A flora of Shetland; comprehending a list of the flowering and cryptogamic plants of the Shetland Islands, with remarks on their topography, geology, and climate ... / by Thomas Edmondston.

  • Edmondston, Thomas, 1825-1846.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A flora of Shetland; comprehending a list of the flowering and cryptogamic plants of the Shetland Islands, with remarks on their topography, geology, and climate ... / by Thomas Edmondston. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    XU Luidia fragilissima, Cornatida rosacea, Natica helicoides, Aplysia punctata, and many other rare and curious Inver- tebrata, will reward the dredger in this rich locality. Nor is it much more uninteresting to the student of Marine Botany, for Asperacoccus Turneri, Polysiphonia Brodicei, NitophyUum Bonnemaisoni, and several besides, are found in it. In the Island of Bressa, opposite Lerwick, grows Laminin intermedium., Cynosurus echinatus, Utricularia vulgaris, Blysmus rufus, Beta maritima, and others. The small, but renowned Island of Noss lies to the eastward of Bressa. Close to it is situated a small islet, termed the Holm of Noss, and across the fearful chasm which separates them, is slung the far-famed Cradle of Noss. This original vehicle of transit has often been described by travellers, as most visitors, even should they only remain a day,* make a point of visiting it, and, if the state of their nervous system will allow, of making an aerial trip to the Holm. The “ Cradle” is composed of a strong wooden basket slung upon two ropes stretched across the chasm between the Holm and the Island; into this, the adventurous traveller deposits him- self, and, by aid of the ropes, pulls himself across. The poles on which the ropes are slung were placed in the Holm by a very daring cragsman, who ascended the pre- cipice from below. Tradition relates, that he would not take advantage of the return by the Cradle, but, attempting again to descend the cliff, ho was killed by falling from the rocks into the sea—mais revenons a nous moutons. Near Tingwall, which is about five miles to the north- west of Lerwick, several interesting plants occur,— Veronica Anaqallis and Bcccabunga, in ditches near the manse; the three Spargania ; several Potamogetons and Callitriche platy- carpa are found in the loch ; in the fields, Anthemis cotula and Stachys ambigua; and on the limestone hills, forming the southern boundary of the valley, Botrychinm Lunaria and Ha- benaria viridis may always be found. At Dales Yoe, a narrow * Such is most frequently the limited time allowed by tourists for a visit to Shetland, and it is amply sufficient to see and know everything about it, at least certain gifted writers contrive out of the materials obtained during that length of time to knock up volumes on Shetland and the Shetlanders, containing a full, true, and particular account of all the manners, customs, laws, dress, and religion of the inhabitants, with episodical dissertations on its natural productions.