Search for the Scots Primrose

In June 2008 we decided to visit Scotland by bicycle. An advantage of this plan is that you can cover relatively large distances, but a disadvantage is that you can not stop at all times just because you think you saw a new plant specie. I looked around for plants as carefully as possible and tried to remember the species I saw. I immediately wrote down all the species I could remember every time we took a break. Sometimes I even wrote their names on my hand in order not to forget them. After we had put up our tent in the early evening, there usually was some time for me to walk around and search for new species. That is if the midgets were not too abundant, of course!

On this page you will find (click to jump):

• Used identification keys on the flora of the areas we visited
• A day-by-day report of our Botanical Journey
• A list of all recorded species

Useful identification keys

• M. Blamey, R. Fitter and A. Fitter: Wild flowers of Britain & Ireland (London 2003).
• Scourie Wildlife Group, Wildlife of Scourie, (Scourie 2006); report can only be obtained at the Scourie petrol station.

Report of this BotanicalJourney

4-6-2008: Along Loch Ness from Inverness towards Invergarry (Google Map)

We decided to follow the borders of Loch Ness on the (south)east side of the lake. This was a wise decision, because with our binoculars we could clearly see thousands of tourists in buses taking the road at the other side of the lake, whereas "our" side was nice and quiet, with several Equisetum species and Caltha palustris at moist places. There were lots of plant species that are common in the Netherlands as well (which I will not mention here; if you're interested you can read the list at the bottom of this page). The narrow road took us through forests and once we passed the village of Foyers, the road went up into the hills. The highest point of this route offered a nice panoramic view on the Scottish highlands, with lots of Eriophorum scheuchzeri. The old bridge of Whitebridge was covered wit Erinus alpinus (see photo) which was quite a funny sight.
 

6-6-2008: Glen Arnisdale (surroundings of Corran) (Google Map)

We followed the road west of Invergarry and passed several Lochs: Loch Garry, Loch Quoich and Loch Hourn. The narrow road was very nice and quiet, and led us over a small mountain pass. On our way up we saw lots of Pedicularis sylvatica, Dactylorhiza purpurella, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Gymnadenia conopsea, Narthecium ossifragum, Drosera anglica (see photo) and Drosera rotundifolia. From Kinloch Hourn we followed a footpath that was sometimes very steep and difficult to follow with our bicycles (even when we walked). At the top of the hill we found Polygala vulgaris with both pink and blue flowers. Near Corran we found several nice plants in a riverbed, like Saxifraga aizioides, Thymus polytrichus and Hypericum pulchrum.
 

9-6-2008: Isle of Skye (Google Map)

We continued our route to the west and the Glenelg ferry took us to the Isle of Skye. Near Crossal we walked up into the volcanic and gabbro hills. The area was quite peaty and this was indicated by the plant species: Narthecium ossifragum (see photo), Drosera anglica, Carex viridula, Cirsium heterophyllum and Equisetum variegatum. On the old bridge near Sligachan camping site we found Asplenium trichomanes and Cymballaria muralis. According to my flora the latter should not be present on the Isle of Skye, so probably someone planted it there for decoration purposes.

13-6-2008: Around Clachtoll (Google Map)

From the isle of Skye we went to Harris and Lewis, and then back to the Scottish "mainland", where we continued our route northwards. Next to the road we found several orchid species, like Platanthera bifolia and Dactylorhiza maculata. North of Lochinver we found a camp site near the sea. This gave us the opportunity to record some plant species of the coastal area, like Arctium minus, Cochleria officinalis, Cochleria pyrenaica, Armeria maritima (see photo) and Plantago maritima. The rocks were covered with Sedum roseum.

15-6-2008: From Scourie to Tarbet (Google Map)

Further to the north we arrived in the nature reserve "Loch A'Mhuilina", where we saw lots of seals and also Carex pauciflora (or C. pulicari?), Dactylorhiza maculata, Digitalis purpurea and very old Oak trees. Our route ended in the town of Scourie. This is not only a perfect location to explore Handa island, but is also has the most sophisticated bird watching facility we have ever seen: documentation on the flora and fauna of Scourie, including a list of plant species discovered in the area, was available in the wooden hideout.

First we decided to walk to the harbor in Tarbet. From Scourie bay a narrow footpath went up trough the hills, where we saw Potentilla palustris. The hills were covered with large areas of peat land. We saw Antennaria dioica, Huperzia selago, Drosera anglica and Drosera rotundifolia. Near Tarbet we found Mimulus guttatus alongside a small stream. When we were back in Scourie we made a walk along the coast and through the village. This produced Honckenya peploides (see picture), Trollius europaeus and many other species. In and around Scourie we found 169 different plant species.

17-6-2008: Sandwood bay (Google Map)

Before we went to Scotland we were informed about the beautiful landscape of Sandwood Bay. So we decided to follow the –sometimes difficult– road from Oldshore Beg to the north. Our efforts to get there were rewarded: the landscape was indeed spectacular. Natural dunes with a height of more than ten meters are formed in that bay. A river slowly flows from the inlands to the beach, where it reaches the sea. On the beach we found a dead specimen of a Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). One could smell it from quite a distance, so it probably had been lying there for quite some time! The wild plants were nice too. We found Vicia cracca, Euphrasia spec, Huperzia selago, Antennaria dioica, Polygala vulgaris, Carex pauciflora/pulicaris, Pinguicula vulgaris, Carex viridula (see photo) and Pinguicula vulgaris.

18-06-2008: Cape Wrath (Google Map)

Just west of Durness is Cape Wrath. This is a somewhat surreal area because the army practices its bombing skills a lot. During our visit several military aeroplanes were bombing a rock in the sea for some stupid reason. Good thing that plants can't hear because all animal life seemed to have vanished during the time we were there. Nevertheless we found some nice coastal plant species, like Tripleurospermum maritimum.

17-6-2008 - 20-6-2008: Around Durness (Google Map)

More coastal plants could be found near Durness. The area to the northwest is quite interesting to go because beaches, dunes, grassy meadows and rocky environments are to be found within short distances. This gave us the opportunity to see species of salty environments like Armeria maritima, Tripleurospermum maritimum and Silene uniflora (see picture), but also species that indicate more fresh water environments like Trollius europaeus, Viola curtisii, Pilosella aurantiaca and Saxifraga aizoides (see picture below). Near the entrance of Smoo cave I found Hieracium spec, Asplenium marinum and Phyllitis scolopendrium.

Finally I want to say a few words on a plant that I was very desperate to see. According to Marjory Blamey's book, this specie is a "Scottish endemic and the emblem of the Scottish Wildlife Trust". Marjory warned me: "don't hope to see it in the late June or early July". But stubborn as I am, I was determined to find it: Scots Primrose - Primula scotica. According to local publications I could be found on grassy coastal areas within the salt spray area. The woman in the local bookstore advised me to visit the Golf court. A big sign near the entrance pointed out the ecological values of the court, such as Scots primrose. I looked and looked and looked and… Could Marjory be right after all? Finally I managed to find some specimens and once I was in the flow, they were indeed to be found everywhere. Still I was a bit disappointed. Let the photo of the plants I found speak for itself:

List of the recorded plant species

PLEASE NOTE:
Only the first finding of species is displayed. So species that were both recorded on the 4th and the 17th of June ONLY are noted on the 4th. An exeption to this is the list of Scourie on 15-6-2008; this is a full list of all the species recorded there.
 

4-6-2008: Along Loch Ness from Inverness towards Invergarry (Google Map)

Achillea millefolium
Ajuga reptans
Alchemilla glabra
Alnus glutinosa
Anthriscus sylvestris
Aquilegia vulgaris
Athyrium filix-femina
Bellis perennis
Betula nana
Betula pendula
Betula pubescens
Blechnum spicant
Caltha palustris
Calystegia sylvatica
Cardamine flexuosa
Cardamine pratensis
Centaurea nigra
Cerastium fontanum
Chamerion angustifolium
Cirsium palustre
Conopodium majus
Corylus avellana
Cytisus scoparius
Dactylis glomerata
Dactylorhiza incarnata
Digitalis purpurea
Dryopteris filix-mas
Epilobium montanum
Epilobium palustre
Equisetum fluviatile
Equisetum palustre
Equisetum pratense
Erica tetralix
Eriophorum scheuchzeri
Fagus sylvatica
Filipendula ulmaria
Fragaria vesca
Genista anglica
Geranium molle
Geranium robertianum
Geranium sylvaticum
Geum rivale
Heracleum sphondylium
Hyacinthoides non-scriptus
Hypericum dubium
Iris pseudacorus
Juncus effusus
Knautia arvensis
Lotus corniculatus
Lupinus x regalis
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Lysimachia nummularia
Menyanthes trifoliata
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Petasites fragrans
Petasites hybridus
Pinus sylvestris
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago major
Poa annua
Polygala serpyllifolia
Polypodium vulgare
Potentilla anserina
Potentilla erecta
Primula vulgaris
Pteridium aquilinum
Ranunculus flammula
Ranunculus repens
Rhinanthus minor
Rubus fruticosus
Rumex acetosa
Rumex acetosella
Rumex obtusifolius
Sambucus nigra
Silene acaulis
Silene dioica
Stellaria holostea
Taraxacum officinale
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Ulex europaeus
Urtica dioica
Veronica chamaedrys
Vicia sativa
Viola reichenbachiana/riviniana
 

6-6-2008: Glen Arnisdale (surroundings of Corran) (Google Map)

Alchemilla alpina
Calluna vulgaris
Carex echinata
Carex flacca
Carex nigra
Carex oederi
Cymbalaria muralis
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Dactylorhiza incarnata
Dactylorhiza maculata
Dactylorhiza purpurella
Drosera anglica
Drosera rotundifolia
Equisetum sylvaticum
Erica cinerea
Erica tetralix
Galium palustre
Gymnadenia conopsea
Hypericum perforatum
Iris pseudacorus
Leucanthemum vulgare
Lonicera periclymenum
Lotus corniculatus
Luzula congesta
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Melampyrum pratense
Myosotis scorpioides
Narthecium ossifragum
Pedicularis sylvatica
Pinguicula vulgaris
Plantago coronopus
Polygala vulgaris
Potamogeton polygonifolius
Quercus robur
Ranunculus flammula
Saxifraga aizoides
Sherardia arvensis
Spergula arvensis
Thymus polytrichus
Trifolium pratense
Vaccinium myrtillus
Vaccinium uliginosum
 

9-6-2008: Isle of Skye (Google Map)

Cirsium heterophyllum
Equisetum variegatum
Valeriana officinalis
 

13-6-2008: Around Clachtoll (Google Map)

Arctium minus
Carex pauciflora
Chochleria pyrenaica
Cochleria officinalis
Elytrigia juncea
Luzula arcuata
Origanum vulgare ?
Platanthera bifolia
Sorbus aucuparia
 

15-6-2008: From Scourie to Tarbet (Google Map)

Acer pseudoplatanus
Achillea millefolium
Aegopodium podagraria
Agrostis capillaris
Angelica sylvestris
Antennaria dioica
Anthriscus sylvestris
Armeria maritima
Artemisia vulgaris
Asplenium marinum
Asplenium trichomanes
Athyrium filix-femina
Atriplex patula
Bellis perennis
Betula pubescens
Blechnum spicant
Calluna vulgaris
Caltha palustris
Cardamine pratensis
Carex binervis
Carex distans
Carex echinata
Carex extensa
Carex hostiana
Carex limosa ?
Carex nigra
Carex panicea
Carex pulicaris
Carex rostrata
Carex viridula
Centaurea nigra
Cerastium fontanum
Cirsium arvense
Cirsium palustre
Cirsium vulgare
Cochlearia officinalis
Conopodium majus
Crataegus monogyna
Crepis capillaris
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
Cymbalaria muralis
Dactylorhiza maculata ssp ericetorum
Dactylorhiza purpurella
Digitalis purpurea
Drosera anglica
Drosera rotundifolia
Dryopteris affinis
Dryopteris dilatata
Dryopteris filix-mas
Eleocharis palustris
Epilobium montanum
Equisetum arvense
Equisetum fluviatile
Erica cinerea
Erica tetralix
Eriophorum angustifolium
Fagus sylvatica
Fallopia japonica
Festuca rubra
Festuca vivipara
Filipendula ulmaria
Fraxinus excelsior
Galeopsis tetrahit
Galium aparine
Galium palustre
Galium saxatile
Geranium robertianum
Hedera helix
Heracleum sphondylium
Hieracium spec
Hippophae rhamnoides
Holcus lanatus
Honckenya peploides
Huperzia selago
Hydrocotyle vulgaris
Hydrocotyle vulgaris (on Handa Island)
Hypericum androsaemum
Hypericum pulchrum
Hypochaeris radicata
Iris pseudacorus
Juncus bufonius
Juncus conglomeratus
Juncus effusus
Lathyrus linifolius
Lathyrus pratensis
Leontodon autumnalis
Leucanthemum vulgare
Linum catharticum
Lolium perenne
Lonicera periclymenum
Lotus corniculatus
Luzula multiflora
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Matricaria discoidea
Menyanthes trifoliata
Mimulus guttatus
Molinia caerulea
Myosotis arvensis
Myosotis laxa
Myrica gale
Nardus stricta
Narthecium ossifragum
Nymphaea alba
Oreopteris limbosperma
Osmunda regalis (on Handa Island)
Pedicularis sylvatica
Phyllitis scolopendrium
Picea sitchensis
Pinguicula vulgaris
Plantago coronopus
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago major
Plantago maritima
Poa annua
Poa pratensis
Polygala serpyllifolia
Polypodium vulgare
Populus tremula
Potamogeton polygonifolius
Potentilla anserina
Potentilla erecta
Potentilla palustris
Primula vulgaris
Prunella vulgaris
Pteridium aquilinum
Quercus robur
Quercus rubra
Quercus x rosacea
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculus ficaria
Ranunculus flammula
Ranunculus repens
Rubus septentrionalis
Rumex acetosa
Rumex acetosella
Rumex crispus
Rumex obtusifolius
Sagina procumbens
Salix aurita
Salix cinerea ssp oleifolia
Salix repens
Salix viminalis
Sambucus nigra
Sedum anglicum
Sedum rosea
Senecio jacobaea
Senecio vulgaris
Silene uniflora
Sinapis arvensis
Spergula arvensis
Stellaria media
Succisa pratensis
Taraxacum officinale
Thymus polytrichus
Trichophorum cespitosum
Trifolium dubium
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Triglochin palustre
Tripleurospermum maritimum
Trollius europaeus
Ulex europaeus
Ulmus glabra
Urtica dioica
Veronica chamaedrys
Vicia cracca
Vicia sepium
Viola palustris
Viola riviniana
 

17-6-2008 - 20-6-2008: Around Durness (Google Map)

Galium verum
Primula scotica
Anthyllis vulneraria
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
Geranium dissectum
Pilosella aurantiaca
Polygonum viviparum
Viola curtisii