Wild flower to identify

denis b

Folks,


I have had a look around Boards and reckon that this is the right section but don't see too many flora questions so please move thread if necessary.

Spotted this flower in June on a Donegal Mountain summit. I have never seen it before or since. It grew over a small flat and exposed section close to the summit amongst small stones. I have checked 3 three regular wildflower sites for Ireland to no avail. Any ideas?

Thanks.

bing3

Looks like an over ripe Bilberry to me.

Click on this and compare the leaves with the bottom right picture.

Black Dog

Check out Salix repans or S. reticulata, a low-growing willow.

denis b

Thanks folks but the photo was taken in late May so I would have to rule out the Bilberry as they would tend to ripen later in the summer. I dont think that it is a form of willow either, I found these specimens at 2,000 feet and I have only come across Juniper at that height in the west before.

Rainbowsend

Salix rotundifolia, is the nearest I can find that looks similar?

denis b

Salix Herbacea???

Many thanks for the helpful leads. Took the Salix line and using online resources from the Botanical Gardens http://www.botanicgardens.ie/herb/books/hart/donegal6.pdf
I managed to narrow down the suspects to Salix Herbacea.

Rainbowsend.... The principal difference between Salix Rotundifolia and Herbacea would appear to be the serrated leaf which is closer to the opening picture on the thread. The red buds were very striking and Harts book describes the mountain top location where I found same.

Thanks again everybody.

Rainbowsend

That looks more like it Denis, the leaves were not right on the other one as the name suggested rotundifolia "round leaves" Glad you found it anyway something like that can bug you forever