Recent plant recording across VC83 Midlothian has highlighted a range of interesting and locally significant plant finds, reflecting the value of continued field recording across a variety of habitats. These records have been submitted by local vice-county recorder Sue Jury, whose work continues to add to our understanding of plant distributions in the area.
Recent highlights:
Several noteworthy species have been recorded in recent weeks, including both familiar plants in new locations and species that are less frequently encountered:
- Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor) was recorded at Brothershiels, growing along the edge of a field margin.
- Common Wintergreen (Pyrola minor) was found at two new sites: at Fountainside, and within woodland to the west of Loganlea and south of the Briech Water.
- A new site for Mistletoe (Viscum album) was discovered near Millburn Tower. A single clump was spotted and photographed by the gardener there, who was keen to check other trees on the site following the find.
- A Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris subsp. hibernicus) was recorded at Brunstane superstore.
- A stonewort (Nitella sp.) was found in a pond near Rosebery. This record will be revisited later in the year, when fruits are present, to confirm the species.
- Ongoing work on Dandelions (Taraxacum) has already resulted in four new county records, highlighting the importance of careful recording within this complex group.
- Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis‑idaea) was recorded along a woodland margin west of Blackcastle. Most local records for this species are from more upland areas, making this find particularly notable.
- A wet heath habitat in Breich Community Woodland also proved of interest, with no previous records of characteristic wet heath species from this location.
Contribute sightings
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