Stairhill
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Palaeozoic Palaeobotany | Favourable | — | 2023-03-29 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous, Permian · Rock Type: Shale
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Stairhill Stairhill, lying approximately 1 km northeast of Stair, displays a thin shale band intercalated between lavas of the Mauchline Volcanic Group that yields an unusual fossil flora of early Permian age. The occurrence here of Odontopteris subcrenulata (Rost), and two Pecopteris species of a typically Stephanian aspect are of particular interest. It is the only recorded example of a flora of this age in Britain, comparable assemblages being only known from the small intra-montane basins in the Massif Central of France (eg. Decazeville, St Etienne, Blanzy) and in the Lorraine - Saar - Saale trough. This is a site of national importance for understanding the floral changes which were occurring in the late Carboniferous and early Permian.