Bontanising in Scotland Part 3: Cairngorm Area

It's just a quickie! A few highlights from the Cairngorm area.We didn't go any further than the car park on Cairngorm itself, on this occasion but a trek to the northern corries is definitely on the to do list. We saw a couple of nice plants near the car park both in fruit.

 Dwarf Cornel - Cornus suecica

Cloudberry - Rubus chamaemorus

I saw my very first Black Darters whilst we were looking for Least Water Lily (which we only found a few leaves of). Black Darters are quite common in the southwest but I've just never been at the right place at the right time. I never expected my first ones to be in Scotland.

Black Darters - Sympetrum danae

Northern Damselfly - Coenagrion hastulatum 

This rare damselfly is only found in Scotland, it was a bit distant for good photos this being the best I could manage.

Devil's-bit Scabious - Succisa pratensis

Also available in pink!

Creeping Lady's-tresses - Goodyera repens

 This beautiful little orchid is plentiful in the Abernethy Forest, most were going over but a few still looked at their best.

A typical flower spike with the flowers twisting up the stem.

An atypical spike in a form more typical of Dactylorhiza

Twinflower - Linnaea borealis

I was thrilled to find a couple of flowers still hanging on late in the season. 

 Stay tuned for Part 4: The Cairnwell and Corrie Fee, Glen Clova,