Chapter VII.

FLOWERING PLANTS OF GAIRLOCH.

It is matter of regret that no adequate herbarium has been prepared for Gairloch. With the aid of Lady Mackenzie of Gairloch, Mrs Fowler of Inverbroom, Mr O. H. Mackenzie, Mr A. Davidson, and other helpers, a list has been compiled, and is appended to these notes. It is imperfect, but we hope that it may lead to a more accurate and complete account of the flora of the parish.

Visitors to Gairloch are invited to add to our list, and any botanical information they may be willing to impart will be received with thanks. But they are appealed to to abstain (when searching for plants) from anything like a trespass or an infringement of the privileges of others. Thoughtlessness on the part of a few, may bring discredit on botanists generally.

Searchers for wildflowers are further entreated, not to eradicate any plant that may be found,--nay, not even to greatly reduce its dimensions; remembering that others ought to be allowed the chance of observing it, and that it is unfair to rob a country of its charms. Two instances are given in our "Introduction" of the destruction of ferns by tourists. Surely a word to the wise is sufficient.

The larger and more showy of our woodland plants, as well as of many kinds that should flourish on the edges of moors and about cultivated land, have become rare, and in some cases have altogether disappeared, since the introduction of sheep-farming into Gairloch. Not only do the smearing materials applied to sheep poison the ground, and being washed down into streams check the multiplication of trout, but the close nibble of sheep deteriorates pasture, and destroys many succulent plants. In spring, before the grass on the hills has made any growth, the sheep everywhere attack the primroses, so that no early blooms can be found except among wet places and rocks. The ewes and lambs are often kept near home until summer has set in, and one can almost fancy that they have a special taste for the choicest flowering plants. Dr Mackenzie attributes the present scarceness of wildflowers to the appetites of sheep, and all who have considered the question entirely concur in this opinion. Dr Mackenzie, writing of the first quarter of the nineteenth century, says, "The braes and wooded hillocks were a perfect jungle of every kind of loveable shrubs and wildflowers, especially orchids, some of the epipactis tribe being everywhere a lovely drug."

Most of the best flowers are now only met with on steep banks, among rocks, by road sides, on soft boggy ground, by the sea-shore, or in other localities not much frequented by sheep. The epipactis ensifolia, formerly abundant, is now almost unknown in Gairloch. In June 1883 I discovered a specimen on a stony bank by water. In 1885 there were two plants at the same place. I have not seen it elsewhere, nor had Mr O. H. Mackenzie seen it until this plant was found.

Most of the gayest wildflowers are over by the time the run of tourists begins. Many of the loveliest bloom in June or early in July. A bouquet of wildflowers, well arranged in masses, does not stand long in water, but is difficult to beat for graceful forms and exquisite tones of colour. The yellow iris, the rosy sea-thrift, the purple orchis, the orange St John's wort, the ragged robin, the blue hyacinth, and the lilac valerian, are eminently fitted to display the taste of the fair florist.

Though many beautiful flowers have disappeared before September, yet in autumn the country becomes brilliant with a fresh supply. The moors are purple with heather and ling, and also teem with the orange-coloured bog asphodel, whilst the patches of corn are ablaze with the brilliant yellow corn marigold so popular for bouquets. From March to October each month has its peculiar gems, and this Highland parish yields not only the rare alpine plants of the mountains, but many equally prized treasures of the rocks and strands that edge the sea lochs. There are also several interesting plants that abound in fresh-water lochs, such as the white water-lily, the water-lobelia, and the bog-bean.

Of the rarer plants found in Gairloch the following are perhaps worthy of special note, viz., the narrow-leaved helleborine, the long-leaved sun-dew, the pale butterwort, the purple saxifrage, the stone bramble, the cloudberry, the cranberry, the water avens, the chickweed wintergreen, the arrow-grass, the trollius, the water lobelia, and several uncommon ferns.

The following list includes the indigenous trees and all the ferns I know; several plants are doubtful natives, such as the corn-poppy and corn-cockle. The order of arrangement is that adopted in Sowerby's "British Wildflowers":--

FLOWERING PLANTS OF GAIRLOCH.

_Thalictrum alpinum_--Alpine meadow rue. _Anemone nemorosa_--Wood anemone. _Ranunculus aquatilis_--Water crowfoot. " _hederaceus_--Ivy-leaved crowfoot. " _flammula_--Lesser spearwort. " _ficaria_--Small celandine; pilewort. " _acris_--Buttercup. " _repens_--Creeping buttercup. " _bulbosus_--Bulbous buttercup. _Caltha palustris_--Marsh marigold. _Trollius europæus_--Globe flower. _Berberis vulgaris_--Barberry; doubtful native. _Nymphæa_ alba--White water-lily. _Papaver dubium_--Long-headed poppy. " _rhœas_--Corn poppy. _Chelidonium majus_--Celandine. _Fumaria capreolata_--Rampant fumitory. " _officinalis_--Common fumitory. _Corydalis claviculata_--Climbing corydalis. _Cakile maritima_--Sea rocket. _Crambe maritima_--Sea-kale. _Coronopus didyma_--Small wart-cress. _Capsella bursa-pastoris_--Shepherd's purse. _Lepidium Smithii_--Smooth-fruited pepperwort. _Cochlearia officinalis_--Scurvy-grass. " _anglica_--English scurvy-grass. " _danica_--Danish scurvy-grass. _Draba verna_--Whitlow-grass. " _incana_--Twisted-podded Draba. _Cardamine pratensis_--Lady's smock. " _hirsuta_--Hairy bitter-cress. _Arabis petræa_--Rock-cress. " _hirsuta_--Hairy wall-cress. _Barbarea vulgaris_--Winter cress; yellow rocket. _Sisymbrium thalianum_--Thale-cress. _Sinapis arvensis_--Charlock; wild mustard. _Viola palustris_--Marsh violet. " _canina_--Dog violet. " _tricolor_--Heart's-ease; pansy. " _lutea_--Mountain pansy. _Drosera rotundifolia_--Sun-dew. " _longifolia_--Long-leaved sun-dew. " _anglica_--Great sun-dew. _Polygala vulgaris_--Milkwort. _Silene acaulis_--Moss campion. " _maritima_--Sea campion. _Lychnis flos-cuculi_--Ragged Robin. " _diurna, and var. vespertina_--Campion. _Agrostemma githago_--Corn-cockle. _Sagina procumbens_--Creeping pearlwort. _Spergula arvensis_--Spurrey. " _subulata_--Small hairy spurrey. _Stellaria media_--Chickweed. " _holostea_--Starwort. _Arenaria peploides_--Sea sandwort; sea pimpernel. _Cerastium vulgatum_--Broad-leaved mouse-ear. " _viscosum_--Narrow-leaved mouse-ear. _Linum catharticum_--Little flax. _Radiola millegrana_--All-seed. _Malva sylvestris_--Common mallow; doubtful native. " _moschata_--Musk mallow; doubtful native. _Hypericum perforatum_--Common St John's wort. " _pulchrum_--Small St John's wort. _Parnassia palustris_--Grass of Parnassus. _Geranium sanguineum_--Crimson crane's-bill. " _lucidum_--Shining crane's-bill. " _Robertianum_--Herb Robert. " _molle_--Soft crane's-bill. _Erodium cicutarium_--Heron's-bill. _Oxalis acetosella_--Wood-sorrel. _Ulex europæus_--Furze; whin. _Anthyllis vulneraria_--Kidney-vetch. _Medicago lupulina_--Black medick; doubtful native. _Trifolium repens_--White clover. " _pratense_--Red clover. " _procumbens_--Hop trefoil. " _minus_--Lesser yellow trefoil. _Lotus corniculatus_--Bird's-foot trefoil. _Vicia cracca_--Tufted vetch. " _sativa_--Tare. " _sepium_--Bush vetch. _Ervum hirsutum_--Hairy tine-tare. _Lathyrus pratensis_--Meadow vetchling. _Prunus spinosa_--Blackthorn. " _padus_--Bird-cherry. " _cerasus_--Wild gean. _Spiræa ulmaria_--Meadow-sweet. _Geum urbanum_--Common avens. " _rivale_--Water avens. _Rubus idæus_--Raspberry. " _fruticosus_--Bramble. " _saxatilis_--Stone bramble. " _chamæmorus_--Cloud-berry. _Fragaria vesca_--Wild strawberry. _Comarum palustre_--Marsh cinque-foil. _Potentilla anserina_--Goose-weed. " _reptans_--Creeping cinque-foil. _Tormentilla officinalis_--Common tormentil. _Alchemilla vulgaris_--Lady's-mantle. " _alpina_--Alpine lady's-mantle. " _arvensis_--Field lady's-mantle. _Rosa involuta_--Unexpanded rose. " _mollis_--Soft-leaved rose. " _canina_--Dog rose. _Cratægus oxyacantha_--Hawthorn. _Pyrus malus_--Wild apple; crab. " _aucuparia_--Mountain ash; rowan. " _aria_--White beam-tree. _Epilobium angustifolium_--French willow-herb. " _montanum_--Broad-leaved willow-herb. " _alsinifolium_--Chickweed willow-herb. " _alpinum_--Alpine willow-herb. _Circæa alpina_--Alpine enchanter's nightshade. _Montia fontana_--Water blinks. _Rhodiola rosea_--Rose-root. _Sedum anglicum_--Mountain stonecrop. " _acre_--Stonecrop; wallpepper " _reflexum_--Crooked stonecrop. " _glaucum_--Glaucous stonecrop. _Saxifraga stellaris_--Starry saxifrage. " _aizoides_--Yellow mountain saxifrage. " _oppositifolia_--Purple saxifrage. " _hypnoides_--Ladies'-cushion. _Chrysosplenium alternifolium_--Golden saxifrage. " _oppositifolium_--Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage. _Hydrocotyle vulgaris_--Marsh pennywort. _Ægopodium podagraria_--Gout weed. _Bunium flexuosum_--Earth-nut. _Œnanthe crocata_--Hemlock dropwort. _Ligusticum scoticum_--Scottish lovage. _Meum athamanticum_--Spignel. _Crithmum maritimum_--Samphire. _Angelica sylvestris_--Wild angelica. _Heracleum sphondylium_--Cow-parsnip. _Daucus maritima_--Sea-side carrot. _Scandix pecten-Veneris_--Venus's comb. _Anthriscus sylvestris_--Cow-parsley; wild chervil. _Myrrhis odorata_--Sweet cicely. _Hedera helix_--Ivy. _Cornus suecica_--Dwarf cornel. _Sambucus nigra_--Common elder. _Viburnum opulus_--Guelder rose. _Lonicera periclymenum_--Honeysuckle. _Galium verum_--Yellow bed-straw. " _palustre_--White water bed-straw. " _saxatile_--Smooth heath bed-straw. " _uliginosum_--Rough marsh bed-straw. " _aparine_--Goose-grass. _Sherardia arvensis_--Field madder. _Asperula odorata_--Woodruff. _Valeriana dioica_--Marsh valerian. " _officinalis_--Great wild valerian. _Scabiosa succisa_--Devil's-bit. " _arvensis_--Field scabious. " _columbaria_--Small scabious. _Sonchus oleraceus_--Sow-thistle. _Leontodon taraxacum_--Dandelion. _Apargia hispida_--Rough hawk-bit. _Hieracium alpinum_--Alpine hawkweed. " _sylvaticum_--Wood hawkweed. _Crepis tectorum_--Smooth hawk's-beard. _Lapsana communis_--Nipplewort. _Arctium lappa_--Burdock. " _majus_--Burdock. _Saussurea alpina_--Alpine saussurea. _Carduus nutans_--Musk thistle. _Cnicus lanceolatus_--Spear thistle. " _palustris_--Marsh thistle. " _arvensis_--Common thistle. " _heterophyllus_--Dark plume thistle. _Tanacetum vulgare_--Tansy. _Artemisia vulgaris_--Mugwort. _Antennaria dioica_--Cat's-foot. _Gnaphalium sylvaticum_--Highland cudweed. " _supinum_--Dwarf cudweed. _Tussilago farfara_--Colt's-foot. _Petasites vulgaris_--Butter-bur. _Senecio vulgaris_--Groundsel. " _Jacobæa_--Common ragwort. " _aquaticus_--Marsh ragwort. _Aster tripolium_--Sea starwort. _Solidago virgaurea_--Golden-rod. _Bellis perennis_--Daisy. _Chrysanthemum leucanthemum_--Ox-eye daisy. " _segetum_--Corn marigold. _Pyrethrum inodorum_--Corn feverfew. _Matricaria chamomilla_--Wild chamomile. _Anthemis maritima_--Sea chamomile. _Achillea ptarmica_--Sneezewort. " _millefolium_--Yarrow; milfoil. _Centaurea nigra_--Black knapweed. " _cyanus_--Corn-flower; blue-bottle. _Campanula rapunculoides_--Creeping bell-flower. " _hederacea_--Ivy-leaved bell-flower; doubtful native. _Lobelia dortmanna_--Water lobelia. _Vaccinium myrtillus_--Bilberry. " _vitis idæa_--Cow-berry. _Oxycoccus palustris_--Cranberry. _Erica tetralix_--Cross-leaved heath; bell-heather. " _cinerea_--Common heath. _Calluna vulgaris_--Ling; heather. _Azalea procumbens_--Creeping azalea. _Arctostaphylos uva-ursi_--Red bear-berry. _Pyrola minor_--Lesser winter-green. " _secunda_--Serrated winter-green. _Ilex aquifolium_--Holly. _Fraxinus excelsior_--Ash. _Gentiana campestris_--Field gentian. _Menyanthes trifoliata_--Bog-bean. _Lithospermum maritimum_--Sea gromwell. _Myosotis cæspitosa_--Tufted forget-me-not. " _arvensis_--Field forget-me-not. " _collina_--Early forget-me-not. " _versicolor_--Changeable forget-me-not. _Lycopsis arvensis_--Bugloss. _Atropa belladonna_--Deadly nightshade. _Orobanche rubra_--Red broom-rape. _Veronica serpyllifolia_--Thyme-leaved speedwell. " _scutellata_--Marsh speedwell. " _beccabunga_--Brooklime. " _officinalis_--Common speedwell. " _chamædrys_--Germander speedwell. " _hederifolia_--Ivy-leaved speedwell. " _agrestis_--Germander chickweed. _Bartsia odontites_--Red eye-bright. _Euphrasia officinalis_--Eye-bright. _Rhinanthus crista-galli_--Yellow-rattle. _Melampyrum sylvaticum_--Wood cow-wheat. _Pedicularis palustris_--Marsh red-rattle. " _sylvatica_--Dwarf red-rattle. _Scrophularia nodosa_--Knotty figwort. " _aquatica_--Water figwort. _Digitalis purpurea_--Foxglove. _Mimulus luteus_--Yellow mimulus. _Mentha sylvestris_--Horse mint. " _piperita_--Peppermint. " _sativa_--Water mint; whorled mint. " _arvensis_--Corn mint. _Thymus serpyllum_--Wild thyme. _Teucrium scorodonia_--Germander. _Ajuga reptans_--Bugle. " _pyramidalis_--Pyramidal bugle. _Galeopsis tetrahit_--Hemp-nettle. " _versicolor_--Bee-nettle. _Lamium album_--White dead-nettle. " _purpureum_--Red dead-nettle. _Stachys sylvatica_--Hedge woundwort. " _palustris_--Marsh woundwort. _Nepeta cataria_--Cat-mint. _Prunella vulgaris_--Self-heal. _Scutellaria galericulata_--Skull-cap. _Pinguicula vulgaris_--Butterwort. " _lusitanica_--Pale butterwort. _Utricularia minor_--Small bladderwort. _Primula vulgaris_--Primrose. _Glaux maritima_--Sea milkwort. _Trientalis europæa_--Chickweed winter-green. _Lysimachia nemorum_--Wood pimpernel. _Armeria maritima_--Sea thrift. _Plantago major_--Greater plantain. " _lanceolata_--Ribwort. " _maritima_--Sea plantain. " _coronopus_--Buck's-horn plantain. _Beta maritima_--Beet. _Chenopodium maritimum_--Sea goosefoot. " _urbicum_--Upright goosefoot. " _murale_--Nettle-leaved goosefoot. " _album_--White goosefoot. " " _var. candicans_. " " _var. paganum_. _Salicornia herbacea_--Glasswort. _Salsola kali_--Saltwort. _Scleranthus annuus_--Knawel. _Atriplex patula_--Spreading orache. _Polygonum viviparum_--Alpine bistort. " _aviculare_--Knot-grass. " _persicaria_--Spotted persicaria. " _hydropiper_--Biting persicaria. " _maritimum_--Sea knot-grass. " _convolvolus_--Black bindweed. " _amphibium_--Water persicaria. _Rumex crispus_--Curled dock. " _obtusifolius_--Broad-leaved dock. " _acetosa_--Sorrel. " _acetosella_--Sheep's sorrel. _Oxyria reniformis_--Mountain sorrel. _Empetrum nigrum_--Crow-berry. _Mercurialis perennis_--Mercury. _Euphorbia helioscopia_--Sun-spurge. " _peplus_--Petty-spurge. _Callitriche verna_--Springwater starwort. _Urtica dioica_--Common nettle. _Ulmus montana_--Wych elm. _Myrica gale_--Sweet gale; bog-myrtle. _Betula alba_--White birch. " _nana_--Dwarf birch. _Alnus glutinosa_--Alder. _Salix pentandra_--Sweet willow. " _alba_--White willow. " _angustifolia_--Little tree-willow. " _ambigua_--Ambiguous willow. " _reticulata_--Net-leaved willow. " _viminalis_--Common osier. " _cinerea_--Grey sallow. " _caprea_--Great sallow. " _nigricans_--Dark-leaved willow. " _herbacea_--Dwarf willow. _Populus tremula_--Aspen. _Quercus robur_, or _pedunculata_--Oak. _Corylus avellana_--Hazel. _Pinus sylvestris_--Scotch fir. _Juniperus communis_--Juniper. " _nana_--Dwarf juniper. _Orchis maculata_--Spotted orchis. _Gymnadenia conopsea_--Fragrant orchis. _Habenaria albida_--Small white orchis. " _chlorantha_--Butterfly orchis. " _bifolia_--Smaller butterfly orchis. _Herminium monorchis_--Green musk orchis. _Listera ovata_--Tway-blade. _Epipactis ensifolia_--Narrow-leaved helleborine. _Iris pseud-acorus_--Yellow iris. _Hyacinthus non-scriptus_--Wild hyacinth. _Allium oleraceum_--Wild garlic. " _ursinum_--Ramsons. _Tofieldia palustris_--Scottish asphodel. _Narthecium ossifragum_--Bog asphodel. _Juncus conglomeratus_--Common rush. " _lamprocarpus_, or _articulatus_--Jointed rush. " _triglumis_--Three-flowered rush. _Luzula sylvatica_--Great hairy-rush. " _spicata_--Spiked hairy-rush. _Triglochin palustre_--Arrow-grass. " _maritimum_--Sea-side arrow-grass. _Potamogeton natans_--Broad-leaved pond-weed. " _lucens_--Shining pond-weed. " _oblongus_--Oblong-leaved pond-weed. _Eriophorum vaginatum_--Hare's-tail cotton-grass. " _angustifolium_--Common cotton-grass. _Equisetum arvense_--Field horse-tail. " _sylvaticum_--Wood horse-tail. " _limosum_--Smooth horse-tail. " _palustre_--Marsh horse-tail. _Polypodium vulgare_--Common polypody. " _phegopteris_--Mountain polypody; beech fern. " _dryopteris_--Tender three-branched polypody; oak fern. _Lastrea oreopteris_--Sweet mountain fern; mountain buckler fern. " _filix-mas_--Male fern. " _spinulosa_--Narrow prickly-toothed buckler fern. " _dilatata_--Broad prickly-toothed buckler fern. _Polystichum lonchitis_--Holly fern. " _lobatum_--Close-leaved prickly shield-fern. _Cystopteris fragilis_--Brittle bladder fern. _Athyrium filix-fœmina_--Lady fern. _Asplenium adiantum-nigrum_--Black spleenwort. " _trichomanes_--Common wall spleenwort. " _viride_--Green spleenwort. " _marinum_--Sea spleenwort. " _ruta-muraria_--Wall rue. " _septentrionale_--Forked spleenwort. _Scolopendrium vulgare_--Common hart's-tongue. _Blechnum boreale_--Hard fern. _Pteris aquilina_--Common brake. _Hymenophyllum Wilsoni_--Scottish filmy fern. _Osmunda regalis_--Royal or flowering fern. _Botrychium lunaria_--Moonwort. _Ophioglossum vulgatum_--Common adder's tongue. _Lycopodium clavatum_--Common club-moss. " _annotinum_--Interrupted club-moss. " _alpinum_--Savin-leaved club-moss. " _selago_--Fir club-moss.