Assynt Meeting June 18th to 22nd 2006
Asplenium viride(Green Spleenwort)
Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp incarnata(Early Marsh-orchid)
Silene acaulis (Moss Campion)
Saxifraga aizoides(Yellow Saxifrage)
Coeloglossum viride(Frog Orchid)
Epipactis atrorubens (Dark-red Helleborine
Inchnadamph - enemy ambush
One of our number had been to these lands before and knew of some botanically interesting places to investigate. A diversion from the main path led to a waterfall and stream with various plants growing nearby.
We soon found some superb clumps of Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort). This is another of those plants the systematic name of which can cause confusion. For many years the logical name Asplenium viride was good enough but the taxonomists decided that the name should change to Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum. It was embarrassed with that awful name long enough for it to start to appear in wild flower books and County floras.
So then they changed it back again.
At such places as these you would expect to find Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Saxifrage) which is usually a July flowerer, in the vegetative state but we found a plant just beginning to flower.
Someone remembered seeing Epipactis atrorubens (Dark-red Helleborine) on a ledge across the ravine and with the help of binoculars we actually located a few plants. Using the powerful zoom facility and aiming in the general direction, I managed to take a photograph in which you can just make out the shape of a healthy Epipactis in bud on the left of the tree.
Nearby there were a few excellent examples of the Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp incarnata (Early Marsh-orchid) growing on the side of the valley but it was at this time we came under severe attack. There was no wind and the dampness of the habitat made it ideal country for an ambush. Soon clouds of midges were following each of us and a least one of the party had to retire hurt.
That morning I had enquired at the local shop about repellent sprays and asked the shopkeeper if any worked.
"No" he replied "They're all useless but people buy them just the same".
"What", I asked, "do the locals use to keep the enemy at bay?".
" A midge net of course" he replied and he directed me to the shelf where the lightweight fine mesh net caps were kept. I bought one so at the first sign of action I was able to don this protective gear to keep the enemy out. It worked well but since I looked like a cabbage hiding behind a cheese cloth it caused a certain amount of mirth amongst the other squaddies who volunteered that it was better to be bitten to death than wear such an item.
It's sad to note that today's troops have become fashion victims and would rather die in stylish clothing than wear ugly protection.