Pearman, D. A.

Preston, C. D.

Rothero, G. P.

Walker, K. J.

NERC Open Research Archive

THE FLORA OF RUMAN ATLANTIC ISLAND RESERVED. A. Pearman, C. D. Preston, G. P. Rothero and K. J. WalkerRum, one of Scotland’s first National Nature Reserves, is a rugged islanddominated by the mountains of the Rum Cuillin, the remains of a volcanoactive 60 million years ago. Its extremely oceanic climate and nutrient-poorbut otherwise varied soils give it a distinctive flora. Many common flower-ing plants are rare on the island, and some uncommon species are remarka-bly frequent there. The bryophyte flora is rich – the bryophytes outnumberthe native vascular plants and include numerous hyperoceanic species. Thefirst thorough investigation of the island’s plants was carried out under thedirection of Professor J. W. Heslop Harrison, who wrote a Flora of Rum andthe neighbouring Small Isles in 1939 and later published a number ofunlikely and apparently fraudulent records from the island in a series ofpapers.In his Foreword, Andrew Thin, Chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage,describes this new Flora as “not a simple catalogue of plants, but anexploration of Rum, past and present, from a botanical perspective”. Theintroductory chapters outline the geology and climate of the island, describeits history and land-use before the ‘clearance’ of the population and itssubsequent management as a sporting estate and later as a National NatureReserve. They include a detailed account of the botanical exploration of theisland, and a description of the current vegetation. They are followed by adetailed account of the stoneworts, bryophytes, ferns and flowering plantsof the island. The book is based on a critical assessment of the knownhistorical plant records, on the wealth of scientific work initiated by theNature Conservancy and its successors and on a recent survey by membersof the British Bryological Society and Botanical Society of the British Islesat the ‘tetrad’ (2 × 2 km square) scale.The book is a hardback of c. 470 pages, measuring 220 mm × 155 mm, with27 colour plates and numerous maps and figures. Publication is expected inor before May 2008.The two pages that follow are SAMPLES only, at a reduced sizeThe Flora of Rum will be published in May 2008 at £25 (plus p&p).However it will be made available at the special pre-publication price of£19.50 (including p&p of £4.50) until 31st March 2008 from:D.A. Pearman, Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RAPlease send me . . . . . . . copy/ies of The Flora of Rum at £19.50 per copy(cheques to be made payable to D.A. Pearman). (Overseas members (notIrish) add £3.00 to cover extra postage)Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postcode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Flora of Rum: an Atlantic island reserve

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