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.
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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.
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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:
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Plant Species
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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
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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
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TOTAL 211 SPECIES (as at last count in 2002!)
Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern)
Plant species given below are grouped in botanical families. Species which are introduced to the British Isles are indicated thus *. Names accord with those in Excursion Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.) 1981.