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GLASGOW NATURALIST Vol. 23 Part 5 pp 7-8 (2000) THE FLORA OF THE COATBRIDGE COUP MACPHERSON P. 15 Lubnaig Road, Glasgow G43 2RY Household refuse tips are well known as sites for RESULTS unusual alien plants. In general these come from kitchen vegetable material, gardenrefuse and the debris Over the survey period a total of 177 different plants from bird cages. In a previous paper (Macpherson & hasbeen recorded. Ofthese 125 are native, in the main, Macpherson, 1981 acomparison was made ofthe flora either on unworked sections or by natural dispersal ) oftwo tips in the Glasgow area. These have now been from surrounding areas. Of particular note in this closed and grassed over. However, material for connection is the assemblage of plants on the plateau. disposal from Glasgow still goes to the coup north of Although relatively flat, there are numerous small Coatbridge, Lanarkshire (VC 77). As regular visits hollows where rainwater collects. Despite the relative have been made to the site since 1993, and as it is due altitude and the fact that it is windswept, in the three to close in 2000, it is considered appropriate to put on years since it was flattened it has become colonised by record some ofthe findings. plants of wetlands and pools. In addition to soft-rush (Juncus effusus), jointed rush (J. articulatus) and red bartsia (Odontites vermis of damp areas, reed mace ) (Typlia latifolia), branched bur-reed (Spcirganium SITE erectum spp. microcarpum), mare’s- tail (Hippuris vulgaris tufted forget-me-not Myosotis laxa), ), ( The area was initially a natural hollow and in the common spike-rush (Eleocharis palustris), bladder- early part of the 20th century was used as a pit for sedge (Carex vesicaria) and floating sweet-grass dumping material from an adjacent brickworks. In (Glycerinfluitans) grow in relation to the pools. The 1932 it became a coup for household refuse. Initially bur-reedsubspecies hadpreviously been recorded in the the material was simply dumped and spread out but adjacent lkm square and the bottle-sedge (Keith recently there had been a requirement for household Watson) 2km distant, in its only other extant refuse to be covered within 24 hours. When possible, Lanarkshire site. rubble is used but its availability has been reduced since imposition ofthe landfill tax. In the main, material for Sixteen native grasses were recorded, four waste covering is now dug out from the periphery ofthe site. ground plants including viper’s-bugloss (Echium The result is that there is now a hillock dominating the vidgare) and mignonette (Reseda lutea), three rushes, surrounding relatively flat countryside. Over half the one sedge and one fern. Around the base there are five area on top was levelled three years ago to form a shrubby trees, mainly willows. plateau. Recently, each working day a Harris Hawk is tethered on the edge of the plateau overlooking the Although native in Britain, some plants undoubtedly residual dumping area. Whereas, in previous years arrive on site as a result of man’s activity and. strictly there were hordes of seagulls, none were seen in the speaking, should be classified as aliens (Macpherson et vicinity during two visits in 1999. a!., 1996). Lesser sea-spurrey (Spergularia marina) is a prime example. This sea-side plant, now widely established along the roads in Lanarkshire (Macpherson & Macpherson 1998) was seen as a single METHODS clump on a ledge about 20 ft below the plateau. Otherwise the most noteworthy native seen was red With permission from the Glasgow City Council goosefoot (Chenopodium rubra). This is a plant of Cleansing Department, the site has been visited at cultivated and waste ground and tips, frequent in much regular intervals over the past seven years. During the of England but rare elsewhere (Stace, 1997). It is early survey period showy flowering plants were to be usually seen in small quantity but on this site has been seen over most of the site, but since the material has the most common plant. Over the survey period many been covered, the plants have been fewer in numberand hundreds have been present, particularly on the eastern variety. However, interesting finds can still be made slopes and ledges. However the main purpose of the round the edges ofthe working area. survey was to record those plants which are alien to Britain. 7 Many ofthe aliens are ofwidespread occurrence on Lepidium sativum garden cress roadside and waste ground e.g. Epilobium ciliatum Linum usitatissimum flax (American willowherb), Matricaria discoidea Melilotus indicus small melilot (pineappleweed) and Senecia squalidus (Oxford ragwort). The more interesting aliens have been Panicum miliaceum common millet classified according to the probable source. Those Phalaris canariensis canary-grass considered to have had a kitchen origin are Pisum sativum pea Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) and Solarium tuberosum (potato). Twenty two species are believed to Sisymbrium altissimum tall rocket have had a garden origin and are listed in Table 1. Of Sisymbrium orientate eastern rocket the 14 plants which are presumed to have originated Trachyspermum ammi ajowan from bird-seed (Table 2), it is possible that some had Triticum turgidum rivet wheat another source of introduction. Arena sativa, Brassica rapa and Pisum sativum could be relics of cultivation and Sisymbrium altissimum and S. orientate are DISCUSSION considered to be either bird-seed or grain seed aliens (Clement & Foster, 1994). Trachysperma ammi was In the previous article (Macpherson & Macpherson, the rarest plant recorded and could either have been a 1981) comment was made that at one refuse tip the spice or bird-seed alien. material was deposited in the crude state, while at the other the refuse was subjected to high density baling Table 1. Garden refuse plants recorded on the before deposition. There were fewer plant species at Coatbridge coup 1993-99. the latter. It was concluded that the treatment resulted either in a poorer medium for plant germination or that Antirrhinum majus snapdragon it had a smothering effect. Buddleja davidii butterfly-bush The reduction over the years in the quantity and Centaurea montana perennial cornflower diversity of aliens seen at the Coatbridge coup is Cotoneasterbullatus hollyberry cotoneaster similarly related to the smothering effect of the daily Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora montbrecia covering ofthe deposited refuse material. Erysimum cheiri wallflower Although still of interest, botanising on refuse tips is Eschscholzia californica Californian-poppy not now as rewarding as it was in the past. Geranium xoxonianum Druce’s crane’s-bill Helianthus annuus sunflower ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Helianthus rigidus perennial sunflower Iberis umbellata garden candytuft 1 aA.mMgrcaGt.efSutlirtloinJg.Rf.orAkheerlopywdi,thE.iJd.enCtliefmiceanttiona.nd Limnanthes douglasii meadow-foam Lonicera nitida Wilson’s honeysuckle REFERENCES Lunaria annua honesty Clement, E.J. & Foster, M.C. (1994). Alien Plants of Pilosella aurantiaca fox-and-cubs spp.carpathiicola the British Isles. Botanical Society of the British Isles. Potentillafruticosa cv. shrubby cinquefoil Macpherson. P.. Dickson. J.H., Ellis. R.G.. Kent. D. & Prunus laurocerasus cherry laurel Stace, C.A. (1996). Plant Status Nomenclature. Rosa rugosa Japanese rose BSBINews 72, 13-16. Spiraea xpseudosalicifolia confused bridewort Macpherson, P. & Macpherson, B.C.M. (1981). Tanacetumparthenium feverfew Comparison of the Flora of Two Refuse Tips. Glasgow Naturalist 20, 65- 68. Vinca minorcv. Lesser periwinkle 1 1 Viola lutea cv. mountain pansy Macpherson, P. & Macpherson, A.C. (1998). Lesser Sea-spurrey. Glasgow Naturalist 23, 60. Table 2. Presumed bird-seed aliens recorded on Stace, C.A. (1997). New Flora ofthe British Isles (2nd the Coatbridge coup 1993-99. edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Arena sativa cultivated oat Brassica rapa turnip Chenopodium strictum striped goosefoot Chenopodium suecicum Swedish soosefoot 8