Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Palaeozoic Palaeobotany | Favourable | — | 2015-03-25 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Description
LAGGAN Laggan lies approximately five kilometres east of Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. The volcanic ashes at Laggan contain important fossil (lycopod) flora of Visean age (approximately 335 million years ago). Most of the lycopod species are unique to the locality and are preserved as petrifactions, which yield detailed anatomical information on their fructifications and stems. The site is thus critical for understanding the structure and diversity of the early Carboniferous lycopod plants. The assemblage probably reflects a flora growing in swampy lowlands, and complements the coeval pteridosperm-and fern-dominated floras found at Pettycur and Loch Humphrey Burn, which most likely belonged to drier environments. The unique composition of the flora and the high quality of its preservation makes Laggan an internationally important site.