Jasione montana (Sheep's-bit)
Barran Dubh SSSI, Argyll
A biennial member of the Scabious family, this understated plant is found in dry, acidic habitats. It has a restricted distribution in Scotland, with most sites in coastal areas of the south-west. It is far more frequent in western England and Wales.
The pale flowers of this species make it easy to recognise. When not in flower, its soft, wavy leaves are distinctive.
The pale flowers of this species make it easy to recognise. When not in flower, its soft, wavy leaves are distinctive.
Succisa pratensis (Devil's-bit Scabious)
pink-flowered form, Spittal of Glenmuick, Grampians
This common species of damp grassland is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Hawkweed sp
image coming soon
Image coming soon.
Aster tripolium (Sea Aster)
image coming soon
Findhorn Bay, Moray
Findhorn Bay, Moray
Text coming soon.
Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting)
Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee
Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar
In Britain, this attractive is most common in Scotland, especially on upland slopes. The leaves are instantly recognisable, as are the distinctive inflorescences, when present.
Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar
Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar
Saussurea alpina (Mountain Saw-wort)
Coire nam Beith, Glencoe
This species is described in the Flora of Corrie Fee NNR section of the site.
Tussilago farfarea (Colt's-foot)
Glen Shee
Gnaphalium supinum (Dwarf Cudweed)
Lochnagar, Grampians
This species is described in the Flora of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Triglochin palustre (Marsh Arrowgrass)
in habitat, Pitarrig Meadow SSSI, Perthshire
Despite its common name, this inconspicuous plant of damp, calcareous grassland is one of only two British members of the Juncaginaceae family, the other being its coastal cousin, T.maritimum.
Marsh Arrowgrass can be recognised by its unusual, small wooly flowers which are arranged alternately up the flower spike. The leaves are grass-like and U-shaped in corss-section, with a deeply-grooved upper surface and rounded underside.
T.palustre is very widespread in Scotland, although it would be extremely easy to overlook when not in flower.
Marsh Arrowgrass can be recognised by its unusual, small wooly flowers which are arranged alternately up the flower spike. The leaves are grass-like and U-shaped in corss-section, with a deeply-grooved upper surface and rounded underside.
T.palustre is very widespread in Scotland, although it would be extremely easy to overlook when not in flower.
Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)
Glasdrum Wood NNR, Argyll
Scotland is home to some stunningly beautiful bluebell woods, and one can't help but wonder how many were destroyed in the 20th century when many hill slopes were replanted for conifer plantations.
This iconic British species is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
This iconic British species is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Tofieldia pusilla (Scottish Asphodel)
Cairnwell SSSI, Braemar
This beautiful little plant is very much a speciality of the Scottish mountains, where it is widespread.
I've described the species in more detail in the Flora of Ben Lawers section of the site.
I've described the species in more detail in the Flora of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Dactylorhiza maculata ssp.ericetorum (Heath Spotted-orchid)
Glencoe
This common orchid of acidic, grassy habitats is described in the Flora of Hampshire section of the site.
Goodyera repens (Creeping Lady's-tresses)
image coming soon
Glenmore Forest, Cairngorms
Glenmore Forest, Cairngorms
Text coming soon.
Deschampsia cespitosa ssp.alpina
Coire nam Beith, Glencoe
This common montane grass is described in the Grasses of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site.
Poa sp. (possibly glauca)
Coire nam Beith, Glencoe
Text coming soon!
Festuca altissima (Tall Fescue)
Birks of Aberfeldy, Perthshire
This species is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
flower spike
flower spike
Leymus arenarius (Lyme Grass)
Chanonry Point, Black Isle
Lyme Grass is a common species around the coast of Britain, and is often one of the dominant grasses in sand dunes.
It can be identified by its blue-grey, flat, broad leaves with inroled margins and tall stems with dense flower spikes.
It can be identified by its blue-grey, flat, broad leaves with inroled margins and tall stems with dense flower spikes.
Elymus pungens (Sea Couch)
Chanonry Point, Black Isle
Text coming soon!
Text coming soon!
Eriophorum vaginatum (Hare's-tail Cottongrass)
Flanders Moss NNR, Stirlingshire
Common across Scotland, Hare's-tail Cottongrass is a frequent species of bogs and drier moorland. It is easily-recognised by its single ovoid inflorescence - the other bog species, E.angustifolium has a cluster of spikelets when flowering.
Eriophorum latifolium (Broad-leaved Cottongrass)
Pitarrig Meadow SSSI, Pitlochry
The least common of Scotland's Eriophorum species, E. latifolium is a plant of open, base-rich flushes and mires. As the name suggests, the leaves are broader than the other Eriophorums and have a distinct bluish-green, glaucous appearance, quite unlike the other species.
Carex lachenalii (Hare's-foot Sedge)
Coire nam Beith, Glencoe
Lochnagar, Grampians (possibly the hybrid, C x helvola)
This little montane sedge is a great rarity in Britain, restricted to a handful of 10km squares in the Scottish Highlands. Here, it inhabits cold, acidic rock ledges in cold corries where snow lies late into the year.
The distinctive dense, flowerheads and small size make it easy to recognise.
Coire nam Beith, Glencoe
in habitat, Lochnagar, Grampians (possibly the hybrid, C x helvola)
The distinctive dense, flowerheads and small size make it easy to recognise.
Coire nam Beith, Glencoe
in habitat, Lochnagar, Grampians (possibly the hybrid, C x helvola)
Carex rupestris (Rock Sedge)
Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee
Despite its seemingly-commonplace name, this sedge is rare in Britain, where it occurs only on calcareous rocks in Scotland, usually at high altitudes, although on the far north coast it can be seen at sea level.
C. rupestris can be recognised by its curled and twisted, rather flat leaves. Its flowers have three stigmas, unlike the two of the similar C. pulicaris.
C. rupestris can be recognised by its curled and twisted, rather flat leaves. Its flowers have three stigmas, unlike the two of the similar C. pulicaris.
Carex sylvatica (Wood Sedge)
Artilligan SSSI, Argyll
Carex maritima (Curved Sedge)
Kingston-on-Spey, Moray
Text coming soon!
Carex rariflora (Mountain Bog-sedge)
Garbh Choire, Glas Maol, Cairngorms
Text coming soon!
Carex lepidocarpa (Long-stalked Yellow Sedge)
W slope of Meall Odhar, Glen Shee, Cairngorms
Text coming soon!
Carex aquatilis (Water Sedge)
Meall Odhar saddle, Glen Shee, Cairngorms
Text coming soon!
Juncus balticus (Baltic Rush)
Kingston-upon-Spey, Moray
Text coming soon!
Juncus trifidus (Three-leaved Rush)
Glas Maol, Cairngorms
Text coming soon!
Juncus triglumis
Garbh-Choire, Glas Maol
This upland rush is described in the Flora of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site.
Eleocharis sp
Culbin Forest, Moray
Text coming soon!
Carex dioica (Dioecious Sedge)
Garbh Choire, Glas Maol, Glenshee
This sedge of damp, calcareous habitats is described in the Flora of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site.
Equisetum pratense (Shade Horsetail)
Birks of Aberfeldy, Perthshire
Text coming soon.
Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort)
Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar
Green Spleenwort is described in the Flora of northern England section of the site.
Cystopteris montana (Mountain Bladder-fern)
Coire nam Beith, Glencoe
This beautiful fern is a rarity in Britain, and this population in Glencoe is carefully monitored. It takes considerable effort to reach these plants, but the effort is worthwhile.
C. montana is a fern that is easier to describe when seen than from keys in books! It has a broader, more three-dimensional appearance than C. fragilis, which is a narrower, more tufted plant (although the latter feature is not always easy to see, as both species often grown in narrow rock cracks).
C. montana is a fern that is easier to describe when seen than from keys in books! It has a broader, more three-dimensional appearance than C. fragilis, which is a narrower, more tufted plant (although the latter feature is not always easy to see, as both species often grown in narrow rock cracks).
Phegopteris connectilis (Beech Fern)
Inversnaid RSPB Reserve, Loch Lomond, Trossachs
Artilligan SSSI, Argyll
This fern is a plant of upland woods and turf and is widespread in Scotland. Despite a superficial appearance to many other bipinnate species, one key feature makes it easy to identify - the lowest pair of pinnae are sharply bent back towards the base of the fronds.
Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Oak Fern)
Birks of Aberfeldy SSSI, Killin
Morrone Birkwood SSSI, Braemar
Craighoyle Wood SSSI, Cowal
Oak Fern is a lovely species, widespread in Scotland and Wales but uncommon elsewhere. It is a distinctively pale species, found in humid, rocky woodland but also amongst scree in the mountains, generally in acidic habitats.
On close inspection, the stipe (frond stem) of Oak Fern can be seen to be dramatically bent where the lowest pinnae emerge - this feature will confirm identification, if any doubt is present.
On close inspection, the stipe (frond stem) of Oak Fern can be seen to be dramatically bent where the lowest pinnae emerge - this feature will confirm identification, if any doubt is present.
Polystichum lonchitis (Holly Fern)
Glen Shee
Holly Fern is described in the Flora of Corrie Fee NNR section of the site.
Dryopteris aemula (Hay-scented Buckler-fern)
Artilligan SSSI, Argyll
This beautiful, robust species is a speciality of the oceanic west coast of Britain. It is named for the smell of the dried leaves - the living plants are unscented in my experience.
D. aemula can be recognised by bright green, broad-based fronds in which the lowest pair of pinnae are larger than those above.
D. aemula can be recognised by bright green, broad-based fronds in which the lowest pair of pinnae are larger than those above.
Cryptogramma crispa (Parsley Fern)
Garbh Choire, Glas Maol, Cairngorms
Text coming soon!
Hymenophyllum wilsonii (Wilson's Filmy-fern)
Artilligan SSSI, Argyll
Ballachuan Hazelwood SSSI
Glen Loin SSSI, Arrochar
Nationally, this is the commoner of the two British Hymenophyllum species, and it is fairly widespread in Scotland.
Identifying it is fairly straightforward with experience - it is generally a darker, olive-green-blackish colour, bur more importantly the fronds are narrower with an elongate rectangular profile and the indusia (the cases covering the developing sporangia) are slightly pointed and have completely smooth edges.
Identifying it is fairly straightforward with experience - it is generally a darker, olive-green-blackish colour, bur more importantly the fronds are narrower with an elongate rectangular profile and the indusia (the cases covering the developing sporangia) are slightly pointed and have completely smooth edges.
Hymenophyllum tunbrigense (Tunbridge Filmy-fern)
XXX
Artilligan SSSI, Argyll
This beautiful species is a specialist of oceanic habitats in Britain and is much rarer and more habitat-demanding than H. wilsonii, although the two species can grow together at some sites. In Scotland, Tunbridge Filmy-fern is almost entirely restricted to the west coast, and always grows in very sheltered sites where humidity is assured.
H. tunbrigense is one of those species that is rather easier to identify in the field than by reading keys in books - if you have only seen H. wilsonii, then H. tunbrigense looks instantly like something different. Although the fronds do not grow as long as its cousin, they are much broader and finely-divided, so the plants can actually appear larger. If in any doubt, the indusia are very different - those of H. tunbrigense are rounded with toothed edges.
H. tunbrigense is one of those species that is rather easier to identify in the field than by reading keys in books - if you have only seen H. wilsonii, then H. tunbrigense looks instantly like something different. Although the fronds do not grow as long as its cousin, they are much broader and finely-divided, so the plants can actually appear larger. If in any doubt, the indusia are very different - those of H. tunbrigense are rounded with toothed edges.
Huperzia selago (Fir Clubmoss)
Hidden Valley, Glencoe
Glen Falloch Pinewood SSSI, Loch Lomond
A familiar sight in the Scottish mountains, Fir Clubmoss is one of the commonest clubmoss species in Scotland, where it grows in open, heathy habitats, rock ledges and in open, short turf on mountain summits.
It is an easy species to identify, as it bears multiple conifer-like stems from a central point and the tops of the stems bear abundant bulbils, which are easily detached - these are how the plant spreads.
It is an easy species to identify, as it bears multiple conifer-like stems from a central point and the tops of the stems bear abundant bulbils, which are easily detached - these are how the plant spreads.
Diphasiastrum alpinum
Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee
Along with Fir Clubmoss, this is another common species in much of upland Scotland. It shares similar habitats, preferring open, acidic turf and rock ledges.
Alpine Clubmoss is an esy species to identify - its very pale, glaucous colour is unique in our flora, and the leaves overlap tightly in opposite pairs, giving a cypress-like appearance to the stems.
Alpine Clubmoss is an esy species to identify - its very pale, glaucous colour is unique in our flora, and the leaves overlap tightly in opposite pairs, giving a cypress-like appearance to the stems.
Selaginella selaginoides (Lesser Clubmoss)
Cairnwell SSSI, Glen Shee
Glen Falloch Pinewood SSSI, Loch Lomond
This little plant is describd in the Flora of northern England section of the site. It is widespread in Scotland and, unlike other clubmosses, prefers calcareous, damp habitats.
