Plants of Skye, Raasay & The Small Isles

Michael Usher has been sent an image of Salvia pratensis (Meadow Clary) growing on Sanday:

Salvia pratensis on Sanday

This is a long way from areas where it is native and so must be a garden escape or the result of wild flower seed being scattered or some similar mode of introduction.

Hilary Brown reports orchids from a June visit including Pseudorchis albida (Small-white Orchid) near Portree in an area where it was first and last recorded in 2003.

Matt Parratt says about  the Broadford poplar: “the characters it displays are consistent with Populus trichocarpa. There are now many cultivars of this species, and as many of the hybrid with P. balsamifera. In the absence of fruit capsules or catkins it isn’t possible to take the ID any further, though it may be worth keeping an eye out for catkins next spring.”

The Kilbride poplar, he says, “is almost certainly another balsam poplar” but a specimen will be sent for further study.

Steve has found another new site for Parnassia near Kilbride, in a different 10km square but so far no Dryas. Yesterday I found Parnassia near Rubha Garbhaig, Staffin, close to an old record but failed to find Dryas on Leac nan Fionn near the Quirang. This would be worth another try some time.

I also had a look at  Gwyn’s Glebionis segetum (Corn Marigold) up Staffin way which is in a patch of oats – presumably dormant seed that has been stirred into life (the marigold, not the oats).

Glebionis segetum

Between the two (Parnassia site and Glebionis site) I spotted Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan Balsam)  – another 10km square where it has become established.

Most of yesterday was spent near Leac nan Fionn:

Leac nan Fionn, southern end

Crucifers included Arabidopsis petraea (Northern Rock-cress) and Draba incana (Hoary Whitlowgrass), saxifrages present were Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow), hypnoides (Mossy), oppositifolia (Purple) and stellaris (Starry).  Campions present were Silene acaulis (Moss Campion), dioica (Red), flos-cuculi (Ragged-Robin) and uniflora (Sea). Other notables included Juncus triglumis (Three-flowered Rush) in an almost vertical bog, Dryopteris oreades (Mountain Male-fern), Epilobium alsinifolium (Chickweed Willowherb) and Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian).

It was still possible to find late-flowering individuals:

Arabidopsis petraea

Silene acaulis

We have had quite a bit of rain recently but some of the lochs are still very low:

Loch Hasco

with water plant stranded on the shore:

Sparganium angustifolium

Glyceria fluitans

However, smaller lochs were looking OK:

Unnamed Lochan with Sparganium angustifoilium

This is Fir Bhreugach:

Fir Bhreugach

An hour to spare on the way to the Spa Pavilion at Strathpeffer for a concert by the Highland Chamber Orchestra was used to make a quick dash to Kilbride to have a look at a poplar found by Steve Terry:

Populus sp.

It appears to be a Balsam Poplar or a hybrid involving a Balsam Poplar but I am seeking expert assistance.

On the way, I tried to get a specimen of Aphanes for Mike Wilcox but could not find any where I had seen it four years ago. I suspect all Aphanes in the vice-county are A. australis (Slender Parsley-piert).

There is a record of Dryas octopetala from Kilbride and I had a small chance of finding that in the remaining time available, but failed. There is also a record of it in this 10km square at Cnoc Slapin and Steve has kindly agreed to look for that.  This is one of only two 10km squares in the vice-county where Dryas has been recorded that has no record for it post-1999. The other is way up north and I may get there later this week.

The Euphorbia has been identified by Timothy Walker (BSBI Euphorbia referee) as E. dulcis ‘Chameleon’.  I have the normal green type in several locations near Kyleakin and in one spot in Portree but this purple variant is a first for the vice-county.

Euphorbia dulcis ‘Chameleon’

The saxifrage, Mike Wilcox and I have agreed is Saxifraga x polita (S. spathularis x hirsuta, False Londonpride).

This only leaves unidentified the large-trunked plant with currant-like leaves.  Several folks have suggested that it is a Ribes despite the size of the trunks, but I think this one will have to wait until the Spring and hope for flowers.  Sending photos to Eric Clement was a waste of time and money.

I was concerned that the sedge I took to be C. laevigata (Smooth-stalked Sedge) just might be Carex pendula (Pendulous Sedge). I sent a bit to Mike Porter who also havered between these two.

Carex

He is going to grow on the specimen I sent him.  If I can beat the sheep to the inflorescences next year I may beat him to it too. I only know one place on Skye where there is C. pendula and that happens to be where I suspect all these aliens came from. Clue dumped in quarry: