Vol 13 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

12 Botanical Records for 1896.
there are several points wliich re(iuire elucidation, and I shall take
the present opportunity of directing the attention of local botanists
to some of these, in the hope that endeavours will be made to solve
them. For instance, none of the following seaside plants liave as
yet been recorded for Dumfriesshire, though many of them are to
be found in Kirkcudbrightshire on the eastern bank of the Eiver
Nith, and this fact affords a reasonable probability that some of
them will yet be get between the mouths of the Nith and the Esk.
They are Scirpus Taberncemontani^ Senebiera coronbpus^ Ligustiaim
scoticum., Crithmum jnaritimuin, Inula crit/wioides, Pulicaria
dysenterica, Mertensia maritima, Beta marititna, Atriplex laciniata,
Zostera marifta, Ruppia rostellata, Suczda inaritima, Carex aren-
aria, Raphanus maritiiiius^ Astragalus hypoglottis and glycyphyllos,
Crambe maritima, Geraftiu?n sanguineum. These give a goodly
list of eighteen plants to be added to the Dumfriesshire Flora.
Again, of more inland plants, the following are not yet recorded
for Dumfriesshire : — Hypericum elodes, Pinguicula lusitanica,
Scutellaria minor, Vicia lathyroides, Scirpus Jluitans, &c. Brassica
monensis and Convolvulus soldanella seem to be extirpated from
Southerness. Perhaps the former is not now to be found in
Wigtownshire or Kirkcudbrightshire. Such plants as Tofieldia
palustris, Juncus balticus, /uncus castaneus, Juncus trifidus, /uncus
biglumis, and a few others, may with all safety be erased from our
local lists. Trientalis europcea grows at a lower elevation, and
may occur, but requires refinding.
Some plants again, in all pi'obability incorrectly named at
fii'st, are very doubtful records for our counties, as they go back
fifty or sixty years. Some of these are : Bromus erectus, Fhleum
arenarium, Lychnis viscaria, Melampyrum sylvaticum, Eriophorum
latifolium, Bartsia viscosa, Dodder, Lithospermum arvense, Orchis
pyramidalis, for Kirkcudbrightshire ; Geranium columbinum, Vicia
gracilis, and Erodimn moschatum, for Southerness ; and Elymus
arenarius, for Dumfriesshire. Investigation may also proceed in
the following direction. As some critical species of plants get
their names introduced into local lists on insufficient grounds
information about these is necessary, as for instance :— Is Viola
hirta for Criffel the true plant ? Have true Mijosotiti palustris,
Bumex sanguineus, Lepidiiiin campestre, been found in the district ?
*Siwin angustifoUum requires looking into, as Dr Hooker says that
'"
—
Since found near Milnehead, Kirkmahoe.