Plumbing - Rare plant discovered in public toilet

01/11/2007

A public toilet in Edinburgh is the scene of a dramatic botanical discovery, it has been revealed.

The Downy Wood Fern is only usually found in the exotic and distinctly warmer climes of the Mediterranean, most commonly in the Canary Islands.

However, at the Royal Botanic Garden, the plant has found a fertile patch in the form of a cistern of a urinal.

Heather McHaffie, the garden's fern specialist, told the Scotsman: "It is a very peculiar place to find this fern. While it does like more humid areas of ground, it is not a native species. It's not something I would expect to grow that well in many places outside a greenhouse, let alone a cistern," she said.

"It seems to be doing very well, though. It must have come in from someone's clothing after they visited the greenhouses."

She added: "I don't know how long this will last - it bobs up and down with the ballcock and its water supply is constantly flushed away, so it will be difficult for it to get nutrients."

Heat and Plumb offers a range of toilet products including subtle concealed cisterns from Mirage and Armitage Shanks and a range of specially designed toilets for disabled users.