118 The Heath Formation 



of the moss Leucohrywrn glaucum are also frequent. 

 Occasionally young beeches form a sparse shrubby under- 

 growth. In the more open spots various members of the 

 heath association occur, and if the wood is felled, this 

 association quickly colonises the ground. 



Good examples of native Scottish pinewoods are to be 

 found in the Black Wood of Eannoch (on 

 ninewoods ^^® southern shores of Loch Rannoch in 



Perthshire (Plate Villa)), and in Rothie- 

 murohus Forest in Strathspey (Inverness-shire)^ The 

 latter occupies a great basin enclosed by the Cairngorm 

 mountains and formed part of a much larger forest which 

 stretched on both sides of the Spey valley for a con- 

 siderable distance. Much of this has been replanted, 

 but in Rothiemurchus itself no planting appears to have 

 been done. 



Rothiemurchus Forest is situated on gravelly sands of 

 glacial origin forming a gently undulating tract several 

 square miles in extent, having an average elevation of 

 about 1000 feet (c. 300 m.), and extending up the lower 

 slopes of the neighbouring mountains. In some places 

 the pines stop short with the lines of moraine on the 

 hill slopes, but in others they extend far up the hill sides, 

 reaching an altitude of 2000 feet (600 m.) or more, 

 probably the highest existing limit of woodland in the 

 British Isles. 



The pinewood association of Rothiemurchus Forest is 

 for the most part very open in character, seldom forming 

 a close wood ; it is in fact practically a " pine heath," with 

 a very uniform vegetation, poor in species (Plate Ylllb). 



The peaty character of the surface soil extends to 

 a depth of some inches. Under the pines, below the 

 surface covering of needles, there are about 4 inches 



' Ballochbuie Forest at the foot of Loohnagar in Aberdeenshire, and 

 Locheil Old Forest on Looh Arkaig in Inverness-shire are also recorded 

 as native pinewoods. 



