sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bentley Wood, Damson Brook, Honeybrook Farm, New Forest, Savernake Forest, Steeple Ashton

Newsletter Issue 47 Summer 2017

WILTSHIRE BOTANICAL SOCIETY

Contents Editor’s Ramblings------1 WBS on the Web------1 Botanical Society Committee------1 Savernake ------2 Colerne and Monks Wood------3 Woodborough Hill------5 Bishopstone Down and Nightingale Wood------6 Cloatley Meadows ------7 Meadows at Mere------8 Jones's Mill, ------9 Fivehead Arable Fields SSSI------10 Lord’s and Penn Common------11 Botanical Recording in 2017------12 Atlas Recording Days------12 Trip to the Burren------14 The Conyza Fleabanes------17 A Tribute to Tom Cairns------19 Protected Road Verges ------21 Two new books by John Presland------22 The Orchid Hunter------23 Plant Records 2016------24 County Recorder’s Review 2017------30 Subscriptions------31

Website: http://www.wiltsbotsoc.co.uk paper copy rather than reading an Editor’s Ramblings ephemeral version on a computer WBS on the Web screen. It will be interesting to gather Do take a look at our website at Members send me splendid photos to opinions on this at the AGM. www.wiltsbotsoc.co.uk, where you include in the newsletter. Apart from will find Sharon’s “Plant of the Issue 22 which had a colour centre- This newsletter contains reports from Month” and many other things. spread, past issues of the newsletter most of our outdoor meetings, but have been black and white. This has also a variety of other articles. There are two articles by been frustrating because striking Meeting reports make up a standard members as downloads (click the colour differences are often reduced part of our content, but other articles “More” tab, then “Publications & to similar shades of grey and flowers add value and interest. Please do Downloads”): fade into their background. I have write up any ideas, stories, notes, Archaeology offers clues to often had to interfere with the colour advice, keys, ID tips or quizzes that history of a Small-leaved balance of photos to make flowers might be suitable and send them in. stand out from their green foliage. Anything considered! Lime tree at Inwoods Richard Aisbitt Dave Green's fascinating So, it is a great pleasure to welcome account of his attempt to you to our first colour issue. It is determine the history of an obviously more expensive to print in enigmatic lime tree by colour but we have saved money in examining archaeological various ways (sometimes evidence for the area. accidentally) to make this possible. § Juniper regeneration in the For the last two years, we have Porton Ranges only produced one issue rather than a summer and winter Read the fascinating account of edition and may continue to do a three-year study of so. regeneration of Juniper in the § We will probably incorporate Porton Ranges, written by WBS articles for “Wiltshire ”, members Anne Appleyard, Sue the society’s journal, into the Fitzpatrick, Ailsa McKee and newsletter rather than publishing Pat Woodruffe. it separately (“Plant Records” is Also look at our Facebook already included). page § We have found a printer who https://www.facebook.com/ - and will produce in colour at a search for Wiltshire Botanical reasonable cost. Society Again on cost saving, we have or use this link: considered making the newsletter https://www.facebook.com/Wiltshir available only as an internet e-Botanical-Society- 146460415451041/ for more news download. This would exclude and photos. people who do not use the internet, but we could print a small number of copies for these people. Also, many people prefer to have a permanent

Wiltshire Botanical Society Committee

Richard Aisbitt Chair, Newsletter, Co-Recorder 01793 694680 [email protected] Anne Appleyard 01980 610 385 [email protected] Martin Buckland Meetings Secretary 01380 698395 [email protected] Paul Darby 07919 810458 [email protected] Sue Fitzpatrick Treasurer 01722 410807 [email protected] Dave Green 07900 248992 [email protected] Penny Lee 01985 215 610 [email protected] Sharon Pilkington BSBI Recorder for Wiltshire 01373 827074 [email protected] Alison Robinson Secretary 01793 731947 [email protected] Pat Woodruffe Annual Residential Trip Organiser 01794 884436 [email protected]

Page 1 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 29th April 2017 growing with its feet correctly in wet . Basically, no, we did not mud to the side of the track. find much of botanical interest, although there was scattered Pill At a turn off the metalled track onto a Sedge and a small Lady’s-mantle Leader: Martin Buckland grass one, Brooklime Veronica (Alchemilla) in the path. It was beccabunga was spotted in a drying probably Hairy Lady’s-mantle Fair weather and a bumper 24 muddy patch. Further along amongst A. filicaulis subsp. vestita. Why do I attendees including six new faces familiar Soft and Hard Rushes a keen look up the distinguishing features made for a very good start to the eye spotted Compact Rush Juncus back home when it is too late? conglomeratus. A Slender St John’s season. The visit commenced with a Richard Aisbitt circular route around Birch Copse and Wort Hypericum pulchrum was also a then a walk along Cheval Bottom to good spot but really delightful was a return to the cars. patch of the diminutive flowers of Stitchwort Stellaria alsine. Some of the vegetation was perhaps a little late and certainly a little frosted: The two groups got back together at fern crooks blackened and even some Richard’s lunch spot next to another young hawthorn and leaves aged tree and surprisingly un-named caught. A fine sight though at the side oak yet it had to be 300 + years old. of the ride was of the ‘Crookmere Martin Buckland Oak’ just coming into leaf. This tree is deemed 450 -500 years old and is one of the many ancient named and signed in the forest. The slow-moving botanists (as opposed to Martin’s speedy group) As we were such a large group we got diverted by damp ground around a divided into two with Richard taking pond, finding Pill Sedge Carex his group on one route through the pilulifera, Hairy Wood-rush Luzula copse and myself another. pilosa, Heath Wood-rush L. multiflora and Toad-rush Juncus Just past the Crookmere Oak we were bufonius. There was a puzzling plant surprised to see a few plants of with foliage like a miniature Yellow Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe Corydalis nestling under the bracken. crocata at the edge of the track. How Surely not Climbing Corydalis did it get there and how did it survive (Ceratocapnos claviculata)? I took a without, seemingly, its feet in water? sample home – it came up with a bit of root (an accident – honest); after a Under the shade of a tree a singular couple of months in a plant pot, it Tutsan Hypericum androsaemum was developed tendrils and little white good to see. Often seen as a garden Corydalis-like flowers, so it was throw-out its position suggested the C. claviculata after all. Later research genuine article. Most of the ferns showed that although it is typical of were too poor to identify because of more acidic, rocky places, it had been the weather damage. However one found in Savernake Forest before. stood out quite well and was attributed as a Scaly Male-fern Moving on, we passed over carpets of Dryopteris affinis group. Almost Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia anywhere in the forest it seemed there nemorum in the tracks, with delicate was a Common Figwort Scrophularia starry yellow flowers on dangly nodosa to be found so it was a stems. surprise perhaps to find a single plant of Water-Figwort S. auriculata After lunch and joining the rest of the group, we went on to Cheval Bottom. Natural would like to change this area’s management from semi- natural forest to the increasingly rare wood-pasture, with livestock grazing amongst the trees. They wanted us to see if there was any vulnerable vegetation which might be harmed by

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 2 Picnic time - Dave Gadd

Saturday 13 May 2017 their knowledge of plants. Another joy has been to meet up with Colerne and ‘botanists past’ – people who I met 30 or so years ago and who, having Monks Wood retired, are finding the time to join our activities. We welcome them all. Leader: Sharon Pilkington Colerne and Monks Wood are owned and managed by the Woodland Trust. In May they were white with a sea of Giant Cranefly - Pat Ramsons or Wild Garlic Allium ursinum. The aroma from such plants of particular interest and plants can be quite overpowering but, helping with their identification. fortunately, on the day of our visit the air was relatively garlic free. A few I found the sharp cut off between leaves helped add interest to some populations of Ramsons and those of sandwiches although I understand Dogs Mercury Mercurialis perennis that the flowers tasted even better. fascinating. It appeared that the Rest assured that there were more former favoured wetter ground while Orange Tip on Cuckoo Flower - than enough plants to compensate for the latter grew better on the drier Alison such small losses! Narrow paths led slopes although light levels may also us through a predominately Ash have been significant factors too. In Our visit to these woods was a Fraxinus excelsior and Wych Elm one particular spot Sharon pointed memorable occasion for me not only Ulmus glabra woodland in which out four delights growing very close for the beauty of the woods on a plants such as Bluebell Hyacinthoides pleasant spring day but also for the non-scripta found it very difficult to company on the day. Increasingly we compete with the Ramsons. A couple are gaining younger members and of dozen botanists walking in single often those who are working in file is not the easiest of situations for ecology and habitat management. the leader but fortunately several We do hope that our meetings are members helped by pointing out both enjoyable and also help enhance

Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem - Herb Paris - Pat Anne Skinner

Page 3 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Ramsons and Solomon’s-seal

Adder’s-tongue Fern - Pat

Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem was still in bud and it was easy to see why it had acquired its common name. Another good find was Narrow Buckler-fern Dryopteris carthusiana – it does indeed look like an etiolated form of Broad Buckler –fern Dryopteris dilatata but has characteristically pale scales without any dark markings.

This was a walk for all interests, from the sheer delight of the woodland in spring to the satisfaction of keying out some atypical-looking sedge. Lesley even managed to spot an aptly named Giant Crane-fly which rested Ramsons flowers - Pat on Ann Skinner’s dark coat and was much admired. together. These were Green Hellebore Helleborus viridis, Herb Our thanks to Sharon for giving up Paris Paris quadrifolia, Solomon’s- her precious time to lead the walk seal Polygonatum multiflorum and and to help everyone with their many Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem questions. Ornithogalum pyrenaicum. The Pat Woodruffe

Anne Skinner Paul Robinson examining Green Hellebore

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 4 Sunday 21 May 2017 The numerous green-winged orchids were still displaying a variety of Woodborough Hill colour variations, despite the often fading blooms. Leaders: Paul Darby and Jane Brown Common twayblade (Neottia ovata), wild thyme (Thymus polytrichus) and About 14 people (including two from fairy flax (Linum catharticum) were area!) came along to this amongst the other classic chalk locally rather 'isolated' area of chalk grassland plant species noted. grassland to the west of Pewsey. Wonderful views were enjoyed by all from the top of the hill. Although the green-winged orchids (Anacamptis morio) were a bit past On the return journey we took a slight their best, this was an enjoyable and diversion along the canal towpath, fruitful trip, and we enjoyed fine and whilst nothing unusual was noted, weather. the flowering branched bur-reed (Sparganium erectum) was notable Meeting at the Parish room’s car park for being photogenically in full in Woodborough, we noted a mature flower. wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) on the edge of a garden which was A varied and fruitful day was had by flowering profusely - an encouraging, all! if unexpected start to the day! Paul Darby Also noted on the edge of the car park, and considered naturalised in this situation, (from an adjacent garden, we assume) were a few plants of honey garlic (Nectaroscordum siculum).

The walk to Woodborough Hill itself took us over the canal and between two arable fields, which yielded a single marginal plant of spreading hedge parsley (Torilis arvensis) certainly one of the more unusual finds of the day. A little further on, near the barns, a couple of plants of Carduus x stangii, the hybrid between welted thistle (Carduus crispus) and nodding (or musk) thistle (Carduus nutans) drew equal interest. Quite rightly, as most of us had never seen it before! Interestingly, neither parent plant was recorded on this visit, possibly destroyed by agricultural sprays, or indeed, not growing on our route to the hill?

On reaching the hill, (which is interestingly, along with Picked Hill, situated away from and to the south of the main chalk scarp, and just above the ) the high frequency of upright brome (Bromopsis erecta) was noted, and very soon the widespread sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) was apparent. Unusual pink Green-winged Orchid - Paul Darby

Page 5 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Wednesday 7th June 2017 Bishopstone Down and Nightingale Wood Leader: Richard Aisbitt

We visited the County Wildlife Site called “Bishopstone Chalk East”, a large secluded downland combe. It is owned by Helen Browning’s organic farm, Eastbrook Farm, which allows permissive open access. It is a long way northeast in Wiltshire and only five members made the journey and joined the outing.

We started by the duck pond in Hybrid Thistle - Carduus x stangii Bishopstone village and were pleased Our objective was Brook Meadow, a to see hybrid Pink Campion Silene x wet area with ponds and a tributary of hampeana on the bank of the pond the River Cole running through. We and Black Spleenwort fern Asplenium found dense stands of Common adiantum-nigrum growing in the wall Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris in the outside Bishopstone School. mud around the partially dried-up The down was already fairly well ponds, and also Tufted Forget-me-not recorded, with masses of Clustered Myosotis laxa. It resembles Water Bellflower Campanula glomerata and Forget-me-not M. scorpioides in Hawkweed Oxtongue Picris appearance and distribution, but often hieracioides, but we were too early grows beside ponds rather than for these to be in flower. We added streams and rivers (look at the shape Hairy Violet Viola hirta and Devil's- of the calyx teeth and the length of bit Scabious Succisa pratensis to the the style to tell them apart). It is known species for the site. Most rather less common. There were remarkable were dense stands of generous quantities of the invasive Slender Thistle Carduus tenuiflorus, a Indian Balsam Impatiens glandulifera thistle more often seen near the sea. along the stream banks. Bastard Toadflax Thesium humifusum Richard Aisbitt had been seen here before, but we searched for this without success.

Moving on to Nightingale Wood, our afternoon site, Sue spotted another Carduus thistle, this time the hybrid between C. crispus and C. nutans, on the edge of the car park. The plants, named Carduus x stangii, were large and sturdy, showing hybrid vigour, and had the general appearance of Welted Thistle. However, their flower heads were larger with sticking-out spiky phyllaries like Nodding Thistle. The find was more remarkable in that Sharon Pilkington had only introduced us to this plant two weeks before during a visit to Meadow Thistle at Cloatley Woodborough. - Paul Robinson

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 6 Sunday 11 June 2017 The meadows did not disappoint us, although the first meadow was mainly Cloatley Meadows grasses, and I recognised Marsh Foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus, Yorkshire Fog Leader: Martin Buckland Holcus lanatus amongst others. Autumn Hawkbit Scorzoneroides The day was a bit dull and overcast, autumnalis, was also in flower, but I and could have gone either way, but need more experience to be confident thankfully stayed dry for the day. about these yellow daisies. Great Seven members and two guests met in Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis was the carpark. Thank you to Sharon also spotted. Further into the site Pilkington for stepping in to lead the Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus was meeting on behalf of Martin Buckland. found to be abundant, both in flower Sharon, like myself, had not visited this and with its dark reddy-brown seed Wiltshire Wildlife Trust site before and capsules along with Common Marsh- started with some background bedstraw Galium palustre. The information, before we went through knapweed was starting to flower as was the gate. the Betony. The meadows also support large populations of Common Bird’s- We searched for Toothwort on the Cloatley Meadows lies, on the edge of foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus, and Hazel, but were out of luck. We did the Braydon Forest, between Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil find Early Dog-violet Viola and Minety. Three fields; L. pedunculatus and I learnt that as reichenbachiana, an indicator of Leaze, Cow Leaze and The well as looking for a hollow stem to in the South West. Hams are designated as within the Site tell L. pedunculatus from L. of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It corniculatus the angle of the calyx- The unusually dry spring and early is also possible to see the parallel teeth in the bud is also a useful summer meant that there was little ridges and furrows left by medieval distinguishing feature, with L. water in the stream which passes farming and undulations from the corniculatus being erect and L. through the upper meadows, and its medieval settlement. pedunculatus being reflexed. bed could only be noted by the rushes. At other damp areas on the site we saw The agricultural practices have left an We soon found a good number of Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe environment of ridges and furrows Meadow Thistles Cirsium dissectum crocata. which creates a pattern of differing soil which are restricted in Wiltshire to drainage across the fields and allows a areas of greensand and gault clays; The walk back to the carpark yielded varied community of plants to develop from Wiltshire Flora these are mainly varieties of roses in the old field along with their associated insects. found in the Minety area. hedgerows, Dog-rose Rosa canina and The site also supports a good range of Field-rose R. arvensis. I was shown woodland, hedgerow and meadow The SSSI fields yielded various that the styles on the Field-rose join birds. quantities of both Common Spotted- together to form a column and this is orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Heath useful to distinguish them from the The underlying is Upper Spotted-orchid D. maculata and white form of the dog rose. Greensand and Gault Clay, so the numerous intermediate varieties. I meadows represent a neutral lowland learnt that D. fuchsii has deeply 3 lobed The walk through Cloatley Meadows grassland, which makes them unusual flowers, which are pointed, with a was a pleasant day out and I was able for Wiltshire, as a whole. longer mid-lobe, whereas D. maculata to practise and improve my ID skills, has shallow lobes, with a narrow and with help from our experienced The three designated SSSI meadows short mid-lobe. The patterns on the members. I’ve still got some work to are unimproved and the remaining flowers are also distinctive with do on the yellow daisies though! The meadows are made up of semi- D. fuchsii being spotted and site also had some interesting insect improved grassland. WWT manages D. maculata streaky. The intermediate life and we saw numerous Chimney the meadows and their site leaflet forms show much variety and some sweeper moths Odezia atrata and explains that they cut the meadows for were quite vigorous. damselflies. hay every three years in July. The Alison Robinson meadows are grazed by Belted The pond in Cow Leaze meadow and sheep for the other proved a bit disappointing and after years, and these graze the tough lunch we moved on through Hankerton grasses. The trust has seeded some of copse, where the remnants of Bluebells the fields with Devil’s-bit Scabious Hyacinthoides non-scripta Succisa pratensis, Saw-wort Serratula (presumably), Wood Anemone tinctoria, Common Knapweed Anemone nemorosa and Primrose Centaurea nigra and Betony Stachys Primula vulgaris could be seen as well officinalis to increase the wildflower as Wood Millet Milium effusum and population. Giant Fescue Schedonorus giganteus Rosa arvensis - Paul Robinson

Page 7 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Saturday 17th June 2017 Meadows at Mere Leader: Penny Lee

It was a Saturday and all the car parks in the attractive small town of Mere were full. We should have anticipated this, and also, it not being a Sunday, that there would be plenty of room beside our meeting point at the church. It was beautifully hot and sunny, but became too hot for most of us to stay beyond lunchtime.

After being delayed in the churchyard (where we clocked 44 plant species), Penny led us southwards onto the low-lying meadows. Sadly, most of these had been mown, leaving short grass and large roly-poly haylage Returning to the town, we explored Broomrape Orobanche elatior. This bales wrapped in black or fetching the back ways, including the streams, had puzzled a group of sponsored pale blue plastic. Further on, we came ponds and channels of Ashfield walkers who had started at Stourhead; to the meadows designated as a Water. A shady willow provided our we were pleased to explain. County Wildlife Site and these had lunch stop and some monster not yet been cut. A nice mixture of specimens of Wood Sedge Carex A varied day: grassland, wet places, grasses here, including Meadow sylvatica for Sharon to take to her bits of woodland, chalk downland. Barley Hordeum secalinum, and sedge course the next day. We saw all the big fescue grasses – Marsh Foxtail Alopecurus Tall, Giant and Meadow geniculatus, with vast quantities of Just Penny and I continued on to (Schedonorus arundinaceus, Corky-fruited Water-dropwort Long Hill. This is a weird ridge giganteus and pratensis) and a variety Oenanthe pimpinelloides thoughout, stretching out from the town, with a of other plants. but not the riches of broadleaved castle on a tump at the town end. A Richard Aisbitt herbs we might have expected. bit like Corfe Castle but much less so. The tump had chalkland species, a pleasing example being Knapweed

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 8 Sunday 2 July 2017 Jones's Mill, Pewsey Leaders: Paul Darby and Jane Brown

This site continues to be popular with the botany group, and this visit proved why.

There is always something new to see – this time it was the memorable sight of three red kites and a gull following a grass mower in an adjacent field, treating us to a close-up display of their flying skills. It must have been a delicatessen full of voles and field mice – we watched a gull dive down, Great Horsetail - Jane Brown scoop something, then swallow worth using a lens to appreciate its Sticks that day ... and I do remember whatever it was in midflight. delicate pink-striped petals. that the weather was kind.

And the plants? Plenty to enjoy, Some of the group enjoyed making For those who don't know the area, including the expected variety of the seeds pop off the Flea Sedge, just the reserve is open all year, with each sedges...including the less common like the jumping insect. season bringing a different mood. Bottle Sedge Carex rostrata and Flea Jane Brown Sedge Carex pulicaris... and then the However, no outbreak of scratching horsetails. Close inspection of these ensued..... involved checking whether the stem was hollow like a straw (Water Heading back across the wooden Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile), or had bridge that crosses the juvenile Avon, the requisite number of 'teeth' and we stopped to lean over the side rails, ridges on the stem (this helps with searching for the resident Signal identification of Marsh Horsetail E. Crayfish which often appears here, as palustre) and then of course there well as the pleasure of watching, and were the brilliant green swathes of the listening to, the flow of the water....I unmistakable Great Horsetail don't recall whether we played Pooh E. telmateia, creating a prehistoric atmosphere in the wet woodland (willow/alder carr).

Solid clumps of Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata rose from the flatter, more open vegetation.

In the meadow where the volunteers brushcut and rake every year, we rescued a small toad from the dipwell – there was some discussion about the hydrology of the site; following a recent three year project.

The group scattered, bowed heads, eyes searching for whatever might be found.

The Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella, for which the site is known, had spread greatly this year, and it was Belties in the meadow - Jane Brown

Page 9 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Sharon in explaining mode Welcome lunch shelter The first plants to draw attention to number of species that we are themselves were Bristly Ox-tongue pleased to find anywhere in Wiltshire Fivehead Arable Helminthotheca echioides and Broad- such as Dwarf Spurge Euphorbia Fields SSSI leaved Spurge Euphorbia exigua, Sharp-leaved Fluellen platyphyllos with its warty fruits. The Kickxia elatine and Round-leaved 23rd July 2017 one plant of Spreading Hedge-parsley Fluellen K. spuria. Torilis arvensis that we were so Leader: Sharon Pilkington pleased to find on our Woodborough Some bushes at the edge of one of Hill visit in May, paled into the fields provided some much Twelve members tempted by the insignificance given the abundance of needed cover from the inclement prospect of the special assemblage of this species at Fivehead, but that was, weather while we ate our lunch and arable weeds on this Somerset of course, very important as a afterwards we explored another of Wildlife Trust Reserve, designated as Wiltshire record. Another important the fields, finding many of the same an Important Plant Area by Plantlife, umbellifer in seed was soon spotted. species including large populations met on Cathanger Lane by the Shepherd’s Needle Scandix pecten- of Shepherd’s Needle. A badger had reserve entrance. Sharon introduced veneris was once a common cornfield obligingly excavated a hole to expose the site which consists of three fields weed and with its very distinctive the distinctive corm-like base of on heavy clay managed for arable long spiky fruits had many Onion Couch Arrhenatherum elatius weeds by sowing a non-commercial vernacular names. In Wiltshire it was var. bulbosum. Despite the weather crop of winter wheat with a break known as Crow-pecks and in it was a very enjoyable visit and well crop on rotation. The site is arguably Somerset as Devil’s Darning Needle. worth the long journey to reach it. the most important arable weed site Gerard, quoted by Grigson in ‘The Thanks very much to Sharon for in the UK. The weather was not kind Englishman’s Flora’, commented that sharing her expert knowledge of the as the threatened rain materialised far after the flowers ‘come uppe long site and its unusual and exciting sooner than forecast, but we were seedes, very like unto pack needles, flora. undeterred. orderlie set one by another like the Anne Appleyard great teeth of a combe’. Although I had never seen it before, I knew immediately what it was! It does occasionally turn up on farmland in Wiltshire, but at Fivehead there were very substantial numbers of plants. We also saw the very beautiful seedheads of Corn Buttercup Ranunculus arvensis ornamented with very long spines. This plant has suffered a national decline, but the seeds are long-lived and it sometimes appears on sites in Wiltshire where it has not previously been recorded, often on heavy clay. We were able to confirm the presence of the rare Broad-fruited Corn-salad Valerianella rimosa from its mature fruits. Other rarities found included Slender Tare Vicia parviflora and Rye Brome Bromus secalinus. Broad-leaved Spurge Amongst all the rare plants were a Broad-fruited Corn-salad

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 10 Sunday 6 August 2017 Lord’s Oak and Penn Common Leaders: Pat Woodruffe and Dave Green Chamomile Sixteen people attended this field meeting and going by the prompt us so how can it be so scarce? What Marsh Clubmoss nature of everyone’s arrival were made it so good was that the grass gunning for a good day. Well we was also covered in the white flowers didn’t have to look far as our first of Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile foray was just by the car park. My whose scent wafted as we walked first stop was to look at a bright over it. Down at a ditch run we came yellowy-green sedge, Common across Pillwort Pilularia globulifera Yellow Sedge Carex viridula subsp. looking like freshly emerging sown oedocarpa (C. demissa). Pale grass seed. No sporangia pills were Butterwort Pinguicula lusitanica seen at the base of the plants but one although tiny flowered was a delight or two plants could be seen unfolding to see and photograph. By the time I looking like their larger fern cousin’s looked up from this the party was leaf ‘croziers’. Whenever we come to well spread out; there were so many the New Forest always look at the top good things to look at. The area in broken edges of the ditches we’re told general was covered with Cross- as we may well find Allseed Radiola leaved Heath Erica tetralix, Tormentil linoides and Chaffweed Centunculus Potentilla erecta and White-beaked minimus. So we did and we did! Lesser Skullcap Sedge Rhynchospora alba with Marsh St John’s Wort Hypericum elodes in After lunch we moved onto Furzley attractive when viewed close up. Just the wet runs. A closer look within the Common. A stop at some birch trees before we left this site Marsh wet areas also turned up Drosera proves that you shouldn’t be Clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata was intermedia and D. rotundifolia; complacent. They were not just Silver spotted and in fact several patches of Oblong-leaved and Round-leaved Birch but had very obvious diamond this noteworthy plant was viewed and Sundews. The critical botanists shaped bases to the leaves and were in grid references taken for the records. meanwhile were conducting a fact Iberian White Birch or Betula Whilst the plant resides in masterclass in Spike Rushes with celtiberica (syn B. pubescens subsp. comparisons being made between pubescens). The prettiest flower of Many-stalked Spike-rush Eleocharis the day had to go to Ivy-leaved multicaulis and Common Spike-rush Bellflower Wahlenbergia hederacea. E. palustris. Also of interest was Almost everyone took a photograph Petty Whin Genista anglica. I of this. There was a very striking admired the seed pods which seemed bank full of it. The nodding steely- quite large for the size of seed inside, blue flowers and tiny ivy shaped but the seeds are really worth looking leaves were truly exquisite. Nearby in at: shiny black and heart-shaped. a wet flush we had yet more Pale Mark records Betula celtiberica Butterwort but this time also joined Our next stop was Penn Farm for our by Lesser Bladderwort Utricularia target species of the day Small minor, another small flower but Fleabane Pulicaria vulgaris. This was ‘everywhere’ on the in front of

Betula celtiberica Small Fleabane Ivy-leaved Bellflower - twigs, leaves and catkins

Page 11 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Botanical Atlas Recording Recording in 2017 Days

With the deadline of 2020 We had two sessions devoted to approaching for the BSBI Atlas recording for the BSBI 2020 Atlas Update, we are taking stock and Update, one in the south at Mere and looking at gaps in our coverage of the the Deverills and one east of the Plain Wiltshire flora. starting from . According to numbers, we split into groups of We store all our botanical records two or three or four and headed off to using a computer program called list all the plants in one or more MapMate. Among other tricks, it can under-recorded but potentially produce a distribution map that helps interesting kilometre squares. us to judge our progress. The map has a blob for each one kilometre As well as making for an interesting square in the county with the blob day, these visits challenged our skills size showing the number of species and filled gaps we had identified on Tiny Pennyroyal seen in that square. This lets us see the distribution maps. Having a where recording is complete and group gives extra pairs of eyes and where it needs improving. The means we don’t miss much. current map is shown on the next page. Sue Fitzpatrick has kindly written an account of her group’s visit to the We have two years to fill the gaps. Upper Chute area. Wiltshire can be split up into 43 ten Ben gives the scale by ten kilometre squares, known as Our foursome – Anne Appleyard, Sue hectads. Various members have taken Fitzpatrick, Ness Williams and Pat the area is included within VC8 on responsibility for one or more Woodruffe, split into two pairs to South-Wilts which makes it good hectads. Each hectad contains 100 tackle our allotted squares (and a bit enough for me! one-kilometre squares and recording more beside). Anne and Sue, while concentrating on SU2954, also looked Our last quick stop was to Stock’s each of the these is a daunting task. at the southern part of SU2955 and Cross. Apparently we were to look for Some hectad ‘guardians’ have done ventured into SU2953, while Ness eight sheep eating mint?! Well, all I just this - look at the south of the and Pat went through the northern can say is when we got there the county. Happily, we don’t all have to part of SU2955 and a route through sheep realising their faux pas had run reach this level of perfection, but just SU3055. Both groups had problems off but had left plenty of Pennyroyal need to cover a representative sample. in finding paths, which looked good Mentha pulegium for us to find and We made big progress in 2017, partly on the map but were nowhere visible photograph. because Sue Fitzpatrick is mobile on the ground! However, we made it I know I can speak for all attendees again. She is a prolific recorder and (after some detours) and clocked up present when I say that we all had a has produced 16,500 records on her respectable totals of records – 396 thoroughly enjoyable outing. Our own and another 6,500 with other and 207 respectively. Both groups grateful thanks go to Pat and Dave. recorders. Overall, we made 59,000 had a variety of habitats including records, with another 40,000 from the woodland; Pat & Ness found some Martin Buckland record centre waiting to chalk flora including knapweed come in. Consider that each of these broomrape Orobanche elatior and records comes from spotting a plant, good numbers of pyramidal orchids identifying it, noting it, and keying Anacamptis pyramidalis, and arable the data into a computer. weeds in farmland; whereas Anne & Sue had two shaded ponds which had There is plenty of opportunity if you little but waterlilies Nymphaea alba, would like to take part in recording. fat duckweed Lemna gibba, and the If you are not confident of your highlight of the day, monkshood identification skills, it is a great way Aconitum napellus in two spots of improving them, especially by nearby. The village of Upper Chute going out with a group that includes contributed some garden escapes, to an experienced botanist. add to the variety. Altogether, it was an enjoyable day spent exploring a Richard Aisbitt part of the county none of us knew.

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 12 SO Species records in Wiltshire since the yearSP 2000.

The area of each blob is proportional to the number of species found in its 1 km square. A ‘filled’ square has around 260 species. 9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

ST 7 8 9 SU 1 2 3 Friday 26 May to Wednesday but never as good as in the Meadow Thistles were, had wonderful 31 May 2017 Burren. swoops of colour to stare at; purple, pink, yellow, white, blue. One would Trip to the Burren of course revert to the standard botanist’s posture, slightly bent. We had both looked forward to A bunch of Wiltshire botanists our trip to the Burren, but not It seems a little corny to choose a travelled to Lisdoonvarna in the west without a hint of anxiety. On our Dryas octopetala (Mountain of Ireland to stay a few days at the previous visit in 1981 we had been Avens) as one of the top stars of Hydro Hotel, most of us going by thrilled by the unique richness of the trip, as its flower is fairly courtesy of Ryanair and hire-cars the limestone pavement and the ordinary. Firstly there is the from Knock Airport. We made the floral gems it concealed. Would it romance of its distribution: - this long journey in order to see the still be the same? We need not ancient arctic mountain plant wonders of the Burren, a huge wild have worried. The Burren remains flourishing in the soft warmth of area of limestone with a very special the most interesting and Western Ireland. Then there is its collection of plants. fascinating ‘natural’ site in the cosy, humped habit of growth. British Isles, not just for its flora Rather than giving details of all our The leaves are a wonder - darkly but as a total wildlife habitat – and outings, we have gathered some glossy above with neat scalloped all to the accompaniment of a comments from members to give a edges but underneath a polar bear constant background of birdsong, taste of the visit. I have decided to indumentum. All this neatness Surely not another 36 years! make these anonymous, but there may has a wild contrast in the fruiting be some clues in the contents … head which is a fly-away I had a tantalising glimpse of the unbrushed hair-do of pappuses Richard Aisbitt Burren on a half day visit last year so with a flirty little twist to it. was delighted when the WBS decided Here are some thoughts from our to visit it for their annual trip. It's a Pinguicula grandiflora was a good members. rare treat to wander over such an plant. Its flowers were indeed unusual and unexpected landscape enormous and in their chosen wet Some graded experiences: with the group's combined knowledge sloping meadow they made quite a finding specialities ranging from Irish show. Distribution is so hard. Why High: "I never appreciated how vast Saxifrage to Leopard Orchid. was the plant so happy in that field and how stunning the Burren However, for me the wonders also but we never saw it anywhere else? was" resided in familiar plants growing in High: Good company to be with. extraordinary circumstances, such as On Black Head, our last outing, a honeysuckle poking its head above there was yet another treat of a Low/High: "Always make notes. I the limestone grikes into the salt laden plant, Helianthemum oelandicum lost my walking stick at winds from the sea. (Hoary Rock-rose) . Superficially Mullagh More but retraced it is merely a smallish buttery my steps and found it using The Hydro Hotel was enormous Helianthemum. With the lens my plant records" for such a small town. However when can see that it has an Good finds: "I had never seen Stone every morning three huge coaches absurdly kinked style the like of Bramble before so finding my would arrive and disgorge 50 to 60 which I have never seen on any own at Mullaghmore was people each. All of them were other plant. very pleasing" German. It emerged that there was a tie-in between the hotel There was a non-botanical curiosity Very High: Seeing Father Ted's owner and a travel company. It near the hotel. Two springs, both House. seems that each coach load stayed gently dribbling as they had, two nights so we, staying for five, apparently, for hundreds of years. Some more highs: almost counted as residents and One was stinky, sulphurous and · Ben’s enthusiasm. He could the staff, none of whom was Irish, yellow and the other was odourless scarcely wait for Martin to stop learnt our breakfast habits and so and depositing a white magnesium the car before leaping out at our on salt. The two of them were only 30 first limestone pavement stop. cm apart... Very odd. · Magnificent scenery seen at its At every site we went to it was very best especially in the afternoons well worthwhile just to stare at our ------when the clouds cleared. surroundings - the curves of the landscapes, the rock forms, the The following pages show a · Some lovely plants, most notably general suite of flowers such as collection of photos from the Burren Pinguicula grandiflora (Large- Burnet Rose and Bloody Cranesbill trip by a variety of members. I flowered Butterwort) which I which were everywhere. Even the wonder if you can identify any of the have seen many times in the Alps meadow close to the hotel, where the plants?

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 14 Malcolm

Pat

Pat

Malcolm

Pat

Richard

Martin

Martin

Richard

Richard Richard

Richard Richard Pat

Page 15 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2016 Pat

Christine

Pat Ben

Baz

Ben

Pat Baz

Neville Baz Neville

Summer 2016 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 16 features that he considers to be more found with a kite-shaped The Conyza reliable and built them into a key. inflorescence and this may also be a This has long entries for each couplet; good feature to prompt further Fleabanes I present a simpler version based on examination. just a few of his characters. There are four alien Fleabanes, The tubular disk florets (the inner members of the Asteraceae with Necessary words: ones) end in different numbers of masses of little flask shaped flowers triangular lobes; C. canadensis has with white-ish petals that hardly · Capitulum – the whole composite four, but all the others have five. flower head. Measurements are extend above the green phyllaries. These are hard to see in the field, but across the green leafy part before They are not showy plants, but are squeezing the base of the capitulum it opens to release seeds interesting in that they are spreading spreads the florets and makes this in Wiltshire, particularly in towns. · Phyllaries – the leaf-like bracts easier. All originate from the Americas but around the capitulum, positioned their names often do not reflects this. like the sepals of a simple flower Also look at Bob’s illustrations, The species are: reproduced opposite (with The Key – use on fresh material – the · Canadian Fleabane Conyza permission). Bob’s article gives yet capitulum opens out soon after more information to back up your ID. canadensis, not a recent collecting introduction, being first recorded in 1690 in the ‘London Area’. It 1. Capitulum with few or no hairs Richard Aisbitt was not noted in Wiltshire until when viewed in silhouette (10x 1932 (Miss P. Leake, near lens)------2 Leaney, B. (2017) Common Problems Rowde). It is widely scattered in Capitulum with too many hairs to with identification in Conyza: Wiltshire and was well recorded count ------3 Norfolk experience. BSBI News 135, (as Erigeron canadensis) by the 2. Phyllaries narrow, tapering to a pp 7-17, April 2017 Wiltshire Flora. very acute tip · Guernsey Fleabane C. ------Conyza canadensis sumatrensis from Peru, first seen Phyllaries broad and strap- in Wiltshire by Penny Theobald shaped, blunt-tipped in in 2008. We still ------Conyza floribunda have only 17 county records, 3. Capitulum 2.5 – 5 mm across mostly urban. (similar to C. canadensis) · Argentine Fleabane C. ------Conyza sumatrensis bonariensis from tropical Capitulum 6-8 mm across (larger America: its first county record than C. canadensis) Conyza was more recent, in March 2014, bonariensis by Sue Fitzpatrick, again in Salisbury. We have only two The shape of the inflorescence can be county records so far. very variable, but C. canadensis is usually narrowly cylindrical (see · Bilbao Fleabane C. floribunda diagram below). Bob Leaney from South America, was not suggests that any with a different included in the keys in Stace’s shape may be one of the other species rd flora until the 2010 3 edition. and should be examined. Sharon Pilkington made our first C. sumatrensis is the only one he record in 2014 in and we still have only seven county records.

The newer arrivals are probably under-recorded in Wiltshire. How do you recognise them? My interest was sparked by an article in BSBI News by Bob Leaney (2017), who has studied plants in his native Norfolk. He is somewhat dismissive of previous keys, which use features that vary from plant to plant like leaf and inflorescence shape, and others like yellow-green/grey-green that are hard to distinguish. He has picked out

Page 17 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Summer 2016 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 18 In 2012, having taken up a new job in Here are two such memories… A Tribute to Tom Lincolnshire, managing schemes to maintain salt marshes using native From Dave Green Cairns breeds, he collapsed at work and was rushed to hospital. Tests revealed that In February 1978, Tom invited my Ole Thomas Cairns was born on 8th he had suffered a heart attack having heavily pregnant wife Ali and me to June 1949 in Germany to his contracted a disease of the heart have a curry at his third-floor flat in Norwegian mother and Northern muscle. The condition was so serious Lansdown, Bath. We had known Tom Ireland-born father. that he had to retire from work and by this time a couple years, and I return to his beloved Devizes. He knew he had photographed many The family moved to Northern fully recovered and made a point of flower species. Tom intended, after a Ireland, then to Norfolk and later to enjoying life to the full. leisurely meal, to show us slides of Lower Swainswick, near Bath. It was some of his flower pictures. However, in the local primary here that he In 2015, he was seriously injured in a as we ate, Ali was getting gained his passionate love of nature road traffic accident and taken to contractions, but didn't say anything and the countryside which stayed with Southmead Hospital, Bristol, where it at the time, or when Tom and I got him so strongly all his life. was feared he would lose his leg. In a engrossed in the slideshow. major operation the leg was saved. Eventually she mentioned that After school he took a BSc course at contractions were coming at three- Bath, and became involved in Whilst recovering he suffered a minute intervals, and perhaps we conservation whilst working for the severe flu-like illness; polymyalgia ought to go off to the hospital. This Bath Preservation Trust, saving a row was diagnosed. Some months later created a dilemma for Tom and me, of Georgian workers’ cottages from tests showed that he had cancer, the because we were just getting to the demolition by the less than illness from which he finally slides of the frog orchid, which at that enthusiastic City Council. succumbed. time I had never seen. Ali was insistent that we HAD to go, so Tom Return visits to Norway furthered his All the while Tom maintained his helpfully rattled through the slides at love of nature and he would go for social life and was a great inspiration speed so that I could get a view of the solo walks out into the wild. to friends and colleagues, who will plant before helping Ali shuffle down continue to have happy memories of six flights of stairs. All went well and He took one of the first Master’s Tom. the following day the first visitor to degrees in conservation and the side of Ali's bed was Tom with a commuted from his house in bunch of flowers. Widcombe to Westminster where he advised the Government on the I have below included a photo that Wildlife and Countryside Act, a Tom took of the Ghost Orchid in major piece of legislation. Other 1978/9, one of the last times it was positions included project managing seen in Britain, my memory is of the Albert Dock in Liverpool whilst waiting by the car until Tom ran out working for the Civic Trust. of film taking pictures whilst laid prone on the floor of Beech Moving to Devizes he took up a post woodland, “somewhere in Southern with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, an England”. organisation with which he became involved to the end, and where he From Paul Darby made so many good friends. Tom had more jobs at the Wiltshire He also worked for the Grazing Wildlife Trust than anyone else that I Advisory Partnership based in can remember, often re-inventing Brinkworth, Wiltshire, organising a himself to fit the job - another of body including the Ministry of Tom's skills. He therefore had more Defence, and Rare 'leaving dos' than anyone else, with Breeds Survival Trust, the aim of gifts of a new pullover on each which being the use of cattle native to occasion, as I recall – he was famous the specific areas involved, to for his knitwear ! maintain the fragile ecosystem which was at risk from invasive or over- Tom's wide knowledge of natural dominant species such as bracken. history was astounding. We would This is now standard practice. often be talking on a particular subject, when Tom would go off at a tangent about some related detail

Page 19 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Tom and Greater Tussock Sedge which I knew nothing about. It was There are rumours of always interesting and often Tom's love of cider... humorous. I never saw this, as whenever I had a Tom had a vast collection of classic drink (or two) with films on VHS, 'I filled a room with him, it was beer - real those' being a typical comment. He ale, of course. When also had a complete (as far as I know) we both lived in collection of first editions of the New Devizes, we would Naturalists books. It was obvious that regularly meet up in these gave him pleasure. The Southgate, sit in the corner like two He was celebrated for his karaoke old codgers (which performances at parties (any excuse we were), and talk for a party was good enough for Tom, about anything and he knew how to enjoy himself!) His everything and put musical tastes were indeed wide and the world to rights. varied; many of the CDs I copied for Tom always seemed him would be summarised by him as to have his umbrella, 'really great, never heard them whatever the before'. weather!

His sense of humour and fun go without saying. He often blamed me for influencing his sense of humour. He'd laugh at terrible jokes and make you feel a better person!

Tom’s Ghost Orchid

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 20 you would like to take on a verge, you • Tilshead, A360 north of Protected Road would get help in recognising the key Salisbury (chalk downland Verges plants if you needed it. flora) – SU042463 - in need of a monitor All the orphan verges happen to be in • Warminster, ex-A350 into south Wiltshire, and are shown on the north Warminster (various Wiltshire has around 50 roadside map. They are: orchids and other chalk verges which are protected because downland species) – they are special in some way or other, • Ferne Hollow, near A30 ST871460 most often for botanical interest. Shaftesbury (chalk grassland These verges are labelled with marker and some woodland) – • Redlynch, north of the village posts and are not included in the ST935509 on a by-road turning into a regular highways mowing regime, but track. Asarabacca - SU198219 are given special management. This • Conholt, near Upper Chute will often be a late cut to allow plants north of Andover (chalk In addition, Berrywood Lane to set seed. grassland) – SU325554 off A30 (combination of flora inc. hard fern) – Each one has a volunteer monitor who • Fonthill, (3 verges) near ST905249 – already has a monitor, keeps an eye the verge and sends a Hindon (hellebores, Dusky but is looking for a “Monitoring report to the county council every Cranesbill and orchids) – buddy” year. ST922320, ST925301, ST916323 If you are interested, contact Emma Well, that’s not quite true: some Glover at of the verges are orphans in need • Ansty Down, off A30 nr ([email protected], of a monitor. This person would Tisbury (chalk downland 01225 718478) or consult existing visit the verge occasionally and flora) – ST963252 monitors Pat Woodruffe or Sue keep a watch for changes or Fitzpatrick (details on the Committee threats to its special features. If list).

Conholt

Warminster Tilshead

Fonthill

Ansty Down Berrywood Ferne Hollow Redlynch

Page 21 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Easy Digital Plant Photgraphy Two new books by - by John Presland John Presland

This guide to digital photography of plants presents it as a very simple process when clear guidance is Botany as a Hobby 1: Botany in the available. Step-by-step help is field - by John Presland provided, firstly in taking effective photos by doing little else but point This book gives a picture of field and shoot and then gradually making botany in all its aspects, with the aims use of the other features of a typical of interesting and informing anyone digital camera. Editing digital photos drawn to the subject. In particular, it is described through a similar is hoped to stimulate those with an approach. Guidance is offered on initial or passing interest to become ways of making use of photos, more involved. For already confirmed including sharing them by personal botanists, it is a sharing of botanical contact and online, illustrating written experiences in the field. It covers a material, and creating a website and variety of approaches to discovering publishing a book to make them plants, algae and fungi in a range of widely available. There is also help settings. Detailed accounts are given on how to preserve predigital slides of orchids, what can be seen on and photos in digital form. The family holidays, botanical delights of emphasis throughout is on making cultural sites, organised excursions to digital photography user-friendly and explore botany in mountains, and giving readers options as to how they as an example of a make use of what is provided. different flora from our own. Botanical gardens are included About the author because they support and display field botany; and photography because it is John Presland studied natural sci- a way of recording plants and ences at St. Catharine’s College, remembering field experiences. Cambridge, became a Finally, examples of the humour that teacher, then pursued a career as can arise from this kind of activity are an educational psychologist. Bota- described. The book is the first of a ny and its recording in photo- series which will explore botany graphs has remained a major wherever it impinges on our lives. interest for over 55 years.

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 22 Leif Bersweden was born in 1994 and The Orchid Hunter grew up as a botanist in rural Wiltshire [he is a one-time member of - Leif Bersweden the Wiltshire Botanical Society]. He graduated with a degree in Biology In the summer after leaving school, a from Oxford and is currently a PhD young botanist sets out to fulfil a student at Kew Gardens. childhood dream – to find every species of orchid native to the British - The text and illustration on this Leif is a published author and an Isles… He has just a few months to page is taken from the Amazon accomplished botanical tutor, running complete his quest – no one has ever website plant identification training courses done it before – and it will require for The Species Recovery Trust. In a ingenuity, stamina and a large dose of world where an interest in botany is luck. becoming increasingly rare, he wants to help put plants back on the map Like Two Owls at Eton and My and is endeavoring to do this through Family and Other Animals, this is a his teaching, research and charming, witty account of a publications. precocious adolescent's obsession with the natural world.

As he battles the vagaries of the British climate in his clapped-out van, feverishly chasing each emerging bloom, Leif Bersweden takes the reader on a remarkable botanical journey. This study of the 52 native species is a fantastic gateway into the compendious world of orchids – one that will open your eyes to the rare hidden delights to be found on hilltops and riverbanks, in woodland, marsh and field.

Page 23 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017 Plant Records 2016 Explanatory notes · The following is a selection from WBS records Apple-of-Peru (Nicandra physalodes) received in 2016. For each species, initials of recorders and names of sites and nearby towns and villages are not repeated. Assume it’s the same one until a new one appears. · Only those new to their 10 km square are included. This is relative to the period since the flora mapping in the 1980s and 1990s for the 1993 Wiltshire Flora and recorded there. · Where a record is also a 1st county or vice-county record, this is stated at the end of the list of records for the species i.e. it doesn’t say which specific record it is. An unqualified statement means that it is the first record ever, as far as is known. Where the word “recent” is inserted, it means that it is the first since the flora mapping began, but had been recorded before this period. · Where a recording square is only partly in Wiltshire, any comment on record status applies only to the part within Wiltshire. · Names are those in the 3rd edition of New Flora of the British Isles (Clive Stace 2010).

Recorders

AA - Anne Appleyard AM - Ailsa McKee BCG - Conservation Group BD - B Davis BHa - B Harvey Few-flowered Garlic (Allium paradoxum) CSh - C Shellswell DG - David Green EM - Ellen McDouall GGo - Graham Goodfellow HCr - H Crouch JBE - J Bennett JBr - Jane Brown JRM - John Moon JWi - J Winder KH - K Hand MBu - Martin Buckland NA - N Adams PD - Paul Darby PLe - Penny Lee PMW - Pat Woodruffe PSk - Paul Skelton RAi - Richard Aisbitt RDu - Rosemary Duckett SFi - Sue Fitzpatrick SJJ - S J Jackson SPi - Sharon Pilkington SS - Simon Smart TC - Tom Cairns U3AK - U3A Kennet Flora and Fauna Group WBS - Wiltshire Botanical Society

Summer 2016 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 24 Abbreviations Chenopodium ficifolium; Fig-leaved Goosefoot; PLe/MBu; Compton Bassett; Starve Knoll & Compton SPTA - Training Area Hill; MBu; ; Vastern; Dunnington CCDA - Cross Country Driver Training Area Farm. NNR - National Nature Reserve Cicerbita macrophylla; Common Blue-sow-thistle; WWT - Wiltshire Wildlife Trust DG; Beanacre; lane sides, several 100 rosettes. SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest Cichorium intybus; Chicory; MBu/SPi; Kemble. Claytonia perfoliata; Springbeauty; PD; Pewsey; 3 in Vc7 polytunnel in school grounds; 1st county record. Cochlearia danica; Danish Scurvygrass; MBu; Minety; Alchemilla mollis; Garden Lady's-mantle; RAi; road island. Axford; tracksides. Conyza floribunda; Bilbao's Fleabane; MBu/SPi; Allium paradoxum; Few-flowered Garlic; RAi; Kemble; station car park; DG; ; Westwells; RAi; Mildenhall; Thicket Copse; wood, bridleway and road. ; Liden; roadsides, 1st vice-county records. Allium triquetrum; Three-cornered Garlic; TC/DG; Cotoneaster bullatus; Hollyberry Cotoneaster; DG; Roundway; Home Covert; single plant in wild garden. Ashley and Middlehill; 1 bush at lane side. Anisantha diandra; Great Brome; RAi; Aldbourne; Cotoneaster horizontalis; Wall Cotoneaster; DG; Sugar Hill; edge of rape field, frequent; TC/DG; Colerne; wall tops. Bromham; arable fields, many 100s; Corsham; arable Cotoneaster microphyllus; Small-leaved Cotoneaster; fields, 100+ plants; DG; Bromham; a few; 1st vice-county DG; Corsham; Westwells; several; Rudloe; Rudloe record. Manor; spoilheap; recent 1st county record. Anisantha tectorum; Drooping Brome; TC/DG; Cyperus longus; Galingale; RAi; Swindon; Liden; Westbrook; arable field; 1st county record. lagoon edge, a few plants. Anthemis austriaca; Austrian Chamomile; DG; Yatton Datura stramonium; Thorn-apple; MBu/SPi; Kemble; Keynell; 4 plants In pavement cracks; 4 plants, birdseed one in maize crop. presumably, along the base of a wall; South Wraxall; 50+ Dryopteris affinis; Scaly Male-fern; RAi; Ramsbury; plants; 1st county records. Oaken coppice; around 10 plants; Southern Wood; Antirrhinum majus; Snapdragon; DG; Yatton Keynell. White's Hill; one in woodland; Love's Copse; roadside Arum italicum; Italian Lords-and-Ladies; RAi; and track verges; Love's Lane; around 10 plants; Oldfield Ramsbury; Oldfield Copse; trackside dumping in Copse; Old Park wood; Pentico Wood; 2; Ogbourne St woodland; TC; Sells Green; ; George; Wilding's Copse. naturalised escape; DG; Yatton Keynell; Colerne; hedge Epilobium roseum; Pale Willowherb; HCr/DG; Ford; 1 bank. by streamside. Aster x salignus; Michaelmas Daisy (A. lanceolatus x Epipactis helleborine; Broad-leaved Helleborine; novi-belgii); MBu; Royal Wootton Bassett, many on two RAi/KH; Oaksey; Oaksey Wood; 2 at edge of track. areas of roadside verge. Foeniculum vulgare; Fennel; DG; North Wraxall. Brachypodium rupestre; Tor-grass; RAi/U3AK; Galium uliginosum; Fen Bedstraw; RAi; Goatacre; wet Heddington; Oliver's Castle; ramparts and grassy slopes; slope. 1st county record. Geranium pusillum; Small-flowered Crane's-bill; Campanula portenschlagiana; Adria Bellflower; DG; MBu; Devizes; Calcote Farm. Colerne; village; weed on walls. Geranium rotundifolium; Round-leaved Crane's-bill; Campanula poscharskyana; Trailing Bellflower; DG; MBu; Royal Wootton Bassett; Whitehill Industrial Colerne; village; weed on walls; RAi; ; village; Estate. wall-pavement angle. Geranium x oxonianum; Druce's Crane's-bill; DG; Carex divulsa subsp. leersii; Many-leaved Sedge; RAi; Bradford-on-Avon; Great Cumberwell landfill site. Aldbourne; Sound Bottom and Sound Copse; several Glebionis segetum; Corn Marigold; DG; Yatton dense clumps by grassy track and in woodland; Bottom Keynell; 1 in pavement crack. Coppice; trackside; Chilton Foliat; Littlecote Park; damp Glyceria notata; Plicate Sweet-grass; RAi; Goatacre; pasture and tracksides; Great Coppice; dense tufts beside wet flush. track. Glyceria x pedicellata; G. fluitans x notata; DG; Carex paniculata; Greater Tussock-sedge; DG; Whaddon. ; Hiperton Marsh. Hedera algeriensis; Algerian Ivy; RAi; Swindon; Old Carex strigosa; Thin-spiked Wood-sedge; DG; Town Railway Path; garden escape. Roundway; Home Covert; large numbers. Hedera hibernica; Atlantic Ivy; MBu/SPi; Kemble; Ceratophyllum demersum; Rigid Hornwort; DG; ground-cover in a copse; Kemble; dominant across much Broughton Gifford; Monkton Farm; Corsham; Westwells. of woodland floor; 1st vice-county record. Chaenomeles japonica; Japanese Quince; WBS; Helleborus foetidus; Stinking Hellebore; MBu; Royal Roundway; Roundway Hill and Oliver's Castle; Wootton Bassett; Dunnington Farm; grass bank. established garden throw-out; 1st county record.

Page 25 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2016 Hieracium umbellatum; Umbellate Hawkweed; MBu; Oxalis stricta; Upright Yellow-sorrel; MBu; Devizes; Brinkworth; Hooker's Gate Farm; dumped stony waste; base of house wall. recent 1st county record. Panicum capillare; Witch-grass; DG; Ashley; 30+ Hypopitys monotropa; Yellow Bird's-nest; HCr/DG; plants in maize field; TC/DG; Lacock; maize field, many Ford; 3 in plantation. thousands; recent 1st vice-county record. Isolepis setacea; Bristle Club-rush; DG; Monkton Papaver somniferum; Opium Poppy; MBu/SPi; Combe; Dundas Aqueduct; wet grassland. Kemble. Juncus effusus var. subglomeratus; Slender Rush; Phalaris aquatica; Bulbous Canary-grass; DG; RAi; ; Freeman’s Marsh. Corsham; Collett's Bottom Woods; relic of Pheasant Juncus tenuis; Slender Rush; RAi; Lockeridge; West crop; HCr/DG; Slaughterford; Weavern; large population Woods; track. along field edge. Kickxia spuria; Round-leaved Fluellen; MBu; side of Pilosella aurantiaca; Fox-and-cubs; AA/PMW; newly constructed road; MBu/RAi/AA/PMW; Royal Hilmarton; RAi/KH; Oaksey; village; 2 locattions; Wootton Bassett; on newly sown roadside bank, MBu; Compton Bassett; roadside verge. sometimes in hundreds; AA/PMW; Hilmarton. Platanthera bifolia; Lesser Butterfly-orchid; GGo; Lactuca virosa; Great Lettuce; DG; North Wraxall; 3-4 Saughterford; ; 1 plant. on laneside, two locations. Polygonum rurivagum; Cornfield Knotgrass; DG; Lepidium campestre; Field Pepperwort; MBu; Royal Box; Fogleigh House; arable land. Wootton Bassett; Dunnington Farm and elsewhere; Polypogon monspeliensis; Annual Beard-grass; DG; frequent at side of newly constructed road. Great Cumberwell landfill site; 150 spikes plus seedlings; Lobularia maritima; Sweet Alison; MBu; Royal Westwells; 1 plant. Wootton Bassett; Vastern; garden escape at edge of Polypogon viridis; Water Bent; TC/DG; Bromham; footpath. many 100s of plants along track. Lysichiton americanus; American Skunk-cabbage; Polystichum aculeatum; Hard Shield-fern; RAi; GGo; Minety; roadside ditch; TC/DG; Roundway; Home Axford; many plants on stream banks. Covert; 7 plants in wild garden. Potamogeton crispus; Curled Pondweed; DG; Rudloe; Malus pumila; Apple; SPi; Oaksey; Lower Moor Farm. Widdenham Farm. Malva neglecta; Dwarf Mallow; RAi; Chilton Foliat; Prunus cerasifera; Cherry Plum; DG; ; South village; flower bed. of Station Road; naturalised in planted hedge. Meconopsis cambrica; Welsh Poppy; RAi; Chiseledon; Prunus domestica subsp. insititia; Damson/Bullace; field gateway. PLe/MBu; Compton Bassett; Starve Knoll and Compton Medicago arabica; Spotted Medick; MBu; Royal Hill; 1st vice-county record. Wootton Bassett; Whitehill Industrial Estate. Puccinellia distans; Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass; SPi; Medicago sativa; Lucerne; MBu/SPi; Kemble. South Marston; ; roundabout. Melissa officinalis; Balm; MBu; Tockenham; Pulmonaria officinalis; Lungwort; RAi; Chilton Foliat; Tockenham Corner; garden throw-out on road verge. Littlecote; chalk pit. Mentha pulegium; Pennyroyal; RAi; Swindon; Liden; Ranunculus aquatilis; Common Water-crowfoot; locally abundant on mown grassy slope beside lagoon; TC/DG; Lacock; River Avon. recent 1st vice-county record. Rosa sherardii; Sherard's Downy-rose; DG; South Mentha spicata; Spear Mint; DG/BHa; Lyneham; The Wraxall; one in a recently planted hedgeline. Strings, field and footpaths. Rosa x scabriuscula; Rosa canina x tomentosa; DG; Mentha x villosa var. alopecuroides; Apple-mint; DG; Corsham; Westwells. Colerne; large colony beside track. Rubus tricolor; Chinese Bramble; RAi; Hungerford; Miscanthus sinensis; Chinese Silver-grass; DG; Charnham Park; industrial estate; 1st county record. Bradford-on-Avon; Great Cumberwell landfill site; Salix babylonica; Weeping Willow; RAi; Hungerford; sizeable clump; 1st county record. 1st county record. Miscanthus x giganteus; Giant Silver-grass (M. Salix x reichardtii; S. caprea x cinerea; DG; Box; sinensis x sacchariflorus); DG; Corsham; Westwells; Fogleigh House; 1 bush in hedgerow; ; crop relic; 1st county record. Slaughterford Road, 2 bushes; Corsham; Corsham Park; Myrrhis odorata; Sweet Cicely; AA/PMW; Hilmarton; edge of lake; RAi; Hungerford; Charnham Park; escape; RAi/KH; Oaksey; Oaksey Wood; one near edge of industrial estate. wood. Salix x smithiana; S. viminalis x caprea; DG/BHa; Nectaroscordum siculum subsp. bulgaricum; DG; Lyneham; by sewage works, several. South Wraxall; 3 on Greenway; 1st county record. Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani; Grey Club-rush; Neottia nidus-avis; Bird's-nest Orchid; RAi; RAi; Ramsbury; near lake. Ludgershall; Great Coppice; 13 spikes under hazel. Securigera varia; Crown Vetch; DG; Bradford-on- Nonea lutea; Yellow Nonea; MBu; Brinkworth; 2 against Avon; Great Cumberwell landfill site; very large wall outside Brinkworth Church; 1st county record. population over a 30m square. Oxalis corniculata; Procumbent Yellow-sorrel; Sedum rupestre; Reflexed Stonecrop; MBu; Devizes; MBu/SPi; Kemble; station; DG; Yatton Keynell. Hopton Industrial Estate; footpath edge.

Summer 2016 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 26 Sedum spurium; Caucasian-stonecrop; DG; North Allium schoenoprasum; Chives; MBu; Devizes; wood, Wraxall; small patch on dumped material by roadside. bridleway and road. Sedum stoloniferum; Lesser Caucasian-stonecrop; DG; Allium triquetrum; Three-cornered Garlic; AA/SFi; Corsham; Westwells; 2 sq. m. on tarmac; 1st county Donhead St Mary; escaping and spreading from planting; record. ; Berry Wood Lane; AA/SFi; garden Senecio viscosus; Sticky Groundsel; MBu/SPi; Kemble; throw-out in layby. station. Amsinckia micrantha; Common Fiddleneck; PD; Setaria viridis; Green Bristle-grass; DG; Hilperton Pewsey; station; several plants adjacent to the platform. Marsh; 40+ along fence; Ashley; one in maize field. Arum italicum; Italian Lords-and-Ladies; SPi; Smyrnium olusatrum; Alexanders; DG; Monkton Westbury; Wellhead Drove; churchyard; AA/SFi/PMW; Farleigh; graveyard. Winterbourne Stoke; garden escape; PMW; Nomansland; Solanum lycopersicum; Tomato; MBu/SPi; Kemble; Lyburn Park, New Forest; naturalised escape; 1st recent station. vice-county record. Solidago gigantea; Early Goldenrod; RAi/KH; Oaksey; Aubrieta deltoidea; Aubretia; AA/SFi; Chilmark; churchyard and field footpaths. escaped on village walls. Sparganium emersum; Unbranched Bur-reed; Bergenia crassifolia; Elephant-ears; AA/SFi; HCr/DG; Ford. Chilmark; naturalised along winterbourne banks; 1st Spartium junceum; Spanish Broom; DG; Bradford-on- county record. Avon; Great Cumberwell landfill site; 1 plant, 3m high; Bromus secalinus; Rye Brome; WBS; Magna; 1st county record. Wylye Down; naturalised along winterbourne banks; SPi Symphoricarpos x chenaultii; Pink Snowberry; DG; & PLe; Warminster; Farm; cornfield weed, Beanacre; Beanacre Manor; planted in woodland edge and plentiful. spreading. Butomus umbellatus; Flowering-rush; SPi; Limpley Symphytum grandiflorum; Creeping Comfrey; RAi; Stoke; River Avon. Ramsbury; Oldfield Copse; dumped in woodland; village; Campanula portenschlagiana; Adria Bellflower; roadside ditch. AA/SFi/PMW; Winterbourne Stoke; escape. Symphytum orientale; White Comfrey; DG; Colerne; Cerastium diffusum; Sea Mouse-ear; PSk; Tilshead; along hedge bank 30+ m; Bradford-on-Avon; Great SPTA W. Cumberwell. Chenopodium ficifolium; Fig-leaved Goosefoot; Tellima grandiflora; Fringecups; TC/DG; Roundway; NA/MBu/SS; Lower Woodford. Home Covert; wild garden by stream. Cicerbita macrophylla; Common Blue-sow-thistle; Trachystemon orientalis; Abraham-Isaac-Jacob; DG; AA/SFi; Chilmark; escape. Ashley and Middlehill; CT/DG; Roundway; Cochlearia danica; Danish Scurvygrass; JRM; Home Covert; wild garden near stream; 1st vice-county Cholderton; locations along A303. record. Conyza sumatrensis; Guernsey Fleabane; PMW; Trifolium hybridum; Alsike Clover; DG/BHa; Whiteparish; unused drive; 1st vice-county record. Lyneham; The Strings, field and footpaths; MBu; Broad Cornus sericea; Red-osier Dogwood; AA/SFi; Town. Trifolium micranthum; Slender Trefoil; RAi; Chilton Wardour;; ; Chilmark; 1st Foliat; churchyard lawn. county record. Ulmus minor; Small-leaved Elm; DG; Slaughterford; Cotoneaster horizontalis; Wall Cotoneaster; AA/SFi; Honeybrook Farm; small copse. Chilmark; walls; PMW; Nomansland; New Forest; walls; Veronica crista-galli; DG; North Wraxall; Doncombe JBr/PD; Pewsey; walls. valley; dumped soil by footpath, three locations, two Crepis biennis; Rough Hawk's-beard; AA/SFi/PMW; single plants and a large population; 1st county record. Winterbourne Stoke; 2 locations. Veronica x lackschewitzii; RAi/U3AK; Hungerford; Crocosmia paniculata; Aunt-Eliza; JRM; Ludgershall; Charnham Park and Freeman’s Marsh; riverbank. Collingbourne Woods; large clump. Vulpia bromoides; Squirreltail Fescue; MBu/SPi; Cyclamen hederifolium; Sowbread; AA/SFi; Berwick Kemble; station. St John. Dryopteris affinis; Scaly Male-fern; JBr/PD; Bagshot. Vc8 Dryopteris borreri; Scaly Male-fern; RAi/SPi; . Agrimonia procera; Fragrant Agrimony; DG; Echinochloa crus-galli; Cockspur; AA/SFi; Ansty; ; 20 spikes. Swallowcliffe. Aira caryophyllea; Silver Hair-grass; DG; Trowbridge; Epilobium roseum; Pale Willowherb; PMW; railway land. Nomansland; New Forest. Allium paradoxum; Few-flowered Garlic; MBu; Erigeron karvinskianus; Mexican Fleabane; AA/SFi; Devizes ; Nine Hills; dense patches and individual plants, Teffont Magna; Donhead St Mary; ; all 3 locations. naturalised on walls; ; ;

Page 27 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2016 both naturalised in churchyards; JBE/SPi; ; Linum bienne; Pale Flax; JGt/SPi; Erlestoke; SPTA: naturalised on walls. New Zealand Farm. Eschscholzia californica; Californian Poppy; AA/SFi; Lithospermum officinale; Common Gromwell; PMW; Swallowcliffe; roadside; 1st vice-county record. Nomansland; New Forest. Euonymus latifolius; Large-leaved Spindle; AA/SFi; Lonicera japonica; Japanese Honeysuckle; RAi/JRM/BCG; Brigmerston; track; 1st county record. Shrewton; frequent seedlings on byway; 1st county record. Lunaria annua; Honesty; JBr; Sharcott; road verges, Euphorbia lathyris; Caper Spurge; AA/SFi; Tisbury; footpaths and arable. MBu; Devizes. Malus pumila; Apple; SPi; Limpley Stoke; River Avon. Foeniculum vulgare; Fennel; JBr; Bottlesford; paths and Malva neglecta; Dwarf Mallow; JBr; Froxfield; roadsides; AA/SFi; Swallowcliffe. roadside, towpath, etc. Fumaria vaillantii; Few-flowered Fumitory; CSh/JWi; Meconopsis cambrica; Welsh Poppy; AA/SFi; Berwick Cholderton; recent1st county record. St John; naturalised in churchyard. Galega officinalis; Goat's-rue; AA/SFi/PMW; Medicago arabica; Spotted Medick; JBr/PD; Pewsey. Whiteparish; AA/SFi/PMW. Medicago sativa subsp. sativa; Lucerne; JBr; Geum x intermedium; G. rivale x urbanum; JBE; Froxfield; roadside, towpath, etc; NC/SHe; ; ; Longleat Estate. Stonehenge Landscape. Helleborus orientalis; Lenten-rose; AA/SFi; Berwick St Mentha x villosa; Apple-mint; AA/SFi; St John; AA/SFi; 1st vice-county record. Mary; Chilmark; byway. Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus; Yellow Day-lily; Muscari armeniacum; Garden Grape-hyacinth; AA/WBS; ; canal; 1st county record. AA/SFi/PMW; Winterbourne Stoke; escape. Hieracium maculatum agg; a hawkweed; AA/SFi; Myosotis sylvatica; Wood Forget-me-not; AA/SFi; Swallowcliffe; churchyard. Orcheston; Shrewton. Hirschfeldia incana; Hoary Mustard; PLe; Mere. Myriophyllum spicatum; Spiked Water-milfoil; SPi; Hyacinthoides hispanica; Spanish Bluebell; JBr; Limpley Stoke; River Avon. Woodborough; footpaths, road verges and arable. Nicandra physalodes; Apple-of-Peru; AA/SFi; Hypericum calycinum; Rose-of-Sharon; AA/SFi; Swallowcliffe; 1 on roadside. Swallowcliffe; naturalised on hedge bank. Nigella damascena; Love-in-a-mist; AA/SFi; Shrewton; Hypericum hircinum; Stinking Tutsan; SPi; Westbury; Chilmark; verge. Seven Perches; 2 bushes on verge. Oenanthe pimpinelloides; Corky-fruited Water- Impatiens capensis; Orange Balsam; SPi; Limpley dropwort; AA/SFi; Chilmark; beside winterbourne. Stoke; Kennet & Avon Canal; JBr; Stibb Green; towpath. Oenothera glazioviana; Large-flowered Evening- Iris laevigata; WBS; West Wellow; West Wellow primrose; JBr; Pewsey; wood edge on industrial estate; Common; introduction on edge of wet woodland; 1st RAi/JRM/BCG; Figheldean; farmyard car park. county record. Omphalodes verna; Blue-eyed-Mary; DG; Semington; Juncus tenuis; Slender Rush; JRM; Ludgershall; alleyway. Collingbourne Woods; lanes and rides, sparse to dense. Oxalis articulata; Pink-sorrel; JBr; Pewsey; Sharcott. Laburnum anagyroides; Laburnum; JBr; Sharcott; road Oxalis corniculata; Procumbent Yellow-sorrel; verges, arable and footpaths. JBr/PD; Pewsey; verges; JBr; Woodborough; road Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum; Gard-en verges, arable and footpaths; AA/SFi; Swallowcliffe. Yellow-archangel; AA/SFi/PMW; Winterbourne Stoke. Oxalis exilis; Least Yellow-sorrel; AA/SFi; Lamium hybridum; Cut-leaved Dead-nettle; JBr; Swallowcliffe; verges; JBE/SPi; Steeple Ashton; verge. Woodborough; road verges, arable and footpaths. Parthenocissus inserta; False Virginia-creeper; Lathyrus latifolius; Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea; JBr; AA/SFi; Teffont Evias; hedgerow; 1st county record. Upavon; Casterley Camp SPTA; fence. Pentaglottis sempervirens; Green Alkanet; Lavandula angustifolia; Garden Lavender; AA/SFi; AA/SFi/PMW; Winterbourne Stoke. Chilmark; seedlings in verge from nearby garden; 1st Pilosella aurantiaca; Fox-and-cubs; JBr/PD; Pewsey; county record. JBr; Woodborough; footpaths, verges and arable. Lemna gibba; Fat Duckweed; SPi; Limpley Stoke; Pilosella x stoloniflora; P. aurantiaca x officinarum; River Avon. SPi; Westbury; single patch on verge. Lemna minuta; Least Duckweed; AA/SFi; Fonthill; Poa compressa; Flattened Meadow-grass; SPi; lakeside. Tidworth; Salisbury Plain SSSI CCDA; trackside. Leonurus cardiaca; Motherwort; JBr; Pewsey; one Polypodium interjectum; Intermediate Polypody; WBS; ; river and damp meadows. plant; recent 1st county record. Polystichum aculeatum; Hard Shield-fern; JBr; Lepidium ruderale; Narrow-leaved Pepperwort; RDu; Pewsey; tracks and verges. ; A350 gutter. Potamogeton pectinatus; Fennel Pondweed; SPi; Leucojum aestivum; Summer Snowflake; DG; Limpley Stoke; River Avon. Bishopstrow; ; river bank. Potentilla x mixta; P. anglica x reptans; SJJ; Leycesteria formosa; Himalayan Honeysuckle; PMW; Common; recent 1st vice-county record. Nomansland; New Forest.

Summer 2016 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 28 Primula x polyantha; False Oxlip (P. veris x vulgaris); Stachys arvensis; Field Woundwort; NA/MBu/SS; PSk; Westbury; SPTA W; 8 flower stems. Lower Woodford. AA/SFi; Donhead St Mary; next to both parents. Symphytum orientale; White Comfrey; AA/SFi; Prunus domestica subsp. insititia; Damson/Bullace; Donhead St Mary; self-sowing on bank. AA/SFi; Ansty. Symphytum tuberosum; Tuberous Comfrey; JBr; Prunus padus; Bird Cherry; DG; Warminster; Sack Pewsey; tracks and verges. Hill; roadside group suckering. Trifolium micranthum; Slender Trefoil; WBS; Pulmonaria officinalis; Lungwort; AA/SFi/PMW; Amesbury; damp meadows; 2 locations. Winterbourne Stoke; escaped in village; Donhead St Triticum aestivum; Bread Wheat; AA/SFi; Swallow- Andrew; escaped on to verge; Sutton Mandeville; cliffe; JBE/SPi; Steeple Ashton; pavement crack. naturalised on verge; Shrewton. Valerianella carinata; Keeled-fruited Cornsalad; Ranunculus trichophyllus; Thread-leaved Water- AA/SFi; Chilmark. crowfoot; AA/SFi; Fonthill; lake side. Verbena bonariensis; Argentinian Vervain; JBE/SPi; Rapistrum rugosum; Bastard Cabbage; AA/SFi; Steeple Ashton; self-sown in pavement cracks; 1st county Swallowcliffe; hedge bank. record. Ribes sanguineum; Flowering Currant; AA/SFi; Vicia sativa subsp. sativa; Common Vetch; JRM; Donhead St Mary; self-seeding. Ludgershall; Collingbourne Woods. Rorippa amphibia; Great Yellow-cress; AA/SFi; Vicia villosa; Fodder Vetch; CSh/JWi; Cholderton; 2 Fonthill; several lakeside locations; DG; Avoncliff; River locations. Avon; 1 large plant. Vinca minor; Lesser Periwinkle; AA/SFi/PMW; Rorippa islandica; Northern Yellow-cress; EM; Upton Winterbourne Stoke. Scudamore; Water Treatment Works; one on verge; recent Vulpia bromoides; Squirreltail Fescue; MBu; Devizes; 1st county record. kerb cracks and parking areas; JBE/SPi; Steeple Ashton; Rosa rubiginosa; Sweet-briar; RAi/BD/AM; Amesbury; plentiful in pavement cracks. grassland and scrub by roadside; WBS; Teffont Magna; Vulpia unilateralis; Mat-grass Fescue; SPi; Tidworth; one in old defunct hedge; AA/SFi; Fonthill; Abbey Salisbury Plain SSSI; lots at edge of track Woods; roadside. and in barish ground; PDS/KT/PGa; Tidworth; Rosa x scabriuscula; Rosa canina x tomentosa; SPTA:CCDA; barish ground; 1st county record. JBE/SPi; The Strand; Semington Brook; old hedge. Sagina filicaulis; Upright Pearlwort; MBu; Maiden Vc 12 Bradley; JBE/SPi; Steeple Ashton. Salix purpurea; Purple Willow; AA/SFi; Semley; 2 Calystegia pulchra; Hairy Bindweed; JRM; Tidworth; locations. south of Station Road. Salix x calodendron; S. caprea x cinerea x viminalis; Cicerbita macrophylla; Common Blue-sow-thistle; AA/SFi; Semley; 2 locations; Wardour; Savage Bridge; JRM; Tidworth; south of Station Road. Donhead St Andrew. Cornus alba; White Dogwood; JRM; Tidworth; south Salix x reichardtii; S. caprea x cinerea; JRM; of Station Road; waste ground; 1st county record. Collingbourne Ducis; SPTA(E) Snail Down; by tracks. Epilobium lanceolatum; Spear-leaved Willowherb; Sambucus ebulus; Dwarf Elder; AA/SFi; Codford St JRM; Tidworth; South of Home Farm. Mary; 14 stems on verge. Helichrysum italicum; Curry-plant; JRM; Tidworth; Sedum album; White Stonecrop; AA/SFi; Shrewton. south of Station Road; waste ground; 1st county record. Sedum forsterianum; Rock Stonecrop; AA/SFi; Teffont Oenothera biennis; Common Evening-primrose; JRM; Magna; naturalised on wall; 1st vice-county record. Salisbury; South of Clarendon Hill. Senecio ovatus; Wood Ragwort; JRM; Tidworth; CCDA Prunus cerasifera; Cherry Plum; JRM; Tidworth; South; about 300 plants beside track and in woods, south of Station Road; both normal and red forms. apparently spreading; 1st county record. Rumex pulcher; Fiddle Dock; JRM; Tidworth; Home Senecio vernalis; Eastern Groundsel; DG; Semington; Farm area. one on roundabout; 1st county record. Salix alba; White Willow; JRM; Tidworth. Setaria pumila; Yellow Bristle-grass; PMW; Solanum lycopersicum; Tomato; JRM; Tidworth Home Nomansland; Lyburn Park, New Forest; sweetcorn field Farm area; abandoned farm yard; 1st vice-county record. gateway. Weigela florida; Weigelia; JRM; Tidworth; 2 locations Silybum marianum; Milk Thistle; AA/SFi; Ludwell; on waste ground; 1st county record. escape on to hedge bank; Chilmark; Teffont Magna; wall bases. Note Sorbus torminalis; Wild Service-tree; JBr; Woodborough. The range of habitats in which plants occur never ceases Spirodela polyrhiza; Greater Duckweed; SPi; Limpley to surprise. Computer buffs will have been particularly Stoke; River Avon; DG; Monkton Combe; Dundas interested to read that Conyza sumatrensis was recorded Aqueduct; River Avon. in an unused drive. Compiled by John Presland

Page 29 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2016 under-worked parts of the county. In William Catchfly Silene armeria and County Recorder’s June two groups visited one of the Maltese-cross Silene chalcedonica. most remote parts of the county, near Review 2017 and Tidcombe on the Elsewhere in Wiltshire, other new Wiltshire/Hampshire border whilst in records included: Sharon Pilkington offers a round-up of August several recording parties set botanical recording activity in out from Mere. Both meetings Betula celtiberica Wiltshire in 2017. generated lots of valuable records for Furzley Common: edge of woodland. these areas and much fun was had Wiltshire Botanical Society, conf. Recording along the way. A positive side-effect Sharon Pilkington. of such meetings is that less With only three recording seasons left experienced botanists gain improved Cape-gooseberry Physalis peruviana to collect data for the BSBI Atlas identification and confidence in Royal Wootton Bassett: single plant Updating Project (also known, less recording species which they can then growing on waste ground adjacent to tongue-twistingly as Atlas 2020) apply to their own recording. new house builds. Martin Buckland. Wiltshire’s most active botanical recorders/WBS members continued to New county/vice-county records Christmas-rose Helleborus niger target their efforts in parts of the Two records. : county that had received little attention Such high levels of recording for Atlas several escapes. Anne Appleyard, Sue since 2000. At last, the gaps are 2020 not surprisingly generated many Fitzpatrick, Irene Lucas and Vanessa getting smaller and coverage of the new county or vice-county records, the Williams. county has increased greatly although vast majority of these being Burton: dumped soil in woodland. still needs more effort naturalised introductions or casuals Dave Green. – as ever. rather than genuine natives. Dave Green (on occasion with Helena Creeping Thistle x Marsh Thistle Sue Fitzpatrick returned to full Crouch) mined a rich seam of these at Cirsium x celakovskianum recording activity after recovering Great Cumberwell land-fill site, near : Pat Woodruffe. from her hip surgery and immediately Bradford-on-Avon. His finds included: expanded her efforts into new areas. Marsh-mallow Althaea hirsuta, French Rocket Sisymbrium Dave Green really got into the swing Prince’s-feather Amaranthus erysimoides of things in the NW of the county and hypochondriacus, Common Morning- Malmesbury: pavement-wall angle. Ness Williams returned to offer a glory Ipomoea purpurea, Royal About 6 plants. Sharon Pilkington, helping hand with other underworked Mallow Malva trimestris, White WBS meeting. southern areas. Ness was involved Mignonette Reseda alba, Silver with the Wiltshire Flora Mapping Ragwort Senecio cinerea, Sweet- Project three decades ago and is a most competent botanist so her return was most welcome. Very sadly, Tom Cairns, who had been a very enthusiastic and active recorder in recent years in the area, passed away after being diagnosed with cancer. I’m sure he’d have been pleased to learn that his recording work in ST96 will be continued in 2018 by Jasmine Walters.

Between us, Richard Aisbitt and I received 62,771 botanical records with a 2017 date. The majority were generated by the various recorders engaged in Atlas 2020 along with others entered in Living Record, iRecord and incidental records and reports received by the Wiltshire & Swindon Biological Records Centre. The records centre also sent a most welcome batch of 40,000+ plus records dating back a number of years.

Two recording meetings were held by the WBS in 2017 to specifically target

Summer 2017 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 30 Golden Alison Aurinia saxatilis pasture. Darrell Harrison, conf. Sharon striped with pink (apparently they can Devizes: growing in cracks in roadside Pilkington. also be all pink though I’ve not yet wall. Martin Buckland. encountered this form) and, like Salix gmelinii C. silvatica, have inflated, pouch-like Hairy Michaelmas-daisy Aster novae- Hilperton Marsh: several trees in bracts that hide the sepals. The leaves anglicae ditch-line and bank. 4-5 m height, are a peculiar shape, with the lower Ashley Wood: in a dumped industrial coppiced in the past. Dave Green. part being more parallel-side than the area. Dave Green. tapering leaves of C. silvatica. Small Alison Alyssum alyssoides C. silvatica is usually white-flowered Intermediate Periwinkle Vinca Allington: escaped in village. Anne but can also be pink-striped and one of difformis Appleyard and Sue Fitzpatrick. the important diagnostic characters of Seend Cleeve: well-established and C. pulchra is the presence of spreading on verge of track near Taraxacum pulchrifolium appressed hairs on the pedicels (flower houses. Sharon Pilkington. Downton: on verge. David Leadbetter, stalks). These are often very sparse conf. A.J. Richards. and confined to the bottom or top of Knotted Crane’s-bill Geranium the pedicel where they are usually nodosum Species Focus: Hairy Bindweed visible only with a hand-lens. : garden escape into Calystegia pulchra local footway. Martin Buckland. Since becoming familiar with this Every year certain plants come to my plant, I, and a few other recorders New Zealand Wind-grass attention as having been overlooked or have found it in a number of other Anemanthele lessoniana misidentified. Some of these are places. It seems to be particularly Limpley Stoke and Bradford on Avon: genuine new colonists of our county. frequent along the Wiltshire A303 Dave Green and Helena Crouch. In 2017 this honour is bestowed on where perhaps its seeds are dispersed Bittlesea Farm: Dave Green. Hairy Bindweed Calystegia pulchra, a by vehicles but it’s worth hunting for large and showy herbaceous climber. in August and September when it is at Orange-peel Clematis Clematis its most showy in roadside hedges and tangutica I first came across this introduced waysides elsewhere. I’m sure there’s Great Cheverell: naturalised in species romping vigorously over much more of it to be found. Buddleja scrub on railway nettles and scrub by a layby in embankment. Sharon Pilkington. Amesbury earlier this year. Then I found it at the side of the A303 near Pale Corydalis Pseudofumaria alba Stonehenge, and again in two different : 8 plants on face of high Amesbury hedgerows. I was struck by stone wall by Brewery Street car-park. the thought that a plant that I may Richard Aisbitt. have been dismissing as Large Bindweed C. silvatica, an introduced Pasta Wheat Triticum durum species and one that is widespread Tidcombe: volunteers on both across Wiltshire might sometimes bridleway verges. Anne Appleyard have been this species instead. and Sue Fitzpatrick. What attracted me to the plant was the Royal Mallow Malva trimestris size and colour of its flowers, which : single large plant in are at least the same diameter as C. silvatica. The flowers are robustly

Subscriptions Subscriptions became due in January; please get your payment to Sue Fitzpatrick. The rates are:

Single member £15.00 Family membership £20.00

Sue’s address: Dr Sue Fitzpatrick, 4 Wyndham Park, Wyndham Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3BA Phone and email: 01722 410807, [email protected] You can set up a standing order: details from Sue. We hope that you will renew and take part in the society’s activities.

You can download this newsletter (and other recent newsletters) in colour from www.wiltsbotsoc.co.uk

Page 31 Wiltshire Botanical Society Summer 2017