Botany

Interpretation leaflets

A Botany Group within the Friends of Corstorphine Hill was created in 2001. Its aims were to search out, identify, record, list and photograph the plants on the hill throughout the year. While there is no longer a formal group, there remains individuals interested in the botany of the hill within FoCH.

Leaflets have been produced as an aid to interpretation of the botanical interest on the local Nature Reserve at Corstorphine Hill, namely the 'Flowers of Corstorphine Hill' and the 'Trees of Corstorphine Hill'. Hard copies can be obtained from a committee member of Friends of Corstorphine Hill, or are routinely available to collect from the Walled Garden.

Earth Stars

Earth Stars - a spectacular mushroom Geastrum triplex, somewhat uncommon in Scotland, can be found in autumn on Corstorphine Hill. More information on this species can be found at the following websites:

Plant Species

ORDER: PTERIDOPHYTA

Hypolepidaceae

Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken)

Athyriaceae

Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern)

Aspidiaceae

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler-fern)
Dryopteris. filix-mas (Male Fern)
Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)

ORDER: GYMNOSPERMA

Pinaceae

Larix decidua * (European Larch)
Picea sitchensis * (Sitka Spruce)
Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)
Pinus nigra* (Corsican Pine)
Tsuga heterophylla * (Western Hemlock)

Taxaceae

Taxus baccata Yew

ORDER: ANGIOSPERMAE

Ranunculaceae Buttercup family

Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine
Ranunculus flamula Lesser Spearwort
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone
Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold
Helleborus foetidus Stinking Hellebore

Berberidaceae Barberry family

Berberis vuIgaris Barberry
Mahonia aquifolium* Oregon Grape

Papaveraceae Poppy family

Chelidonium majus Greater Celandine

Fumariaceae Fumitory family

Fumaria officinalis Common Fumitory
Corydalis claviculata Climbing Corydalis, White Climbing Fumitory

Cruciferae Cabbage family

Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's Purse
Cardamine fluxuosa Wavy Bittercress
Cardamine hirsuta Hairy Bittercress
Cardamine pratensis Lady's Smock
Draba muralis Wall Whitlow-Grass
Raphanus raphanistrum Wild Radish
Sinapsis arvensis Charlock
Sisymbrum officinale Hedge Mustard
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard
Barbarea vulgaris Common Wintercress

Violaceae Violet family

Viola riviniana Common Violet

Hyperiacea St John's Wort family

Hypericum calycinum Rose of Sharon
Hypericum tetrapterum Square St John's Wort

Cistaceae Rock-rose family

Helianthemum nummularium Common Rock-rose [LBAP]

Caryophyllaceae Pink family family

Silene dioica Red Campion
Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion
Scleranthus annuus Knawel
Stellaria media Chickweed
Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort
Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear

Portulacaceae Purslane family

Montia perfoliata * Spring Beauty
Montia sibirica Pink Purslane

Tiliaceae

Tilia x Europaea * Common Lime

Geraniaceae Geranium family

Geranium robertianum Herb Robert
Geranium rotundifolium Round-leaved Cranesbill

Oxalidaceae Oxalis family

Oxalis acetosella Wood Sorrel

Balsaminaceae Balsam family

Impatiens parviflora Small Balsam

Aceraceae

Acer pseudoplatanus * Sycamore, Plane
Acer platanoides * Norway Maple

Hippocastanaceae

Aesculus hippocastanum * Horse Chestnut

Aquifoliaceae Holly family

Ilex aquifolium Holly

Leguminosae Peaflower family

Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch
Vicia sativa ssp nigra Narrow-leaved Vetch
Vicia hirsuta Hairy Tare
Vicia sepium Bush Vetch
Trifolium repens White Clover
Trifolium pratense Red Clover
Lotus corniculatus Birdsfoot-trefoil, Eggs-and-bacon
Cytisus scoparius Broom
Ulex europaeum Gorse
Laburnum anagyroides Laburnum
Lathyrus pratens Meadow Vetchling
Lathyrus aphaca Yellow Vetchling

Rosaceae Rose family

Rosa canina Dog Rose
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble
Rubus ideas Raspberry
Rubus spectabilis* Pursh, Salmonberry
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Prunus avium Gean, Wild Cherry
Prunus padus Bird Cherry
Sorbus aucupar Rowan
Sorbus aria Whitebeam
Malus sylvestris Crab Apple
Geum urbanum Herb Bennet, Wood Avens
Geum rivale Water Avens
Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry
Alchemilla vulgaris Lady's Mantle
Potentilla anserina Silverweed
Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil
Potentilla erecta Tormentil

Saxifragaceae Saxifrage family

Saxifraga umbrosa London Pride
spathularis *

Grossulariaceae Gooseberry family

Ribes uva-crispa Gooseberry

Thymelaeaceae Daphne family

Daphne laureola Spurge Laurel

Onagraceae Willow-herb family

Chamerion angustifolium Rose-bay Willow-herb
Epilobium montanum Broad-leaved Willow-herb
Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's Nightshade

Araliaceae Ivy family

Hedera helix Ivy

Umbelliferaceae Umbellifer family

Sanicula europaea Sanicle
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley
Conium maculatum Hemlock
Aegopodium podagaria Ground Elder
Conopodium majus Pignut
Torilis japonica Upright Hedge-parsley
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed

Euphorbiaceae Spurge family

Mercurialis perennis Dog's Mercury
Mercurialis annua Annual Mercury

Polygonaceae Docken family

Reynoutria japonica * Japanese Knotweed
Rumex acetosella Sheep's Sorrel
R. obtusifolius Broad-leaved Docken
R. sanguineus Red-veined Docken

Urticaceae Nettle family

Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle

Ulmaceae

Ulmus glabra Wych Elm

ORDER: ANGIOSPERMAE CONT.....

Betulaceae

Betula pendula Silver Birch
Alnus glutinosa Alder

Fagaceae

Fagus sylvatica Beech
F. sylvatica var. Purpurea Copper Beech, Purple Beech
Castanea sativa * Sweet Chestnut
Quercus robur Common / Pedunculate Oak
Quercus petraea Sessile Oak
Quercus cerris * Turkey Oak

Salicaceae

Populus canescens Grey Poplar
Populus tremula Aspen
Salix caprea Goat Willow, Great Sallow

Ericaceae Heather family

Rhododendron ponticum * Rhododendron
Calluna vulgaris Heather, Ling

Oleaceae Olive family

Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Ligustrum vulgare Privet

Apocynaceae Periwinkle family

Vinca minor Lesser Periwinkle

Boraginaceae Borage family

Symphytum officinale Comfrey
Symphytum tuberosum Tuberous Comfrey
Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not

Convolvulaceae Bindweed family

Convolvulus arvensis Bindweed, Cornbine
Calystegia sepium Bellbine, Larger
ssp.silvatica * Bindweed

Scrophulariaceae Figwort family

Linaria purpurea * Purple Toadflax
Scrophularia nodosa Figwort
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove
Veronica montana Wood Speedwell
Veronica chamaedris Germander Speedwell
Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme Speedwell
Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell
Veronica persica Large Field Speedwell
Veronica filiformis * Slender Speedwell

Labiatae Thyme family

Thymus praecox Wild Thyme
ssp. Arcticus
Prunella vulgaris Self-Heal
Mentha aquatica Water Mint
Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort
Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort
Teucrium scorodonia Wood Sage
Galeopsis tetrahit Common Hemp-nettle
Lamium album White Dead-nettle
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy
Ajuga reptans Bugle

Plantaginaceae Plantain family

Plantago major Rat-tail Plantain
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain

Campanulaceae Bellflower family

Campanula rotundifolia Harebell, Scottish Bluebell

Rubiaceae Bedstraw family

Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff
Galium mollugo Common Hedge Bedstraw
Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw
Galium saxatile Heath Bedstraw
Galium aparine Goosegrass, Cleavers

Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle family

Sambucus nigra Elder, Bourtree
Symphoricarpos rivularis Snowberry
Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle

Adoxaceae Moschatel family

Adoxa moschatellina Moschatel

Compositae Daisy family

Senecio iacobaea Ragwort
Senecio vulgaris Groundsel
Senecio sylvaticus Heath Groundsel
Tussilago farfara Coltsfoot
Bellis perrenis Daisy
Tripleurospermum inodoratum Scentless May weed
Matricaria matricarioides Pineapple Weed, Rayless Mayweed
Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort
Arctium lappa Great Burdock
Arctium minus group Lesser Burdock
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle
Cirsium helenoides Melancholy Thistle
Centaurea nigra Black Knapweed
Lapsana communis Nipplewort
Leontodon autumnalis Autumnal Hawkbit
Hypochaeris radicata Cat's Ear
Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce
Sonchus asper Spiny Sow-thistle
Hieracium pilosella Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Taraxacum sp. Dandelion

Liliaceae Lily family

Polygonatum multiflorum Solomon' s Seal
Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell [LBAP]
Allium paradoxum Few-flowered leek
Chinodoxa sp. Glory of the snows

Amaryllidaceae Daffodil family

Galanthus nivalis Snowdrop

Iridaceae Iris family

Iris pseudoacorus Yellow Flag

Orchidaceae Orchid family

Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid

Araceae Arum family

Arum maculatum Lords-and-Ladies, Cuckoo Pint

Juncaceae

Luzula sylvatica Greater Woodrush

Gramineae

Aira praecox Early Hair-grass
Festuca ovina Sheep's Fescue
Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass
Poa nemoralis Wood Meadow-grass
Poa pratensis Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass
Poa trivialis Rough-stalked Meadow-grass
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot
Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail
Melica uniflora Wood Melick
Glyceria fluitans Flote-grass
Bromus sterilis Barren Brome
Bromus ramosus Hairy brome
Bromus hordaceus Lop-grass,Soft Brome
Arrhenatherum elatius Oat Grass
Trisetum flavescens Yellow Oat
Elymus (Agropyron) repens Couch-grass
Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass
Deschampsia flexuosa Wavy Hair-grass
Anthoxanthum odotaum Sweet Vernal-grass
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog
Holcus mollis Creeping Soft-grass
Agrostis capillaris Common Bent-grass
Phleum pratense Timothy Grass, Cat's-tail

TOTAL 211 SPECIES (as at last count in 2002!)