ONE of Scotland鈥檚 rarest plants, the sticky catchfly (Lychnis viscaria), has been saved from extinction in Edinburgh鈥檚 Holyrood Park thanks to a restoration programme.
The catchfly, a relative of the carnation, was discovered in Holyrood Park in 1668. By the end of the 1980s, however, there were just three clumps left in the park.
Phil Lusby and his colleagues at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh rescued the colony by taking seeds from the last remaining plants and cultivating them.
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Nearly three-quarters of the 20 catchfly planted in the park last year have survived, and 12 have flowered. The catchfly produces bright pink flowers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 increased the chances that we鈥檒l soon have a self-sustaining population,鈥� says Lusby.
The plant gets its name from its sticky stem.