240 
PROCEEDINGS OP THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OP NATURAL SCIENCE. 
beyond Barnhill. The plant, as well as the situation in 
which it grows, is a conspicuous one, and it is to be hoped 
that it will not on that account be subjected to rough 
treatment. It is described by Hooker as being found not 
further north than Essex, except about Perth and Forfar, 
where it has become naturalised; and it is, therefore, well 
worthy of careful preservation, and a better fate than 
Saponaria officinalis, another naturalised plant recorded 
from near the same spot but probably now extinct. 
Lythrum salicaria, Purple- Loosestrife, may be found 
near the Dundee ticket platform, but only as an escape 
from cultivation. 
On the site now occupied by Kinnoull School two inter¬ 
esting plants formerly grew, but of course have now been 
completely extirpated. These were 
Poterium muricatum (erroneously recorded as the much 
commoner species, P. sanguisorba), and 
Potentilla hirta. 
Convolvulus arvensis, with its delicate pink flowers and 
arrow-shaped leaves, may be found trailing along the side 
of the road leading past Kinnoull Manse. 
Cynoglossum officinale, Common Houndstongue, is men¬ 
tioned by Lightfoot in the Flora Scotica published in 1792, 
as occurring at the “ foot of Kinnoull Hill,” and is common 
enough below the cliffs. 
Another plant recorded by Wynch, of Northumberland, 
in 1820, as also from the “foot of Kinnoull Hill,” is 
Geranium Pyrenaicum. Until very lately this plant has 
been known to exist on the side of the road leading 
to Fairmount, and may still be found in the hedges 
on the Muirhall Road. 
A few so-called weeds of cultivation may be here briefly 
mentioned as occurring either in the Perth Nurseries or in 
private gardens. 
Veronica peregrina, common in the Nurseries. 
Veronica polita. It has probably been formerly passed 
over as the common V. agrestis. 
Sagina apetala and Sagina ciliata, two species of Pearl- 
wort growing together in gravel walks. The latter is said 
to have once grown underneath the Stone Table. 
Anagallis caerulea, Blue Pimpernel, and 
Plantago media, Hoary Plantain. 
I shall conclude this survey of the more special plants of 
Kinnoull Hill by mentioning a very few more which grow 
either in the river or close beside it. Commencing at our 
northern limit, we find below Perth Bridge, 
Potamogeton nitens. This spot has the distinction of 
being one of the five original localities in the United King¬ 
dom in which until quite recently this rare pond weed was 
only known to exist, and the honour of its discovery there 
belongs to one of the oldest members of our Society, Mr 
John Sim, of Bridgend. 
Rumex alpinus, Alpine Dock, used to grow on the river 
wall just below the bridge, and may still exist there. It 
is, however, only a naturalised plant, having been culti¬ 
vated for the medicinal properties of its root. 
Carex muricata is found beside Kinnoull Churchyard ; 
and another sedge, 
Carex remota, in a ditch near the old toll-bar. 
Some good finds may be obtained on the riverbank 
below the Nurseries, including 
Hypericum dubium, Unperforated St John’s Wort. 
Petasites alba, which, although excluded from our flora, 
has been here naturalized; and these remarks apply also to 
another species, 
Petasites fragrans, on the road leading to Fairmount. 
The last species I shall name as having occurred beside 
the Nurseries is 
Mentha sylvestris, the rare Horse Mint; but unfortu¬ 
nately it can only be named as a thing of the past, as in 
this situation it is no longer to be gathered. 
After passing Barnhill we come upon a curious feature, 
for, if we examine what for a considerable distance appears 
to be merely a grassy bank, we shall find it really com¬ 
posed of 
Allium oleraceum, or Field Garlic. Its grassy appearance 
and manner of growth might readily cause it to be over¬ 
looked by the unobservant, but once the perfume of its 
leaves is felt, it can no longer be mistaken. Lastly, I 
would mention a rare variety of the common Mouse-ear 
Chickweed, 
Cerastium triviale v. holosteoides. Hooker mentions 
Perth as one of the few localities in Britain where this 
variety occurs, and, curiously enough, within tidemarks it 
is abundant, and quite takes the place of the common form 
on both sides of the river. Back from the river the 
ordinary roadside weed again asserts itself as usual. 
I think I have now said enough to show that Kinnoull 
Hill is not without interest as a botanical field, at least to 
those who are wise enough to seek out the interest it 
presents. 
For much of the information as to the localities of the 
plants I am indebted to Dr Buchanan White. 
