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Home , Clathrus ruber, History of botany

The SLBI was founded in 1910 by A O Hume The SLBI Gazette www.slbi.org.uk Series 2 no. 23 January 2016 South London Botanical Institute, 323 Norwood Road, London SE24 9AQTel/Fax 020 8674 5787 E mail [email protected] ; @SLBotanicalInst; Registered Charity 214251, South London Botanical Institute

Plant Hunting Along replaced by a mosque, elegant arcades Greentours had chosen an optimum and formal gardens. Today the town time to visit the region. As we made The Eastern Border has become notorious as a departure our way through the valleys some of Of Turkey (Talk Given To place for people crossing the border the fields were colourful with scarlet The SLBI) into Syria to join the jihadi terrorists. poppies. Although such scenes are familiar, the poppies were different We then travelled a few miles further My husband John and I were fortunate from those we have seen in Kent. south to another ancient town called to have made two visits to eastern Papaver persicum with salmon flowers Harran which largely in ruins. It has a Turkey. This largely mountainous was very choice. Although we saw few large number of traditional adobe region borders on Syria, Iraq, Iran, orchids, we found some satisfyingly ‘beehive houses’ or ‘trulli’, which are Armenia and . There was large meadows full of different forms domed clay buildings constructed political unrest in the area during our of Dactylorhiza umbrosa. Among them without . Romans, Arabs and visit and we were warned to keep our we found a variety of our common Mongols have ruled the city in times heads below the skyline while spotted orchid called Dactylorhiza past. It was formerly a holy place of climbing the rocky mountainsides in fuchsii var. rhodochila. Its name major significance and was mentioned search of flowers. Sometimes we could indicates that it has red . The in Genesis, where there is a see Kurdish tanks below us in the flowers have a distinctive cerise lip. description of Abraham’s journey to valleys. We were fortunate to have that When this variety turned up on the Promised Land. window of opportunity to visit an area Downe Bank in 2012 I recognised it immediately, although it had green noted for its spring flowering And Terah took Abram and his son, and because terrorist activity has increased leaves. The Downe Bank specimen Lot the son of Hara his son’s son, and Sarai was a single and it was still significantly since then. Earlier this his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; year Britons were warned against non- producing flowers in June this year. and they went forth with them fom Ur of Possibly its were brought onto essential travel in the region due to the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; terrorist activity. the nature reserve on feet or and they came unto Harran and dwelt machinery because it also occurs at there. On our first visit we toured cultural sites in south-eastern Turkey. Then in 2007 we joined a group led by Greentours during the last week in May and the first week in June, which took us further north into the region surrounding Lake Van and Mount Ararat.

I began my lecture with photos of Sanliurfa, or Urfa, a town that is noted for its biblical associations. In ancient times it was known as Edessa. History tells us that Abraham’s body was burnt on a funeral pyre here. The wind blew his ashes into a sacred pool, where they turned into golden carp. The site of the early Christian church has been Mount Ararat famed by a row of Iris iberica : Photograph by John and Irene Palmer Amongst other distinctive that they appeared to be dressed like caught our eye, the most familiar of crusaders. There was also a delightful these was Pedicularis caucasica, a large representation of Jonah being yellow-flowered lousewort. It swallowed by a whale. There are belonged formerly to the several of these fine churches in the Scrophulariaceae and is now a member region that have been spared because of the broomrape family. In addition they were built in isolated positions. to this plant we were very lucky to Elsewhere we noticed stones used in find the scarlet flowered Phelypaea some of the buildings in the villages tournefortii another member of the we visited had Christian symbols broomrape family. This rarity was indicating they had been removed growing beside the magnificent from former churches. Muradiye waterfall. Lagotis stolonifera (Scrophulariaceae) a low plant with But it was the plants with bulbs, bluebell-like leaves was another choice tubers or that were the main species. Its blue flowers had focus of our visit. As we moved from that reminded me of Australian one rocky mountainside near the Stylidium spp. The pink pods of snowline to another, the species were Leontice leontopetalum gave no clue to constantly changing. We found pink the family to which this plant (Tulipa humilis) on one slope and belonged. When it is in flowers its red tulips (Tulipa julia) elsewhere. small yellow flowers give the game Yellow celandines and thousands of Puschkinia sciloides : Photograph by John away because they can be recognised clustered pale blue flower spikes of and Irene Palmer immediately as a member of the Puschkinia sciloides carpeted another Berberis family. According to Rodney slope. The large mauve-pink flowers of the Kent Wildlife Trust’s Sevenoaks Burton, this plant very deeply in Merendera kurdica set off by fleshy Reserve. stony soil and needs occasional bronze leaves were particularly handsome. The list grew daily as we Turkey has a very diverse flora but disturbance. It was much admired but perhaps is unsuitable for the SLBI added white Ornithogalum narbonense, during our visit it was noticeable that blue Belevalia paradoxa and blue often a limited number of species garden. Adonis wolgonensis was another treasure. We had to climb a very steep Ixiolirion tataricum. Living up to their dominated the lowland meadows and name, we found spectacular golden we found a similar situation at higher hillside to photograph its large flower clumps that reminded me of a robust spikes of Eremurus spectabilis in a altitude, where red tulips might be Muslim cemetery. found on one rocky slope and pink on winter aconite. We had seen its scarlet another. There were striking displays relative Adonis aestivalis, at lower altitude. Near the snow line some of Aside from these plants, opinions in the meadows of pale mauve were divided as to whether it was Gladiolus kotschyanus and deep purple the highlights were a Pasque flower Gladiolus atroviolaceous in the Pulsatila albana and rock jasmine meadows, while one was dominated by Androsace vilosa, a tiny gem with the pink flowers of Primula auriculata. small white flowers on silvery cushions that is valued by alpine As keen photographers we were gardeners. mostly interested in photographing some of the more attractive and We visited three historic sites unusual flowers. Two members of the during the tour that were Boraginaceae were particularly particularly impressive. The ruined striking. The pink flowers of Rindera Ishak Pasha Palace stood high on a lanata emerged from a mass of silvery rocky plateau. It once guarded the hairs, while the backlit clusters of ancient Silk Route from . of Solenanthus circinnatus made Hosap Castle at Van was built on it very attractive. A handsome thistle the side of a steep cliff. Now ruined Gundelia tournefortii also demanded it was hard to imagine its former our attention. The creamy white magnificence. Remarkably, the flowers of a henbane, Hyoscyamus albus carved exterior of an Armenian were familiar but we also found church on Akdamar Island in Lake another species with large clusters of Van was intact but one fears for its pinkish mauve flowers with a future in view of the desecration of reticulated pattern on the petals. ancient sites being carried out in Finding Rosa foetida, the parent of Syria by Islamic State. Biblical some of our yellow roses, was another carvings on the exterior walls thrill. Apparently some consider that showed Mary and Jesus and David it has an unpleasant smell that is with his sling standing beside similar to boiled linseed oil. Goliath. To my way of thinking Iris iberica : Photograph by John and Irene Palmer

2 worth going to the region simply to the nation’s eventual recovery but Letta told us the word Herb has no see the great range of fritillaries or the would be needed for the development real scientific basis – it usually includes equally magnificent range of irises. of crops suitable for arid regions in the more than just herbaceous (non Some of the fritillaries had relatively future. woody) plants, as the and other small flowers, such as the yellow parts of some - elder (Sambucus Staff at the centre did everything nigra), - witch hazel (Hamamelis Fritilaria minima and red and purple F. possible to take the seeds over the pinardii and F. zagrica. Others, such as sp.) and other kinds of plants are often border. Some were taken to Turkey, included. Herbs also include more F. crassifolia had more globular flower some to the Lebanon and some to the heads and were similar in character to than just useful and edible or Svalbard Vault in Norway. At one medicinal plants, as some are our native species, except here they point the area around the genebank were on a mountainside and not in a definitely for ornamental or aesthetic was controlled by two competing use. meadow. For me it was the iris family armed groups and there were that stole the show. Yellow Iris kidnappings. The last shipment of She covered the history of herbalists caucasica, bronze Iris sari, purple Iris Syrian seeds arrived in Svalbard in barnumae and mauve and purple Iris and writings extensively and March 2014, by which time many of how ideas have changed over the paradoxa, one of the most sought-after the staff had relocated. The was growing in the furrows of an centuries. We looked at various very Norwegian genebank is beyond the poisonous plants like deadly arable field. Most sublime of all was Arctic Circle. It is considered to be Iris iberica, with its creamy white nightshade (Atropa beladonna) and the “backup to the backup” and is foxglove (Digitalis), which are still used standards and contrasting brown falls. designed to come to the rescue in case Late one afternoon as our party were medicinally, and learned that rabbits of worldwide catastrophic crop and pigs can ingest deadly nightshade returning to our hotel I spotted some failures. of these plants across the road. I with no ill effects. found a spot where, if I lay on my Today 99.9 percent of the collection is The part of the day most enjoyed by stomach, I could get a good view of stored outside Syria. The institution the students was looking a selected snow-capped Mount Ararat framed by where Amri worked was awarded the number of SLBI samples in a row of Iris iberica and avoid two Innovation Prize for great detail, including the notations telegraph poles. The photograph rescuing and preserving the genebank. and what they mean (sometimes not at provided the perfect ending to my talk The story doesn’t end here because it all obvious). We noted that many of because it brought the and the has opened the eyes of scientists to the names have changed since the ancient history of the area together. the need for ensuring these collections early samples were laid down. We also Not only did it show this lovely Iris in are viable, especially because some of observed the difference between a grand setting but Mount Ararat itself the seed samples are quite small. It meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and is reputed to be the place where Noah was clear it wasn’t wise to put all their dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris) and landed with his ark after the flood. seeds in one centre in a country. examined the medicinal and other Currently there are 11 international uses of burdock (Arctium lappa), Irene Palmer genebanks which preserve more than evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) 700,000 varieties of the world’s 17 and arnica (Arnica montana), to name most important crops. Hand in hand Saving The Syrian but a few. with this resource, work is going ahead Seedbank to grow samples of ancient varieties of seeds and those that are vital food My lecture touched on the increasing sources, to check their viability and violence along Turkey’s border with distribute them more widely. Syria. We are all too familiar with activities of the Islamic State who are Irene Palmer responsible for demolishing some of Syria’s most famous archaeological sites. One wise man immediately thought about seeds when violence broke out. Herbs, History and Although this happened initially in the south in 2011, Ahmed Amri realised it Identification - Day wouldn’t take long to spread. He was School responsible for a very valuable resource, Atropa beladonna and Digitalis purpurea some 20,000 samples of seeds that were Letta Jones’ one-day herb course on 26 – SLBI Herbarium specimens : Photograph sitting in cold storage just south of August at the Institute was sparsely by Caroline Pankhurst Aleppo. He knew it wouldn’t take long attended, possibly because of the heavy for them to be rendered useless, rain and transport problems, but those although the facility had backup who made it enjoyed a fact-filled day, generators. Although many seeds had though forays out to the garden were Veronica Hammerstone already been distributed to banks curtailed by the downpours. in other countries, a significant number remained. These not only held the key to

3 Due to the high numbers during these The activity was well received, and two activities, the children’s activities appreciated by parents who were have now been made bookable events. pleased to see children creating pieces of art work entirely made of natural Furthermore, the SLBI offered for the material. first time a ‘Botanical Bake Off’, Children’s education thanks to the great idea and initiative The new school programmes are in 2015, a Botanical Bake of one of our events and education place and available for schools to view volunteers, Emily Gait. Just 4 days on the website. Whilst we have been Of and Victorian after the ‘Great British Bake Off’ TV relatively quiet during autumn in Costumes! series had come to a close, this event regards to school visits, we have already attracted a good number of keen local received a good number of new bakers of all ages creating a range of bookings for the spring and summer The last two children’s holiday arts terms 2016. Each school class who is and crafts activities have seen a large truly stunning and tasty cakes and pastries. In true ‘Bake Off’ style, the visiting us is now receiving a ‘SLBI increase in numbers. Many visitors are treasure box’ in which to place the art work and other pieces children create during their 2 hour sessions at the SLBI. It also includes information about our holiday activities on offer to be distributed at their school.

More children’s holiday activities, school visits and all age events are in the planning, including an event to mark the end of the HLF project, which will be a Victorian costume event, with its focus on Victorian fancy Little miniature gardeners hard at work dress, Victorian food, children’s games,

but with some beautiful results now coming on a regular basis, and we start recognising and getting to know more local children and their carers. creations were judged by design and In particular the August summer taste by visitors who had not entered holiday saw 32 keen children engaging into the competition. in a miniature garden activity. The feedback from parents and children It was a very close call, as we saw some A very creative and tasty carrot cake version…. was great, and some parents are telling amazing baking and decoration skills, and tarts in a vasculum us that their children are still ranging from a uniquely designed managing to maintain and look after carrot cake to a beautifully floral language of flowers, talk about the their mini gardens, thus encouraging decorated Victorian sponge and tasty history of botany and much more. The children to look after and care for apple tarts, presented in a vasculum day will be filled with a variety of drop their plants. and many more. in sessions, to keep adults and children alike entertained throughout a Sunday An equally high turnout was achieved The year finished on a festive note, afternoon – put Sunday 28 February in for the October half-term activity with children making willow stars and your diaries now. when children got busy making seed wreaths in the run up to Christmas. garlands. Article and photographs are by Helga Krauss

4 fungal hotspots. Identification The assembled Workshops specimens graphically Autumn 2015 demonstrate the great On a scale from one to five, with one diversity of being dismal and five being form, exceptional, this year’s fungal season reproductive has been about three and a half. The and dispersal season got off to a flying start at the mechanisms, end of August with large numbers of colour and macromycetes (larger fungi) in the aesthetic with Russula and Lactarius appeal that showing particularly well. This lasted exists within Geofey Kibby helps with fungal identification, Photograph Bob Francis into the second week of September; at the world of this point it looked like a really good fungi. Some season was underway. However the jet fungi are easily identified while some The SLBI has been fortunate to stream shifted and we had little rain require microscopic examination of inherit a complete set of Field for about 5 or 6 weeks. This drier or even DNA analysis to Mycologist journals which, together period allowed logs and dead wood to achieve a finite identity. Constant with its impressive collection of dry out which had a deleterious effect revision of the of certain mycological text books and stock of on forest fungi such as brackets and groups contrive to confuse even the makes it an ideal venue to crusts which shut down and never experts and make sure that text books host mycological events - it is good to really got going again. This was are out of date soon after they are see all these facilities used to the full strange as the end of autumn and early published. and the room was buzzing with winter was both mild and wet. The activity - discussion, dissection and grassland fungi such as waxcaps Asked to proffer fungal highlights of microscopic examination. however responded very well to these the course the following were condition and there was still plenty to mentioned – Calocybe ionedes the violet The course ended with a slide show of find till the end of November. domecap, a rare but colourful fungus participants’ photographs, a buffet and associated with larch and chalky soil; recollections of the highlights of the I am pleased to say that this year’s Cortinarius violaceous the violet workshop sessions. Suggestions for drop in sessions of the Fungal webcap, a stunning violet mushroom next year’s fungal workshops included Identification Workshop, started last from Mereworth Woods, one of only more emphasis on recording, year, was a continuing success. four sites in Kent where this species is especially on local sites; looking for Sessions started on 6th October and found; Psathyrela pygmaea, a small rare species on sites with ancient continued every Tuesday until 31st brittlestem found on decaying wood records but with no recent records and November. After a slow beginning and a possible Mycena rosela, a small some field trips to augment the attendance picked up ranging from 1 bonnet found in grassland. workshops. to 15 participants with most evenings hosting ten or so budding mycologists. Bob Francis We were again fortunate to have Fabrice Boltho driving the event, assisted by Jo Dubiel with Mario Tortelli and on one occasion Geoffrey Kibby providing expert advice on fungal identification. With this array of supervisory talent on hand it was possible to cater for all levels of ability; participants came from all backgrounds – gardeners, cooks, botanists and photographers. Some like myself struggle to prevent mycological knowledge going in one ear and escaping from the other during the ‘off season’. The most impressive aspect of these sessions is the comprehensive array of fungi often brought in from local sites Cortinarius violaceus (Violet webcap) found in Mereworth Woods, Kent : which do not spring to mind as being Photograph Mario Torteli

5 SLBI visits the , October 2015

The residential field week in 2015 was to the Isle of Wight, off the coast and for many of the group it was a first visit and, I suspect, will not be their last. We were based at the YMCA near Shanklin (thanks to John Hewitt for suggesting it) so the programme was concentrated in the south-east of the island where our accommodation was well-placed on the coast path and on bus routes to explore further afield. SLBI group photograph at YMCA, Shanklin, another former hospital. The first day we descended the zigzag path down the cliff behind our hostel, botanising on the way, and followed Kenfig National Nature Reserve near smaller museum above the Library in the lower promenade to Sandown Margam in the SLBI visit of May Sandown. Wealden Beds of the Lower studying the plants colonising the 2013. Horsetails are related to Greensand (up to 140 million years Lake Cliffs. These were exposures of and both have alternating generations ago) occur as red cliffs north of ferruginous (-rich) sands from the of (prothallus producing Sandown Bay and, more extensively, Lower Greensand series with areas of the gametes) and (green along the chine coast in the south- bare sand following erosion and damp fronds or cones producing spores) and west of the island from Brook towards seepage areas caused by iron minerals there was interest in this (see SLBI Blackgang. This is a very unstable being deposited and impeding the Gazette No 18 Aug 2013 p7 for detail of stretch of coast with frequent downward drainage of water. This horsetail life cycle). Wet seepages on landslips that uncover dinosaur and offered interesting habitats for plants the cliff face were indicated by other fossil plant remains including casts of and their adaptations to surviving the marsh plants such as common reed footprints, and at low spring tides challenges and opportunities of (Phragmites australis), hemp agrimony series of dinosaur footprints and eroding cliff face. Over 50 species of (Eupatoria cannabinum), smooth and trunks of a fossil pine forest at vascular plants were recorded here, toad rushes (Juncus effusus and J. Atherfield Point. Pieces of fossil wood together with many garden plants bufonius). get washed up on the shore. The (herbaceous and shrubby) that had Wealden and Lower Greensand been delivered to the cliff base by The most notable plant on the Lake sedimentary rocks are all of landslips from gardens bordering the Cliffs was the royal (Osmunda Cretaceous age from 140 million years cliff (and steadily getting shorter with regalis) and this too was associated ago. Apart from the original designer time and erosion!). The damp areas with wet seepages. It is a rare native displays at Dinosaur Isle there were along the zigzag produced spectacular fern but being much favoured by many panels by the geologists of the stands of the great horsetail (Equisetum gardeners for water gardens was University of Portsmouth reporting telmateia) with its green brush-like decimated on the island by fern results of their recent research on the up to 4ft in height and dealers long ago. Today it still occurs, island. A former boating lake by conspicuous pale sections of stems mostly in the southern half of the Isle Dinosaur Isle has been made into a contrasting with the narrow brown of Wight: The of the Isle of Wight wildlife lake giving further wetland toothed sheath between the whorls. (*Pope et. al. 2003) shows eight habitat and also sea rocket (Cakile When I did a reconnaissance visit in modern tetrad records (1987-2002) maritima) in flower growing on some April, the green shoots were only just but also 16 old records (1800-1986) not beach sand blown in, a habitat to be emerging, but more conspicuous then confirmed since. Victorian botanists explored on another occasion. were the shorter, pale cream shoots found it to be “not uncommon” on the Woodchip on beds with sea with a terminal cone that produces island in marshes, carr woodlands and buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) spores. The cones had withered away wet cliffs up to 1870, but by 1913 it was yielded a number of fungi: the large by autumn. Horsetails had been a greatly in decline. The current mushroom Agaricus macrospora, wood feature of the SLBI field visit to stronghold is wet seepages on the blewit (Lepista nuda) violet in colour, a Margam Park (see SLBI Gazette No 18 inaccessible faces of the Lake Cliffs poisonous small parasol (Lepiota sp.) Aug 2013 p7 ) but we did not see the (SZ/5983) where I counted over 30 and the coral fungus (Ramaria stricta). great horsetail there. The two plants in several patches on the horsetails that bear the cones on Sunday morning but they did not The second day was spent at Shanklin separate, non-green shoots in spring reach full potential size. Chine, a deep ravine with waterfalls and the green “barren” shoots later, are and much greenery that has been open At Sandown we visited Dinosaur Isle, the great horsetail and the all-too- to the public since 1817, and has always a dinosaur museum/attraction that familiar field horsetail (E. arvense). We been a popular tourist attraction. opened in 2001 to replace the much did see the cones of the latter at “Chine” is a local word for a deep

6 ravine formed by water erosion prothallus, the next stage in the life is a good description and illustration in through soft sandstone and Chines are cycle of . Also * Cope and Gary 2009 distinctive features of the southern characteristic of damp, shaded, base- coast of the Isle of Wight. At Shanklin enriched seepages is the opposite- there is a 105 ft drop to the shore: it is leaved golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium damp, shaded and well wooded with oppositifolium) that has erect hairs on sheets of thalloid liverworts growing its leaves but is not spectacular in on the wet rock. Closest to the autumn. The best time to see it is in stream, splash from waterfalls and early spring when the -less seepages was our largest species, the flowers are bright yellow-green from great scented liverwort (Conocephalum the ripe anthers shedding yellow conicum) with its leafless thallus and fresh surrounding . marked into hexagons and a pimple or Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) was found breathing pore in the centre of each, in this wet wooded habitat recognised good to see under a x10 hand lens. by smooth leaves and stem and red Another feature is the pungent stem and wide bases to the disinfectant-like smell from oil bodies ( stalk). In the Heritage Centre Red cage ( ruber) on woodchip at when the liverwort is crushed. Also in there was an added bonus of an art Ventnor Botanical Gardens: Photograph June great abundance on the wet sides of exhibition on the Isle of Wight with Chatfield the chine and forming projecting tiers works by Turner and William Daniels. rather than flat plates is the endive liverwort (Pelia endiviifolia). As we Sunday afternoon was spent exploring Colin Pope, senior author of The Isle of were visiting in autumn it was showing Fattening Marsh, a field of the open Wight Flora and IOW County Ecologist the frilly and divided ends to thalli access RSPB Brading Marsh between (now retired) took us around the that are typical of its winter growth Sandown and Ryde, where we met Ventnor showing us a and separate it from the overleaf pellia stands of marsh horsetail in the wet wealth of plants with information on (P. epiphyla) that is on more acid rock. meadows with cones at the tips of the them that added greatly to our visit. Both these thalloid liverworts in green shoots in this species as well as The Botanical Gardens had their origin Shanklin Chine indicate a somewhat other wetland plants at the sides of in the sheltered landscaped grounds of base-enriched substratum. Other the water channels. a former hospital that was demolished smaller were also found. in the 1960s. The warm microclimate The guide book to the chine gives a The final day was a visit to Ventnor allows the outdoor cultivation of many total of 150 vascular plants and 50 and the Botanical Gardens. Some of us tropical plants normally grown only in bryophytes so far recorded. explored the cascade gardens for greenhouses. It does have a greenhouse bryophytes and also the sunny wall where the giant water lily (Victoria regia) Soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) below the Winter Garden where we was growing and flowering. Themed was both abundant and large in this had some good sightings of wall lizard: geographical sections gave a grove of chine and also bore spores on the this has been known from walls in ferns and these were propagating backs of its fronds. Great and field Ventnor since the late nineteenth from spores – we saw several sporelings horsetails were also present. The wet century and the need for crevices left emerging from prothalli. The finale was habitat is suitable for the external as retreats is respected. DNA analysis being shown a patch of red cage fungus fertilisation by a swimming male from a detached tail has shown the (Clathrus ruber) growing from a bed of gamete and growth of a succulent lizards to be introductions from Italy, woodchip mulch. This is definitely a long naturalised on the Island. As they place to return to. are introductions they are not protected by wildlife law. Colourful Websites of Shanklin Chine and red valerian (Centranthus ruber) utilised Ventnor Botanical Garden give further some of the crevices and also provided information and also the leaflet on shelter for the lizards. The base of the Shanklin Chine nature trail. Botany on wall at the Winter Garden was dry and the Isle of Wight will be the subject of inhospitable, but there established was an evening talk at SLBI on Friday *12th a grass in flower. This turned out to be February 2016 and we will discuss the Water Bent (Polypogon viridis) a potential of another SLBI visit when Mediterranean introduction that has different locations can be explored. been naturalised in the Channel Islands for a century. Later *In SLBI Library investigation found that this grass is *Cope, T & Gray A, 2009. Grasses of the expanding rapidly and is now a common street weed in Gosport, British Isles. BSBI, SLBI Hampshire (John Norton pers. comm.) *Pope, C, Snow, L and Allen, D, 2003. and has also been found in London on The Isle of Wight Flora, The Dovecote an LNHS field meeting reported and Press, . illustrated in London SLBI in Shanklin Chine, Society Newsletter, August 2015. There June Chatfield Photograph June Chatfield 7 Book Reviews Although described by the publisher ordinated movement and able to feed as a 'gift book' – presumably a book on bacteria and dead organic material. Max Adams, The Wisdom of bought to be given away – many These plasmodial masses are Trees. London: Head of Zeus, buyers will probably want to keep sometimes found on grass in lawns their copies rather than pass them on. 2014. £14.99 (in the SLBI Library) and cause misplaced concern amongst Roy Vickery gardeners.

Sarah Lloyd,Where The Slime As a novice in this field I searched for Mould Creeps. an affordable guide, say a laminated Tympanocryptis Press, 2014. Field Study Guide or a simple book with identification features and £17.99 coloured pictures before possibly But for the inspirational talk given by progressing to more expensive tomes Irene Palmer and the wonderful close- requiring the use of a to up pictures taken by her late husband view surface features or to measure John (SLBI Gazette No.17 Jan 2013), spores. There isn’t one. However my slime moulds would have been a bit of reason for me writing this article is to a closed book to me. Following the draw your attention to a recently film The Secret Garden my interest was published book called Where the slime further stimulated however attempts mould creeps by Sarah Lloyd. Sarah is to find these organisms for myself an Australian naturalist based in I was intrigued by the title of this book: have always been met by dismal can trees have wisdom? In his prologue failure. Whether it was due to the Adams quickly tells us that they cannot; mild damp autumn or the increased the book is given its title 'not because close scrutiny of dead wood looking trees are wise, but because we would be for fungi, I have found a dozen or so wise to learn from them.' Then follow species recently ranging from the ten chapters, each somewhat discursive, downright revolting and aptly named on trees and woodlands and each ‘Dogs vomit’ slime mould (Fuligo featuring a different tree. This approach septica) to the incredibly beautiful enables the author to digress into any ‘Coral slime’ (Ceratiomyxa futiculosa). I area of arboriculture which interests him am now completely hooked. or on which he has opinions, and usually he succeeds in doing this in a way that Slime moulds have had a chequered interests the reader, though I personally past; their two stage life cycle with a found some of the passages concerning free-living, motile, animal-like stage woodworkers' tools somewhat difficult to followed by an exquisitely beautiful, follow (probably because such things immotile, fungal-like, -bearing don't interest me, so I didn't make stage has confounded taxonomists. sufficient effort). In fact they belong to neither the Northern Tasmania and at first I animal or plant kingdoms but are now thought this would limit the book’s Thus we get a simple but memorable in a separate kingdom the Protista, in appeal and usefulness to the UK explanation of how trees help maintain the phylum Myxomycota and the scene. However looking through it, the level of oxygen in the atmosphere class Myxomycetes. Their life cycle is many of the species are found here essential for animal life, a rough method complex where the animal-like motile and those that are not are closely for estimating the age of trees, making phase, in which growth and feeding related. It is not primarily a reference charcoal, and the purchasing and occurs is followed by the fungal-like, book or a field guide but is an management of woodland. And much sessile reproductive phase. invitation by the author to share her more. enthusiasm for myxomycetes; it is They only become visible to the written in a very clear and readable Finally there is a moving epilogue in naked eye in the reproductive phase way and its aim is to stimulate the which the author urges us to grow more when careful examination of the reader to explore further. The strong trees and use them. He believes that the underside, or in crevices in rotting point of this 100 paged book is the planting of trees in itself is not sufficient, wood - also in leaf litter might reveal simplicity of its text and the we must also use them, and, when the colourful sporangia or fruiting magnificence of its pictures; the weak possible, live amongst them. bodies which are no more than point is the poor quality of its binding 1-2mms tall. Occasionally slime as it has already started to shed pages All this is enhanced by illustrations taken moulds are encountered at the after 4 weeks of gentle use. Over sixty from the 1776 edition of John Evelyn's plasmodial stage (the stage before species of slime mould are covered Sylva. spore formation) appearing as and illustrated by exquisite pictures. networks or patches of ‘mucoid’ multinucleate strands capable of co-

8 most of our cornfield weeds, including shown in the Isle of Man, where the The book is divided into 3 parts, thepoppy (Papaver rhoeas) and corn visually dominant shrubs in many first a description of the general marigold (Glebionis segetum). hedgerows are of Southern of slime moulds, the secondNeophytes include not only such Hemisphere origin. I also thought part deals with habitats, substrates bogeys as Japanese knotweed (Falopia more might have been said about and associated invertebrate japonica), butterfly bush (Buddleja Mexican fleabane (Erigeron communities and finally a gallery ofdavidii ) and giant hogweed (Heracleum karvinskianus) which is spreading so high quality photographs. mantegazzianum) but also such cheery rapidly throughout southern England. plants as red valerian (Centranthus Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria Inevitably in such a short volume ruber) and yellow corydalis formosa), a plant which I particularly there are omissions and for a detailed(Pseudofumaria lutea). dislike and which seems to be description of species and the vigorously spreading along woodland microscopic ornamentation and Then follows an interesting chapter on paths, is only very briefly mentioned. dimensions of their spores and 'the alien-hunters', most of whom capillitia so essential for positive were (and still are) amateur botanists. This is a book that provides identification, the student must lookOne marvels at the dogged stimulation and education, but is not a elsewhere but the photographs determination of these people who in quick read. London, of course, is a capture the fascination of this pre-internet days and without ready hotspot for alien plants; it's a most ephemeral, miniature and incrediblyaccess to a worldwide herbarium or a welcome addition to Institute's decorative world and whet the major botanical library were able to Library. appetite for further study. identify the strange plants which they found. The banker J.E. (Ted) Lousley, Roy Vickery Bob Franciswho was the SLBI's President from 1968 until his death in 1976, is Clive A. Stace & Michael J. described as 'one of the most Crawley, Alien Plants, influential alien specialists of the Chinese visitors London: William Collins, 2015; twentieth century'. Another easy-to- On 23 November six staff of the 626pp. £65. (in the SLBI read chapter deals with 'our top fifty- Jiangxi Provincial Department of Library) two neophytes, which covers those and their interpreter spent that are most widely recorded, starting the morning at the Institute. with pineapple-weed (Matricaria Although we had made it clear that we discoidea), first recorded in 1869 and have little relevant to forestry - we since 1986 recorded in 91.47% of don't have room for many trees - they hectads (the standard units used by thought it important to visit us during botanical recorders) and finishing with Turkey oak (Quercus cerris), recorded since 1986 in 33.51% of hectads.

Less accessible chapters include those on 'the of abundance' and 'alien and breeding systems', but with some persistence these can prove to be fascinating and worthwhile. As with all New Naturalist volumes there is an abundance of photographs. In this volume some are good, but some are Photograph by Roy Vickery This substantial book by two of decidedly substandard. Many readers may be surprised to learn that red their stay in the U.K. Roy Vickery Britain's most eminent botanists, the talked about the Institute's history first a taxonomist and the second an deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is an , but one assumes that and its work, and showed them the ecologist, is volume 129 in Collins library, herbarium and garden. The New Naturalist series. The most buyers of the book will know what it looks like, so the poor last two, and particularly the Irish yew introductory chapter explains what is (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata') in the meant by alien plants, and attempts to photograph adds nothing of value. Possibly fewer photographs with less garden, proved to be of special estimate how many there are in the interest. Fortunately Francoise British Isles. Apparently there are 38 wordy captions, some of which repeat what's already in the text, would have Sergy's The Fox got You exhibition was marine (seaweeds), 23 on display in the Lecture Room, so bryophytes, 13 pteridophytes, 49 allowed more space for the better reproduction. they were able to examine the section and 2006 flowering relating to yew being used to produce plants. Of these flowering plants 197 a drug for the treatment of cancer. are classed as Inevitably different readers will have different ideas about what should or Thanks to Nell Gatehouse who dealt introduced before 1500 and the with the lengthy correspondence remainder neophytes introduced since should not be given prominence. I was surprised by the lack of interest concerning the visit. that date. The archaeophytes include Roy Vickery

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Photograph: Roy Vickery patients, the people making the drugs Aromatherapy – and the scientists researching how bringing summer these diseases affect our body. By revealing the powers behind plants, scents and winter the exhibition offers a unique insight wellness to the SLBI into the way we are made and changed Photographs by Caroline Pankhurst by the natural world.

The photographs are stunning and As part of our Heritage Lottery Fund provide a huge amount of information project we’ve been broadening the about how the 6 plants are used - for range of our workshops at the example, foxgloves are used to treat institute, to entice new visitors Julie helps make the summer roler bals the heart, goat’s rue is used in through our doors and excite them diabetes, yew is used in the treatment about botany in new ways. One of our help us through the hot summer days of cancer. most popular subjects has been – and blended one to take home. Aromatherapy, with two workshops run by Julie Bowles, Aromatherapist, Then before we knew it, winter was in August and November 2015. here, and winter wellness was what we needed! This time we looked at black Each session began with an pepper to stimulate the immune introduction to Aromatherapy – its system, cardamom for chesty coughs, fascinating history and some of its ginger and eucalyptus lemon for uses – before doing a smell assessment muscle aches and pains, grapefruit as (a ‘sniff test’) of 6-7 essential oils. We a decongestant and thyme linalol for were asked to think about how we throat infections – as just some of perceived the essential oil their uses! This time we made some aromatically, how it made us feel and lovely Epsom bath salts using the if it produced any images or essential oils we felt we needed – and memories. Reactions varied went home and got in the bath…. dramatically, with looks of fond memories, fruity freshness or strong Our next Aromatherapy workshop distaste appearing on people’s faces! will be on Sat 23 April, when we’ll be Photographic greenhouse: Part of ‘The Fox Got looking at skincare and making a face You’ instalation at the SLBI In summer, we sniffed and learned balm – book soon! Details on the about summer uses for lemongrass, website or contact us. The exhibition was very popular Caroline Pankhurst during its showing at the Oxford Botanic Garden, prior to coming to the SLBI, and is going on to be shown at other places around the country.

SLBI delighted to Many thanks to Françoise for showing host London’s first her wonderful work here. If you know of other artists who might like to hold showing of ‘The Fox an exhibition in our newly decorated Got You’ in November lecture room, do please let us know. 2015 Caroline Pankhurst Participants al the way fom Japan enjoy sniffing the oils The SLBI was delighted to host London’s first showing of the Local names for photographic installation, ‘The Fox Redshank (Persicaria cypress, tea tree, lavender, bergamot, Got You’, produced by artist and SLBI peppermint and Roman chamomile. member, Françoise Sergy. maculosa) You might know that lemongrass is useful as an insect repellent and that The photographic installation, which Thirty-seven local names have been lavender is good for sunburn, but did was displayed at the SLBI from 9-28 recorded for Persicaria maculosa in the you know that cypress is good for hot November 2015, celebrates six British Isles. flushes, peppermint helps nausea and common plants (including foxglove, bergamot uplifts your mood? goat’s rue and yew – hence the name, Some of these names, like the ‘The Fox Got You’) at the origin of five standard English name refer to the Based on all of this, we decided what plant's red stem: red joints in Dorset, each of us needed in a rollerball major medicinal drugs. It brings together the plants, drugs, clinicians, red legs in Cheshire and Lancashire remedy, applied to our pulse points to and red weed in Cheshire.

10 The maculosa in the name refers Yellowin girse, recorded from irregularly star-shaped fungus with a means 'spotted' or 'mottled' and refers Shetland, suggests that redshank was scurfy exterior, initially cup-shaped to the brownish spots which occur on used to produce a yellow dye, but the 1-5cm diameter and clustered on the the leaves, particularly when the plant name redshank was also given to dead wood of standing or fallen hazel grows in exposed, sunny places. alpine meadow-rue, which was also poles. It is usually found on old, large Several names refer to this feature. used as a dye-plant in Shetland, so unmanaged hazels. These sometimes suggest that the perhaps there is some confusion. markings were made when the leaf was Sarcoscypha coccinea / austriaca (difficult pinched, such names include: Some of the local names given to to tell apart in field): Scarlet Elf Caps. Devil's pinches in Dorset, Pinchweed redshank are shared with other plants. Found on fallen -covered, very in Northumberland and Oxfordshire, Pincushion, a name which is difficult dead, broad-leaved branches in damp Virgin Mary's pinch – 'from a tradition to explain when given to redshank, is places. The scarlet (occasionally that the Blessed Virgin once pressed it shared by 10 other species, including yellow) cups are occasionally stalked with her thumb' - in Berkshire. cornflower (Centaurea cyanus),teasel measuring up to 5cms diameter. and lady's thumb in North America. (Dipsacus fulonum), thrift (Armeria maritima) and yellow corydalis Mitrophora semilibera, the Semifree An Oxfordshire legend, recorded in (Pesudofumaria lutea). Seven other Morel: Found in calcareous woodland the 1880s, tells why the Virgin Mary plants share the name redshank, or often in secondary hawthorn on chalk. pinched redshank leaves: she was redshanks, including broad-leaved The distinctive dark brown, grooved searching for it to make an ointment, dock (Rumex obtusifolius), herb robert or ribbed cap with a shallow margin is but could not find any. Later, when (Geranium robertianum) purple free from stem for half its length. The the need had passed, she found some, loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) stipe is creamy white and hollow. and in her annoyance pinched its leaves, giving it the rank of an Roy Vickery Verpa conica, the Thimble Morel: the 'ordinary weed', so redhank is now warm reddish brown, wrinkled or said to be 'the only weed that is not puckered cap is completely attached useful for something'. Presumably the to the yellowish, hollow stem (Not name useless recorded in Scotland free as Mitrophora). It frequents a refers to a similar legend. similar habitat as the above species but is also found in more open areas. A Guernsey name, herbe traitress, explains how a woman who had Disciotis venosa , Black Cup: this committed a murder wiped her blood- distinctive morel is found in stained fingers on the leaves of broadleaved woodland or scrub on redshank, leading to the detection of calcareous soils. The large, flattened her crime, and the leaves being stained cup up to 18cm diameter is dark ever since. brownish black, very strongly veined and wrinkled. The under-surface is In East Anglia the name devil's arse- pale. The flesh smells strongly of wipe suggests another origin of the chlorine, bleach or vinegar. It may be leaf markings. locally common. Two names recorded from Gaelic- Persicaria maculosa Enteridium lycoperdon (Reticularia speaking areas of Scotland can be at Templecombe, , in August 2015 lycoperdon) A myxomycete (slime translated as 'the blood-spot' and 'herb Photograph by Roy Vickery mould) found on tree trunks as large of the tree of crucifixion', it being said cushion shaped masses 2 - 10cms long that redshank grew at the base of with silvery shine - becoming brown Christ's cross and was stained by his A few local fungi to later. It can be seen as early as blood. This legend, without any look out for in early February in some years. associated names, has also been recorded from and County spring and onwards Joyce Pitt (adapted by Bob Francis) Cork. Similar legends have been recorded to account for the spots on Ciboria amenacea, the Alder Goblet: a the leaves of lords-and-ladies (Arum common, small, brown cap fungus maculatum) and early purple orchid (occasionally stalked) 4-10mm in Gazette Items (Orchis mascula). diameter found on fallen male alder catkins. Articles or enquires should be However many of the local names emailed to [email protected] given to redshank are difficult to Ciboria coryli: small brown cups or or sent c/o The South London explain, such names include: lavender discs 3-11mm in diameter found on Botanical Institute. Copy for in Somerset, lover's pride in , fallen, dead, male hazel catkins. August should be with the editor and saucy alice in Norfolk. by mid July. Encoelia furfuracea, the Spring Hazelcup: a sessile, brown, leathery,

11 Please help the SLBI continue its work, enabling people of all ages to enjoy the wonders of plants

The SLBI has provided a unique environment for learning about plants since 1910. We want to continue this work and offer exciting opportunities to a wide range of people but sadly our resources are very limited. Whilst our membership subscriptions provide a vital source of income, we would be very grateful for any additional donations you are able to make.

There are 3 easy ways for you to make a donation:

• Post a cheque, made payable to the SLBI, to 323 Norwood Road, London SE24 9AQ (please let us know if you’re a UK taxpayer and would like us to send a Gift Aid form)

• Make a donation online via the ‘Donate Now’ button on our website: http://www.slbi.org.uk/donate/

• Leave some cash in the donation box by our door, next time you’re visiting.

You might also like to consider giving a Gift Membership, so that a friend can also enjoy the benefits of the SLBI – please contact us or see our website for details: http://www.slbi.org.uk/join/

Thank you so much for your support.

Red Data Book Species and conservation.

Ecology and Conservation Studies Society, Birkbeck Free Lecture series.

Spring 2016: six Friday evenings, Feb 5th to 11th March, 18:30 to 20:00. Lecture Theatre B35, Birkbeck, University of London, Torrington Square.

Species conservation is embedded in national and international regulations, but does this achieve good representation of biodiversity? For example, invertebrates are not well catered for, let alone many fungi. Can we conserve the Great Crested Newt by translocation without providing for maintenance of both the ponds and terrestrial habitat that it needs? Or does the protection of species such as the Violet Click-beetle act as a flagship to conserve the whole suite of veteran tree biota? Are Red Data Book species the best indicators or flagships of biodiversity value, or should we rather examine concepts like “ecological engineers”. What of widespread species that may be declining un- noticed? This series examines the questions around the protection of threatened species.

Feb 5th “To protect or not to protect? Extinction risk, Red Lists and the agony of choice”. Monika Böhm, Indicators & Assessments Unit, Institute of .

Feb 12th “Stinking Hawk’s-beard, species recovery – the inside story”, Brian Ferry, Royal Holloway University of London.

Feb 19th Red-listing the English flora - a better approach to conservation prioritisation?" Fred Rumsey, Natural History Museum.

Feb 26th "Has being a European Protected Species helped the great crested newt?”, Brian Banks, MIEEM, Director, Flag Ecology.

March 4th “The return of the native; the reintroduction of the short-haired bumblebee” Nikki Gammans, Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

March 11th Action for Species – the RSPB’s Species Recovery Programme”, Hannah Ward, RSPB. A reading list will be available later. To receive this, please email [email protected], consult the website http:// www.bbk.ac.uk/geds/our-research/ecss/free-public- lectures, or pick up a copy at one of the lectures.

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