Allt na Meacnaish

Skye was looking at its best though the high temperature was daunting for a longish walk.

Cuillins

Allt Coire Lagan

The primary purpose of Saturday’s trip was to try for catkins on last year’s putative Salix x grahamii.  Whilst the small shrub was looking in good health and much the same as last year, there were no catkins. Maybe I was too late but I couldn’t attempt it earlier given knee problem (now better but far from perfect). There again the S. aurita (Eared Willow) and S. repens (Creeping Willow) within a few metres were both covered in catkins, so perhaps there just weren’t any this year. I collected specimens of all nearby willows for expert examination but I fear that I shall have to make the trek again next year, perhaps a little earlier.

I then travelled south to the coast along the Allt na Meacnaish and was rewarded with the adder of the previous post and many plants from richer ground such as Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart’s-tongue), Orchis mascula (Early-purple Orchid), Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern), Rubus saxatilis (Stone Bramble) and so forth.

Mouth of Allt Na Meachnaish (1)

Mouth of Allt Na Meachnaish (2)

This was a pretty thing:

Polygala vulagris (Common Milkwort) colour variant

Tags: Plants