Beinn Iadain and Beinn na h' Uamha

General site character

• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (6%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (10%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (54%)
  
• Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (30%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 6230 Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on silicious substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in Continental Europe)  * Priority feature

  Beinn Iadain and Beinn na h’Uamha is representative of species-rich Nardus grasslands in the western Scottish Highlands. The species-rich Nardus grasslands occur on basalt, and include CG10 Festuca ovina – Agrostis capillaris – Thymus praecox grassland and CG11 Festuca ovina – Agrostis capillaris – Alchemilla alpina grassland, both of which are well-represented. The grasslands are extensive, though grazing pressures are high, with mostly only the smaller grazing-tolerant herbs represented. There are frequent occurrences of the more common and widespread arctic-alpine and northern species, including alpine lady’s-mantle Alchemilla alpina, the lady’s-mantles A. glabra and A. filicaulis, mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides, mountain everlasting Antennaria dioica, alpine meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum, northern bedstraw Galium boreale and viviparous sheep’s-fescue Festuca vivipara. A sub-maritime form with sea plantain Plantago maritima also occurs. On shady slopes there is a mossy form with the Atlantic bryophytes Breutelia chrysocoma, Racomitrium ellipticum, Scapania gracilis and Plagiochila spinulosa, as well as the scarce Lophozia obtusa.

• 8210 Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation

  Beinn Iadain and Beinn na h’Uamha is representative of Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation at moderately high altitudes in the oceanic north-west Scottish Highlands. The communities develop on extensive crags of calcareous basalt, which provides a refugium for a rich calcicolous flora. Characteristic chasmophytic vascular plants include alpine saxifrage Saxifraga nivalis, northern rock-cress Arabis petraea, glaucous meadow-grass Poa glauca and holly-fern Polystichum lonchitis. There is a rich associated flora of calcicolous bryophytes, such as Orthothecium rufescens and Rhytidium rugosum.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels
• 7240 Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion bicoloris-atrofuscae  * Priority feature
• 8120 Calcareous and calcshist screes of the montane to alpine levels (Thlaspietea rotundifolii)

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Not Applicable