09:00 Arrival, registration,
setting up, coffee.
10.15 Welcome: Professor Mary Gibby, Director of
Science, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
10.25 Introduction: Chair, BSBI Scottish Committee:
Chris Miles
10.30 BSBI President, Ian Bonner
10.40 BSS President, Barbara Sumner: 175 Years of
BSE/BSS
10.50 Robin Payne, Vascular Plant Specialist, SNH:
Recent changes to the law on non-native plants
11.00 Break
11.30 Kevin Walker, BSBI Head of Research &
Development: Rare Plant Registers – onwards and
upwards
11.45 Angus Hannah, Acting BSBI Scottish Officer:
The Year Ahead
12.00 BSBI Scottish Regional AGM (all welcome), or
lunch or view
exhibits
12.30 Lunch.
14.00 Jonny Hughes, Head of Policy, SWT: The
Scottish Wildlife Trust’s botanical gems
14.20 Andy Scobie, Project Officer, Cairngorms Rare
Plants Partnership: Cairngorm rare plant
conservation
14.35 Short talk by one of the exhibitors
14.50 Break (BSBI Scottish Committee Members
Meeting)
16.15 Question & Answer session
16.45 Break for clearing the exhibits
17.00 Richard Gornall, University of Leicester
Saxifrages
18.00 Close and thanks: Chairman of BSBI Scottish
Committee
18.30 Evening Meal
2011
Scottish Annual Meeting Exhibition Abstracts
Melampodium not Sanvitalia
Geoffrey Halliday
As Eric Clement has pointed out, the popular
yellow-flowered garden plant sold as Sanvitalia
procumbens (Asteraceae) is actually a species of the
central American genus Melampodium. There are three
British records to date: from Somerset, South Hants.
and Westmorland, all from urban pavements and no
doubt derived from plants in hanging baskets or
tubs. I have two clones in my garden, neither
produces obvious seed, one is annual, like the above
three plants, the other is perennial.
Eric has referred all these plants to M. montanum
which he describes as being annual and rhizomatous.
However, none of the British plants have rhizomes. I
have recently learnt that an American authority on
the genus has a paper in the press in which he
refers all these plants to a new species closely
related to M. montanum.
Some recent finds in Dumfriesshire
Chris Miles
A number of interesting species have been found or
refound in the last couple of years:
Eleocharis mammilata, Northern Spike-rush a new vc
record just over the Border from populations in
Selkirkshire in the Esk catchment
Erigeron acer, Blue Fleabane, a new VC record, in a
quarry with an interesting flora including Ophris
apifera.
Carex limosa, Bog-sedge, still present at
Stroanshalloch Loch since recorded in the Flora of
1896 despite afforestation of the area and possibly
the only extant record in vc72
Carex magellanica Tall bog sedge. in a new site on a
bog protected from recent afforestation.
Coeloglossum viride, Frog orchid, found near the
Gentianella in a new hectad. This is only the 7th
record for the vc.
Blysmus compressus, Flat-sedge refound in an inland
site in a hectad where recorded in 1896.
Trientalis europea, Chickweed wintergreen, a new
hectad record well to the west of other records and
only the 5th record for the vc.
Gentianella campestris, Field Gentian, refound in an
old site after 110 years. The 7th site for the vc.
Seashore to Roadside Plants in Lanarkshire (vc77)
Peter Macpherson
Sea Spurrey (Spergularia marina). From a first
sighting in 1996 there are now 223 x 1km square
records. Danish Scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica).
From a first sighting in 1989 there are now 114 x
1km square records. Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima).
From a first roadside sighting in 2009 there are now
three x 1km square records.
Newspaper ‘Bloomers’
Peter Macpherson
Four examples are shown of conservation issues in
which the plant purported to be an orchid was
obviously not so. In two cases the photograph was of
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), in one each Hedge
Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) and a Gentian (Gentianella
sp.). An article in 2001 stated that the Japanese
Knotweed had been seen in Glasgow for the first
time. It has been known since at least 1931 and by
the mid 1950’s was described as “everywhere”. A
magazine article in September of this year stated
that “Lesser Knapweed, Field Scabious, Bird’s-foot
Trefoil and Red Clover are becoming increasingly
rare in the British countryside”.
Roxburgh (v.c.80) and Selkirkshire (v.c 79) Plants.
Rod Corner
v.c. 79: Stellaria pallida.(Lesser Chickweed). New
to the vice-county by Jeff Waddell. Thought to be
confined to thin soiled igneous outcrops as an
inland species in the Scottish Borders until J.W.
discovered it as a weed in Selkirk and Kelso. Is it
extending its range or has it been previously been
overlooked as stunted Stellaria media (Common
Chickweed). The distinguishing features were given.
v.c. 80: Cotula squalida. (Leptinella). New to the
vice-county by Alison Murfitt. Close scrutiny of the
lawns of mansions are required to detect this native
of New Zealand.
Juncus compressus. (Round-fruited rush.) This rare
Scottish rush is known from basaltic rocks by the
Tweed upstream from Kelso where it was first noted
in 1874 by Andrew Brotherston, one of the most
astute Border botanists of his day and re-found in
1972. His record was rejected by the “First Atlas”
as being “known or suspected to have been recorded
in error.” The editors underestimated Brotherston’s
expertise. It still survives in good quantity.
Medicago arabica. (Spotted Medick). On path by Tweed
away from habitation as a possible adventive from
the wool industry upstream.
Myosotis stolonifera. (Pale Forget-me-not.) In a new
hectad in only its third extant vice-county site. It
is very much commoner in v.c. 79 and under recorded
there.
Poa palustris. (Swamp Meadow-grass.) In a new hectad.
Stated to have undergone a substantial decline in
the last 40 years but several new Tweedside records
in recent years are bucking the trend. It has
presumably been overlooked.
Vaccinium uliginosum. (Bog Blaeberry.) Yet another
good sized colony in the Newcastleton area at 220m
altitude. These plants are the northern outliers of
the North Cumbrian populations of lowland peat
mosses.
Berwickshire BSBI Botanical Site Register
Michael Braithwaite
The Site Register is stated to be a provisional
edition as a resurvey of Berwickshire is ongoing and
a more complete version is planned when the resurvey
is complete. Maps showing progress with the resurvey
were exhibited. 16 out of 23 hectads or part hectads,
representing 811 out of 1202 monads, have been
resurveyed to date to a sampling strategy. At the
current rate of progress two more years fieldwork
are needed to complete the resurvey. The number of
taxa recorded per hectad currently averages 115% of
the 1987-1999 survey. The number of distinct monad
taxa currently averages 159% of the 1987-1999
survey.
A ‘second generation’ CRPR was exhibited that had
been completed in March 2011 and presents data site
by site within hectads. The text that accompanies
the tables of species records is available for free
download from the BSBI website under ‘Rare Plant
Registers’ as ‘A Botanical Tour of Berwickshire’.
Herbal plants surviving in the wild at a medieval
hospital site in Berwickshire
Michael
Braithwaite
Hyocyamus niger (Henbane) was found in quantity on
an eroding sandy bank at Dalcove Braes NT63
overlooking the River Tweed. This species had not
been seen in Berwickshire since 1956. Associated
species included Ballota nigra (Black Horehound),
Conium maculatum (Hemlock), Echium vulgare (Viper’s
Bugloss), Malva sylvestris (Common Mallow) and
Reseda luteola (Weld). There was a medieval hospital
at or near this site dedicated to St Mary Magdalene
which was destroyed by the English in 1544. It seems
inescapable that some or all of these species, all
of which had medicinal uses, have survived from
plants grown at the hospital half a millennium ago.
A
New Hybrid to Europe: Geum macrophyllum, from
N. America, and G. urbanum.
Douglas McKean & Heather McHaffie
The former garden plant is similar to a giant G. urbanum and the hybrid is found in two localities in
the Lothians and probably occurs elsewhere in the
U.K. The hybrid between G. macrophyllum and
rivale
was also found as a weed in the RBGE by Heather
McHaffie.
A
Midlothian update of probable Epilobium x aggregatum
(E. montanum x E. obscurum).
Douglas McKean
The plant was originally determined by me as E. tetragonum subsp.
lamyi but Dr Pennington, the
referee, corrected my mistake. The plants were huge
for lamyi, being almost a meter high and some leaves
up to 4 cm wide. Specimens of this were found by
Isla Browning in cultivated fields at Gogar, near
Edinburgh Airport.
New and old plants near Philpstoun Bing (West
Lothian)
Jackie Muscott
Great Lettuce Lactuca virosa recently appeared in
the centre of Philpstoun Bing a hollowed out oil
shale bing by the Union Canal. Another unusual plant
recorded on the bing is Deadly Nightshade Atropa
bella-donna. It was first recorded in 1934, then
'lost' for 50 years, but is now widespread.
To the east of Philpstoun two weedy patches left for
pheasants have produced some unusual plants: to the
north of the canal Chicory Cichorium intybus and to
the south a single plant of Purple Vipers Bugloss
Echium plantagineum, together with a good deal of
Field Woundwort Stachys arvensis (from a seed bank?)
at both sites.
Rare
And Interesting Plants In Vc85 (Fife & Kinross)
Sandy Edwards
Apart from the tetrad recording I have started in
VC85 I have also been going through George
Ballantyne’s list of rare plants in Fife and
Kinross. Where they are confirmed I have recorded
and photographed them and they can be accessed on
the BSBI website for
Fife and Kinross.
This list has just started and will of course be added to as I find them.
This is a
slide show of the collection so far and
usually states the location and date.
Vice County 87, West Perthshire, 2011
L.
Lavery, J. Jones and P.D. Stanley
Displayed were the principal additions to the flora for VC87 with updates of
significant taxa. New to the VC were Many-seeded Goosefoot, Chenopodium
polyspermum, Calystegia x lucana (C. sepium x C. sylvatica ) and
Senecio x
ostenfeldii (S. jacobaea x S. aquaticus) all in the vicinity of Callander.
Updates were provided for Sorbus x thuringiaca (S. aucuparia x S. aria) and a
second extant location for Hedge Bedstraw, Galium mollugo.
Not displayed, but new for VC87 were Yellow Figwort, Scrophularia vernalis,
recorded in the derelict station yard at Doune and Salix purpurea x S. cinerea,
discovered by the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, Botanical Section, in
the Menteith Hills.
East Perthshire Rare Plant
Register
Martin Robinson
The 1st version of an RPR for VC89 was written
during 2011. 287 species were included, comprising
all those with IUCN designations other than Least
Concern (Cheffings & Farrell 2005) and all
Nationally Rare and Nationally Scarce species.
Locally Rare (1-3 sites) and Locally Scarce (4-15
sites) were also included, and these together
comprised about half of the total number of species
in the Register. The causes for the rarity or
scarcity of some of them were identified: e.g.
restricted area of their habitat, edge of their
range, under-recording.
The species most special to East Perthshire is
Polygonatum verticillatum Whorled Solomon’s Seal.
The vice-county has 8 of its 10 sites in the UK.
Illustrations of members of each qualification
category are presented.
Sinapis alba White Mustard in VC89 (East Perths)
Martin Robinson
Sinapis alba, found in a field of mixed forage rape
and stubble turnips beside my house, was,
surprisingly, a new record for the VC. It is
suggested that this may be a greatly under-recorded
species, on account of its superficial resemblance
to S. arvensis Charlock and an antipathy towards
yellow crucifers on the part of many botanists.
New
willow hybrid
Leslie Tucker
On Saturday 2nd July 2011, whilst descending the
burnside path to Dal Righ (NN 2727 Mid-Perth v.c.88)
with SNH Ranger Steve Longster, I facilely
identified a low shrub as the hybrid between
Mountain Willow Salix arbuscula L. and Eared Willow
S. aurita L., growing with its parents in exemplary
and photogenic proximity. However, at home, I could
find no record of this combination; apparently it is
a new type specimen. Subsequently, pressed leaves
showed none of the blackening which would indicate
derivation from Dark-leafed Willow S. myrsinifolia
or Creeping Willow S. repens, considered as possible
alternative parent species.
Exhibit included abstract note with appropriate
binomial, diagnosis, and description; also voucher
specimens (Hbm LCNT EQ1, 2 & 3 for RBGE), including
rooted leafy cuttings being cultivated to produce
catkins, &c., for further study.
Salix ×luiensis L. C. N. Tucker hybrida nova inter
Salicem arbusculam L. et S. auritam L., nominis
provisori ab loco invento, cum parentes crescens ac
proprie intermedia: foliis rectiellipticis
glandiserrulatisque sed etiam rugosis crispihirsutis
stipulatisque primita evidenta; postea ut nunquam
nigricantis nec a Salice myrsinifolia Salisb. neque
a S. repenti L. oriunda distinguitur. Amenta nundum
visa.
Evidence of Climate Change in the Uplands
Theo Loizou
In general, it is assumed that plant responses to
climate change lag behind those of the animal
kingdom. Here, evidence is presented which suggests
that this might not be the case. In a relatively
short period (< 25 years) several species including
Athyrium distentifolium (Alpine Lady-fern) and
Carex
norvegica (Close-headed Alpine Sedge) appear to have
shown marked declines in the uplands. Photographic
and other empirical information concerning these
species is presented.
Is
Moroccan Ivy one of the parents of the Atlantic?
Alison Rutherford
Living sprays of
Hedera helix, Hedera hibernica, H. hibernica ‘hibernica’ and
H. maroccana are displayed
to show some features which have been noticed in the
Atlantic:
Similar sap scent; rampant growth; yellow-green
foliage; bigger leaves that don’t open flat and
scale-hairs intermediate between the small reddish
and the white-haired Hedera groups.
Botanising on wheels
Alison Rutherford
An arthritic dog was mobilized on a converted
pushchair, which required hard surface walks. Some
neglected 1 km squares in vc99 and a few in vc75
round the coastal town of Ardrossan were visited.
Both areas proved surprisingly rich in species. More
ground was covered by sampling, not recording. This
method (minus dog) might help cover built-up areas.
Sedum villosum Hairy
Stonecrop in Mull
Lynne Farrell
In BSBI News No. 115 September 2010, Michael
Braithwaite wrote an article on Sedum villosum in
Berwickshire, its decline both in that vice-county
and its future in the British flora. This species
was part of the TPP recently, and so I surveyed the
sites on Mull, VC 103. In addition to the survey, I
found a new site on the Ross of Mull during my
on-going tetrad recording. The exhibit shows some of
the sites on Ardmeanach and the new site on the
Ross, due south of Ardmeanach.
The
flora of far north railway stations
Brian Ballinger
The publicly accessible areas of the 12 railway
stations in Easter Ross (VC106) were visited on two
occasions in either 2000 or 2005 and again in 2011.
227 vascular plant species were noted in all, but 72
seen on the first occasion were not re-found in the
second survey. 31 new species were recorded during
the 2011 visits.
There appears to have been an increased use of
herbicides in recent years, particularly on
platforms. However many stations continue to produce
a good floral display.
Interesting finds included Orobanche minor (Common
Broomrape) and Crassula tillaea (Mossy Stonecrop).
New
sites for Saltmarsh Sedge Carex salina from
the Scottish Saltmarsh Survey
Ian
Strachan
The Scottish Saltmarsh Survey 2010-12 is a national
assessment of all saltmarshes around our coast of at
least 3ha, and a sample of smaller sites. Funded by
SNH and SEPA, the work is being carried out by the
ecological consultancy NatureBureau Ltd and is being
project managed by BSBI member Thomas Haynes over 3
years. It will update the last national saltmarsh
survey from the 1980s, assess the state of the
resource in Scotland and establish a new baseline
for monitoring change.
Saltmarsh Sedge Carex salina was first discovered in
Britain in 2004 by Keith Hutcheon (Watsonia 27:
51-57) at Morvich in Loch Duich (VC105). Subsequent
searches on the west coast had failed to find
additional populations. So it was with great
excitement that this enigmatic sedge was found in
August 2011 at two sites in Loch Sunart (VC97). The
large saltmarsh at the head of the loch (NM8360),
beside the mouth of the River Carnoch, has a number
of scattered occurrences. A large stand was also
found at Strontian beside the mouth of the Strontian
River (NM813614). In common with the Morvich site,
very few flowering spikes were present.
For further information on the Scottish Saltmarsh
Survey contact
Tom@naturebureau.co.uk
West Sutherland: some surprises
Pat
and Ian Evans
It has been a good year, both for species new to the
vice-county and rediscoveries. Galium album (Hedge
Bedstraw) appeared on a roadside north of Lower Badcall (new to vc.108). We found
Trisetum
flavescens (Yellow Oat-grass) near the entrance to
Balnakeil Golf-course, possibly introduced, but
nevertheless the first recent record. An extensive
marsh at Balnakeil and associated drainage channel
yielded Glyceria declinata (Small Sweet-grass -first
recent record) and G. x pedicellata (Hybrid
Sweet-grass -new to the north-west). Finally, we
rediscovered Leontodon saxatilis (Lesser Hawkbit) in
quantity in coastal grassland at Sheigra (last
recorded in 1966) and found it on roadsides in five
other hectads.
The
BSBI Distribution Database (‘The Big Database’)
Tom
Humphrey
The new Big Database was demonstrated.
Botanising in Lapland
Mark Tulley
Some photographs of plants taken in Lapland were
displayed on a laptop.
Identification Help
Douglas McKean
A table was provided for the display of unidentified
specimens and/or photographs. It was well used and
many identifications were made.
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