2024 County Report for Mid Ebudes

Lynne Farrell

Main recording effort was in June with BSBI field trip to Tiree where we recorded in 10 tetrads and several monads. We helped with a University of Aberystwyth undergraduate project on Mertensia maritima (Oysterplant) and are awaiting feedback from that. Three NPMS plots set up in 2016 were re-recorded, will little change to report in the floral composition on the grassy heathland areas. We re-surveyed the extent of Astragalus danicus (Purple Milk-vetch) at its one known location, Counted Eryngium  maritimum ( Sea Holly) along  one of the extensive beaches, and searched for and found Pilularia globulifera (Pillwort) at two localities. Our BSBI Scottish Officer, Matt Harding, who joined the group, made special excursions to record Potamogetons (Pondweeds), Euphrasias (Eyebrights) and Rubus (Brambles) with some success, refinding Rubus mucronulatus last seen in 1982, and Potamogeton rutilis (Shetland Pomdweed) and Stuckenia filiformis (Slender-leaved Pomdweed). He also found Potamogeton crispus (Curled Pondweed), new to Tiree, planted in a small pond at a campsite!

Early in the year the first confirmed record for Ajuga pyramidalis (Pyramidal Bugle) set off a search for it on Coll and Tiree, with success, so we had that species recorded on all three main islands within a week.  In September, I visited Mull and encouraged several of my local people who are helping with recording and producing the next RPR. Then in December a recent graduate from Liverpool volunteered to help with iRecord input and verification.