Flora of Scotland - part 1

Pinus sylvestris ssp.scotica (Scots Pine)

Glen Nevis

In ancient times, native pine woods were far more widespread in Scotland than is now the case.  Continuous land clearance in previous centuries means that only a tiny remnant of those ancient forests remain, with the largest in the Cairngorms and Grampians.  These provide a vital refuge for the specialised flora and fauna which have co-evolved with their pine forest habitat.

Scots Pine is a widespread species across much of Europe.

Juniperus communis (Juniper)

Ailnack Gorge, Cairngorms

Ranunculus flammula (Lesser Spearwort)

Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar

Myrica gale (Bog Myrtle)

Barran Dubh SSSI

Chenopodium sp

Salicornia sp (Glasswort)

Atriplex patula (Common Orache)

Atriplex laciniata (Frosted Orache)

Spergularia media (Greater Sea-spurrey)

Cerastium arcticum (Shetland Mouse-ear)

Coire nam Beith, Glencoe

Apart from two sites in Snowdonia, this little mountain plant's British distribution is confined to Scotland, where it occurs at scattered sites from the central Highlands northwards.

Superficially very similar to other Cerastium species, this plant is characterised by its yellowish stem hairs, reflexed flower petals and straight fruits.  In other ways, it is very similar to C.alpinum, although that species occurs only on soft, calcareous schists - C.arcticum is found on hard, acidic or basic rocks. 

Typical sites for this rare plant are in cold, N-facing corries, especially on rock ledges where competition from other plants is low.

Sagina maritima (Sea Pearlwort)

Sagina nodosa (Knotted Pearlwort)

Persicaria vivipara (Alpine Bistort)

leaf detail, Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar (all photos)

A familiar species of damp mountain slopes, Alpine Bistort is easy to recognise with its tall, white flower spikes, which typically have their lower parts replaced with bulbils.  These are easily detached and allow easy reproduction for the plant. 

Alpine Bistort is widespread in the Scottish Highlands.

Hypericum pulchrum (Slender St John's-wort)

cordate leaf bases, Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar

Drosera rotundifolia (Round-leaved Sundew)

Flanders Moss NNR, Stirlingshire

Viola riviniana (Common Dog-violet)

Ariundle Oakwood NNR, Sunart

Hidden Valley, Glencoe

This very common species is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.

Viola lutea (Mountain Pansy)

Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar

Salix sp

Salix repens x aurita

Salix repens (Creeping Willow)

Ardnamurchan

Cakile maritima (Sea Rocket)

Vaccinium oxycoccos (Cranberry)

Flanders Moss NNR, Stirlingshire

Vaccinium uliginosum (Bog Bilberry)

Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee

Bog Bilberry is widespread in Scotland on peaty soils.  It is not restricted to bogs, and is quite happy to grow in shrubby heathland, provided the soil always retains moisture.

The species is described in more detail in the Flora of Ben Lawers section of the site.

Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)

Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar

This common evergreen shrub is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site. 

Loiseleuria procumbens (Trailing Azalea)

Lochnagar, Grampians

Calluna vulgaris (Ling)

Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry)

An Lochan Uaine, Glenmore Forest, Cairngorms

Pyrola sp (Wintergreen)

Primula vulgaris (Primrose)

Resipol ravine, Sunart

Trientalis europaea (Chickweed Wintergreen)

Pitarrig Meadow SSSI, Perthshire

Usually a plant of pinewoods, this little plant has a unique appearance among the British flora, as its flowers bear seven petals.  The leaves are also characteristically borne high on the stem, near the flowers, although this isn't at all obvious from my photos.

These plants were photographed in a less common habitat for the species - damp, open moorland.

Sedum sp

Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Saxifrage)

Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee

One of the commonest saxifrages in the Scottish mountains, this species is typical of flushed, acidic rocks.  It is described in more detail in the Flora of Ben Lawers section of the site.


XXXX

Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage)

Glen Shee

Saxifraga rivularis (Highland Saxifrage)

Coire nam Beith, Glencoe

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium

Coire nam Beith, Glencoe

Rosa spinosissima (Burnet Rose)

Rosa rugosa (Japanese Rose)

Rubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry)

Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee

Rubus saxatilis (Stone Bramble)

Rumbling Bridge, Strathbraan, Perthshire

Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens)

Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee

This beautiful mountain plant is described in the Flora of northern England section of the site.

Alchemilla filicaulis

Coire nam Beith, Glencoe

Alchemilla glomerulans

Coire nam Beith, Glencoe

Text coming soon!

Trifolium arvense (Clover)

Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)

Bennybeg, Crieff, Perthshire

Oxalis acetosella (Wood Sorrel)

Ariundle Oakwood NNR, Sunart

This common species of damp, acidic woodlands is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.


Sonachan Hazelwood, Ardnamurchan

Geranium sylvaticum (Wood Cranesbill)

Rumbling Bridge, Strathbraan, Perthshire

Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill)

Conopodium majus (Pignut)

Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar

Carum verticillatum (Whorled Caraway)

Craighoyle Wood SSSI, Cowal

Very much a plant of the damp west of Britain, this species is most frequent in Scotland, where it is grows in wet meadows and on damp mountainsides.

While the flowers look very similar to many other umbellifers, the leaves are very distinctive - they are deeply-divided into spiny, bristle-like lobes, as shown in the second large photo.  Meum athamanticum is a similar plant but has broader leaves which are tripinnate and much larger, oval fruits.

Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian)

Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar

Menyanthes trifoliata (Bogbean)

Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar

This widespread aquatic plant is frequent in Scotland, even at high altitudes in mountain lochans.  The three-lobed foliage is very distinctive, and makes the plant unmistakable, even when its unique white, fringed flowers are not out.

in habitat

Veronica serpyllifolia ssp.humifusa (Thyme-leaved Speedwell)

Coire nam Beith, Glencoe

Veronica officinalis (Heath Speedwell)

Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar 

Text coming soon!

Melampyrium pratense (Common Cow-wheat)

Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee

Rumbling Bridge, Strathbraan, Perthshire

This woodland plant is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site. 


Hidden Valley, Glencoe

Euphrasia scottica (Scottish Eyebright)

Glen Shee

Euphrasia sp (Eyebright)

Euphrasia sp (Eyebright)

Pedicularis sylvatica (Lousewort)

Pitarrig Meadow SSSI, Perthshire

Unlike in mainland Europe, where members of this genus are a common and diverse component of alpine meadows, Britain (and Scotland) are home to only two species of Pedicularis.  Lousewort is a common species of damp, open habitats and can be seen across Scotland.  Its distribution in England has been badly affected by land drainage and agricultural 'improvement'.

Pinguicula vulgaris (Butterwort)

Tulach Hill

Pitarrig Meadow SSSI, Pitlochry, Perthshire

This common upland species is described in the Flora of Corrie Fee NNR section of the site.