Flora

The Flora of the Outer Hebrides by R.J. Pankhurst and J. M. Mullin (1991) comprehensively covers all the plants recorded in the islands including both naturalised and introduced species as well as the native flora. The guide lists just over 790 species of plants that have been found up until 1991 including 16 species of Bramble, 6 species of rose, 13 species of Eyebright, 36 species of Hawkweed, 25 species closely related to the Dandelion and 15 species of Pondweed. The guide gives the 10 km square that each species has been recorded in and a more precise location for some of the rarer plants. 

Many of the micro species recorded in the book are for the very keen botanist and undoubtedly very interesting although largely beyond the scope of these pages currently. We do endeavour to photograph all species listed in Pankhurst but expect this will be an ongoing project that will take quite some time to complete.

A few of the plants photographed so far can be found in the photo gallery.

Orchids:

This group of plants deserves a special mention as not only are they often stunning but their ecology is also fascinating. The roots of many plants have a symbiotic association with mycorrhizal fungi in which the fungus provides phosphates for the plant and in return gains sugars produced by the plant photosynthesising. Although orchids do show mycorrhizal associations in mature plants they also require the fungi for seed germination. The seeds receive energy in the form of sugars from the vast expanse of fungal mycelium in the soil that are breaking down organic matter or are tapped into another plant's roots. The seeds germinate and grow in association with the fungus until the first orchid leaves appear above ground. The orchid then begins to freely photosynthesise, producing its own sugars and the importance of the mycorrhiza wanes. Although mature plants do often have mycorrhiza, they appear to be different to the ones required for the seeds to grow. The association of these fungi in the germination of orchids appears to benefit only the plant.

The Outer Hebrides have eight species 0f orchids in the family Dactylorhiza and all characteristically show great variation which in no small part is brought about by them freely hybridising. This usually results in plants showing mixed features but in one very interesting case, a whole new species has evolved.  The Hebridean Marsh Orchid was produced out of cross pollination between two species; the Early Marsh Orchid subsp. coccinea and Common Spotted Orchid subsp. hebridensis.  It is found mainly in one colony at Newton, although one or two smaller satellite colonies do exist, making it one of Britain's rarest orchids and endemic to North Uist. Other species in the family Dactylorhiza include; the Early Purple Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid, Lapland Orchid, Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid and Heath Spotted Orchid.                       

 (Dactylorhiza ebudensis, Hebridean Marsh Orchid, June 2006)                                                                                                                          

The islands are also home to Frog, Pyramidal, Fragrant, Common Twayblade, Lesser Twayblade, Lesser Butterfly, Greater Butterfly, Bog Orchid and the rare Irish Lady's Tresses. There is also a single record of the Small White Orchid from South Uist in 1939 although it has not been confirmed.

Irish Lady's Tresses occurs commonly on the other side of the Atlantic in North America and in a few scattered locations on this side of the Atlantic in western Scotland and the west of Ireland. It's a stunning little orchid that shouldn't be confused with any other species in the Western Isles due to the characteristic twist in the flowering spike. It can be found flowering in August on both Benbecula and Barra. There are also records from one location in South Uist, where it may prove to be slightly more widespread than known at present as they are easily over looked.

                                                                                                                                                                                (Spiranthes; Irish Lady's Tresses, Aug.2006)

The Lesser Butterfly Orchid can be found scattered throughout the Outer Hebrides and is common in suitable habitat. A request for records of this orchid throughout Scotland during 2006 threw up some interesting facts. Two sites in South Uist contained upwards of 1,000 plants a piece and were two of only six sites throughout the whole country containing such concentrations. Three other sites noted on the islands also contained over 100 plants which is also significant in Scottish terms. The Outer Hebrides are still excellent for wild plants as intensive agriculture has never taken hold here and many of those crofting, use natural fertilisers such as seaweed and manure and only a few use herbicides . It has allowed many wild plants to flourish as the number of butterfly orchids is testament to.

(Lesser Butterfly Orchid)

The very similar Greater Butterfly Orchid has also been recorded in Harris although it is much rarer than the previous species here. It can be separated from the Lesser Butterfly Orchid by the arrangement of the pollinia. In the Greater these are arranged vertically whilst in the Lesser they are more parallel.

Rather then go through groups of plants I will list some of typical species you can find in each habitat. In the future these will be connected to photo galleries to aid identification.

The Machair: Moonwort, Adder's-tongue, Creeping buttercup, Meadow Buttercup, Bulbous Buttercup, Lesser Meadow-rue, Long-headed poppy, Tall Ramping Fumitory, Rape, Wild Turnip, Charlock, Wild Radish, Shepherd's Purse, Hairy Bitter-cress, Hairy Rock-cress, Common Dog-violet, Wild Pansy, Field Pansy, White Campion, Sea Campion, Common Mouse-ear, Sticky Moue -ear, Sea Mouse-ear, Procumbent Pearlwort, Knotted Pearlwort, Corn Spurrey, Fairy Flax, Cut-leaved Crane's-bill, Round-leaved Crane's-bill, Dove's-foot Crane's-bill, Common Storks-bill, Tufted Vetch, White Clover, Red Clover, Lesser Trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Common Bird's-foot trefoil, Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, Silver weed, Rue-leaved Saxifrage, Hogweed, Wild Carrot, Sun Spurge, Redshank, Black Bindweed, Common Sorrel, Small Nettle, Common Nettle, Creeping Willow, Scarlet Pimpernel, Common Centaury, Field Gentian, Northern Autumn Gentian, Bugloss, Common Forget-me-not, Changing Forget-me-not, Viper's Bugloss, Field Bindweed, Wall Speedwell, Yellow Rattle, Eyebrights, Selfheal, Henbit Dead-nettle, Cut-leaved Dead-nettle, Red Dead-nettle, Common Hemp-nettle, Sea Plantain, Buck's-horn Plantain, Harebell (Scottish Bluebell), Field Madder, Lady's Bedstraw, Cleavers, Common Cornsalad, Butterbur, Daisy, Yarrow, Sea Mayweed, Corn Marigold, Oxeye Daisy, Mugwort, Lesser Burdock, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Common Knapweed, Autumn Hawkbit, Perennial Sow-thistle, Smooth Sow-thistle, Prickly Sow-thistle, Dandelion, Baltic Rush, Toad Rush, Yellow Iris, Common Twayblade, Frog Orchid, Fragrant Orchid (rare), Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Early Marsh Orchid (subsp. coccinea), Common Spotted Orchid (subsp. hebridensis), Hebridean Marsh Orchid (endemic to N Uist), Northern Marsh Orchid, Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Lesser Tussock-sedge, Sand Sedge, Glaucous Sedge, Red Fescue, Crested Dog's-tail

Wet heath / Moorland / Mountain: Alpine Clubmoss, Fir Clubmoss, Wilson's Filmy-fern, Beech Fern, Lemon-scented Fern, Common Milkwort, Heath Milkwort, Alpine Meadow-rue, Wavy Bitter-cress, Wood Sorrel, Tormentil, Smooth Lady's-mantle, Alpine Lady's-mantle, Moss Campion, Rowan, Roseroot, English Stonecrop, Starry Saxifrage, Purple Saxifrage, Mossy Saxifrage (Ben Mor, S Uist), Mountain Sorrel, Alpine Saw-wort, Bog-myrtle, Downy Birch, Hazel, Aspen, Creeping Willow, Dwarf Willow, Bearberry, Cowberry, Bilberry, Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Crowberry, Thrift, Lousewort, Pale Butterwort, Common Butterwort, Wild Thyme, Wood Sage, Heath Bedstraw, Mountain Everlasting, Marsh Thistle, Cat's-ear, Hawkweed, Soft Rush, Compact Rush, Three-leaved Rush, Heath Rush, Field Wood-rush, Heath Wood-rush, Great Wood-rush, Hairy Wood-rush, Purple Moor-grass, Mat-grass, Lesser Twayblade, Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Heath Spotted Orchid, Early Marsh Orchid (subsp. incarnata), Bog Orchid, Common Cotton-grass, Hare's-tail Cotton-grass, Deer Grass, Many-stalked Wood-rush, Black Bog-rush, Star Sedge, Oval Sedge, Dioecious Sedge, Carnation Sedge, Green-ribbed Sedge, Pill Sedge, Stiff Sedge, Red Fescue, Sheep's-fescue, Viviparous Fescue, Scot's Lovage, Bog Asphodel, Bluebell (Wild Hyacinth), Round-leaved Sundew, Oblong-leaved Sundew, Greater Sundew, Honeysuckle.

Lochs / Marshes: Bladderwort, Marsh Marigold, Lesser Spearwort, Cuckooflower, Marsh Violet, Ragged Robin, Bog Stitchwort, Blinks, Marsh Cinquefoil, Water-purslane, Hoary Willowherb, Marsh Willowherb, Mare's-tail, Common Water-starwort, Marsh Pennywort, Parsely Water-dropwort, Hemlock Water-dropwort, Fool's Water-cress, Lesser Marshwort, Wild Angelica, Amphibious Bistort, Grey Willow, Eared Willow, Bogbean, Dark-leaved Willow, Tea-leaved Willow, Bog Pimpernel, Brookweed, Creeping Forget-me-not, Tufted Forget-me-not, Blue Water-speedwell, Marsh Speedwell, Marsh lousewort, Intermediate Bladderwort, Lesser Bladderwort, Water Mint, Gipsywort, Marsh Woudwort, Skullcap, Lesser Skullcap, Water Lobelia, Common Marsh-bedstraw, Marsh Ragwort, Goldenrod, Sneezewort, Lesser Hawkbit, Lesser Water-plantain, Marsh Arrowgrass, Pondweeds, Slender Naiad, Toad Rush, Bulbous Rush, Sharp-flowered Rush, Jointed Rush, Yellow Iris, Irish Lady's Tresses, Lapland Orchid, Branched Bur-reed, Floating Bur-reed, Least Bur-reed, Bulrush, Few-flowered Spike-rush, Common Spike-rush, Slender Spike-rush, Common Club-rush, Grey Club-rush, Bristle Club-rush, Slender Club-rush, Floating Club-rush, White-beaked Sedge, Great Fen Sedge, Greater Tussock-sedge, Lesser Tussock-sedge, Brown Sedge, Few-flowered Sedge, Flea Sedge, White Sedge, Bottle Sedge, Tawny Sedge, Small-fruited Yellow-sedge, Bog Sedge, Common Sedge.

Salt Marsh / Sandy Coast / Dunes: Sea Rocket, Common Scurvygrass, Scottish Scurvygrass, Danish Scurvygrass, English Scurvygrass, Sea Sandwort, Hoary Whitlowgrass, Heath Dog-violet, Rock Sea-spurrey, Greater Sea-spurrey, Lesser sea-spurrey, Spear-leaved Orache, Babingotn's Orache, Frosted Orache, Annual Sea-blite, Biting Stonecrop, Sea Holly, Ray's knotgrass, Curled Dock, Thrift, Sea-milkwort, Sea Bindweed (Eriskay), Sea Plantain, Buck's-horn Plantain, Sea Aster, Sea Arrowgrass, Eelgrass, Spring Squill, Saltmarsh Rush, Sea Club-rush, Saltmarsh Flat-sedge, False Fox-sedge, Curved Sedge, Sand Sedge, Distant Sedge, Long-beaked Sedge, Sea Fern-grass, Common Saltmarsh-grass, Sand Couch, Lyme-grass, Marram.

Rare plants: Stags-horn Clubmoss, Irish Saxifrage (unconfirmed record from Ben Mor, South Uist), Mossy Saxifrage (Ben Mor, South Uist), Oysterplant (not seen recently), Common Cow-wheat, Pyramidal Bugle, Irish Lady's Tresses (Barra, South Uist and Benbecula), Hebridean Marsh Orchid (endemic to North Uist), Holy Grass.