Brother and Little Lochs
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Oligotrophic loch | Favourable | — | 2013-03-20 |
| F2 | Varnished hook-moss (Hamatocaulis vernicosus) | Favourable | — | 2014-03-12 |
Description
BROTHER AND LITTLE LOCHS Brother and Little Lochs, situated approximately five kilometres to the southwest of Newtown Mearns, contains the nationally scarce varnished hook-moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus and the best example of oligotrophic open water bodies and complex emergent vegetation communities within west central Scotland. Emergent vegetation consists of a range of complex stands, dominated by reed and sedge communities together with characteristic graduated zones of shoreweed Littorella uniflora, water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna and quillwort Isoetes lacustris. The varnished hook-moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus (formerly known as slender green feather moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus) is a medium-sized straggling moss of base-rich flushes and springs in lowland sedge fens and occurs at this site around inflow springs feeding Little Loch.
Species mentioned
Show the 4 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lake quillwort | Isoetes lacustris | LC | fern | isoetaceae |
| shoreweed | Littorella uniflora | LC | herb | plantaginaceae |
| water lobelia | Lobelia dortmanna | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
| varnished hook moss | Hamatocaulis vernicosus | LC | moss | hypnales |