A survey of the vegetation of Ben Nevis - Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 090 (ROAME No. F02LD01)
and where scrap fleece has been discarded. It is a tall impenetrable tangle of bramble Rubus fruticosus, with
an untidy green understorey of Holcus lanatus, Agrostis capillaris, Molinia caerulea, Potentilla erecta,
Ranunculus acris, R. repens, Plantago lanceolata and Rumex acetosa. There are sparse wefts of bryophytes
including Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus and Pleurozium schreberi. An interesting additional plant here is hazel
Corylus avellana, seedlings of which are growing up ungrazed under the protecting canopy of bramble.
The vegetation does not fit clearly into either of the two sub-communities of W24.
W25b Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub, Teucrium scorodonia sub-community
This type of bracken-dominated vegetation looks the same as the Pteridium-Galium community U20 from a
distance, but here there is much Rubus fruticosus or R. idaeus or both scrambling through the canopy of the
fern. Underneath there is a thin sward of Agrostis capillaris and Holcus lanatus and, since this community
occurs along the roadside in Glen Nevis, there is an array of rather weedy, opportunistic herbs such
as Ranunculus repens, R. acris, Rumex acetosa, R. obtusifolius, Cerastium fontanum, Urtica dioica, Plantago
major, Digitalis purpurea and Poa annua. The bryophyte layer is thin and sparse and consists of species
such as Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Eurhynchium praelongum and Thuidium tamariscinum.
W25D Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub, damp form
This distinctive damp type of bracken-dominated vegetation is not described in the NVC scheme, though it
is common in the west Highlands and Inner Hebrides and has also been found in Wales (Averis et al.
2004). It occurs in the lower part of Coire Choimhlidh, just above the woodland on the east bank of the
river. There is little bramble in this example, but there is a rich array of mesotrophic herbs such as Cirsium
heterophyllum, Geum rivale, Filipendula ulmaria, Ranunculus acris, Lysimachia nemorum, Linum catharticum,
Prunella vulgaris, Plantago lanceolata and Alchemilla glabra, growing with Carex panicea, C. viridula ssp.
oedocarpa, Agrostis capillaris, Festuca vivipara, Anthoxanthum odoratum and Holcus lanatus. There is a thin
carpet of bryophytes such as Hylocomium splendens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Hypnum jutlandicum and
Scleropodium purum.
H10a Calluna vulgaris-Erica cinerea heath, Typical sub-community
H10a occurs on cliff-ledges and also in patches on thin, well-drained, stony mineral soils on the steeper
south-facing slopes at low to moderate altitudes. It has a short and dense sward of Calluna vulgaris and
Erica cinerea, dotted with Carex binervis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile and
Euphrasia officinalis agg. Under the vascular plants is a richly-coloured layer of bryophytes such as Hypnum
jutlandicum, Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum scoparium, Rhytidiadelphus loreus and Hylocomium splendens.
H10b Calluna vulgaris-Erica cinerea heath, Racomitrium lanuginosum sub-community
H10b is the counterpart of H10a at higher altitudes and on thinner and more stony soil. The sward is less
dense than that of H10a, and the bushes of Calluna vulgaris and Erica cinerea grow through a thin silvery
carpet of Racomitrium lanuginosum patched with Hypnum jutlandicum, Pleurozium schreberi, Hylocomium
splendens, Rhytidiadelphus loreus and Breutelia chrysocoma. The sward is speckled with small plants such
as Deschampsia flexuosa, Blechnum spicant, Diphasiastrum alpinum, Huperzia selago, Antennaria dioica,
Euphrasia frigida and Polygala serpyllifolia. There is a pale dusting of lichens such as Cladonia portentosa,
C. coccifera and C. coniocraea.
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