Psns botanical section bulletin

PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE BOTANICAL SECTION BULLETIN NO. 33 – 2010 Reports from 2010 Field Meetings Pitroddie Den – bryophytes Sunday, 21st March It was a dry, calm morning, fairly damp from some rain on the previous day, as a small group of us met up to cheat the botanical season by looking at mosses and liverworts – those fascinating miniature plants that allow us to botanise any day of the year. The steep, narrow den, with its ancient history of quarrying the old red sandstone, is sheltered, moist and dark under its scrubby woodland covering, sufficient in fact for the activity we embarked on, though not sensational. Mosses in particular were in plentiful supply, especially the common mat-forming ‘pleurocarpous' types covering the ground. There was plenty of opportunity to compare Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus with R. squarrosus, Cirriphyllum piliferum with Scleropodium purum, Hypnum cupressiforme with H. andoi. The atmosphere in the den was dank enough for old lying logs that had lost their bark to be threaded with the narrow shoots of the small liverwort Riccia palmata. Nearly all of the 34 species we recorded were associated with acidic or neutral substrates, with any more basicolous species, such as the flattened moss Neckera complanata, confined to the more alkaline bark of ash or sycamore trees. The trees were not smothered in bryophytes as one would wish, but elders were studded with the slightly shaggy little cushions of Orthotrichum affine and O. pulchellum among others. After a couple of hours of gentle pottering we retired to the comfortable Forestry Commission hut on Kinnoull Hill, where we were able to look at some of the specimens we had collected under microscopes. Weem Meadow and River Tay banks, Aberfeldy Sunday, 18th April One year to the day, members of the section were exploring another section of the River Tay. We gathered near the Black Watch Monument in Aberfeldy and we started exploring the top of the bank at Taybridge Drive. We found the following escapees from cultivation at this location: Muscaria armeniacum Garden Grape-hyacinth Chionodoxa sardensis Lesser Glory of the Snow Chionodoxa luciliae Boissier's Glory-of-the-Snow Chionodoxa forbesii Glory-of-the-Snow Erythronium dens-canis Dog's-tooth-violet These newcomers to our flora added a shot of colour to a cold, drab day. They are not invasive and can be enjoyed with impunity. The latter belongs to the Liliaceae and the rest to the Asparagaceae, all having effective underground storage adaptations for an early start after the winter snap. Another member of the Liliaceae we found at this location was Gagea lutea (Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem) which was also in flower. This is the farthest and highest from water I have seen this species; its usual habitat is fine sand that is seasonally inundated by a watercourse. More plants were in flower on the bank opposite, plentiful along the riverbank at Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Weem Meadow next to the riverside path, where Chionodoxa forbesii (Glory-of-the-Snow) was also found, and Ornithogalum umbellatum (Garden Star-of-Bethlehem) – no direct relation to its yellow namesake, belonging to the Asparagaceae – was growing in considerable quantity in openings under the tree canopy. This species can be identified in winter by the tufted growth and recessed white lines on the top sides of the leaves. Another plant that can be identified at this time of year by its leaves that we found was Trollius europaeus (Globeflower); its seeds are transported down rivers to germinate in soft sands. Another riparian traveller was a young Abies alba (European Silver-fir) and Euphorbia dulcis (Sweet Spurge) which is a long-time garden escape that has naturalised along riverbanks and a pretty flowerer in the late Spring/early Summer. Among the other interesting plants we found were Ranunculus auricomus (Goldilocks Buttercup), Chrysosplenium alternifolium (Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage) and Saxifraga granulata (Meadow saxifrage). I returned to the meadow later in the year to survey it for the BSBI's Threatened Plants Project. Meum athamanticum (Spignel) grows in small quantity (see Photos) and I was pleased to count almost 100 plants of Crepis mollis (Northern Hawk's-beard) after finding a small number in 2009: a photograph appears in the Bulletin for that year. Alistair Godfrey Cambus – Alloa foreshore Wednesday, 19th May On a fine evening Roy Sexton met four of us near the Diageo Warehouses in Cambus village and took us to visit the SWT Reserve at Cambus Ponds on the west side of the River Devon. We walked along a well-used path through mixed woodland beside the river, recording as we went. Tolmiea menziesii (Pick-a-Back Plant) was growing under a wall, a naturalised garden escape which worryingly, is becoming widespread in Clackmannanshire. Bill Hay made several interesting finds, Carex otrubae (False Fox-sedge) by the river and two clumps of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Grey Bulrush) by the river and at the ponds. SWT is managing this area for wildlife, over the years the ponds have become infilled by dense Phragmites australis (Common Reed), with a reduction in birds using them. Roy, who is chair of Stirling SWT, is hoping, if funding becomes available, to restore the ponds to open water. He showed us an area of open grassland on the far side of the ponds with many spikes of Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common Spotted-orchid) which had grown from seed he had spread over the area. During a very pleasant evening, serenaded by birdsong, we recorded over 100 species. Abernyte Glebe and Kirkton Hill Wednesday, 26th May Our guides for the evening scramble around the sunny hillside were Barry and Cathy Caudwell, whose house is nearby on the north-west corner of Abernyte crossroads, and who have an extensive knowledge of and interest in recording and promoting the local wildlife. They maintain an online list of flora and fauna seen at www.abernyte.org/index.php/Wildlife/species-abernyte-glebe.html. A plaque at the entrance gateway indicates that this site was developed as a Millennium Project by Abernyte Heritage Group, with sponsorship from various organisations. Thenceforth, the paths head increasingly steeply up towards the basalt crags of Kirkton Hill. At first the path passes between an old drystane dyke and an arable field. The surface of crushed quarry stone (Dunsinane andesite?) has provided an opportunity for some vigorous ruderals to get established. In particular we noticed Echium vulgare (Viper's Bugloss) and Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Geranium molle (Dove's-foot Crane's-bill) (probably both introduced in wildflower seed mix as butterfly attractants). On the east side of the grassier hill slope the run-off from a piped spring produces a damper patch where Veronica beccabunga (Brooklime) is flourishing. On the more open slope eastward, with only rabbits and passing deer to graze the undergrowth, there is clearly a danger that any small native plants will be overwhelmed by the more invasive shrubs and trees which are evident: Rubus fruticosus (Bramble), Rubus idaeus (Raspberry), Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore), &c. The upper parts of the hill are covered with Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine), Ulex europaeus (Gorse), Vaccinium myrtillus (Blaeberry), and Calluna vulgaris (Ling). Below, and heading north-west along the slope into the denser broadleaved woodland, the most striking ground plants were Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Wild Hyacinth) and Pentaglottis sempervirens (Green Alkanet). The crags offer sufficient footholds for some apparently disease-resistant Ulmus glabra (Wych Elm) and a most unexpected and previously unrecorded find: a population of Allium vineale (Wild Onion) growing in leaf mould on little terraces along it. Saturday, 29th May The suggestion for this excursion came from Les Tucker who drew our attention to the article on Taraxacum cymbifolium in the September 2009 issue of BSBI News. The article was written by Michael Usher and John Richards. Michael found the species on Ben Vrackie and John Richards confirmed the identification. This is only the second known British station for this rare arctic alpine species. Quoting the BSBI dandelion handbook in the article, we read that "this species shows a remarkable disjunct distribution in the Arctic. The Ben Lawers station is 10° latitude south of any other in Europe". Michael told me that he is not an authority on dandelions, but he enjoys a challenge in different fields of natural history. This is an ability that served him well in a previous position as Chief Scientist of Scottish Natural Heritage. We delayed our visit to Ben Vrackie until after Michael's visit to Bulgaria where he represented the Council of Europe on International Biodiversity Day. Our day duly arrived and we set off in search of the great rarity. We arrived at the site where Michael had found the species two years previously, and I had organised some materials with the intention of counting the population, but the long winter and continuing cold temperatures had delayed the growth and flowering of our prize and only two candidates for it, not yet in flower, were to be seen. We duly photographed the plants that we saw and other plants in the locality such as Oxytropis halleri (Purple Milk-vetch), which was flowering in unusual profusion, but the weather was too cold for hanging about so we went off in search of other things, led by Martin Robinson, who knows the area and its plants well. Our day was an interesting mix of discoveries and the unusual. We had spent time following up a record for Diphasiastrum complanatum (Issler's Clubmoss), a much rarer species than the familiar D. alpinum (Alpine Clubmoss). We found plants in longish heather in wet, mossy undergrowth, quite unlike the habitat of the familiar species. The plants also looked different, being yellowish-green, but after spending a fair amount of time peering through hand lenses we decided this was the more familiar species that had been influenced by the habitat; the clincher for D. alpinum was that the sporophytes were borne on leafy shoots. This was a useful lesson, because D. complanatum was more widespread in the past and is worth searching for. Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 I didn't take many notes myself, but I recorded Salix herbacea (Dwarf Willow) and Melampyrum pratense (Common Cow-wheat). We had in our company Oliver Moore, who had been spending time on Ben Lawers and had arrived with Helen Cole. Oliver was an ‘apprentice' under BTCV Scotland's Natural Talent scheme studying mosses and liverworts. He covered the ground quickly and nimbly in his wellingtons, identifying mosses from one location to another with such ease that his agility was quite breathtaking. One moss that he identified for us was Warnstorfia sarmentosa (Twiggy Spear-moss), a beautifully red-tinged species that appears in base rich flushes in montane habitats. Another species in more acidic springs was the beautifully red-stemmed Bryum weigelii (Duval's Thread-moss) which is another montane species and not common. We saw them while being taken to a site Martin wanted to show us, where we saw the more intensely red-coloured moss Orthothecium rufescens (Red Leskea) (see Photos). This beautiful moss is truly montane and drapes down wet, dripping basic rocks. Close by was Cystopteris montana (Mountain Bladder-fern), a delicate creature of dripping wet rocks, the object of our search and a fitting conclusion to an interesting excursion. Alistair Godfrey Saturday, 5th June Four of us walked up the twisty, steep track leading up into the hills on the east side of Menstrie Burn on a hot, sunny morning. The lower parts of the glen are very steep and narrow and it is bypassed by a track. On a rocky outcrop beside this track were Thymus polytrichus (Wild Thyme) growing with Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass) and Sedum anglicum (English Stonecrop), which was in several places, and scattered plants of Teucrium scorodonia (Wood Sage). Juncus inflexus (Hard Rush) was growing in the ditch along the trackside; rare in most of Scotland, it is not uncommon in Clackmannanshire. We decided after our climb to stay high and explore the east side of the path. Near the top of a very steep grassy slope just below top of the crags on the southern edge of Myreton hill we came upon Helianthemum nummularium (Common Rock-rose) nestling in the grass with patches of Thyme. After lunch we walked across Myreton Hill, an expanse of Nardus stricta (Mat-grass) grassland and Vaccinium myrtillus (Blaeberry) with little variation except for a few plants of Melampyrum pratense (Common Cow-wheat), and then followed a tributary gully down towards Menstrie Burn looking for orchids but only found some Conopodium majus (Pignut) and a few shoots of Briza media (Quaking-grass) about to unfurl their quivering flowers, and some more Sedum anglicum on rock outcrops. The ground here was surprisingly rough with the little burn disappearing into a deep-cut gorge. On the track home we found Lepidium heterophyllum (Smith's Pepperwort) and some plants of Spergularia marina (Lesser Sea-spurrey). The thunder clouds cleared on the easy walk back down to Menstrie village – a very enjoyable day in great company. Monzie Wood, Crieff Sunday, 13th June I had planned this excursion in advance, but it was not included in the programme, because it was dependent on a number of factors in going ahead. On the day the weather was poor – remember our wet summer? – and Les Tucker and I were the only two to make the excursion. I wasn't disappointed, because this is a difficult site to cover and Les and I got split up as I took longer in recording and I think Les was home in Dundee before I got back to my car. Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 In a field on approaching the wood there is a fine specimen Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak) which is about 150 years old. The oaks in the wood are Q. robur (Pedunculate Oak) and a few of the hybrid between the two species Q. x rosacea. Working out what might be the original oak cover in a wood if often problematic and planting has often complicated the picture. There is little presence of invasive tree species in the wood, which is pleasing to see. Typical indicator assemblages of ancient, semi-natural woodland were: Adoxa moschatellina Angelica sylvestris Betula pubescens Circaea x intermedia C. alpina x lutetiana Conopodium majus Corylus avellana Fraxinus excelsior Geranium sylvaticum Wood Crane's-bill Hyacinthoides non-scripta Luzula sylvatica Lysimachia nemorum Yellow Pimpernel Mercurialis perennis Moehringia trinervia Three-nerved Sandwort Oxalis acetosella Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry Primula vulgaris Pteridium aquilinum Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia Sanicula europaea Scrophularia nodosa Sorbus aucuparia Stachys sylvatica Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort Stellaria nemorum Trientalis europaea Chickweed-wintergreen Veronica montana I have omitted grasses largely, but species typical of riverine woodland were: Festuca arundinacea Festuca gigantea And of calcareous conditions on dry and wet soils respectively: Helictotrichon pratense Meadow Oat-grass Helictotrichon pubescens Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Within the woodland there are flushes as well as the wet river margins, and of particular interest under alder I found : Dryopteris carthusiana Narrow Buckler-Fern Urtica dioica ssp. galeopsifolia Stingless Nettle Smooth-stalked Sedge Other sedges seen during the day were: Carex caryophyllea Carex pallescens Carex viridula subsp. oedocarpa Common Yellow-sedge Due to the hard winter the spring growth of bracken had been delayed, which made the botanising easier. The flowering of bluebells had been delayed and there was a wonderful show of blue flowers. I saw bluebells in flower elsewhere in the following month, the latest time in the year I recall seeing this. When I returned to the car Les had kindly left a posy for me, which included Vaccinium microcarpum (Small Cranberry) from a bog near the top of the wood. Now, there's an idea for another excursion. Alistair Godfrey Downhill and Castlehill Reservoir, Glendevon Wednesday, 16th June The first reporter (LT) should admit frankly that his motivation for suggesting a botanical investigation in this area was the lowest altitude record (210 m, Ochil Hills, W. Perth) for Salix lapponum (Downy Willow), still faintly lingering in the BSBI Atlas 2000. One would imagine that the exact location of such an unusual arctic-alpine plant in the lowlands would be well documented; if so, it has not been revealed. The vice-county recorder only offered a vague and unsupported notion that it might have been on the crags around Down Hill (361 m) in the triangle between Glens Devon and Dey. Despite not finding that particular alpine calcicole, our group's circular tour, from the car park (ca. 200 m alt.) off the A823 south-west of Castlehill Reservoir on a fine summer evening, did find several other plants which could almost be described as associates or indicators of an appropriate habitat. In particular, the good population of Salix caprea (Goat Willow), from seedlings to 5 m trees on the rocky banks, appeared to be fairly representative of the subspecies sphacelata. In the BSBI Atlas 2000, the lowest altitude previously recorded for this boreal-montane denizen is given as 245 m (Carse, Kintyre), but with the admission that "This subspecies is almost certainly under-recorded". On our tour, less salicologically enlightened naturalists were even more delighted to see a good range of other plants. A good sized party botanised along the road verge and then on the other side of the bridge at the head of the reservoir before continuing uphill to Downhill. We were treated to a patch of Meum athamanticum (Spignel) in full flower on the grassy verge of the reservoir at the start of our excursion. AG found a patch in a runnel on higher ground where the plants had been grazed to the ground with the surrounding grass. This probably doesn't do the plants any harm, and many species seem to be able to persist in this state for many years, and for species intolerant of competition it is a condition preferable to the complete removal of grazing. The lower slopes of the hill are irrigated by run-off from above, and in one of the wetter locations we found Sedum villosum (Mossy Stonecrop), which we also found in a flush above the crags. Viola lutea (Mountain pansy) was found in the first part of the slope before the Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 crags. Soils were reasonably base-rich, the richest being on the crags on the north side of the hill, which also provided a habitat for woodland and other species. Here we found: Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Black Spleenwort Clinopodium vulgare Marsh Hawk's-beard Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder-fern Filipendula ulmaria Geranium robertianum Geranium sylvaticum Wood Crane's-bill Helianthemum nummularium Common Rock-rose Helictotrichon pratense Meadow Oat-grass Heracleum sphondylium Koeleria macrantha Crested Hair-grass Early-purple Orchid Oxalis acetosella Persicaria vivipara Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Primula vulgaris Saxifraga hypnoides Thymus polytrichus From the crags we wound our way around the side of the hill to the dam with its spectacular drop down the crags to the burn below. On the road over the dam we were extremely pleased to find Arabis glabra (Tower Mustard), a plant familiar to AG from the banks of the River Tay at Stanley. Like the plants at Stanley House (see Photos), the ones at the dam were growing in bare ground. I think this new station is a Vice-county record for West Perthshire, which is welcome because it is a declining species. Its distribution is said to be native in England and casual in Scotland, and I wonder if this is accidental or if it was an introduction with a deliberate use, and if so what use. Within the fenced planting of trees and shrubs in the car park at the dam we were delighted to find Pyrola minor (Common Wintergreen) in some profusion. Beyond this we found Dactylorhiza purpurella (Northern Marsh-orchid) and D. fuchsia (Common Spotted-orchid) in the grass. On returning to the lay-by beside the reservoir AG found Plantago maritima (Sea Plantain) at the roadside, somewhat far from its native habitat, but having found a substitute enhanced by the liberal application of salt spread on the road in winter, although this is a plant with a natural distribution in Glen Dochart and Glen Lyon from the hill tops down to the road side. The whole area clearly deserves lengthier and more thorough surveying and monitoring, and was revisited by some members on 11 July. On this stormy day, the group spent the Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 morning sheltering around the dam at Castlehill Reservoir that had previously been botanised in June. We revisited the carpet of Pyrola minor growing under birch in the car park, but the beautiful display of orchids (Dactylorhiza spp.) by the dam had been mown leaving no traces. We recorded down a slippery track to the base of the dam and found a small outcrop with some Thymus polytrichus (Wild Thyme). Several plants of Arabis glabra (Tower Mustard) found on the edge of the dam in June had set seed. Les Tucker & Alistair Godfrey Liz Lavery (11 July revisit) BSBI excursions, Loch Katrine and Loch Lubnaig, Saturday 19th & Sunday, 20th June This was a two-day field meeting organised by the BSBI in West Perth VC87 led by the joint vice-county recorders Jane Jones, Liz Lavery and Paul Stanley. We were blessed by glorious summer weather on both days with wonderful views in this very beautiful area of Scotland. BSBI and PSNS members travelled from near and far: Glen Coe, Glasgow, St Andrews and Hampshire, to be there. On Saturday Jane and Liz met ten enthusiastic botanists in the Ben Venue car park. We spent a while exploring the west end of Loch Achray before setting off along forest tracks up the south side of the river to a stony footpath leading to the Bealach nam Bo pass on the south side of Loch Katrine. Many species were recorded, admired and examined carefully by those of us in the party keen to learn new plants. A little patch of very strange-looking shoots in Molinia grass beside Loch Achray defeated us all, although Jane commented they did look like a Michaelmas-daisy. We went back in early September and found it in flower and Alistair Godfrey confirmed it as Aster x versicolor (Late Michaelmas-daisy). Nearby in a marshy area we found a few plants of Carum verticillatum (Whorled Caraway). Geoffrey Field recognised Carex pallescens (Pale Sedge) frequent in damp ditches beside the forest track. The oak woods are magnificent around Loch Katrine and looked particularly beautiful in mid-June, luxuriously dripping with mosses and ferns. We ended a very enjoyable walk with a visit to the charming Brig o' Turk Tea Room whose freshly-baked scones are recommended. On Sunday Liz was joined by Paul with two friends on a flying botanising visit, Alistair Godfrey straying out of VC88 for the day and others, to make up a party of 12 again. We walked over the bridge across the River Balvag at Strathyre car park and along the west side of the river to Loch Lubnaig Marshes SSSI. On our way we diverted into an old overgrown curling pond to discover it was full of Lysimachia thyrsiflora (Tufted Loosestrife) which is abundant on the SSSI. We met the owner, a little dismayed at first by this invasion of botanists on his property. He showed us round a small arboretum planted on his land and gave us a list of the tree species. Some had gone ahead at this point and others had not yet arrived so Liz was very relieved when everyone gathered for lunch on the edge of the marsh. Paul with his friends soon dashed off to explore the marsh. The marsh is a wonderful place for plants; thousands of plants of Lysimachia thyrsiflora are everywhere, clumps of Carex vesicaria (Bladder Sedge) are frequent amongst Carex rostrata (Bottle Sedge), Carex lasiocarpa (Slender Sedge) covers large areas on wetter ground. We were lucky to find a good population of more than 50 plants of Stellaria palustris (Marsh stitchwort), very rare in Scotland, growing with Menyanthes trifoliata (Bogbean). Sarah Longrigg was delighted to find a big colony of Utricularia intermedia agg. (Bladderwort) in mud at the water's edge beside Lochan Buidhe, while Roy Sexton discovered several beautiful plants of Dactylorhiza incarnata (Early Marsh-orchid) on drier mire in the middle of the bog. On the walk back to the car park we noted clumps of Festuca arundinacea (Tall Fescue) with Galium boreale (Northern Bedstraw) on the riverbank. Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 We piled into three cars and finished our botanical weekend by driving up the narrow, winding single track road from Balquhidder to the car park at Inverlochlarig to look at the Calamagrostis grass which Liz had discovered there in July 2009. It had been provisionally identified as C. purpurea (Scottish Small-reed). Alistair Godfrey is very familiar with this species, as soon as he saw my grass he knew it was not C. purpurea and after some conferring Paul and he agreed it must be Calamagrostis canescens (Purple Small-reed); this was later confirmed by the referee, Mike Porter. A little disappointing but still a good find as it is only known from the Scottish borders in Scotland. We speculated on how it might have got there – Alistair noted a number of exotic shrubs planted nearby and it may have arrived as seed in soil with these species; it is doing very well here in waterlogged alder carr. 10. Kingoodie Quarry, Invergowrie Wednesday, 30th June Fine warm weather had been laid on for this very enjoyable and productive evening meeting. The quarry once provided a hard sandstone for buildings in Dundee and for harbours and docks throughout Britain, including the London ones, and even the core of the Bell Rock lighthouse. It is now maintained as an amenity area, with a series of deep ponds on the quarry floor connected by a network of woodland paths. In these quarry-floor areas we saw two large plants of Lactuca virosa (Great Lettuce), some Carex otrubae (False Fox-sedge) and Juncus inflexus (Hard Rush) at the side of the first pond, Lemna trisulca (Ivy-leaved Duckweed) and Potamogeton berchtoldii (Small Pondweed) in the next pond to the west, and Potamogeton natans (Broad-leaved Pondweed) and Elodea canadensis (Canadian Pondweed) in the most western one. The Lemna trisulca was a new vice-county record. The scrub and woodland areas produced Daphne laureola (Spurge-laurel), Salix x reichardtii (Goat x Grey Willow), Sorbus croceocarpa (Orange Whitebeam) and Neottia ovata (Common Twayblade), whilst Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common Spotted Orchid) and its hybrid with D. purpurella (Northern Marsh Orchid) were seen in an open grassy area, though none of the latter parent were found. But by far the most interesting area was an open expanse at the top of a main quarry- face. This ground had no proper soil, just loose, skeletal stuff and fine gravel or bare rock, which seemed to suit the genus Filago. There were grey sheets of F. vulgaris (Common Cudweed) – hundreds of thousands of plants (see Photos) – and in one area a large sheet of F. minima (Small Cudweed). There was Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Cranesbill), in one of only two known sites in the vice-county, and the odd plant of Vulpia bromoides (Squirreltail Fescue), plus Aira caryophyllea (Silver Hair-grass), Aphanes arvensis s.s. (Parsley-peart) and Reseda luteola (Weld). A bit farther back at the extreme top of the site, where there was some thin soil and more vegetation, there were a few plants of Melilotus altissima (Tall Melilot) and Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony). We saw 144 taxa in the only 1 km square we looked at, including several species very scarce in the vice-county – quite satisfying for an evening's work. After leaving the quarry we still had enough good light for a brief walk over the eastern of the two old Kingoodie piers from which quarry stone had been shipped out. The grassland cover included a lot of the locally very scarce Trisetum flavescens (Yellow Oat-grass). This was also an opportunity to see some of the estuary plants that are confined to this area in the vice-county, such as Bolboschoenus maritimus (Sea Club-rush), Triglochin maritimum (Sea Arrow-grass) and Aster tripolium (Sea Aster). Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 11. Kirkton Farm Saturday, 3rd July Kirkton Farm occupies a large area of land at the west end of Strathfillan from the plain of the River Fillan north to the mountain tops. The farm is run by the Scottish Agricultural College, and like many parts of upland Scotland has seen much change in recent years. The unit is called the SAC Hill and Mountain Research Centre, where John Holland, who was our host for the weekend, has overseen much interesting research. The hill ground has been affected by the economic viability of rearing livestock in the uplands in common with the rest of Scotland, and the farm's flock of sheep was also badly affected by disease. This led to a reduction in grazing and trials to repopulate parts of the farm with native tree species, which as John explained has been very difficult to achieve on the high ground in maintaining fences against snow and deer. The reduction in grazing has promoted the flowering of species which were intermittent in the past like Kobresia simpliciuscula (False Sedge). More information can be found on SAC's website at www.sac.ac.uk/research/centres/farms/kirkton. Our route took us on the path leading north through Tyndrum, then following the Crom Allt into Coire Thoin and along the slopes of Meall Buidhe on our return. The edges of the lower burn are rocky and the soils reasonably base-rich. We encountered more upland species at lower altitudes than is common in other parts of Perthshire. As we travelled up the burn to higher ground we ticked off the following: Carex capillaris (Hair Sedge), Juncus triglumis (Three-flowered Rush), Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Saxifrage), S. oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage) and Tofieldia pusilla (Scottish Asphodel). The pattern of more familiar upland species at lower altitudes continued, with many about 550 m AOD. Our list extended to Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort), Bartsia alpina (Alpine Bartsia), Galium boreale (Northern Bedstraw), Oxyria digyna (Mountain Sorrel), Polystichum lonchitis (Holly Fern), Saussurea alpina (Mountain Saw-wort), Saxifraga hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage), S. stellaris (Starry Saxifrage), Sedum rosea (Roseroot) and Sibbaldia procumbens (Sibbaldia). I was pleased to find a large patch of Hymenophyllum wilsonii (Wilson's Filmy-fern) sheltered in a rock recess. Alistair Godfrey 12. Cam Chreag, Kirkton Sunday, 4th July Unfortunately the weather turned overnight and the parched bed of the River Fillan was transformed into a raging torrent. We encountered a strong, blustering wind at Kirkton Farm and we were not able to consider our intended destination. Instead, we explored the lower ground above the farm buildings, including a successful area of planting above the railway line that includes Alnus glutinosa (Alder) Betula pendula (Silver Birch) B. pubescens (Downy Birch) Corylus avellana (Hazelnut) Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) and Prunus padus (Bird Cherry). John took us to a boulder that is the location for Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid). The location was first noted by Sarah Longrigg with a party of walkers heading for Ben Challum. We had to look hard for several minutes to find the tiny plants, even although we were at the right location, but we eventually connected our collective eye and saw five plants in flower. Hammarby was the Swedish country estate where Carl Linnaeus spent his final years. We are extremely grateful to John in being a kind host both in showing us plants on the hill and keeping us warm indoors with cups of tea, coffee and biscuits. Alistair Godfrey Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Sunday, 11th July On the map the prospect of botanising around Ben Buck (729 m) in the heart of the Ochils involves a dauntingly tedious walk in from public roads, so the development of a wind farm a little to the north offers the alluring possibility of motorised assistance. However, at the time of our meeting near the construction camp in Glen Sherrup (Memo: they have a detailed map of the wind farm posted outside which would be useful to have), the wind was blowing a gale and the hills hidden in mist. Quite sensibly, the assembled ladies decided that high ground was not a good prospect; only macho LT thought the weather might improve and the opportunity of using the new service roads too good to miss, so he proceeded alone. Unfortunately the weather on the hill worsened, making it hard to see or stand. The best that can be reported is that the roads are well made and branch out to the turbine towers around Burnfoot Hill (526 m), within 2 km or so of sites where botanical rarities such as Alopecurus alpinus (Alpine Foxtail), Saxifraga hirculus (Marsh Saxifrage), and Sedum villosum (Hairy Stonecrop) have been found in the past. In better conditions, starting a botanical survey at the westmost towers (T6 or T13) is recommended. Here, there are some better botanising prospects around springs and in bogs than in the poor grassland all around. Sedum villosum was found in flower in peaty seeps over volcanic rock. A little exposed rocky sill on the top of Burnfoot Hill held some Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass) and Trifolium repens (White Clover). Otherwise, only on the crags down in the valley by the farmhouse was there much sign of calcareous enrichment: there, Thymus praecox (Wild Thyme), Helianthemum nummularium (Common Rock-rose) and Viola lutea (Mountain Pansy) were in flower. 14. Ochil Hills Woodland Park, Alva Sunday, 11th July The breakaway group spent the morning revisiting the dam at Castlehill Reservoir (see report for 16th June), and after lunch we moved on to the shelter of Alva Woodland Park; the wind continued gusting but the rain cleared and a watery sun warmed us up a little. The ground flora in the mixed deciduous wood, mostly Ulmus glabra (Wych Elm) and Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore), was fairly rich with abundant Brachypodium sylvaticum (False Brome), some clumps of Bromus ramosus (Hairy Brome), Mercurialis perennis (Dog's Mercury), Carex sylvatica (Wood Sedge) and Carex remota (Remote sedge). We finished the day in sunshine exploring a farmyard; between us we managed to identify a good number of weeds including Chenopodium album (Fat Hen), Matricaria recutita (Scented Mayweed), Melissa officinalis (Balm) and Barbarea intermedia (Medium-flowered Winter-cress). After Joanna and I had gone home, Alison found Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helleborine) and some plants of Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon's Seal) in Alva. Sunday, 25th July This was a fine, dry day with some sun and a light breeze – perfect conditions for this excursion. Five of us drove up the private Glenfernate road to Daldhu, parked there and then worked our way upstream along the south side of the Allt Glen Loch. There were nice base-rich flushes all the way along but we did not do any recording until we reached the tetrad NO 00-70-, when we started to cut uphill towards the summit of Ben Vuirich. The lower, shallow slope was acidic moorland, not so interesting, but once we got to the steeper slope things changed. We came upon a series of dark, rather peaty Scorpidium scorpioides flushes, quite base-enriched and botanically diverse. The first interesting discovery was a tiny budding Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 plant of Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid), with another close beside it. Quite nearby was a little group of four flowering spikes, with one just downhill from them. Finally we found another plant about 60 metres farther west. We concluded that they must be scattered all over this hillside. It was only in the previous year that this species was recorded in the vice-county for the first time. The other excellent discovery was of a huge colony of Kobresia simpliciuscula (False Sedge) covering about 200 square metres and comprising thousands of spikes. The plant has several colonies in this general area but this one was not known, recently at least. Some of these flushes also had Juncus alpinoarticulatus (Alpine Rush) and the Kobresia site had a small amount of Carex capillaris (Hair Sedge). The heather slopes had Lycopodium annotinum (Interrupted Club-moss) and Cornus suecica (Dwarf Cornel) and, once a certain height was reached, Vaccinium uliginosum (Bog Bilberry). The summit was continuously clothed by a wind-blasted heath consisting of the moss Racomitrium lanuginosum, Empetrum hermaphroditum (Crowberry), Calluna vulgaris (Heather) and Vaccinium myrtillus (Blaeberry). Les Tucker managed to find a patch of Loiseleuria procumbens (Trailing Azalea), but that was the only summit specialist we came across, though Dotterel were flying around calling. We spent some time trying to find an old Sibbaldia procumbens (Sibbaldia) site on the south-west side of the hill, that we could have recorded for the Threatened Plants Project, but there was little suitable habitat. One feature of this hill, higher up, was the mossy flushes solid with Epilobium anagallidifolium (Alpine Willowherb), Montia fontana (Blinks) and, in some cases, Veronica serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved Speedwell) – not in flower but probably ssp. humifusa. We cut back over the shoulder between the summit and Carn Dubh and back down the north-east slope of the hill that we had climbed in the morning. We passed through the territory of an agitated Golden Plover and found some Carex vaginata (Loose-sheathed Sedge). Insects were sparse but included a Common Blue and a Golden-ringed Dragonfly. 16. The Hermitage and Birnam Glen, Dunkeld Saturday, 14th August On this excursion we were joined by Frank McGavigan and five other members of the British Pteridological Society. We met at the Car Park at the Hermitage and started by looking at the ferns on the bank above the main path. Frank was armed with a copy of Ken Trewren's guide on the Dryopteris affinis (Golden-scaled Male-fern) aggregate and I had copied the account of Dryopteris from Clive Stace's most recent edition of the New Flora of the British Isles. We were able to see differences between the D. affinis agg. representatives there, but trying to classify and put names to what we saw was partially satisfactory, but mostly perplexing. Stace says that recognition of the members of the group is only possible after "considerable experience". I would like to think that members of the section will spend more time over the following years making sense of what we have in Perthshire from this aggregate. In Stace, the D. affinis agg. is recognised as three species, two with subspecies; D. affinis (sensu stricto) with 3 subspecies, D. cambrensis (Narrow Male-fern) with two subspecies and D. borreri (Narrow Male-fern). D. affinis is a diploid, the other two are triploids. They are all hybrid in origin with D. oreades (Mountain Male-fern) as a common ancestor. Trewren states that there are three other ancestors that have been involved in the combinations, neither of which is in the British Flora; D. wallichiana, D. crassirhizoma and D. caucasica. Dryopteris affinis = D. oreades x D. wallichiana or D. crassirhizoma. D. cambrensis = D. oreades (2 genomes) x D. wallichiana or D. crassirhizoma. D. borreri = D. oreades x D. caucasica and x D. wallichiana or D. crassirhizoma. Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 At the Scottish Annual Meeting of the BSBI/BSS three months later, Fred Rumsey gave a brilliant talk on the derivation of the British fern flora, saying that many we call species have been derived from hybrid origin, sometimes involving the same species, but in different combinations to give rise to differently named modern species, as above. The D. affinis group are apomicts, like Hieracium (Hawkweeds) Taraxacum (Dandelions) and the Rubus fruticosus agg., (Brambles), the offspring are derived only from female gametes. However, all three subspecies of D. affinis s.s. hybridise with D. filix-mas (Male-fern). The opportunities for confusion therefore are manifold. Morphotypes might also be recognised. In Trewren's guide Dryopteris borreri morphotype robusta is described - and just before you are about to skip on to the next article in exasperation - we found a very large specimen at the start of Birnam Glen that stood out among its companions and compared very closely to the guide for this taxon. D. borreri is the commonest and least robust of the three members of the aggregate; it is less hairy and less shiny that the others, with neatly ‘clipped' edged pinnules. It has been restored as a species after having been reduced to a subspecies of the D. affinis agg. In all we found 27 fern and fern ally taxa in the Hermitage and Birnam Glen. Some luxuriant polypodies were seen on a wall in Birnam Glen by the Inchewan Burn, which looked superficially like P. interjectum (Intermediate Polypody) but were P. vulgare (Polypody), a reaction which is typical in this habitat. P. interjectum is also of hybrid origin, P. vulgare being one of the parents. We did not find the sporophyte (intermediate stage) of Trichomanes speciosum (Kilarney Fern) in the rock arch between the bridge over the River Braan and Ossian's Hall. The record for this species was made by Fred Rumsey, and when I spoke to him later he said that its location is farther upstream. Frank told me that this species should now be called Vandenboschia speciosa, under which name it has always been known in Europe. Alistair Godfrey 17. Loch Monzievaird, Crieff Sunday, 29th August This excursion was one of the highlights of the year for me, because we found so many aquatics and the quality of water in the loch was beautifully clear. The loch is home to one of our uncommon pondweeds, Potamogeton lucens (Shining Pondweed) which is pale green with a translucent lamina, and we found rafts of this plant that shone in the sparkling water reflecting the bright sunshine. For Bill Hay, Les Tucker, Jim McIntosh and me, this was heaven! Our list of aquatics and marginals included: Callitriche hermaphroditica (Autumnal Water Starwort), Ceratophyllum demersum (Rigid Hornwort), Chara globularis var. globularis (Fragile Stonewort), Cicuta virosa (Cowbane), Elodea canadensis (Canadian Pondweed), Juncus effusus var. spiralis (Soft-rush), Lemna minor (Common Duckweed) Littorella uniflora (Shoreweed), Lycopus europaeus (Gypsywort), Myosotis scorpioides (Water Forget-me-not), Nuphar lutea (Yellow Water-lily), Nuphar x spenneriana (Nuphar x pumila), Nymphaea alba (White water-lily), Persicaria amphibia (Amphibious Bistort), Potamogeton berchtoldii (Small Pondweed), P. crispus (Curled Pondweed), P. gramineus (Various-leaved Pondweed), Ranunculus hederaceus (Ivy-leaved Buttercup), Rorippa sylvatica Creeping Yellow-cress), Typha latifolia (Bulrush) and Zannichellia palustris (Horned Pondweed). The Callitriche and Ceratophyllum were seen in the shallower St Serf's Water at the east end of the loch; neither is common in Perthshire, and we saw rafts of Ceratophyllum, which the Botanical Section last encountered at Dupplin Loch. P. crispus was also found in St Serf's Water, its leaves were diminutive and I could not identify it on this visit, but I Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 returned two weeks later after the leaves had developed a little more and I saw their serrated edges, which is a diagnostic feature. Zannichellia was growing in the margins of St Serf's, a plant that looks like a submerged, flimsy grass. Its common name is derived from the curved fruit that develops a wavy edge. The spiral-leaved Soft Rush was spotted by Les, who has an uncanny knack for finding botanical rarities and curiosities, and is the finder of this variety par excellence. We departed in different directions, Bill Hay and I met up again before we left, and then I was able to show him a Daubenton's Bat that was flitting backwards and forwards over the water in a sheltered bay in the full light of a warm, late summer's afternoon. I prefer Flitter Mouse to Bat, it's much more descriptive, though not zoologically accurate! Alistair Godfrey 18. Fungal Foray, St Magdalene's Hill & Hilton Wood, Perth Sunday, 10th October One of our first finds and only about 200 metres from the car park was Hygrocybe calyptriformis in short grass. The Pink Waxcap was a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, but was removed from the list after it was found to be commoner than thought, although it is still not common and its distribution is dispersed. More information can be found at www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=382#1 and its distribution is mapped on the NBN Gateway http://data.nbn.org.uk. At the Scottish Annual Meeting I mentioned, Ali Murffit said UK waxcap grassland is important in the European context. After Keith Cohen's survey for Perth & Kinross Council, he recommended cutting to leave short areas of grass, which I arranged. Keith explained that fungi have difficulty in forming fruiting bodies in long grass. Our find was an unexpected surprise, which had not been recorded here before: management had paid off. I prefer the name Ballerina Waxcap; if you see a little, pink ballerina or troop dancing on grass you will know what you have found. Two species of interest Keith had found previously, subject to final verification, were Lactarius flexuosus and Cantharellus cibarius var. ferruginascens, both in Hilton Wood and are quite uncommon. A full list of the macrofungi species we found follows. As ever, we are very grateful to Keith for his guidance and identification skills. Amanita muscaria Amanita rubescens Armillaria gallica Bisporella citrina Bjerkandera adusta Cantharellus cibarius C. cibarius var. ferruginascens Clavulina cinerea Clavulina cristata Clavulinopsis fusiformis Clavulinopsis helvola Clavulinopsis luteoalba Clitocybe clavipes Clitocybe fragrans Clitocybe nebularis Collybia butyracea Coprinus comatus Shaggy Inkcap / Lawyer's Wig Cordyceps militaris Scarlet Caterpillar club Cortinarius cinnamomeus Cortinarius triumphans Crepidotus variabilis Variable Oysterling Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Cystoderma amianthinum Earthy Powdercap Exidia thuretiana Flammulina velutipes Gymnopilus penetrans Gymnopus dryophilus Russet Toughshank (Collybia dryophila) Gymnopus erythropus Redleg Toughshank (Collybia erythropus) Gymnopus peronatus Spotted Toughshank (Collybia peronata) Hebeloma crustuliniforme Heterobasidion annosum Hygrocybe calyptriformis Hygrocybe ceracea Hygrocybe chlorophana Hygrocybe coccinea Hygrocybe persistens Persistent Waxcap Hygrocybe pratensis Hygrocybe virginea Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca False Chanterelle Laccaria amethystina Amethyst Deceiver Laccaria laccata Laccaria proxima Lactarius blennius Lactarius glyciosmus Coconut Milk Cap Lactarius quietus Lactarius tabidus Lactarius turpis Lactarius vietus Leccinum scabrum Brown Birch Bolete Lycoperdon perlatum Macrotyphula fistulosa Mycena capillaripes Mycena epipterygia Yellowleg Bonnet Mycena galericulata Neobulgaria pura Paxillus involutus Phallus impudicus Pholiota squarrosa Piptoporus betulinus Pluteus cervinus Pluteus salicinus Psathyrella piluliformis Common Stump Brittlestem Psilocybe semilanceata Magic Mushroom / Liberty Cap Russula atropurpurea Purple Brittlegill Russula betularum Birch Brittlegill Geranium Brittlegill Russula fragilis Fragile Brittlegill Russula nigricans Blackening Brittlegill Purple Swamp Brittlegill Russula ochroleuca Common Yellow Brittlegill Stereum hirsutum Hairy Curtain Crust Scottish Charity No. SC012718 PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Trametes versicolor Tremella mesenterica Tricholoma fulvum Tricholoma saponaceum Tubaria furfuracea Xylaria filiformis Xylaria hypoxylon Candlesnuff Fungus A copy of Keith's report to Perth and Kinross Council, which contains lists, maps and recommendations for management, can be downloaded from: www.pkc.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/A7740E37-6E03-4141-ADD6-CD67DFA58856/0/PKCStMagdalenesFungiReportKC8Nov09.pdf. Alistair Godfrey I erred in saying in the last Bulletin that the double row of trees leading to Murthly Castle are Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon), they are in fact Cedrus glauca cv. ‘Glauca' (Blue Atlas Cedar). I spent some time comparing different specimens of the two species after discovering my mistake and found that many of their characters overlap, and that the only consistent character of C. libani is the horizontally-held branches. Alistair Godfrey News and updates As usual, the programme of summer excursions for the coming field season should appear shortly on the PSNS website http://psns.tsohost.co.uk/botanical/botanical.htm. Additional excursions may also be organised – to be kept informed of these and to receive other news by email, please join the Perthshire Botany Group by emailing [email protected]. Our ‘next-door neighbour', the Dundee Naturalists' Society, also now has its own website www.dundeenats.org.uk, where the programme of their excursions and winter meetings is available. Bulletin Editor: Colin R. McLeod Scottish Charity No. SC012718

PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Meum athamanticum (Spignel), Weem Meadow revisit, 15 June 2010 Alistair Godfrey. Orthothecium rufescens (Red Leskea), Ben Vrackie, 29 May 2010 Alistair Godfrey. Scottish Charity No. SC012718

PSNS Botanical Section Bulletin No. 33 – 2010 Filago vulgaris (Common Cudweed), Kingoodie Quarry, 30 June 2010 Martin Robinson. Arabis glabra (Tower Mustard), River Tay banks at Stanley House, 6 May 2007 Alistair Godfrey. Scottish Charity No. SC012718

Source: http://psns.tsohost.co.uk/botanical/PerthshireSocietyofNaturalScience-PSNS-BotanicalSection_1.pdf