Rare Orchid Discovered On Spoil Tip in Scotland

Wed, 07 Nov 2007

Rare orchids have been found growing on a spoil tip next to an old coal mine in Scotland, which experts say could represent "evolution in progress".

The orchids, known as Young's Helleborine, or Epipactis Youngiana, are believed to only grow at 10 locations throughout the UK, with each of them being former industrial sites.

Experts believe the plants - a newly-developed variety of the more common Broadleaved Helleborine - began to take root at Almond Bing, near Falkirk, just after the last miners left nearly 20 years ago.

Craig Macadam, biodiversity officer at Falkirk Council, said the plant "thrived" in the tough conditions at the bing, next to the former Muiravonside Colliery, and added that plant experts have harvested thousands of miniscule seeds from the pink plants' green seedpods in an attempt to understand more about them.

He commented: "This particular species is found at less than ten places across the UK - with only this one in Falkirk and another in West Lothian in Scotland . The rest are spread across England and Wales ."

While half of the seeds have been sent to labs for further research by the UK Hardy Orchid Society in Oxford, the rest have been replanted in other areas of former colliery bings to examine how they grow.

Mr Macadam added: "They seem to thrive on post-industrial landscapes and Almond Bing is just ideal for that."

"We don't know exactly how they got there, but we think they have been dormant in the soil and when the soil has been disturbed they have grown through the soil."

Suzanne Cooper, spokeswoman for leading Plant protection charity Plantlife Scotland, said it was important to monitor rare plants to preserve them for future generations.
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