April1979 B.S.B.I.NTWS No.2l Editedby EDGAR D. WIGGINS CowpastureFarm, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 9RD

Guizotia obyssinica- ADMINISTRATION

GeneralEnquiries from membersshould be addressedto: HON. GEN. SEC. Mrs. M. Briggs,White Cottage,Slinfold, HORSHAM,West Sussex, RHl3 7RG. Changesof addressand subcriptionsshould be sentto: BSBI, HarvestHouse, 62 London Road, READING. Berks.RGI 5AS. Mattersconcerning field meeting,should go to: HON. FIELD SEC. MissL Farrell Nature ConservancyCouncil Godwin House,George Street, HUNTINGDON, Cambs.PEl8 6BU. RECEIVING EDITOR Dr. C.A. Stace, Watsonia Adrian Building, University Road, LEICESTERLEI 7RH.

ANNOUNCEMENTS BSBI Committee for Wales The 17th Annual Generalmeeting will be held at the NationalMuseum of Wales, CARDIFF on July lth, 1919.The programmewill include: BotanicalRecording in Wales- the last500 years- R.G. Ellis. BotanicalRecording in Walesin the 1980s- Dr. F.ll. Perring. Therewill be a field meetingto varioussites in the Valeof Glamorganon Sunday July 8th. For further informationplease write to Gwynn Ellis,Dept. of Botany,National Museum of Wales,Cardiff CF 1 3NP.

BSBI Committee for lreland The Quadrennialand the Annual lrish Meetingswill be held at the Departmentof Botany, Trinity College,Dublin on October l3th 1979,with a field excursionon Sunday October l4th, Further detailswill be publishedin BSBI News 22. Nominations for election of a memberto representlreland on Councilshould be sent to the Hon.Secretary of the Committeefor Ireland,MissE.Ni lamhna,AnForas Forbartha, St. MartinsHouse, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4, beforel3th August1979' The nominations must be in writing, signed by two members normally resident in Ireland, and accompanied by the written consent of the candidate to serve if elected. For further information about the meetingplease wite to : EannaNi lamhna at the aboveaddress. Mary Briggs

BSBI NEWS22 Contributionsintended to appearin this issuemust reach the Editor BEFOREIst AUGUST 1979 NOTEFROM THE TREASURER

The aboveheading is not a regularfeature of B.S.B.I.News and its suddenappearance will in itself probably be sufficientwarningof impendingunpalatable news. At the time of writing this note the accountsfor the year ending31st December1978 are in the press and show a deficit of L645, which together with the deficit for 1977 has causeda substantialdrain on our financial reserves.A leadingfinancial newspaperrecently stated that in 1978 alonean averageincrease in incomeof 14Yz%would be neededby individuals and Societiesto maintainstandards; this at a time when inflationwas supposedlybeing contained.You will not needreminding that theB.S.B.I. is not immunefrom the inflation- ary spiraland we anticipatethat therewill be a substantialdeficit in our accountsfor the year endingDecember 1979. Council has reluctantly decided that if weareto maintain our standardsthere is no alternativebut to increaseour subscriptionrates. It is now four years since they were reviewedand the averageexpenditure has risen in line with the above quoted figure of 14/z% per annum which, calculatedcumulatively over the four years,amounts to an overall rise in the rcgion of 70%. I think it pertinent to point out that the subscriptionnot only entitles members to the benefits whose cost is reflected in the income and expenditure account but also to enjoy many advantagesarising from the substantialtime and effort freely given to the Societyby its officerswhose costs do not featurein the annualaccounts. We have a most efficientHon. Secretary,very professional editors for our journals,andtheservices of dedicatedand knowledgeablemembers on all our Committees.If we hadto pay for this expertiseour expenditurewould be at leasttrebled necessitating a subscription rate in excessof f,30 per annum.tooked at in this light the proposedincrease in the ordinary subscriptionrate from f5 to t7.50 per annum is surelyvery reasonable- perhaps,you might feel, insufficient I Full detailsof the new ratesare given in the Annual Report and havebeen decided upon after very carefulconsideration by the Council. It is recognisedthat the new ratesmay prove a burden to somelong-standing members who are retired on a fixed income,and thereforea changein Society'srules is alsopropo- sed which will enable such membersto take advantageof a specialsenior subscription rate as from lst January1980. I realise that many other Societiesto which you may be affiliated are currently reviewingtheir subscriptionrates and will be anxiousto retain your membershipbut I would expressthe hopethat you will still find the benefitsof B.S.B.I.membership worthy of your continuedsupport and that you will remaina memberof this Society.

M. WALPOLE Hon. Treasurer.

CHANGESOF RECORDERS The following changeshave been made by the RecordsCommittee on the recommen- dationof the Committeefor Scotland. v.c. 17 - Mrs. J.E. Smith hasbeen appointed Recorder in successionto the late Dr. C.T. Prime. v.c'16- MissE.R.T.ConacherhasbeenappointedtosucceedthelateR.Mackechnie. v.c. 96 - This is now vacant following the resignationof MissConacher. v.c. 98 - Mr. P. Wormell has been appointed to succeedMrs. E.J. Montgomery whose resignation was accepted with regret. We wish to reoord our sincere thanks for her servicesto the Society. (PaEe42 of the 1976 List of Membersshould be amendedaccordingly). HON. GEN. SECRETARY'SNOTES

The BSBI Emblem has finally been chosen ! Congratulationsand thanksto OlgaStewart who hasput a greatdeal of thoughtand work into the chosendesign, which is one of no lessthan 16 drawingsthat shehassent in for the selectioncommittees on numerousoccasions. The emblemwill be printedon to BSBI notepaperand will in Marchbe stampedon to the PostOffice FlowerStamp first Caycovers orclered by members.Other useswill follow. Predictablywe cannotplease everyone, and it waswith realregret that otherattractive ideas(particularly perhaps the Grass of Parnassus),compelling designs and some beautiful drawingswere not chosen;we sincerelythank all the artistswho contributed.In selecting the intentionally stylised drawing of Hya:itToides non-scripluswe are awareof some confusionbetween the Englishand Scottish common namesof this species,but its typically British Islesgeographical distribution (well matchingthe name of our Society) wasthe over-ridingreason for the choice.

From time to time we hearfrom v-c Recordersthat they sendinformation on their county to membersplanning a visit, but do not hear from the enquirersagain. Please rememberthat a reporton the plantsseen, with localitiesis veryhelpful to the Recorder- especiallyto thosein more remoteand isolatedareas. Mrs. P.H. Burrowshas kindly donated2 vasculato the Society;alarge black one that belongedto her late husbandand a srnallerwhite one that washer own. Pleaseapply to the Hon. Gen.Sec. if you couldmake good use of a vasculum. Many membershave commented on thehigh standardand good quality of the Exhibits at the Annual Exhibition Meetinglast November.We have receiveda requestthat for those exhibits which include largenumbers of references,tables or figures,a duplicated sheetwith a precisof the information on them to take away is invaluable.Some exhibitors already provide these, and we do realisethat such an information sheetcould not be easily produced by all exhibitors. However these information sheetsare very much appreciatedwhen they can be made available. Our thanks to all the exhibitors for the work and time put into the exhibitsproviding interestand enjoymentfor the 300+members who attendedthe meeting. Your new List of Membersand Subscribers1979 comeswith this mailing,and againwe thank our Hon. MembershipSecretary, Rachel Hamilton, for completingthe herculean task of correctingand preparingthe list for the printers;also thanks to Chrisand John Dony who havehelped with additionalproof reading. Can we ask all membersto check their nameand addres entry in this new list, and to send any discrepanciesto Mrs. R.M. Hamilton, Shambles,Whitwell, Hitchin, Herts SG4 8AL, as soon as possible.But pleasenote that changesof addresssent after January lst 1919 arenot includedin the new list, but will havebeen noted for the addressograph.

The Taraxacummeeting on May 6th at Eyemouth,Berwick, to be led by Dr. John Richards,is a Field meeting in spiteof the asteriskprinted againstit in error in the 1979 Calendar. Personal Our very best wishesto llatsonis Editor SusanColes on her marriagelast year. Susanis now Mrs. S.M. Eden,but followingeditorial convention will remainas S.M. Coles on the coversof Watsoniountil this Volunreis completedby part 4, which is due for publication in July or Augustthis year. Field Secretariesand Vice-CountyRecorders are remindedthat Dr. SusanEden's address(for field meetingreports and plant records)is now 80, TempleRoad, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2EZ. Congratulationsalso to Elizabeth Young. As many memberswill alreadyknow Mr. Theodore O'Grady will be retiring from the Linnean Society in July after 25 yearsas ExecutiveSecretary. He is to be succeededby MissElizabeth Young, who hasorganised theBSBI SevenYear Covenant Scheme and hasbeen Minuting Secretary for BSBICouncil for ten years.She has resignedfrom thesein preparationfor taking on her new dutiesat the LinneanSociety; we can look forwardto a BSBImember taking charge of the office at the LinneanSociety and we wishher well in her new post. We also sendour very good wishesto Mr. O'Grady for his retirementafter so many yearsof devotedand efficientservice to the LinneanSociety. Members are reminded that our Treasurer.Mr. M. Walpole,has now takenon the BSBICovenant Scheme, and corres- pondenceon rhisshould be sentto him at 68, OutwoodsRoad, TOUGHBOROUGH, lrics. LEi I 3LY. Congratulationsto Robin and RachelHamilton on the birth of a daughter,Eleanor, on February14rh 1919.Rachel is our Hon. MembershipSecretary. Just as we go to presswe learnwith the greatestof pleasureof Dr. WinifredTutin's electionto Fellowshipof the RoyalSociety. We sendher our heartiestcongratulations.

Manythanks to Mrs.Kathleen l-awson who hastyped muchof the copyfor this number of B.S.B.L1y'ews, and who waskind enoughto saythat sheenjoyed doing it. Mary Briggs Hon.General Secretary PHOTOGRAPHERS- PLEASELOOK BEFOREYOU LIE It has already been pointed out how easily smallseedlings can be inadvertently crushedduring close-upphotography ofa flowering plant. A local wardenwriting about one of our rarest, threatened and decreasing plants writes: "[-ast year two perfectly WARNING respectful enthusiastswith camerashap- DO NOT PICK pily lay on top of two small plantswhile DO Not 5T Xt) they photographedone of the flowers". If a photographof a threatenedplant is really needed,please contact the local warden or recorder first for adviceon "l- where some part of the photographers 4\ anatomy can safelyrest, and pleasekeep a sharplook out alwaysfor youngpiants e underfoot. MB. ,,[-{-Jt

RARE PLANTS DAI\IAGED Orchids Despitethe passingof the 1975 Conservationof Wild Creaturesand Wild PlantsAct, threeof our rarestorchid specieshave been picked or dug up in 1978.The first species to suffer was Orchis militaris (Military Orchid), which had its inflorescencecleanly removed.The secondspecies was that shy flower Epipogiumaphyllum (GhostOrchid), one plant of which was damagedby tramplingand anotherdug up and removed.The third speciesto suffer was Himantoglossunthircinunt (Lizard Orchid),two plantsof which havebeen dug up. Thereis no excusefor this vandalism.For bonafide researchworkers, a speciallicence nraybe grantedin the interestof furtheringthe conservationof rarespecies by the Nature ConservancyCouncil (to wl.romall applicationsshould be made). Cicerbita alpina -no-go area This speciesnow occursin three localitiesonly. At all thesesites the populationsare in precariouspositions. They canbe reachedonly by climbing.As the rocksare crumbling thereis a dangerthat visitorsmay dislodgethe rockswhich may then fall down onto the plants,damaging them. The Cicerbitacolonies can be seenthrough binoculars adequately. This is a requestasking members not to visit the localitiesby climbing.If you must go, pleasestand at the bottom of the cliffsand look throughbinoculars. LYNNE FARRELL.

6 FRAGARIA MOSCHAZ Dr"rchesneand F. VESCA L. Followingmy note in,BSBI 1y'ewsNo. 18, I havehad severalinteresting replies (of which more in a future issue).However, I was rather dismayedto seeMr. Maclntyre's note in ly'ewsNo. 2O and I shouldlike to reply as follows : l. His renrarksconcerning pedicel indunrentuin are a little unfortunate.My original note, as the sourcesindicated, was basedon someherbarium material and the literature. During 1978 | haveseen a greatdeal more herbarium material and livingplants, here and abroad,and I havesome plants in cultivation.In everycase, the habitof the hairsonthe upperpedicels is a quick and reliableguide to the identificationof floweringandfruiting material(uvenile statesof many plant speciesmay differ from the maturecondition and arenot takeninto considerationhere). 'alfilost 2. He describesthe petioles,peduncles, pedicels and leavesof F. vescaas glabrous'.This is not borne out by examinationof living plants,herbarium specimens (BM, OXF, CGE), and as far as I know, the literature.The lower leaflet surfaceis always sllky appressedpubescent (except sometimesat the baseof the main vein, when the hairsmay be spreading);the upper surfacemay be glabrousexcept on the veins,but is usuallysparsely hairy. The pedunclesand petiolesare covered with ascending,spreading or deflexedhairs (or a mixture)and rosettesof F. vescaandF.nrcschota,placed sideby side,may look identicalin respectof hair habitand density on theseparts of the plant. 3. Mr. Maclntyre confirmsthe leaf texture character,but this is only of useif one hasor knowsboth speciesand is not soeasy on driedmaterial;thus it wasnot emphasized in my key. The dull or shiny upper leaf surfacedoes not alwayswork and someF'. yesca plantsin the gardennow (Dec.1978) have appressed veins. 4. Flower size is indeed a potential differentiatingcharacter, but there is not the wide separationMr. Maclntyre indicates,in particularfunctionally female flowers of F. moschntamay come within the rangeof F. vesca. 5. Leaf shapeis variable,but thereis a distinctivetrend for more regularlytoothed, lesstapered, more rhombic leavestn F. moschata. I waswrong to quote CTWabout fruiting calyx teeth positionin -E x alurutssa(although it is true to saythey are neverappressed to the fruit in the other two). After studying the extensiveliving collectionsof cultivars of F. x aruuwsseat RIIS, Wisley, it is hard to find any one characterwhich reliably and easilyseparates it ! F. vescagenerally does have smaller flowers and fruits, the latterwith superficial,not slightly sunken,achenes. Many F. x arutlwssadiffer from F. moschatain the appressed 'Cambridge or ascendinghairs on the upperpedicels, but in cultivarssuch as late Pine' this distinctionbreaks down. In this casethe very broadly obovateor more or less 'Cambridge orbicularleaflets of late Pine'nrarkit off, asdo the hermaphroditeflowers. Almost all naturalized F. moschata have functionally dioeciousflowers, about which spacedoes not permit further comment. I shouldbe pleasedto seeany further candidatesfor F. moschataor to colnlrent on any other Fragar ia specimens. A.C.LESLIE,72 BoxgroveRoad, GUILDFORD, Surrey A CALENDAROF BEEPLANTS A reprint of the articlein BeeWorld 59 (3):97-100(1978) by Dorothy Hodgesand includinga list of the scientificnames of the plantsmentioned is availablefrom the InternationalBee ResearchAssociation, Hill House,Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL9 ONR. (30pincpost).It includesa chart showingthe months when the variousspecies are in flower and indicatingwhether they are major providersof pollen,honey or both. PROFILE - Professor D. H. Valentine In the 1930sthe Botany Schoolat Cambridgewas a very good placeto be for those undergraduateswith a passionfor the native flora. A number of membersof staff, especiallysome of the more junior ones,were keen and knowledgeablefield botanists, and the enjoymentderived from the Botany School'sfield excursionswill not readilybe forgottenby those who took part in them. Most of thesemembers of staff havesince becomewell known in British Botany, to which they havemade nlajor contributions. Among them was David Valentine,who had come up to St. John'sfrom Manchester GrammarSchool and who was not only for a time Curatorof the Herbariumbut also playedfor the BotanySchool cricket team. Durham He beganhis post-graduatecareer as a plant physiologist,and during the war was concerned,among other things,with the dehydrationof vegetables(the virtuesofwhich he wasapt to extol for someyears afterwards). After the war he went to Durhamas head of a tiny BotanyDepartment which then hadonly one lecturer,a researchfellow, one lab. assistant,hardly any accomnrodation,a diminutive greenhouse and few students. Slowlyat first,he beganto build up theDepartment.His research interests becarne well eslablishedin experinrentaltaxonomy, especially of violetsand the Britishprimulas. His contributionsto our knowledgeof the interspecificrelationships and evolutionwithin thesegroups, and his discussionsof moregeneral taxonomic principals, are too well known ttaxonomy,field botanyand ecology, with excellentfield excursionsmodelled on the Cambridgepattern. He setin motion the fbrnrationof a departntentalherbarium. It was not surprisingthat manystudents developed interests in experimentaltaxonomy and in the Britishflora, and David Valentinehad a successionof very ableresearch students many of whom now have well-establishedreputations wl-rich owe much to his early guidanceand enthusiasm,as did the well-deservedand substantialreputation which the Departmentitself came to achieve. Manchester As the Universityand its departmentsgrew in size,so did the adrninistrativework for professors,but David Valentineshed little of histeaching load. Believing it to be particu- larly important, he did a good shareof first-yearteaching, both lecturesand practical classes.He knew his undergraduatestudents well;contacts in field and laboratorymade for goodrelationships, and he wasalways readily accessible. His move to Manchesterin 1966was a homecoming,as he is a nativeof neighbouring Salford,but the largeMuseum herbarium and UniversityBotanic Gardens also proved an attraction. In a far largercity, Universityand Botany Departrnent,he carriedout his dutiesand ideaswith the samedetermination and enthusiasmthat he showedat Durham. David Vaientineis first and foremosta biosystematist.He hasnever had much time for the legalitiesof nonrenclaturaldetail or for chasingup ancienttype specimens.But he hasan excellenteye in the field for any'interesting'situation which will shedsome light on the adaptionsand evolutionof plants.Most of his work hasinvolved a closecom- binationof studiesin the field,botanic garden and laboratory,and he remainsone of that relativelyrare breed who strivesto incorporatethe resultsofbiosysternatic research into improved classifications.While at Durham he becamevery much concernedwith the def'enceof UpperTeesdale, and was a memberof theTeesdale Committee. He is keen on traveland hastaken part in numerousconferences and other visitsto many partsof the world. He hasoften preaohedthat taxonomynrust transcend national boundaries,and he practisesaccordingly. His involvementwith Flora Europaeowas entirely appropriate.Not only did it takehinr abroad for the Flora EuropaeaSymposia. but it broughtvisits frorn leadingContinental taxonomists to Durhanrand Manchester.In 1912he organizeda joint BSBI LinneanSociety Syrlposium at Manchesteron Taxon- orry, Phytogeographyand Evolution,which wasattended by over200 botanistsfrom all five continents. 1979 will be an important year for David. It will seethe publicationof the final volumeol Flora Europaeaand his retirementfrorn prolessionalbotany. His final yearalso as Presidentof the BSBI will be markedby his secondManchester conference, this tirne on the taxonomy of the British l-lora.By its relativeinformality and promisethat the proceedingswill not be published,this conference will airnat a frank and(where necessary) controversialpresentation of ideas,an approachvery dearto his heartas all his present and past colleaguesand studentswill readilytestify. However,there will be no chanceof his fading into the background.llis thriving farnily(wife Joan, 5 childrenand l3 grandchildren)and the recentsigning of the contract for theFlora of GreatBritain on! Irrlo"d:tll ir^""! and receivehis fullest participation. BSBICOMMITTEE FOR SCOTLAND- THE FIRSTYEAR (Froma reportby AllanStirling) The BSBI Committeefor Scotland,elected at the ScottishExhibition Meetingin Edinburghon 5th November 1977,resulted from a ballot of membersresident in Scot- land,followingsuggestions that BSBI representativesin Scotland should be broughtmore into line with that of other Regions.As previouslvreported, the CSSFwas disbanded, andthe new Committeemade good progress during its first year. Besidesdevoting much time to administrativematters, including a suitableConstitution and liaison with BSBI Council,it has arrangedfor the annualExhibition Meeting,an AGM of Scottishmernbers, and a summerprogramme of field meetingsto be part of the year'sactivities. Scottish V.C. Recorderswill meet frequentlyand closeliaisonwithBSE includesjoint consultationwithmeetings and reciprocal representation on governingbodies. Repliesto a letter from the (-hairmanproduced helpful suggestionsfor future ac- tivities, and questionnaireshave yielded much updatedinformation on v.c. recording, productionof localfloras, check-lists and currentresear ch. The existingprojects will continueunder the auspicesof appropriatesub-committees, Theseare (1) a ScottishNews ktter (2) conrpletionof the Floraof lnverness,and (3) feasibilitystudy for a projectedv.c. plant distributionCensus Catalogue with the help of Recorders. B.S.B.l.Scottish News Letter The BSBI Committeefor Scotlandis to producea NewsLetter which it is anticipated will appearannually. The first numberis scheduledfor the springof 1979.Success will dependlargely on the contributionsof BSBI members,and the editorswelcome the submissionof shortarticles and notes,letters etc, with a relevanceto Scottishbotany, for consideration.The ScottishNews Letterwill be issuedwithout chargeto BSBImembers residentin Scotlandand Recordersfor Scottishvice-counties. Otl.rers may receivea copy on receiptof a stampedaddressed envelope. The joint E,ditorsare : Dr. P. Macpherson, 15, LubnaigRoad, GlasgowG43 2RY and A. McG. Stirling,17 AustenRoad, Glasgow GI3 ISJ. NOTICES VACANCYAT S.L.B.I. A part-time Secretary,Curator or married couple required.An interest in systematic botany an advantage.No salarybut a free 4 room flat in return for assistancein running the Institute. Apply with full details to Council, South london Botanical Institute, 323 NorwoodRoad, l.ondon SE24 9AQ.

NATURE CONSERVATIONBOOK LIST

A list of books on conservation,the environment,and many groupsof wildlife has been selectedand annotated by Shirley Penny, Chief Librarian Nature Conservancy Council. It is availablefor f,1.00 + 15p postagefrom the National Book kague, T Albemarle Street, london W.1. An associatedtravelling exhibition is availablefrom the N.B.L at the above address.The section headingsof book titles in the N.C. Book list are :- Introduction Birds, Mammals,Insects, Amphibians, Reptiles The Landscape Trees.Flowers and Funsi The Nature of the Countryside Planningand Conservation Need for Conservation PressureGroups Conservationoi Wildlife NatureConservation for the Individual Ecology Publishers'Addresses

SURVEY OF PEAT.BOGSIN FRANCE

Any membersgoing to Francewho would like to participatein the presentsurvey of Frenchpeat-bogs please write for a surveyform to :- Parcset Reserves,Direction de la Protectionde la Nature 14, Bd du Generalkclerc 9252I NEUILLY SUR SEINECEDEX, FRANCE.

LUNDY FIELD SOCIETY The annual day trip to Lundy has been arrangedfor SaturdayJune 9th when the M/V "Balmoral" will sail from Ilfracombe at l0.30am and arrive off Lundy at about 12.15pm,allowing 4-5 hours ashore,during which Societyspecialists will conduct parties accordingto their interests. Return fare is f5.00 (any profits to conservation)and the trip is expectedto be oversubscribed.Further details and application form for tickets can be obtained from A.J.B.WALKER, 29 NassauRoad, I.ONDON SWl3 9QF

FRITILLARIES AND MILITARY ORCHIDS IN SUFFOLK The Suffolk Trust for Nature Conservationannounce the openingto the public of the FramsdenFritillary field will be on Sunday 29th April 1979 and the Rex Graham Reservenear Icklingham, will have its Open Day on Sunday lOth June. Pleasenote that the openingis for one day only at eachsite this year.

l0 GERANIUMxMONACENSE Harz: G. pharumxG. reflexum Eric Clement'snote on this hybrid in B.S.B./.Iy'ewg Sept. 1976, p.24, has led to the solution of someproblems in Cambridge.As I becameincreasingly involved with Geranium I had become uneasyabout the identity of a stock growingon the SystematicBeds and HerbaceousBorder at the CambridgeBotanic Gardenand namedG. phneum.The petals are more reflexedthan in a very dark-floweredG. phaeumthat Ihad seenatWisleyorin G. phaeum var. lividum and G. phoeum var. lividum'Major' in the Botanic Garden,and the flowersare not disc-likeas in theseother plants.Because of absencen 1977 I wasnot able to look againat the living plantsat Cambridgeuntil 1978.When I comparedthe doubtful plant with the stocksof G. phaeum var lividum and more particularly with a plant (which I had previously overlooked)like the Wisley one which is evidently var. phneum,and alsowith G. reflexum, I was convincedthat it representedthe hybrid. This re-determinationof the supposedG. phaeumis supportedby somephytochemical resultsobtained in 1971 by Dr. E.C. Bate-Smith,and which at the time had been puzzling. Dr. Bate-Smithhad found that methanolicextracts of many plants,includingGeranium, turned deep blue on the addition of nitrous acid,which is a test for estersof ellagicacid. However,the plant now believedto be G. x motwcensefailed to give this reaction.The test was then carried out on various stocks of G. phaeum and G. reflexum growingat Cambridgeand at Kew, and on G. phaeum var. phaeum from the roadsidecolony at Wandleburynear Cambridge.The relatedbut obviouslydistinct speciesG. aristatumwas also tested.The only plantsnot givingthe blue reactionwere the two lots of G. reflexum, and G. aristatum At the time, therefore, it seemedthat the G. phoeum stocks were inconsistent,most being positivebut one beingnegative and thereforelike G. reflexum As this one now appearsto be a hybrid of G. reflexura its negativereaction can be explained by inheritancefrom that species,governed by a dominantgene, and the anomalyis removed.-t

"1 bluish,doker neor veins rIe

Petalsof Geranium cultivated at the University BotanicGarden, Cambridge. Left to right :- G. phaeum, var. phaeum" G. x monacense,G. reflexum (Sources and entry numbers respectively: the late Miss E.M. Savory,449-5 8, Mr. G. S. Thomas, I72-74, and UniversityBotanic Garden, Marburg, Germany, 109-71).

Drawingsof petalswhich havebeen preservedbetween cellulose tape and clearplastic sheetingare shown above. G. x mowcense is intermediatein the generalcolour of the petals,and it has a white basebordered by a bluish zoneas rn G. reflexum.The hairson the petal marginsof the hybrid are about as profuseas in G. reflexum,while thoseon the stamensare about as well developedas in G. phaeum(they are long and bristle-likein G. phaeum but short and insignificantin G. reflexum). The brown spotsin the sinusesof the leavesof the hybrid are presumablyinherited from G. reflexum,though they arealso a featureof easternpopulations of G. phaeumvar.phaeum P.F.YEO UniversityBotanic Garden, CAMBRIDGE CB2 lJF.

lt BLACKNIGHTSHADE SURVEY - INTERIMREPORT The BlackNightshade Survey got off to a goodstart last Autumn, despite delays in the distributionof the record cards.I liavereceived 100 completedcalds to date,together with 28 requestsfor a total of c. 260 blank cards,and so anticipatean evenbetter responsetn 1979. The completedrecord cardswere well-spreadover the vice-countiessouth of mid- Yorkshire,though until the time of writing,none had been received frorn vice-counties 2, 7,11,13,15,18,19,22,24-26,33,34,36,39,42-47,49,50,52.54,56,58,60,63.65. 69 and 71. Membersin thesevice-counties are therefoleparticularly asked to be on the iook-out for the Black Nightshadeand its associatedspecies this year. No recordsare expectedfrom Irelandor from vice-countiesnorth ol' mid-Yorkshire,with the exception of casuals. Most of the completedrecords were of the purple/black- or black-berriedvariant of Solanumnigrum L. subsp.nigrunt, though five recordsof the diploid casual,S.sarrachoides Sendtn.were also received. The plantswere recordedfrclrn a varietyof habitatsand sub- strates,thereby providing invaluableinformation on the types of habitatsthat these speciescan colonise. It is clearfrom someof the completedrecord cards, and from sorneacconrpanying letters,that a few of the charactersare provingparticularly difficult to scorc.These are characters: 2. Stem ridgirtg. Most of IheseSolanunt species should have well-marked ridges, whiclr rnay or may not havesmall teeth on them (2a. - easilydetected by runninga finger around,and up and down, the stem).True stem-wingingis comparativelyrare and only expectedin the casualS. scabruml\'lill. These stem wings are proniinent;they stickout, distortingthe circularsymrnetry of the stem,and are often sonrewhatmembranous. 3. Pubescence.The recognitionof glandularheads on the rnulticellularhairs has causedmany problems, until theirpresencehas been denronstrated (many menrbers kindly sentin suchproblem specimens). My originalillustration is a little misleading,as these glandularheads are moreovoid tlian shownon the scoringcards, e.g. e ;they shouldglisten when viewed under a hand-lensin brightlight. In general,if spreading,or spreadingand appressedrnulticellular hairs are lecorded,they are likely to be glandular andtheir apices should be carefullyscrutinised fol theseblunt. ovoid heads. 4. Leaf marginshape. Tlts is a veryvariable character, often differing1-rorn leaf to leat' on the sameplant. lf differentshapes are present,tliey shouldall be recorded.The mar- gin shouldbe recordedas lobedrather than sinuate,if a numberof distinct(and usually measurable)indentations are visible. 6. Attther lengtlt MosI anthershave been recorded as (1.5)2-2.5mm, as expected. Occasionally,anthers of 3-3.5mm havebeen recorded. In suchcases, would recorders pleaseensure that theyhave nreasured the anther only, and not includedits filarnent ? 9. Fruiting pedicelaxis length-Measurementsol'2-10 nrm haveurostly been recorded for this character,with clccasi<,rnalrecords ot'completely urlbellate cyrnes (and hence0 mrrr).Wrile this inflorescencetype doesoccur \n,5. trignrm, it ls essentialto recordthis characterfrom fully rnatureinflorescences, asthe pedicelaxis expands during berry devel- opmentand ripening. 10a. PedicelnumberfinJ'lorescence. Although thrs characterwas omitted from the originalcard, in viewot'the records so far received,it wouldbe extremelyusef'ui to know the rangein numberof flowersor berriesper inllorescenceexhibited by the different plants.This characteris probablybest recordedI'rorn rnature fruiting inflorescences, wherethe pedicelnuniber is easily visible, even if theberries have dropped. 12 10. Fruiting peduncles,Where fruiting pedunclesappear deflexed, recorders should ensurethat it isan inherentcharacter, rather than simply due to theweight of themature berries.When a true character,the peduncleis usuallysubtended by one or two small obovateleaves, and the peduncleitself is often slightlyswollen on the uppersurface at its junctionwith the main sterr. 12. Berr.vshape. Though only berry breadthhas been requested (13a), it would be usefulif recordersalso nreasuredthe berry length,to get an accurateassessment of the berry shape.Both sphericaland broader-than-longberries occur in S. nigrunt,and I am anxiousto deternrinewhether these shapes are correlated with any othercllaracters. 14. Berry cobur. Many ntembersltave found it difficult to find plantswith mature inflorescences,and hencetruly ripe berries.Most berrieshave been recorded as purplish/ blackor black,and I suspectthat rnanyof thosescored asgreenish/yellow were immature. The cuticleof'the greenish/yellow-berriedvariant of S. nigrumsoftens as it matures,some- times becorningtranslucent so that the seedsare visiblethrough it. The peduncleand pedicelsdry, beconringwoody, and the berrieseventually fall from the dried calyces, leavinga skeletoninflorescence on tl.replant. 15. Berrycuticle. This is anothercharacter that is dependenton the stateof n.raturity of the berries.Though glossy and dull-cuticledberries both occurin S. nigrum,all berries start off glossy.Sorne maintain this I'rue,but othersbecome dull as the pedicelsand calcyeslignify, before dropping. 16. Fruiting cafx. Similarly,this characteralso dependson the maturity of the berry, with adherentcalyces l-inallv becorning reflexed in someplants, and those of othersstarting off reflexed.but laterbecorning adl'rerent. Many recordersnrentioneci the dilficulty of findingplants which were floweringand fruiting simultaneously.Since so nrany of the inflorescenceand berry charactersare dependenton the stateof maturityof the inflorescence,where there is any dangerof the plant concernedbeing uprooted or destroyedif left in sila, I suggestthat a branchshould be cut and left in wateron a lightwindow sill.The berriesin particularshould then ripen. Berry charactersare moreinformative than floral characters,so if only fruitingspecimens arefound, pleasedo recordthem ! Finally, I would like to thank all tliose BSBI mernberswho haveso far completed record oards,not only for the care that they l'ravetaken over tlieir recording,but for patientlyansweringmy queriesin nranycases, and for sendingin problernspeciurenswhen askedto do so. I ant most gratel'ul,and look forwardto receivingmany more records. JIINNItTLR M. EDMONDS, University Botany School Downing Street,CTANIBRIDGE, CB2 3AE. lord Cranbrook With regretwe learnedol the deathof The Earl of Cranbrookearlier this year.It was lord Cranbrookwho waslargely responsible for the amalgamationof the PlantProtection Bill into the Conservationof Wild Plantsand Wild CreaturesBill which pased successfully through Parliamentin 1975. As well as being an activemernber of the DraftingCom- rnittees,l,ord Cranbrook kindly lookedafter BSBI representativesattending long sessions duringthe progressof the Bill throughthe Houseoi Lords. Dr. C. T. Prime It is with regretthat we reportthe deathof Dr. C.T.Prime on 5th February1979. A membersince 1933, he will be rememberedfor his outstandingwork at the South LondonBotanical lnstitute. Dr. Primewas currently a Vice-President;alsoChairman of both the SurreyFlora Cornmittee and the SussexFlora Committee.

IJ ALIENS AndADVENTIVES ADVENTIVENEWS 13 Compiledby Eric J. Clement CORNALIENS In 1978 G.M.S.Easy had a look round the corn silosin hisarea; 3 out of the 4 Cambs. sitesproved interesting, where railway wagonshad beenunloaded: Kennett (Cambs):Euphorbia uralensis, Diplotaxis tenuifulia,Geranium rotundifolium, Lepidium densiflorum (conf. EJC) and Torilis arvensis,Cotoneaster simonyT was also here (bird-sown?). Fulbourn (Cambs):Amaranthus retroflexus, Camelinasativa, Echinochba crus-galli, Lepidium deraiflorum, Setario viridis and S. verticillata. Newmarket(Suffolk; v.c. 29, Cambs):Bromus secalinus, Qmeliru vtiva, Echirnchloa crus-galli, Geranium rotundifolium, Lepidium campestre, L. densifbrum, L. ruderale, Setqria viridis and Sorghum lwlepense(conf. EJC). C.W. Bannistertells me that 19'77was a good year for graln aliensat Gloucester Docks - his finds here included Amqranthus retroflexus, *Axyris anwranthoides, *Bro mus japo nicus, Cameliru micro corpa, Ery simum r epandum, *H elionthu s p etio lar is, Malvapusilla andRanunculus sardous (* = conf. EJC). Theseand other reportsstrongly suggest that somemore flour mills may still be worth lookingat for aliens,in spiteof our tidy 1970's. MIXEDBAG Atriplex muelleri Benth.: Thriplow rubbish-tip (Cambs),Nov 1974 and Nov 1976. G.M.S.Easy. Hb. EJC.Wrongly recorded as A. Isciniatain Nature in Cambs.19:31 (1976), and hence the suggestion(1.c.:27) of the introduction of a coastalplant to the inland tip by gulls is alsoincorrect. Graham Easy has kindly provideda drawingof his plant; the fruiting bracteolesare only 2-4 nm long (cf 6-7 mm in A. lacininta),and have slender, acute teeth. ln 1976 there were 70+ plantspresent in a smallarea. All Br recordsfor this Australianplant appearto be associatedwith wool waste,where it is fairly frequent- was it wool here ? Similarplants have been recorded in Br as.4. suberectaI.C. Verdoorn, first describedas late as 1954,but this is a split that seemsto be dubiouslyseparable as a distinct species(cf. J.H. Willis, 1972);it is the form naturalisedin S. Africa. I preferto sink into synonymy. Amaranthus polmeri S. Wats.: On granarysweepings, Avonmouth Docks (W. Glos), Oct 1977.A.L. Greenfell& T.G. Evans.[:h. ALG. Conf.J.P.M. Brenan, as "male plant". This is undoubtedly a fresh, casualintroduction, and not persistencesince the first Br recordwhich wasat Avonmouthin 1959.Miss M. McCallumWebster, abundant male and female plants,and recordedthen asAcnida palmeri, a genusnow sunk into Amaranthus None of theseN. American,dioecious amaranths appears to get properly establishedaway from their homeland. Centaureosolstitialis: Garden casual, Fitzwalton Iane, Danbury Common (S. Essex), Oct 1978. Ms. E. Bowker.Det. K. Adams.This speciesappears to be, nowadays,much lessfrequent than in the past. Downingia elegans:l.oughton, Milton Keynes (Bucks), July 1978. J.G. Kelcey. A singleplant closeto a newly constructedlake. This localityis only about 5 Km from the Willen site givenin ESBI News20: p. 10,grass-seed mix againbeing the probableorigin. t4 \:E. t976

@ ^"f,l0-{t nr [t \!z: d^S

l5 Diantfuts cv.: Sandstonecliffs near the harbour,Whitby (NE York), June 1978. Miss I.F. Gravestock.Hb. EJC. Det. Miss S.S. Hooper (at Kew). "Your specimenis nearestto D. gratianopolitanusbut I think fronr the largersize of the calyx and petals, ratherslender acunrinate leavesand number of flowersper stem [3 in spmsubmitted] that it is likely to havesonre D. plumariusin it aswell. Pinkshybridise very freely and these serni-naturalisedgarden escapes which crop up fairiy frequentlyare generallyplumarius- grationopolitanrzshybrids. sometimeswith sornecaryophyllus characters as well". Cultivarsof gardenplants often defy traditionaltaxonomic treatment. Very specialist horticulturalassistance is necessary.For this reason,I am at a lossh.ow to accurately record generalike Sidalceawhich are well-established,presurnably by rootstockfrag- ntentation,in wild spotsin Br. Cananyone help by namingthe clones(e.g. the Surrey plant by the R. Wey at Shalford,1955 - 1974+,Hb. EJC.iscertainly not pureS. malvae- flora A. Gray,as recorded bv iEL). Dracocephalumparviflorunz.' Waste land by mills, Kings t^angley(Herts), Aug 1978. Mrs E. Goode. Comm. & Det. Mrs C.M. Donv. Hb. CMD. Coni. EJC. (Drawing in BSBI News l7). Grirdelia rubricaulisvar robusta: I underestinratedthc statusof the Whitby colony describedtn BSBINews l8 p.13. MrsE. Bray found it, independently,in 1978"growing abundantlyon the cliffsat Whitby.It seenrsto preferthe placeswhere Sea Cabbage was". FlorenceGravestock very kindly searchedout the localityto provideus with a drawing; sheremarked that "it can hardly,I think, havebeen planted, as it is amonga wholelot of purelywild plants.There are severalclumps and it is colonisingall up the cliffs,which areof baresand and practicallyvertical. It is growingin associationwith Brassicaoleracea, Plantagomaritima, Cerastiumtomentosum and a Disnthus cv. [seeabove]". One speci- mensent to me appearedto possessgood, viable seed (FIb. EJC). Guizotiaabyssittica (L.i.) Cass.:Grahanr Easy's beautiful drawing adorns our cover, drawnin 1976from a Carrbridgeshiretip plant.Although one of our commonestbird-seed aliens,it is little known to most members,primarily because it so often fails to flower before succumbingto the frosts.But, evenin a very immaturestage, it is easilyrecog- nizedby its bolt upright,stout, singlestem wldch is unbranchedbelow;opposite, sessile leavesand usuallypurple-streaked stem. At this stageit vaguelyresernbles a Dipsacus sp. (it hasbeen det. thus !), but in flower(Sept-Oct), the brightyellow rays suggest Corn Marigold.Amply describedin CTW2:817,and also featured in D. McClintock's"must" for alienenthusiasts - Supplenlentto ThePocket Guide to llild Flowers(1957). Inula viscow (L.) Aiton: Amongstbuilding brick d6bris,New WharfComplex (West- landHelicopters), Yeovil (S. Somerset), Oct 1978.C.J. Cornell, conrm. J.G. Keylock. BM. Det. EJC. A singleplant, but much branched,submitted as ?Solidogosp., but it could equailyeasily be passedover as Senecio sp. It is a denselyglandular, viscid perennial, with stentswoody at base,frecluent on waysidesin much of S. E,urope,but this is the first Br specirrrenthat I have seen.With it were two plantsol Conyzasunutrensis (Retz.) E. Walker,doing very well,sonte 4f't tall. BM. Coni. EJC. I'ythrum iunceuntBanks & Solander:Bird-seed alien in garden,Bedworth (Warwick), Sept1978. H.H. Fowkes. Conl'. EJC. Thisisa surprisinglyfrequent bird-seed alien, since it is a plant of wet placesin its nativeMediterranean region, typically ol'roadside ditches in nty experience,and not a weedof cultivatedf ields. It is rnuchlike our rare,native L. hyssopiJblzzbut with rnuchlarger, garishly purple l'lowers and sonre, or all 12,stamens exceedingthe sepals(ci. all star.nens,usually 4-6 in nurnber,included in L. hyssopifolia). Botlt speciesalso occur in Br asscarce wool alierts.Trevor Evans has prclvided the fine,

I6 large-scaledrawing for us,of a plantfront Newporttip (Monmouth),seenin 1977.

,/'

/':-=:-

{]l - _'.,

-a-:F: lcm -\, \--.\ '\ \. \ -\- \\\'\ q\\ L:

';'' ' '",7 .,tn' ,te /,/ ,--- t' /. a /' /v ( / - .::.=-:,<-(11-'-- --,-*- { ,,);--- -fra \ /'t(c --.. | / rnm,r111t11 . _- r)l,rLl\\ Grindelia rubricaulis,var.robusta \[.,; \ \1 \y L-ll

t1 PhalaristuberovL.: wilcote Rough (warwick),July 1978. B.R. Fowler. Det. c.E. Hubbard."A Mediterraneanspecies, introduced into this countryas a foddergrass". The small patch was at the edgeof a cornfieldon calcareoussoil. It hasthe overallappearance of a stout P. minor, but differs in being a perennial.As a wool alien on tips, it has a - tendencyto persist e.g.at NewtonAbbot (s. Devon),1967 , Lrb.EJC; and Glastonbury (N. Somerset),197 6, the latter sitebeing found by Mrs J. Swanborough,and det. CEH. Physalisphiladelphica lam.: Refuse-tip,Gerrards Cros (Bucks),Aug 1971.T.B. Ryves et aL \Ib. EJC. Wrongly recordedin llatsonia 9(2):189 (1972) asP. ixocorpa.This solan- aceousplant belongsto a much confusedtriplet of subglabrous,yellow-flowered annuals. FL Eur. 3:196,alas, continues to confusethe issue.In my experiencethe threeare readily differentiated as follows (agreeingwith R.B. Fernandes,BoL soc. Brot. 44:343-366; 1970): (a) P. philadelphia Lam. ("P. ixocarpa" of American and other floras).Corolla, with brown blotches in throat, of diam. (10)15-25(30)mm; anthers3-4(5) mm, curvedat maturity; fr pedicelsc. 8 mm. (b) P. ixourpa Brot. ex Hornern. Corolla, with brown blotches in throat, of diam. 5-10mm;anthers i.2-1.8 mm, straightat maturity;fr pedicelsc. 8 mm. (c) P. angulorc L. Corolla unblotched(sometimes with a purplish throat ?), of diam. 5-10 mm; anthers1.5-2 mm, straightat maturity; fr. pedicelsusually 15-30 mm (some. times much elongatingin fr, unlike the above two spp. in which the pedicel scarcely lengthens). Diana Grenfell has kindly provided the very diagnosticdrawing of P. philadelphiu drawn from a plant growingfrom sweepingsfrom the mill at Avonmouth Docks (W. Glos) n 1977. P. ixocarpais the commonestof the threein Br, but it seemsto be restrictedto wool waste;P. philadelphicais a much rarer casual,and the more tropical P. angulatais rarer still.Misnamins abounds in this eenus!

Phyvlis philadelphica

l8 Phytolaccaclavigera W.W. Smith: Garden weed, Pilston House, GR SO 50 (Monmouth), July 1961.K.W.G. Hunt. NMW.Det. A.E. Wade.Comm. G. Ellis.New to Br. asan escape? Its flowersare reliably purple-rose (not the rniserable.greenish-white, often turningpurple, of other spp.) and henceit appearsto be the commonestspecies currently distributed, by the hort. trade. Salix eleagnos;R.C.L. Howitt wrote to say that the Bawseyplant mentionedinB,SBI News20'.pl0waswronglynamed, by me, as ssp.c/rgttt stifolia. I quote,with permission, from his interestingletter: "5. eleagnosdoes not like competitionand will not grow in shrubberiesor woods.I have tried it many times in my willow holt alwaysto haveit die. It flourisheswell in a damp open situation. I have not got any growinghere [Newark,Notts] now. This canbe distinguishedby the uprighthabit, up to 10ft, lookinglikea smallS. vimirwlisforwhich it is often taken,with ascendingleaves and brownish twigs. "Yar angustifulihis bush-like,6 ft,alwaysgreyish twigs and compacthabit not the least llke S. viminalr],'I collectedthis at ChatsworthPark [Derby] but lost the cuttings. "Neitherof theseare conunon but both aregrown in gardensat times.I havenever seen any seedlings.I haveno recordsfor alienwillows eversemi-naturalied. "I fancy the trouble with the plantsfrom Norfolk is probablyyou only sawimmature specimens.I went to seethese with E.L. Swannand the leaveswere much wider than the originalspecimen sent to me for identification". Telinemonspessulatw (L.) C. Koch: Many busheson wasteground, Brading, lsle of Wight,Sept 1968.K.E. Bull. FIb.ELC. "Also seenon the big dump at Sandown,I.O.W." Pleaseremember to use5 x 3" slips,if at all possible- alreadythese are building up into a valuabledata bank. I hopethese resulting notes,are in a form usefuland welcomed by members.They are, of course,forming the groundworkfor a possibleAdventive Flora. And pleasewarn me if you intend to write up your alien discoveries,yourself, in Watsonia(Short Notes is the convenient vehicle) or in a future ly'ews,otherwise rny pottedpr6cis couldjeopardise publication ofyour fuller account.(It hasalready happened once). Much remainsunmentioned, but I've run out of my allocatedspace. I look forward to hearingabout and seeingyour 1979finds. ERIC J. CLEMENT 13,Shelford, Burritt Road,KINGSTON, Surrey KTI 3HR.

CRASSULAHELMSII (foundat PurshullGreen, Worcs, 10 Sept. 1977 by Worcs,Naturalist Club) At our July 1976 meetingat PurshullGreen we found the fittle plant still flourishing on the samemuddy pond-site,but althoughI peeredinto the murky water I could see no sign of submergedplants. This patchof C. helmsiiis compact,dwarf and prostrate, quite unlike the specimensillustrated inWatsonia 5(2), Dec. 1961.and BSBINews 19. A local man told me he had cleanedout and deepenedthe pond in the drought yearof 1976 and had then introducedElodea canadensis but nothing else. I was unableto inspect his gardenpond on this occasionbut it seemsthat C. helmsii has survivedcleaning-out operations in other ponds,so it may havebeen in the Purshall Greenpond beforehand.Incidentally the plant was in bloom and we havea colourslide of it. DINA COCKERILL,Horseshoe Cottage, Trotshill, WORCESTER.

l9 REQTJESTS FURTHER NOTESON TTOD',4 SPP Followingthe report in BSBI l,le*-s20 p.4 that Prof. Cook is makinga specialstudy of world Elodeas,we are pleasedto also report that David Simpsonis workingon a PhD projecton British Elodeas.He writes:"The projectis aimedat sortingout the taxonomic problemsof Elodea in Britain ONLY, hopefully fitting in with Prof. C.D.K. Cook's study of the Hydrocharitaceae.The needfor researchhas arisen due to the recentappea- ranceof largerand narrower-leavedplants. Many recordsof long-leavedplants have been receivedduring the past 5 years,and they seemto be on the increase;it is quite possible that they are new to Britain. But the presenttaxonomic situation is confusing,with severalnames chasing an unknown number of taxa. It is my intentionto carryout an intensiveecological study as little hasbeen done with regardto the ecologyol Elodeaspp in Britain. Any Herbariummaterial or recordswould be most useful,and floweringmaterial would be especiallywelcome". Whenthe plantsfrom AmberleyWild Brooks,West Sussex, had been named by C,D.K. Cook as Elodea nuttallii, it was at first assumedthat all apparently"invading" sp. of Elodeawere t nuttalliialso. The high degreeof variabilityin morphologyof the Amberley plants,seasonally and under differing conditions,appeared to supportthis possibility. Howeverthe specimencaught by the toe by Prof. C.D. Pigott(BSBI News l6 p.19) and the subsequentrecording of this long-leavedElodea sp. now declaredby Prof.Cook to be "not E. nuttallii", in all the Cumbrianlakes by R. Stokoeand other field workers, suggeststhe possibility of 2 "invading" Elodeaspp. in Britain ? At the Aquatics Symposium,1978, Dr. J.W.G. Lund of the FreshwaterBiological Associationat Ferry HouseAmbleside told us that the zoologistshas been lor 5 years regularly collecting Elodea from Lake Windermereas food lor Aselhtsaquaticus the water hog-louse,which they are studying. After 2 yearsof usingE carwtlensisthey had seenthe Ektdea sampleschange; a collectorcommented "some of tlttsEktdea is jolly queer" as long leavedplants first appearedin his bucket,where apparently there were 2 Elodeas.The "queer Elodea" steadilyincreased until in October1978 collectionsfrom the Lakeby Ferry Housecontained only long-leavedplants. Meanwhileyou will rememberthat Prof. Cook has asked for no non-flowering specimens,orspecirnens with femaleflowers only,to be sentto him in Switzerland;but DavidSimpson will welcomeBritish specimens sent to him at Universityof Lancaster. 'Elodeologists' Howevera real breakthroughfor both these would be the discoveryof maleflowers or seedon Elodeasin Britainthis summer. Mary Briggs WETLANDSAVIOUR This is how Dr. F.H. Perringwas described by "Peterborough"in his"London Day by Day" featurein the Daily Telegraphof 9th January,when comrnentingon his recent appointmentto the secretaryshipof the S.P.N.C. Ile is quotedas saying"Although we have120,000 members and manage 1100 nature reservesthe generalpublic is scarcelyaware of our existence". KnowingFrank as we do, this situationshould not remainlong. B.S.B.l. nreurbers can no doubt helphim to rnakethe S.P.N.C.better known. The D.T. paragraph pays tribute to his work in producingthe "Atlasol'the British Flora" and recalls lris being a judgefor their "Savethe VillagePond Cantpaign"

20 BOOK REQUEST

WalterScott, who is our v.c. Recorderfor the ShetlandIsles, is lookingfor a copyof thefirst edition (1962) of TheAtks of the BritishFlora. He saysa battered,but complete, working copy would be ideal:and addsthat he would want to pay a reasonableprice for itl If any membercan help will they write to Mr. W. Scott,Easterhoull, Scalloway, Shet- land.

BSBINEWS - BACK NUMBERS

The Hon.Gen. Sec. would like to thank memberswho anonymouslysent back numbers requestedin BSBI News20. The Library of the Middle-ThamesNatural HistorySociety is missingsome early numbers of BSB/News'.- Vol 2, Nos I & 2; Vol 3, Nos 1,2 &3'. No. I l. Possiblya BSBI memberwho is also a memberof M.T.N.H.S.would donatecopies for use in this library ? Pleasesend to: Mr J.K. Letts,Hon. Treasurer, Middle-Tharnes NtlS, 113Holtspur Top Lane,Beaconsfield, Bucks. who will refundpostage.

PLOIDY AND METAL TOLERANCEIN THE OX-EYEDAISY During a recentsurvey o1' chrornosonre nulnbers tn Chrysanlllettrumleutanthemunt in N. Sornersetand Avon, a significantnunrber of tetraploidpopulations were found on healy metal contaminatedsites in the vicinity of Avonnrouth and Portishead.As tetraploidyis veryrare elsewhere in the region,it would be interestingto know if thislocal situationlras arisen since zinc smelting began fiity yearsago. It is possibleto estiurateploidy fLornherbarium specirnens without darnage,and I shouldbe most gratefulif any rrremberknows of - or better,could lend - specimens collectedmore than 50 yearsago from siteswithin 5 knr of Avonmouth.I shouldof courserefund postage. C.J.GRANT BotanyDepartnrent, Bristol University, Woodland Road, BRISTOL BS8 I UG.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY IN AUSTRALIA

I am in the earlystages of a studyof thebotanic medicine of theAustralian aboriginal peoples,and would be most gratet'ulto any B.S.B.l.members who could help nrewitl-r intormation. Tl'reinfornration sought, at present,is of threetypes : a) adviceconcerning extant literature, newspaper articles, fictional references, etc.; b) namesand addressesof f'urthercontacts who may be able to help,especially regardingtribal sources. c) directinformation, with references,on nativeplants and nrethods used therapeu- tically,and aihnentstreated, by eitherthe aboriginesthemselves or by theearly Europeansettlers. I am but a new merttberol the B.S.B.I..and would like to takethis opportunity of expressingmyrespect and gratitudefor the excellence of itsorganisationand publications. CLIVEWINMILL Badger'sKeep, Chewton. 3451 Victoria, Australia.

2l SAXIFRAGA ROSACEAand S. HYPNOIDESin the British lsles 'mossy Saxifragarovcea (one of the saxifrages')in the British Isles is now only certainlyfound in the wild in westernlreland. However,there are a few recordsfrom North Waleswhere it was last recordedin about 1890.Recently, it wasbrought to our attention that a Bangorbotanist had taken a cutting of an "odd" mossy saxifragefrom Cwm Idwal, North Walesin 1962. This plant has sincebeen growing very successfullyin his garden.Morphological comparisonsindicate that this plant is S. rosacea.The Welsh plant is very similarto someIrish populations,but distinct in its greatervigour and slightly more pointed leaves.All the Welshand Irish materialso far studiedis tetraploid(2n=52) whereasWelsh and lrish material of S. hypnordesis diploid (2n=26).It would be of great interestto re-find the speciesin the wild in North Wales. There is a specimenof S. rovcea (in the ManchesterMuseum Herbarium) collected from Glen Dole (almostcertainly Glen Doll, off Glen Clova,Forfar, Scotland) by Druce in 1883. This appearsto be the first Scottishrecord of the species.Would botanists visiting this area pleasecheck any mossysaxifrage very carefully in casethe S. rosaceais still there. As S. rosaceamay well occur at other sitesin the British Isles(in particular,Scotland and the northern Pennines),the following leaf drawingswill help to illustratethe differ- encesbetween S. rosaceaand S. hypnoides,and the relatedS. cespitov. (The drawings are adaptedfrom S. Ross-Craig,(1957);Drawings of Bitish Plants).

1) Saxifraga hypnoides Mature leaf 2) Saxifraga rowcea Mature leaf from a Clare Island plant 3) Saxifraga rosacea Mature leaf from a Burren plant 4) Saxifraga cespitov Mature leaf ttl 2cm

The description given in Clapham,Tutin and Warburg,(1962), Flora of the British Isles,(2nd Edition) should be followed and usedwith the drawings.The tip of the leaf lobe is the most important featureto distinguishS. rosaceafrom S. hypnoides,S. hypnoi- deshas an aristatetip to the leaf lobe,while S. rowceahas an acuteto obtuseleaf lobe which may be mucronateb ut is neveraristate . S. hypnoidesand ,S.rosaceo both have,al- most always, long non-glandularhairs. This contrastswith S. cespitoytwhich has leaves coveredwith short glandularhairs. Saxifragahypnoides in the British Islesis a plant of upland districtsin the north and west mostly on wet calcareoussites. It has now been shown to havetwo chromosome racesin the British Isles;plants from WesternIreland and Walesare diploid (21126), whileplants from northernIreland, northern England and Scotland are tetraploid (2n=52). The chromosomenumbers of the followingpopulations have been determined :-

22 Diploid (2n= 26) Tetraploid (2n = 52) VC 6 NorthSomerset23148- 54- VC 39 Stafford 43/098580 VC 36 Hereford 321297296 VC 64 Mid-westYork 441008615 VC 42 Brecon 221852155 VC 64 Mid-westYork 341742765 VC 42 Brecon 221963218 VC 69 Westmorland 35/35- 1l - vC 47 Montgomery 331073294 VC 73 Kirkcudbright 251423853 VC 48 Merioneth 231711139 VC 76 Renfrew 261321591 VC 49 Carnarvon 231611544 VC 88 Mid Perth 27 1592409 VC 49 Carnawon 231648595 VC 97 Westerness 27115 - 71 ' VCH9 Clare 9313--6-- VC97 Westerness 27147-75' VC 97 Westerness 27124- 72- VC 98 Arsyll 27 1083093 VC 99 Dunbarton 261453747 VC 104 NorthEbudes 18/338004 VC 104 NorthEbudes 181495543 v3fi:,:n:," ?3ll:3.: The two cytotypes are not alwaysmorphologically distinct; both have an aristatetip to the leaf segments(cf . S. rosacea)and a similarrange of growth forms in the wild. It is to be hoped that further work will show consistentmorphological differences that canbe used by field botanists. The Burren, Co. Clare,Ireland is the only areaso far detected where the two cytotypes come together;the tetraploid is found on the coastallimestone while the diploid plant is found on the inland limestone. The author (addressbelow) would like to obtain plant materialfrom other populations in the British Islesto competethe cytologicaland morphologicalwork. Pleasedo not take plant material if this will seriouslyinterfere with the viability of the population.Removal 'runners' of seedinterferes least but if this is not posible a few rosettesor (roots are unnecessary)placed in a polythene bag would be satisfactory.The seedsor plantswill be grown on in the Botanic Gardensand incorporatedinto the study.All plants sent will be acknowledgedand the postagerefunded. Any information on associatedspecies and habitat details would also be very valuable.The author would also be very pleasedto hear from anyone who has any commentsabout S. hypnoides in Britain,particularly details of habitats and frequency in their own area. D.M. PARKER Universityof LiverpoolBotanic Gardens, Ness, Neston, WIRRAL, CheshireL64 4AY ABBREVIATIONS A member has written askingabout the abbreviationsfound in, amongstother places, Eric Clement's"Adventive News". It is someyears since these were explained, so for the benefitof memberswho haverecently joined, here are some of them : Coll = collectedby; Comm = in a communicationfrom; Det = determined(identified positively)by; Conf= confirmed by; followed in each caseby the name of an individual.The others, are the codeletters of officiallyrecognized herbaria as registered in the Index Herbariorum. Herbia in the possessionof Universitiesand National Institutes are shown in heavy type e.g.K (Kew), BM (BritishMuseum, Nat. Hist.),CGE (Cambridge University);those belongingto privateindividuals are in plain mediumtype and precededby Hb (=in the herbariumo0, e.g.FIb EJC (= specimento be found in the herbariumof Eric J. Clement). There is a list of thesein the BSBI MiscellaneousPublication "British Herbaria"by D.H. Kent copiesof which are still available,price f2.70, from F,& M.Perring,Oundle lodge, Oundle,Petersborough PES 5TN. EDW

ZJ LETTERS

CONYZA CANADENSIS - A New Species for lreland

In July 1918 I went to Carbury,Co. Kildare,to seemy week-oldgrand-daughter and to give my son and daughter-in-lawa helpinghand, I pickedpounds of strawberriesfrom their kitchen gardenand pulled up largequantities of commonand lesscommon farm- land weedswhich literally spring up overnightin the warm damp climate of this part of Ireland. There was also a forest of sturdy 3ft tali plants of Conyzacanadensis on the gardenpath and in the largeflower border between the houseand the roadto Edenderry. TheseI hastilyconsigned to the rubbishheap. The only botanicalbook to handwas Praeger's "A Botanistin lreland" which doesnot nrentionC. carudensis.However on my return home,armed with someof Dr. Perring's BRC recordingcards and the mastercard for the Edenderrysquare, 1.G.22163,1 checked the sixty-eight new speciesI had recordedfor the squarewith the "Atlqs of the Britislt Flora". To my astonishmentI found C. carwdensisa common adventivein England frequentin the Cheltenhamarea, was not recordedfor the Irish Republicor for Northern Ireland.Even the recently published"Flora Europeae4" says"not in Ireland". My son'sgarden was permanentpasture up to 1976and I sawno signof C. cqnadensis on my visitsin Septemberof that yearor in June 1917.lt is obvious,though, that oneor two specimensmust havebeen present in the late summerof 1917to producethe 1978 cropof eightyor more plants. Now that C. canadensishas arrived in lreland, it will be of considerableinterest to observethe rapidity and patternof its spreadwhich, hopefully, can be documented.Will it first colonizewaste ground in the Edenderryneighbourhood or suddenlyappear in Dublin, Cork or Umerick unwittingly carriedthere by my son'scar ? SONIAC. HOLIAND 64, All Saint'sRoad, CHELTENHAM, Glos. GL52 2FlA.

CORIANDRUMSATIVUM L. In September,1978Miss E.R.T. Conacher saw about 30 plantsof Coriandergrowing in an apparentlyderelict garden in the Battlefielddistrict of Glasgow(Renfrewshire V.C. 76). Enquiry elicitedthe fact that it had been sown threeyears before by a Pakistani immigrant. Searchof the arearevealed further plantsin a Pakistaniowned garden in a neighbouring street.The ownerhere has brought seeds from Pakistanto [ricester,three years previously andfrom thereto Glasgowearlier in 1978. They call the plant"DFLANIA" or "DHIANA", usethe fruits for curryand the foliage for chutneyor to garnishmeat. C.T.W.state that though the fruits are aromatic,the plantssmell of bed-bugs! - we thoughtlike wet waslling. I was informedalso that they consideredthe plantto be importantmedicinally. lt was goodfor relievingarthritic pains and for strengtheningbrain and nerve - e.g.it wasboiled in waterand givento mothersal'ter childbirth to clearthe brain ! An immigrantsaid that no respectablegarden should be without it, so that the plant may becomea morefrequent "casual" in certainareas than it hasin the past. PETERMACPHERSON l5 LubnaigRoad, GLASGOW G43 2Ry.

')L A BICOLOUREDTOADFLAX IN SURREY In Septentber1973 my mother and I collectedan interestingcolour form of Linariq vulgarisfrom a disusedrailway line south of Guildford, Surrey(V.C. l7 GR 51 1002.461). We havehad vegetativelypropagated stock in cultivation ever sinceand it hascontinued to produce white corollas,with an orangepalate. It is also unusuallytall (l m), with a slender,ratherelongated,raceme and glabrouspedicels. lraf width is moreor lesstypical (3-4 mm). Similar white to pale cream-floweredplants have been noted at least by Blomfield in the Isle of Wight and Sussex(var. g in The Phytologist3:627 (1849)) and by Drucein Berks.and Oxon.(f .bicolor Druce,in Floraof Berkshire,1897). Comparable taxa are evidentlyknown on the continentas Hegi (lll.Fl.von Mit. - Eur. 6(l):25-26 (1925)) lists f. albida Jacobasch,white with yellow palate, and f. albescensAbrom- elt,whitish with pale orange-yellowpalate. Severalother flower variantsare known, including a peloric form and thesemay be associaledwith variations in habit (e.g. var. prostrata Domin), pedicel pubescence (glabrousor glandular-hairy)and leafwidth. Re-visitingthe Surrey site in October 1978 we were able to confirm the plants continuedexistence, scattered along 10-15yards and evidentlyinvolving several clones. Plantswith typical corolla colour were found further eastalong the old railwaytrack. No L. repensis known in the areaand there is no evidencefrom the morphologythat this plant is a hybrid.

A.C. LESLIE Monksilver,72 BoxgroveRoad, GUILDFORD, Surrey GUI 1LID.

OROBANCHE MINOR - HOST SPP. Furtherto the letterfrom D.P.Stribley (B.S.B.I. News20) concerning the parasitization of gardenplants by Orobancheminor, the occurenceof this broomrapeon cultivated plantshas been brought to the attentionof the RoyalHorticultural Society on a number of occasionsln recentyears by variouscorrespondents. An initial letter from John Elsley(J.Roy. Hort Soc96(3):131(March 1971) associat- ing Orobancheminor with pelargoniumswas followed by further observationsin Extracts liom thehoceedingsofR.H.S., all concerningO.minor. These were: Extr. hoc. Roy. Hort. Soc. 96(l):45 (1971) blackcurrant,Senecio 'f)unedin Sunshine',Hebe'Marjorie', Hebe cupressoides,Lathyrus odoratus,Hypericum p se ud o he nr y i (1), L o ni cera nit ida, Pe lar go nium or Ta g e t es. Ibid. 97 (2):53, 56 (1912) Aubrieta or Senecio sp., Petunia, Pelargonium,carrot, strawberry,caraway, Lat hyrus latifolius. Ibid. 99 (l):3 (197a). Oleariamaoodonto, Mahonia bealei, Kalmia lotifolia or Murinia iliciJblin or Trochodendron sp. Ibid. l0l (2):69 (1976).Fuchsia (various cvs). The preciseidentities of some plantsremain in doubt as not all correspondentsdug down to determinethe host,but the abovelist indicatesthe broadspectrum of speciesto whtch Orobancheminor is adapted.The recordsare drawn from both privategardens and nurseries.

D.M. DONOVAN llorne Farm Cottages,Worten, Great Chart, ASI{FORD,Kent TN23 3BU.

25 SAXIFRAGA CESPITOSA _ IN NORTH WALES Saxifragacespitosais an arctic speciesfound as isolatedrelict populationsat ten sitesin the ScottishHighlands and at one site in North Wales.By 1916 the North Walespopulation (in Cwm Idwal, Gwynedd) had been reducedby collecting(for herbaria,1821-1967) to only four plants growing together on a singlesix-inch ledge. S. cespitosais a protected speciesunder the Conservationof Wild Creaturesand Wild PlantsAct, 1975. ln 1975, seedwas collected (under licence)and plants grown from the seedat the University of Liverpool Botanic Gardens.The plantswere kept in isolatedinsect-proof enclosuresand seedcollected (approximately 30,000 seeds in 1977;10,000 of thesehave been placedin the Kew seedbank). With permissionfrom the NatureConservancy Council, in May 1978,plants grown from someof this seedwere plantedout aroundthe extant site in Cwm ldwal. About 100 smallplants, plus seedlingsand seedwere usedin the rein- troduction. All plants and germinatingseedlings are being individually monitored and a precisereport is in preparation. The plantingshave been very successful, helped by the wet summer,and the population shouldnow be safefrom extinction in the wild. The North WalesS. cespitosapopulation has been extensivelyplanted on a native plant gardenin the BotanicGardens creating a featureof both natureconservation and horticultural interest. A large number of herbariumspecimens have been made for distributionto herbaria.Plant material and seedis alsoavailable for scientificpurposes. It is to be hopedthat collectingpressure has now beentaken offthe wild population. The ultimate aim at the native site is to restorethe colony to approximatelywhat it was in 1821.A roughidea of populationsize can be obtainedby referenceto the number of Cwm Idwal plants on herbarium sheetsin the British Isies. A relict specieslike S. cespitov, which has its natural habitat on open morainicgravels in the Arctic, could well be expectedto becomeextinct on its southernrelict sites. However, in NorthWales, the reductionof plant numbersarose prematurely because of collectingfor herbaria. Anyone requiring further information or who would like to comment on the moral questionsraised by this work shouldcontact the author(address below), or write to the Editor BSBI News.if for publication. D.M.PARKER, University of LiverpoolBotanic Gardens, Ness, Neston, WIRRAL, Cheshire L64 4Ay. COMMONNAMES OF BRITISHPLANTS As a comparativelynew member of BSBI and very much a beginnerat that, may I dareto ask othersin a similarposition how they feel about the useof commonnames ? Although we now have"English namesof Wild Flowers" by Dony, Perring& Rob, the BSBI -sponsoredlist of commonnames, which getsover the difficulty of rqional varia- tions,these seem to be little usedin BSBINews. Would it attract and encourageless experienced botanists if thesenames were more freely used? I am of course,lully awareof the reasonfor, and importanceof, scientific namesand recognizethat they must take precedencein the literature.But I feel it might help many of us to know our wild plantsbetter if the common name was printedin parenthesisafter the scientific name. What do expert and not-so-expertmembers think of this idea? I do appreciatethat the official list doesnot providefor distinctionto be madebetween the sub-speciesor varietieswithin a species,but I havealways thought it strangethat ornithologistsseem to geton quitewell with Englishnames, which they quote first,whilst botanists rarely give the Englishname at all. G. NALL 33 ElmcroftRoad. Yardlev. BIRMINGHAM 826 lPJ.

26 GIANT HOGWEED - A Poisonous Plant 'poisonous' There has been sorne confiuion on the propertiesof Heracleummante gazzianum On the one hand are descriptionsof painful skin reactionsfrom contactwith the plant, while other reports claim that gardenershave been pulling up the plant for years with no ill effects. Both experiencesare true as the blisteringis a phyto-photo- dermatitisproduced only under very specificconditions. The sap of H. mantegazzianumcontains compoundsrelated to furocoumarinwhich, when in contactwith skin may sensitiseit to ultra-violetlight. But this only occursin long wavelengthsof more than 3,200 A - that is in this country only on bright daysin mid- summermonths, and mostly in July sunshine.The symptomsare an exaggeratedsunburn reaction causedlocally by the sensitisationwhich is triggeredoff by radiation on skin which has been splashedby sap from the plant and is then exposedto strong ultra-violet light. Gardenersuprooting young plants,possibly early in the year,protected by clothing and not breakingthe plant stemsare at no risk. But scythinglarge plants in mid-summer with bare arms can be a real hazard.There is clearly a distinctionhere between "pulling up" and "cutting down". Someearly reports of dermatitiswere from gardeners.In 1937two hospitalgardeners suffered photo-dermatitis after contact with the plant. Children playing with broken stemsof Giant Hogweedare very vulnerable;extensive rash on armsand legsof two small boyswas recognised by their doctoras a chemicalburn, but the causewas discovered only when the boys were later found in mock combat usingpieces of H. mantegazzionumas weapons.In 1961 and 1966theGardenersChronicle mentioned blistering fromtheplant; also in 1966 afler some British Rail workers had sufferedafter clearinga stand of the plant on a railway embankment in mid-summerin direct sunlight. Dr. J.G. Jonesand Dr. D.G. Russell,medical officers to BritishRail at Crewe,wrote apapern The Prqctitioner, "Giant HogweedDermatitis", showingthe blisteringto be causedby the sensitisationof the skin and the intensity of the ultra-violet light. Drs. Jones and Russelltherefore warnedthat men requiredto fell Giant Hogweedshould be providedwith suitableclothing including gloves.A Horshamentomologist after cutting down H mnntegazzianuminhis gardenon a sunny day in July, droveto Walesin an open carwith shirt-sleevesrolled up. He suffered very severedermatitis on his arms and the blistersrecurred in severalsub- sequentyears if he exposedhis arms to the sun, or evenwhen the sunwas coveredby a layer of cloud on a bright day in July. In hot summersthere havebeen reportsof picnickersblistered after lying among the crushedstems of Giant Hogweed- on hot summerdays in brilliant sunshine. H. mantegazzianum,a native of the Caucasus,was introduced in 1893to this country as a decorativecuriosity for landscapedgardens. lt has been spreadingslowly across Britain for the last fifty years,but more rapidly recently,especially in the North whereit has rapidly colonisedsome river bankswhere it has in placesalmost replacedthe native vegetation.The Atlas of the British Flora gives9 pre-1930records of plants naturalised away from gardens,and by 1962 Ihe plant had beenrecorded in 170 x l0 kilometre squaresand by 1972 therewere reportsfrom 100 more 10 kms. most of thesein Scot- land. Some native Umbelliferous plants contain the same chemical(and plants of other families also) but particularly Pastinacasativa, Daucus carota and Angelica sylvestris, Downland picnickersin summer sunshinehave felt the resultsof leaningon wild parsnip

27 Giant Hogweed ( continuerl) plants,but as stemsof theseare fine and wiry as comparedwith the coarseand particu- larlyjuicy stalksof the Giant Hogweed,so the ill effectsare less traumatic. However,although H. mantegazzianummust be regardedas potentially dangerous, the hazardhas been so preciselyidentified that precautionscan easilybe takenand harmful effectscan be entirelyavoided. MARY BRIGGS References: J.G.Jones, D.G. Russell(1968) Giant HogweedDermatitis. hactitioner 200,104. J.c. Dreverand J.A.A.Hunter (1970) Giant HogweedDermatitis.scot. Med."I. 15,315.

THE RAY SOCIETY

The Ray Societycommemorates the greatEnglish naturalist John Ray (1621-1705).It wasfounded in 1844by a group of Britishnaturalists which includedmany well-known nameswho evidentlyand rightly consideredRay's breadth of interests,his learningand eminence,ideals which the Society might emulate.The purposeof the Society as stated by the founders was "the promotion of Natural History by the printing of originalworks in Zoologyand Botany;of new editionsof worksof establishedmerit;of rare tractsand mss;and of translationsand reprints of foreignworks;which are generally inaccessible".The aimsof the Societytoday remaintire same. Over 150 publicationshave appeared; full detailsof thesecan be found tn The Ray Society,a bibliographicalHistuy (1954)by R. Curle.More then sixteenvolumes published by the Societyare still available,among these are includedBritishKrwpweeds(1954)by E.M. Marsden-Jonesand W.B. Turrill, Carl Linnaeus,Species Plantarum; A facsimileof the first edition 1753 with introductionby W.T.Stearn. Vol. I (1957),Vol. 2 (1959), WatsonionVice-counties of GreatBritain ( 1969)by J.E. Dandy,British Torfticoid Moths. Vol. l. (1913) by J.D. Bradley,W.G. Tremewan&A. Smith,Brilislr Spiders Vol. 3 by G.f{. Locket,A.F.Millidge & P. Merrett,The Historical Flora of Middlesexby D.H. Kent. The Society'sbusiness is conductedby a Councilof botanistsand zoologists The Presidentof the Societyis F.J.Bingley, M.A., F.L.S.and the HonorarySecretary is G.A. Boxshall,Ph.D. Informationconcerning membership of the Societyand purchase of any of the Society'spublications nlay be obtainedfrom the HonorarySecretary, Ray Society,c/o BritishMuseum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, tondon SW75BD. Membershipis open to any personwilling by subscriptionto promotethe Society's work of publishingscholarly contributions to BritishNatural history, which are issued as funds and manuscriptspermit. The subscriptioncurrently is f,4 per annum.New books are availablefor purchaseby mernbersat a very favourablepre-publication price, also publications(in print) are availableto mernbersat a discountof 20 per cent.The most recentlypublished volume is ParasiticCopepoda of BritishFishes (1978)by Z.Kabata The following are in variousstages o1'preparation: British TortricoidMoths Yolume2, The Lichen Flora ol' the British Isles, British Millipedes, British lleevils, A Flora of EstablishedAliens and Gamasidntites of Britain and lreland.

I.K. FERGUSON The Herbarium,Royal BotanicGarden, Kew, RICHMOND,Surrey TW9 3AE.

28 FIELD STUDY CENTRES

The Field StudiesCouncil have issued tl.re programrnes of coursesat their ten field centres.There seemsto be an expandinginterest in lichens,eight of the centresoffering at leastone coursein the subject. Other cryptogamicgroups receive attention witl.r courses on Algae(Malham Tarn) Bryophytesand/or Hepatics(Dale Fort,Draper's,Malham Tarn, PrestonMontford) and, Fungi(in additionto autumnforays) (Draper's,lronard Wills', Flatford Mill). Treesand Woodlandsfeature in the programmesof Draper's,Flatford Mill, Juniper Hall (Alan Mitchell),and MalharnTarn. There are the usual coursesin local plants,bcltany for beginnersand botanical iliustration,but eachcentre has one or more coursesthat break new ground.Both Flat- 'Difficult ford Mili and MalharnTarn off'er a course in Plants' which feature Composites,Crucifers, Umbellifers & Willows. Most centreshave some individual innovations.Flatford Mill for instanceoffers "Grasslands,meadows & marshes"by DerekWells (of the NatureConservancy Council), a "Pre-retrrementcourse in l,ocal and Natural history" and "a coursefor bee-keepers, botanistsand entomologists"entitled "Honey, Flowers,and Insects".Hedges, their history, andnatural history, Preston Montford's new introduction. Althoughnot new this year,courses- intended for teachers- on Techniquesincluding statistics,at Slapton [-ay and PrestonMontford introduce a definitequantitative note into Fieid Centrework, thoughthis is not to say thesemethods do not featurein many other courses, As in previousyears, details of progranrmesat the variouscentres are obtainable from The Information Office, Field StudiesCouncil, PrestonMontford, Montford Bridge, SHREWSBURYSY4 1[IW. Incidentallythe standardcharge for a week'scourse is now f,56.00,an increaseof only f,4.00on lastyear. KindroganField Centrenear Blairgowrie, Perthshire, run by the ScottishField Studies Associationhas, besides a wide variety of coursesfor the generalstudent a seriesfor specialistsamong wl.ricl'r are : Taxonomyof Alchemillaspp (M.8. Bradshaw),Identification and ecologyof Carex spp (A.C. Jermy), GrasslandEcology (D.A. Wells),Ferns and their allies,(C.A. Page),Willows (R.D. Meikle& D.V. Pankhurst),Lichens (F.H. Bright- nran & P. Topham), Photographyand Fungi (HeatherAngel & Roy Watling).Fuller detailsfrom The Warden,Kindrogan Field Centre,Enochdhu, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH1O7PG, EDW BOTANISINGIN EUROPE AlthoughBSBI Newsdoes not carry advertisenlents,nrembers may like to know of some botanicaltours which are being led by membersof the Societyto floristically interestingareas of Europein 1919. Mrs. Mary Briggs 29th May SPAIN (Vale of Aragonand Pyrenees) 18th June SWITZERLAND(Wengen) l4th July SWEDEN(including t-apland) Mr. Alan Newton 20th July N. ITALY (Dolomites Mr. David Paton 18th July SPAIN (Pyrenees) Mr. Eric Clement 4th June SPAIN (Vale of Aragonand Pyrenees) Detailsof these"Special Interest" tours canbe obtainedfrom Messrs.Cox & Kings, VulcanHouse, 46 MarshallStreet, hndon W1V 2PA(01-734 829 I ).

29 BOOKNOTES In the July part of lilqtsonia,Vol. 12(4), it is hoped that reviewsof the following bookswill be included: A Nature ConservatbnReview, edited by D.A. Ratcliffe. Plant Communities,by A. Biilow-Olsen. Nature's Useof Colour in Plantsand their Fbwerq by J. & S. Proctor. TheIsknd of Mull, editedby A.C. Jermyand J.A. Crabbe. Upper Teesdale:its Area ond Natural History, edited by A.R. Clapham. Nature,Day and Night, by R. Adams. Bibliographie ilber die Orchideen Europos und der Mittelmeerlander 1744 - 1976, by B. & R. Willing. Key llorks to the Fauna and Florq of the British Islesand North-llestern Europe, ediled by G.J. Kenich et aL Origin and Relationshipsof the CalifornianFbra, by P.H. Raven& D. Axelrod. Flowering Plants of the World, edited by V.H. Heywood. Flora of the Isle of Wight,by J. Bevis,R. Kettel & B. Shepard. An lllustrated Guide to PollenAnalysis, by P.D. Moore& J.A. Webb. B io log icaI Id entifi catio n, b y R.J. Pankhurst. Applied PlantAnatomy. by D.A. Cutler. Reprintsof Florasof Bedfordshire,Perthshire and Shropshire In addition the following books havebeen receivedrecently. Those that will NOT be reviewedin llatsonia are markedby an asterisk. WelshFerns, Clubmosses,Quillworts & Horsetails,6thedition, by H.A. Hyde, A.E. Wade and S.G.Harrison. Flowering Treesin Subtropical Gardens,by G. Kiinkel. Flore de France,Fasc. 3, by M. Guinochet& R. de Vilmorin. Palmsof Malaya,by T.C. Whitmore. Euphorbesprostrees de France,by P. Huguet. Identification of FloweringPlant Families,2nd edition, by P.H.Davis & J. Cullen. Le casLamarck, by J.P. Faure. *The Pollirwtion of Flowersby Insects,edited by A.J. Richards. Pp xii + 213, with colouredfrontispiece, 23 black & white platesand 34 text-figures. AcademicPress, l,ondon 1978.Price f 12.60(see below). *PlantMetabolism, by G. Richter,translated by D.J. Williams.Pp.475, with 101 text- figures.Georg Thieme Verlag,Stuttgart 1978. Distributedby Croom Helm, [,ondon. Price f,I1.95. This well-knowntextbook, first publishedin Germanin 1969, is now availablein Englishin an up-to-dateform. *Structural and EcophysiologicalPattern in the Xero-Halophytic C4 Grass Sporobolus rigens(Tr.) Desv., by T. Biicher & P. Olesen.K. danske Vidensk. Selsk., BioL Slcr.22(3). Pp. 48, with 11 black and white plates.Munksgaard, Copenhagen 1978. Pricenot stated. *PlantLife in AnaerobicEnvironments edited by D.D. Hook & R.M.M. Crawford. Pp. 564, with numeroustext-figures. Ann Arbor SciencePublishers Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.1978. Price f,17.65. This comprehensivestudy of plantsgrowing in conditionswhere oxygenis scarceor lackingis really a collectionof 18 papersbyinternationalauthors It has two parts, entitled respectively"Processes in Anaerobiosis"and "Recent Contri- bution [sic] on Anaerobiosis.

30 *Studiesin Biolagy,No. 96. Plant Growth Atwlysis,by R. Hunt. Pp 67, with l8 text-figures.Edward Arnold, London 1978.Price f.3.50 (boards)f,lJ0 $aper). *lrish lleather, by F. Donaldson Irish Seedsand Berries, by Florence Donaldson. Irish EnvironmentalLibrary, Nos. 48, 49. Eachpp.32, with colouredillustrations. Folens & Co., Ltd., Dublin. 1978. Pricenot stated.The latestvolumes in this series,which is intended for 10-15 year-oldreaders, are both attractiveand informative.The word "Irish" in their titles implies that their subjectmatter is more restrictedthan it ac- tually is. *lournal of Ethnoplwrnwcology,Voi. l(i) January1979. Edited by L. Rivier & J.G. Bruhn. Publishedby ElsevierSequoia A.A., lausanne,Switzerland. Subscription price S. Frs. 150.00.Here we havea new journal "devotedto bioscientificresearch on indige- nous drugs". The first part, which contains papers on herbal remedies,hallucogenic plants and cocaine.among others, is certainly a good example of the interdisciplinary approachwhich is the aim of the editors (see BSBI News No. 19:8), and which is becomingso fruitful (andnecessary) today. As a matter of policy, B.S.B.I.pubiications are not reviewedin llotsonia.I should therefore like to take this opportunity of recommendingto you the latest B.S.B.I. Conference Report (No. 16). The Pollination of Flowers by Insects comprisesthe proceedingsof the Symposiumso entitled, which wasorganised jointly with the Linnean Society and held in Newcastle-upon-Tynein 1971. John Richardshas brought together a fascinatingseries of paperswhich, unlike some symposiumvolumes, provides an excel- lent sourceofreference. The papersare wide-ranging; but they are all concernedwith the interrelationshipsof pollenand insects, and togetherconstitute, a summationof current knowledgeand viewson this topic. The subjectsof the papersinclude Pollination ecology (Faegri), Insect pollination syndrornesin an evolutionaryand ecosystemic context (Proctor) and Pollinator behaviourand the breedingstructure of plant popu- lations (Levin), as well as more specificstudies on Echium vulgare,Plantago lanceolata, Salix, lmpatiens, Nigella arvensis, Viola, himula veris, Cirsium palustre and Brussels sprouts.

NORMAN K.B. ROBSON

MINISTRYOF AGRICULTURERECOMMENDS BSBI BOOK

It is interestingto note that in their latest(1919) editionsof two advisorybookletsfor farmerson the use of chemicalweedkillers in Cerealsand Potatoesrespectively, the Ministry of Agriculture'sAgricultural Development and AdvisoryService (ADAS) have inserteda paragraphheaded "Botanical Names". This statesthat the namesof the weeds mentioned in the booklet are those recomrlendedin EnglishNantes of Wild Fbwers publishedby the BotanicalSociety of the BritishIsles. It explainsthat this book "has beenproduced to overcomethe ambiguitycaused by relerringto the sameplant species by differentcolloquial names". Though gratifyingto see the BSBIbeing thus recognised in official publications,unfbrtunately, no indicationis givenas to how the book canbe obtained. EDW

3l CONTENTSLIST ADMINISTRATION 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS 2 BSBIComm. for Wales 2 BSBIComm. for Ireland 2 NOTEI.ROM THE TREASURER 3 CHANGESOF RECORDERS.. 3 HON.GEN. SECRETARY'S NOTES 45 BSBI Emblem A List of Members 5 Personal 5 PHOTOGRAPHERS_ LOOK BEFORL YOU LIE 6 RARE PLANTSDAMAGED 6 FRAGARIA MOSCHATA AndF. VESCA 7 CALENDAROF BEEPLANTS 7 PROFILE- Prof.D.H. Valentine Rq BSBI Committee for Scotland - first vear 9 NOTICES Vacancyat S.L.B.l. l0 Nature Conservancv Book List 10 Suwey of Peat Bogs in France l0 Lundy Field Society l0 Fritillariesand Military Orchidsin Suffolk l0 GERANIUM x MONACENSE tl BLACK NIGHTSHADESURVEY - Interim report 12,t3 Lord Cranbrook& Dr. C.T. Prime l3 ALIENS and ADVENTIVES t4 CornAliens t4 Mixed Bag l4 Crassulahelmsii in Wor.. l9 REQUESTS Elodea,further notes 20 Book and BSBINews 2l Ploidy and metal tolerancein Ox-eyedai:y 2l Ethnopharmacologyin Au stralia a1 SAXIT-RAGA ROSACL:A and S. HYI'NOIDI:S ABBREVIATIONS L) LETTERS Conyzacarudensis 24 Coriandrumsativum 24 tsicolouredl'oadflax in Surrey 25 Orobancheminor host spp. 25 Saxilraga cespitov in N. Wales 26 Common namesof llritish Plants 26 GiantHogweed 21,28 TH[, RAY SOCIETY 28 F'I[,LDSTUDY CENTRLS 29 BOTANISINGIN EUROPL 29 BOOKNOTES 30,3l MIN.OII AGRIC.RUCOMMLNDS tsStsI BOOK 3l

"BSBI News" (ISSN0309-930X) is published by the BotanicalSociety of the Eritishlsles. Enquiries concerningthe Society'sactivities and membershipshould be addressedto :- The Hon. Gen.Sec., BSBI, c/o Botany Dept, BritishMuseum (Nat. Hist.),Cromwell Road, London SW758D.

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