Vol 6 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

Transactions.'67variety of M. sativa has been identified from the Nith near Kirkland.A pendulous and distinct form of Carex vesicaria, from amarsh near Kirkbog, concludes our list from Upper Nithsdale.During the season, however, I made one or two excursions tothe Dumfries shore of the Solway, thinking I might find theresome additions to our Flora, and I was not disappointed, havingbeen able to add several species and confirmsome previous doubtfulrecords. Thy physical character of the shore is on the Avholerather monotonous. The margin between the cultivated land andhigh-water mark (in many places of little width) consists mainly ofsand or mud, merse-land, and shingle or gravel, rougher or finer.Each variety of land surface has its own grouping of plants, andthroughout the season lovers of flowers may find much to interestthem. At Tordoft' Point I gathered Scirpus caricis and AUiumvineak, var. bulbifenim Synie. Near Annan Waterfoot, Erodiumciciitariuin, /uncus Gerardi, and Alopecurus agrestis. Between Powfootand Newbie I found Cakile inaritima and Agropyro>i junceum.These are all new records. The following plants, some of whichare rare, were also collected : Ranunculus scekratus, Brassicanioncnsis, Ononis spinosa, var. niitis, Eryngiuni maritinium (verysparingly), Filago /ninuna, and F. gernianica (both in dry banksbelow Powfoot),Matricaria inodora, var. salina, Polygonum aviculare,vars. vulgatum and arenastrum, Atriplex patula, Salsola kali,Animophila arundinacea, Lepturus filiforinis, /uncus glaucus, /supinus, var. subverficillatus (near Brow Well), and /uncus niaritimus,from Mr Kobei't Armstrong, obtained near Caerlaverock,For the purpose of making a comparison between the shoreflora of Dumfries and its two adjoining maritime counties, Thave looked up the records in last edition of the " TopographicalBotany," and in case of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright usingalso recent lists. Of the total number of 87 species which aredesignated as "littoral" in the " Cybele Britannica" (of coursethis excludes a number of plants common on theshore, but whichare found inland near " coast level " or in lower grounds), I find46 recorded for Cumberland, 40 for Kirkcudbright, and 27 forDumfries. As there are about 12 species unrecorded for thiscounty that are common to both the other counties, Ave mayexpect a closer examination of our shore will reveal an additionalnumber of species.