Abstract

50 mortared walls near my home in West Dundee were surveyed between April and June 2020 and vascular plants noted in 100m sections, between 0-1m and 1-2m above ground level. The results along with a short discussion are given.

  • 50 mortared walls near my home in West Dundee were visited 3 times in 2020 between April and June and vascular plants noted in 100m sections
  • 54 species were recorded, the commonest being Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort), Asplenium ruta-muraria (Wall-rue) and Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved Toadflax)
  • In the 0-1m above the ground parts of the walls 22 species were found and in the 1-2m above ground sections 38 species.
  • Asplenium trichomanes: 18 plants present in 0-1 m above ground part of the walls and 228 plants in the 1-2 m above ground part of the walls. A. trichomanes wall pictured, left, and close-up below. A. ruta-muraria showed a similar trend.
  • The adjacent pavement flora was very different, the commonest species being Poa annua and Epilobium species.

  • The height phenomenon may be partly related to herbicide use.
  • The abundance of Asplenium species may be related to frequent sea mists (haar) in Dundee –an Easter Ross urban wall study noted a lower abundance of Asplenium species (see my other exhibit)

 

 

 

 

 

BSS News No 115 24-27 and BSS Blog 7/6/2020 

Cymbalaria muralis, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, left.