wild flowers in fife & kinross - Fife Coast and Countryside Trust

APPENDIX: CASUALS LIST
The list includes those plants which last for only a season or two and which are not part of the
permanent flora, although some may be frequently re-introduced in the same area and so be
present for quite a long time. The majority come from warmer climes and may be brought in
by a variety of means. During the 19th century many species appeared at harbours following
the dumping of ship’s ballast (and also
esparto grass in the late 1950s at Guardbridge), while the import of grain has been, and still is
(at Kirkcaldy), a source. Other methods of introduction are short-lived garden escapes/castouts,
bird-seed residue throw-outs, occasional grass/
ornamental/agricultural seed mixtures, imported soil and other materials, food refuse, etc. It
should be noted that quite a number of species in the main list may also be of casual
occurrence, a fact mentioned there; these plants are not repeated here. Only the dates of
occurrence are given; interested readers should refer to Ballantyne (1971) for further
information on ballast introductions, including localities, and to Ballantyne (1970) for details
of casual plants in the Kirkcaldy district.