23S 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
Scotland, it is not always easy to determine whether they 
are indigenous to the spot on which they are growing. So 
many trees are cultivated for commercial and ornamental 
purposes that one is often baffled in attempting to limit the 
number artificially planted. The difficulty is increased in 
the present instance by the fact, already referred to, 
of Kinnoull Hill having been denuded at one time 
of its forests, and replanted a little over a century ago. It 
is scarcely credible that the destruction could have been 
so sweeping but that here and there, in sheltered spots, a 
single tree or a stray group would remain to mark more 
strongly the desolation by its loneliness. We may at least 
conjecture that a few seeds or runners would be left in the 
ground, which would afterwards germinate and spring up 
to represent a natural and primeval growth. 
But making allowance for these doubts, we may include 
in our list of the tree-flora about 12 genera native to 
Perthshire, as being either indigenous or naturalised on 
Kinnoull Hill. These are:—mountain ash, hawthorn, elder, 
ash, elm, alder, birch, oak, hazel, crab apple, willow, 
juniper, pine. If we count species, this number will 
be considerably increased, as of the willows alone 
there are at least ten species, and possibly more. The 
tendency to variation among the willows exhibits in 
a marked manner the phenomena of evolution, and 
makes this family a very difficult one to determine 
with accuracy. The work of identification is, however, 
still in progress. Three species of willow are worthy of 
special mention on account of their rarity— Salix pen- 
tandra, S. Smithiana, and S. phylicifolia. All of these 
are found below Barnhill, near the river-bank. The first 
is represented by only a few plants, which may, perhaps, 
have been planted. The mention of the juniper is inter¬ 
esting from the fact that there is but one solitary bush to 
entitle it to a place on this list. It grows in the woods 
above Corsiehill. The crab apple, to which I have 
referred, is the variety mitis of the ordinary Pyrus malus. 
This is certainly introduced, as var. acerba is the only one 
found wild in Scotland. 
Coming now to the smaller flowering plants, we have 
an ample variety to occupy our attention. We shall 
probably find most of our well-known friends (although 
one—the wood anemone—is, strange to say, conspicuous 
by its absence), and also a few with which we are 
less familiar. Kinnoull Hill proper is comparatively 
dry. It can boast of neither pond nor stream, and its 
water - courses are represented but by insignificant 
springs. As a consequence, we find an almost complete 
absence of water plants, until we come down to the river- 
bank, and this fact has also much to do in determining the 
general appearance of the vegetation. Thus the cliffs do not 
present to us that rich tangle of verdure which we are 
accustomed to in so many Highland glens, because there 
is not the constant trickle from above which supplies the 
necessary moisture. But these conditions are not essen¬ 
tial to the existence of all plants, and the number of 
different species on and around these dry cliffs makes 
amends for the absence of luxuriance in a few. 
Let us suppose ourselves standing on the top of the cliffs 
just beside the tower. When we have fully admired the 
beauty of the view, we shall have leisure to look about for 
floral beauties. Our attention will probably first be 
attracted by the pale sulphur yellow blossoms of the Rock 
Rose ( Helianthemum vulgare), growing on the very brink of 
the precipice. We can also perceive down below, if we 
look over, another plant with flowers of a stronger yellow 
tint clinging to cracks in the face of the rock where it 
would scarcely seem possible that sufficient soil could collect. 
If we now descend through one of the wooded gullies 
which at several points interrupt the cliff, we shall doubt¬ 
less, with a little trouble, be able to secure a specimen 
within reach. We are thus able to identify the specimen 
as Cheiranthus Cheiri, or Wild Wallflower. This is a 
naturalised plant, and one which spreads readily from 
cultivation, and easily adapts itself to such situations as 
that in which we have just found it. It is worthy of note 
that the flowers are entirely yellow, and not red or striped 
with red as in the garden varieties we are now accustomed 
to. Searching along the upper edges and base of the cliffs, 
if we are a little adventurous, and do not mind a few 
scratches from thorns and projecting rock-edges, numbers 
of other “finds” will reward us. I shall just mention 
a very few of the more interesting. 
Arabis hirsuta (Hairy Rockcress) is not at all abundant 
in Britain, and found only very locally in Scotland. 
Cerastium tetrandrum is interesting on account of the 
locality being an inland one, this plant being almost 
always found near the sea. 
Sagina subulata, a rather local Pearlwort. 
Geranium lucidum , a local plant, although not un¬ 
common. 
Astragalus hypoglottis, Vicia angustifolia, and F. lathy- 
roides. These three are members of the pea-flower tribe, 
none of them being frequently met with. They are found 
growing aloDg the upper edges of the cliffs, between the 
“ pulpit” and the stone table. 
Potentilla argentea (Hoary Potentil), so called on account 
of the close white down covering the under side of the 
leaves and stems. 
Coniurn maculatum. This is the true Hemlock, and not 
