page_title: Portlethen Moss
section_title: Vegetation
hierarchical_section_title: Portlethen Moss / Vegetation
context_page_description: The Portlethen Moss is an acidic bog nature reserve located to the west of the town of Portlethen, Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Like other mosses, this wetland area supports a variety of plant and animal species, even though it has been subject to certain development and agricultural degradation pressures. For example, the Great Crested Newt was found here prior to the expansion of the town of Portlethen. Many acid loving vegetative species occur in Portlethen Moss, and the habitat is monitored by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
  Portlethen Moss is the location of considerable prehistoric, Middle Ages and seventeenth century history, largely due to a ridge near the bog which was the route of early travellers. By at least the Middle Ages this trackway was more formally constructed with raised stonework and called the Causey Mounth. Without this drovers' road, travel through the Portlethen Moss and several nearby bogs would have been impossible between Aberdeen and coastal points to the south.
context_section_description: A wide variety of sphagnum, sedges, rushes and other characteristic bog species inhabit Portlethen Moss.  Sometimes insectivorous plants reside in mosses, since the soils are generally nutrient poor.  The heath also serves as a food source for area roe deer, while Corydalis is an attractive host for numerous butterfly larvae.  Representative plant species found in this nature reserve include:
  Agrostis canina, Velvet bentgrass
  Anthoxanthum odoratum
  Arrhenatherum elatius, Tall meadow oat grass
  Aulacomnium palustre
  Betula pubescens, Downy birch
  Calluna vulgaris, True heather
  Cardamine amara, Large bittercress
  Carex curta
  Carex demissa
  Carex echinata, Murray sedge
  Cirsium arvense, Creeping thistle
  Corydalis claviculata
  Dactylis glomerata, Cocksfoot grass
  Dactylorhiza maculata
  Deschampsia flexuosa, Tussock grass
  Dicranum scoparium
  Drosera rotundifolia, English sundew (insectivorous)
  Dryopteris dilatata, Broad Buckler fern
  Epilobium palustre
  Erica tetralix, Cross leaved heath
  Eriophorum vaginatum, Cotton grass
  Festuca ovina, Sheep's fescue
  Hypnum cupressiforme
  Juncus bulbosus
  Neottia cordata, a rare plant
  Potentilla palustris
  Salix cinerea
  Sphagnum capillifolium
  Sphagnum squarrosum
  Ulex europaeus
  Urtica diocia, Stinging nettle
  Viola palustris
caption: Erica tetralix, a wildflower  found on the Portlethen Moss
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