The vegetational history of Glen Diomhan, North Arran, site of endemic whitebeams, Sorbus arranensis Hedl. and S. pseudofennica E.F. Warb.

Abstract

A detailed pollen analysis was undertaken of sediment from a site in Glen Catacol on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, close to Glen Diomhan National Nature Reserve which has a large though possibly declining population of the endemic whitebeams, Sorbus arranensis Hedl. and S. pseudofennica E.F. Warb. Blanket peat formation began before 7000 years BP. The results provide evidence that while parts of the glen saw the development and subsequent decline of birch, oak, hazel and alder woodland a large proportion of the surrounding vegetation has remained open throughout the Flandrian with grass‐heath similar to that which occurs over much of the glen in the present day. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved