BSBI News April 2010 No

Home , Acinos alpinus, Chara vulgaris, Elymus magellanicus, Epipogium, Erysimum scoparium, Galium rubioides

BSBI News April 2010 No. 114

Edited by Trevor James & Gwynn Ellis Fumaria reuteri with F. officinalis.

Fumaria reuteri Lynne Farrell (our new HGS) at the site of Orobanche alba on Ardmeanach, Mull v.c.103, Both Fumaria photos taken at Kirriemuir, on a wet and windy day. Photo R. Scott © 2008 Angus by H. McHaffie © 2009 (see p. 26) (see p. 62) Disused water trough with Chara vulgaris near R. Moyle (v.c.H7)

Chara vulgaris found in trough pictured above

Silene dioica flower showing signs of nectar robbery. Photo J. Memmott © 2009 (see p. 32) CONTENTS Editorial...... 6 Weeds of container plants Notes ...... E.J. Clement 42 Common problems with identification in the Requests & offers field...... R. Leaney 3 Wanted: the rarer spike-rush ssp. Hydrangea colour and soil pH...... J. Roberts 43 ...... K. Thompson 11 Seeds from Ware – 2009 collections Sporulation of Lycopodium annotinum in ...... G. Hanson 44 winter – addendum ...... B. Sonnberger 11 Juncus compressus/gerardii wanted Onobrychis viciifolia on Salisbury ...... M. Wilcox 45 Plain, Wiltshire...... G.R. Else 12 Notices Onobrychis viciifolia ssp. may matter to Recent developments at the NHM British and insects...... S. Falk 14 Irish Herbarium...... M.A. Spencer 45 Chemically-induced colour change in Celebrations at the South London Botanical Chamerion angustifolium flowers Institute...... R. Vickery 46 ...... M. O'Sullivan 14 Wiltshire Botany...... J. Presland 46 Project to locate and DNA fingerprint the Recording Invasive Species Counts (RISC) – Water Poplars of southern England a new survey of three alien plants ...... K.J. Adams 15 ...... P. Brown 47 Changes in Upper Kennet Valley Salix Floodplain Meadows Partnership populations in response to fungal blights ...... E. Rothero 48 ...... J. Oliver 20 Overseas Field meeting report: 2009 Hybrid plants in Typha...... M. Wilcox 25 Romania...... O. Mountford et al. 49 Two more Fumaria reuteri locations in Report of the AEM 2009...... A. Showler 56 Scotland...... H. McHaffie 26 Obituary notes...... M. Briggs 57 ‘Unusual’ habitat for Chara vulgaris Book Notes ...... J. Lucey 27 Will I Cope?...... T. Rich 59 Botanical books available to download from Diary...... 59 the internet Recorders and Recording ...... K. Spurgin & D. Pearman 28 Panel of Referees and Specialists Ciba–Geigy Weed Tables...... A. Galton 29 ...... M.C. Sheahan 60 Measuring change in species distributions: Panel of Vice-county Recorders a report...... Q. Groom & P. Smith 30 ...... D. Pearman 60 Extinction terminology...... M. Rand 31 Advice on Buying and Using GPSs for BSBI When bees exploit plants: nectar members...... J. McIntosh 60 robbery...... N.L. Charlton 32 Notes from the Officers ‘Ben Alder’: five BSBI Presidents have slept From the Hon General Secretary here...... P. Macpherson 33 ...... L. Farrell 62 Botanical crossword 14...... Cruciada 34 From the Head of Research & Development Conservation ...... K. Walker 63 Has SSSI status been devalued?.T.G. Evans 35 From the Scottish Officer...... J. McIntosh 65 Botany in Literature – 54 Drawing of Silene dioica seedling...... 66 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, In Memoriam – The Solution & Crib to Crossword 14...... 67 valley of fear...... M É. Souchier 36 Deadline for contribution to News 115...... 67 Aliens Silene gallica, Melilotus indicus and Cuscuta campestris in v.c.67...... J.Bowyer 42 2 Editorial

Editorial Hon. Treasurer Holly, 8 weeks old at the time (late January), At the beginning of April we said goodbye to was clearly taking an interest in the inputting one Hon Treasurer, Mr Anthony Nixon and of v.c.103 records into MapMate and wasn’t welcomed another, Mr Terry Swainbank as his the least bit attracted to her father! This augurs replacement. well for the future. We thank Anthony for his work on our behalf in the two years since his appointment Coordinator’s Corner and hope that we will continue to see him at We have received a few complaints about meetings and that he now has more time to some comments that appeared in one section hone his plant identification and illustration of the last Coordinator’s Corner, and one skills. member wrote: Terry’s appointment is by Council and he is “Alex Lockton’s lively-minded ‘Co- available for reappointment by the member- ordinator’s Corner’ is a welcome regular ship at the AGM in June, together with the feature of BSBI News. Mr Lockton’s other honorary office-bearers. iconoclastic and even provocative approach Terry’s contact details are inside the back is obviously intended to stimulate thought cover but please note that Gwynn Ellis contin- and debate, and an occasional lapse of ues to be the contact for all matters regarding manners can be forgiven for the sake of this subscriptions. laudable aim. But in his attack on ... County Recorders (BSBI News 113: 94, under ‘Say Clive Jermy hello to date class 5’), he goes too far.” Thanks to Arthur Chater for the following Particular exception was taken to the use of information on Clive’s progress following his some words and phrases such as ‘naïve’, ‘So recent stroke. please try to understand this’ and ‘so silly that Clive is making good progress and hopes to I don’t really know how to respond’. be home by the time this note is published. He is intensely interested in what is going on in We would all like to say that we are sorry if the the botanical world, is very keen to get back to piece offended some readers. As Alex has his computer, and is hoping to embark on assured everyone, it was not intended to email communication in due course. offend, rather to exhort, and was certainly not aimed at any particular person. The Society Orobanche lucorum values all County Recorders as well as other Unfortunately, the lower caption to the bottom members equally. Our policy, in including photo on the inside back cover of BSBI News pieces in News, is to allow people to say what 113 contains an error which makes a nonsense they think, as long as this does not set out of the thrust of the article: the location was ‘in deliberately to offend or cause harm, and we the wild’ in St Andrews and not in the Botanic are sorry if, in this case, it seems that it had. Garden. Our apologies to Mr Ballantyne and Prof. Cormack for this mistake.

Holly French Our new Hon. Gen Sec. was so taken with the antics of the daughter of two of our members (Graham French & Jane Squirrell) that she sent the photograph that appears in the Colour Section, Plate 4. Notes – Common problems with identification in the field 3

NOTES

Common problems with identification in the field – experience with the Norfolk Flora Group BOB LEANEY, 122 Norwich Road, Wroxham, Norfolk, NR12 8SA

I present here some of the more common more, if one keeps checking field characters, difficulties encountered by myself or others one eventually realises that some species can during tetrad recording with the Norfolk mimic another in leaf shape and jizz - e.g. Flora Group, over a period of some 20 years. Atriplex patula/prostrata (Common/Hastate The species involved are not from the well Oraches), Carex acutiformis/riparia known ‘critical’ genera, or from ‘difficult’ (Lesser/Greater Pond-sedges). There is a genera like Salix (willows) or Potamogeton form of Leontodon saxatilis (Lesser (pondweeds), where voucher specimens will Hawkbit) that, in size, leaf posture and hairi- in any case be retained for keying out at ness, uncannily mimics L. hispidus (Rough home or for confirmation by the v.c. recorder Hawkbit), until one looks at the pappus on or referee. Misidentification during tetrad or the outer achenes. For these reasons one environmental impact surveys is probably should try and become really familiar with more likely, and more significant in a field characters, give up using them reluc- national context, in the rather more common tantly and in some species not at all. species. Whenever possible, one should use two or It is certainly a very good way of improv- three field characters – using only one ing one’s identification skills to be shown certainly gives a nice definite answer, but not unfamiliar species by more expert botanists infrequently a second and third do not fit, so during tetrad or other surveys. A major that the particular specimen cannot be identi- drawback, however, is that identification has fied! Key or field characters can be more to be largely by ‘jizz’. There is seldom time variable than suggested by the standard keys, to use field floras, or even for the leader to at least on a local basis, and are also easy to properly demonstrate the field characters, misinterpret. Frequently too, illustrations of which take much experience to interpret and such characters are misleading. It has been time to get into the ‘visual memory’. In my practice over the years to describe, practice, more and more of us learn our measure and draw the main characters of a botany in the context of surveying. This plant before using keys, to avoid bias in involves identifying plants without many of description or interpretation. I have used their key characters (due to stage of growth these drawings, augmented when necessary or time of year), using jizz, together with by specimens from the Swann collection in local knowledge as to what species are most NWH, to illustrate some of the common likely in the given habitat, at the time of year, problems encountered when using field in one’s particular region. Lack of such local characters. In some cases (e.g. Atriplex knowledge is a major cause, I am sure, for patula/prostrata/glabriuscula (Babington’s mistakes in environmental impact surveys Orache), Rumex palustris/maritimus carried out by ‘outsiders’. Unfortunately, it (Marsh/Golden Docks), Galinsoga (gallant takes years or decades of frequent botanising soldiers) and Trifolium (trefoils) the illustra- to learn the jizz of most of the species tions should provide a better idea of the encountered in one’s area, and many actual appearance of these characters than botanists never reach this stage. Further- those generally available. 4 Notes – Common problems with identification in the field

2. Fruits of Tamus communis (Black Bryony) and Bryonia dioica (White Bryony) in autumn These two seldom grow together and one can go for years without learning the differences between the fruits (I did at least!). Around October, when the leaves are completely withered and difficult to interpret, the fruits can actually be identified at a glance – in Bryonia they are only about the size of a hawthorn berry (c.7mm), spherical and a very 1. Resupination in grasses dull, opaque, dark red, whereas in Tamus they The leaves of many species of grasses, are nearly twice as large (c.12mm), ellipsoidal, especially if long and arching, tend to twist and a shiny, translucent mid red. Bryonia, of through 180° near their base, so that over the course, is a scrambler with tendrils (though majority of their length the true upperside these are very finely and tightly coiled by (adaxial surface) becomes the underside. This autumn and difficult to see) and Tamus a often causes consternation when confirming twiner without tendrils. Calamagrostis canescens (Purple Small-reed) by checking for the characteristic patent hairs on the leaf upperside, with some finding profuse hairs and others finding none at all! Exactly the same problem can arise when looking for the similar but longer hairs to confirm Elytrigia repens (Common Couch). John Poland tells me that resupination can occur in many species (Dactylis glomerata (Cock’s-foot) is a common example) and it could cause difficulties in other grasses on occasions. The answer is to always look at both surfaces!

3. Trifolium repens (White Clover)/T. hybridum (Alsike Clover)/T. pratense (Red Clover)/T. medium (Zigzag Clover) Typical plants of the four common large clovers should not cause problems, but the picture has been obscured by increasing use of the first three in the seeding of conservation headlands. The extremely robust cultivars of T. repens often used cause particular difficulties, as they can be up to a foot tall with large floppy ellipti- cal rather than obovate leaflets, looking therefore much more like the other species (especially T. hybridum). In the vegetative state, the first thing to do is to see whether the leaf stalks arise from creeping stems (T. repens) or from aerial stems (the rest). The latter may be decumbent rather than erect, and not there- Notes – Common problems with identification in the field 5 fore so obvious, but the stems of T. repens are 4. Juncus compressus (Clustered Rush) actually so closely attached to the ground by /J. gerardii (Saltmarsh Rush) roots that they can hardly be found at all. Just The Norfolk Flora Group has several times ascertain that the petioles (or later peduncles) found apparent J. compressus quite far inland, arise straight from ground level. The three with scattered flowering stems and very species with aerial stems should be identifiable rounded and protruding capsules, which turned from a combination of stipule, leaf characters out on further study to be J. gerardii. In all and hairiness, remembering that T. medium can cases these plants were competing against thick also have a white leaf spot or crescent, but T. grass, which probably prevented the usual patch hybridum never has. The leaves of T. hybridum forming habit. The determination was made on are characteristically floppy-looking with stamen characters and seed measurement. A undulate-serrate edges. In the flowering state, crucial realisation was that the stamens persist, T. medium (the flowers of which are always red) hidden completely behind the tepals, in the should be readily spotted from its long elliptic fruiting stage and even when the capsules are leaves and awl shaped stipules, but the other dehiscing (in both these taxa). The anther-fila- species can cause problems because all three ment ratios remain the same at this late stage can have white or pink flowers (or both), not and more surprisingly anther length also tends only T. hybridum. In this situation a quick to remain within the usually described ranges. check of the calyx characters provides the It is, however, important not to make the deter- easiest distinction. The calyces of T. repens and mination in the field from the anther-filament T. hybridum are very similar, in being white ratio, because the dried anthers can break off or with fine green veins, but very different indeed fold back on themselves to look shorter than in the length of the teeth, about ½ as long as the they really are. Five to ten need to be examined tube in T. repens, and 1½ - 2· in T. hybridum. under a microscope, and the seeds measured (by Unfortunately, this distinction is not shown at micrometer if possible) as well. Among the all in the Stace illustrations, which are very capsules of these J. compressus-like J. gerardii misleading for this pair, showing both calyces plants were some with narrowly ellipsoidal, non with calyx teeth much shorter than the tube, and protruding capsules, more like those often illus- the teeth much too widely triangular as well. trated. However, on dissection these capsules The calyx of T. pratense is characterised by always contained either tiny, translucent sterile extremely long patent hairs on the calyx teeth seeds (much below the measurements for even and a very shaggy calyx tube. I have not seen J. compressus) or were empty apart from a enough T. medium, but the true appearance of dust-like deposit. It would seem that the the calyces of the other three species is illustrat- ‘typical’, narrowly ellipsoidal capsules of ed. These calyx characters remain very obvious J. gerardii, seen in plants at the inner edge of in gone-over plants around September and salt marsh, are sterile, and that growing further October, by which time leaf and stipule charac- inland they have many more fertile egg-shaped ters may be difficult to interpret. capsules, as shown in the Stella Ross-Craig illustration. As in this illustration, these fertile capsules can also protrude quite far beyond the WHSDOV XSWRDERXWѿRIWKHLUOHQJWK 6SHFL mens of J. compressus we have found (determined on stamen characters and seed measurement) did not have capsules that were noticeably more egg-shaped than these inland J. gerardii plants, but the capsules were more SURWUXGLQJ ѿWRòWKHOHQJWKRIWHSDOV 7KH lowest bracts were nearly all longer than the inflorescences, but not invariably so, whereas 6 Notes – Common problems with identification in the field those of J. gerardii were very much ‘either more rigidly curved. The Stace illustrations way’. Another confusion with this pair is the show the teeth much too thick and about half the colour of the tepals, described as light brown or length they should be, in both species. Fruit dark brown respectively. In fact the midrib is a colour can be helpful at the newly ripe stage, but very light brown and the outer edges white- early or late can be misleading; and the ripe scarious in both taxa. Between is an area that is fruits of R. palustris can be yellowish, though mid brown in J. compressus and dark blackish- yellowish-green rather than golden yellow. The brown in J. gerardii. Very rounded capsules best field character to use is whether the inner SURWUXGLQJZHOOEH\RQGWKHWHSDOV XSWRDѿ tepal teeth are longer or shorter than the length are not enough to determine J. compressus, of the tepals themselves. even if the plants are growing inland and show scattered flowering stems. Stamen characters and seed measurement must be used and the former can still be used in the late fruiting stage.

5. Rumex maritimus (Golden Dock) 6. Carex panicea (Carnation Sedge) /R. palustris (Marsh Dock) /C. flacca (Glaucous Sedge) The difficulty here lies in the characters of the Here, the trigonous tip character is difficult to inner tepals (inner perianth segments) at the interpret and can cause more problems than it is fruiting stage. There is a very clear distinction, worth. I suspect that most botanists do not find but it is one most botanists do not appreciate it helpful until they can anyway distinguish because we seldom can compare the two these two species commonly encountered species, and meet them fairly infrequently. The together in the drier parts of fen or wet meadow. illustrations generally available are also The striking thing is that C. panicea leaves are misleading, the only ones showing the true much broader at the base, tapering gradually to appearance being those of Stella Ross-Craig. I the tip (awl shaped), whereas C. flacca leaves have looked at about 20 plants, roughly half and are narrower at the base and +/- parallel sided half, over the last few years, and checked the for much of their length. C. panicea leaves also fruiting characters against specimens in the look more glaucous, whereas C. flacca leaves NWH Swann collection (see illustrations). only look really glaucous when turned over. I There are definite differences in tubercle shape do not agree with the usual statement that C. and in the comparative length of the tepal panicea leaves are trigonous and C. flacca apices, but the comparative length and character leaves not. Both are trigonous at the very tip for of the teeth are the only clear cut distinctions. sure. If one looks at the leaf tip of C. flacca ‘end The teeth in R. maritimus are virtually all much on’ one sees a triangle, and you will get a trian- longer than the inner tepal itself, and those in R. gular cross section if you cut within 2mm of the palustris distinctly shorter. The teeth in R. tip. The difference is that in C. panicea the maritimus are finer, more flexible and twisted, trigonous portion is 8 - 20mm long and with those of R. palustris a little thicker and rather slight but definite ‘shoulders’ visible in some Notes – Common problems with identification in the field 7 leaves where the trigonous portion begins, at bracteoles can be virtually invisible in the field. which point the dorsal groove also usually Another problem is that the distal portion of the disappears (see illustration). In C. flacca, on the bracteole, above the point of fusion, is much other hand, the dorsal groove disappears only 2 more variable in shape and length than the basal - 4mm from the tip, without shoulders. I feel portion. A. patula bracteoles with atypically that the trigonous tip character is useful once long distal portions will often have a proportion this is realised, but misleading if not. RIEUDFWHROHIXVHGEHORZѿDOWKRXJKWKHEDVDO portion is still typically narrowly cuneate. A further difficulty is that all bracteoles can be said to be ‘fused at the base only’, if one defines the ‘base’ not as the central area of attachment but as the whole lower edge of the bracteole. This is the sense of ‘base’ used to describe leaves (see Stace, 2nd ed. : 989), and I think this uncertainty is another reason why botanists do not use the proportion of bracteole fused character. Confusion of this sort is well exemplified by the illustration for A. glabriuscula in Stace, where the basal shape is entirely wrong, being 7. The proportion of bracteoles fused truncate, exactly as in the A. prostrata illustra- character in Atriplex (Oraches) tion. The point of fusion, however, is shown Distinguishing between Atriplex prostrata halfway up the distal portion (where it never (Hastate Orache) and A. patula (Common occurs), rather than at the outer end of the basal Orache), and between A. prostrata and portion. I feel that the basal shape of the bracte- A. glabruiscula (Babington’s Orache) is a oles (subcordate/ truncate/widely common problem because leaf characters often cuneate/narrowly cuneate) should be used for overlap, especially in the latter pairing. Bracte- identifying Atriplex in the field, rather than ole characters can very quickly solve this proportion of bracteole fused. Looking from problem but are seldom used even by experi- the side is more useful to see if the bracteole is enced botanists, due to misunderstandings ‘fat’ and ‘spiny’ (A. glabriuscula, A. littoralis about the descriptive terms used and especially (Shore Orache), A. laciniata (Frosted Orache)) the ‘proportion of bracteoles fused’ character. or thin and leaf-like (A. prostrata, A. patula). The bracteole pairs in Atriplex are always fused The problem is that the available illustrations at the outer end of the basal portion, or in other are often misleading on basal shape and hardly words, where the lower edge of the bracteole ever show side view at all. I hope to rectify this turns abruptly inward towards the tip. This in a further illustrated article in the near future. being the case, the proportion of bracteole fused 8. Carex acutiformis (Lesser Pond-sedge) is just another way of expressing the basal shape /C. riparia (Greater Pond-sedge) – if sub-cordate, truncate or widely cuneate These two continue to cause problems for (A. prostrata) the bracteoles are ‘fused at the quite experienced botanists, mainly due to EDVHRQO\¶LIQDUURZO\FXQHDWHµIRURYHUѿWKHLU misunderstandings over the male glume and length’ (A. patula and A. glabriuscula). In ligule characters. In the vegetative state, practice it is infinitely easier to put 5 - 10 of the C. acutiformis can usually be spotted by its largest bracteoles flat down on the palm of the longer, narrower, more gradually tapering and hand and assess the average basal shape than to arching leaves, and, when flowering, by the hold them up and look (strictly from the side!) male spikes being narrower and parallel sided to see the proportion of bracteole fused. In (cylindrical) rather than wider in the middle spongy or woody bracteoles it is even harder, (fusiform). However, size and leaf width is because the line of separation between the very variable, and C. acutiformis can be very 8 Notes – Common problems with identification in the field

robust or alternatively tiny enough to be taken for much smaller species, such as C. nigra (Common Sedge). Quick confirmatory characters are needed in the field, and usually 9. Vulpia myuros (Rat’s-tail Fescue) the male glumes are used. Unfortunately, the /V. bromoides (Squirrel-tail Fescue) appearance of these varies greatly between the This is an instance in which misinterpretation top and bottom of the spike, those at the top of field characters leads to two species quite looking much narrower and more acuminate in different in jizz being routinely confused. both species, before they are flattened out by Vulpia bromoides has short ‘few-flowered’ the expanding utricles. As a result the ‘spiky’ inflorescences with quite fat, slightly spread- appearance characteristic of C. riparia, caused ing and separate-looking spikelets; whereas in by the protruding tips of acuminate glumes, V. myuros the spikelets are very fine and can occur frequently at the upper end of appressed, producing a very long, confluent, C. acutiformis male spikes as well. Lower slender, +/- nodding panicle, with virtually down, the glumes flatten out and become more always a few spikelets in the uppermost leaf blunt, with only a few acute tipped and many sheath. Short V. myuros inflorescences still rounded due to abrasion. In C. riparia the have many spikelets and look more like basal glumes all remain narrowly acute or V. ciliata (Bearded Fescue). Short acuminate (see illustration). Another check is V. bromoides can have only 2 or 3 spikelets the ligules, but this too can be misinterpreted. and looks like nothing else! Virtually always, C. riparia has a very short The usual way to sort out Vulpia specimens rounded ligule, exactly the same shape as a is, of course, to look at the comparative lengths thumb-nail, and C. acutiformis a long pointed of the upper and lower glumes. In the intact ligule like the tip of a pencil. However, quite spikelets the glumes are very difficult to see as frequently the C. acutiformis ligule is rounded they are so closely applied to the lower near the tip. The important thing is that it is lemmas, so all the lemmas are usually pulled still very long compared with that of C. ripar- out to leave the glumes easily visible. Unfortu- ia. The most reliable check in our experience nately, with V. myuros the very slender lowest is the aerenchyma shape just below the ligule: lemma, which looks very like a glume, is 3 - 4· as long as wide in C. riparia, and 6 - 8· easily left behind, and in this case the upper in C. acutiformis. This should be used, alone JOXPH RSSRVLWH LV DERXW Ҁ WKH OHQJWK RI WKH with ligule shape, if there is any doubt after lemma, suggesting V. bromoides! In gone- checking the glumes at the base of the male over panicles it is, in fact, easier, because the spike. glumes are usually both left behind when the spikelet disarticulates. A more fundamental problem, at least in Norfolk, is that the Notes – Common problems with identification in the field 9 comparative lengths of the glumes is even more variable in V. myuros than is given in Stace, or in Cope & Gray. Stace warns that glume lengths should be examined only in spikelets at the base of the inflorescence or its branches, but even if this is done it is not unusual to find glume ratios of about ½, outside the range given in both accounts. I have even found an absolutely typical specimen of V. myuros with all the glumes showing this ratio. On the other hand in V. bromoides the ratio is much more constant; in my experience always three fifths, and always clearly over half. Both these problems, I feel, lead to misidentification of V. myuros for V. bromoides. A glume ratio of ½ fits V. bromoides in both Stace and in Cope & Gray but is, in our region at least, more likely to indicate V. myuros. I, therefore, believe that one should look at at least five spikelets if one finds this glume ratio to begin with – the majority of spikelets in V. myuros will have a glume ratio of much less than ½, and virtually all V. bromoides of 3/5. In fact, jizz is a very reliable way of separating this pair in the field, as above. ‘V. myuros-looking plants’, with unusually short inflorescences, short culms, and very unequal glumes, should be taken home to exclude V. ciliata. Vulpia fasciculata (Dune Fescue) looks more like a very short- stalked Hordeum than a Vulpia, because of its or sub-glabrous, and virtually all the hairs much larger spikelets, and should be easily higher up are eglandular and strictly appressed. spotted. In this case the lower glume is so tiny Occasionally an odd patent glandular hair is as to be virtually invisible in the field, another found, but always mixed with appressed, not source of confusion. patent, eglandular hairs. In G. quadriradiata on the other hand, the main stem low down has 10. Galinsoga quadriradiata (Shaggy- very long, kinked, patent, eglandular hairs, soldier)/G. parviflora (Gallant-soldier) usually extremely profuse and shaggy, and Surprisingly, Poland & Clement do not deal these usually remain profuse higher up, with vegetative identification in this pairing, becoming progressively mixed with long, though Sell & Murrell do. My observations on patent, red-tipped, glandular hairs, often on the hundreds of plants in Norfolk and Dusseldorf, inflorescence branches, and always on the Germany (where both species are common peduncles. G. quadriradiata is now much the pavement and waste ground weeds), confirm most frequent of the two species in Norfolk, in Sell & Murrell’s indumentum characters, Dusseldorf and, I believe, in London, and useful in both the vegetative and flowering urban botanists may now be assuming that all stages, and have shown also some useful gallant soldiers are this species, because of a spotting characters. G. parviflora can be fairly lack of easy spotting characters. In fact, with hairy, but the lower stems are always glabrous practice, the two can provisionally be 10 Notes – Common problems with identification in the field separated by jizz and the size of the ligules. In 11 Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail) G. parviflora the leaves are usually compara- /E. palustre (Marsh Horsetail) tively small and lanceolate to narrowly ovate. As a beginner, or where jizz is intermediate, In G. quadriradiata they are much larger and one uses the comparative length of the leaf broadly ovate to sub-orbicular, obscuring the sheaths (better understood as ‘stem sheaths’) upper branches. The white ligules of G. parvi- and the basal segments of the branches for this flora are tiny compared to the yellow disc, distinction. It is not usually pointed out that each ligule being only ¼ - ½ the disc width, the base of each branch is surrounded by a whereas in G. quadriradiata the ligule is much ‘basal sheath’ that looks very like a branch larger, ½ - ¾ the disc width. Another problem segment itself, though much shorter. One can encountered lies in the interpretation of the quite easily take this basal sheath to be the receptacle scale and pappus characters. Under basal branch segment and thus wrongly a ·10 lens the trifid nature of the scales in identify E. arvense as E. palustre (see illustra- G. parviflora is easily missed because the tion). overall oblanceolate outline of the scale is the 12. Bromus hordeaceus (Soft-brome) same in both cases (occasional scales in /B. commutatus (Meadow Brome) G. quadriradiata are trifid in any case). (B. racemosus (Smooth Brome)) Botanists also in my experience have difficulty On several occasions we have found confusing with the awning of the pappus, not least examples of B. hordeaceus with very long because one is lucky to find one gone over panicle branches somewhat suggestive of flower per plant. A much better and more B. commutatus (now regarded by Cope & Gray readily available character is the comparative as a form of B. racemosus). On looking length of the immature pappus and corolla: in further, it becomes clear that, although the G. quadriradiata the pappus is around ½ the panicle branches are extremely long, they length of the corolla tube, and in G. parviflora remain +/- erect and appressed, the pedicels at least 7/8 the length, so that basically the dull remain +/- shorter than the spikelets and the yellow corolla can hardly be seen above the off lemmas thickly pubescent. One sometimes white pappus. At the vegetative stage the two finds a very long panicle branch with a single gallant soldiers can be readily separated by the spikelet and it is tempting to define this as a presence or absence of long, patent, eglandular pedicel, and therefore assume that the plant hairs on the lower stem. Later on, the ligule to cannot be B. hordeaceus! This taxon is now disc ratio and especially the immature pappus well described and illustrated in Cope & Grey, to corolla ratios are reliable and easier to use under the title of B. hordeaceus ssp. longipedi- than the receptacle scale and mature pappus cellatus (though shouldn’t that be ‘ssp. longi- characters. The comparative size of the ramosus’?). ligules, and the narrower and smaller leaves of G. parviflora, are good spotting features. 13. Veronica agrestis (Green Field- speedwell)/V. polita (Grey Field-speedwell) The only clear-cut vegetative field character here, according to Poland & Clement, would seem to be the longer petioles in A. polita (<4 mm, as opposed to <2 mm). I have looked at about twenty specimens in the field and NWH, and found that leaf shape and colour were often intermediate and unhelpful. Attempts to separate these two in the field usually resolve around the capsule hairs, but these need a ·20 lens and good light conditions to interpret, and usually there is a difference of opinion! When one gets a few capsules under Notes – Common problems with identification in the field / Hydrangea colour and soil pH / 11 Sporulation of Lycopodium annotinum

curving very gradually to a rounded tip (see illustration). In fresh material these sepal characters correlate absolutely with the capsule hairs, and they also correlate well with leaf colour and shape when these characters are clear cut one way or the other. Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Alec Bull, Bob Ellis and Gillian Beckett, leaders of the Norfolk Flora Group surveys, for all that I have learnt from them over the years. References: the microscope at home, moreover, one often STACE, C.A. (1997). New flora of the British comes to a different conclusion! In my Isles (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press, opinion, a much better field character is the Cambridge. shape of the sepals, where there is a very clear ROSS-CRAIG, S. (1979). Drawings of British cut and invariable difference. The sepals of plants. Bell & Hyman, London. V. polita are always broadly ovate, with the COPE, T. & GREY, A. (2009). Grasses of the distal edges straight and converging onto a British Isles. Botanical Society of the British sub-acute or acute tip. Those of V. agrestis, on Isles, London. B.S.B.I. Handbook No. 13. the other hand, are narrowly elliptic-lanceo- POLAND, J. & CLEMENT, E.J. (2009). The late, with +/- parallel sides and the distal edges vegetative key to the British flora. Botanical Society of he British Isles, London. Hydrangea colour and soil pH KEN THOMPSON, 149 Dobbin Hill, Sheffield, S11 7JF Jack Oliver (BSBI News, 113: 38-39) makes fact the anthocyanin in Hydrangeas is basically the classic mistake of assuming that just pink, but combines with aluminium to form a because anthocyanins behave like litmus – red blue pigment. Blue Hydrangeas therefore in acid solution, blue in alkaline – that Hydran- need aluminium, but aluminium compounds geas must do the same. Unfortunately Hydran- are soluble only in acid soils. So, for a really gea flowers are blue on acid soils, pink on blue Hydrangea, an acid soil is a must. Given alkaline ones – the exact opposite of the behav- an acid soil (pH below 5.5), you can help iour of litmus. This is because there is no things along by watering with aluminium simple relationship between the pH of cell sap sulphate or good old-fashioned alum, but on a and the soil a plant grows in, and in any case neutral or basic soil, blue Hydrangeas are the colour change is not due to cellular pH. In impossible. Sporulation of Lycopodium annotinum (Interrupted Clubmoss) in winter – addendum BERND SONNBERGER, Am Wallersteig 13, D-87700 Memmingen, Germany; ([email protected] ) With reference to the note in BSBI News 109: mature cones shortly before sporulation. As 27 (September, 2008), we regrettably did not the photo was taken in November 2009 in get any response from BSBI members. Scotland (v.c.96), it proves the occurrence of However, plate 1 in the colour section of BSBI the phenomenon, as to be expected, also in the News 113 (January, 2010) clearly shows sub- British Isles. 12 Notes – Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin) on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire

Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin) on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire GEORGE R. ELSE, Northcroft, St. Peter’s Road, Hayling Island, Hampshire, PO11 0RX I have read with interest the two recent notes been grown at Cholderton since 1730, and on Onobrychis in Britain by Eric Clement there has been a continuation until the present and David Pearman (BSBI News, 112: 19-20 day (Edmunds’ grandfather having taken on and 113: 30). Some other views and observa- the crop in the 1880s) (Edmunds, pers. tions may assist in assessing the status and comm.). It is grown annually on the estate significance of two variants of this plant in (using a variety known as “Hampshire Britain. Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. is Common”) and occupies an area of over 200 widespread on the chalk grasslands of Salis- acres. This form generally produces flowers bury Plain, Wiltshire, where it clearly earlier in the season, from about May and is consists of two subspecies: the native viciifo- over by July. It is, of course, desirable that a lia viciifolia and the alien viciifolia decum- commercial crop flowers at the same time and bens. For the most part these are readily thus can be mown once the pods ripen distinguished in the field on morphological synchronously. The native form flowers characters. The native subspecies from June to October. There is some overlap- (sometimes referred to as ssp. montana) has ping in the flowering periods of the two deep pink flowers and is decumbent to erect subspecies that can perhaps favour cross-pol- in form, but less so than the alien subspecies. lination. This, however, has not been proved Generally the native plant has fewer leaflets to occur on the Plain. Also, the cutting of than its close relative. With practice the two both subspecies generally encourages a forms can be separated from one another at a second, later flowering. distance of several metres. It is clear that the native form of Onobrychis The native vicifolia vicifolia is locally and has been established in Britain for several widely distributed over the Plain and is thousand years. There are two examples that particularly common on the grasslands about provide evidence supporting this view. First, Tilshead, extending further north to the Vale quantities of O. viciifolia pods or the skeletal of Pewsey and the Marlborough Downs. It is remains of these have been identified from clearly a plant that is not in any way threat- late glacial deposits (the Middle and Late ened or in decline on the Plain. Thomas Weichselian) including those at Earith, Kent, Johnson was the first to publish the occur- and Nazeing, Essex (Godwin, 1975). O. rence of Onobrychis from the area. In his viciifolia pollen in such glacial deposits has Mercurius botanicus (1634) he records the not, apparently, been found in Britain. plant “On the farther edge of Sarisbury Second, there is one bee in Britain that is very Plaine” (I am indebited to David Pearman for intimately associated with the plant, being drawing this reference to my attention). The totally dependent on it for pollen. O. viciifo- introduced subspecies decumbens is common lia attracts many insects, mostly bumblebees on the grasslands, often being found along- (Bombus species) and honeybees (Apis side the native subspecies. Apparent interme- mellifera) which act as pollinators. However, diates between the two subspecies occur from there is one bee that only visits the species for time to time. Henry Edmunds, a local farmer pollen and nectar, the melittid mining-bee at Cholderton (on the Wiltshire/Hampshire Melitta dimidiata Morawitz. As a conse- border and very close to the Bulford area of quence, this species is only to be found where the Plain), has grown ssp. decumbens as a there is sufficient Onobrychis to sustain crop for many years. Indeed, he is the only viable populations. The bee has never been farmer on the Plain that continues to cultivate found visiting the introduced form as culti- Onobrychis commercially. The plant has vated by Edmunds but probably does so Notes – Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin) on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire 13 where it occurs on the natural grasslands. It (Kos), Turkey and central Asia. The nearest is, however, more likely to favour the native populations to Britain are isolated ones in viciifolia viciifolia as a pollen and nectar Belgium and central France. The bee is source as this plant is in full flower during oligolectic on Onobrychis throughout its much of the bee’s flight period, at a time range, but facultatively monolectic in Britain. when decumbens is nearing the end of its It visits several species of Onobrychis species flowering period. M. dimidiata flies from in mainland Europe, including O. arenaria late June to late July, the period being very (Kit.), O. montana, O. supina (Vill.) and O. closely synchronised with the flowering of viciifolia. The Wiltshire populations are of both subspecies of Onobrychis viciifolia, international significance and are the only especially during June. P.E.W. Currie was ones known from the Atlantic biogeographi- the first to find the bee in Britain, on 9th July cal zone. The species is Endangered through- 1949 near Tilshead in the centre of the Plain. out much of its world range. Some years later it was discovered at another Paul Westrich has very kindly allowed me site very close to the first one, and later still to illustrate this note with a photograph of a at an isolated locality near Easton Royal, in foraging female of M. dimidiata (see Front the Vale of Pewsey. It should be emphasised Cover). He took this in the Aosta Valley, that the serious recording of bees on the Plain northern Italy, at an altitude of about 1600 m. was largely neglected until the late 1980s and At this location the bee is apparently associ- it is no surprise that the bee was not identified ated with O. montana, a very close relative of as a British species until relatively recently. O. viciifolia. Since 1989 Stuart Roberts and I have investigated numerous sites on the Plain where References: Onobrychis is well established and we have BAKER, D.B. (1964). ‘Two bees new to found M. dimidiata in many of these, Britain (Hym., Apoidea)’. Entomologist’s sometimes in abundance (it is a large bee, Monthly Magazine 100: 279-286. about the size of the cosmopolitan honeybee, ELSE, G.R. & ROBERTS, S.P.M. (1994). and is not easily overlooked) (Else & ‘Some rare and threatened bees recorded Roberts, 1994). In Britain the bee is found from Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire’. British exclusively in Wiltshire, with confirmed Journal of Entomology and Natural History records only from Salisbury Plain, the Vale of 7: 59-65. Pewsey (formerly Easton Royal) and the FALK, S. (1991). A review of the scarce and Marlborough Downs (Walker’s Hill). Else threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great and Spooner (in Shirt, 1987) list the species Britain. Research and Survey in Nature as Endangered (RDB1), as does Falk (1991) Conservation. Nature Conservancy Coun- in his status review of the British aculeate cil, Peterborough. Hymenoptera. It would seem inconceivable GODWIN, H. (1975). History of the British that this bee was somehow imported into flora: a factual basis for phytogeography. Britain with Onobrychis when subspecies Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. decumbens was introduced for cultivation. JOHNSON, T. (1634). Mercurius botanicus: Indeed, Baker, when introducing the species sive plantarum gratia suscepti itineris. T & as new to Britain (1964), was of the opinion R. Cotes, London. that the bee arrived in Boreal or Sub-boreal SHIRT, D.B. (ed.). (1987). British Red Data times. M. dimidiata is very widely distrib- Books. 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy uted in Eurasia, reaching Russia, Greece Council, Peterborough. 14 Notes – Sainfoin subspecies may matter to insects / Chemically-induced colour change in Chamerion angustifolium flowers

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) – the subspecies may matter to insects STEVEN FALK, Senior Keeper of Natural History, Warwickshire Museum, Market Place, Warwick, CV34 4SA (01926 412481; 01926 419840; [email protected]) The mixed up genetic nature of the British scarcer bees may also be influenced by plant flora can be considered variously as a races. One rarity, Melitta dimidiata, only taxonomic conundrum, a field botanist’s feeds on Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and challenge or a conservation issue. But it is is restricted to Salisbury Plain, where the not just a botanical matter. Many phytopha- native Sainfoin is common. It is said to use gous insects and other insects with very an alien form of the plant here (George Else specific floral requirements can be much – pers. comm.) but does not seem to occur at scarcer or more geographically restricted sites with only the alien form in other parts than the plants they require. In some of southern Britain. The related Melitta instances this is down to climatic factors or tricincta only forages on Red Bartsia the fact that the plants they need now survive (Odontites verna), and is restricted to south- at sparse levels within highly fragmented ern Britain, even though the plant is locally populations across many parts of their range. common elsewhere, including massive But I suspect that the genetic nature or populations in some of the old limestone subspecies of a plant may be a factor in some quarries of my adopted county instances, either because it affects growth (Warwickshire). Is it especially dependent and flowering characteristics of the plant or upon ssp. serotinus? physiology and chemistry. If any of you Like you botanists, we entomologists are happen to be Black-poplar enthusiasts, you now increasingly using DNA analysis to will be aware that the spiral galls created by work out what is going on, and it is throwing Pemphigus aphids (see Colour Section, Plate up plenty of surprises, including a new 1) are one of the best clues that you are bumblebee which has been hiding away dealing with true Populus nigra as opposed within the traditional concept of the common to one of the ×canadensis hybrids. Mistletoe Bombus lucorum,appropriately named by contrast, prefers the hybrids. Some of our Bombus cryptarum!

Chemically-induced colour change in Chamerion angustifolium flowers MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN, Knockavota, Milltown, Co. Kerry, Ireland

In response to the request for information on encroaching vegetation that was narrowing chemically-induced colour change in plants the roadway. When flowers did appear they (Jack Oliver, BSBI News 113), I wish to say were white rather than the usual red-purple. that I observed this phenomenon in the Plants away from the vapour drift displayed summer of 2005. the typical colour. A year later, white There are extensive stands of Chamerion flowered Senecio jacobaea (Common angustifolium (Rosebay) growing by the Ragwort) plants were found growing by the road margins that dissect Kilderry Wood, road margin, but whether this was chemical- Milltown, Kerry (v.c. H2). Several weeks ly-induced or as a result of a rare natural before flowering time, the wood manage- occurrence, I cannot be certain. ment applied a spray solution to the Notes – Project to locate and DNA fingerprint the Water Poplars of southern England 15

Progress with a project to locate and DNA fingerprint the Water Poplars of southern England KENNETH J. ADAMS, School of Health & Biosciences, University of East London, E15 4LZ ([email protected]) What is a Water Poplar? It is the old English scattered distribution of our WPs, this is not a name (Cook, 1676) for what we now call the significant problem in the U.K. However, ‘native’ Black Poplar or the ‘Atlantic race of suitable conditions for germination and estab- the European Black Poplar’: Populus nigra lishment no longer exist due to destruction of ssp. betulifolia. Neither vernacular is partic- our riparian forests. It is, however, a ularly appropriate as it would seem that many problem on the continent, where, for if not all our trees are probably no more example, around 50% of the young trees native than the ‘English’ Elm Ulmus procera; along the Rhine were found to be of hybrid now known to have been introduced to origin (Smulders et al., 2008), and will England in the first century AD and to derive become our problem if, as proposed recently, from an Italian clone to the east of Rome. riparian forests are re-establised in the U.K. More appropriately, it could be given the less In another sense, it is already a problem, in embarrassing appellation Atinian Elm (Gil, that numerous hybrid trees imported from the L. et al, 2004). Furthermore, Populus nigra continent involving ‘Italica’ and ‘Gigantea’ extends right across Europe into central Asia as parents have been turning up in the U.K. and south into N. Africa, so it’s hardly appro- Thus, if we don’t vegetatively propagate the priate to call P. nigra sensu lato the full range of genetic variation present in our ‘European’ Black Poplar. Hence my endeav- veteran WPs this will be lost when the old our to promote the old English name to trees die. Genuine Water Poplar seedlings are minimise confusion with so-called ‘Italian’ very exacting in their environment, requiring Black Poplars/Hybrid Black Poplars and a gravelly, weed-free substrate that remains other Euro-American and Euro-Asian hybrids wet with well-oxygenated water right through and the various American Cottonwoods. the summer, so that any seedlings that survive There has been a growing realisation are likely to be the less exacting and more Europe-wide that enormous quantities of vigorous hybrid crosses. A few seedlings are pollen are being produced by the tens of occasionally found in the U.K., but we can thousands of ornamental and commercial only be really sure that they are the product of plantings of crosses between the exotic a genuine intraspecific cross if we bag the American Eastern Cottonwood P. deltoides young female flowers and dust them when and P. nigra typica, and P. nigra ssp. betuli- receptive with pollen from a bono fide male folia; together with fastigiate clones of and grow up the seedlings in a nursery. Until Populus nigra typica, in particular the male we know more about our clones, I would urge ‘Italica’, and the various male P. nigra ssp. restraint on making artificial crosses. betulifolia × ‘Italica’ clones known collec- Suppose, for example, one of our strains has tively as ‘Plantierensis’. Although females of an extra thick cuticle that protects it against P. nigra have been shown to respond prefer- fungal attack. If we cross it with one that has entially to conspecific pollen in mixed pollen a thin cuticle we could end up with compro- clouds (Vanden Broeck et al.,2006), if none mised progeny. alights on their stigmas, they will accept In recent decades, enthusiasts have become pollen from, and cross with P. ×canadensis. concerned about the apparent scarcity of They can also cross with ‘Italica’, and Water Water Poplars, and are now aware of the need Poplar males can cross with the fastigiate to conserve as much remaining genetic varia- female ‘Gigantea’. Despite the thinly tion as possible, to try and avoid the sort of 16 Notes – Project to locate and DNA fingerprint the Water Poplars of southern England epidemic disease outbreak that decimated our recording an individual tree, and many hours monoclonal Ulmus procera. This has led a and days were spent searching for trees that number of counties to extend and refine the others had reported. The problem has been recording of the exact location and sex of solved by annotating the crown of each tree individual trees started by the late Edgar recorded on satellite aerial images (using the Milne-Redhead, and they have begun to site collect cuttings from every individual tree, http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm, and one or two from each group of trees, and in conjunction with PaintshopPro 5), so that to propagate them in clone banks. This now we have begun to sample the trees for resource, combined with new, highly sensi- DNA fingerprinting it is possible to be certain tive DNA microsatellite analyses, has made it which tree has been sampled. During 2009 a possible to begin to answer a number of further 126 trees were sampled from the wild, outstanding questions about our U.K. Water completing the list of known trees in Essex Poplars. This analysis is based on the detec- and as many isolated individuals and groups tion of size differences in a set of seven of trees that we could find in the London area. highly repetitive regions of DNA known as These were sent to Forest Research for DNA microsatellites, that are widely dispersed fingerprinting. across the poplar genome. These small size At the outset of this work, I had set myself differences, which accumulate over long a number of questions. Firstly, did the range periods of time, can be detected by isolating of clones in clone banks represent the full these DNA segments and running them on range of clones that grow out there in the wild polyacrylamide gels. The resulting informa- in Britain? Or had these been swapped tion can be used to indicate whether a tree is around by nurseries from a relatively few likely to have been derived vegetatively via a isolates? Secondly, have most of the veteran cutting, in which case the pattern of microsat- trees in the wild been derived vegetatively ellites of parent and offspring will be identi- from a small number of clones, or are there cal, or whether it has grown from a seed, in any populations that appear to have been which case the microsatellite pattern will be a derived genuinely from seedlings? Thirdly, combination of the fingerprint of the parents. have we been ignoring genuine WP veterans This technique has been adopted in the U.K. that do not have the typical morphology by Joan Cottrell and Stuart A’Hara at Forest described for P. nigra ssp./var. betulifolia, Research, Roslin, and was initially applied to such as lack of hairy petioles or burring? the WPs held in clone banks across the U.K Finally, are there any insects that are entirely (A’Hara et al., 2009). Their results for the specific to WPs so that we can use them to 250 trees sampled suggest that, as already identify the species, or are we likely to come suspected, most of our U.K. trees have been unstuck if back-crosses between P. nigra ssp. cloned from cuttings taken from a small betulifolia and any of the F1 P. deltoides × number of genetically unique individuals. nigra hybrids also act as hosts to these insects? Joining forces with Peter Ennis and Keith Taking the last question first, I had been Turner, who had been locating and mapping struck by my observation back in 1998 that WPs in Suffolk and Essex, I began in 1997 to four male trees on the cliffs at Southend were search for, locate, and accurately map all the so infested with the aphid Pemphigus veteran WP trees in Essex, and more recently spyrothecae that they had up to six spiral galls throughout the London area and parts of North on their petioles, noticeably disfiguring the Wiltshire/East Gloucestershire. It quickly canopies from some distance away, despite became apparent that using national grid refer- their complete absence from several ences, whether derived by map or GPS, was not P. ×canadensis growing in the vicinity (see a sufficiently accurate way of locating or Colour Section, Plate 1). Since that time, I Notes – Project to locate and DNA fingerprint the Water Poplars of southern England 17 have never seen a spiral gall on an obvious my hypothetical P. spyrothecae resistance P. ×canadensis, or any poplar species other gene, it will be lost at meiosis in half the than those obviously derived from P. nigra, offspring in a F2 backcross. So far only one such as ssp. betulifolia, ‘Italica’, ‘Gigantea’ of my samples has exhibited both the or ‘Plantierensis’. Others however have deltoides specific deletion and possessed claimed to find spiral galls on hybrids, and it spiral galls, although only a couple of galls occurred to me that these might be back- were found on the tree. Thus it could have crosses. If there is something in the genome been a back-cross in which ‘my gene’ had of P. deltoides that makes the petioles of the been lost but not the deltoides deletion. Fortu- F1 hybrid with P. nigra unattractive or unpal- nately, further genetic markers have now atable to P. spyrothecae, what if this was become available that are also specific to the back-crossed with P. nigra? Might the deltoides genome, and it will therefore hence- gene(s) responsible in some cases be lost at forth be possible to detect such a back-cross. meiosis? I therefore collected samples from A word of caution, however: spiral galls will a number of trees that I came across that not be found in any numbers, if at all, on looked as if they might be back-crosses, or P. nigra agg. trees that are water stressed, did not quite fit the typical betulifolia such as those that flush in a spring drought, or morphology. In addition to the seven micro- are recovering from drastic pollarding or satellites common to the Aigeiros crown reduction. Although aphids of the (Cottonwoods and Black Poplars) subgenus, genus Pemphigus also occur in N. America there is a shared gene that in P. deltoides has on their various Cottonwoods, and four a sizeable DNA deletion, which is being used species have been found to be specific to by Forest Research to detect first generation P. deltoides; there are several European P. ×canadensis hybrids. Unfortunately, species which appear to be specific to although infallible for F1 hybrids, just like P. nigra sensu lato. The following are regarded as specific to the old world P. nigra aggregate:

Secondary hosts Abundance

Pemphigus spyrothecae no secondary host common Pemphigus protospirae Berula erecta, Sium latifolium very rare Pemphigus bursarius Lettuce Root Aphid frequent Pemphigus populi Medicago, Melilotus, Lathyrus rare Pemphigus populinigrae Marsh Cudweed Aphid common? Pemphigus phenax Carrot Root Aphid common? Pemphigus gairi Aethusa cynapium common?

Apart from P. spyrothecae,which overwin- P. bursarius, the pouch gall, is another petiole ters as an egg on the bark of its host, all the specialist, and is next in order of frequency. others migrate to the roots of various herba- It occurs commonly on ‘Italica’ and occasion- ceous plants as alternate hosts. I have never ally on betulifolia. P. populi, which forms a seen P. protospirae, not surprising perhaps as globular gall on the upper surface of the it has Berula and Sium as its secondary hosts. midrib with an access hole below and often Maybe it will turn up in the Cambridge or splits open above, is rare and I have only seen Norfolk fens. It is distinguished by the it a couple of times [on betulifolia]. The next presence of more than the two complete turns three belong to a group which form similar typical of the spiral gall of P. spirothecae. linear, pouch-like galls on the mid-rib, and 18 Notes – Project to locate and DNA fingerprint the Water Poplars of southern England you have to look at the aphids inside to clone 28 around, it would be prudent not to identity the exact species; something I have plant any more of them. not yet done, although the pouches which Of the females, my limited results so far for start off green, and then go red, are not N. Wilshire/East Gloucestershire suggest that uncommon. So, the answer to my question the large population of morphologically would appear to be: if any of these galls distinct females occurring along the tributar- appear in large numbers on a tree it must be ies of the Isis are all likely to be of a new one of the P. nigra agg. If only a few galls Clone (49) unique to this catchment. In are present, it could either be due to water addition our results extend the suggestion that stress or the possibility of a (deltoides × Clone 47, of which there are at least 30-40 typica) × (betulifolia) back-cross, requiring a trees, is probably unique to the test for several of the new deltoids-specific Herts./Cambs./Suffolk confluence and we DNA markers to be sure. can therefore confidently expect more trees of Going back to my list of questions: do the this clone among the 100 or so trees recorded genetic fingerprints of veterans in the wild for Cambs., yet to be fingerprinted. The large match those in existing clone banks, and have population of female trees of clone 32 in these veteran trees mostly been propagated Suffolk extends thinly scattered right across from cuttings? The clone bank results Essex and into the London area. One male referred to above suggested that the 7,000 tree near Waples Mill near the R. Roding in male trees planted around Greater Manches- Essex is, so far, a new clone with a single ter were probably all Clone 28, and that the representative, and might possibly derive 5,000 male trees in Aylesbury Vale are proba- from a genuine seedling. On the other hand, bly all Clone 35. Clone 28 also turned up in the intriguing occurrence of a male tree in a clone banks elsewhere, and our results hedgerow near Harlow with an identical suggest that at least 150 of the trees scattered fingerprint to a tree on an island in the Lea on over the London area derive from this clone, the Middx. side of the river, and so far no and a further 120 occur in Essex. The large match elsewhere, is a real social history population in the Lee Valley at Hackney and puzzle. Thus far then, it is clear that there are surrounding suburbs is thought to have been more multiple plantings out there in the wild planted in the 1890s, and the population in of clones that have yet to be discovered, that Hainault Country Park in 1910. This raises saturation mapping is going to be worthwhile, the intriguing question as to the social history and that virtually all our trees are likely to of these plantings. Did the nursery that have been planted from truncheons (large 5 to propagated the enormous number of trees for 6ft long cuttings) taken from existing trees. Greater Manchester also sell them country Finally, perhaps the most exciting discov- wide, possibly to finance the project? Or did ery of all, concerns the enigmatic mixed they just happen to choose a stock tree from a population of males and females in a line clone that was already widespread? This along the south-west bank of the tidal Thames clone is known to be susceptible to a strain of from Hammersmith to Putney (see Colour Poplar Scab that is decimating the Greater Section, Plate 1). They were recorded there Manchester population. What we don’t know as long ago as 1852 by J. Boswell Syme is whether other clones are equally suscepti- (Lousley, 1976). Of the 40-odd trees, I have ble, or whether the stresses of living in a only sampled the first two males and first two damp, urban environment have caused the females up from the Barnes end, but intrigu- epidemic, and this clone just happened to be ingly they have all four proved to be geneti- in the firing line. Until we know the answer, cally unique, suggesting that they may and since there are already large numbers of represent a relict population originally germi- Notes – Project to locate and DNA fingerprint the Water Poplars of southern England 19 nating as seedlings along the gravelly shore ciated. Another aspect of the Water Poplar line. The Victorian engineers obviously saga that needs financing is the experimental appreciated the binding power of their roots, work that needs to be done to establish and the role of their trailing branches in whether any of our clones are resistant to the slowing the marginal currents, thus protecting current strain of Poplar Scab. When, in 50 the river bank, and they carefully constructed years time, all the tropical hardwood trees are their stone and brick revetment around the carbon sequestered as people’s front doors or base of the trees. As my photograph shows, expensive furniture, we may need to turn the revetment does not appear to have been once again to the Water Poplar as a timber repaired since then, suggesting that the trees tree. A more extensive résumé of the plight were already fully grown at the time and that of the world’s poplar species, how to distin- they must therefore be close to 200 years old. guish Water Poplars morphologically, and No new seedlings are likely to survive how to grow them and sample them for DNA however, due to the sealing effect of the fingerprinting – plus tables and colour coded revetment and the metalling of the towpath. maps of the trees we have sampled so far, can The role of riverine trees in stabilising river be found on the BSBI linked website. banks is well known abroad, and engineers in www.bsbi.org,uk >Recorders>>Essex>> Australia have carried out experiments to Water Poplars. quantify the advantages of using trees for Many thanks to all who have sent in records bank protection, concluding that the presence of tree locations – please keep them coming – of tree roots can increase the safety factor of and to the Essex Biodiversity Project and the an otherwise unstable bank section by 60% Royal Parks for covering the DNA finger- (Abernethy & Rutherford, 2000). Even in the printing costs to date. I am also very grateful U.K., the company Salix [www.salixrw.com] to Joan Cottrell for carefully reading through routinely uses willow trees for this purpose. this article and making corrections and However the Port of London Authority have suggestions to improve it. been advised otherwise and this, possibly the References: only substantial surviving population of ABERNETHY,B. & RUTHERFORD, I.D. (2000). Water Poplars grown naturally from seed in ‘The effect of riparian tree roots on the the U.K., is under imminent threat. mass stability of riverbanks’. Earth Surface In 2010/2011 I would like to sample all of Processes and Landforms 25(9): 921-937. this line of trees, as well as additional trees A’HARA, S., SAMUEL, S. & COTTRELL, J. that have been discovered in London, Suffolk (2009). ‘The role of DNA-fingerprinting in and Essex; the trees that have now been the conservation of Black Poplar’. British located in Surrey (c.200); Cambs. (c.100), Wildlife 21(2): 110-115. and Norfolk (c.70); and to continue to map COOK, M. (1676). Manner of raising, and sample the trees in East Herts. I also have ordering and improving forest trees. Peter a substantial shopping list for N.Wilts and E. Parker, London. (p. 81). Gloucestershire. Fingerprinting is an expen- GIL, L. et al. (2004). ‘English Elm is a sive business, however, and I need to find 2,000-year-old Roman Clone’. Nature 431: around £10,000 to finance the next phase of 1053. the project. So, if any of our readers would LOUSLEY, J.E. (1976). Flora of Surrey. like to make a donation to the project, or help David & Charles, Devon. to raise the cash, your assistance would be VANDEN BROECK, A., et al. (2006). Paternity most welcome. And if you are influential and analysis of Populus nigra L. offspring in a can help to save that unique row of trees Belgian plantation of native and exotic along the Thames, your help would be appre- poplars’. Ann. For. Sci. 63:783-790. 20 Notes – Changes in Upper Kennet Valley Salix populations in response to fungal blights

Changes in Upper Kennet Valley Salix populations in response to fungal blights JACK OLIVER, High View, Rhyls Lane, Lockeridge, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4ED In the 18th century, the most common Salix fungal diseases becoming rampant after the species in the Marlborough locality were two warm, wet autumns of 1998 and 1999. S. caprea (Goat Willow), S. cinerea (Grey The Ramsbury White Willows and the four Willow or Grey Sallow) and S.viminalis commonest smaller Salix species were (Osier). Less common were S. alba (White wholly unaffected. Willow), S. aurita (Eared Willow), S. fragi- Assessing the relative ratios of the differ- lis (Crack Willow), S. purpurea (Purple ent Salix taxa is complicated by frequent Willow) and S. triandra (Almond Willow), human plantings and by past failure to note the first and third of these usually planted common hybrids. All the Cricket-bat (MCNHS, 1934). The waterside lists of Willows (S. alba var. caerulea), for instance, frequency by Grose (1957) only mention are superb rapid-growth trees, originating S. atrocinerea (= cinerea ssp. oleifolia), from Norfolk, but locally planted. These fragilis and viminalis as riverside front-run- trees are more regular and vertical than the ners. By 1970, the preponderant Salix commoner S. alba trees, with silvery-blue species upstream and downstream from leaf undersurfaces – and are disease resist- Marlborough were S. fragilis and S. vimina- ant. Allowing for these complications, the lis, but with local concentrations of S. alba, general picture in the 1970s was dotted S. cinerea, S. purpurea, S. ×sericans (Broad- individual White Willows west of Marlbor- leaved Osier)(a hybrid), and S. triandra. ough, mostly mature (or toppled), with a few West of Marlborough (upstream), the coppiced stumps or pollards, surrounded by dominant large riverside Salix was then a very marked preponderance of Crack Crack Willow, forming an attractive green Willows of all ages. By 2009, the picture ribbon along the River Kennet when viewed had become largely reversed. A small from higher ground. Over the last four number of of mature Crack Willows retain decades, the same view has changed to healthy crowns, with White Willows all create an even more spectacular display around. Fallen White Willows send up a when the trees are in leaf. Sunlight and wind forest of of new verticals (extensive layering can cause a ripple of reversed leaf surfaces, – see Oliver, 2002a and b). Fallen, coppiced, from green to silver or silver to green, pollarded or shaded Crack Willows now tend moving along the valley, a similar phenome- to die. More noticeably, young Crack non to that seen in some wheat fields Willows are stunted, and failing to compete (‘metachromatic succession’). These semi- well, even with Osiers. Lower branches of continuous ribbons west of Marlborough are medium-sized Crack Willows hardly survive now formed by White Willows. shading. I have discussed the changes with Marren (2005) refers to the Kennet Valley tree surgeons clearing dead timber, saying as “…one of the most willow-rich places (in that the relative preponderance of the big terms of species) I have ever seen.” Around willow species has been changing “since the Ramsbury, east of Marlborough War”, and have been corrected thus: the (downstream), in the 1990s, Crack Willow process has been a more recent acceleration, was the dominant large Salix. Marren since the 1980s. We should therefore think described the sorry state of these trees in terms of a rapid weakening and stunting of towards the end of the decade and subse- Crack Willows over the last two decades, quently. He attributed their decline to three Notes – Changes in Upper Kennet Valley Salix populations in response to fungal blights 21 especially 1998-2010, in line with Marren’s For eight of the 10 matched taxa, my obser- (2005) account. vations on susceptibility fully matched those There are two main leaf and shoot diseases: of the Alice Holt Centre. However, all six of Willow Scab and Black Canker. These are my Bay Willows (S. pentandra) were mildly caused by the fungus Pollacia saliciperda (= or moderately afflicted by obvious Willow Fusicladium saliciperdum, the imperfect or Scab (resistant, according to the Alice Holt asexual state of Venturia saliciperda); and Centre). These six may have been vulnera- the fungus Glomerella miyabeana (and its ble, for all had suffered severe squirrel-strip- imperfect, or asexual state: Colletotrichum ping, and five were also shaded. A lesser gloeosporoides). In 2008 and 2009, west of difference was that all the Goat Willows (no. Marlborough, Willow Scab was the primary 8) in this part of Wiltshire seem totally condition, with Black Canker attacking some resistant to blight (only moderately resistant scab-damaged trees later in the season. according to the Alice Holt Centre – but note Young leaves can develop irregular black no. 29 on the table). spots. Blackening can then involve the Susceptibilities and resistance of the whole leaf, petioles and shoots. Killed common local Salix taxa leaves shrivel and eventually drop (Rose, In 2008 and 2009, I have not noted one D.R., 1989). Crack Willow (no. 17) or one Crack Willow The table (p. 23) gives detail on riverside hybrid (no. 30) free from Willow Scab in any Salix trees and shrubs within Marlborough part of the Upper Kennet Valley (see also College grounds to Preshute, and my Marren, 2005). Some of the younger trees, Arboretum at Clatford. At both sites, there lower branches of big trees, re-sprouted are mixtures of native, naturalised, intro- coppice or pollard branchlets are in a sorry duced (past and recent), and exotic Salices. state, blackened, stunted, girdled by cankers These were often in close proximity, with or dead. vigorously layering, shrubby species, such The many lovely White and Cricket-bat as S. purpurea, S. triandra, and S. viminalis Willows (nos. 2 and 3) are thriving, the (nos. 26, 27, 36, 37) colonising away from former (no. 2) increasing, to become the the shade of tall Salix or Populus trees. dominant riverside tree. Purple Willows Dampness, dankness and shading therefore (nos. 26 and 27) are all thriving and spread- provided a severe test of vulnerability to the ing. Interestingly, all those willows with many types of willow, sallow and osier. purple pigment externally but bright yellow The table lists 20 Salix species, 10 inter- under-barks (nos. 1, 12, 21, 26, 27, 31) seem species hybrids, and six additional subspe- resistant to both blights, suggesting that cies, cultivars or variants. The other two are these pigments might be extracted as fungi- commercial clones with different suscepti- cides. All osier species and their hybrids bilities to the corresponding taxa (nos. 6 and seem to be blight-resistant and thriving (nos. 29). The Alice Holt Research Centre 11, 13, 31, 33, 35, 37, 38). This applies produced a list of 16 Salix taxa susceptible especially to common Osier (nos. 37 and 38) (or not) to Willow Scab and Black Canker. and our remarkable Broad-leaved Osiers (no. This included five native species, five exotic 33). These last can become fully substantial species, two hybrids and four additional trees and can grow well in water or on dry variants on the preceding 12 (Rose, J., 1989). chalk! All the natural Sallows and Sallow- All five natives, three exotics, one hybrid Osier hybrids resist the two blights (nos. 8, and one variant are shared with my list 9, 11, 13, 28). However, five small same- (which only has two weeping forms, age trees in a ring under heavily diseased compared with five on the Alice Holt list). Crack Willows in the Marlborough College 22 Notes – Changes in Upper Kennet Valley Salix populations in response to fungal blights grounds showed mild or moderate Willow intentional human plantings of White Scab infection in 2009 (no. 29). I suspect (and/or Cricket-bat) Willows. The fungal these were a clone commercially-bred from diseases Willow Scab and Black Canker can alien parentage for some special horticul- be intermittent in their virulence, but appear tural feature(s). to be having a permanent weakening effect The foregoing covers all the common on all Crack Willows and all their hybrids. Upper Kennet Valley Salices except S. trian- All the natural Osiers, Sallows and Purple dra, which is also invariably disease-free. Willows and their hybrids are so far resistant Susceptibilities of rarer or exotic horticul- to the blights, but some exotics, cultivars and tural Salix taxa to Willow Scab complex hybrids are vulnerable. If these S. babylonica (Weeping Willow) (no. 7) observations are correct and sustained, they suffers severely from late spring frosts, are another example of fungi having a sometimes looking very ragged in early sudden and severe influence on tree popula- summer, but recovering to become the best tions, depressing one or more species in of the weeping willow taxa from mid-sum- favour of their replacement by others mer to late autumn. All five hybrid weeping moving in. Fungi may therefore influence willow taxa are moderately or mildly suscep- the evolution of trees. tible to Scab (five on the Alice Holt Centre Acknowledgements: list, the one on mine: no. 32). Each of these My thanks to Terry Rogers (Hon. Archivist, five have one vulnerable parent (Crack, Marlborough College) and to Dr David Rose Golden (no. 5) or Pekin Willow; but S. and Dr Joan Rose of the Alice Holt Lodge babylonica itself as the other parent resists Forest Research Centre. Willow Scab). The local common weeping References: willows can suffer much blackened, gappy MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE NATURAL and untidy foliage in saome years, but are HISTORY SOCIETY (MCNHS). (1934). free in others; not always in phase with the Handlist of flowering plants of the Marl- severest Willow Scab years for the surround- borough district (10 mile radius). The ing Crack Willows. Society, Marlborough. Handlist no. 83. S. aurita became extinct in this part of MARREN, P. (2005). ‘Willow Blight in the Wiltshire in the 1980s, but it likes acid Kennet Valley’. ARK (Action for the River conditions. Some of the many Salix intro- Kennet), Spring issue. ductions and new hybrids will survive, thrive OLIVER, J. E. (2002a). ‘The natural history or even spread, but I see no future for the of the White Willow’. BSBI News 91: 25-6. older Golden Willow (S. alba var. vitellina) OLIVER, J. E. 2002b. ‘Natural rejuvenation clones (no. 5), nor for other exotics, hybrids of floodplain willows’. British Wildlife or cultivars which are vulnerable to Willow 14(2): 152. Scab and Black Canker, or to late frosts (for ROSE, D. R. (1989). Scab and Black Canker example nos.. 4, 10, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, and of willow. Arboricultural Research Note. 30). Dept. of the Environment, Arboricultural Summary and conclusions Advisory & Information Service, Alice The long-standing dominance of Crack Holt Lodge. Willows has recently given way to flourish- ROSE, J. (1989). Susceptibility of willows to ing and extensive ribbons of healthy White Scab and Black Canker: appendix to Willows alongside the R. Kennet in the Research Notes. Dept. of the Environ- Upper Kennet Valley. This seems to be an ment, Arboricultural Advisory & Informa- accelerating process, not mainly due to tion Service. Alice Holt Lodge Forest Research. Notes – Changes in Upper Kennet Valley Salix populations in response to fungal blights 23

Table 1: Susceptibility of large and medium-sized Salix species and hybrids to Willow Scab and Black Canker

Affected Affected by Affected by Black Taxon No. of Willow by other Taxonomic name Common name Canker no. specimens Scab impacts (A, B, C (A, A1B, (S, F) or †) C or †) Siberian Violet- 1 acutifolia 200S willow 2 alba White Willow 20 0 0 3 alba var caerulea Cricket-bat Willow 10 0 0S alba ‘Britzensis’/ Carmine-twigged 4 22 (B)0 ‘Chermesina’ Willow 5 (B, C, 3 (B, C, 5 alba var. vitellina Golden Willow 5 †) †) Golden Willow 6 alba var. vitellina (disease-resistant 200 clone) Weeping Willow 7 babylonica (true, or Willow- 100F pattern) Goat Willow 8 caprea 3XVV\:LOORZƃ 10 0 0 S Great Sallow) Grey Willow 9 cinerea ssp. oleifolia 800S (Lesser Sallow) Heart-leaved 10 cordata/adenophylla 22 (†) Willow 11 ×calodendron Holme Willow Ƃ 0 0 European Violet- 12 daphnoides 800 willow Sallow-Osier 13 ×dasyclados (triple hybrid) (all 12 0 0 ƃ 14 elaeagnos Olive Willow 1 0 0 Argentine Copper- 3 (B, C, 15 ×erythroflexuosa 3 2 (C, †) F corkscrew Willow †) 3? ?3 (B, C, (uncertain 16 exigua Coyote Willow 3 (uncertain †) blight) blight) >40 (B, >15 (B, 17 fragilis Crack Willow >40 C, †) C, †) Manchu-Korean 18 gracilistyla 200 Willow 24 Notes – Changes in Upper Kennet Valley Salix populations in response to fungal blights

Kurome/Japanese gracilistyla var. 19 Black-catkin 22 (B)1 (A) melanostachys Willow 1 (†) Hooker’s Pacific- 20 hookeriana 500(uncertain coast Willow blight) Morning Dew 21 irrorata 300S Willow Wilson’s Sichuan 22 magnifica 11 (A)0F Mountain Willow matsudana Corkscrew Pekin 23 22 (C, †)0 ‘Tortuosa’ Willow 24 pentandra Bay Willow 6 6 (A, B) S 25 phylicifolia Tea-leaved Willow 1 0 0 purpurea ssp. 26 Purple Willow 10 0 0 lambertiana purpurea ssp. 27 Purple Willow 4 0 0 purpurea Hybrid Sallow 28 ×reichardtii 400 (natural hybrid) Hybrid Sallow 29 ×reichardtii 55 (A, B)0 (commercial clone) ×rubens nv. bas- Golden/Crack 30 44 (C)2 (A, B) S fordiana Willow hybrid Green-leaved 31 ×rubra 100 Willow ×sepulchralis Weeping Willow 32 64 (A, B)0 nv. chrysocoma hybrid 33 ×sericans Broad-leaved Osier 20 0 0 Olive Willow/ 34 ×seringeana Goat Willow 100 hybrid 35 ×smithiana Silky-leaved Osier 1 0 0 36 triandra Almond Willow >13 0 0 37 viminalis Osier 55 0 0 viminalis 38 ‘Bowles Hybrid’ Biomass Osier 2 0 0 Susceptibility: A: mildly; B: moderately; C: severely; †: terminally afflicted; S: squirrel strip- ping of bark; F: late frost sensitivity Notes – Hybrid plants in Typha 25

Hybrid plants in Typha MICHAEL WILCOX, 32 Shawbridge Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 1LZ ([email protected]) The two species of bulrush, Typha latifolia is the seed, almost in the middle of the flower. (Bulrush) and T. angustifolia (Lesser Bulrush), However, in the hybrid it is absent, as can be have a sterile hybrid, T. ×glauca, which is seen in the figure, showing a skinny tube all most likely to be confused with T. angustifolia. the way up to the expanded flower hood. The hybrid also has narrow leaves similar to The seed in T. angustifolia is high in the tube T. angustifolia and so makes it difficult to and more importantly the opening of the determine with certainty. However, the main flower is a long-narrow hood. In T. latifolia way in which the hybrid can be told from its the seed appears low down in the flower tube, parents is in the flower shape, primarily the giving a long portion of tube above it before hood shape, and its sterility. the hood, and the hood is short and broad, like Both the parents produce seed, which is the expanded ‘head of a Cobra’. In the hybrid, usually seen as white fluffy heads in late there is no seed and the hood is intermediate, summer on the large brown, cigar-shaped with a slightly expanded tip, but an intermedi- flowering spikes, jam-packed with patent ate narrow opening as well. This can be seen flowers. The brown colour is the tips of the in close up in figure 2 (middle flower head). flower hoods squashed together. The position Flowers, therefore, are the most useful way of of the seed in the flower tube of the parents is determining this hybrid. The lack of seed and different for each taxon. Figures 1 & 2 show the intermediate hood of the hybrid (which is flowers of all three taxa from left to right; variable) should be examined to confirm the T. angustifolium, T. ×glauca and T. latifolium hybrid. respectively. The expanded portion in the tube

Figure 1. Typha seed position Figure 2. Typha flower hoods

Two more Fumaria reuteri (Martin’s Ramping-fumitory) locations in Scotland DR HEATHER MCHAFFIE, Scottish Plants Officer, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR; (Tel: 0131 248 2876) ([email protected]); (Website: http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/scotplant/index.html) Fumaria reuteri (Martin’s Ramping-fumitory) flowers and sepals to demonstrate the variation has previously only been known in the UK from and also illustrated these in a beautiful set of the Isle of Wight and Cornwall. It is thought to drawings. The plant has a long parallel-sided be a neophyte, which was first recorded in 1904 inflorescence with well spaced-out flowers. and might be of recent introduction, although it The sepals lie flat against the flower and are could be an archaeophyte which had not been usually only sparsely toothed near the base. recognised. It was added to Schedule 8 of the This species probably looks most like Wildlife and Countryside Act but as its status is F. muralis (Common Ramping-fumitory) but unclear it is on the Waiting List for the 2005 the latter only has a short inflorescence and the Red Data List. flowers are shorter and broader. F. muralis In 2006 Ian Teesdale found plants in a sepals do not lie flat against the flower but neighbour’s garden in Campbeltown in Kintyre undulate away from the point of attachment and which were eventually identified as F. reuteri. usually have many teeth. The neighbour had moved in comparatively We wondered if the golden Cupressus recently and was trying to clear the garden with ×leylandii hedge had come from a nursery on repeated applications of herbicide. The the Isle of Wight, which was not impossible. It fumitory flourished in the cleared space in was difficult to imagine that people had between applications. We thought there might dumped earth behind the new wall from the have been some transfer of seed, perhaps by other end of Britain, or that earth-moving way of a garden plant purchased on holiday in equipment would be freely moving over that the south, and that this was an isolated occur- kind of distance with generous quantities of rence. Plants from Campbeltown were grown seed-infested soil. In any case the fresh red soil at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, was typical of the local type, with an unremark- which gave us the opportunity to see living able collection of other species, mysteriously material of a species that we would not other- dominated in abundance by this single species wise encounter. In cultivation the plants were a of fumitory. There was one plant of F. officina- strong pink with contrasting white sepals. lis, but no other fumitories. Around the same However, in 2009 while driving through time Jim McIntosh was looking at some Kirriemuir a verge was observed with abundant fumitory near St Cyrus which turned out to be fumitory growing on the bank behind a new the same species. This was dark pink, a more retaining wall (see Inside Front Cover). This typical colour, and several robust plants were fumitory was unusually pale, being on the north growing in a weedy corner of a potato field. side of a conifer hedge. On examination the This was also drawn by Rose, and we were characteristic reuteri ‘jizz’ was observed: a grateful for her assistance in confirming these long narrow flower with a gap between the end two records. of the sepal and the rounded spur, due to the Now that there are three confirmed occur- long nectary tube. A dissecting microscope rences in Scotland it is possible that more might showed a long point in the centre of the stigma be found, which is the challenge for this equal to the length of the lobes on either side. summer. It raises the question of whether this Rose Murphy kindly confirmed this material, indicates an expansion of range, with a gap which showed a wider range of variation than across most of England, or if perhaps it is the southern plants, especially in having more under-recorded, which seems more likely. teeth on the sepals, which are usually smooth. There are old records in the Atlas over a wider Rose undertook many measurements of the area of southern England. Perhaps there was Notes – Fumaria reuteri locations in Scotland / ‘Unusual’ habitat for Chara vulgaris 27 some specific mechanism for spread in the past workshops this F. reuteri will be included with which no longer operates in the south. Possibly the Scottish species. The next workshop is on the Scottish occurrences relate to another Wednesday 9th June 2010, commencing at limited phase of accidental introductions. It is 10.00 am at the Royal Botanic Garden also possible that milder weather has encour- Edinburgh. The afternoon will include a field aged it to spread, although this winter might not visit, which might include F. reuteri (depending prove so favourable. As there is material in on a local field site being located by then!). To cultivation at the RBGE we can provide fresh book for the workshop (no charge) phone or plants for examination and in future fumitory email me. ‘Unusual’ habitat for Chara vulgaris JOHN LUCEY, Environmental Protection Agency, Seville Lodge, Kilkenny, Ireland; ([email protected]) The Charophyta (Order: Charales), commonly Back Cover showing photomicrographs of known as stoneworts, are the only non-vascular anteridium and oogonium of C. vulgaris from plant group whose study is included in the objec- the water trough). It has a widespread distribu- tives of the BSBI (Bryant & Stewart, 2005). tion and is found in almost every kind of aquatic Charophytes, unlike other algae, possess a situation such as lakes, ponds, puddles, slow- number of morphological and cellular character- moving rivers and canals, ditches, man-made istics of higher plants (Grambast, 1974) and are habitats, as well as in highly alkaline to mildly classed as macrophytes. acid and brackish water (Moore, 1986). Despite On 29th July 2008, while making my way to the this wide tolerance of habitats, charophytes are River Moyle, Co. Tipperary (v.c.H7) (S14548 normally associated with clean water quality 31903) to sample macro-invertebrates for water conditions. quality purposes, I noticed a disused watering Given its cosmopolitan occurrence and only trough with aquatic plants growing in it (see being limited to some degree by flow or current Inside Back Cover). On closer examination, it speed, perhaps a water trough should not, after turned out to be a veritable ecosystem supporting all, be seen as an unusual habitat for a species floating plants (Lemna minor) as well as such as C. vulgaris. Rather, this record should submerged bryophytes, filamentous algae, phyto- merely serve as an example to demonstrate the plankton and zooplankton. However, the most adaptability of the Charophyta. unusual inhabitant was a charophyte, Chara References: vulgaris L., growing in great profusion (see Inside BRYANT (formerly MOORE), J.A. AND STEW- Back Cover). ART, N.F. (2005). Order Charales. In: D.M. The water in the trough had the following OHN HITTON AND ROOK o J , B.A. W A.J. B (eds.) characteristics: temperature 20.3 C, dissolved The freshwater algal flora of the British Isles: oxygen 103%, pH 8.03 and conductivity 207 an identification guide to freshwater and µS/cm. Based on this, the degree of hardness of terrestrial algae (pp 593-612). Cambridge the water could be classed as slightly hard University Press, Cambridge. (Environmental Protection Agency, 2000), while ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. that of the adjacent river was 767 µS/cm which (2000). The hardness of Irish drinking waters: would indicate much harder water conditions. a simple guide based on conductivity data. The trough was apparently kept topped up with Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford. rainwater, although when in use was supplied GRAMBAST, L.J. (1974). ‘Phylogeny of the from the river. No charophytes were present in Charophyta’. Taxon 23: 463-481. the river, so the colonisation of the trough with C. MOORE, J.A. 1986. Charophytes of Great vulgaris was apparently from another source. Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 5. Chara vulgaris L. is monoecious, i.e. with Botanical Society of the British Isles, London. male and female gametangia (reproductive organs) produced on the same plant (see Inside 28 Notes – Botanical books available to download from the internet

Botanical books available to download from the internet KEITH SPURGIN, 4 Carclew Terrace, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2EF DAVID PEARMAN, ‘Algiers’, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA Over the last year or two we have had cause to This brings you to a site where, under ‘Texts’, consult many old county floras and other you have full access to 1.8 million books, botanical works, and have found that there is periodicals, etc. The example below is from an immense amount that has been digitised and S.F. Armstrong’s British grasses and their is available to freely download. The selection employment in agriculture. Cambridge : CUP, is certainly eclectic, but, to give very brief 1917, p. 79. This fount of botanical literature examples, we have been able to access about includes W.H. Painter’s A contribution to the 50 Victorian floras, almost the whole of the flora of Derbyshire (1889), A.R. Horwood’s Journal of Botany, the whole of Sowerby, colourful British wild flowers (1919) and many various editions of Hudson, Lightfoot, Hooker numbers of the much-loved Hardwicke’s and Smith, Aiton’s Hortus Kewensis, Turner & science-gossip. The advantage of Internet Dillwyn, Miller’s Gardener’s Dictionary and Archive downloads over those by Google about 100 others. Works are predominately Books is that the former are searchable by from the 19th century and earlier, but some ‘Ctrl-F’. This site also has the books available early 20th century works are available too, such as a text option for download, but the character as Gunther’s Early British botanists. recognition is very often awry! If you don’t use a computer to find internet resources, you may not want to read further. But if you would like to have easy access to a truly immense botanical library, then you may want to think about doing so. On the other hand you might already be aware of the literary treasure-house just a few clicks away, although you may still want to read on. Here are some of the sites that provide electronic texts, and some examples of what you can find, in the order in which we discovered them: Google Books (http://books.google.com/books) Go to ‘Advanced Book Search’ and enter ‘Flora’ in the title box, then press ‘Enter’ to The Biodiversity Heritage Library find a list of (currently) 20,000 books with that (http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/) word in the title. To narrow your search you Apart from Species plantarum (1753) and might enter ‘Hooker’ in the author box, which other landmark publications you can find a yields 1,000+ results. Click ‘Full View Only’ good (though interrupted) run of The annals for 200+ hits. A sample from one downloaded and magazine of natural history from vol. 1 volume, Hooker, W.J. Br. Fl. 1: 97 (1838): (1838) into the early 1920s. Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org/) Botanicus (http://www.botanicus.org/) A dedicated site with more classic works by writers such as Culpeper, Hales and Sweet, and runs of Transactions of the Linnean society, Curtis’s botanical magazine and Edwards’s botanical register. But even more of interest, this site gives access to works by Bauhin, Notes – Botanical books available to download from the internet / Ciba–Geigy Weed Tables 29

L’Obel, Clusius, Parkinson and many other The wealth of literature out there in the ether is early writers (but no Turner or Ray). truly amazing. You may know of more sites, The Digital Library of the Real Jardín in which case please share your knowledge, Botánico of Madrid and we are still looking for most of Ray’s (http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/ing/index.php) works! It is true that, as pdfs, accessing each A relatively small library but one rich in for a particular page is fairly slow and clunky, European literature. Download is quite possi- but at least you can do it straight away, and in ble but not so straightforward. your own home. We have not discovered how to export a list of Tela Botanica (http://www.tela- the titles that we have downloaded. If anyone botanica.org/page:bibliotheque) can tell us how to convert contents of a folder A French site with some ‘recherché’ titles, to a Word list that would be appreciated. including, for enthusiasts, copies of Abbé Likewise any observations that would help Boulay’s handwritten annotations to his distri- botanists build their own ‘virtual library’. butions of Rubus specimens. DP would like to stress that it was entirely through KS that these avenues were opened up to him and to which he has enthusiastically added. Ciba–Geigy Weed Tables ANTONY GALTON, 34 Prospect Park, Exeter, EX4 6NA Alan Hale’s piece about the Ciba-Geigy Weed haematology, and around that time had been Tables (BSBI News, 113) brought back conducting clinical trials to determine the memories for me. I was shown a set of these efficacy of a drug called vincristine, obtained tables in 1970 when I was staying with a from the Madagascar Periwinkle botanical/medical family who owned a set, and (Catharanthus roseus), in the treatment of I was immediately captivated by the high leukaemia. He was keenly aware of the quality of the illustrations. In particular, I very untapped potential of wild plants as sources of much admired the portrayal of the two Fluel- pharmacologically active substances, and lens (Kickxia spuria and K. elatine) which I offered this as the reason for his interest in the had recently become acquainted with in arable weed tables. I must admit that I was rather fields adjoining the beach at Clymping in sceptical of this: not that I doubted the impor- Sussex (do they still grow there, I wonder?). tance of plants as a source of useful drugs, but The Ciba-Geigy artist had very convincingly that I felt that his real reason for requesting the captured the distinct “jizzes” of the two species tables was my own enthusiasm for the illustra- in a way that I felt the illustrations in Keble tions! Martin’s flora, then my reference of choice, Be that as it may, Ciba-Geigy were satisfied quite failed to do. I asked my host how I could with the explanation, and in due course the obtain a set of these tables for myself, and he tables began arriving, not all at once, but in a told me that as a general practitioner he had series of instalments, each comprising one or written to Ciba-Geigy and they had sent them more folders containing, loose-leaf, the illus- to him free of charge. trations for a single genus or group of related My father being a medical man too, I genera (my Kickxias appearing as Linaria), as suggested to him that he write off to Ciba- well as the box-file to store them in, as Geigy to request a set of the weed tables. In described by Alan Hale. In addition to this, response, they asked why he wanted them – however, there arrived a large portfolio evidently they were no longer distributing containing a series of about twenty high-qual- them so freely. My father was a specialist in ity photographs, each somewhat larger than 30 Notes – Ciba–Geigy Weed Tables / Measuring change in species distributions: a report

A3 size, showing the weeds growing in situ. As each item arrived, my father passed them Each photograph was a life-size view, from over to me. As I suspected, he was never above, of a small section of weed-ridden arable going to use them in the investigation of possi- land, with each weed carefully labelled. There ble medical treatments. I still treasure my set was also a brief accompanying text in German, of the Ciba-Geigy Weed Tables, and consult French, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, them from time to time, but more often, I must and Russian. admit, to admire the beauty of the artwork than for any serious scientific purpose. Measuring change in species distributions: a report on a workshop QUENTIN GROOM (v.c.67), Louis Pelsersquare 1, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium PAUL SMITH (v.c.110), 128 Llancayo Street, Bargoed, Mid Glamorgan, CF81 8TP The distribution of plants is not fixed in stone. Monitoring Scheme was one exception, Yet at one time species distributions were though this data has not been used when considered characteristic of a species, and this analysing change). Obviously, it makes a big is still partly true. But for all sorts of reasons difference if someone found a species in five we are becoming much more aware of how minutes of recording, rather than searching for dynamic our flora is. hours. Yet, these details are practically never This February we attended a workshop at the recorded. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Walling- We were frequently reminded of the value of ford) titled “Measuring Changes in Species’ the Local Change Project, which, although not Distributions”. This was a gathering of about immune from bias, is the only standardised 70 animal and plant ecologists who all struggle national survey the BSBI conducts. Without with the challenge of interpreting change in standardised surveys it is very difficult to biological records. calibrate our other recording activities. Some The morning was largely taken up with an other organisations do manage to do more on examination of the problems and historic standardisation, such as butterfly transects or approaches to the issue. The main difficulty is breeding bird counts, but these are typically that you need to account for fluctuations in recording schemes for groups with the most recording intensity, while at the same time volunteers. dealing with the temporal, taxonomic and We took away several messages from the spatial biases that obscure real change. We are workshop, but the three important ones are: fortuitous in having the best recorded flora and that standardised survey methods are invalua- fauna in the world, but even so sometimes it is ble; that professional ecologists should make difficult to see the wood for the trees – one more effort to communicate with volunteers speaker described it as “driving through fog”. through a combination of training and explain- After a working lunch, the conference recon- ing their research as feedback to help motivate vened to listen to some examples of methods volunteers; and finally that groups working on for analysing change in species distributions. different taxonomic groups would gain from It was noticeable that several of these were working together. designed to deal with differences in recorder In conclusion, it was encouraging to see so effort, such as sub-sampling and rarefaction much enthusiasm from ecologists who want to and various modelling approaches. Yet it was use our records. While the methodological and noteworthy that each technique had to use statistical techniques are improving, a perhaps indirect methods to measure recorder effort. even trickier problem will be balancing the The problem is that, irrespective of the record- local needs and interests of recorders with the ing scheme, little information is ever gathered national needs of government ecologists. on how long someone surveyed for (the BSBI Notes – Extinction terminology 31

Extinction terminology MARTIN RAND, 21 Pine Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 1LH; (e:mail: [email protected]) While sympathising with Richard Bateman’s that of deciding at what point (whether local or desire for a more nuanced discussion of plants global) ‘extinct’ is an appropriate term. For that “go missing” (BSBI News, 113), and the latter, in cases such as the Ghost Orchid, asking for a due sense of proportion when where reasonable doubt exists (and probably considering local extinctions against the global always will), I would like to propose the term picture, I object to his use of the term ‘Vanished’. I realise that in doing this I am ‘extirpation’. This is not synonymous with moving outside any officially promoted ‘local extinction’, even if some biologists have conservation terminology, but I think everyone tried to make it so. In general usage, the range understands that something that has vanished of related meanings for this word all carry the (underground, say) has, given no other qualifi- notion of wilful or at least targeted removal cation, a chance of reappearing. It may be from the scene, in direct contrast to the idea of objected that ‘Vanished’ carries some implica- contingent loss. In a botanical context this is tion of suddenness. The French often use especially true. Consider the following defini- ‘Disparu’ for this purpose, but somehow the tions and examples from the Oxford English English ‘Disappeared’ sounds slightly Dictionary: contrived or arch, perhaps even sinister. “extirpate, sense 2. ‘To pull or pluck up by the On the former issue, while agreeing whole- roots; to root up, destroy or remove root and heartedly that species should not be baldly branch (a tree, plant).’ J. S. Mill, Political proclaimed as ‘Extinct’ or heading for extinc- Economy, I.,xi, 1848: ‘The wood seems to tion when what is meant is local extinction, I have been ... extirpated’. see nothing wrong with using the word extirpate, sense 3. ‘To root out, exterminate, or ‘Extinct’ itself, with appropriate qualification totally destroy (a class, sect or nation); to kill where the context is not clear. IUCN (2001) off, and render extinct (a species of animals or acknowledges that Red List criteria will be plants)’. applied at local levels, and recognises that the extirpation, sense 2. ‘The action of rooting up status of a taxon may well differ between the trees or weeds; total destruction.’ Penny global and the local level of concern. There is Cyclopedia, VIII, 1837: ‘The … extirpation of no suggestion that the term ‘Extinct’ is to be couch grass is one of the first things which an treated differently in this matter from other experienced farmer sets himself to.’ threat categories by giving it an absolutist global definition. Indeed the supporting As Professor Bateman is worried about the document for application of the criteria at the effects of inappropriate terminology on a local level (Gardenfors et al., 2001) proposes wider audience, I think he ought to bear this in the term ‘Regionally Extinct’, abbreviated mind. That audience is unlikely to be familiar ‘RE’. Given that this is officially promulgated with the rather different meaning that he and at an international level, and is backed by a other specialists would like to give to it, and published if somewhat subjective formulation will read into it something which does not of extinction, I think that it should be the apply in all cases. Of course it would be good preferred term. As many Red Lists precede to have a word that does carry that sense of these latest IUCN papers, unfortunately the wilful extinguishment. ‘Extirpation’ would ‘RE’ abbreviation is far from universal. have seemed ideal for the purpose, had the The French Red List for vascular plants waters not apparently been muddied by others. (Olivier, Galland & Maurin, 1995) tackles the It appears that there are two issues here: that issue in a more extended fashion: first by of local as opposed to global extinction; and listing the global against the national threat 32 Notes – Extinction terminology / When bees exploit plants: nectar robbery

category, then by defining a “Heritage Status”, References: as follows: GARDENFORS, U. et al. (2001). ‘The applica- A Strict national endemic tion of IUCN Red List criteria at regional B Subendemic (France and one other, levels’. Conservation Biology 15(5): 1206- generally neighbouring, country) 1212. B1 Subendemic rare and/or threatened IUCN. (2001). IUCN Red List categories and in both countries criteria: version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival B2 Subendemic rare and/or threatened Commission. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland in France alone and Cambridge, UK. C Present in three or more countries OLIVIER, L., GALLAND, J. P. & MAURIN, J. F. C1 Present in three or more countries, (coordinators) (1995). Livre rouge de la flore rare and/or threatened over all its menacée de France. Tome I : Espèces prio- range ritaires. Museum National d’Histoire Natu- C2 Present in three or more countries, relle et al., Paris. rare and/or threatened in France alone When bees exploit plants: nectar robbery NICHOLAS L. CHARLTON, Room C79, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UG (Tel.: 0117 95 45945) (email: [email protected]) The amazing variety and beauty of flowers we There is another example of a ‘cheater’ see in our gardens is partly due to the relation- taking advantage of the situation, but with the ship between plants and their pollinators. roles reversed. Some species of bees have Through millions of years of evolution, insects learnt to steal nectar from flowers without have adapted to use flowers and plants have pollinating them. To do this, the bee will make adapted to use insects. By producing a sugary a hole in the flower near to the source of the reward in the form of nectar, plants attract nectar. This makes it possible for bees with insects to their flowers and use those insects to short tongues to reach nectar in long flowers carry their pollen. The plants benefit from which would normally be too deep to reach. having their pollen spread over greater The bee will then use the hole to extract the distances and with much more accuracy than if sugary reward without going near the stigmas transported by wind. The insects benefit by and stamens. This behaviour is described as gaining a source of high energy food in the nectar robbery. You may have seen bumble form of nectar. This relationship can then be bees doing this in your garden, as it has been considered a mutual one, with both groups observed on several different types of plants, gaining an advantage from the interaction. including Silene dioica (Red Campion), In every mutualism, however, there may be Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding Heart), Fuchsia opportunities to take advantage of the situa- sp. (Fuchsia), and Linaria vulgaris (Common tion. Normally there is ‘give and take’, but Toadflax). Even Charles Darwin observed sometimes one half of the relationship may robbery of broad bean flowers and mentions just ‘take’. For example there are several robbery of azalea and honeysuckle flowers. orchid species with non-rewarding flowers Looking for evidence of robbery is quite which do not produce nectar. Insects may still simple. If flowers have been robbed, they will respond to flowers which contain no reward. usually have a neat circular or semi-circular The non-rewarding orchids ‘cheat’ the bee by hole near their base, close to where the nectar not wasting energy on producing nectar, but is produced. Once holes have been made by still benefit from pollination. the robbers, other insects may also use them. Notes – When bees exploit plants: nectar robbery / “Ben Alder”: five BSBI Past, Present or 33 Future Presidents have slept here

For example, honeybees and ants have been Instructions for checking robbery levels in seen using holes made by bumblebees. red campion: Directly damaging the flowering parts of a The equipment required is a pen and paper, plant would appear to be detrimental to the and it only takes a few minutes to record the plant and in some situations nectar robbery data per patch of Red Campion. Each patch of may reduce the numbers of seeds produced. Red Campion counts as a single record. You Robbery reduces the amount of nectar in need to be able to recognise the plant and be flowers, which can make the flowers less able to see flowers close up to look for signs of attractive to true pollinators, and which in turn robbery. The main flowering season for Red may reduce pollination of those flowers. But Campion is during May and June. the holes made by robbery can encourage other insects to feed from flowers which would 1. Find a patch of Red Campion flowers and otherwise be inaccessible, encouraging a count the number of open flowers as greater diversity of insects. accurately as you can. Record this as Although there have been many studies on ‘number in patch’. For very large or long nectar robbery, there have been few in the patches, an estimate to the nearest 10 is British Isles. I am currently involved in a sufficient. Ignore small patches of less than study into robbery of Red Campion by a short- 30 flowers. tongued bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (see 2. Choose any 30 open flowers. Ideally Back Cover). At the University of Bristol we choose flowers that are spread across the are attempting to understand the patterns of patch, and check for signs of robbery. robbery in this wild flower and are looking for Record the number of robbed and people across the British Isles to assist us. This unrobbed flowers. e.g. 25 robbed, 5 summer I am trying to gain a picture of what unrobbed. levels of robbery are like across the country 3. From the list below, choose a habitat which and I would like volunteers to collect and send best describes where the patch is found, information. If you feel you would like to take selecting from: part in active research and help with the collec- - Woodland tion of data on nectar robbery see the instruc- - Woodland edge tions below or visit the BSBI website: - Hedgerow www.bsbi.org.uk , and look for the species - Grassland account for Silene dioica, where you can also - Other (please describe) find more information on Red Campion. 4. List any other common flowers close to the Plants have lived with insects for millions of Red Campion. years, but in some cases the insects have learnt 5. Please state the location of where the patch to exploit the plants they visit by robbing was recorded, e.g. a postcode, grid refer- nectar. So look out for signs of robbery on ence or address, and the date you checked wildflowers or in your garden. And if you see the flowers. a bee making a hole in a flower, you may be Please e:mail results to: witnessing nectar robbery first hand and catch- [email protected] ing them in the act.

“Ben Alder”: five BSBI Past, Present or Future Presidents have slept here PETER MACPHERSON, “Ben Alder”, 15 Lubnaig Road, Glasgow, G43 2RY It has been an honour and privilege to have had above address, the fifth being the author of this John Dony, Ted Lousley, Clive Stace and little note. Is this a record? Mary Briggs spend at least one night at the 34 Botanical crossword 14

BOTANICAL CROSSWORD 14

by CRUCIADA

Across Down 1. Exhibitions and talks persuade BSBI members to 2. They say his morsel thrown to Cerberus is aromatic attend this (3, 3) shrub (6) 5. Botanists’ ownership occupation is planted (4) 3. A royal institution, say, with long-drawn-out point (8) 9. Present five, perhaps, through broken lens to make me 4. A thousand in mine – a whale of a find! (5) express doubt (7) 6. Patent work with opponents is less than half (4) 10. Fused and roughly consumed (6) 7. Recant about visitor’s sweet inducement (6) 11. With good excuse, we’d say this pest belongs to 8. Rakes are often fifteen (6) bishop too (8) 13. Tempted to be sick, we hear, in home of shepherd’s 12. “Rent”, i.e. the uncut version (6) cress? (8) 15. I learn about going straight up and down (6) 14. As deer in summer forest, so botanists in Summer 18. Fight it within – there’s no alternative I have left (8) field (6) 20. With five present, everyone’s in the tree (6) 16. One school test is for crucifer to dye for (6) 22. Aspire to arrange a garland for bride? (7) 17. Carex seen in layers with different head (6) 23. Fruit that takes the wonder out of seaweed (4) 19. Place in charge of a fold (5) 24. Wild ones five when young (6) 21. Left honour behind in Deepcut section (4) Conservation – Has SSSI status been devalued? 35

Has SSSI status been devalued? TREVOR G. EVANS, La Cuesta, Mounton Road, Chepstow, Gwent, NP16 5BS The loss of Salvia pratensis Meadow Clary to just west of Lighthouse Inn, (ST303818 & from its SSSI, a 0.2ha rectangular enclosure ST308823), and (4) between Peterstone separated from a much larger field at Rogiet by (ST264796) and Rumney Great Wharfs a substantial fence and two five barred, (ST246785). All are being overgrazed by tubular-iron gates, should not have happened. cattle and/or sheep during the main summer It is the only Welsh site for this nationally rare flowering period for brackish and salt marsh plant. I had not been able to visit the SSSI site plants. at Rogiet in 2007. In June 2008 I revisited the Site (3) at ST3024.8173, the only remaining enclosure to find the NE gate wide open and v.c.35 locality for Carex distans (Distant attempts to close it prevented by the growth of Sedge) (10 plants present since at least 2001) vegetation and earthworm-raised soil near the had been grazed by cattle so thoroughly that gatepost. The gate had obviously not been not a trace remained of a single plant in 2009. closed for at least two years. Inside, apart from Cattle and sheep had access to the brackish clumps of nettles, docks and Hogweed, the meadows and saltmarsh between the Severn vegetation had been eaten down to the earth, and the sea wall in site (2), but not people; a with a large number of cow pats and an area large sign near Collister Pill warned walkers to where cattle had lain while chewing the cud. keep to the path along the top of the sea wall or A search failed to find a single leaf of the else! Walking along I could see no sign of Clary. After my 2008 mid-July visit, I alerted Alopecurus bulbosus (Bulbous Foxtail) Plantlife through Dr Trevor Dines, as I was through binoculars on the brackish meadow under the misplaced belief that it was still the near the sea wall where, in the recent past, it custodian, to be informed it had passed the task had been abundant. The saltmarsh plants, just to CCW; but my concern would be conveyed above high water, that had offered shelter to to their Cardiff office. My next visits in June the great flocks of wading and other water and July 2009 revealed that in 2008-9 the NE birds coming off the Severn gravel beds as the gate had been driven into with force by a tide came in preventing them from feeding, powerful vehicle so that each bar had been had also been eaten right down thus destroying bent almost to a right angle near the hinged end any cover. and the SW gate was lying on the ground Site (1) had a wonderful display of plants, outside the enclosure. In the search no that flourish only in some coastal and estuarine remnant of the Salvia could be found. I feared saltmarshes and brackish meadows on 2 dates that this Lusitanian relict, in its only Welsh site in July, 2005 and looked very promising on the had become extinct, but after another letter to 4th June, 2009. Alopecurus bulbosus in Trevor Dines he organised a visit to Rogiet uncountable numbers, large patches of Trifo- with representatives from CCW, GWT, a lium squamosum (Sea Clover) and Valleys Conservation organisation and himself T. fragiferum (Strawberry Clover), patches of to see the damage and consider a plan that Lotus glaber (Narrow-leaved Bird’s-foot-tre- would ensure the future of the site so that foil), 50 plants of Apium graveolens (Wild plants grown from seeds collected in the past Celery), numerous bushes of Ononis spinosa could then be relocated there. Fingers crossed. (Spiny Restharrow), in three colour forms Along the Monmouthshire coast there are pink, white and a colour I had not seen before four linear SSSI sites between the ‘sea wall’ – pale blue, near the sea wall, two 30+ × 1 m and the R. Severn. (1) just to the west of where shallow scrapes full of Ranunculus baudotii the M4 comes ashore at Caldicot (ST487872), (Brackish Water-crowfoot), two patches one (2) from Collister Pill to Magor Pill 20 × 2 m and the other 44 × 3 m of Medicago (ST447854), (3) from the mouth of the R. Usk arabica (Spotted Medick), Oenanthe lachen- 36 Conservation – Has SSSI status been devalued? / Botany in Literature – 54 alii (Parsley Water-dropwort) and a scattering of the Monnow, Monmouth, deserves conser- of Puccinellia distans (Reflexed Saltmarsh vation. This has not been given, in the last ?7 Grass) were some of the plants on display. years to my 1985 roadside verge, Tynewydd Heather Colls reported that she had visited the (ST272915), which had 1-3 plants. Despite site in July 2009 and couldn’t recognise many my letter of 6th July 2009 to the Head of the plants as the area had been heavily grazed! Countryside Section, Monmouth C. C. The Peterstone end of Site (4) had such Planning Department, asking for the field not dreadful footing due to holes made by cattle to be cut before the end of August, it was cut using it when it was far too wet that it made in full flower in early August or earlier, and not one excursion out from the sea wall to the a trace of a single plant was in evidence among Limonium vulgare (Common Sea-lavender) the new growth of grass. This resulted in a scattering so hazardous I would not risk a second letter, dated 25th August 2009, asking second. The much larger colony of L. vulgare what decisions had been taken. So far no reply on Rumney Great Wharf (not visited in 2009) has been received. The discovery of two had been reduced in 2005-6 to just a few non- plants on a grassy verge at St Mellons in 2009 flowering leaves and the main v.c. 35 colony by J. Woodman’s team now makes three sites of Hordeum marinum (Sea Barley) to a small for v.c.35. fraction of its past size. Surely 25 plants of Oenanthe pimpinelloides Conclusion Corky-fruited Water-dropwort, identified on In view of the above examples of SSSIs having 30th June 2009, growing near the centre of little or no protection from overgrazing, one is Vauxhall meadows (SO50611345), in a bend forced to ask – Has SSSI status been devalued? BOTANY IN LITERATURE – 54

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in Memoriam – The valley of fear – like a rare plant, not so easy to find – a short bibliographical guide MARGOT É. SOUCHIER, 26A Dryden Avenue, London, W7 1ES Notwithstanding the fact that the 22nd May 2009 1997 Baroness Rebdell of Babergh) writes (see marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guide), demonstrate his genius. His other liter- Arthur Conan Doyle, it is still timely to reflect ary works, with perhaps the exception of the that, despite his avowal, “If I had a good compe- Professor Challenger stories (see Souchier in tence I would devote myself to some serious BSBI News 106: 27-29), being largely only literary or historical work”, and that out of the vaguely remembered. resulting fictional undertakings (twenty-three So memorable, and immortal, if not “mortal”, novels, four collections of stories, three separate is Mr S.H., that those in search of him perenni- stories, two collections of poems), the ally turned up in Baker Street, London, W1, additional four Sherlock Holmes novels (or expecting to see him either lounging in his novellas as some prefer to call them): A study in purple (or his grey) dressing-gown, Persian scarlet (published 1888), The sign of four slippers afeet, smoking a cigarette, or in his (1890), The hound of the Baskervilles* (1902), overcoat, complete with deerstalker cap on his and The valley of fear (1915), and fifty-six head, and drawing deeply on his Meerschaum stories in collections of twelve (The adventures pipe, only to find that No. 221B didn’t exist (as of Sherlock Holmes; The casebook†§), eleven I found quite some time ago). But, as if to (The memoirs of Sherlock Holmes), thirteen remedy this biographical lacuna, this address (The return of Sherlock Holmes), and eight (His has been created and, since 1997, has been the last bow†), are what, as Ruth Rendell (since home of The Sherlock Holmes Museum Botany in Literature – 54 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, In Memoriam 37

(Telephone: +44(0)20-7935 8866), while also found scrawled on a card beside the murdered in Baker Street one may find The Sherlock man), its location of Merton now only found in Holmes Hotel, complete with Ristorante the state of Victoria, Australia. The story Moriati (Tel.: +44(0)20-7486 6161). But not in opens with a customary dialogue between Baker Street, where one would expect to find it, Watson and Holmes: “I am inclined to think is a very attractive public house The Sherlock …” said I. “I should do so” Sherlock Holmes Holmes, replete with hanging baskets, which is remarked impatiently. I believe that I am one situated at 10 Northumberland Street, (Covent of the most long-suffering of mortals; but I’ll Garden), London, WC2 (Tel.: +44(0)20-7930 admit that I was annoyed at this sardonic inter- 2644), and has souvenirs, pictures, and a recon- ruption. “Really, Holmes,” said I severely, struction of Holmes’s flat in Baker Street. “you are a little trying at times.” One hundred and twenty-two years on his With Sole’s description of “Sherlock Holmes, character is as much revered as it was at first who was arrogant, omniscient, self-absorbed appearance, and he is commemorated not only and a drug user, [and who] brought Conan by a Sherlock Holmes Collection at the Doyle fame” in mind, we next find Holmes too Marylebone Library in Marylebone Road, absorbed in his thoughts to give an immediate London, NW1 (Tel.: +44(0)20-7641 1037), answer, but soon, with reference to Porlock and not far from where it is bisected by Baker then “the great man” Moriarty – ‘“Picture to Street, but also in stamps, the recent Royal yourself the pilot fish to the shark, the jackal and Mail “Eminent Britons” release on 8th October the lion”’ – Watson is prompting him with “The 2009, which featured Conan Doyle on one 1st famous scientific criminal, as famous among class stamp in a set of ten, the inscription crooks as …” “‘My blushes, Watson!’, Holmes reading “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) murmured in a deprecating voice”’, and thereaf- writer and creator of Sherlock Holmes”, being ter they are poring over an old Whitaker’s but one philatelic example of several (see Almanac trying to solve Porlock’s cipher. Next, Appendix). with the appearance of Inspector MacDonald, Three of the four Sherlock Holmes novellas they are coincidentally drawn into the murder at have been made into films, perhaps the most Birlstone Manor House (predicted by the famous being The hound of the Baskervilles, of cipher) which is based on Groombridge Place which a German film is recorded by Lycett. near to Crowborough where Conan Doyle died, Silent versions by The English Samuelson and where, after the mysteries of the branded Company of A study in scarlet and The valley triangle inside a circle on the forearm of the of fear also once were screened. victim, the V.V. 341, the missing wedding ring It is to this latter novella that we now turn. and dumb-bell, and the blood mark on the Superior by far to The sign of four (which is window sill are turned very neatly by Holmes perhaps noteworthy, not only for the difficulty into the first dénouement. Part two, about the Conan Doyle had finding a publisher for it, but Scowrers, who are based on the Molly also perhaps for its absence from cine-film, Maguires, a clandestine organisation which for, with two rather long tales being told by fought for the rights of Irish miners in the two different characters, it tends, with the first 1870s, before being infiltrated by James McPar- tale at least, to explain too much too soon, lan, a detective from the newly formed Pinker- thereby all but destroying any suspense), it is, ton agency, begins. It is a marvellous piece of like A study in scarlet and ‘The Adventure of chicanery on Conan Doyle’s part, the reader Wisteria Lodge’ (see Souchier, BSBI News being completely carried along until the second 112: 35-38), a cross-continental revenge dénouement (followed by the customary mystery cast in two parts: (1) The Tragedy of Epilogue). Birlstone, set in Sussex, England and (2) The But, before the reader becomes too involved Scowrers, set in the North American Vermissa in the story of Brother John McMurdo of Valley of 1875 (the V.V. of the clue V.V. 341 Lodge 29, Chicago, Bodymaster J.H. Scott in 38 Botany in Literature – 54 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, In Memoriam the coalfields of Pennsylvania, and the valley four; also ‘The Adventure of’ has been in the Gilmerton Mountains (Gilmerton exists dropped from some of the later titles, so they only in Perth and Kinross, Scotland), he is read simply, for example, ‘Wisteria Lodge’ afforded, in passing, in Part One Chapter 4 rather than the more correct ‘The Adventure Darkness, a glimmer of Holmes enrapt as one of Wisteria Lodge’, ‘The Creeping Man’, whose profession it is to study plants: and so forth. But, at just under £10.00, the He was a very bustling and genial person, 1408 page volume is very good value, even this Sussex detective. In ten minutes we had if it has introduction or notes. all found our quarters. In ten more we were Conan Doyle, A. 2009. The Penguin complete seated in the parlour of the inn and being Sherlock Holmes. Penguin Books, London. treated to a rapid sketch of those events which ISBN: 978-0-141-04028-8. This features an have been outlined in the previous chapter. interesting foreword by the distinguished MacDonald made an occasional note; while crime writer Ruth Rendell, but no notes or Holmes sat absorbed, with the expression and illustrations. The cover is chestnut brown reverent admiration with which the botanist with a black relief silhouette of Holmes in his surveys the rare and precious bloom. deerstalker cap with famous pipe about two- ‘Remarkable!’ he said, when the story was unfolded, ‘most remarkable! I can hardly thirds of the way down the cover and gold recall any case where the features have been embossed lettering above. The text is clear more peculiar.’ and the volume much the same page size as the Wordsworth edition. It has retained ‘The Note and Bibliographical Guide: Adventure of’ in the appropriate stories and Little by way of expansion is necessary here, they and the novellas are presented chrono- except to say that, while, on the one hand, it is logically. More expensive than the above at one of Conan Doyle’s finest Sherlock Holmes £18.99 (€23.00). novellas (possibly equal to, if not, then only Conan Doyle, A. 2008. The valley of fear. slightly surpassed by The hound of the Basker- Penguin Red Classics, London. ISBN: 978- villes, and a development on the A study in 6-141 03544-4. This is in the same series as scarlet prototype), it has, on the other, not been the 2007 His last bow and The case-book of so readily published as the latter two titles, or Sherlock Holmes (ISBN: 978-0-141 03434- the collections of stories, although this has 8). At £6.99 and measuring 10.75 cm (4¼ recently been in part remedied. Below is a in) W × 18 cm (7 in) L, it is a budget Penguin short annotated guide to some of the publica- publication, with no introduction or notes, tions featuring it: and, like all the seven Holmes titles in the [Conan Doyle, A.] 1989. Sherlock Holmes: the series, has a rather graphic, if not lurid cover. complete stories: with illustrations from the But the 11/13 PostScript Monotype Dante ‘Strand’ Magazine. (reset 2006). Words- typeface, at least in His last bow and The worth Editions Limited, Ware, Hertfordshire. case-book, is of generous, clear, and there- ISBN: 13: 978-1-853-26896-0. A most fore pleasing proportions. attractive volume, the cover featuring a All are printed on relatively acceptable paper. glorious colour painting by Frederick Wiles There was, until relatively recently, another from the Strand Magazine of September Penguin series (Penguin Classics), which had 1914, showing Holmes examining the cipher so far included A study in scarlet and, in a document from The valley of fear. The text second volume, The adventures of Sherlock is very clearly set on a pleasant and comfort- Holmes and The memoirs of Sherlock Holmes able 15 cm (6 inches) W × 23 cm (9 in) L (to give it its full title) both with introductions page. Although not arranged in strict chron- by Iain Sinclair (A study) and Iain Pears (The ological order, the four novellas being first, adventures and memoirs) and notes, in both and The sign of the four being given instead cases, by Ed Glinert, who was also the author of the usual Conan Doyle title The sign of of the notes in The valley of fear and selected Botany in Literature – 54 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, In Memoriam 39 cases, intended for publication in the same abound. However, it should be noted that the series, but to date not materialising, the series street in London is simply called Strand. having been discontinued, and the title appar- References: ently dropped. With dimensions of 12.5 cm ANONYMOUS. (2009). Eminent Britons: a (ca. 5 in) W × 19.5 cm (7¾ in) L, and most special issue honouring the lives of ten attractive covers, featuring, in each volume remarkable individuals. British Philatelic published to date, a hand-coloured illustration Bulletin 46(11): 336-337. of one published in the Strand Magazine, and BURTON, M. & BURTON, R. (2002). The the text clearly typeset in 10/12.5 Monotype encyclopedia of animals. Silverdale Books, Baskerville, as well as the introductions and Leicester. notes, the abandoning of this series is a serious CONAN DOYLE, A. (1989). Sherlock Holmes: loss to Holmes’ scholars. the complete stories: with illustrations from Although I have not seen the next two titles, the ‘Strand’ Magazine. (reset 2006). Words- the keen and adventurous Holmes reader might worth Editions Limited, Ware, Hertfordshire. be interested in these: LYCETT, A. (2007). Conan Doyle: the man (1) Sherlock Holmes complete illustrated who created Sherlock Holmes. Weidenfield novels. Chancellor Press, 1987, (2) Sherlock & Nicolson, London. Holmes illustrated omnibus. Schocken SOLE, B. (2009). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Books, USA, 1976; published in Great British Philatelic Bulletin 46(9): 274-277. Britain by John Murray and Jonathan Cape Ltd. APPENDIX * see Souchier, 2007, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle A chronological philatelic summary of the – Botany and Botanists in (1) The hound of immortalisation of Mr Sherlock Holmes, by the Baskervilles and (2) The lost world and way of relatively recent stamp booklet, other stories - Naturalism and Doyle’s oscil- journal, commemorative, and first day lation between botany, zoölogy (and ento- covers, stamps, and articles. (Brit. Phil. Bull. mology). BSBI News 106: 27-29. = British Philatelic Bulletin). † see Souchier, 2009, Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge’ – eine (1) April 1987 – January 1988: Stamp kleine Botanik (and very few plants). BSBI booklet covers: a series of five @ £1.00 each. News 112: 35-38.) e.g.. (i) A study in scarlet: the left of the §The word ‘case-book’ features on the cover cover shows Holmes and Watson with lit and title page of His last bow and The case- matches in their hands inspecting a wall, book of Sherlock Holmes in the Penguin Red while to the right, also in monochrome, is a Classics series, but in, for example, the magnifying glass under which a hand with Wordsworth edition (above and references) another lit match illuminates the letters R A ‘casebook’ is used. Similarly, most publica- C H E1 in red (to denote blood). Holmes has tions, for example, Avenel Books (1976) (this his cape and deerstalker on; Watson a jacket does not include The valley of fear in its selec- or coat and bowler. First in a series from an tion) and Wordsworth (1989), proffer the idea by Mark Callicott, illustrated by ‘Strand’ Magazine (or Strand Magazine), Andrew Davidson, and printed by Harrison although the 1938 commemorative cover & Sons Ltd. (ii) ‘The Adventure of the features The Strand Magazine, as used by speckled band’: This features Holmes Sole. This is akin to The Times (in the news- recoiling from the snake (“swamp adder”)2 paper itself) versus Times in The Guardian (or and making to strike it with a cane. To the sometimes Guardian) newspaper; i.e. idio- right of this monochrome scene is again a syncrasies of style, sometimes due to word magnifying glass showing the head of the development, and therefore inconsistencies snake which looks more like a cobra. This cover, which like the above, contains five 40 Botany in Literature – 54 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, In Memoriam

18p and one 13p stamp(s), is the third in the (10) October 2009: Front cover (FC) and same series. Inside Front Cover (IFC) of Brit. Phil. Bull. (2) October 1993: Article by Jean Matheson 47(2) featuring the illustration The Death of (Brit. Phil. Bull.) Sherlock Holmes by Sidney Paget3 from the (3) 1993: Stamps, a series of five @ 24p each: December 1893 issue of The Stand Magazine A letter of the word ‘Doyle’ is hidden on [sic]. This issue also included Arthur Conan each of them, as follows: Doyle’s story ‘The adventure of the final D: The hound of the Baskervilles [Novella]: problem’ [‘The final problem’ in The Above a clump of grass in the foreground. memoirs of Sherlock Holmes]. The ‘Eminent (Scene: “SHERLOCK HOLMES & SIR Britons’ Conan Doyle stamp is again HENRY”). featured in the Bulletin. O: ‘The final problem’ [The memoirs]: On (11) December 2009: ‘Eminent Britons’ series the cuff of a shirt. features (including ACD) in Favourite Y: ‘The Greek interpreter’ [The memoirs]: Stamps Poll 2009 (Brit. Phil. Bull. 47(4): On a piece of an item apparently made of 115). fabric. (12) February 2010: Commemorative Cover L: ‘The six :Napoleons’ [The return]: On the detailed by M. Tanner, 180 Whitehorse cover of the book on the table. (Scene: Road, West Croydon, CR0 2LA (Tel./Fax: “SHERLOCK HOLMES & +44(0)20-8684 9757) as “An Arthur Conan LESTRADE”). Doyle/WG Grace cover (28 numbered E: ‘The Reigate Squire’ [The memoirs]: On copies) featuring MLC/Conan Doyle versus the spine of a book next to Watson’s right London Counties/WG Grace at Crystal shoulder. (Scene: “SHERLOCK Palace, and the 1908 London Olympic Mara- HOLMES & DR. WATSON”). thon Race when Conan Doyle assisted Pietri (4) 13th May 1997: Stamp @ 47p: The hound Dorando (later disqualified)”: other Holmes of the Baskervilles, and First Day Cover items also given. (Brit. Phil. Bull. 47(6): 189). (FDC): The stamp features the hideous (13) n.d.: Nicaragua stamp with value of 2.00 gigantic face of the hound, mouth open, with Aereo (not Córdoba (C$)) featuring books two rows of sharp pointed teeth, and red- with Interpol and Conan Doyle on two sepa- pupilled stellified eyes; the cover the head, rate spines and an open book depicting Sher- ears, and shoulders of a monstrous black lock Holmes with deerstalker and pipe, all on hound, with sharp pointed canines, in a circle a turquoise background. with a red background, the rotondo superim- NOTES: posed on a scene of wolves or dogs baying 1. “‘If this man was murdered, how was it beneath a full moon. done?’ asked the former [Lestrade]. (5) January 1998: Article by James Negus ‘Poison,’ said Sherlock Holmes curtly, and (Brit. Phil. Bull.). strode off. ‘One other thing, Lestrade,’ he (6) February 1998: Article by James Negus added turning round at the door. ‘“Rache” is (ibid.). the German for “revenge”; so don’t lose your (7) May 2009: Article by Brian Sole (Brit. time by looking for Miss Rachel.’ Phil. Bull. 46(9): 274-277) With which Parthian shot he walked away, (8) July 2009: Caption to stamps featured in leaving the two rivals open-mouthed behind ‘Eminent Britons’ article by Anonymous him.” (Brit. Phil. Bull. 46(11): 339). 2. “… For half an hour I sat with straining (9) 8th October 2009: Issue of ‘Eminent Brit- ears. Then suddenly another sound became ons’ 1st class stamps series, one featuring a audible – a very gentle, soothing sound, like photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle with that of a small jet of steam escaping continu- caption “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1859- ally from a kettlea...”. 1930/Writer and creator of Sherlock Holmes”. … “It was a singular sight which met our eyes. … Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Botany in Literature – 54 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, In Memoriam 41

Dr. Grimesby Roylott, clad in a long grey the front of the upper jaw. After striking the dressing-gown ... His chin was cocked cobra hangs on to its victim, chewing at the upwards, and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful wound and injecting large quantities of rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling. Round venom. his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with d. The (Common) Puff Adder inflates the b brownish speckles, which seemed to be upper part of its body (and hisses) when bound tight round his head. As we entered he alarmed. made neither sound nor motion. e. Adders (i.e. Vipera berus) usually prefer ‘The band! the speckled band!’ whispered dry, conditions but are sometimes also found Holmes. in. damp places. Swamps are a favourite I took a step forward: in an instant his strange headgear began to move, and there haunt of the Anaconda or Water Boa reared itself from among his hair the squat (Eunectes murinus, E. notæus, Family diamond-shaped headc and puffed neckd of a Boïdæ) which kills its prey by constriction, loathsome serpent. not venom. ‘It is a swamp adder!e cried Holmes – ‘the f. Cobras, the Indian Python (Python molu- deadliest snake in India.f He has died within rus, Family Pythonidæ), and the Himalayan ten seconds of being bitten.’g Pit Viper (Ancistrodon himalayanus, Family 3. This illustration also features on the front Crotalidæ) are found in India, but not adders cover of The adventures of Sherlock Holmes which inhabit Asia and Europe (including and The memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Penguin the British Isles). The Puff Adder lives in Classics), but in this instance has been hand Africa. ACD travelled to many places, but coloured by the artist Helena Zakrzewska-Ru- not India. cinska. g. Death can occur in a human fifteen minutes after the bite of a cobra; depending APROPOS OF THE IDENTITY OF CONAN on the size of prey the venom of the Adder DOYLE’S SNAKE (CLASS REPTILIA, takes effect in thirty seconds to a few ORDER SQUAMATA, SUBORDER minutes, but is rarely fatal to humans, while SERPENTES): that of the Puff Adder is much slower-acting, a. A snake’s hissing warning sound is but just as potent and therefore deadly. produced by forcing air from the lungs and windpipe through the glottis. The Puff Adder Furthermore, Ed Glinert, in his notes to The (Bitis arietans, Family Viperidae) has an adventures (Penguin Classics), suggests not especially loud hiss, like a horse. only that the snake might be the Indian b. The ground colour of the male Adder Russell’s Viper, but also states what is well (Vipera berus, Family Viperidæ) is a dirty known to herpetologists i.e. snakes have no yellow with a dark zig-zag dorsal line which eardrums so they are deaf to airbourne (but not has a series of spots on either side, while the earth) vibrations, which means they cannot (Common) Puff Adder is yellow to brown hear a whistle. Neither can they climb a rope with darker bars or chevrons on its back. (although they can descend one), and, of c. Reminiscent of the Indian snake cobra de course, what is no doubt fairly obvious to any capello or Naja naja (Family Elapidæ) with reader of ‘The speckled band’, one could not its hood and flattened neck which rears and keep a snake alive in, a safe. expands the hood when frightened or excited. It strikes upwards and the venom is But the story, which Arthur Conan Doyle rated secreted from glands behind the eyes and as his most favourite (out of ten), is marvellous runs down ducts to the fangs that grow from and ingenious all the same. 42 Aliens – Silene gallica, Melilotus indicus and Cuscuta campestris in v.c.67 / Weeds ofcontainer plants

ALIENS

Silene gallica (Small-flowered Catchfly), Melilotus indicus (Small Melilot) and Cuscuta campestris (Yellow Dodder) on the new Haydon Bridge bypass, Northumberland (v.c.67) JAMES BOWYER, Moorfield, Causey Hill, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 2DW; ([email protected]) Haydon Bridge is a village on the A69 trunk (Spotted Medick ), only a few feet from the road leading from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Silene. Just a few minutes later, my wife Carlisle. It is about 50 km west of Newcastle- Rosemary found a patch of Cuscuta campes- upon-Tyne, in the valley of the river South tris (Yellow Dodder) growing on Polygonum Tyne. aviculare (Knotgrass), on the embankment on On 1st October 2009 I chanced to take a walk the opposite side of the road (see Colour through Haydon Bridge. I realised en route Section, Plate 2). We later found more sites that if I climbed up the embankment of the new nearby for the Medicago arabica and the by-pass, which had opened to traffic the previ- Melilotus indicus. All the interesting finds ous March, I could cross the River Tyne by the were on ground made of newly laid ballast or new road bridge, and complete a circular walk rough sub-soil, not topsoil. They were largely instead of doing an out and back walk, as I had in odd corners or on slopes not easily capable intended. As I walked the verge and embank- of being seeded with grass for cutting. ment, I found three plants not very familiar to Silene gallica has been previously recorded me: Panicum miliaceum (Common Millet), in v.c.67 in 1868 and 1921. Melilotus indicus Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Crane’s- has not been recorded in v.c.67 since 1971. bill) and Melilotus officinalis (Ribbed Melilot). Subsequently I found it at Benwell, Newcas- Pleased with these finds, I returned the next tle-upon-Tyne on 11th December 2009. day and had a closer look at some of the verges Cuscuta campestris is a new record for v.c.67. and embankments. Almost straight away I Melilotus officinalis is usually noted much found Melilotus indicus (Small Melilot) in nearer to the east coast of Northumberland. flower over two feet high, and only a few yards Chaenorhinum minus is usually found in from it Silene gallica (Small-flowered Catch- v.c.67 associated with railway tracks. The fly) (see Colour Section, Plate 2). On another bridge on whose embankments/verges I found embankment I discovered Chaenorhinum it crosses both a river and a railway and it was minus (Small Toadflax). I subsequently growing only 25 or 30 yards from the railway. walked the entire one mile length of the new Medicago arabica is not often seen inland in road, both sides, with no further significant v.c.67. finds. Most of the verges and embankments I acknowledge considerable assistance from are seeded with grass and clovers. Professor John Richards, BSBI recorder for On 26th October I returned to the Silene v.c.67, in confirming plant identification. gallica site to show it to some friends. I immediately found Medicago arabica Weeds of container plants ERIC J. CLEMENT, 54 Anglesey Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2EQ A visit to almost any garden centre in the UK carefully tended will provide some records of will reveal large pots of container plants, often weeds, but should they ‘count’ in a Flora, in the form of olive and palm trees. Those not perhaps as new to a v.c. (or even to Britain)? Aliens – Weeds of container plants / Requests & Offers – Wanted: rarer spike-rush subspecies 43

Personally, I would certainly add them to a (Spotted Spurge), E. prostrata (Prostrate listing, but would enclose them in square Spurge), E. serpens (Matted Sandmat), Galium brackets [ ] as potential records, not yet murale (Yellow Wall Bedstraw), Medicago embedded on terra firma. The pot could be truncatula (Strong-spined Medick), Polypo- removed to another v.c. within a day or two! gon maritimus (Mediterranean Rabbit’s-foot The records are important, as they clearly tell Grass), Polypogon viridis (Water Bent), Portu- us how weeds are spreading into and within laca oleracea (Common Purslane), Rostraria Britain. cristata (Mediterranean Hair-grass), Sisym- Some are not easy to identify, especially brium orientale (Eastern Rocket) and Urtica those not native in Europe. Regrettably, in the dubia (Membranous Nettle), to name but a UK, we do not yet have a list of these few. Maybe we are overlooking their (critical) immigrants: a splendid project for some active Stellaria cupaniana? The cast that I list have BSBI member! Meanwhile, we are indebted to all appeared in recent issues of BSBI News or Ivan Hoste et al. for a valuable paper in Watsonia. Dumortiera, 97: 1-16 (2009) about ‘Alien Many records of container weeds must lie plant species associated with the importation unpublished – some lost within my own exten- of Mediterranean container plants to Belgium’. sive files! Only one such listing comes to In 2008, the five authors spent the year looking hand. It seems worthy of report here (but in garden centres at these exhibits, mostly maybe not as indisputable records for v.c. 11!). ‘imported from Spain and Italy’. More than Phil Budd, whilst on short-term employment at 120 species are listed therein, including 23 Brentry Container Unit, Ampfield, South species ‘recorded from Belgium for the first Hants., during June-August 2001 encountered, time’. About one third of the species were not amongst others (and all confirmed/det. E.J.C.): indigenous to Europe. This clearly demon- Conyza bonariensis (Argentine Fleabane), strates the truly global exchange of exotic Digitaria ciliaris (Tropical Finger-grass), plants. Container plants are obviously a major Eclipta prostrata (False Daisy), Gnaphalium vector for the current spread of exciting aliens pensylvanicum (Wandering Cudweed), and within urban areas. Setaria verticillata (Rough Bristle-grass). All Looking through their fascinating inventory, of these appear in the Belgium article (the it is easy to correlate it (after a radicum of Gnaphalium with a helpful illustration). nomenclatural changes) with British adven- I am grateful to Filip Verloove (Meise, tives. In the cast are Amaranthus (6 species), Belgium) for sending to me a copy of the Aster squamatus (Narrow-leaved Aster), above paper. He was one of the enthusiastic Bassia scoparia (Summer-cypress), Eleusine co-authors. indica (Yard-grass), Euphorbia maculata

REQUESTS & OFFERS

Wanted: the rarer spike-rush subspecies JEREMY ROBERTS, Eden Croft, 2 Wetheral Pasture, Carlisle, CA4 8HU; ([email protected])

As BSBI referee for Eleocharis, it is embar- sites for it, or have specimens that I may look rassing to admit that my experience of the rarer at, I would be very grateful to hear from you. subspecies of Eleocharis palustris (i.e. subspe- Also do keep a lookout for candidates for it cies palustris), is currently limited to what I this season, and send me any putative speci- have read about it. If you have knowledge of mens. this elusive plant, any recent records, or any 44 Requests & Offers – Seeds from Ware – 2009 collections

Seeds from Ware – 2009 collections GORDON HANSON, 1 Coltsfoot Road, Ware, Herts., SH12 7NW Please enclose suitable Erodium daucoides Onobrychis viciifolia – labelled small packets and Erodium manescavii Turkey S.A.E. for anything required. Erodium pelargoniflorum Onopordon algeriense Erysimum scoparium – Opopanax hispidus – Turkey Acanthus hungaricus Madeira Oxalis micrantha Achillea filipendulina – Euphorbia terracina – Spain Peucedanum chryseum – Uzbekistan Festuca californica – USA Turkey Alcea rosea – Turkey Festuca rubra – USA Physospermum cornubiense – Allium ampeloprasum Fremontodendron californi- Bucks. Allium babingtonii cum Phytolacca americana – Italy Althaea officinalis – Isle of Fumaria capreolata Phytolacca bogotensis – S. Wight Geranium psilostemon America Ambrosia artemesiifolia – Gilia aff. minor – Cheshire Pimpinella major – Slovakia Canada Hieracium grandidens – Rumex flexuosus Anomatheca laxa – cult. Derbys. Salvia nubicola Antirrhinum majus – Spain Hieracium lasiochaetum – Salvia sclarea – Turkey Arabis glabra – Herts. Turkey Salvia sylvestris Astrantia bavarica Hieracium pannosus – Salvia verbenaca Callistemon rugulosus Turkey Salvia virgata Carex ?adpressa – Australia Hieracium plumbeum – cult. Scolymus hispanicus Centaurea cyanus – bird-seed Hieracium vagum – Derbys. Scrophularia sambucifolia – Centaurea macrocephala – Hieracium vulgatum – Spain Tenerife Derbys. Senecio polyodon Centaurea melitensis – Wool Iberis amara – USA Seseli elatum – Slovakia alian Ipomoea purpurea Sida rhombifolia Ceratochloa cathartica – Johrenia dichotoma – Turkey Sideritis pisidica – Turkey New Zealand Lachenalia longituba – S. Silene catholica – Worcs Ceratochloa staminea – Africa Silene coeli-rosa China Lavatera arborea – Isle of Silene noctiflora – Turkey Chaerophyllum libanoticum Wight Solanum scabrum Chenopodium giganteum – Lavatera bryonifolia – Solanum villosum birdseed Turkey Solidago confinis – USA Chenopodium vulvaria Lavatera cretica – Spain Stipa cernua – USA Cirsium ?decussatum Layia platyglossa – USA Succisella petteri Clematis integrifolia – USA Leonurus glaucescens – Thalictrum rochebrunianum Commelina dianthifolia Uzbekistan – Japan Consolida ajacis – Spain Lepechinia hastata Tinantia erecta – cult. Corydalis magadanica – Linum perenne Tinantia pringlei – Mexico Russia Malcolmia graeca Tragopogon dubius – Cotoneaster obtusus Malva parviflora – Tenerife Tadjikistan Cynoglossum amabile Medicago rugosa – Rhodes Verbascum bombycinum Dipsacus pilosus Melica californica – USA Verbascum lydium – Greece Ehrharta erecta – New Melica jacquemontii – Verbascum pumiliforme – Zealand Tadjikistan Turkey Elymus magellanicus Nassella pulchra – USA Verbascum thapsus – USA Erodium cicutarium – Oenothera ?stricta – Chile Viola tricolor macedonica – Madeira Oenothera oaksiana – USA Slovakia Requests & Offers – Juncus compressus/gerardii wanted / Notices – Recent developments at the 45 NHM British and Irish Herbarium

Specimens of Juncus compressus/gerardii wanted MICHAEL WILCOX, 32 Shawbridge Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 1LZ; ([email protected]) Both these taxa can occur in maritime situa- once some other characters are known and tions and the former is easily mistaken for the seem consistent, it may be possible to do it latter. Please collect a few stems from one or from non-fruiting plants. Please send an SAE more localities (not if there is only a few if you require any further information or the plants, like a road verge, where sometimes a material returning, or use the e:mail address single or few plants can occur). Preferably, it where possible. Other Juncus welcome – I would be best to collect in fruit, as this will aid would also like to get material of non-native the ID. The aim is to look at known plants, and rushes from elsewhere in the world if possible. NOTICES Recent developments at the NHM British and Irish Herbarium DR MARK A. SPENCER, Curator, British and Irish & Sloane Herbariums, Department of Botany, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD; (020 7942 5787; [email protected]) The British and Irish Herbarium has recently Imperial College, the Science Museum and been moved into new facilities in the Darwin the Natural History Museum. Centre at the Natural History Museum and is Databasing the herbarium’s collection of once again fully open for business. The collec- Caucalis platyphyllos (Small Bur-parsley) tions are now housed in a store with a temper- added a further 37 localities to the 123 ature and humidity controlled environment. records already held (excluding those with The new facilities are also considerably more more location information or only resolved accessible than previously. to hectad) by the BSBI. The herbarium and associated library The potential value for phenological studies is provides a valuable resource for British and currently being investigated. The Museum Irish botanists. The collection consists of over holds large quantities of ‘historic’ (i.e. pre- 600,00 specimens collected during the last 300 1950) specimens that are localised and years. Many of the specimens relate to records accurately dated. Preliminary studies of not present in literature or databases and are approximately 30 widespread British and Irish therefore a valuable resource for county taxa suggest that these data may be compatible recorders, referees and others undertaking with more recent field observations. A paper research for Rare Plant Registers or the BSBI on the effect of seasonal temperature changes Threatened Plants Project. Recent examples of on the flowering of a rare British orchid has where the collections have proved useful recently been submitted for review. include: The earliest record (by far) of Equisetum Corroboration of an historic record of Ar- ramosissimum in England. Further informa- temisia scoparia mentioned by D.H. Kent tion on this discovery will be published in in his Supplement to the historical flora of Watsonia. Middlesex (2000). Three specimens held If you have not visited the herbarium before in the collection show that the plant was but would like to take a look or discuss some collected by W.T. Thistleton-Dyer in 1865 ideas, please contact Mark Spencer by phone and 1870 on the site of the former or e-mail. International of 1862, or Great London Exposition. The site is now occupied by 46 Notices – Recent developments at the NHM British and Irish Herbarium / Celebrations at the South London Botanical Institute / Wiltshire Botany

The British Herbarium is now located on the from animals, insects and plants to fossils and Lower Ground Floor of the Darwin Centre, minerals. More information about the Centre next door to the Angela Marmont Centre for can be found at: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature- UK Biodiversity. The Centre is for anyone online/british-natural-history/uk-biodiversity- with an interest in UK natural history. It will portal/the-marmont-centre/index.html be a hub for amateur naturalists, enthusiasts The Centre also hosts the London Natural and other societies to study wildlife. Visitors History Society’s library, see: can investigate all aspects of the natural world, http://www.lnhs.org.uk/library.htm

Celebrations at the South London Botanical Institute ROY VICKERY, Chairman of Trustees, South London Botanical Institute, 323 Norwood Road, London, SE24 9AQ In 2010 the South London Botanical Institute interests. Although its name suggests a rather celebrates its centenary with a variety of events austere, scientific approach, the Institute’s throughout the year. Founded by Allan interests extend well beyond narrow confines Octavian Hume, a former Indian civil servant, of ‘botany’. It if involves plants in any way, in 1910, the SLBI has continued to spread an then the Institute will attempt to explore it. interest in botany in south London and beyond. Two exciting developments in recent years It holds lectures, courses, and field meetings, have been a great increase the Institute’s and provides a pleasant meeting place for outreach to young people, and the conducting anyone with any interest in plants. It maintains of botanical surveys of sites in south London. a small botanical garden, an herbarium, and a The latter will be the Institute’s main contribu- library that has a particularly good collection tion to the projected new Flora of London. of local floras. These facilities are open to the Details of the centenary programme can be public on Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 4 found on www.slbi.org.uk, or write to the p.m., but can be made available, by appoint- Institute’s Administrator. Events in 2010 ment, at other times. Being a small organisa- focus on plants. In 2012 the Institute will tion, largely dependent on volunteers, the commemorate the centenary of its founder’s Institute avoids the bureaucracy which can death, celebrating Hume’s far-ranging inter- bedevil larger organisations, and is flexible ests and extraordinary life. and seeks to help people develop their varied Wiltshire Botany JOHN PRESLAND Issue No. 11 of this journal is now published. tions which include aspects of the botany of It begins with a survey of the scrub habitats Wiltshire though published elsewhere than in of Pepperbox Hill near Salisbury. There are Wiltshire Botany and Wiltshire Botanical keys for groups of Wiltshire plants often Society’s Newsletter. These include: two found difficult to identify: willow-herbs articles on trees; one on the effect of climate (Epilobium),duckweeds (Lemnaceae), docks change on Wiltshire fungi; one on the (Rumex)and a collection of plants of reed- frequency of Minuartia hybrida on Salisbury like appearance. An interesting new depar- Plain; an account of the Wiltshire botanist ture for the journal is a contribution on the John Ounsted’s botanical library, notebooks herbal properties of the Stinging Nettle by a and correspondence; an article on orange- medical herbalist. Another new feature is a trunked trees in Savernake Forest; a case collection of summaries of and/or extracted study of the Wiltshire Fritillary meadows; information from articles and other publica- articles on the flora of dry stone walls; and a Notices – Wiltshire Botany / Recording Invasive Species Counts (RISC) 47 report of a field meeting at Clatford Arbore- discuss proposed articles informally (Tel.: tum. Also included are a study of the distri- 01225 865125). A leaflet is also available bution of the cultivated Snowdrop variety offering guidance to authors on the most Galanthus nivalis forma ‘pleniflorus’ P.D. helpful forms in which to submit articles. Sell in the Kennet Valley and the usual selec- Copies of No. 11 and some earlier issues tion from a year’s (2008) botanical records. are available from Rosemary Duckett, 50A Contributions to the journal are welcome The Butts, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3EX on any aspect of Wiltshire botany. Articles (Tel.: 01373 858296; email: rosemary. should be submitted to John Presland, 175c duckett @virgin.net). The cost is £5.00 post Ashley Lane, Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon, free. Cheques should be made payable to: BA15 2HR, who will also be pleased to Wiltshire Botanical Society. Recording Invasive Species Counts (RISC) – a new survey of three alien plants PETER BROWN, 34 Longfields, Ely, CB6 3DN ([email protected]) (www.nonnativespecies.org/recording)

Non-native plants have provided a recent Records may be submitted via an online source of interesting debate (Pearman & recording form, with the facility to upload Walker, 2009; Thomas & Dines, 2010). As photographs of the recorded plant, for verifi- reported in BSBI News, 112 (Brown, 2009), a cation. In my previous note I asked for a new survey focusing on non-native plants and volunteer to administer the project, and animals is launching with the help of BSBI. received a very good response. I would like to Entitled ‘Recording Invasive Species Counts’ express my thanks to all who enthusiastically (RISC), this web-based project asks BSBI offered their help. Two BSBI members – one members and the public to look out for and based in England (Christopher Cockel) and record a small selection of non-native species. one in Scotland (Diane Taylor) – will be The project involves the recording schemes handling the records on behalf of BSBI. They for various plants and animals and is a collab- will sort through the online records, verify oration between the Biological Records them where possible and reply to the record- Centre (CEH), the National Biodiversity ers. Network and the GB Non-native Species Recording Invasive Species Counts (RISC) Secretariat, with funding from Defra. launches on 22nd March 2010. For further The two primary aims of the project are to information and to log records of the three inform the public on non-native species, and plants mentioned, see: to gather additional useful data on the distribu- www.nonnativespecies.org/recording. tion and ecology of the chosen species. Three References: plant species have been chosen for the project. BROWN, P. (2009). ‘Volunteer co-ordinator These are Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-heav- needed for new survey of alien plants’. BSBI en), Lysichiton americanus (American Skunk- News 112: 38. cabbage) and Ludwigia peploides (Water PEARMAN, D. & WALKER, K. (2009). ‘Alien Primrose) (see Colour Section, Plate 4). plants in Britain – a real or imagined prob- Reports of the latter to the GB Non-native lem?’ British Wildlife 21: 22-27. Species Secretariat have been on the increase, THOMAS, S. & DINES, T. (2010). ‘Non-native and they are very keen to track any sightings invasive plants in Britain – a real, not imag- of this invasive aquatic. ined, problem’. British Wildlife 21: 177-183. 48 Notices – Floodplain Meadows Partnership

Floodplain Meadows Partnership EMMA ROTHERO, Floodplain Meadows Outreach Co-ordinator, Floodplain Meadows Partnership, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA (01908 655645; or 07941 486260) (www.floodplainmeadows.org.uk) Floodplain meadows are one of the UK’s most In all, to date, the database contains biodiverse and rare habitats. They can contain information from 57 floodplain meadow sites up to 40 different plant species per square in the UK, with botanical data from all of these; metre and act as a key habitat for a host of soil-water data from 25; hydrological models invertebrates and birds. Some meadows on 15; and soil nutrient data from 13. In total contain rare species such as the Snake’s-head we hold over 17,000 quadrats worth of data. Fritillary, now found on only a handful of sites We are currently investigating how to best in the UK. share this data. A re-designed website These meadows have evolved through an (available soon) will host a map of all known annual cycle of traditional agricultural floodplain sites, with a summary of research management, with the meadows ‘shut up’ until data held by the university as part of it. summer, whereupon they were cut for hay. This information can also be used to predict The hay from floodplain meadows was valued if sites are suitable for meadow restoration, as particularly highly by the agricultural commu- well as a guide to management on existing sites. nity due to its nutrient rich status. Being on The Floodplain Meadows Partnership, hosted floodplains, these meadows receive high levels by the Open University has brought together a of natural fertilizer! This high fertility leads to range of organisations and individuals a continuation of the grass growth after the hay involved in the management and restoration of cut, and so hay cutting is followed by grazing floodplain meadows. The Partnership is into the autumn. Such meadows would have committed to undertake long-term monitoring been the mainstay of winter feed for livestock. on some of the best remaining sites across However, it is estimated that the UK has lost England and Wales in order to develop our 97% of its wildflower meadows, and those that knowledge of how these meadows change in are left remain under threat from development, response to our changing environment and aggregates extraction, flood alleviation, encourage their restoration and re-creation. inappropriate management and climate change. We are interested to hear about others The Ecology Group at the Open University is recording and monitoring floodplain meadows, interested in how the plant communities on so please get in touch if you have your own floodplain meadows respond to different recording schemes locally. environmental conditions. Each different plant The sharing of information with all those species has a different tolerance of involved in the conservation, management and environmental stresses and by observing restoration of floodplain meadows is crucial to distributions in the field we have been able to the success of the project. We are running short quantify these tolerances. Using a database of courses, workshops and a conference on Flood- species occurrence linked to soil hydrology, we plain Meadows. In particular, we are running a have been able to predict plant community weekend course on ‘The Natural History of changes based on changes in soil water and soil Floodplain Meadows’ from 11th–13th June with nutrient status. tutors Professor David Gowing and John The collection of this data entails visiting Rodwell. See website for further details. We many sites over the survey period and across are also providing publications and literature the country, and recording large numbers of that summarise the latest research findings. 1m · 1m quadrats. In 2009, we visited 20 For further information, please see: floodplain meadow sites and recorded over www.floodplainmeadows.org.uk (contact: 1500 quadrats worth of species data. [email protected]). Report of overseas field meeting – 2009 / Romania 49

REPORT OF OVERSEAS FIELD MEETING – 2009

BSBI: Romania Leaders: OWEN MOUNTFORD & JOHN AKEROYD; Day report authors as listed

Day 1: 10th June (Owen Mountford) to explore the middle and upper parts of the Most of the group travelled on a BA flight =ăUQHúWLJRUJHZKHUHVKHOWHUIURPDFORXGEXUVW from Heathrow to Otopeni airport and by soon would be easier to reach. The gorge had after 5pm, all of us had arrived. We set off limestone walls, some dry and exposed to the north on DNI across the agricultural plain of sun, others shaded and moist. Here and there 0XQWHQLD WRZDUG 3ORLHúWL ZLWK SDWFKHV RI beech forest came down to the trackside and a Sambucus ebulus (Danewort) on the verges. stream, with associated flushes, added further Rocky outcrops bore thickets of silver-leaved diversity. As we ascended, the beech gave Sea Buckthorn – here common well away way to a mix of spruce and beech as we from the coast on river gravel and stony entered the gorge proper. We recorded some slopes. Beech and mixed deciduous forests 250 species within the gorge. Lower down surrounded the villages in the middle and there were warm, sunny, dry slopes, with upper valley. The sides of the valley closed in “Breck species” such as Sickle Medick. The and limestone precipices rising to 2000m, beech forest had patches of Neottia (Bird’s- some with larch, emerged from the forest to nest Orchid) and occasional Butterfly Orchids, the west – the Bucegi Mountains. Short of whose precise identity was probably impossi- Predeal (on the watershed between Muntenia ble to establish, as well as Small-leaved Helle- and Transylvania), we turned west toward borine and Corallorhiza (Coral-root Orchid). ZăUQHúWL descending through beech and The beginnings of a truly upland influence spruce forest on a series of hairpins. We were were witnessed by wet flushes and springs anxious to get at least some botanising in with lots of Silene pusilla, which at first before supper, and stopped in a promising area looked quite un-campion like. Cresses of pasture and scrub not far short of 5kúQRY (Arabis spp. and especially the tall garlic- There was an interesting variety of sedges, scented Peltaria) became commoner as we including the true Carex flava (Yellow Sedge) neared the narrowest defile. The flora on the in base-rich flushes. Limestone Woundwort rock faces became more truly montane, and Hairy Spurge grew on the scrub edge and though not strictly alpine, including Dianthus at least one of the oak bushes seemed to be spiculifolius, Sesleria rigida, Saxifraga panic- Quercus polycarpa – one of eight oaks native ulata (Livelong Saxifrage) and Erysimum to Romania. The route to 0ăJXUD from witmannii, as well as patches of Cortusa =ăUQHúWL seemed unpromising at first – a rough (Alpine Bells) by seepage on the scrubby stony track up the =ăUQHúWLJRUJHIROORZHGE\ slopes. This was a good place to take lunch – a zigzag steeply up through forest to the on the banks of the gorge stream. Some VXUSULVLQJO\ ODUJH YLOODJH RI 0ăJXUD LWVHOI exquisite bushes of the alpine rose Rosa scattered over the rolling hills. There was pendulina grew out of the rock faces, with a thunder and lightning playing around the few plants of the neat yellow Saxifraga PRXQWDLQV±WKHWHPSHUDWXUHLQ%XFXUHúWLKDG corymbosa, and Small White Orchids in light been well over 30 degrees, and the weather shade close by. was unsettled for our first 3 days in Romania. We returned to 0ăJXUD UHDG\ IRU DQRWKHU Day 2: 11th June (Owen Mountford) walk, but another brief cloudburst delayed The weather was uncertain over breakfast, and matters. When the weather cleared, we we therefore altered our plans, deciding first followed a path through the meadows above and near our pension. Our progress was very 50 Report of overseas field meeting – 2009 / Romania slow, but the cause was the rich flora. Bright Some of these fields had already been scythed red Trifolium alpestre (Mountain Zigzag and others had a similar flora to the upper Clover) grew with Zigzag and Mountain meadows, but there were interesting additions, Clovers, and the bright sunshine brought out including a typically variable Dactylorhiza some spectacular patches of Bladder Gentian that seemed to be D. cordigera (Heart-flow- on moist stony slopes. Bug Orchids were ered Orchid) in wetter places (possibly with scattered over the slope, together with a few hybrids), whilst Lychnis viscaria (Sticky Scented Orchids and an array of Rhinanthus Catchfly) grew on drier banks and Pyrola and Centaurea species, as well as patches of minor (Common Wintergreen) grew in decid- Blue Bugle. The slope was criss-crossed by uous scrub. Walking back through the village paths connecting cabins and scattered revealed many weeds, including some, such as farmsteads set amongst a mosaic of meadows, Good King Henry, which are typical of the pastures and woodlands. We descended by uplands in Romania. Hoopoes were calling as other paths to the church, where Wild Liquo- we returned and Teresa found a splendid, rice grew in lusher ground, and a marshy verge though sadly dead, Mole Cricket which was had Juncus compressus (Round-fruited Rush) the subject of many photos. and Carex distans (Distant Sedge). The lanes The third and final excursion took us back to back to our pension had Winged Broom and the =ăUQHúWLJRUJHZKHUHQRZZHIRFXVHGRQ Pink Masterwort growing on multi-coloured the lower part toward the town. Cephalanthera banks, and we spent some time trying to distin- damasonium (White Helleborine) (with guish the variants of Dyer’s Greenweed another infertile species) grew with the Neottia present. Caraway was very frequent on under beech, together with margins and drier pasture in this region. Cardamine/Dentaria bulbifera (Coralroot) and Day 3: 12th June (Stephen Ashworth) Dentaria glandulosa. Sunnier slopes and rock The group undertook three excursions all in outcrops had Crown Vetch, Verbascum lychni- the immediate vicinity of the guest house. The tis (White Mullein) (yellow-flowered), first revisited the species-rich alkaline Phyteuma orbiculare (Round-headed Rampi- meadows to the east of the pension of the on) and a distinctive form of the Siberian previous afternoon, but then ascended to more Bellflower. We stopped by a spring where fine acid pastures about 100m higher, with fresh water was available for drinking, and both outcropping limestone crags, where Swallow- Carex flava and Blysmus compressus (Flat- wort and Sermountain were prominent. sedge) were common. Yellow-bellied Toads Nardus (Mat-grass) was frequent in these were clambering around this sward. Earlier, in pastures, as well as juvenile Juniper. A signif- roadside puddles, we had found both adults and icant find in this habitat was the Balkan tadpoles. The constant sound of crickets from heather Bruckenthalia spiculifolia growing as the meadows welcomed us back to the pension scattered young plants in the turf – as an and an after-supper species-session to sum up Eastern European counterpart of our Ericace- the area completed this part of our trip. ae. We climbed steeply to an area where Day 4: 13th June (Bridget Smith) sheep were occasionally penned, and the After the high hay meadows of 0ăJXUD we resulting vegetation was much less diverse. returned to the plain; first down the rough, Hence we retraced our steps and were unmade road through the lower gorge. rewarded by patches of Musk Orchid in the Transylvania seems either to be completely less acid turf, together with Ophioglossum flat or very hilly. Our road was through large vulgatum (Adder’s-tongue Fern), Antennaria fields of grain, managed fairly intensively but dioica (Mountain Everlasting) and Thesium interspersed with rough grazing and large alpinum (Alpine Bastard-toadflax). flocks of sheep shepherded by a man and Our second excursion took in small hay dogs. Nearer the villages were strips of arable meadows and road verges below the pension. land managed traditionally by small farmers Report of overseas field meeting – 2009 / Romania 51 and near the small towns were derelict facto- Our picnic lunch was taken near woodland ries from the communist era and the which held Maianthemum bifolium (May- occasional modern factory. From BraúRY D lily), Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-valley), climb through wooded country brought us to Lathyrus vernus (Spring Pea) and Phyteuma the area of the Saxon villages where we were tetramerum, the latter endemic to the southern to stay. and eastern Carpathians. Wandering along the A scramble up the terraces, gave us our first valley we saw two superb flowering speci- glimpse of what happens when this land is mens of Veratrum album (White False-helle- allowed to revert from cultivation to rough borine) and a large patch of the attractive grazing or even hay meadow. The seed bank Euphorbia salicifolia (Willow-leaved must be immense and one could hardly Spurge). There were leaves of Colchicum imagine this was once plough-land. We were autumnale (Meadow Saffron) to tempt us to now seeing mainly vegetation of the steppe come back later. When we reached the road a and the woodland edge with a large number of few people chose to return to the village that species of the Fabaceae family, including the way. The rest of us took to the hills again and, brilliant red Lathyrus tuberosus (Tuberous on the steppic slope, Owen was delighted to Pea), the shrubby Chamaespartium sagittale point out Salvia nutans (Nodding Sage), (Winged Broom), and the impressive yellow another eastern European endemic. This was Trifolium pannonicum (Hungarian Clover). growing along with Jurinea mollis, Teucrium We also had our first sighting of the bright chamaedrys (Wall Germander), and a white pink Polygala major (Large Milkwort) and flowered variant of Dianthus carthusianorum the local teasel, Dipsacus laciniatus (Cut- (Carthusian Pink), but Adonis vernalis leaved Teasel), with its pinnatifid cauline (Yellow Adonis) and Dictamnus albus leaves and more upright, pale inflorescences. (Burning Bush) had already finished flower- Here we saw, as on previous days, how the ing. Other species occurred that are rare in variety of vegetation resulted in a wonderful Europe generally and some with their centre of variety of insects, with the air full of the sound distribution well to the east in the Steppe region of grasshoppers and crickets, as well as butter- e.g. Crambe tatarica, Iris pumila (Dwarf Iris) flies at every step. and both Prunus tenella and P. fruticosa, as Day 5: 11th June (Phyl Abbott) well as the archetypal grass Stipa and the On Sunday Karcsi had a day off so we set off wormwood Artemisia pontica. Umbellifers on a six mile trek that took most of the day – were important, especially Longleaf but also a bit much to ask of people used to ambling the yellow Ferulago sylvatica and white Laser along at botanists’ pace! However we inevita- trilobum. On the homeward trek along the bly made time to look at plants and were in no ridge we saw Ornithogalum pyramidale and, way disappointed by the beauty and diversity on the edge of an arable field,Consolida of the species in the meadow steppe. These regalis, Adonis aestivalis, Ranunculus arven- areas are grazed by horses and cattle. sis (Corn Buttercup) and, finally, there were Amongst the first new plants of the day was beautiful areas dominated by Rhinanthus Melampyrum bihariense, endemic to Eastern minor (Yellow-rattle) and Onobrychis viciifo- Europe and distinguished from M. cristatum lia (Sainfoin). (Crested Cow-wheat) by having hairs on the Day 6:15th June (Chris Preston) veins of the calyx. Teresa found the attractive The first site, 2km S. of Apold, was one of the Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis. From the top of mysterious fields of ‘tumps’ which are found the hill across the valley before us there was in this part of Transylvania (see Colour extensive grassland with sparse hawthorn Section, Plate 3). Several small, steep-sided scrub and dense Quercus robur (Pedunculate hills rise out of rather flat ground (currently Oak) woodland on the higher parts of the fallow fields). They look man-made, although slope opposite. some consider that they have a natural origin; 52 Report of overseas field meeting – 2009 / Romania even if natural, some appear to have been cut cinerea ssp. cinerea (Grey Willow). The through to allow tracks to pass between them. wetland vegetation graded into grassland, Their flora had much in common with that with Cirsium canum at the moist edge and a seen on the hills the previous day, with much fine display of Melampyrum arvense (Field Carex humilis (Dwarf Sedge). Artemisia Cow-wheat) on a dry bank. Consolida pontica was frequent in an open community regalis, Euphorbia platyphyllos (Broad- on the driest, steepest slopes, and the more leaved Spurge) and Silene noctiflora (Night- closed turf held A. campestris (Field flowering Catchfly) grew as weeds in a nearby Wormwood), Astragalus monspessulanus maize field. (Montpellie Milk-vetch), Cirsium pannon- Day 7: 16th June (Clare and Mark Kitchen) icum (Hungarian Thistle), Clematis recta, On this our last day in Viscri, we were joined Eryngium campestre (Field Eryngo), Falcaria by several members of ADEPT (Agricultural vulgaris (Longleaf), Galium rubioides, and Environmental Protection in Transylva- Gymnadenia densiflora (Marsh Fragrant-or- nia). These included students studying land chid), Inula ensifolia, Iris pumila, use history and biodiversity, the distribution Lembotropis nigricans (Black Broom), Linum of scarce species, environmental guiding and flavum (Yellow Flax), Jurinea mollis (again, the surveying of flora and vegetation. Our past flowering), Rosa gallica, Sesleria walk took us south of the village to the top of heuflerana, Stipa pennata (Feather-grass), ‘Huluba Hill’, on which an ‘Orange’ Teucrium chamaedrys, Thesium bavaricum telephone mast stands. This and the surround- and Verbascum phoeniceum (Purple Mullein). ing foothills are formed of calcareous marl John pointed out vegetative plants of the late- with a little sand and slumped areas. Monica, flowering Adenophora lilifolia (a bellflower) an MSc student from Cluj researching dry (not dissimilar to Hieracium umbellatum, also grassland with ADEPT, commented that the here) and Cephalaria radiata. The south- grassland we passed on the way contained facing side of one tump had a mass of Salvia plants which suggested its previous use was nutans (mainly past flowering), with arable, although it is currently mesophilic flowering S. pratensis (Meadow Clary) on the grazing pasture. The open area is vast, as north-facing side; S. verticillata (Whorled enclosure of fields never occurred in this part Clary) grew at the base. The Chamaecytisus of Romania. We were pleased to see in this area had pale yellow rather than cream Melampyrum arvense (Field Cow-wheat), in flowers, suggesting that it was C. banaticus its full purple and yellow glory. The sub- rather than C. albus seen earlier, but the differ- steppic flora of the steep unimproved slopes ence was rather slight. was similar to that seen on the previous day After lunch under roadside walnut trees at with such plants as Salvia nutans, with its $SROGZHZHQWRQWRùDHúZDONLQJDORQJD bending heads of blue flowers and the sensu- lane with Aristolochia clematitis (Birthwort) ously aromatic Dictamnus albus, being and Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort) to a notable highlights. New were a few of our Phragmites (Reed)-dominated marsh in a target plant Echium russicum (Red Viper’s- depression in the hills. The flora was much bugloss), with its deep red flowers, below the more familiar, especially to the East Anglian top of the hill where the mast had been contingent, with Angelica sylvestris (Wild constructed. The grassland was also good Angelica), Calamagrostis canescens (Purple habitat for butterflies including Niobe Fritil- Small-reed), Caltha palustris (Marsh lary, Eastern Bath White and the Queen of Marigold), Calystegia sepium (Hedge Spain. Bindweed), Carex acutiformis (Lesser Pond- The day being hot we took a long siesta sedge), Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag), before strolling to the church on top of the hill Lathyrus palustris (Marsh Pea), Myosoton in Viscri. In the churchyard we noted Pinus aquaticum (Water Chickweed) and Salix strobus (Weymouth Pine), unusual for the Report of overseas field meeting – 2009 / Romania 53 area. Returning from the church we inspected on the way to the austerely beautiful 1345 the ruderal flora associated with the street Lutheran church full of Saxon treasures and drainage ditches, which included Chenopo- with a historic cemetery spilling down the dium glaucum (Oak-leaved Goosefoot), and hillside overgrown with wild flowers. Alas no C. hybridum (Maple-leaved Goosefoot or time to survey! Sowbane), Lepidium ruderale (Narrow-leaved On the way to the mountains a last stop was Pepperwort) and Polygonum neglectum (a made to explore an acid grassland site on knotweed). On our way to SighiúRDUDLQWKH gravels by the river Bâlea near CârWLúRDUD. evening we were able to break our journey at Here there were stands of Frangula alnus the ADEPT offices, where we were told of (Alder-buckthorn) and Impatiens parviflora their ventures in commercial quality food (Small Balsam) by the river, and scattered production to support the indigenous farming Myricaria germanica (German Tamarisk), community, and there followed a shopping reflecting the location draining the mountains. opportunity of numerous locally produced In the short turf were Scleranthus perennis jams, cordials and dried herbs and tisanes (Perennial Knawel), cudweeds (Filago including that made from Viscum album minima and F. vulgaris), Veronica triphyllos (Mistletoe). (Fingered Speedwell), Gypsophila muralis Day 8: 17th June (Anne Cole) (Annual Gypsophila) and Trifolium arvense The day began with a visit to a plateau of (Hare’s-foot Clover) – an assemblage remark- ancient wood pasture, the Breite (broad). ably like the Breckland of eastern England. Huge standard oaks once pollarded now stag- Day 9:18th June (Giles King-Salter) horned, mainly Quercus robur and Q. petraea Our hotel for the final three nights of the (Sessile Oak) with their hybrid (Q. ×rosacea) excursion was the Cabana Cascada at 1250m dominated the sadly under-grazed grassland. on the northern slopes of the )ăJăUDú These dying trees were home to a rare beetle Mountains, part of the Southern Carpathian Cerambyx cerdo, which excavates long galler- chain. The surrounding forest was predomi- ies in the wood. We were able to find two of nantly Picea abies (Norway Spruce), with these impressive animals. The plant of note scattered trees of Abies alba (Silver Fir). was Alcea pallida (Eastern Hollyhock) – Travelling up from the hotel on the first evidently a new site for this in the Saxon morning, we drove past a fine display of Villages. The surrounding dense woodland of flowering Ranunculus platanifolius (Large Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam) and Fagus White Buttercup) and several large plants of sylvatica (Beech) had an interesting ground Lycopodium clavatum (Stag’s-horn flora: Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone), Clubmoss). After emerging from the Spruce Cardamine/Dentaria bulbifera, Maianthe- zone, we passed through a zone of Pinus mugo mum bifolium and Polygonatum latifolium. (Mountain Pine) before reaching Lake Bâlea, The edge flora included Campanula rapuncu- at about 2050m, where we spent most of the loides (Creeping Bellflower), Cardamine day. The vegetation here was short alpine impatiens (Narrow-leaved Bittercress), Salvia grassland with extensive areas of scree and glutinosa (Sticky Clary) and Lathyrus vernus. exposed rock. The pink flowers of the dwarf Rudbeckia laciniata (Conflower) and Oxalis shrub Rhododendron myrtifolium could be stricta (Upright Yellow-sorrel) were natural- seen forming dense patches higher up but it ised by the track through the wood. was less abundant around the lake and below, A convivial lunch was next at Jo's Pub in presumably due to the effects of sheep grazing 6LJKLúRDUD $IWHUZDUds we toiled up steep and possibly because the soil is richer in bases. flights of steps to the jumble of ancient houses Overall, however, the grazing pressure here on top of the hill. Two grasses were noted: was less than on the southern side nearby, Hordeum murinum (Wall Barley) ssp. lepori- resulting in a more diverse and interesting num and Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda-grass) flora. 54 Report of overseas field meeting – 2009 / Romania

Ranunculus crenatus (Crenate Buttercup) surprise, but also suggested this area may be was flowering in abundance in short turf near relatively unknown botanically. We briefly the lake, together with a large number of other struggled to identify Dianthus barbatus species including Primula minima (Least (Sweet William), which presented an unusual Primrose), Geum montanum (Alpine Avens), appearance in bud, but were able to confirm Soldanella montana (Mountain Snowbell), the identification when we saw it in flower S. pusilla (Dwarf Snowbell), Plantago lower down the following day. On and around gentianoides, Potentilla aurea (Golden the cliff face we saw rare Callianthemum Cinquefoil), Cerastium cerastoides (Starwort coriandriifolium and other species such as Mouse-ear), Arabis alpina (Alpine Rock- Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort), cress), Lloydia serotina (Snowdon Lily), Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butterwort), Doronicum carpaticum (Carpathian Dactylorhiza coeloglossum (Coeloglossum Leopard’s-bane), Saxifraga stellaris (Starry viride – Frog Orchid), Erigeron nanus (Dwarf Saxifrage), Viola biflora (Yellow Wood-vio- Fleabane), Galium boreale (Northern let), Pulsatilla alba (White Pasque-flower), Bedstraw), Veronica baumgartenii, Ligusticum mutellina (Alpine Lovage), Sedum Campanula alpina (Alpine Bellflower) (see alpestre, Homogyne alpina (Alpine Colt’s- Colour Section, Plate 3), and Allium victoria- foot) and the dense pink-flowered cushions of lis, with broad leaves and large nodding Silene acaulis (Moss Campion). Among the flower heads. graminoids were Luzula alpinopilosa (Alpine We then descended to about 1900m to inves- Woodrush), Kobresia myosuroides, Carex tigate a boggy area containing a small pool. atrata (Black Alpine Sedge) and the grass Very little was growing in the water itself, but Oreochloa disticha. Wildlife seen near the around the margins were Eriophorum angusti- lake included whistling Marmots, Ravens, folium (Common Cotton-grass), E. vaginatum Alpine Accentors and Water Pipits, with the (Hare’s-tail Cotton-grass), Pinguicula latter performing their noisy display flights up vulgaris (Common Butterwort), Juncus from the ground. filiformis (Thread Rush), J. triglumis (Three- Making our way west, away from the lake, flowered Rush), Carex nigra (Common we crossed an area of scree and scrambled up Sedge) and Cardamine pratensis ssp. rivularis a steep grassy slope to reach the base of a cliff. (Cuckoo-flower), while Caltha palustris Plant species on the slope included Saxifraga (Marsh Marigold) was abundant alongside rotundifolia ssp. heucherifolia (Round-leaved small streams. Saxifrage), Ranunculus oreophilus, Anthemis Nearby were several base-rich low mounds carpatica ssp. carpatica (Carpathian Dog- supporting a diverse flora, which included daisy) (see Colour Section, Plate 3), Epilo- many impressively large plants of Botrychium bium nutans (Nodding Willowherb), lunaria (Moonwort). Also growing here were Gnaphalium supinum (Dwarf Cudweed), Primula elatior ssp. intricata (Oxlip), Pritze- Myosotis alpestris (Alpine Forget-me-not), lago alpina (Chamois Cress), Selaginella Sedum rosea (Roseroot), Phleum alpinum selaginoides (Lesser Clubmoss), Gentianella (Alpine Cat’s-tail), Gentiana acaulis tenella, Cerastium alpinum ssp. alpinum (Trumpet Gentian), G. punctata (Spotted (Alpine Mouse-ear), Minuartia verna ssp. Gentian), Acinos alpinus ssp. alpinus (Alpine gerardi (Spring Sandwort), Viola alpina Calamint), Trifolium badium (Brown Trefoil), (Alpine Pansy) and Saxifraga oppositifolia Bartsia alpina (Alpine Bartsia), Phyteuma (Purple Saxifrage). wagneri, Silene vulgaris ssp. glareosa Day 10:19th June (Con Breen) (Bladder Campion) and Astragalus alpinus In contrast to the previous day’s foray, which (Alpine Milk-vetch), a species possibly new to had been confined to areas above the tree line )ăJăUDú 7KHSUHVHQFH RI Scilla bifolia at over 2000m to the west of Lake Bâlea, the (Alpine Squill) at the foot of the slope was a morning’s botanising explored the Picea abies Report of overseas field meeting – 2009 / Romania 55

(Norway Spruce) zone immediately above our Lloydia serotina and Rhododendron myrtifo- abode, the Cabana Cascada, in the deep valley lium,and the surrounding slopes were busily below the Bâlea cascade ranging from 1200m examined by the more athletic, and adventur- to over 1300m. With the deep shelter prevail- ous, members of the party. A sheltered ing in the valley a varied plant list of overhang was bright with the large white woodland and riverside plants was made, flowers of Saxifraga pedemontana, a species including several species washed down from with a very disjunct and local distribution higher up the valley – as is normal in alpine from Morocco through Spain, the French valleys such as this. Species of note with a Alps, and Corsica to Romania and the predominantly eastern or south-eastern distri- Balkans. Other significant local species with bution in Europe included, Cirsium waldstein- an eastern distribution in Europe included ii, Pulmonaria rubra, Soldanella hungarica Aconitum tauricum, Pedicularis oederi, and Thymus alpestris together with more Phleum montanum, Phyteuma confusum, Poa widespread species including Achillea stricta, media, Veronica baumgartenii and Viola Adenostyles alliariae, Alnus viridis (Green declinata. Other mountain species more Alder), Doronicum carpaticum, Gentiana familiar to the party in Britain included Arabis asclepiadea (Willow Gentian), Hypericum alpina (Alpine Rock-cress), Asplenium viride richeri, Saxifraga cuneifolia, Saxifraga rotun- (Green Spleenwort), Luzula spicata (Spiked difolia (Round-leaved Saxifrage), Senecio Wood-rush), Minuartia sedoides (Cyphel), nemorensis, Silene pusilla, Spiraea chamae- Salix reticulata (Net-leaved Willow) and a drifolia and Veronica urticifolia. The semi- large-flowered Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple parasitic Tozzia alpina ssp. carpatica took us Saxifrage). Teresa took a higher route than a while to recognise but was in many respects the rest of us and found Dryas octopetala the find of the day, being a species listed for (Mountain Avens) and Pinguicula alpina. protection under Natura 2000. Fine speci- Thus ended a most satisfying day’s mens of Whorled Solomon’s-seal at the foot mountain botanising and a fitting end to a of a cliff provided a good subject for photog- wonderful visit to Romania. raphy. Day 11: 20th June (Owen Mountford) The party then proceeded to a lunch spot on Our final day had no real natural history higher ground in grassland and stream-sides in observations, although we did see some fine the Pinus mugo (Dwarf Mountain-pine) zone VFHQHU\ RQ RXU GULYH WR &XUWHD GH $UJHú at some 1700m. Significant species noted in Plants on roadside rocks and slopes included this area were the Romanian endemic, Silene Sticky Catchfly, Black Broom and Sea-buck- dinarica, together with other local species thorn. From my 2008 visit to the area, I knew including Cardamine “rivularis”, Carex the pink that was frequent at moderate pyrenaica and Draba kotschyi. Also seen altitudes was Dianthus henteri. Passing the were Arenaria ciliata (Fringed Sandwort), $UJHúUHVHUYRLUVDQGHYHQWXDOO\UHDFKLQJWKH Dianthus barbatus (Sweet-William), Dryop- lowlands, we got to the A1 motorway near teris expansa (Northern Buckler-fern), Epilo- 3LWHúWLDQGZHUHVRRQDW%XFXUHúWL7KHZHHG bium alsinifolium (Chickweed Willowherb), flora around the capital’s ring-road would E. anagallidifolium (Alpine Willowherb) and have no doubt held further species for our list Poa chaixii (Broad-leaved Meadow-grass). for the trip (already over 900), but only White Finally, the party returned to Lake Bâlea, Water-lily was added (in large pools nearing where outcrops and mountain slopes to the the airport). I was to spend one more day in north-east of the Lake yielded yet further Romania and thus with Marilena said “Drum botanical riches to finish the visit to Romania bun!” to the travellers, hoping that they had literally on a high note! Many species already come to share some of my affection for this seen on the previous day to the west were country. noted. A steep rocky outcrop, with much 56 Report of the Annual Exhibition Meeting 2009

REPORT OF THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION MEETING 2009

ALAN SHOWLER, 12 Wedgwood Drive, Hughenden Valley, High Wycombe, Bucks., HP14 4PA The theme for the exhibition, on 21st Novem- 1990-2009. Appropriately, some were ber at Baden-Powell House, Kensington, was mentioned by Jeanette Fryer, our referee for ‘Floras of Small Areas’, and it attracted what the genus, in “Cotoneasters in Stace’s Flora”. must be a near-record number of exhibits, the At 2.15 there was a pause for a presentation majority fitting the title. This also meant that by the President to the authors and artist of the many of the titles described well the scope of new Grasses Handbook. Tom Cope, Alan the exhibit without much further elaboration Gray and Margaret Tebbs well deserved the by your reviewer. This was just as well, as a praise and applause that they received. quick calculation shows how little time could Another diversion was a tour of the NHM’s be spent viewing each of the 42 displays, even British Herbarium in the new Darwin Centre without a break for lunch, looking at books and by Mark Spencer, and there were books to look talking to friends. I hope I have done justice to at, on sale from Summerfields, Cambridge those who provided an abstract of their exhibit; University Press and Acanthophyllum Books. to those who did not, my apologies – but next Then it was back to the Exhibition. Here Petra year please provide one unless the title covers Broddle and Roy Vickery reported on a newly all you need to say. commenced survey by the South London As usual, there were the evergreens – in leaf Botanical Institute of St. Leonard’s church- as usual – like Sean & Ann Kearly with their yard, Streatham. It is planned to monitor ‘Help!’ table. They have issued an ultimatum changes over the years to what has been found that 2010 will be their last (offers to take over so far – 130 flowering plants, 5 ferns, 2 to Roy Vickery). Sean and Ann also exhibited gymnosperms, 21 mosses, 20 lichens and the for the Plant Gall Society. Others needed help fauna. Stella Taylor is a pet-lover, but her pets nearby, where John Poland had more fiendish are the weeds (well some) in her garden in things to identify and his new book (co-au- Diss, v.c.27. Most are native, a few less thored with Eric Clement) to remind us it could common are introduced, and she was giving help (for the answers, see BSBI News 113: 89). away the fruits of her labours to any who Jane Croft had next year’s Field Meetings wanted some. Continuing the small areas already listed, and nearby were pictures from theme, Sarah Whild and Alex Lockton one of 2009’s meetings, led by Teresa Farino displayed the flora of Haughmond Hill and of in N. Spain. To the south, John Bailey recom- Attingham Park (both v.c.40); Pam Taylor mended “Delights of the Mallorcan flora”. showed “Taplow Wildlife” from v.c.24 and Jean Combes, as usual, showed us some very Simon Leach gave us the “Flora of Taunton”, fine drawings and photographs, and Mervyn v.c.5. The adjoining v.c.6 was represented by Southam exhibited (guess what!) Umbellifers, Helena Crouch with the “Flora of the Cam and with the emphasis on Ferula. R.M. Veal had Wellow Valleys”, which summarised work by the latest additions to the Sark flora, which the Cam Valley Wildlife Group. The “Top 20” included the ever-spreading Conyza canaden- species held no surprises, nor I fear did Indian sis. Some degrees lower in temperature and Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), but others, higher in latitude were “Some Spitzbergen e.g. Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor) Plants” from Ruth Pierce, and from the wilds and Marsh Cudweed (Gnaphalium uligino- of Morecambe Bay Michael Foley & Mike sum) were much rarer, as was White Helle- Porter produced an unbelievable 18 species of borine (Cephalanthera damasonium) on the Cotoneaster; mostly from limestone and not western edge of its range. In the same v.c., Liz all still to be found, as the report covered McDonnell reported on the “Flora of the parish Report of the Annual Exhibition Meeting 2009 / Obituary notes 57 of Wedmore”, and still in the southwest, Ted George Hutchinson provided “Records from Pratt showed his book “The Wildflowers of the three Conservation Areas” around Cardiff. Isle of Purbeck, Brownsea and Sandbanks” Barry Phillips, Susan Grayer & James Armit- and how it was written, with sample map age showed “Flora of RHS Wisley, 1910 – tetrads. Eastwards in v.c.11, Debbie Allan & 2010: a centenary publication”, while Mark John Norton presented an “Annotated check- Spencer displayed the remarkable “Herb. J. list of the wildflowers of Gosport”. Stephenson – a long lost/unknown London From up north came “Hell Kettles – a forgot- herbarium”, only recently discovered. ten corner” of v.c.66, from Falgunee Sarker On other topics, Geoffrey Kitchener exhib- (described in BSBI News 113: 35); whilst our ited “Complex hybrids in Epilobium”and also President, Michael Braithwaite, showed “Complex hybrids in Rumex”. Christina “Native species colonising the Berwickshire O’Rourke, S. Connan and D. Stengel showed Coast” and some Berwickshire Rare Plant “Characterisation of the pigment levels in the Register hectad reports. Back in the south, brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum”, while Mick Crawley had “Silwood Park – the flora David Allen, surrounded by all these Latin of 100 hectares” in v.c.22, while David Bevan names, just said it’s “All Greek to me”, which and David Corcoran recorded “The Flora of probably some of them were. Saving the best Queens Wood – continuity and change in an until last, Tim Rich had on view “Biodiversity urban London wood (v.c.21)”. Jon Shanklin Duty Audits of National Museum of Wales gave us “The Flora of Cherry Hinton Chalk sites”, but he also featured, with Peter Garner Pits”, known for many, many years, but proba- and Mark Yanninck in “Haunted Hereford- bly not as good as in the ‘old days’. Alan shire – the Ghost reappears after 23 years”. Leslie reported on “New Cambridgeshire This described how Mark identified auspicious Records” from the same v.c. In the same area, weather conditions earlier in the year, staked Ken Adams looked at the “Former distribution out 10 possible sites and on 20th September and extinction of Hieracia in Epping Forest”, found it – the Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyl- and also the “Distribution and ecology of lum)! Just one plant, 5cm tall, which he Crested Cow-wheat and Sulphur Clover in greeted with: “Hello you – so there you are!” eastern England”. Elsewhere, there were (also described in more detail in BSBI News “Three new records of alien plants from 113: 7). What a fabulously well deserved find Leicestershire” from Uta Hamzaoui, while to end this report. OBITUARY NOTES

MARY BRIGGS, 9 Arun Prospect, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1AL * an Obituary will be published in Watsonia published in 2005. Peter was also a good With regret we report the death of Dr P.F. companion on field excursions and handy with Yeo*, a BSBI member since 1984 and known a long handled screw driver for the extraction to many members as an author of the New of an Arum tuber from rocky terrain when Naturalist Library books on Pollination; the required for the possibility of a new species. first with Michael Proctor was published in With regret also we report the death of C.A. 1973, and the second edition with Andrew Sinker* BSBI member since 1949, known to Lack also as The Natural History of Pollina- many members as Director of the Field Studies tion published in 1996. Peter working at the Council, and earlier at Malham Tarn Field Cambridge Botanic Garden was a BSBI Centre as Assistant Warden and for longer as referee for some years for Euphrasia and Aster Warden at Preston Montford. Charles was also and for Geranium he was referee from 1997- BSBI Recorder for Montgomery v.c.47 1961- 2003. Peter was the world expert on Geranium 1969, for Shropshire v.c.40 1961-1976, and and his comprehensive Hardy Geraniums was 58 Obituary notes was a joint author of Ecological Flora of the a member of the Botanical Society of the Shropshire Region 1985. British Isles for many years and with his great We were sorry to hear recently from Dr E.C. friend and fellow botanist, Stan Beesley Chicken that his wife Mrs Jean Chicken had County Recorder for Country Antrim, he died in 2008. Due to illness she was resigned recorded all over Ireland. A few days before from the Society just before her death, but Jean he died, John was poking in a muddy pond had been a BSBI member since 1955. As after a plant he did not instantly recognize. Elinor Jean Harris, she graduated in Botany at He was a Member of the Belfast Naturalists Newcastle, then part of Durham University Field Club and, with Stan, co-authored Urban under Prof. Heslop Harrison. After teacher Flora of Belfast (Institute of Irish Studies, training she became a popular teacher in Hull. Queen's, University Belfast (June 1, 1997) In 1970 Jean and Eric Chicken were married, tramping miles around Belfast, recording card both were graduates in science and BSBI in hand. For this highly acclaimed work John members. They botanised together for the and Stan both received the Club. Medal, one of Flora of Cyprus (D. Meikle, 1985) and also in only a few awarded in our 146 year history. He the East Riding of Yorkshire and with the Wild also made significant contributions to the Flower Society. We send sympathy to Mr publication Wild Belfast (Robert Scott, Black- Chicken and the families of Peter Yeo and staff Press) Charles Sinker. John had three great botanical loves: He was passionate and extremely knowl- We also report with regret the deaths of the edgeable about orchids. He and his wife Lyn following members: Mrs W.G. Haythorn- hunted these through Europe and Australia. thwaite of Bingley (1956) and Mrs B.M. His extensive collection of orchid photo- Newman of Reading (1994) and send sympa- graphs is now lodged in the Ulster Museum, thy to their families. Belfast. Thanks to Miss M.D.B. Allen of Belfast who He found ferns fascinating, and delighted in has sent the following good appreciation of the crested sports. John Wilde of Belfast, whose death was He loved The Burren, that magical area of reported in BSBI News 113; January 2010. limestone pavement in County Clare. John and Lyn visited there so often they became John Wilde October 1917 -September 2009 Honorary residents. John toured the area John was a true Naturalist; it began with birds checking that the plants, especially the and ended in plants but with a lot in between. orchids, were prospering. Though plants became his passion, he never forgot his first love and he often lifted his head John was a great botanist but an even greater out of the undergrowth to catch a bird song or friend; he willingly passed on his knowledge watch the flight of a bird. to the next generations. We will greatly miss He loved plants and took as much pleasure in his company, his humour, his courtliness and a flush of primroses as an exotic rarity. He was his expertise but he gave us precious memories. Book Notes – Will I Cope? / Diary 59

BOOK NOTES

Will I Cope? DR TIM RICH, Head of Vascular Plants, Welsh National Herbarium (NMW), Dept. of Biodiversity & Systematic Biology, National Museum Wales, Cardiff, CF10 3NP At the age of 18 I learnt my grasses Then Sell & Murrell gave us infra-specifics; from a Penguin book in ecology classes. More changes again, the details terrific. There were pictures and text, but old Mr Hubbard Next hundreds of aliens from over the seas - had used the old names so was put in the cupboard. Ryves, Clement and Foster helps with these!

To be up-to-date I memorised Tutin - Now Cope and Gray author a fine handbook he didn’t give old names the slightest look-in. It’ll be all change if I dare take a look. The excursion flora fitted my pocket Thank heavens there are only two hundred and and the main key worked, couldn’t knock it. twenty pictured with Margaret’s fine drawings a-plenty. Then came the new flora by Professor Clive Stace; To learn new names was once more a race. Now I’m old, and my brain has no room; His knowledge of grasses was pretty extensive the last word in grasses came none too soon. So I bought the book, it wasn’t expensive. I’ll stay in and read the six books in bed, or start something easy like brambles instead.

Diary N.B. These dates are often supplementary to those in the 2010 Calendar in BSBI Year Book 2010 and include provisional dates of the BSBI’s Permanent Working Committees.

Committees and Working Groups Annual meetings Meetings 8 Sep Spring Conf. & AGM 5-6 June , Leicester Records 6 Oct Welsh AGM & Exbn. 11-13 June, Training & Education 13 Oct Anglesey Publications 20 Oct Irish AGM 7 August Database 10 March Castlebar, Co. Mayo SRC Virtual Scottish AGM & Exbn. 6 Nov, Edinburgh Wales 12 June, 15 Oct, 3 Dec One day Conference 26 Nov. Scotland 15 May, 25 Sep Birmingham Ireland 7 Aug Annual Exbn Meeting 27 Nov. Executive and Council Birmingham Executive 14 July, 27 Oct Council 5 June, 10 Nov Forthcoming event Spring Conf. & AGM May/June 2011 Galway, Ireland 60 Recorders and Recording – Referees and Specialists / Vice-county Recorders / Advice on Buying and Using GPSs

RECORDERS AND RECORDING

Panel of Referees and Specialists MARY CLARE SHEAHAN, 61 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London SW13 9RZ; [email protected] We have a new Referee for Rowans, and the Also Rob Cooke, Referee for Polypodium, has entry in the Yearbook will read: a change of address. It should be: 2 Barrowden Sorbus subg. Sorbus (pinnate-leaved Sorbus): Road, Ketton, Nr Stamford, Rutland, PE9 3RJ Dr McAllister; fresh ripe fruiting material ([email protected]). with mature buds is best, but Dr McAllister Michael Walpole’s death was announced in is also happy to look at dried material. His the last issue of News but it was too late to address is: University of Liverpool Botanic amend his entry in the Referees section of the Gardens, Ness, Neston, South Wirral, 2010 Year Book; he was the Referee for local Cheshire CH64 4AY. floras and herbals for a long time, and In addition Paul Green has offered to identify answered a large number of queries for garden shrubs; his address is in the Referees’ members. Section in the Yearbook.

Panel of Vice-county Recorders DAVID PEARMAN, Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA; 01872 863388 New Recorders V.c.92. (S. Aberdeen). Dr I..S. Francis, East V.c.87 (W. Perth). Mrs J. Jones to join as joint Cottage, Asloun, Alford, Aberdeenshire, recorder. Correspondence to Mrs K. Lavery AB33 8NR. (this is already in the Year Book, as before. but was confirmed at Records Committee in January) Advice on Buying and Using GPSs for BSBI members JIM MCINTOSH, BSBI Scottish Officer, Royal Botanic Garden, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR; Tel: 0131 2482894; [email protected] Buying sensitive than the older models such as the 1. Even the basic models do more than most black Garmin GPS12 bricks, and will users will ever need – and I recommend a operate in forests, woods, gorges, under basic model like the yellow Garmin eTrex overhangs and even indoors (handy if very H. Cheapest sources are generally on-line lost). but Argos, Ellis Brigham, Maplin, PC 3. GPSs are available which display position World, Tiso and other outdoor activities on a map. However the size of the screen shops all stock them. and the scale of the map both reduce useful- 2. Make sure that it is a ‘High Sensitivity’ ness – and the GPSs and maps are expensive Model. These have ‘H’ in the model name, e.g. Garmin eTrex H and have high sensi- 4. The Garmin Foretrex is a lightweight, tivity antennas. Out of the box however, wrist-mounted GPS with built-in rechargea- many models look almost identical but high bles and most of the features of larger sensitivity models will have this marked models. It costs over £100 – and is more above the display. They are much more Recorders and Recording – Advice on Buying and Using GPSs 61

expensive than an eTrex, but it is very good 5. If the Trip Computer Page is reset at the for keeping hands free and being readily outset and the machine is left on, at the end viewable. of the day the GPS will accurately indicate Using the total distance travelled. 1. Make sure that your GPS is set-up 6. Use Rechargeable Batteries. Nearly all correctly! Check that the Position Format is GPSs will work for two full field days with set to ‘British Grid’ on the navigation setup a new set of alkaline batteries. But this is page and that the Map Datum is set to ‘Ord expensive and not very environmentally Srvy GB’. Note that ‘WGS84’ is often set friendly – a much better idea is to use high as default on new GPSs and must be capacity re-chargeable batteries. If the GPS changed. Menu > Setup > Enter > Units > uses AA type batteries get 2,500mAh ones Enter and set format to British Grid and as a minimum (2,700 and 2,850mAh are also press enter – this automatically sets datum to available but are more expensive). Ord Srvy GB. 7. Always take a spare set of batteries – 2. WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) regardless of type. They always go flat when – Nearly all new GPSs are WAAS enabled needed most! which improves the positioning accuracy about 5 times from 15m to >3m. But it must 8. Buy a padded bag to protect the GPS in be switched on. To do this on Garmins case of drops and scratches. Some GPS Menu > Setup > Enter > System > Enter and screens score quite easily (e.g. Garmin select WAAS Mode (if available) and enter. eTrex series). On Gekos it is Menu > Setup > GPS Mode. 9. Do not obstruct the GPS by crowding it or If a GPS is receiving the WAAS correction holding your hand over the antenna – signals a small ‘D’ will appear on the satel- usually in the upper part of the device. lite strength bars on both the normal and Satellite signals do not go through heads or advanced skyview satellite page. (To access hands very well! The GPS’s satellite view the advanced skyview page, press the Enter page gives accuracy – wait until it gets down button on the satellite page, select to 3 or 4 metres. ‘Advanced Skyview’ and press the Enter again.) It sometimes takes the GPS some 10. GPS Altitude readings are never as accu- time to lock-up to these additional signals rate as their horizontal positions. Typically and often only after being stationary for they are 1.5× to 2× less accurate. But this is several minutes. still pretty good. If altitude is important then some models like the Geko 301 include a 3. Accuracy – given the above GPS resolu- barometric altimeter – but these need regular tions it is debatable whether it is worth re-calibration every time you pass a known quoting grid references to all 10 figures and spot height (e.g. a trig point). Alternatively the long string of digits may only increase precisely plot position on a 1:25,000 OS the chance of a transcription error. I tend to Map and interpolate between contours. prefer 8 digits, but the conversion may also introduce errors. 11. Learn to use the GOTO function! This is extremely useful when trying to refind 4. Leave GPSs on all day for improved accu- population sites with reasonably detailed racy, especially using them intensively. grid references, e.g. for the Threatened Plant There is also no delay while the GPS locks- Project. First enter the grid reference you on. Keep the GPS at the very top of ruck- want to go to, Menu > Waypoints > Enter > sacks or attached to rucksack shoulder straps Select Nearest waypoint > Enter and high- or waist belts so that it can readily pick up light the nearest from this list and select then satellite signals. EDIT to the target grid reference, and save 62 Recorders and Recording – Advice on Buying and Using GPSs / Notes from the Officers – HGS

as a different waypoint. Then from list of 14. Using GPSs with digital maps. All GPSs Waypoints select this Waypoint Menu > can be connected to PCs but this requires the Waypoints > Enter, select the Waypoint that correct interface cable. Ask at a Garmin has just been entered then select GOTO and stockist. It is then possible to download enter. The GPS will give the bearing and tracks along with any waypoints into soft- distance to the target. Check on a map that ware such as MemoryMap, which will your destination is not on the other side of an display it superimposed on an OS map back- abyss, or some other navigational obstacle, ground. This is useful as it shows precisely before following the GPS’s instructions! the route taken, with timings. (This is 12. To stop navigational guidance, after another way to match up with photographs.) reaching the destination press Page to switch Tracks can also be imported to display on to the Pointer page > Enter and select Stop Google Earth. Navigation > Enter. 15. Keep GPS software up to date to give best 13. Locate Photographs. Mark Waypoints possible performance. Connect GPS to when taking photographs and that will give computer and then download and install the the precise time and place which can be Garmin Webupdater from www.garmin.com/support/download.jsp matched with the time in the photograph’s and follow instructions. properties. NOTES FROM THE OFFICERS

From the Hon General Secretary – LYNNE FARRELL 41 High Street, Hemingford Grey, Cambs., PE28 9BJ (01480 462728) ([email protected]) January was relatively quiet and in February it Publications: Mr Chris Boon (chair), Mr John snowed and snowed. This statement applied Poland (sec.) not only to the weather in Cambridgeshire, but Records: Mr David Pearman (chair), Mr Bob also to the amount of BSBI paperwork Ellis (sec.) coming my way. However, with everyone’s Science & Research: Prof Mick Crawley help, I am beginning to make sense of most of (chair), Mr Alex Lockton (sec.) it. Computers can help too, but my 5-year old Training & Education: Dr Sarah Whild pc soon decided that its memory was (chair), Ms Sue Townsend (sec.) overloaded (I knew exactly how it felt!), and January also brought with it a consolidation of so it was upgraded, and I am still getting used tetrad records for including in the latest date to new formats, etc. Please do use my current class for Atlas up-dating, which ended in email address given at the top of this note, as December 2009. For my own vice-county, my previous one is now redundant. Mid Ebudes, all my recent records for the Most Working Committees have met island of Mull were entered into MapMate, recently and there have been several changes giving a grand total of over 101,000 individual in the officers. The officers for the Permanent records for v.c.103. I expect the prolonged, working Committees are listed here for your cold winter has seen other BSBI recorders and information. members sorting through their data also. Database sub-committee: Mr Alex Lockton When spring finally arrives, I am sure it will (chair), Mr Chris Boon (sec.) come with a flourish (or should that be a Meetings: Dr Ian Denholm (chair), Dr John flower-rush?) Bailey (sec.) Notes from the Officers – Head of Research and Development 63

From the Head of Research and Development – KEVIN WALKER 97 Dragon Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 5DG: [email protected]

Recording strategy BSBI book celebrating 50 years of recording Following a consultation with VCRs a draft A proposal for a book to celebrate the 50 years ‘Recording Strategy’ was presented to Records of BSBI recording since the first (1962) Atlas committee in January. The Committee were has now been drawn up. This was presented to broadly happy with the document as a frame- Records and Michael Braithwaite has agreed to work for future recording and various outputs coordinate its production, though much of the including VCR guidance. An improved work would need to be carried out by Plant Unit version was ratified by council in March and staff, mainly in 2011. The book is intended to be the final version will be available to recorders distributed to delegates at a BSBI conference on before the start of the 2010 field season. distribution mapping planned for 2012. Guidelines that underpin the document will be Threatened Plants Project (TPP) updated over the next six months. Survey data for last year’s (2009) species has Welsh Officer now been digitized by Clare Rickerby under a CCW have now agreed to fund a Welsh small contract funded by SNH (see table Officer post as part of a broader BSBI/CCW below). The total is a little down on last year Strategic Partnership Grant that we will be (800 in 2008) but this is mainly due to us submitting over the summer. The post will be requesting fewer visits. There are a few gaps similar to Jim McIntosh’s post in Scotland in which we hope to fill through field meetings providing support to BSBI volunteers as well this and next year (e.g. Carex ericetorum, as helping coordinate projects that underpin Fallopia dumetorum, Melampyrum cristatum). the delivery of plant conservation in Wales Information for the 2010 species was sent out (e.g. Site Conditioning Monitoring). All being in March so if you would like to get involved well recruitment for the post is likely to take please contact your local VCR or check out the place in late 2010 / early 2011. TPP page on the website where all the 2010 information is available to download: http://www.bsbi.org.uk/html/tpp.html.

Selected sites Extra sites Total sites 2009 TPP species surveyed surveyed surveyed Carex ericetorum 16 10 26 Coeloglossum viride 44 79 123 Dianthus deltoides 37 16 53 Cephalanthera longifolia 35 15 50 Fallopia dumetorum 12 3 15 Gnaphalium sylvaticum 41 45 86 Groenlandia densa 48 26 74 Melampyrum cristatum 13 2 15 Oenanthe fistulosa 40 63 103 Vicia orobus 42 39 81 Total 328 298 626 64 Notes from the Officers – Head of Research and Development

Surveillance March. The BSBI is now providing secretariat Plant Unit staff are currently working on two for the group and Lynne Farrell continues as JNCC contracts on plant surveillance. The first the Chair. Issues discussed included Year 3 & is using our Local Change data to identify 4 updates to the Red List, work on Data nitrogen impacts. The second is much more Deficient species and planning for the next ambitious: to devise an “ideal” UK surveil- Red List due to published sometime around lance scheme for plants. This is a close collab- 2017. oration between BSBI, Plantlife, CEH and Big database BTO and the final report is due to be We have commissioned Tom Humphries completed at the end of April. (H@H) to develop a prototype database that Climate change research will allow us to collate all our data into a single BSBI is currently supporting two PhD students ‘big database’. Tom is due to complete the at the York University as part of a collabora- prototype soon after which it will be tested to tion with Chris Thomas. Alison Jukes is inves- see how it performs. If successful we plan to tigating distribution patterns for neophytes in fund further development of the system in relation to climate and trait parameters and 2010. In parallel to this we are also testing Alex Bell is looking at shifts in the northern Recorder 6 to see how it performs as a central range margins of native species with southerly data management and query system. This will distribution’s in the UK. Both are making good include testing its ability to handle large and progress and I hope to report on some of their complex datasets such as the VPDB but also initial results later this year. smaller VC datasets and import/export to a Invasive aliens variety of formats. David Pearman’s article on aliens in British Data quality and data flow Wildlife (“a real or imagined problem?”) has As part of a contract with NBN we are devel- stimulated much interesting debate. Despite oping guidelines for the submission of vascu- significant research in this area, the results lar plant records to the NBN. This will help us were a surprise to many individuals and to be much clearer on the format of our own highlights the importance of BSBI becoming records, what they should contain and some more actively involved in the debate surround- indication on the level of accuracy. ing the impacts of introduced species. Webpage on the ‘British and Irish flora’ Natural England ‘extinctions’ report CEH have now commissioned a Web Designer In March Natural England launched a major to develop a ‘British and Irish flora’ webpage report on the decline of species in England. that will provide a link to all sorts of useful BSBI were one of the main contributors of information on species mapped in the Atlas information on vascular plant chapters and are (e.g. species accounts, trait information, therefore one of the joint authors. The report is photos, etc.). This is a collaboration with BSBI free is available to download online: and will be hosted on our own website. A http://naturalengland.etraderstores.com/Natur prototype has been produced and we hope the alEnglandShop/NE233. system will go ‘live’ sometime within the next UK Plant Species Status Assessment Group 12 months. The group who produced the UK Red List in 2005 met for the first time in four years in Notes from the Officers – Scottish Officer 65

From the Scottish Officer – JIM MCINTOSH Royal Botanic Garden, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR; Tel: 0131 2482894; [email protected] BSBI Data for the Forestry Commission and especially to VC Recorders. The planned Scottish Ministers have endorsed the Scottish national projects include a comprehensive Forestry Strategy target to increase woodland update of hectad records in the period 2000- cover to 25% of the Scottish land area by the 2019 in preparation for the third atlas of the second half of the century. This is being done British and Irish flora in about 2024, a repeat to increase the capacity of Scotland’s forests of the Monitoring Scheme in 2019-2020 and to sequester carbon and help mitigate our the stated aim that all VCs will at least have a impact on climate change. The increase will draft Rare Plant Register by 2019. However require additional planting levels of up to I will let others explain and communicate the 15,000 hectares per year, compared with the national strategy. What I would like to write current rates of 4 – 5,000 hectares per annum. about are local recording strategies. This is good news – providing valuable One of the most enjoyable and rewarding habitats and rare plant populations are not aspects of my work is visiting BSBI VC damaged and the landscape is not adversely Recorders at home for one-to-one meetings affected. The BSBI was therefore very about BSBI matters. The agenda is wide- pleased to have been contracted to supply all ranging and includes everything from how our Scottish notable plant records to the paper records are filed to the often difficult Forestry Commission in 2009, to help inform issue of succession. There is generally also a forestry management decisions and protect session on MapMate. But the most important rare plant populations. The data is to be agenda item is a discussion on the local available to all staff involved in considering recording strategy – or putting it more simply forestry grants as well as those who manage how and why the recorder records. the Forestry Commission’s own estate. It has been a major task visiting every one The data – some 100,000 records in total – of some forty Scottish recorders, who almost was collated from a number of sources; by definition are well scattered to the four principally the BSBI Vascular Plant Database airts. But one of the most fascinating things (72%), the BSBI MapMate hub (21%) and the is that there are as many different approaches BSBI Threatened Plant Database (7%). to recording as there are recorders in Scotland. Stonewort records were kindly supplied by On reflection it is perhaps not surprising that Nick Stewart from his charophyte database. recorders, often working in relative isolation, Thanks are especially due to all the BSBI respond to different sets of complex circum- recorders who supplied the data in the first stances and interests differently. place, to my BSBI colleagues Alex Lockton The important thing though is that all VC and Bob Ellis and to our friends in Forest Recorders do have a clear local recording strat- Enterprise. egy or plan – perhaps a systematic survey of all Recording Strategies squares or a sample of squares within the VC You may be aware that the BSBI has just by a certain date and often working towards the completed its recording strategy which clearly publication of a checklist or flora. The issue of sets out recording activities and priorities for recording unit is invariably discussed in the next decade in the lead up to the next Scotland, and ‘tetrad or better’ is now preva- Atlas. It will also include guidance on our lent. But the most crucial aspect is that preferred approaches to recording. Clearly whatever approach and timescale is adopted, it this will be of enormous interest to members must be sustainable – and enjoyable. 66 Drawings of wildflower seedlings – Silene dioica

Silene dioica (Red Campion) seedlings del. S. Evans © 2003 See BSBI News 83: 68 (Jan 2002) or 108: 73 (April 2008) for more details of these drawings Crossword solution and crib / Deadline for News 115 67

Solution & Crib to Botanical Crosswood 14 Solution Across Down 1. THEAGM; 5. SOWN; 9. SPIGNEL; 2. HYSSOP; 3. ARISTATE; 4. MINKE 10. ADNATE; 11. GOUTWEED; 12. ENTIRE; 6. OPEN; 7. NECTAR; 8. BLADES; 15. LINEAR; 18. OPPOSITE; 20. SALLOW; 13. TEESDALE; 14. BROWSE; 16. ISATIS 22. SPIRAEA; 23. SEED; 24. AVENAE 17. ATRATA; 19. PLICA; 21. LOBE Crib Across Down 1. The simple truth?; 5. botanistS OWNership; 2. his sop; 3. A/RI/STATE; 4. MINE; 9. the present (tense) of SOWN (5 ac) is sow, 6. OP/EN (opponents at Bridge, also the let- which perhaps is a PIG, through anag of LENS ters OPEN are less than half of OPPO- = ME + UM (doubt); 10. anag AND + ATE; NENTS; 7. anag RECANT; 8. Rakes are 11. G (good) + OUT (excuse) + WE’D = young BLADES, which are often linear Goutweed aka Bishopweed; 12. anag RENT IE; (15ac); 13. teased/ail, home of Teesdalia; 15. anag I E EARN; 18. OPPOSE not 14. Botanists browse in Summerfield Books; alternat(iv)e; 20. SOW (SOW from 5ac 16. I/SAT/IS (dye with woad); 17. change again); 22. anag ASPIRE + A; STRATA to ATRATA; 19. PL/IC/A; 23. SE(AWE)ED; 24. wild oats SOWN 21. L/OBE (without prejudice to Deepcut Barracks)

The General Editor Gwynn Ellis can be contacted by answer phone or fax on 02920 496042 email: [email protected] The Receiving Editor Trevor James can be contacted by phone on 01462 742684 or email [email protected] All text and illustrations appearing in BSBI News and its Supplements are copyright and no reproduction in any form may be made without written permission from the General Editor Offers and special terms apply only to members of the Society and copies are not available on an exchange basis. BSBI News (ISSN 0309-930X) is published by the Botanical Society of the British Isles Enquiries concerning the Society’s activities and membership should be addressed to: The Hon. General Secretary, c/o Dept. of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: 0207 942 5002. Camera ready copy produced by Gwynn Ellis and printed by J. & P. Davison, 3 James Place, Treforest, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan CF37 1SQ (Tel. 01443-400585; email: [email protected]) ADMINISTRATION and IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

PRESIDENT Mr Michael Braithwaite Clarilaw Farmhouse, Clarilaw, Hawick, Roxburghshire, TD9 8PT Tel. 01450 372129 HON. GENERAL SECRETARY (General Enquiries) Miss Lynne Farrell 41 High St, Hemingford Grey, Cambs, PE28 9BJ Tel.: 01480 462728; [email protected] HON. TREASURER (All financial matters except Membership) Mr Terry Swainbank c/o Synergis Technologies Ltd, 23 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6LB Tel.: 07710 491589; [email protected] MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY (Payment of Subs and changes of address) Mr Gwynn Ellis 41 Marlborough Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU (Please quote membership number on all correspondence; see address label on post, or Members List in Year Book 2009 or 2010) Answerphone: 02920 496042; [email protected] HON. FIELD SECRETARY (Including enquiries about Field Meetings) Mrs Jane Croft 12 Spaldwick Road, Stow Longa, Huntingdon, Cambs., PE28 0TL Tel.: 01480 860561; [email protected] HON. ASSISTANT SECRETARY (General enquiries) Mr Peter Fry c/o Dept. of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD Answerphone only: 0207 942 5002 BSBI PROJECT MANAGER & Mr David Pearman VICE-COUNTY RECORDERS Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA (Comments and/or changes of address) Tel.: 01872 863388; [email protected] PANEL OF REFEREES & SPECIALISTS Dr Mary Clare Sheahan (Comments and/or changes of address) 61 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London, SW13 9RZ Tel.: 020 8748 4365; [email protected] WATSONIA RECEIVING EDITOR Mr Martin Sanford c/o SBRC, Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3QH Tel.: 01473 433547; fax: 01473 433558; [email protected] WATSONIA BOOK REVIEWS EDITOR Dr John Edmondson 243 Pensby Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH61 5UA Tel: 0151 342 8287; [email protected] BSBI NEWS RECEIVING EDITOR Mr Trevor J James 56 Back Street, Ashwell, Baldock, Herts., SG7 5PE Tel.: 01462 742684; [email protected] BSBI NEWS GENERAL EDITOR Mr Gwynn Ellis 41 Marlborough Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU Tel. 02920 496042; [email protected] BSBI HEAD OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Mr Kevin J Walker 97 Dragon Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 5DG Tel 01423 544902; [email protected] BSBI COORDINATOR Mr Alex Lockton 66 North Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2JL Tel. & Fax: 01743 343789; [email protected] BSBI VOLUNTEERS OFFICER Mr Bob Ellis 11 Havelock Road, Norwich, NR2 3HQ Tel.: 01603 662260; [email protected] BSBI SCOTTISH OFFICER Mr Jim McIntosh c/o Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR Tel. 0131 248 2894 (w); 0791 7152580 (mob); [email protected] RESEARCH FUND APPLICATIONS Mr Alex Lockton 66 North Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2JL Tel. & Fax: 01743 343789; [email protected] BSBI PUBLICATIONS Mr Paul O'Hara Summerfield Books 2007 Ltd, 3 Phoenix Park, Skelton, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9SD Tel.: 01768 484910; Fax: 01768 484909; [email protected] BSBI WEB SITE ADDRESS www.bsbi.org.uk

Registered Charity Number in England & Wales: 212560 and in Scotland: SC038675 Colour Section 1

Pemphigus spyrothecae galls on the petioles of Populus nigra ssp. betulifolia Clone 28 at Castle Eaton (v.c.7). Photo K. Adams © 2008 (see p. 16) 2 Colour Section from Haydon Bridge. Silene gallica at Haydon Bridge bypass (v.c.67) Both photos J. Bowyer © 2009 (see p. 42) Silene gallica Close-up of flowers at Haydon Bridge. at Haydon Bridge (v.c.67) Cuscuta campestris Both photos R. Bowyer © 2009 (see p. 42) Cuscuta campestris Close-up of flowers Colour Section 3 (Alpine Bellflower) Campanula alpina Above & right photos taken in Romania by G. Orban ©Above & right photos taken in Romania by G. Orban 2008 (see p. 54) (Carpathian Dog-daisy) Photo J. Croft © 2009 (see p. 51) Anthemis carpatica Apold, Romania, habitat view showing ‘Trumps’. Apold, Romania, habitat view showing ‘Trumps’. 4 Colour Section

In an effort to increase the younger membership of the BSBI, Holly French (Graham French & Jane Squirrell’s daughter), is already helping with inputting v.c. 103 records into MapMate (with Bob Ellis (Volunteers Officer), standing). Photo L. Farrell © 2010 (see p. 21)