Rock Rose

Rock rose is a buttercup-like flower that likes to grow on lime rich soils. It is to be found in profusion on the Schiehallion limestone pavement, on the limestone at Dùn Coillich and at at Tomphubil to name but a few local places. The presence of the Dalradian limestone in the area is the trigger and rock rose is to be found wherever the limestone outcrops.

Rock rose is the food plant for the Northern Brown Argus caterpillar (Aricia artaxerxes) which feeds almost exclusively upon it.

Common rock rose - Helianthemum nummularium

Creative Commons - credit Ghislain118

Northern Brown Argus butterfly.

Creative Commons - credit Velela