Gairloch In North-West Ross-Shire Part 36

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 gra.s.s 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 appet.i.tes 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-sh.o.r.e, 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 ma.s.ses, 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 h.e.l.leborine, the long-leaved sun-dew, the pale b.u.t.terwort, the purple saxifrage, the stone bramble, the cloudberry, the cranberry, the water avens, the chickweed wintergreen, the arrow-gra.s.s, 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-c.o.c.kle. 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_--b.u.t.tercup.

" _repens_--Creeping b.u.t.tercup.

" _bulbosus_--Bulbous b.u.t.tercup.

_Caltha pal.u.s.tris_--Marsh marigold.

_Trollius europaeus_--Globe flower.

_Berberis vulgaris_--Barberry; doubtful native.

_Nymphaea_ alba--White water-lily.

_Papaver dubium_--Long-headed poppy.

" _rhas_--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-gra.s.s.

" _anglica_--English scurvy-gra.s.s.

" _danica_--Danish scurvy-gra.s.s.

_Draba verna_--Whitlow-gra.s.s.

" _incana_--Twisted-podded Draba.

_Cardamine pratensis_--Lady's smock.

" _hirsuta_--Hairy bitter-cress.

_Arabis petraea_--Rock-cress.

" _hirsuta_--Hairy wall-cress.

_Barbarea vulgaris_--Winter cress; yellow rocket.

_Sisymbrium thalianum_--Thale-cress.

_Sinapis arvensis_--Charlock; wild mustard.

_Viola pal.u.s.tris_--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-c.o.c.kle.

_Sagina proc.u.mbens_--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 cathartic.u.m_--Little flax.

_Radiola millegrana_--All-seed.

_Malva sylvestris_--Common mallow; doubtful native.

" _moschata_--Musk mallow; doubtful native.

_Hyperic.u.m perforatum_--Common St John's wort.

" _pulchrum_--Small St John's wort.

_Parna.s.sia pal.u.s.tris_--Gra.s.s of Parna.s.sus.

_Geranium sanguineum_--Crimson crane's-bill.

" _lucidum_--s.h.i.+ning crane's-bill.

" _Robertianum_--Herb Robert.

" _molle_--Soft crane's-bill.

_Erodium cicutarium_--Heron's-bill.

_Oxalis acetosella_--Wood-sorrel.

_Ulex europaeus_--Furze; whin.

_Anthyllis vulneraria_--Kidney-vetch.

_Medicago lupulina_--Black med.i.c.k; doubtful native.

_Trifolium repens_--White clover.

" _pratense_--Red clover.

" _proc.u.mbens_--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.