PRIMITIVE WOODLAND AND PLANTATION TYPES IN SCOTLAND. I 57 



wood appears to be Betida tomentosa. In the underwood, juniper 

 and hazel {Corylus avellana) are abundant, while sloe {Prunus 

 spinosa), aspen {Populus treniula), goat willow {Salix caprea) and 

 honeysuckle {Lonicera periclymenum) occur occasionally. 



The ground-vegetation of this wood is of interest since it is 

 typical of birch woodland. The wood-rush {Luzula sylvatica) is 

 dominant, especially in the upper part of the wood, where the soil is 

 very shallow. On the middle slope, with deeper soil, wood anemone 

 {Anemone neinorosa), earth-nut {Conopodium denudatuni) and 

 primrose {Primula vulgaris) occur, forming the chief constituents 

 of the ground flora. The carpet of the lower slope consists mainly 

 of these latter species along with Holcus mollis, while dog's 

 mercury {Mercurialis perennis), wood hyacinth {Scilla Jiutans) and 

 Holcus lanatus occur occasionally. As subdominant elements 

 of this ground flora, wood-sorrel {Oxalis acetosella), wood violet 

 {Viola riviniand) and moschatel {Adoxa moschatellina) may be 

 taken as the chief. As occasionals, lesser celandine {Ranimculus 

 Jicaria), speedwell ( Veronica chamcedrys), stitch-wort {Stellaria 

 holostea), barren strawberry {Potentilla fragariastrum), hard fern 

 {Blechnum boreale), Lastrea montana, and polypody {Polypodium 

 vulgare) are obtained in all parts of the wood. 



From the presence of hazel in the underwood, and especially 

 from the nature of the ground flora, it may be safely argued that 

 this marks the site of a primitive oak-wood. The oak has entirely 

 disappeared ; whether this is due to human agency, to some 

 catastrophe, or to the natural rotation of species, is not evident, but 

 birch has now completely established itself over the area. On the 

 river Tweed, at Gateheuch, which lies within the same district as 

 the above wood, there occurs a primitive oak-wood in an exactly 

 similar position, and with practically the same ground flora. It 

 would appear, indeed, that many natural birch woodlands, which 

 occur at low elevations, are of the type of, and have a similar origin 

 to, Airhouse wood. This opinion has also been expressed by 

 another writer,^ thus : "The birch-woods in the shelter of the river 

 valleys may, however, have as rich a vegetation as the oak-coppice, 

 and, indeed, may be regarded as having replaced that association. 

 Thus, for example, a list taken in the birch- wood between Loch 

 Tummel and the Falls of Tummel shows a flora almost identical 

 with that already given as characteristic of the oak-coppice." 

 The rotation of species does not then appear to alter much the 



^ Robert Smith, Botanical Survey of Northern Perthshire, p. 17. 1900. 



