Edmondston's Chickweed

I was determined to visit this place and hoped to see examples of this interesting flower. Although the wind was blowing strongly, making all photography difficult for both the subject and the photgrapher to remain still. I did manage a few decent pictures.

Otherwise known as Shetland Mouse-ear (Cerastium nigrescens ssp nigrescens) this plant is unique to this location, the serpentine debris on the Keen of Hamar, on Unst, now a National Nature Reserve. It was named after a local botanist, Thomas Edmonston who discovered it in 1837.

This may explain the terrain, on which the plant is growing, which, to my eyes, looked like a moonscape:

There are actually two types of `soil' found on the reserve. The visible effect of this is quite dramatic and results in the complex patchwork of vegetated and bare areas we see today. Much of the site comprises bare serpentine debris and this debris is still being produced as the forces of the weather shatter more serpentine bedrock into tiny pieces. This can be seen on the upper slopes of the Keen. Elsewhere, thin, stoneless, sandy soils give rise to well vegetated patches on the lower slopes of the reserve. This heathland is typical of the vegetation found on much of the Sheltand serpentine and is rich in flowers, grasses and sedges. Although this soil was derived from serpentine, it did not originate from the bedrock at the Keen but was transported to the site and deposited there by moving ice more than 10,000 years ago - a drift deposit.

We wandered over the site quite freely, checking the small information boards placed near the various species also found on the Keen and were fortunate to see examples of Norwegian Sandwort, Moss Campion, Frog Orchid and good examples of Kidney Vetch, also other orchids (which were too difficult to identify) besides common plants like thrift.

For some relief from the wind we drove up to the Northernmost Church (a modern building with superb views to distract the Methodist congregation) and the Northernmost House at Skaw and a wander along the beach.

On the way home we visited the Horse Mill at Hagdale, the millstones still standing in position where locally-quarried chromate was broken up, turned by a horse walking in a circle, then picked up a nice sample of Chromate from the spoil heap (well, I do like collecting stones).

Thus ended a very satisfying day.

Backblipped after return from holiday.