Grass of Parnassus

Yesterday I went up Ben Lomond.

This is a view taken from about half way up, looking south down Loch Lomond.

Lower on the hill I found quite a lot of Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris). This is quite a common flower in Scotland, and is one of the most beautiful. It flowers quite late in the year when many flowers are already over.

It has five fertile stamens which open in turn, and five sterile stamens which each branch into a semicircle of tiny glands.

It was a misty day, and this is another view taken just after I had left the summit.

There is a virtual walk up Ben Lomond on our website

Skye flowers and butterfly

The Scotch Argus butterfly is quite common in many parts of Scotland, and was the butterfly we saw most on Skye.


Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) is a common plant growing in the edges of lochs.

Bur Reeds (Sparganium sp.) also grow around the margins of lochs, and sometimes also in deeper water. This one is probably Least Bur Reed (Sparganum minimum).

We found Field Gentian (Gentianella campestris) in the shorter grass near the sea.

Also growing in the short grass were Heath Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata ssp. ericetorum).

This Greater Sea-spurrey (Spergularia media)was growing just above the high tide line.

Silverweed (Potentilla anserina) grew along the top of the beach.

Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) is often a mountain plant, but we found it growing at all levels. Here, it was overlooking a stream.

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) is one of the most beautiful flowers, and one of my favourites.

A close-up view shows the sterile stamens branched into little semicircles of glandular hairs between each fertile stamen.

For more information on the flowers of Skye, see Skye Flora