tuberous Bitter-vetch, or Heath Pea. 
H. 91, B. 82. — F. June, July. P. 
Plentiful on heaths, and in woods, from the coast to nearly 
the summits of the mountains. 
/3. 0. tenuifolius , Both. Near Kinnaird, Mr G. Don. In 
June 1831, I gathered it sparingly on a wooded hill south 
from Brechin. 
0. niger, L. Black Bitter- vetch. IT. 91, B. 83. — F. 
June, July. P. 
This rare and very curious plant is said to have been 
originally discovered in the Den of Airlie by Mr Drummond, 
but its station was lost sight of, till re-discovered in 1814 by 
the Rev. J. S. Barty. He remarks that the station is about 
300 yards from the foot of the den on the left bank of the 
Isla, and six yards from the margin of the river, the situation 
somewhat rocky, but very accessible. 
Mr Barty very judiciously adds, that “the patch is not 
large ; and if botanists do not use their trowels tenderly, it 
runs the risk of being exterminated.” This is a most impor- 
tant circumstance to be borne in mind, especially by young 
botanists, who, in their enthusiasm, are sometimes tempted 
to impoverish the locality of a rare plant, for the mere sake 
of filling their vasculums with rarities, though these may 
probably never be turned to any good account. With collec. 
tors of plants, it should be a stern and fixed principle to 
endanger no locality of a rare plant, by culling too freely 
where the supply is scanty ; and what is gathered over sup- 
plying one’s own herbarium, should be made available to 
others whose opportunities do not admit of their collecting 
such themselves. 
{ * 
0. sylvaticus , L. Wood Bitter-vetch. H. 91, B. 79. — 
F. June. P. . (Vida Orobus , DC., Bab.) 
