Monday, February 1, 2010

Alpine plants in Scotland


Alpine plants in Scotland, Devils Matchsticks.

One of the great pleasures I get from walking in Scotland is finding the variety of wild plants that inhabit our mountains. It never ceases to amaze me the number of plants that we walk by, on our journeys in Scotlands hills. For a few years now, I've taken a closer interest during walks and it adds a completely different dimension to my walks. Being able to pass this knowledge to others also brings its own rewards.

The best guide that I've found, which covers far more than flora, is a fantastic book, Hostile Habitats. As well as flora and fauna, it covers geology and glacial features making it an invaluable aid.





Alpine plants in Scotland, Fir Clubmoss.


Alpine Clubmoss.


Reindeer Moss.


These plants pictured in Cairngorms National Park.

1 comment:

Leigh Forbes said...

Ooh, I have Hostile Habitats on my bedside cabinet as we speak! It's a fascinating book.

The Nature of the Cairngorms is another fabulous tome on the subject, albeit more location-specific.