Ulex to Zostera

Ulex europaeus L.   Gorse or Whin

Raasay:           Recording Units: 17

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54, 65

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  SJB 2003.

“Near Raasay House, and between Fearns and Hallaig; may have been introduced but certainly looks native in east Raasay” (Harrison,1937a). “Looks even more certainly native on Eilean Tigh,” (Harrison, 1937c). Somewhat more widespread today with additional sites from East Suisnish to Inverarish, on the road to Eyre and at Balachuirn and two new colonies near Brae. Appears to be on the increase on Raasay. Recently found near the shore at An Dubh Chamas, Rona.

Ulmus glabra Huds.   Wych Elm

Raasay:           Recording Units: 19

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  EPS 1933.

Coastal cliffs and woods and woods further inland. Always in small numbers but some fine mature trees.

*Umbilicus rupestris (Salisb.) Dandy  Navelwort

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record:  SJB 2000.

Rona:               Not known.

Planted at the point south of West Suisnish some years before the record was made.  It appeared to have died out by 2005 and its extinction was made certain by the point being blown up in 2006.

Urtica dioica L.  Common Nettle

Raasay:           Recording Units: 76

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  EPS 1933 (as “nettles”).

Widespread near past and present habitations, sheep fanks, seaweed-enriched shores and anywhere enriched by animal droppings.

Utricularia intermedia sens. lat.   Intermediate Bladderwort

Raasay:           Recording Units: 4

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  SJB 1998.

In a shallow pool north of Loch an Uachdair as O. ochroleuca Hartm. (Harrison, 1937a).  Near the Cladium pool on the Brochel Road BSBI 1969 and SJB 1991.  Needs careful checking as to species: U. intermedia sens. str. Hayne, U. ochroleuca R.W. Hartm. or U. stygia G. Thor.

Utricularia minor L.   Lesser Bladderwort

Raasay:           Recording Units: 10

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  EPS 1933.

The commonest Utricularia.  Found in boggy pools and flowers reliably.

Utricularia vulgaris sens. lat. L. Bladderwort

Raasay:           Recording Units: 5

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Loch Eadar da Bhailem, Raasay and Loch Braig, Rona as U. major Schm. (Harrison, 1937a). Also present in Home Loch (Loch a Mhuilin) and several other lochs.  Needs careful examination to determine whether the species present is U. australis (very likely) or U. vulgaris sens. str.

Vaccinium myrtillus L.   Bilberry or Blaeberry

Raasay:           Recording Units: 97

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  EPS 1933. 

Widespread and sometimes abundant on rock ledges, sheltered slopes on moors and in gorges and woods. Fruits copiously where protected from livestock e.g. by fencing or isolation on islands in lochs.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.  Cowberry

Raasay:           Recording Units: 14

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: (NG 65)

                        First Record:  EPS 1933. 

Rock ledges, gorges and well-drained peaty banks.  Mostly above 200m (including the top of Dun Caan) but as low as 50m in a gorge west of Brochel.

Valeriana officinalis L.   Common Valerian

Raasay:           Recording Units: 66

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Widespread in marshes, damp grassland and on wet rock ledges. Harrison (1937a) reported subsp. sambucifolia Mik. ex Pohl (as V. sambucifolia Mik.) which is no doubt present and indeed may be the only subspecies present, though its distinctiveness from other subspecies is doubtful.  Harrison also reported var. dentatifolia Druce from Raasay, a variety no longer considered separate.

Veronica agrestis L.   Green Field-speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 0

                        Ten kilometre squares: (NG 53)

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: (NG 65?)

                        First Record:  (JWHH et al. 1934-36.)

“Cultivated ground generally,” (Harrison, 1937a).  NG53 MMcCW 1957.  Not recorded since.  Perhaps lost with the decline in arable farming. 

Veronica arvensis L. Wall Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 27

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54, 55, 65

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

Paths, walls, gardens, ruderal habitats and dry ground generally.

Veronica beccabunga L.  Brooklime

Raasay:           Recording Units: 3

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, (54)

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  SJB 1998.

Rare and possibly declining. Ditches and burns. Current known sites are at Eyre and North Fearns, Raasay plus one site on Rona. Sites at Inverarish, Storab’s Grave (Harrison, 1937a) and below the cliffs of Druim an Aonaich (AAPS, 1961) have not been re-found.

*Veronica brachysiphon (Summerh.) Bean  Hooker's Hebe

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record: SJB 1996.

Rona:               Not known.

Planted on The Avenue, Mill Park.

Veronica chamaedrys L. Germander Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 74

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  EPS 1933.

Common in grassland and woods.

Veronica filiformis Sm.   Slender Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record:  SJB 1993.

Rona:               Not known.

Established from garden waste in Inverarish but apparently extirpated within a few years by the sheer volume of material dumped on top of it. Perhaps lurking in a garden somewhere.

Veronica montana L.  Wood Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 6

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

In woods along the Arish Burn (Harrison, 1937a) and in the gorge at Brae (BSBI, 1969), in both cases where it remains today in good numbers. A record for “Arnish” though the given grid reference is near Torran (CC 1978) has not been found but a small colony exists not far away under bracken.

Veronica officinalis L.  Heath Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 67

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Drier ground and rocks. Also in woods. 

*Veronica peregrina L.   American Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record:  SJB 2006.

Rona:               Not known.

Accidental introduction into West Suisnish garden from Lancashire.  Still there 2009.

*Veronica persica Poir.   Common Field-speedwell 

Raasay:           Recording Units: 3

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

A garden weed, West Suisnish, Inverarish and Raasay House garden.  Also appeared in disturbed ground in 2001 after the lighthouse at Eyre was demolished.

*Veronica salicifolia G. Forst. Koromiko 

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record: JRP 1979.

Rona:               Not known.

Naturalised on walls near Raasay House.

Veronica scutellata L.   Marsh Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 21

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54, 55, 65

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  EPS 1933.

Loch margins, marshes, ditches and wet areas in woodland.

Veronica serpyllifolia L.  Thyme-leaved Speedwell

Raasay:           Recording Units: 81

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Widespread and common in a variety of habitats from rock ledges to gardens and marshy ground to forest rides.  All specimens examined critically have been subsp. serpyllifolia.

Viburnum opulus L.   Guelder-rose

Raasay:           Recording Units: 0

                        Ten kilometre squares: (NG 54)

                        First Record:  BSBI 1969.

Rona:               Not known.

Gorge at Druim an Aonaich (or perhaps en route from there to Screapadal). Not recorded since. Occasional on Skye and known on Scalpay.

Vicia cracca L.   Tufted Vetch

Raasay:           Recording Units: 21

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54, 64

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: (NG 65)

                        First Record:  EPS 1933.

Grassland, mostly near the coast.

Vicia hirsuta (L.) Gray    Hairy Tare

Raasay:           Recording Units: 0

                        Ten kilometre squares: (NG 53)

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

Inverarish (Harrison, 1937a) and Fearns (Harrison, 1937a; Harrison, 1951). An arable weed not recorded recently.  It continues to appear on Skye occasionally in disturbed ground and could well do the same on Raasay.

Vicia sativa subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh.   Narrow-leaved Vetch 

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  JMcI, MG & DL 2010

Recorded from grassland near the mermaids (Harrison, 1937a) as V. angustifolia though apparently now gone from there. Found at the edge of the Isle of Raasay Hotel car park SJB 1996 and near Rona Lodge 2010.

*Vicia sativa L. subsp. sativa   Common Vetch

Raasay:           Recording Units: 0

                        Ten kilometre squares: ?

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

Recorded as a relic of cultivation on Raasay (Harrison, 1937a).  Presumably this subspecies although subsp. segetalis has also been grown for fodder in the past.

Vicia sepium L.   Bush Vetch

Raasay:           Recording Units: 34

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54, 55

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  SJB 1998.

Fairly common in grassland and on rock ledges.

*Vinca minor L.   Lesser Periwinkle

Raasay:           Recording Units: 0

                        Ten kilometre squares: (NG 53)

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

“Probably an escape; near the Post Office, Raasay,” (Harrison, 1937a) when the post office was at Clachan. No longer there.

Viola arvensis Murray   Field Pansy

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

Only recorded from Fladday in the early studies (Harrison, 1937a) as V. arvatica Jord. Not seen again until 2004 when several plants emerged from soil taken from East Suisnish to West Suisnish for garden use.  Extensive searching at the site from which the soil was taken and at the site at Holoman where most of the soil was taken revealed no further plants.  Apparently the area from which the soil was taken was once used for feed storage and this may have been the source of long-dormant seed. Plants appeared again in 2005 but not in 2006-2008.

[Viola canina L.   Heath Dog-violet] 

Raasay:           Recording Units: 0

                        Ten kilometre squares: (NG 53)

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

Harrison (1937a) listed this species from many stations on Raasay including Inverarish, Oskaig, Holoman, and Balachuirn. The only confirmed site in the vice-county is a sandy area on Rum. Error for variants of V. riviniana?

Viola palustris L.  Marsh Violet

Raasay:           Recording Units: 92

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Widespread and common in wet ground.

[Viola reichenbachiana Jord. ex Boreau    Early Dog-violet]

Raasay:           Recording Units: 0

                        Ten kilometre squares: ?

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36?

Rona:               Not known.

Harrison (1937a) recorded “V. silvestris Lam.” from grassy places on Raasay. V. sylvestris Lam. has in part been incorporated into V. reichenbachiana but this species is not native in Scotland except the far south. Error for variants of V. riviniana?

Viola riviniana Rchb.  Common Dog-violet

Raasay:           Recording Units: 98

                        Ten kilometre squares: All

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65, 66

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Widespread and very common in grassland, woodland and on moors and rock ledges.

Viola tricolor L. subsp. tricolor     Wild Pansy or Heartsease    Near-threatened

Raasay:           Recording Units: 1

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Not known.

In fields at Oskaig as V. lepida Jord. and V. lloydii Jord.  MMcCW 1957. SJB Oskaig field 2004. This field has since been ploughed.

Plants found in Inverarish in 2006 in an area used for garden rubbish have been determined by MWCH as either V. x wittrockiana (Garden Pansy) tricolor-like cultivars, reverted further towards V. tricolor, or  plain V. tricolor. They are unlike native V. tricolor  on Raasay and Skye and are clearly of garden origin so are best described as V. aff. tricolor.

Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray   Squirreltail Fescue 

Raasay:           Recording Units: 4

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Rona:               Ten kilometre squares: NG 65

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36.

Ruderal habitats and grassland.  Found in recent years at East Suisnish, Eyre, Brochel in large numbers in 1997 and Arnish on Raasay, and near Rona Lodge.  Rarely in the same place two years running.

Zostera marina L.   Eelgrass    Near-threatened

Raasay:           Recording Units: 14

                        Ten kilometre squares: NG 53, 54, 55, 65

                        First Record:  JWHH et al. 1934-36

Rona:               Not known.

Found washed-up on the strand line in various places but the only certainly rooted populations are in the sea at West Suisnish and Inver.