BSBI News April 2012 No. 120 Edited by Trevor James & Gwynn Ellis ISSN 0309-930X Epipactis dunensis under pines in National Trust woodland, Sefton Coast. Photo P.H. Smith © 2008 (see p. 6) Chris Boon, v.c. recorder for Bedfordshire, signing copies of his ‘Flora’ on 4.12.2011, with Floral reversion in Sambucus nigra, Newbridge Alan Outen, contributor on Bryophytes. Demesne, Co. Dublin. Photo T.J.J. Photo L. Farrell © 2011 McCloughlin © 2011 (see p. 45) Fig. 1: Ophrys apifera var. badensis, Mendip Fig. 2: Ophrys apifera var. friburgensis Hills (v.c.6), 20 June 2008 Freyhold (syn. O. apifera var. botteronii), Mendip Hills (v.c.6), 2 July 2009 Fig. 3: Ophrys apifera var. friburgensis Fig. 4: Ophrys apifera var. saraepontana, Freyhold (syn. O. apifera var. botteronii), Mendip Hills (v.c.6), 28 June 2008 Mendip Hills (v.c.6), 3 July 2011 Fig. 5: Ophrys apifera ssp. jurana Ruppert, Fig. 6: Ophrys apifera var. badensis, near Mendip Hills (v.c.6), 19 June 2011 Portishead (v.c.6), 11 June 2007 Photos 1, 4, 5, 6 © R. Mielcarek; photos 2, 3 © S. Mackie (see page 48) Arachis hypogaea – whole plant Arachis hypogaea – showing descending Arachis hypogaea – showing developed peduncles ‘Peanut’ on exhumed peduncle All Arachis hypogaea photos taken at Porlock Street, Southwark, by G. Hounsome © 2006 (see p. 57) CONTENTS Important Notices Small Project Grant Reports From The President.....................I. Bonner 2 Using BSBI data for plant distribution BSBI AGM – Corporate Structure change studies: what influences plant ................................................I. Bonner 2 distribution changes and what changes Notes from the EditorsT. James & G. Ellis 3 are occurring?...........................A. Bell 56 Marjory Wainwright.................................. 3 Aliens.................................................... 57-58 Pat Brennan Memorial Fund...................... 4 Nuts on the streets of London Blinks......................................................... 4 .......................................G. Hounsome 57 Cotswold Water Park Marsh Horsetails..... 4 Cardamine quinquefolia – a persistent and Wrexham Herbarium.................................. 5 spreading garden weed......J. Presland 58 Membership Secretary............................... 5 Some interesting alien plant records from Pay subscriptions with PayPal................... 5 East Sussex (v.c.14)..............M. Berry 59 And finally – Mrs Mary Briggs.................. 5 Requests............................................... 60–61 Notes.........................................................6–54 Typha and Spartina – wanted for study Where is the boundary? – another twist to .............................................M. Wilcox 60 the v.c. boundary debate........R. Burton 6 The flowering phenology of Tilia cordata Distribution, ecology and conservation of (Small-leaved Lime) – can you help? Epipactis dunensis in the sand-dunes of ................................................C. Bugg 61 the Sefton Coast, Merseyside Where was Westchester?......D. Pearman 61 ....................P.E. Michell & P.H. Smith 6 Offers................................................... 62–64 Aquatic plants in nineteenth-century canals Plants of Peeblesshire – the first checklist and their persistence into the twenty-first for the county..................D.J. McCosh 62 century: Yorkshire examples Military and Lizard Orchid information ...........................................R. Goulder 16 .............................................L. Farrell 62 Salicornia 3 (seeds): sinking and sorting Flora of Leicestershire and Rutland: check- .......................................D.J. Hambler 24 list and rare plant register....M. Jeeves 63 Salicornia: photographs – a visual aid Wiltshire Botany 13 and Wiltshire protected .......................................D.J. Hambler 28 verges................................J. Presland 63 Lesser Water-plantain in the Sefton Coast New plant identification course...B. Harold 64 sand dunes, Merseyside BSBI Journals for disposal....S. Renvoize 64 ..............P.H. Smith & P.A. Lockwood 31 Notices..........................................................65 New flora of the British Isles, 3rd ed. (2010): Appointment of a BSBI Irish Officer treatment of Salix in first reprint (2011) ........................................B.S. Rushton 65 ................................................C. Stace 37 Obituary Notes............................C. Liffen 65 An overdose of hyphens...........S. Harrap 38 Miss Mary Anderson Grierson A. Chater 66 Blinks (Montia fontana) (ssp.).M. Wilcox 44 Recorders and Recording........................ 67 Reversion in Elder flowers Panel of Referees and Specialists ................................T.J.J. McCloughlin 45 .........................................M.C. Sheahan 72 Ophrys apifera variants with sepaloid petals Panel of Vice-county Recorders in Britain.......L. Lewis & R. Mielcarek 46 .........................................D. Pearman 72 What can a vice-county recorder expect to Website for spike-rushes (Eleocharis) and learn from the study of herbaria? deergrasses (Trichophorum)...J. Roberts 67 .......................................M. Braithwaite 50 Notes from the Officers............................ 68 Loft clearance in Cheshire reveals century- From the Hon. General Secretary...L. Farrell 68 old specimens, and a local ‘first’ From the Hon. Treasurer........A. Timmins 68 ...........................................J.A. Wearn 54 From the Acting Scottish Officer. A. Hannah 69 Botanical Crossword 18..............Cruciata 55 Diary.......................................................... 71 Solution & crib to Crossword 18.............. 71 Deadline for News 121............................... 71 2 Important Notices – From The President / BSBI AGM – Corporate Structure IMPORTANT NOTICES From The President IAN BONNER, Cae Trefor, Tynygongl, Anglesey, LL74 8SD (01248 852651; [email protected]) As I write, Spring is arriving, even on Angle- drafted, and some of the ideas are to be aired sey, and one feels the urge to get out there, in Reading. Meanwhile we should all try and enjoy the flora and recommence recording! recruit at least one new member to our With this edition of News you should have Society. There is an attractive membership received the Annual Review, summarising our leaflet available; also lots of information about considerable achievements during 2011; also us on our website. final details of the Spring Conference and Some good news in the current economic AGM at Reading in May, where I hope to climate is that our funding from the three meet many of you. Not only will this be a very Country Agencies looks to be secure for 2012- enjoyable weekend but there are important 13. This particularly supports the Plant Unit proposals to put to you about changes to the and Country Officers in their demanding structure of the Society. programme of data collation, interpretation You will have read elsewhere that, for and dissemination – thus making real use of various reasons, our membership numbers the high quality records that have been have dipped over the last few years. We could collected by us, the members, on a voluntary all help with reversing this trend by publi- basis. cising the Society more. To this end a Wishing you a most enjoyable and Publicity and Communications policy is being rewarding recording season! BSBI AGM – Corporate Structure IAN BONNER, President In amongst the usual agenda items at the AGM unchanged. The difference is that the BSBI you will see listed “Corporate Structure”. will henceforward be legally separate from the Although not the most riveting of titles, your members. This means that in the event of Council is persuaded that this is now a very something going catastrophically wrong and important issue needing to be addressed by the the BSBI becoming insolvent, there is no risk whole Society. Until now the BSBI has of members having to contribute to any deficit. operated as an unincorporated association. BSBI will, of course, remain a charity, and This is the most flexible form which a simple this proposal is partly prompted by Charity membership charity can take. We are strongly Commission guidance on how we protect our advised that this is no longer appropriate for members, while effectively managing the charity on your behalf. the Society as it has evolved – particularly the st level of contract work we undertake for the At the Council meeting on 21 March the country conservation agencies and the number trustees were given a short presentation by of staff we now employ. Antony Timmins, our Honorary Treasurer, The solution is to become a Company explaining the reasons why such a change is Limited by Guarantee. This is the accepted important, setting out the stages that have to be form for larger membership charities and will gone through and a recommended timetable. permit us to carry on all our existing activities. The Council agreed with the proposals, set up Your own position as members, funders, a small working group to progress matters, supporters and volunteers will be completely and are taking advice from solicitors experi- enced in charity administration. Important Notices – BSBI AGM – Corporate Structure / Notes from the Editors 3 It is planned to make a presentation on this Council would like to complete the process at the AGM in Reading, followed by time for by January 2013; but this will necessitate a questions and answers, so that we consult Special Meeting in the autumn to deal with the