The northern flora, or, A description of the wild plants belonging to the north and east of Scotland, with an account of their places of growth and properties. Part. 1 / by Alexander Murray.

Date:: 1836

Credit: The northern flora, or, A description of the wild plants belonging to the north and east of Scotland, with an account of their places of growth and properties. Part. 1 / by Alexander Murray. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

168/194 page 150

$CUbCUTA. [PENTANDUI.*. The limited and exclusively alpine stations of G. nivalis, render any additional account of its characters little necessary. This'species, ac- cording to Dr. Graham, varies from a simple stem scarcely a quar- ter of an inch high, to one greatly branched and six inches in height; but always with flowers of equal beauty and not differing propor- tionally in size. The sparkling of this most rare and lovely gem (says the same Professor, in Jamieson's Journal, October, 1832), among the scanty mountain herbage, cured me of hunger and thirst] and made me forget that I was gathering it at the risk of my neck.'' Gerarde also, in his own way, expresses his admiration of an allied species of Gentian, whose flower he says, seems to exceed blewness itself. It may be added that, on the mountains of Switzerland, as I understand from an accomplished friend, G. nivalis is a delightful sight. Annual—flowering in August. It is probable that a pure bitter Tincture or Dram might be conveniently got from steeping G. campesh'is in spirits ; and, by pouring boiling water upon the plant, a safer draught would, doubtless, be procured, which might be an advantage- ous substitute for certain stomachics, at present used by our country people. , GENUS XXX. CUSCUTA. Calyx 4-5 cleft. Cor. campanulate, 4-5 lobed. Caps, bursting all round transversely at the base, 2-cclled, with tlie cells 2-seeded—Parasitical leafless plants, vAth long ttvining filiform stems. SPECIES. 1. Q>\\&c\\t(i Europ(sa. Greater Dodder. Flowers sessile, corolla 4-5 cleft, without any scale at the base of the stamens, stigma simple. Stems very large, red, having small tubercles and papillae, which act as roots. Flowers clustered, of a pale yellowish rose-colour. Nettles, flax, &c. very rare. Forfarshire. Mr. Don.—Near Aberdeen (by Mr. Alexander Smith). Smith's English Flora.—Printfield. Anonymous. Obs.—The above account of Cuscuta, generic and specific, is de- rived from Hooker's British Flora. It may be perceived that no northern specimen of this parasite has been gathered by the author, or presented to him ; but there is no doubt that it has been met with in this quarter. C. Epithymum a smaller species, with a little scale at the base of each stamen, may also, it is possible, occasion- ally occur. Annual—flowering in autumn.$