Plants of Skye, Raasay & The Small Isles

I have been away for a few days but before I went I had a day inspecting Dry Heaths for SNH in the northern foothills of the Trotternish Ridge. Not deeply exciting in itself, and generally a bit disappointing in terms of plants I thought I might find during the day. However, there was Saussurea alpina (Alpine Saw-wort):

Saussurea alpina

and Epilobium alsinifolium (Chickweed Willowherb):

Epilobium alsinifolium

plus things like Juncus triglumis (Three-flowered Rush) and Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage). I had seen Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian) about 5cm tall up that way a few weeks ago but now it is flowering:

Gentianella campestris

— and Linda has spotted it in flower near Ullinish, too:

Gentianella campestris

I am beginning to fret that Epilobium brunnescens (New Zealand Willowherb) could become a threat to native plants. It still seem to be on the increase and not just in otherwise bare areas:

Epilobium brunnescens

Tags: Plants

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