PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Ixiii 
are so overgrown with sedges that they are not productive of much 
else. In the woods Symphytum officinale var. patens was common, 
and near the pond Lythrum Salicaria and Rumex Hydrolapathum 
grew. We measured the blade of one leaf of the latter, and found it 
to be more than three feet long. (Beside the Machany, I may say, 
we found Petasites vulgaris with leaves, including the stalks, over 
seven feet high). 
On the trap-dyke, which forms so conspicuous a feature at Ben- 
niebeg Pond, where it stands up like a wall, thence skirts the Pond 
of Drummond and runs towards Torlum Hill, Sedum anglicum was 
seen. 
At Balloch Loch we added some species to the day’s list, includ¬ 
ing Carex vesicaria and Callitriche autumnalis. 
On our way to Crieff we found Chelidorium majus —naturalised— 
abundant under a hedge. 
The unofficial excursions were numerous and profitable, but they 
need not be described in detail, though some of the results must be 
noticed. Of these the most important was the discovery of Poa pal- 
ustris (L.) Rth. as a British plant. The honour of this discovery fell 
to Mr. Barclay, who found the plant in the course of his explorations 
of the west bank of the Tay below Perth. A few weeks afterwards 
we again found it near Benniebeg Pond. Poa palustris , or as it used 
to be called P. serotina , is a plant of wide distribution in Europe, 
and occurs also in North America. Hence it is not surprising that it 
should occur in Britain. In 1879 it was found on the banks of the 
Thames, near London, but the finder considered it to be naturalised 
only. After full consideration, we think that in Perthshire it has claims 
to be considered native. 
Another addition to the Perthshire flora is Spircea Filipendula, 
which is locally abundant on the bank of the Tay, near Kinclaven. 
One fact with regard to this “ find ” is instructive, as showing how 
easily a local plant may escape notice. Some years ago I went over 
nearly the same ground; but just before coming to the spot I left the 
river bank and went inland to examine a marsh, coming back to the 
river-side a little further up. By doing so I just managed to avoid 
the place where the Spircea grows. 
Another excursion was made to the neighbourhood of Tenandry 
Church. There is above the church a rocky hill which is rather 
profitable botanising ground, producing, amongst other things, the 
handsome Lychnis Viscaria. On the rocks we saw, but could not 
reach, several shrubs of the White Beam ( Pyrus Aria), a species which 
has not been recorded as a native of Perthshire. Since there are 
several distinct varieties or sub-species of this plant, it is much to be 
regretted that specimens could not be secured, but we hope to make 
another attempt. 
I have not tried to give an exhaustive account of all the work which 
has been done, but merely to show that some members, at least, of the 
Society have not been idle. 
Other work in other departments has been accomplished both in 
the Museum and out-o f -doors, and bears testimony to the satisfactory 
activity of the Society. Some of the records which I have given to- 
