Eriophorum angustifolium (Common Cottongrass)
The commonest of Britain's four Eriophorum species, this plant can be recognised by a combination of clustered flowerheads with a long, leaf-like bract extending beyond them, acidic habitat
Trichophorum cespitosum
image coming soon!
Text coming soon!
Eleocharis quinqueflora (Few-flowered Spike-rush)
A common species in wet sites on the Lawers hills, E.quinqueflora is unusual in the genus for favouring base-rich sites, where it often grows in extensive patches along the edge of flushes.
On close inspection, the flowers are seen to have long, very dark glumes and three stigmas.
On close inspection, the flowers are seen to have long, very dark glumes and three stigmas.
Kobresia simpliciuscula (False Sedge)
Kobresia is a rare species and one of the understated gems of the Lawers NNR. It can be identified by its dense, elongate flower spikes. When fruiting, the utricles are open, with the inner nut exposed (this one of the key characters of Kobresia).
Kobresia is a species of base-rich flushes, often occurring with Carex dioica on Ben Lawers. Nationally, it is restricted to the Breadalbane mountains of Perthshire and a small area of Teesdale in northern England.
Kobresia is a species of base-rich flushes, often occurring with Carex dioica on Ben Lawers. Nationally, it is restricted to the Breadalbane mountains of Perthshire and a small area of Teesdale in northern England.
Carex echinata (Star Sedge)
One of the easiest sedges to identify, Star Sedge aptly describes this plant's appearance when in fruit.
It is a species of acidic mires and a useful indicator of such habitats. On the Lawers hills, all the rare sedge species avoid acidic places, so if you see C.echinata, you're not in the right place for the rarities!
It is a species of acidic mires and a useful indicator of such habitats. On the Lawers hills, all the rare sedge species avoid acidic places, so if you see C.echinata, you're not in the right place for the rarities!
Carex dioica (Dioecious Sedge)
female spikes, E corrie of Ben Lawers
in habitat, Ben Lawers
This interesting species is one of the special plants of the Lawers hills. It is a characteristic species of permanently wet, often base-rich habitats, such as peaty ground next to calcareous flushes.
This plant has a unique appearance among British sedges, as the female and male spikes occur on separate plants. That said, its small size can make it hard to spot in habitat.
This plant has a unique appearance among British sedges, as the female and male spikes occur on separate plants. That said, its small size can make it hard to spot in habitat.
Carex saxatilis (Russet Sedge)
in habitat
Russet Sedge is an uncommon species nationally, and confined to the Scottish Highlands. It is locally common on the Lawers mountains, especially on Ben Lawers itself, where it forms large populations in standing water on summit ridges.
Identifying this beautiful sedge is usually straightforward - its flowering spikes bear a terminal male spike with two clustered, ovoid female spikes below, which have a rich red-brown colour.
Identifying this beautiful sedge is usually straightforward - its flowering spikes bear a terminal male spike with two clustered, ovoid female spikes below, which have a rich red-brown colour.
Carex capillaris (Hair Sedge)
Fin Glen
This little species is always a lovely find. It is very easy to recognise, as the female spikes are pendulous and hang on long, hair-like peduncles.
Hair Sedge is a species of base-rich habitats, usually in upland areas. In Britain it is largely restricted the the Scottish Highlands, with outliers in Snowdonia, the northern Pennines and one site in the Scottish Borders.
Hair Sedge is a species of base-rich habitats, usually in upland areas. In Britain it is largely restricted the the Scottish Highlands, with outliers in Snowdonia, the northern Pennines and one site in the Scottish Borders.
Carex panicea (Carnation Sedge)
A common sedge of wet habitats across much of Britain, Carnation Sedge is a frequent sight around base-rich flushes on the slopes of the Lawers mountains.
The glaucous colour of the leaves, distant female spikes with short-beaked utricles and long, sheathing bracts are all diagnostic for C. panicea.
The glaucous colour of the leaves, distant female spikes with short-beaked utricles and long, sheathing bracts are all diagnostic for C. panicea.
Carex vaginata (Sheathed Sedge)
Named for the loose bracts which sheath the female spikes, this uncommon sedge is very localised on the Lawers NNR, where two of its classic habitats occur - wet rock ledges and mires, where it can be seen alongside C.saxatilis. It looks similar to C.panicea, but has yellow-green leaves and the female spikes have fewer flowers.
Nationally, C.vaginata is almost exclusively a Scottish Highlands plant, only recorded from four hectads in the northern Pennines in England and three in the Scottish Borders.
Nationally, C.vaginata is almost exclusively a Scottish Highlands plant, only recorded from four hectads in the northern Pennines in England and three in the Scottish Borders.
Carex binervis
This common, tall sedge is frequent in grassy, moorland habitats in the Lawers hills, where it is often the most conspicuous Carex species.
C. binervis is generally easy to recognise, as its spikeltes are long, with the lower female ones being rather distant. In fruit, the origin of the name is easy to see as the utricles have two green nerves on a dark background.
C. binervis is generally easy to recognise, as its spikeltes are long, with the lower female ones being rather distant. In fruit, the origin of the name is easy to see as the utricles have two green nerves on a dark background.
Carex viridula
This variable sedge is very common in many flushed, mnontane habitats in Britain.
It is easy to recognise in fruit, when the short, prickly female spikes are present.
It is easy to recognise in fruit, when the short, prickly female spikes are present.
Carex pilulifera (Flea Sedge)
Image coming soon!
This common upland species is described in the Flora of Corrie Fee NNR section of the site.
Carex atrofusca (Scorched Sedge)
This beautiful plant is one of my favourite species on the Lawers NNR. It is extremely rare nationally (recent records from only four 10km squares), and also very rare on the Lawers hills, being restricted to flushes on the Meall Greigh-Meall Garbh saddle.
C.atrofusca is very easy to recognise and has a unique appearance among British sedges - the flowers resemble C.atrata, but that species never grows in the stony flush habitat of C.atrofusca and lacks a terminal male spike on the inflorescence.
C.atrofusca is very easy to recognise and has a unique appearance among British sedges - the flowers resemble C.atrata, but that species never grows in the stony flush habitat of C.atrofusca and lacks a terminal male spike on the inflorescence.
Carex atrata (Black Alpine-sedge)
in habitat, Creag Loisgte, Ben Lawers
This attractive, rare species is one of the classic calcareous alpine plants of the Lawers NNR. It is a species of damp rock ledges, where it grows as part of an interesting community of montane calcicoles and more common woodland plants. Its dark inflorescences which lack a terminal male spike make it easy to recognise when encountered.
C. atrata is almost exclusively a plant of the Scottish Highlands in Britain, with only a single site each known for the Southern Uplands and Wales, and a further two in the Lake District.
C. atrata is almost exclusively a plant of the Scottish Highlands in Britain, with only a single site each known for the Southern Uplands and Wales, and a further two in the Lake District.
Carex norvegica (Close-headed Alpine-sedge)
In Britain, this sedge is very rare and entirely restricted to a handful of sites in the central and eastern Highlands. It grows in stony flushes but is not a base-demanding species, so its rarity is perhaps slightly surprising.
C. norvegica is an easy species to identify, as its flowers are borne in a dense, triangular spike with a long bract. The flowers have three stigmas.
On the Lawers NNR, C.norvegica is very rare and only known from the northern corrie of An Stuc.
plants marked in habitat for survey, An Stuc
C. norvegica is an easy species to identify, as its flowers are borne in a dense, triangular spike with a long bract. The flowers have three stigmas.
On the Lawers NNR, C.norvegica is very rare and only known from the northern corrie of An Stuc.
plants marked in habitat for survey, An Stuc
Carex nigra (Common Sedge)
This species is described in the Flora of northern England section of the site. It is abundant at lower elevations on the Lawers hills, in acidic moorland habitats.
Carex bigelowii (Stiff Sedge)
This species is very common in acidic, heathy habitats at high elevations on the Lawers hills. It is described in the Flora of Corrie Fee NNR section of the site.
Carex microglochin (Bristle Sedge)
The Lawers NNR remains the only British site for this tiny, unassuming sedge. Here, it occurs on the Meall Greigh-Meall Garbh bealach in a strongly calcareous, open mire community.
The inflorescence of this species is very characteristic, being composed of several downward-facing simpleglumes. In this respect, it is similar to C. pauciflora but that species has a more clustered growth habit and the bristles on the glumes are residual styles, not a separate structure.
The inflorescence of this species is very characteristic, being composed of several downward-facing simpleglumes. In this respect, it is similar to C. pauciflora but that species has a more clustered growth habit and the bristles on the glumes are residual styles, not a separate structure.
Carex pauciflora (Few-flowered Sedge)
This little species is typical of strongly-acidic Sphagnum-dominated mires and is common across much of Scotland. The few-flowered spikes are distinctive, as is its habitat - few other sedges on the Lawers NNR grow in acidic bogs.
Carex pulicaris (Flea Sedge)
Flea Sedge is described in the Flora of Corrie Fee NNR section of the site.
Rushes (Juncus spp.)
Juncus biglumis (Two-flowered Rush)
This rare montane species is a plant of wet, open base-rich soils. True to its name, it can be recognised by its distinctive two-fruited inflorescences, with one fruit held slightly above the other. These fruits are dark brown and have a characteristic blunt tip.
The fruiting spikes have a bract that is longer than the inflorescence, although these photos don't make that clear.
The fruiting spikes have a bract that is longer than the inflorescence, although these photos don't make that clear.
Juncus triglumis (Three-flowered Rush)
As its name suggests, this rush is characterised by having its flowers in groups of three, although occasionally individuals can have only two.
It is a plant of bare, wet sites and is the commonest of the 'alpine' rare Juncus species on the Lawers range. Unlike J.biglumis, it is more a plant of acidic soils.
As well as its three-fruited heads, J.triglumis can be distinguished from J.biglumis by its paler, more pointed fruits, and bracts which are shorter than the inflorescence.
It is a plant of bare, wet sites and is the commonest of the 'alpine' rare Juncus species on the Lawers range. Unlike J.biglumis, it is more a plant of acidic soils.
As well as its three-fruited heads, J.triglumis can be distinguished from J.biglumis by its paler, more pointed fruits, and bracts which are shorter than the inflorescence.
Juncus castaneus (Chestnut Rush)
Named for its chestnut-coloured flowers (not shown in this photo), J.castaneus is a rare species in Britain and also uncommon on the Lawers hills, although it is recorded from across the NNR.
Distinguishing features of the medium sized (around 30cm tall) species are its very dark, glossy, egg-shaped fruits which protrude above the surrounding tepals and the way these are gathered in tight clusters.
Juncus castaneus is a plant of permanently wet places.
Distinguishing features of the medium sized (around 30cm tall) species are its very dark, glossy, egg-shaped fruits which protrude above the surrounding tepals and the way these are gathered in tight clusters.
Juncus castaneus is a plant of permanently wet places.
Juncus squarrosus (Heath Rush)
A common sedge throughout Britain, Heath Rush can be found in acidic, damp, grassy habitats at all elevations on the Lawers hills, not just at lower altitudes.
As a species, it is easy to recognise when fruiting - the dark brown, clustered flowers with pale edges are not shared by other rushes in Britain.
As a species, it is easy to recognise when fruiting - the dark brown, clustered flowers with pale edges are not shared by other rushes in Britain.
Grasses
Danthonia decumbens (Heath Grass)
Named for its semi-prostrate habit, Heath Grass is a common species of open, acidic moors and heaths.
The ligules of this species bear a ring of hairs and the flowers lack awns. The small flowerheads are composed of half a dozen or so individual flowers. Stems grow to around 60cm and have flat, pale green leaves.
The ligules of this species bear a ring of hairs and the flowers lack awns. The small flowerheads are composed of half a dozen or so individual flowers. Stems grow to around 60cm and have flat, pale green leaves.
Nardus stricta (Mat Grass)
This ubiquitous species of acidic, upland terrain is very easy to identify when in flower, as the spikes have a characteristic one-sided 'herringbone' appearance.
Nardus is a small species, forming an often dominant component of short turf on many of the slopes of the Lawers range.
Nardus is a small species, forming an often dominant component of short turf on many of the slopes of the Lawers range.
Festuca vivipara (Viviparous Fescue)
Like a variety of alpine grasses around the world, this species reproduces by forming new plants where the flower spikes would be. Each of these can drop off and root to form an adult plant. Uniquely among these unusual grasses, F.vivipara has completely abandoned producing flowers altogether.
Viviparous Fescue can be recognised by its thread-like leaves, tufted habit and stem sheaths which are split over more than half their length.
Viviparous Fescue can be recognised by its thread-like leaves, tufted habit and stem sheaths which are split over more than half their length.
Poa alpina (Alpine Meadow-grass)
flower detail
The purple-tinged flowers, pyramidal flower panicles and soft, relatively broad leaves make this species fairly easy to recognised.
Like F. vivipara (above), P. alpina often reproduces viviparously, as shown in the second photo.
viviparous flowering panicle
Like F. vivipara (above), P. alpina often reproduces viviparously, as shown in the second photo.
viviparous flowering panicle
Poa glauca (Glacous Meadow-grass)
This rare, montane species is very similar to P. alpina but has a fewer-flowered, narrower inflorescence and slightly narrower leaves (less than 3mm wide). Unlike P. alpina, this species is completely restricted to rocky habitats like damp ledges on crags.
in habitat, Ben Lawers
in habitat, Ben Lawers
Deschampsia cespitosa ssp.alpina (Alpine Hair-grass)
Sometimes regarded as a separate species, Alpine Hair-grass is essentially a viviparous form of the very common D. cespitosa, with the same rough leaves and tufted habit.
Luzula spicata (Spiked Wood-rush)
In Britain, this species is entirely restriected to Scotland, where it generally occurs in the mountains, apart from in the far north and west.
As its name suggests, L. spicata has a spiked inflorescence, rather than a spreading cluster. This is characteristically drooping and a rich reddish-chestnut colour.
As its name suggests, L. spicata has a spiked inflorescence, rather than a spreading cluster. This is characteristically drooping and a rich reddish-chestnut colour.
Luzula multiflora (Heath Wood-rush)
This species is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
It is widespread in acidic sites on the Lawers NNR. The highest-altitude populations in Britain are found in the Breadalbane mountains.
It is widespread in acidic sites on the Lawers NNR. The highest-altitude populations in Britain are found in the Breadalbane mountains.
Ferns
Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort)
Green Spleenwort is described in the Flora of northern England section of the site.
Blechnum spicant (Hard Fern)
sterile and fertile fronds
One of the easiest British ferns to recognise, Hard Fern has a unique look, with its herringbone-like, yellow-green sterile fronds which make rosettes on moorland and acidic woodland soils. The red-brown fertile fronds emerge from the centre of the rosettes and form tall, spindly-looking crowns above the plant.
Hard Fern is very common across much of Britain and this is no different on the Lawers NNR, where it is easily seen at lower elevations.
sori on fertile frond
Hard Fern is very common across much of Britain and this is no different on the Lawers NNR, where it is easily seen at lower elevations.
sori on fertile frond
Oreopteris limbosperma (Lemon-scented Fern)
Ben Lawers nature trail
This fern of upland moorland is common on the Lawers hills, especially at lower elevations, where the ground is more acidic. Key identifying features are the almost untoothed pinnules on the fronds and the way the pinnae decrease in size towards the base of the frond. The common name comes from the scent of young, crushed fronds, although I've never put it to the test!
sori
sori
Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern)
Creag an Lochain, Tarmachans
Cystopteris fragilis (Brittle Bladder-fern)
Polystichum lonchitis (Holly Fern)
Holly Fern is described in the Flora of Corrie Fee NNR section of the site.
Diphasiastrum alpinum (Alpine Clubmoss)
This beautiful plant is described in the Flora of Scotland section of the site.
Lycopodium annotinum (Interrupted Clubmoss)
In Britain, this species is entirely restricted to Scotland (apart from an older record from the Scafell Pike area in Cumbria), where it occurs on acidic, peaty soil, usually in the uplands.
Key features for identifying this species are the hairless leaves (unlike L. clavatum, below) and the sporangia, which are triangular in profile, rather than long and drawn-out. The common name derives from the habit of the branches being constricted at intervals along their length (not visible in this photo).
Key features for identifying this species are the hairless leaves (unlike L. clavatum, below) and the sporangia, which are triangular in profile, rather than long and drawn-out. The common name derives from the habit of the branches being constricted at intervals along their length (not visible in this photo).
Lycopodium clavatum (Stag's-horn Clubmoss)
Ben Lawers nature trail
This elegant, large clubmoss is common in heathy habitats on the lower slopes in the Lawers range. Fine examples can be seen in the upper parts of the Nature Trail.
Stag's-horn Clubmoss is named for the antler-like clustering branches. Each leaf has a fine, silvery hair-point, giving the branches a silky, pale appearance. The cones mature to a pale yellow colour, and often appear in groups on long stalks.
Stag's-horn Clubmoss is named for the antler-like clustering branches. Each leaf has a fine, silvery hair-point, giving the branches a silky, pale appearance. The cones mature to a pale yellow colour, and often appear in groups on long stalks.
Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail)
Britain's commonest Horsetail is a frequent sight on lower parts of the Lawers NNR, where it a characteristic plant of moist grassland.
Key features to identify it are the thick, nuerous branches (which are themselves unbranched) and the teeth on the stem joint sheaths, which are brown and lack membranous margins.
Key features to identify it are the thick, nuerous branches (which are themselves unbranched) and the teeth on the stem joint sheaths, which are brown and lack membranous margins.