Coastal and marine plants

The coastal habitat suffers some of the worst of the Scottish climate but, as usual, there are plants that tolerate or even demand the type of rough loving.  Because they are marginal and difficult to modify with rock near the surface, many coastal habitats are now richer in flowering plants than those we have found it easier to subvert to our use.  Grasslands on the coast are often full of flowers, the best known being the machair of north-west Scotland. 

There is only one higher plant that has broken into the true marine environment - eel grass Zostera - all the other plants of the sea are ancient algae that are still beating the much more modern, upstart vascular plants here. 

Made in Scotland

The most unique plant of Scotland's coastal habitats is the Scottish primrose, Primula scotica. It is found in Orkney and on the northern coast of the mainland and nowhere else in the world. This tiny delicate purple primrose has a delicate scent rarely detected, by human noses at least, in its windswept habitats. Test your nose when you meet it.  The core of its habitat is the storm battered edge of clifftops where the winds trim back its taller competitors which would smother it elsewhere.  Grazing by our sheep has probably extended the range of this species back from the cliff tops into close-cropped pastures. 

Here today, gone tomorrow, back....?

The combination of soft habitats and mighty storms means that coastal plants may be swept completely away but many, like the oyster plant, appear to find their way back - presumably their seeds are washed or blown in from elsewhere.  However we compete with plants for their habitat and development has caused the permanent loss of some populations.  Changes in management, such as reductions in the grazing of flower-rich habitats can also cause losses where taller grasses and even scrub can gain a hold.