Assynt Meeting June 18th to 22nd 2006

Pinguicula vulgaris(Common Butterwort)

Pinguicula lusitanica(Pale Butterwort)

Nymphaea alba ssp occidentalis (White Water-lily)

Sedum rosea(Roseroot)

Vicia orobus(Wood Bitter-vetch)

Cephalanthera longifolius (Narrow-leaved Helleborine)

Coastal route - a trooper goes missing

The Colonel was pleased with things so far. We hadn't been seen although we'd stopped in the open for food and there had been no casualties either accidental, through enemy action or from friendly fire.

The botanical disguise was working well and we feigned great enthusiasm for some Sedum rosea (Roseroot) in full flower growing out of what seemed to be bare rock. The flowering periods were confusing. The occasional flowering Primrose and Bluebell told us it was Springtime but the plentiful Sedum rosea was mostly finished which indicated a mid-summer season.

The insectivorous plant Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butterwort) was dotted all over and we were always pleased to note its presence. One of the few living things apart from Drosera sp which might put the enemy off, there were unfortunately too few to lend serious help.

A much smaller and rarer cousin of the Common Butterwort was found by accident close to a small stream. Pinguicula lusitanica (Pale Butterwort) is also insectivorous but a much smaller plant with glandular hairs on the calyx.

Soon we came upon evidence of a civilisation long gone from the region. An old mill near which was some fine looking Vicia orobus (Wood Bitter-vetch) occupied the photographers for a while. About a mile further on it became obvious that one of the squad was missing. The Colonel knew that it was pointless to send a search party as the chances were he was already a goner. Being new to this I foolishly went back to search but as our leader had insisted there was no trace.

The party had pressed on and I eventually caught up with them at the rendezvous point where to our delight the missing squaddie was waiting. While delighted not to lose any men*, the Colonel was not best pleased and put the errant soldier on latrine duties for a month.

On the way back, continuing the successful botanical disguise, we found a lake full of Nymphaea alba ssp occidentalis (White water lily) and a little further on the very last of a small cluster of the rare Cephalanthera longifolia (Narrow-leaved Helleborine).

Back at camp our, first mission a success we waited impatiently to know what tomorrow would bring. The Colonel told us that this would be the big test for we were to scale the Inchnadamph heights.

* PC correctivity note: for men read also women.