2000 Morayshire 14 - 16 July Main Meeting
The morning was cloudy but fine when twenty members assembled at Randolph's Leap north of Grantown on Spey. The leader, lan Green, warned us to take care, as part of our route was along a rocky cliff by a river; but it turned out that some kind person had put up a wire handrail which proved to be very useful. Many years ago Hoods washed all the bridges away and to this day not all of them have been replaced.
Spiraea chamaedryfolia was a nice surprise near our starting point. We set off 100 yards to Logie Bridge where there was Festuca aJtissima (Wood Fescue) and Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern) by the river, and on the bridge itself Rumex obtusifolius x longifolius = R. x hybridus. We then took the footpath into Relugas Wood where Goodyera repens (Creeping Lady's-tresses) was plentiful, and among other plants were Orthilia secunda (Serrated Wintergreen), Circaea lutetiana x C. alpina = C. x intermedia (Upland Enchanter's-nightshade), Equisetum pratense (Shady Horsetail) and Pyrola minor (Common Wintergreen). A member of the party pointed out the very distinctive Hieracium chloranthum with lime green ligules and also took other Hieracia away to be identified.
Our next stop was Dykeside wood where we ate our lunch in a quiet spot off the road. This area yielded Huperzia selago (Fir Clubmoss), Lycopodiella inundata (Marsh Clubmoss), Radiola linoides (Allseed) and Stachys arvensis (Field Woundwort), said not to be common in Moray. Stop Three was the Wood of Tilliglens where we saw a lovely display of Lilium pyrenaicum (Pyrenean Lily) and Spiraea x rosalba (Intermediate Bridewort). By the shores of Lochallen there was another clubmoss, Lycopodium annotinum (Interrupted Clubmoss) to add to our list, and by the roadside Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian) showing the pink of its flowers. At our last stop of the day, at Lochindorb, lan searched in the heather and miraculously found Listera cordata (Lesser Twayblade).
The morning of Day Two was taken up with walks along a railway with Linaria repens (Pale Toadflax), Sagina subulata (Heath Pearlwort) and Salix purpurea (Purple Willow). A diversion from the railway took us into Curr Wood. This beautiful pinewood gave off a wonderful perfume as we walked through to find Trientalis europaea (Chickweed-wintergreen) and Linnaea borealis (Twinflower). A patch of the latter plant had parked itself on top of an old tree stump which made it very convenient for the photographers among us.
Our next stop was in the heart of Aviemore, a car park behind the hotels. Here was a good stretch of grassland suitable for picnics, so we took advantage and had lunch. We saw Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort) on our way to the ponds. By the ponds we examined a Carex that looked like the hybrid C. x involuta but turned out to be a seed-sterile form of C. x vesicaria. We all felt the heads and they were quite empty of any seeds. Sparganium angustifolium(Floating Bur-reed) was in the water, with Nuphar pumila (Least Water-lily) and Lobelia dortmanna (Water Lobelia). We then drove to the car park by Ye Old Bridge Inn for a walk along the river. Carex aquatilis (Water Sedge) was found there and also Ribes spicatum (Downy Currant), this being distinguished by its cup-shaped flowers against the flat shape of Ribes rubrum. The last stop of the day was made in glorious sunshine which showed up the golden yellow of Pilosella caespitosa ssp. colliniformis (Yellow Fox-and-cubs), on a bank up the road from the inn; and across the main road, sandwiched between the present A9 and the old one, we found Prunella grandiflora.
The third day dawned to a cloudless sky and our meeting place was by a small loch on the A939 in square 00.39. We set off to the roadside banking for Genista anglica (Petty Whin), Pyrola media (Intermediate Wintergreen), Lycopodium clavatum (Stag's-horn Clubmoss) and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry). By the Loch were several Carices, the most unusual, perhaps, being C. lasiocarpa (Slender Sedge) and C. pauciflora (Few-flowered Sedge). Luzula multiflora ssp. congesta with its distinctive ribbed stem was also spotted. A Bladderwort was picked out which proved to be Utricularia stygia, and my favourite of the day, Vaccinium microcarpon (Small Cranberry) with its pinky-red flowers, was shining in the bog. We then drove to the banks of the beautiful River Spey at Cromdale just north of the bridge. Just up the road from our parking place we saw a lovely patch of Viola cornuta (Horned Pansy) popping out of the grass. Near the Old Spey Bridge we walked south for Peucedanum ostruthium (Masterwort) and then north for Platanthera chlorantha (Greater Butterfly-orchid) and in the grassland beside, Gymnadenia conopsea ssp.conopsea. We had seen many Lupins during the three days and at this point lan was sure we had found Lupinus nootkatensis (Nootka Lupin). Finally, to an old railway line at Beachen Wood for Symphytum tuberosum (Tuberous Comfrey) and Campanula rapunculoides (Creeping Bellflower).
Not satisfied with showing all the plants above and many more, lan listed sites for us to find other plants for ourselves. Being in the area of Aviemore and the Cairngorms on such a perfect day, several members could not resist a trip up the mountain - one had celebrated her 79th birthday that week!
Before we departed we gave lan heartfelt thanks for all the work and effort he had put in to making the meeting such a success. Thank you, Ian.
JULIE CLARKE