2024 County Report for Dunbartonshire

Michael Philip

Following three years of network development in our three counties, discussion with a cross-section of active botanists led to a decision to work much more closely together. So Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire formed the new ‘West Central Scotland Botany Network’ early in 2024 and now have a shared Outings Programme and a new shared Newsletter called ‘Trifoliate’.

Both are published on our Network’s webpage on the BSBI website:  https://bsbi.org/west-central-scotland-botany-network

Please visit the page and read what we’ve been up to - far more than can be included in a brief Report!

In Dunbartonshire in 2024 over 15,000 records were gathered from 237 monads visited, including 15 previously completely unrecorded monads.

Particular effort was made in photographing Dandelions. Photo-sets of 29 plants were sent to the referee, resulting in 22 identifications. Of these, 6 were first vice-county records.

Other highlights were the surprise find of Laphangium luteoalbum (Jersey Cudweed) on disturbed ground by an industrial site near Faifley (a species uncommon in Scotland, but likely to turn up more frequently). And a careful hunt in Glen Mollochan in the Luss Hills resulted in the refind of a 1988 record of Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. pulchella (Early Marsh-orchid). By coincidence, another subspecies - Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. incarnata - was found the same day in Glen Douglas: a first Dunbartonshire record of this taxon this century.

22 organised group outings were held in all, including further detailed work on mapping the flora of the RSPB Loch Lomond Reserve. We have enjoyed continuing partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council and Luss Estates.