BSBINews

April 2009 No. 111

Edited by Trevor J ames & Gwynn Ellis 4-merous Glaux maritima, Eriskay, Hebrides

5-merous Glaux maritima, Berneray, Hebrides Both photos M. Atkinson © 2007 (see p. 28) CONTENTS BSBI Plant Unit...... K. Walker 2 Small Project Grant Reports Important notice ...... 6 Assessment of Trifolium spp. across the UK Editorial & Diary...... 6 ...... s. Hargreaves 42 Notes Root endophytes and mycorrhizas of Visible response to climate changeH McHafJie 7 carnivorous plants ...... R. Quilliam 43 Ex, by, times, cross, hybrid ... ? - Botany in Literature - 50 pronunciation of 'x' ...... E. Pratt 8 A Slip under the Microscope by H.G. Wells Unusual species coincidences in (v.c.10l) ...... ME. Souchier 44 ...... D. W Shimwell 9 Corrections to Botany in Literature - 49 ...... 49 Picking flowers ...... E. Pratt 11 Requests & offers What is the British distribution of Epipactis Autumn Crocus sites ...... D. Downing 50 leptochila? ...... S. Harrap 12 Spare publications on offer.... P. Lockwood 50 Colonisation of the Ribble Estuary by Sea­ Watsonia back issues wanted.. S. Campbell 50 lavenders.P.H Smith & E.F. Greenwood 15 Perthshire B&B for BSBI members Isolated populations of ferns in South Devon ...... J. Brookes 50 ...... R.N.E. Smith 20 Accommodation offer, The Burren Forensic botany...... R. Corner 21 ...... M Helmore 50 Northern Deergrass in upper Teesdale Open letter to BSBI News: modelling rates of ...... J. Roberts 22 change in populations ...... J.R. Charter 51 Calamagrostis stricta in Easterness and Survey of British and Irish Plant-lore Caithness ...... CJ. Cadbury 26 ...... R. Vickery 52 Calamagrostis purpurea thrives on Speyside Notices ...... CJ. Cadbury 28 Exhibition of botanical illustrations 4-merous Glaux maritima on Eriskay ...... P.L. Mitchell 52 ...... M Atldnson 28 Annual Exhibition Meeting, London, Change Lobelia urens at Flimwell, East Sussex of Date...... R. Vickery 53 ...... D. WShimwell 29 St. Aubyn herbarium online...... 53 Ruud van der Meijden and some early Dutch Field meeting reports: 2008 herbaria...... M Scannell 31 Thurso, Caithness (v.c.l09) ...... K. Butler 54 Romana Czapik (1929-2008), distinguished Llyn Eigiau, Dolgarrog (v.c.49) Polish cytologist...... M Scannell 32 ...... W McCarthy 55 Some observations on the Genus Symphytum Glenshee (v.c.89). M Robinson & J. Muscott 56 in the UK...... C Westall 33 Botanical Cornwall annual indoor meeting The Taraxacum collection at NMW ...... C. French 59 ...... T. Humphrey & T. Rich 33 Book Notes Alderney botanical report, 2008 B. Bonnard 34 Authorship of The vegetative key Aliens ...... E.J. Clement 60 A tale of two silver knapweeds: Centaurea Field Key to the Grasses ofthe E. Midlands cineraria and C ragusina .. EJ. Clement 36 ...... B.N.K. Davis 60 Melica altissima found in (v.c.29) Obituary notes ...... M Briggs 61 ...... J. Shanklin & A. Leslie 38 Recorders and Recording Polypogon viridis Panel of Referees and Specialists ...... D. Pearman & /. Bennallick 39 ...... M C Sheahan 61 Vicia palaestina Boiss. in v.c.37 Panel of Vice-county Recorders. D. Pearman 62 ...... R. Maskew 41 Notes from the Officers Ranunculus ficaria with 5 sepals From the Scottish Officer ...... J. McIntosh 62 ...... MJ. Senior 41 Deadline for contribution to News 112 ...... 63

Cover picture - Eighteenth century herbarium specimen of Althaea rosea found at Clowance, Cornwall, from the St. Aubyn Herbarium, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery © 2009 (see p. 53) 2 BSBI Plant Unit

BSBI Plant Unit KEVIN WALKER, BSBI Plant Unit, clo 97 Dragon Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HGl 5DG. 01423 544902 (mon-weds) 01904 328805 (thurs & fri), [email protected] Some members seem unclear as to what the in the autumn. We are covering another 10 Plant Unit actually does so I thought it might species this year: Carex ericetorum, be useful to summarise our main work in a few Cephalanthera longifolia, Coeloglossum short paragraphs. The Plant Unit is the profes­ viride, Dianthus deltoides, Fallopia dumeto­ sional arm of the Society responsible for the rum, Gnaphalium sylvaticum, Groenlandia coordination of recording projects, research, densa, Melampyrum cristatum, Oenanthe data management, data provision and external fistulosa, Vicia orobus. The sites selected for relations. The Unit employs four staff (myself, survey (c.750) will be sent to VC recorders in Alex Lockton, Jim McIntosh and Bob Ellis) late March along with a list ofhectads for each and is funded centrally from BSBI funds with species with the most recent date record. This support from the Countryside Council for should allow VCRs to update records Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural relatively easily if they hold more recent England. Below are a series of short reports on records. recent developments that may be of interest. If The response was excellent for 2008, you would like more information on the work especially as it was the first year of a new type we do please email me at kevinwalker@bsbi. of project. The project is an excellent oppor­ org.uk. tunity for members to get involved and so if Recording strategy you would like to take part please get in touch 2009 is the last year of dateclass 4 and this has with myself or your county recorder who I'm led to discussions over recording priorities for surc will be glad ofany assistance you can give. the next decade. This will include a repeat of Surveillance Local Change and preparation for the next In the last News I reported on BSBI's involve­ Atlas. We think it is unrealistic to expect ment in developing JNCC's UK Terrestrial repeat coverage in each DC but it should be Biodiversity Surveillance Strategy. This year possible for most counties to achieve this, at we have been asked to attend a workshop on the hectad scale, in 20 years (i.e. DC4 & 5). the monitoring the effects of nitrogen deposi­ We intend to produce guidelines in the autumn tion. We are also assessing how well national setting out what we would hope VCRs might schemes compliment each other (Local be able to achieve by 2020, ways to reach this Change, Plantlife's Common Plants Survey and how it will fit in with central projects run and CEH's Countryside Survey) as this will be by the Plant Unit. vital in helping us understand the strengths Threatened Plants Project (TPP) (and weaknesses) of Local Change and to guide us in the selection of indicator species The pilot in 2008 was very successful and to date (16th March) we have received over 700 for monitoring the next time around. completed survey forms (see table below) plus Celebrating the 1962 and 2002 Atlases 1000s of new or amended records for the 10 In the last report I mentioned the possibility of species covered. Both the number of samples a conference to 'showcase' the use of BSBI and geographical coverage has been excellent data. Since then a number of proposals have and the initial results suggest some very inter­ been brought forward. These include a confer­ esting differences between species in terms of ence in 2012 to celebrate the 50th anniversary refind rates (Table 1, p. 4) and population of the publication of the 1962 Atlas, focusing sizes (Figure 1, p. 5). We intend to complete on the way BSBI hectad maps revolutionized the analyses this summer and report the results the way we map organisms. 2012 is also ten BSBI Plant Unit 3 years since the last Atlas and this would seem accounts, traits, maps, taxonomic sources, a good time to summarize the work we have illustrations and literature. done since then (possibly as a book to go with Data management the conference). Since I last wrote there has been much discus­ Climate change sion about how we manage our data and make There is currently very little work on the it available to others via the NBN Gateway. potential impacts of a warming climate on the Both are central to the work of the Plant Unit British flora. We are therefore pleased to and are currently under review. 2009 should announce that Alexandra Bell (currently at therefore see major developments following Kew) will be starting a PhD on this topic in the completion of technical trials and also October. This is a collaborative studentship discussions with JNCC, NBN and the conser­ between BSBI (as a CASE partner) and Chris vation agencies. One of the main options we Thomas at York University and will apply are considering is how to centralize our data­ both field-based and modelling approaches, holdings to make manipulation, verification using BSBI data, to a range of species. and data provision more efficient. We intend Rapidly spreading aliens to trial Recorder6 and have commissioned Over the winter we analysed Maps Scheme Tom Humphreys to develop a prototype (AUP) data to identify the 200 most rapidly database capable of handling all our records spreading alien species. The method used the (currently c. 20 million records). There are number of new DC4 records (colonisations) as many issues to resolve but hopefully this first a proportion of the total number of hectads step will highlight the major issues and give us recorded in DC3. This allowed us to pick out a better idea of what is achievable given the species recorded only recently in the wild (e.g. resources available. Lemna minuta) as well as those that have been One of the main issues is how we handle the known for a very long time but seem to be six million plus records in the MapMate Hub. spreading at the moment (e.g. Echinochloa We hold these on behalf of VCRs but we are crus-gallii) (Table 2, p. 4). The information being increasingly asked to make them availa­ will be used by Defra to produce maps on new ble to others via the NBN Gateway. This poses 'Non-native Species Portal' due to be many challenges mainly because the majority launched in May. are continually being updated by VCRs. We are therefore investigating ways of incorporat­ Species accounts ing them into central data-holdings without One of the most popular recent BSBI initia­ generating duplicates and errors that inevita­ tives has been the species accounts on the bly occur when records are passed from one website. This was originally developed by user to another. Alex Lockton and he plans to relaunch the project in 2009 with the aim of covering Data provision another 100 or so species over the next few The BSBI receives numerous requests for years. Accounts will be entirely voluntary and data. The following are just two examples of we hope that members will 'adopt' species how are data has been used recently: that they are interested in and produce stimu­ • Hectad distribution for Heracleum mante­ lating and informative accounts that others can gazzianum used to model spread by Miguel comment on via the website. If you are inter­ Franco, University of Plymouth. This ested in writing an account then please email showed that after discounting the 95 years Alex at [email protected]. To compli­ that it took for the first I % of its current ment this project we are working closely with distribution to be occupied, its subsequent CEH to develop a British Botany webpage that spread was incredibly rapid, with 70% of its will provide links to information such as current occupation (from 20% to 90%) taking place injust under 35 years (Figure 2, p. 5) 4 BSBI Plant Unit

• Tetrad data for Vaccinium myrtillus used by thora kernoviae for which V. myrtillus is a Moray Taylor (CSL York) to target areas to common host. sample for the introduced fungus Phytoph-

Table 1. Number of populations surveyed for TPP species in 2008

Species Total Extant Null % null Astragalus danicus 88 63 25 28 Blysmus compressus 66 51 15 23 Crepis mollis 41 28 13 32 Gentianella campestris 142 95 47 33 Campanula patula 18 7 11 61 Monotropa hypopitys 81 44 37 46

()ph~s insectij'era 77 50 27 35 Pyrola media 59 43 16 27 Scleranthus annuus 97 41 56 58 Stellaria palustris 49 25 24 49 Total 718 447 271 38

Table 2. Top 10 most rapidly spreading aliens

Species name 1st date in wild Rank Hectads/year Alchemilla mollis 1948 1 16.1 Triticum aestivum 1891 2 7.3 Hyacinthoides hispanica x non-scripta 1953 3 24.8 Verbena bonariensis 1949 4 0.2 Larix decidua x kaempferi (L. xmarschlinsii) 1980 5 40.5 Picea sitchensis 1957 6 31.7 Geranium endressii x versicolor (G. xoxonianum) 1954 7 6.8 Lemna minuta 1977 8 25.5 Echinochloa crus-gall 1690 9 0.8 Avena sativa 1875 10 6.5 BSBI Plant Unit 5

70 _0 60 -1-100 111101-1000 (/) 50 c D >1000 0 +-' CO 40 ::J c.. 0 c.. 30 '2f2. 20

10

0 Astragalus BlysllUs Crepis rrollis Gentianella Ophrys danicus compress us carnpestris insectifera

Figure 1. Population sizes of five ofthe TPP species covered in 2008

200 180 -- 160 .., • • - • • ----- 140 - • • ~ - C\1 120 ID • >. '-'" 100 ID It E i= 80 60

40

20 o 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Percentile (hectads)

Figure 2. The time taken for Heracleum mantegazzianum to reach in its current distribution in Britain based on hectad records supplied by the BSBI 6 Important notice / Editorial! Diary

Important notice to members in the €uro zone GWYNN ELLIS, Membership Secretary

As from the 1sI of April, the €uro subscription For members in Europe rate has been reduced for new members to Ordinary €33 Junior €12 reflect the recent fall in the value of the Pound Family €4 Institutional €33 against the €uro. While on the subject of 'money', may I make The new rates are: a plea that all cheques sent to me in payment For members in the Irish Republic of subs., or for pre-publication book orders be Ordinary €30 Junior €12 made payable to 'BSBI' or 'Botanical Society Family €4 Institutional €30 of the British Isles' and please, never, ever, to me personally! Editorial Our attention has been drawn to the fact that We are also grateful to Stephen Bungard for Mrs Jean Combes of Ashtead in Surrey, a sending an extract of a letter by H. Beentje in member since 1983, has been awarded the New Scientist (1112/2009) entitled 'Punning OBE for 'services to phenology' in the New stunts' in which he draws attention to some Year's Honours List. Apparently she has amusing taxonomical 'curiosities' such as spent the last 41 years meticulously recording 'Hebejeebie, a genus close to Hebe in the the leafing dates of four tree species: Aesculus family Plantaginaceae, described by Michael hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut), Tilia Heads in 2003; Aquilegia flabellata nana xvulgaris (Common Lime), Quercus robur pumila alba "Rama Lama Ding Dong", a culti­ (Pedunculate Oak) and Fraxinus excelsior var of dwarf white columbine in the family (Ash) in a small area of Ashtead, the data from Ranunculaceae; and Eriogonum inflatum var. which have demonstrated that this has deflatum of the Polygonaceae'. advanced between five and seven days over You can find more about these 'Curiosities that period, depending on the species. Her of Biological Nomenclature' and about taxon­ data has been incorporated in the UK Pheneol­ omy in general at www.curioustaxonomy.net. ogy Network database, run in conjunction It's well worth a visit even if our zoological with the Woodland Trust by Dr Tim Sparks, colleagues seem much more adept at coining formerly of CEH Monks Wood. weird and wonderful names!

Diary N.B. These dates are often supplementary to those in the 2009 Calendar in BSBI Year Book 2009 and include provisional dates of the BSBI's Permanent Working Committees. 8-10 May Spring Conference, Berwick 7 Oct Records Committee, London 9 May Council, Berwick 90ct Committee for Wales, Aberystwyth 16 May Committee for Scotland 13 Oct Publications Committee, London 26-28 June Welsh AGM & Exhibition 280ct Executive Committee, London Meeting, Builth Wells 4 Nov Database Subcommittee, Leicester 26 June Committee for Wales, Builth Wells 7 Nov Committee for Scotland 15 July Executive Committee, London 11 Nov Council, London 9 Sept Meetings Committee, London 21 Nov* Annual Exhibition Meeting, London 22 Sept Training & Education Committee *Note change of date 26 Sept Committee for Scotland Notes - A visible response to climate change 7

NOTES A visible response to climate change DR HEATHER MCHAFFIE, Scottish Plants Officer, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR The predictions of the effects of climate the length of the site, wrapping round the change include erratic weather patterns and rocks that sheltered the ferns. 1997 was differ­ winter warming, resulting in a much shorter ent, as there was far less snow and none on the period of snow-cover on the hills. At high site by April, so that on a mid-May visit there altitudes there are several species of fern that was the sorry spectacle of blackened croziers only survive the winter by being protected by on ferns that had started to grow too soon and a covering of snow. These alpine species, had been frosted. I remember thinking that most notably Athyrium distentifolium (Alpine this is the result that might be expected with Lady-fern), cannot survive extreme low climate change and that this site would be temperatures. Once covered by snow, possi­ especially vulnerable with its southern aspect. bly from October until Mayor June, they are When the first fronds are lost in this kind of protected at an even temperature of approxi­ event the following year's fronds are produced mately O°C. In 1995-97 I was studying prematurely. They are infertile, as they have Athyrium distentifolium and what turned out to not had time to develop their sori. Subsequent be the variety A. distentifolium var. flexile at visits have been made to this site in 2002 two sites in the Scottish Highlands: a corrie (flexile's 150th birthday) and 2004 when the between Meall Buidhe and Beinn Achaladair fronds were still small and reasonably fertile, near Bridge of Orchy and a small site at the but surviving. Retrospectively I realise that head of Glen Prosen, which is parallel to Glen the frond size indicates that frosting must even Clova. I visited marked plants of both taxa at then have occurred sporadically, not enough to fortnightly intervals from April to October. kill the population altogether but sufficient to These plants were usually single identifiable reduce its vigour. crowns on large, multi-crowned plants. I The site near Bridge of Orchy was one ofthe recorded how long it took for the fronds to best sites for montane ferns that I knew (see fully expand, how many fronds there were, the upper photo, back cover). It had lush, green maximum height and when ripe spores were clumps of the two alpine Athyrium taxa and shed. I had maximum and minimum some A. filix-femina (Lady-fern) Dryopteris thermometers screened under the edge of oreades (Mountain Male-fern), D. affinis agg. rocks and there was usually no frost in the (Golden-scaled Male-fern) Cryptogramma growing season. crispa (Parsley Fern), Gymnocarpium dryop­ The Glen Prosen site was probably the origi­ teris (Oak Fern) and Phegopteris connectilis nal type site where the flexile variety was first (Beech Fern). Most of the vegetation in the found, but apparently collected out within hollows on the boulder scree consisted oflarge three decades. As a recessive variety, it had crowns of these ferns, dominated by Athyrium reappeared, but I was puzzled that the plants distentifolium. In 2002 there was no snow on were very small and not always fertile, very the ground from January onwards and there different from the larger type specimens in the must have been severe frosts when the ferns RBGE herbarium. Most fern beds are in had no protection. As we approached on our north, east or west-facing corries which retain visit in July of that year there appeared to be the snow, but Glen Prosen is unusual as it is no ferns there at all. Only on close examina­ south-facing. In April 1996 some of us visited tion did we find blackened crowns with the area and found a large snow-bed extending occasional small fronds. A few larger clumps 8 Notes - A visible response to climate change / Ex, by, times, cross, hybrid ... ? - pronunciation of 'x' had survived in among massive boulders and, As I had photographs of the original ferns surprisingly, on open ledges, but the bulk: of that I had monitored I decided to try and refind the fern beds had been very badly affected. them all and in 2007 commenced monitoring On repeat visits in 2003, 2005 (see lower ferns that I had last measured ten years before. photo, back cover) and 2007 the ferns have Of the ten marked clumps of A. distentifolium gradually recovered. Big clumps have been two had been completely killed and none were replaced by dispersed, single crowns, quite yet fertile, while all ten ofthe A. d. var. flexile close together but far removed from the origi­ had survived and two were producing spores. nal dense clumps, which might have been They were still small and several were suffer­ decades old. What has been especially notice­ ing from deer grazing. No information was able is the change in vegetation as grasses recorded as to how many crowns the original have grown more vigorously without the clumps had had, but the surviving number of inhibiting effect of prolonged snow-cover, crowns varied from just one to several. It is which only the ferns could tolerate. Interest­ intended to continue to visit the site every two ingly, at Creag Meagaidh in 1996 I had been years. puzzled by finding several groups of four or These sites provide a visual example of the five plants of flexile for which isozyme changes that might be expected. In hindsight, evidence demonstrated that each group was I was already observing the effects of reduced the same clone. These fertile plants were snow-cover in the 1990s on the Glen Prosen growing vigorously and at the time I had no plants, but did not fully recognise what was explanation for a mechanism that would happening. While the plants can recover from explain this, but now realise these plants too occasional events of this nature, they would must have been multi-crowned plants that not be able to survive if the frequency were severely frosted some years before and increased. had recovered. Here too, the grass was longer, just as I was observing a decade later.

Ex, by, times, cross, hybrid ... ? - pronunciation of 'x' EDWARD PRATT, 7 Bay Close, Swanage, Dorset, BH191RE Botanists take great care over getting the •. 'Times' is used by more people, having been names of taxa correct, including spelling and derived from its use in arithmetic, where 'x' ongm. But little concern is given about is the multiplication sign. But hybridisation pronunciation. Is this logical? I suggest that is pairing, usually leading to sterile offspring it would be good for a start for appropriate rather than to multiplication. bodies to recommend how we should • 'Cross' seems to be one ofthe best choices, pronounce the 'x', 'x' or 'X' in a hybrid's as it describes what has happened. One name. At present there are at least seven ways species has crossed with another. of doing it! • 'Hybrid' is rarely used, but is very explicit. • Some people ignore the 'x'. 'The hybrid ... ' is Eric Clement's choice (pers. • 'Ex' seems to be little used. The advantage corn). (I am grateful for his help with this note). is that it is straightforward. The disadvan­ This seems to be a confusion about tages are that 'ex' is the pronunciation for which the BSBI Science and Research 'ex' as well as for 'x', and that 'ex' has other Committee and The Royal Horticultural meanings in both Latin (= out of) and Society could make a joint recommendation - English (= former). please. • 'By' has some merit as a term used in breed­ ing, but is also little used for plants. Notes - Unusual species coincidences in Kintyre 9

Unusual species coincidences in some familiar habitats in south­ east Kintyre (v.c.10l) D.W. SHIMWELL, High House Farm, High Stoop, Satley, Bishop Auckland, DU 3 4HL In contrast to the much vaunted and scenically (Montbretia), not merely in the vicinity of old spectacular landscape of the Mull of Kintyre fannsteads but spread along the lanes, mainly Regional Scenic Area, which fonns the south­ on south-facing banks. Whereas the stands west extremity of the Kintyre peninsula, the close to habitation tend to be virtually landscape east ofConieglen Water in the south­ mono dominant Montbretia, those more than east is one of the least spectacular from a scenic 50-lOOm from fann buildings tend to include viewpoint, yet probably the most productive in the plant as a component of a relatively agricultural tenns in the whole ofthe peninsula. diverse herbaceous community. Analysis of South of the coniferous forests of Kerran ten 30m long sampleI'! from south-facing (NR7313), rising to 240m, and flanked by the banks on the lanes running east from Mill Park Calluna-Molinia heathlands of an arc of hills at (NR703092) to Polliwilline (NR735100) and altitudes between 150 and 190m, the land Macharioch (NR734094) revealed the species slopes rapidly to the lowland basin of Corachan complement shown below. Of particular Bum (NR7109) below 50m, before rising again interest was the commonness of Dryopteris to Blasthill (NR7209) overlooking the island of aemula (Hay-scented Buckler-fern) as by far Sanda and the North Channel between Scotland the most frequent fern, and the predominance and Northern Ireland. A network of narrow of Oenanthe crocata (Hemlock Water-drop­ lanes, often with high hedge banks, links some wort) as the most common umbellifer. sixteen modem farms, originally the tenanted Constant species were Galium aparine crofts of the estate ofthe Dukes of Argyll, who (Goosegrass), Rubus fruticosus agg. were absentee landlords until the eighth Dulce (Bramble) (mainly R. nemoralis and built Macharioch House (NR735093) in 1874. R. polyanthemus) and Silene dioica (Red The fanning is mainly a mixed economy type Campion). This plant community is probably of beef cattle-rearing on reclaimed and well represented in western Britain and Ireland improved grassland and arable cultivation of and may be looked upon as one of the more barley as a feed supplement. The landscape acceptable features of the assimilation of a does not suggest diversity of habitat or flora, gregarious alien into the native flora. but there are several unusual ecological features 10: Crocosmia aurea x C. pottsii, Galium which recommend closer attention. Here are aparine, Silene dioica four examples taken in mid-August 2007. 8: Arrhenatherum elatius, Dryopteris aemula The coincidence of Montbretia Crocosmia 6: Digitalis purpurea aurea x C. pottsii and Hay-scented Buckler­ 5: Oenanthe crocata fern Dryopteris aemula in hedge banks 4: Dactylis glomerata, Filipendula ulmaria, A dominant feature in the landscape along the Ulex europaeus network of lanes is the hedge bank, often a 1: Anthriscus sylvestris, Athyrium filix-femina, complex structure comprising a hedge of Centaurea nigra, Heracleum sphondylium, woody shrubs atop an herbaceous bank Pteridium aquilinum sloping down to a shallow roadside drain. A Juncus bUfonius-Isolepis setacea micro­ Maintenance of the hedge banks appears to be community of a poached lawn minimal, and largely dependent upon the Chiskan Cottage in Polliwilline (NR729104) whims of local fanners. A prominent aspect is surrounded by damp, improved pasture on of the herbaceous bank in this habitat is the surface water gley soils. The sward is presence of patches of the brilliant orange dominated by Lolium perenne (Rye-grass), flowers of Crocosmia aurea x C. pottsii Holcus lanatus (Yorkshire-fog) and Cynosu- 10 Notes - Unusual species coincidences in Kintyre rus cristatus (Crested Dog's-tail), and grazed soils, probably augmented by blown maritime by CharollaislLimousin cross-bred heifers, sand, were Poa annua (Annual Meadow­ which also browse the garden hedge of the grass) and Polygonum aviculare (Knotgrass), cottage, indiscriminately cropping Ligustrum with occasional Spergula arvensis (Corn ovalifolium (Garden Privet) Escal/onia Spurrey), Matricaria recutita (Scented macrantha and E. xlangleyensis (Escallonia), Mayweed) and Juncus bufonius on slightly while sheltering from the prevailing south­ more compacted areas. A more diverse weed westerly winds. On some occasion, months assemblage was to be seen growing on the before we came to spend a fortnight in the sandy headlands, from where five 10m cottage, they had breached the hedge and samples yielded the frequencies shown below. flimsy fence to graze the lusher grass of the There were four new records for hectad NR70 south facing lawn, of a similar composition to (N) and three confirmations of pre 1970 the pasture but with prominent growths of records (0): Leontodon autumnalis (Autumn Hawkbit) and 5: Capsel/a bursa-pastoris, Poa annua, Poly­ Lotus pedunculatus (Greater Bird's-foot-tre­ gonum aviculare foil). In so doing, they had poached the lawn 4: Fumaria muralis (0), Spergula arvensis with scattered hoof-prints, between ten and 3: Anchusa arvensis (0), Fallopia convolvulus fifteen centimetres in both breadth and depth, (N), Geranium mol/e, Juncus bufonius, thus creating a moist and relatively shaded Myosotis arvensis, Veronica persica (N) micro-environment, in which rainfall accumu­ 2: Chenopodium album, Matricaria recutita lated, infiltrated slowly into the surface water (N) gley soils, and gradually evaporated between 1: Galeopsis tetrahit (N), Geranium dissec­ spells of rain. The lawn had not been mown tum, Viola arvensis (0) for six weeks and the lush grass growth, whilst Other weed spccies, sueh as Atriplex patula precluding a game of cricket, helped maintain (Common Orache) (P), Cerastium glomera­ the moist microhabitat. On closer inspection tum (Sticky Mouse-ear), Coronopus didymus of the divots it became apparent that many (Lesser Swinecress) (P), Epilobium ciliatum were colonised by Juncus bufonius (Toad (American Willowherb), Lamium hybridum Isolepis setacea Rush) and (Bristle Club­ (Cut-leaved Dead-nettle) (P), L. purpureum rush), and a variety of less common species. (Red Dead-nettle) (S), Persicaria maculosa Of particular interest were growths of the (Redshank), Senecio vulgaris (Groundsel), Mediterranean-atlantic Anthoceros punctatus Sinapis arvensis (Charlock) (S), Sonchus (Dotted Hornwort). A random survey ofthirty asper (Prickly Sow-thistle), Stellaria media hoof-prints gave the following results: (Chickweed) and Veronica arvensis (Wall 24: Juncus bufonius Speedwell) seem to be more typical of less 18: Isolepis setacea sandy, more humid soils of garden borders in 12: Poa annua Southend (S: NR6808/6908) and Polliwilline 8: Anthoceros punctatus (P: NR7310). 4: Gnaphalium uliginosum, Sagina procumbens A wall community dominated by Arenaria 2: Cerastium glomeratum, Polygonum aviculare balearica (Mossy Sandwort) at Macharioch 1: Epilobium ciliatum House (NR735093) Arable weed flora of the barley field head­ The late Victorian proto-palace ofMacharioch lands at Macharioch House, built by architect George Devey in The density of the barley crop in the field of 1874, was a favourite holiday residence of Macharioch Chambered Cairn (NR736094) George Douglas Camp bell, Eighth Duke of was probably a significant factor in the general Argyll (1823-1900) and his third wife Ina, paucity of the arable weed flora. The main who erected the Argyll Memorial on the species growing on the very sandy glacial drift nearby headland of Port aBhata (NR735087). Notes - Unusual species coincidences in Kintyre I Picking flowers 11

Douglas was a Liberal politician who, nently damp, moist atmosphere, the Mossy amongst his many offices, included those of Sandwort appears to mainly reproduce vegeta­ Lord Privy Seal from 1852 to 1866 and tively. When the site was visited on several Chancellor of the University of St Andrews occasions in the second and third weeks in from 1851 until his death. Outside politics he August 2007, there were just five flowering or became recognised as a leader of scholarly fruiting stems in the ten, one metre square opposition to Darwinism in his work of 1869: quadrats I took to record its associates: Primeval Man: an examination ofsome recent 10: Arenaria balearica speculations. A later publication entitled The 9: Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Unity of Nature (1884) seems to have gained 8: Homalothecium sericeum some inspiration from the countryside of south 4: Polypodium interjectum Kintyre and from the walled garden at 2: Asplenium ruta-muraria Macharioch House. The east-facing outside 1: Aubrieta deltoidea, Hedera helix, Veronica wall of this garden has been colonised by a arvensis large population of Arenaria balearica, extending for some 50m over virtually its full Aubrieta deltoidea (Aubrietia) is a new vice­ height of c. 3.m, growing on copings and wall county record and Polypodium interjectum bottoms alike. It is probably always in the (Intermediate Polypody) new for NR70. shade of a woodland canopy of Acer pseudo­ I am grateful to Mrs Pat Batty, recorder for platanus (Sycamore), Corylus avellana v.c.1 01, and to Mr lan Teesdale of Campbel­ (Hazel), Fraxinus excelsior (Ash) and Ulmus town for their comments and encouragement. glabra (Wych Elm), and being in a perma- Picking flowers EDWARD PRATT, 7 Bay Close, Swanage, Dorset, BH191RE It is good that very few people pick bunches of plants are picked on private land and 'damage' to wild flowers these days. But I agree with David the landowner's property was deemed to have Pearman (BSBI News 110: 70) that the pendu­ ensued. In any case, it is good practice, where lum has swung too far. In the era about which he possible, to gain landowners' permission first. It was writing, the seventies and early eighties, I should also be remembered that digging up plants was learning to identify partly by picking. without permission even on apparently 'public' I learned much quicker by doing so. land, such as road verges, is also illegal. As for the Learners should be told that, under the Wildlife practice of collecting necessary specimens for & Countryside Act (1981), it is illegal both to dig identification, the Society has always supported up a plant without the permission of the this, and in fact encouraged it, as well as the landowner, and to pick rare or endangered plant compiling of herbaria to support both further species. But if there is a good population of the identifications, and verifying existing ones. An species, there is no harm in picking small pieces important point, though, is to understand which offfor the purpose of identification - a flower on parts of particular plants need to be collected for a short stalk, an upper and a lower leaf, a ground­ carrying out proper identification, how much is level runner, if any, and, if available, a seed needed as a useful voucher specimen, and how to head/pod/capsule. There are usually enough preserve them; and this needs some knowledge on grasses, sedges and rushes to pick a whole stem. the part of the collector. Advice on this is often Orchids should never be picked. included in identification texts, and in the recom­ Some might argue that in these days of digital mendations given by referees in the BSBI photography, picking is unnecessary. But photo­ Yearbook. The Society's 'Herbaria at Home' graphs cannot show every feature, and not every­ project (see: the website http://herbariaunited.orgl one has a digital camera anyway. atHomel) indicates the long-term value of material [Editor's note: while the basic law is as Mr Pratt collected in this way. TJ.] says, there could be a theoretical act of trespass if 12 Notes - What is the British distribution of Epipactis leptochila

What is the British distribution of Epipactis leptochila (N arrow­ lipped Helleborine)? SIMON HARRAP, 1 Norwich Road, Edgefield, Melton Constable, Norfolk, NR24 2RP. (email: [email protected]) Epipactis leptochila (Narrow-lipped Helle­ Times and techniques move on and, using borine) and its close relative E. dunensis genetic analysis, Squirrell et al. (2002) (Dune Helleborine) have a complex showed that E. dunensis was specifically taxonomic history. Once treated as clearly distinct from E. leptochila, and that neither distinct entities, with Narrow-lipped Helle­ species could be placed with E. muelleri. borine confined to southern beechwoods and Furthermore, they demonstrated that the Dune Helleborine found exclusively on population of 'Dune Helleborine' on Lindis­ coastal dunes in northern England and on farne (now known colloquially as Angles, the situation became complicated 'Lindisfarne Helleborine') was also subtly with the discovery of inland popu1ations of a genetically distinct; that some of the inland similarly self-pollinating Epipactis in north­ popu1ations of Dune Helleborine in northern ern England and southern Scotland. Some of England, provisionally dubbed 'Tyne Helle­ these northern plants were placed with borine', also showed small but consistent E. dunensis and others with E. leptochila, genetic differences from coastal plants; and with the distinction resting essentially on the that these differences may be of taxonomic shape of the outer part of the lip (the significance. ('Lindisfarne Helleborine' was epichi1e). The discovery of these inland described as Epipactis peitzii subsp. sancta popu1ations was followed, however, by by Delforge in 2002 and then recombined as reports that some sites held plants intermedi­ Epipactis sancta by Delforge & Gevaudan ate between the two taxa, and this led inexo­ (2002), while 'Tyne Helleborine' has been rably to the conclusion that leptochila and named subspecies tynensis of E. dunensis by dunensis were conspecific. Further, dunen­ Kreutz (2007).) Squirrell et al. (2002) did sis was reduced not to a subspecies, but to not analyse plants from all extant localities, the rank of a mere variety of the widespread but they did sample remarkably widely, European species E. leptochila. This signif­ using material from populations of Narrow­ icant taxonomic change (it involved the lipped Helleborines in the Chilterns and 'loss' of a species, indeed a species endemic Cotswolds, as well as Surrey, Dorset and to Britain) does not appear to have been fully south Wales, Dune Helleborine from the documented and, indeed, I have not be able coasts of Anglesey, Lancashire and to trace any details of the intergradation of Cumbria, and Tyne Helleborine from three leptochila and dunensis in northern England, inland sites in Northumberland. The situa­ apart from two brief reports (Richards 1986, tion seemed, therefore, to have been resolved 1989) and a short discussion by A.J. by Squirrell et al. (2002), with leptochila Richards in Stewart et al. (1994). Whatever once again confined to beech and other the reason, all the records were mapped as ancient woodland in southern Britain and 'Epipactis leptochila Narrow-lipped Helle­ Dune Helleborine a northern plant, growing borine' by Preston et al. (2002), with not a both on dunes and at inland sites. Neverthe­ mention of E. dunensis. Even more drasti­ less, the two most recent popular works on cally, E. leptochila was itself lumped with orchids (Harrap & Harrap, 2005 and Foley & E. muelleri of Continental Europe by, for C1arke, 2005), both of which follow the example, Stace (2004). taxonomy outlined by Squirrell et al., present rather different distribution maps. In Notes - What is the British distribution of Epipactis leptochila 13 particular, Foley & Clarke (2005) map site at Messingham the plants are morpho­ Narrow-lipped Helleborine for scattered logically identical to typical dune popula­ sites in northern England and southern tions (Sean Cole, pers. comm., 2009). Scotland, as well as for its traditional range v.c.61 SE Yorkshire: Skipwirth Common in southern England. Not surprisingly, this (under trees by stream) in 1985 (Watsonia: has led to confusion, not only amongst 17:482). botanists, but also the conservation powers v.c.70 Cumberland: Engine Lonning in that be: both Narrow-lipped and Dune Helle­ Carlisle in 2002, on old railway sidings borine (the latter a British endemic) are under birch and hawthorn and along path classified as 'Data Deficient' in the latest sides in tall herb/grassy vegetation (Clarke JNCC listing of the conservation status of & Iveson, 2003). UK plants. In view of the continuing I have traced few specific details for confusion, I think it important to re-affirm in Scotland, and have certainly not been able to some detail the point that E. leptochila does find any references specifically to 'E. lepto­ not occur in northern England or Scotland. chila' or 'var. leptochila' growing in E. leptochila is a rather scarce and declining Scotland. Populations stated to be E. dunen­ plant that does not occur north of a line from sis are known from v.c 77 Lanarkshire and the Chilterns to Shropshire. It deserves more recently v.c.s 84 and 83 West- and significant conservation action. What is Mid-Lothian, on shaley waste from old the dataset? Apart from the populations mines (= pit bings). The population at from three sites in Northumberland sampled Almond Bing, Falkirk (c.50-70 plants in the by Squirrell et al. (2002), and briefer and mid 1990s) is the largest in Scotland. It is less site-specific results published by worth noting that there are significant levels Hollingsworth et al. (2006), it appears that of hybridisation between E. dunensis and E. there are no published genetic analyses of helleborine at some of these Scottish populations of leptochila/dunensis from colonies (Harris et al., 1996, Hollingsworth inland sites in the north of Britain. Determi­ et al., 2006). nations must therefore be made in the old­ Potentially more problematic are the plants fashioned way, that is morphologically. Here specifically recorded from northern England I must state that I have neither seen any of as leptochila (either as 'E. leptochila' or as these populations in life (apart from tynensis 'var. leptochila'): at one of its classic localities), or examined v.c.65 NW Yorkshire: Easby in 1967 (where herbarium specimens, and thus rely on known for over 20 years), under trees and published material. Plants identified as bushes on limestone river shingle; also 'Epipactis dunensis', explicitly or implicitly Richmond in 1967 (Proc. BSBI, 7: 399). on the basis of a relatively short, broad and v.c.66 Co Durham: No details. frequently recurved epichile (the distal v.c.67 South Northumberland: identified portion of the lip), have been recorded as near Williamston in 1973 (where known follows (there seemed no reason at the time, for some years previously), by the River or now, to suppose that they were lepto­ E. South Tyne, and subsequently found at chila): several sites along the river eastwards v.c.54 North Lincolnshire: Near Market towards Newcastle; and on abandoned lead Rasen in 1978 (under conifers and decidu­ mine spoil near Hexam (Richards & Swan, ous scrub, with the note that the epichile 1976). was straight in young florets but recurves v.c.70 Cumberland: near Alston, under as the flowers mature, Weston, 1983); birch, from 1993 (Halliday, 1997). Crowle Waste in 1981 (Watsonia 14: 431, now apparently gone); at a third, extant, 14 Notes - What is the British distribution of Epipactis leptochila

Fortunately, the populations along the iana, in the British Isles'. Heredity 79: River South Tyne in Northumberland were 402-407. sampled by Squirrel et al. (2002) and HOLLINGSWORTH, P.M., SQUIRRELL, J., determined as dunensis. HOLLINGSWORTH, M L., RICHARDS, A J. & Given that these populations of 'E. leptochi­ BATEMAN, R.M. (2006). 'Taxonomic com­ la' are E. dunensis, and given the similarity plexity, conservation and recurrent origins in appearance and habitats of the plants in of self-pollination in Epipactis Yorkshire and Cumberland, it seems reason­ (Orchidaceae)'. in: J.P. BAILEY & R.G. able to assume that all of the other records of ELLIS (eds.). Current taxonomic research 'leptochila' in northern England refer in fact on the British and European flora. pp. to E. dunensis (but whether they are all 27-44. BSBI, London. strictly referable to E. d. tynensis, the 'Tyne KREUTZ, C.A.J. (2007). 'Epipactis dunensis Helleborine', remains to be seen). Morpho­ (T. & T.A Stephenson) Godfrey subsp. logically tynensis is very similar to Narrow­ tynensis Kreutz, eine neue Epipactis-Sippe lipped Helleborine, and it would have been aus Nordengland und Siidschottland'. J. entirely reasonable for recorders to have Eur. Orch. 39(1): 123-134. placed plants with leptochila, despite the PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A. & DINES, anomalous habitat, especially once a prece­ T.D. (2002). New Atlas of the British and dent had been set. It is to be hoped that Irish Flora. Oxford University Press, Ox­ morphometric studies will now be under­ ford. taken that will establish the differences RICHARDS, A.J. (1986). 'The status of Epi­ between the various taxa in this complicated pactis leptochila and E. dunensis'. Watso­ group. nia 16: 221. Acknowledgements RICHARDS, A.J. (1989). 'Some problematic My thanks to Richard Bateman and Sean Epipactis in northern Britain'. BSBI News Cole for their helpful comments. 51: 51. RICHARDS, AJ. & SWAN, G.A (1976). References 'Epipactis leptochila (Godfery) Godfery CLARKE, D. & IVESON, D. (2003). 'A new and E. phyllanthes G.E.Sm. occurring in Cumbrian site for the 'Dune Helleborine' South Northumberland on lead and zinc Epipactis dunensis (T. & T. A Stephen­ soils'. Watsonia 11: 1-5. son) Godfery'. BSBI News 93: 17-18. SQUIRRELL, J., HOLLINGSWORTH, P.M., DELFORGE, P. & GEvAUDAN, A (2002). BATEMAN, R.M., TEBBITT, M.C. & HOLL­ 'Contribution taxonomique et nomenclatu­ INGSWORTH, M.L. (2002). 'Taxonomic rale au groupe d' Epipactis leptochila'. Les complexity and breeding system transi­ Naturalistes beIges, hors-serie - special tions: conservation genetics ofthe Epipac­ Orchidees. 83 (Orchid 15): 19-35. tis leptochila complex' Molecular FOLEY, M.S.y' & CLARKE, S. (2005). Or­ Ecology. 11: 1957-1964. chids of the British Isles. Griffin Press, STACE, C.A (1997). New Flora of the Brit­ Cheltenham, Gloucs. ish Isles (2nd edn.). Cambridge University HALLIDAY, G. (1997). A Flora of Cumbria. Press, Cambridge. University of Lancaster, Lancaster. STACE, C.A (2004). Interactive Flora ofthe HARRAP, A. & HARRAP, S. (2005). Orchids British Isles. ET! (CD-ROM). ofBritain and Ireland. A & C Black, Lon­ STEWART, A., PEARMAN, D.A & PRESTON, don. C.D. (1994). Scarce Plants in Britain. HARRIS, S.A. & ABBOTT, R.J. (1997). Peterborough: JNCC. 'Isozyme analysis of the origin of a new WESTON, R.P. (1983). 'A Lincolnshire Epi­ endemic orchid species, Epipactis young- pactis'. Watsonia 14: 457-458. Notes - Colonisation of the Ribble Estuary by Sea-lavenders 15

Colonisation of the Ribble Estuary by Sea-Iavenders PHILIP H. SMITH, 9 Hayward Court, Watchyard Lane, Formby, Liverpool, L37 3QP ERIC F. GREENWOOD, 10 Gay ton Parkway, Gay ton, Wirral, CH60 3SS Occurrence on the south Ribble (Sea Plantain). All are common salt-marsh On 11 th August 2008, Limonium vulgare plants on the Ribble Estuary. (Common Sea-lavender) and L. humile (Lax­ Using National Vegetation Classification flowered Sea-lavender) were identified by (NVC) methodology (Rodwell, 2000), five 2 PHS on a salt-marsh at Marshside, Southport, x 2m quadrats were recorded in vegetation which lies on the south shore of the Ribble supporting Limonium. Domin scores are Estuary (SD346194; v.c.59: South Lanca­ shown in Table 2 (p. 20). These data were shire) (see photo, Colour Section Plate 3). The analysed using a modified TABLEFIT nationally scarce L. humile is a new vice­ programme (Hill, 1996) (Table 3, p. 20). county record, while L. vulgare has not been There is a 93% agreement with SM13a: confirmed in South Lancashire since the 19th Puccinellia maritima salt-marsh, typical sub­ century, that sighting being on the Mersey community. According to Rodwell (2000), Estuary (Savidge et al. 1963). Three non­ this is the most extensive and widespread flowering rosettes of putative L. vulgare have perennial community of the lower salt-marsh been photographed on Birkdale Green Beach in the British Isles. It is also a frequent pioneer (SD311154 and SD319164), about 5km south­ on the sandy marshes of western England. west of Marshside, in the last two years (PHS Both L. vulgare and L. humile are known to & P.S.Gateley), but these have not yet been occur in SM13a vegetation (Rodwell 2000). confidently determined. This large area of salt-marsh is almost level, Further visits were. made to Marshside with occasional low hummocks (to c.15cm during August 2008 to count the Limonium high), originally formed around patches of populations and describe the habitat. Plants Puccinellia but now also supporting A. tripo­ were located by crisscrossing the marsh on lium, Atriplex portulacoides (Sea Purslane) foot, frequently scanning with binoculars. etc. and, occasionally, F. rubra. There are The darker tones of the Sea-lavender flowers infrequent small pans but no drainage creeks. stood out among the Aster tripolium (Sea The substrate is sandy silt with a fairly firm Aster) and could be seen at ranges of up to surface. 50m. Most plants were in full flower, though The salt-marsh vegetation offHesketh Road, a few L. vulgare had gone over. Ten speci­ Marshside, where Limonium was found, is of mens of L. vulgare and three ofL. humile were relatively recent origin. Analysis of aerial found. Grid references (using a hand-held photographs (Newton et al., 2007) shows it GPS device) and photographs were taken of began to form between 2000 and 2002, all the individuals, which were well spaced out becoming well-established by 2005, when the over a distance of about 350m, some 70-200m marsh community was extending south-west­ out from the sea-wall. Despite an extensive wards at a rate of 400m per annum. It is search, none was found outside this fairly known that Limonium was not present in limited area. During September, seed-heads September 2003 when the area was carefully of both species were collected and examined. searched by PHS to record salt-marsh vascular There appeared to be no production of viable plants. When Gateley & Michell (2002) seed. conducted their NVC survey of the Ribble Vascular plant associates are listed in Table Estuary, a narrow tongue of vegetation 1 (p. 19). Other species present nearby in extended from Hesketh Road about 500m to much lower abundance included Festuca the south-west, consisting of SM13 to the east rubra (Red Fescue), Triglochin maritimum and SM6 (Spartina anglica salt-marsh (Sea Arrow-grass) and Plantago maritima community) to the west. Since then, the 16 Notes - Colonisation ofthe Ribble Estuary by Sea-lavenders vegetation has expanded considerably over the taxon is not known to produce seed, the differ­ foreshore and, apart from isolated patches, ent patches seeming to originate from a single SM6 has been replaced by SM13. clone by vegetative propagation. As L. humile Rock Sea-lavender was unknown in South is self-fertile (Stace, 1997), the scatter of Lancashire until June 2007, when a single plants at Lytham may have been derived from plant (L. binervosum agg.) was found by P.A. seed. Lockwood on Birkdale Green Beach Occurrence in Lancashire north ofthe Ribble (SD312l54). This mosaic of sand-dune and All three Sea-lavenders occur further north in salt-marsh habitats on the outer fringe of the Lancashire (v.c.60). Populations have been Ribble Estuary (Smith 2007) supported two known on the Wyre Estuary for at least 160 adjacent plants of L. binervosum in 2008 years, while L. vulgare and L. humile have (PRS). also been recorded on the Lune and Keer Occurrence on the north Ribble Estuaries, the latter entering the eastern side of Both L. vulgare and L. humile have been Morecambe Bay (Wheldon & Wilson, 1907). known from the north bank of the Ribble Livermore & Livermore (1987) give Estuary at Lytham (v.c.60 West Lancashire) L. vulgare as uncommon on the Lune and Keer for some years. The first record of L. vulgare Estuaries, with L. humile being described as was an individual at Granny's Bay rare and coastal, mostly near the Lune Estuary. (SD344273) in about 1968 (A.B. Ratcliffe) but In total, L. vulgare has been recorded in 38 this species was not well established until tetrads and L. humile from 21 tetrads on these 1993 when a colony extending over about 3 x northern Lancashire coasts. 7m was noted (EFG). By 1997, this patch was Rock Sea-lavender (L. britannicum ssp. 9m in diameter, with another lm across about celticum) was first collected in 1843 (BM) at lOOm away (EFG). In 2005, there were two Staynall, on the east side of the Wyre Estuary. large patches and one small in Granny's Bay This endemic sub-species is confined to North (M.Jones). This species appeared in a small Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria and salt-marsh opposite Fairlawn Road, Lytham formerly occurred in scattered colonies around (SD354267) in 2004 and west of Fairhaven both the Wyre and Lune Estuaries on the Lake (SD330277) the following year (MJ). upper parts of salt-marshes. In recent times, in These sites are covered by two tetrads. v.c.60 it has been confined to a few Wyre The first appearance of L. humile at Lytham colonies, within lkm of each other (two was in about 1996 at the Fairlawn Road site tetrads), where it grows on stone retaining (C.F. & N.J.Steeden), where six plants were walls and stabilised muddy shingle. The plant counted by MJones in 2004. Granny's Bay is the subject of a Species Action Plan in the produced a single plant in 2004, increasing to Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan (Jepson, nine by 2006 (MJ) and to at least fifteen by 2001). This highlights possible threats, includ­ 2007 (EFG). A possible L. vulgare xL. humile ing inappropriate maintenance of the Victo­ hybrid was noted there in 2007 (EFG). rian sea-defences, other built developments L. vulgare was recorded at Lytham during and competition from vegetation. the NVC survey of the Ribble salt-marshes (Gateley & Michell, 2002). It occurred in Discussion SM13 at Granny's Bay and in SM6 south-east The recent colonisation of the Ribble Estuary of Granny's Bay, presumably the Fairlawn by Sea-lavenders raises questions about the Road site. The floristic table for SM6 given in availability of suitable habitat and long-dis­ Rodwell (2000) includes L. vulgare but not tance dispersal of these taxa. The estuaries of L. humile. north-west England have been silting up for L. vulgare is self-incompatible (Stace, centuries, leading to the development of salt­ 1997), requiring cross-pollination to produce marshes, which were then progressively seed. The Granny's Bay population of this reclaimed for agriculture and industry. Early Notes - Colonisation of the Ribble Estuary by Sea-lavenders 17 editions of Ordnance Survey maps show that introduced to the Welsh side of the estuary in few saltings existed on the Ribble in the mid- 1925 and, after 1945, salt-marshes dominated 19th century. Those that fonned were soon by this species spread rapidly along the eastern reclaimed (Berry, 1967). A large embayment shore towards the mouth of the estuary at at Freckleton on the north side of the estuary Hoylake (Hubbard & Stebbings, 1967). By supported salt-marsh that was grazed by cattle the late 1980s, the Dee supported 2108ha of from at least the 14th century (Shakeshaft, saltings (Burd, 1989). However, the more 2007) and, as siltation took place, it was modem marshes, while ungrazed, are species­ gradually embanked. Heavy grazing pressure poor and seemingly unsuitable for Limonium here and elsewhere on the estuary would have spp. created adverse conditions for Limonium, as Further north, in Lancashire, L.vulgare and these species tend to be eliminated by L. humile were recorded in the first half of the livestock grazing (Davidson et al., 1991). 19th century. The latter species was noted on Since the 19th century, there has been rapid the Lune Estuary, at Aldcliffe near Lancaster, salt-marsh fonnation on the Ribble and, in the 1830s, colonising an embankment despite extensive reclamations, its area was constructed in the 1820s, and on the adjacent estimated at 2,184ha in 1981-88 (Burd, 1989). salt-marsh in 1848 (Fielding ms.; Hewitson, However, most of these saltings have long 1900; BM). It was found on the Wyre at been grazed, mainly by cattle and, occasional­ Fleetwood in 1841 (K), where L. vulgare ly, sheep. It seems significant that Limonium appeared in 1848 (CGE). The largest current spp. have only appeared recently on newly­ Wyre populations of L. humile and L. vulgare fonned, ungrazed salt-marshes on the outer are on Burrow's Marsh, where some limited fringes of the estuary. Thus, the Granny's Bay cattle grazing is known to have occurred up to salt-marsh dates back to the mid-1960s and the about 1970, and at Barnaby's Sands, a site that Fairlawn Road site to about the mid-late may never have been grazed, perhaps because 1970s, while the Marshside saltings have an the creek system made access difficult and even more recent origin, as described earlier. dangerous. The grazing history of the Lune L. vulgare and L. humile were present on the salt-marshes is less well known but Colloway Mersey Estuary in the 19th century (Green, Marsh on the west side of the estuary was 1933; Savidge et al., 1963) but, by the mid- grazed by cattle throughout the 1960s, while 20th century, both were extinct, probably due Glasson Marsh on the south side has been to industrial development on both sides of the sheep-grazed since at least 1965. East of estuary. Glasson Dock, the marshes around Conder Neither species has been recorded on the Green have not been grazed since the mid- nearby Dee Estuary (Preston et al., 2002). 1960s (M.E.Greenhalgh in lift., 2008). Davidson et al. (1991) show that some 25- It seems reasonable to conclude that, while 30% of the Dee was reclaimed, mainly in the apparently suitable salt-marsh habitat has been 18th and 19th centuries. The opening of the present on the Ribble Estuary for many "New Cut" in 1737, canalised the river for decades, heavy grazing pressure on most of 7km from Chester to Shotton, enabling recla­ the saltings has contributed to the absence of mation of mud-flats and salt-marsh Limonium until very recently. (Mortimer, 1847). Seaward of Shotton, there Another factor, however, could be the was little salt-marsh but Mortimer shows they distance of this estuary from the nearest source had started to fonn along the Wirral shore by of Limonium propagules. L. vulgare and 1847. According to Ordnance Survey maps, L. humile both occur on the Wyre Estuary, they had extended a further 6km to Ness by about 20km to the north. However, prevailing 1912. The Shotton marshes were embanked wind and tidal currents tend to militate against for industry, the remainder being grazed. southwards dispersion. Therefore, North Spartina anglica (Common Cord-grass) was Wales would seem to be the more likely origin 18 Notes - Colonisation of the Ribble Estuary by Sea-Iavenders of these taxa. Both occur distantly on the References shores of Anglesey, about 75km south-west of BERRY, W.G. (1967). 'Salt Marsh development Marshside, while extends a little L. vulgare in the Ribble Estuary'. In: Steel, R W. & Law­ further east to the Conwy Estuary and Colwyn ton, R (eds.) Liverpool Essays in Geography a Bay (Preston et al., 2002). That this area Jubilee Collection. Longmans, London. could be a source for the Ribble is Limonium BURD, F. (1989). The saltmarsh survey of supported by the recent invasion of north-west Great Britain: an inventory of British salt­ England by the Short-winged Conehead marshes. Research & Survey in Nature (Conocephalus dorsalis), a largely flightless Conservation, 17. NCC, Peterborough. bush-cricket (Tettigoniidae), which appeared DAVIDSON, N.C., LAFFOLEY, D D' A., DOODY, at Marshside in 2002 and has subsequently J.P., WAY, L.S., GORDON, J., KEY, R., colonised estuaries northwards to the Duddon. DRAKE, C.M., PIENKOWSKI, M.W., MITCH­ Previously, its northernmost locality on the ELL, R & DUFF, K.L. (1991). Nature con­ west coast was Newborough Warren, Angle­ servation and estuaries in Britain. NCC, sey. This insect lives in upper salt-marsh Peterborough. vegetation and its salt-resistant eggs are FIELDING, M.M. undated ms. 'English Flora' thought to be dispersed in tidal debris (Newton collected and drawn by Mary Maria Field­ & & Smith, 2006; Smith Newton, 2007). ing. 6 volumes. Bodleian Library, Depart­ Further indirect evidence comes from a ment of Special Collections and Western study by Russell Felton (in press) of drift­ & Manuscripts, on loan to the Department of weed washed up on the Sefton Coast. They Plant Sciences, University of Oxford (ms. found that small stones and rock fragments Eng. D. 3357). were occasionally attached to, and carried by GATELEY, P.S. & MICHELL, P.E. (2002). drift-weed. Their distinctive geology enabled NVC Survey of salt-marsh Ribble and Alt some of these fragments to be confidently Estuaries, 2002. English Nature, Wigan. ascribed to Anglesey shores. Similarly, GREEN, C.T. (1933). The Flora of the Liver­ although L. britannicum also occurs on the pool District. T. Buncle & Co., Arbroath. Wyre, its nearest locality to Birkdale is Hilbre HEWITSON, A. (1900). Northward. George Island in the mouth of the Dee Estuary, only Toulmin & Son, Preston. Republished by 30km SSW of the Green Beach. This is the S.R.Publications Ltd. in 1969. most likely origin of the Birkdale plants. HILL, M.O. (1996). TABLEFIT VI.OJor iden­ Acknowledgements tification of vegetation types. Institute of We are grateful to Patricia Lockwood and Terrestrial Ecology, Huntingdon. Catherine Highfield for assistance with field HUBBARD, J.C.E. & STEBBINGS, RE. (1967). work. Pauline Michell kindly analysed the 'Distribution, dates of origin and acreage of quadrat data and provided information from Spartina townsendii (s.l.) marshes in Great the Ribble Estuary NVC. Maurice Jones Britain'. Proceedings of the Botanical Soci­ contributed survey data on north Ribble ety of the British Isles 7: 1-7. populations of Limonium. Peter Gateley JEPSON, P. (2001). Rock Sea-lavender provided a photograph of a Limonium rosette (Limonium britannicum). Lancashire Biodi­ on Birkdale Green Beach. Michelle Newton versity Action Plan. Lancashire Biodiversity helpfully provided documentation from the Partnership, Preston. Sefton Coast Database, while George Russell LIVERMORE, L.A. & LIVERMORE, P.D. (1987). allowed us to quote from his unpublished The flowering plants and ferns of North paper on driftweed. Mike Wilcox made valua­ Lancashire. Privately published, Preston. ble comments on a draft ofthe manuscript. MORTIMER, W.W. (1847). The history of the hundred ofWirral. Whitaker & Co., London. Republished 1972 by RJ. Morten, Manches- Notes - Colonisation of the Ribble Estuary by Sea-lavenders 19

ter and reprinted 1983 by Moxon Press, Ecology and Management. Southport, Ilk1ey. Merseyside. NEWTON, IM. & SMITH, P.H. (2006). 'Short­ SAVIDGE, lP., HEYWOOD, V.H. & GORDON, winged Conehead Conocephalus dorsalis V. (eds.) (1963). Travis's Flora of South (Latreille) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in Lancashire. Liverpool Botanical Society, North-west England'. Journal of the Lanca­ Liverpool. shire & Cheshire Entomological Society SHAKESHAFT, P. (2001). The History ofFreck­ 130: 28-30. leton. Camegie Publishing, Lancaster. NEWTON, M., LYMBERY, G. & WISSE, P. SMITH, P.H. (2007). 'The Birkda1e Green (2007). Report on the evolution ofsalt marsh Beach - a sand-dune biodiversity hotspot'. on the Sefton Coast. Technical Services De­ British Wildlife 19 (1): 11-16. partment, Sefton Borough Council, Bootle. SMITH, P.H. & NEWTON, J.M. (2007). PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A. & DINES, T.D. 'Conocephalus . dorsalis (Latreille) (eds.) (2002). New Atlas ofthe British & Irish (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in Merseyside Flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford. and Lancashire'. British Journal of Ento­ RODWELL, lS. (ed.) (2000). British Plant mology and Natural History 20: 46-48. Communities, Volume 5. Maritime commu­ STACE, C.A. (1997). New Flora of the British nities and vegetation ofopen habitats. Cam­ Isles. 2nd edition. Cambridge University bridge University Press, Cambridge. Press, Cambridge. RUSSELL, G. & FELTON, C. (in press). 'Drift­ WHELDON, J.A. & WILSON, A. (1907). The weed of the Sefton Coast: its composition Flora of West Lancashire. Henry Young & and origins'. Proceedings of Conference: Sons, Liverpool. Sefton's Dynamic Coast: Landform,

Table 1: Vascular associates of Marshside Sea-Iavenders.

Taxon English name Frequency Aster tripolium Sea Aster f Atriplex portulacoides Sea Purslane 0 Glaux maritima Sea Milkwort If Puccinellia maritima Common Saltmarsh-grass a Salicornia sp. Annual Glasswort a Spartina maritima Common Cord-grass 0 Spergularia marina Lesser Sea-spurrey r Spergularia media Greater Sea-spurrey r Suaeda maritima Annual Sea-blite f

r = rare; 0 = occasional; f = frequent; a = abundant; I = locally 20 Notes - Colonisation by Sea-lavenders / Isolated populations of ferns in South Devon

Table 2: Domin scores in five 2 x 2m quadrats at Marshside supporting Limonium, 14th Aug. 2008

Taxon 1 2 3 4 5 Aster tripolium 3 2 2 2 4 Atriplex portulacoides 3 Limonium humile 1 Limonium vulgare 1 1 1 1 Puccinellia maritima 5 7 7 7 7 Salicornia sp. 3 5 5 5 5 Spartina anglica 2 3 2 4 3 Spergu/aria marina 2 Spergularia media 1 Suaeda maritima 4 3 3 4 4 Bare ground 6 6 5 5 5 Mean height (cm) 15 15 15 15 20

Table 3: TABLEFIT analysis of quadrat data from Limonium habitat at Marshside

NVCCode Community Sub-community Goodness of fit SMl3a Puccinellia maritima salt-marsh Typical 93 SMl3 Puccinellia maritima salt-marsh 87 SMI0 Transitional low-marsh vegetation 73 SM12a Rayed Aster tripolium salt-marsh Coastal 68

Isolated populations of ferns in South Devon ROGERN.E. SMITH, 12 CastlewoodAvenue, Highweek, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ121NX I was particularly interested by John by a path at Porlock Weir in Somerset. It was Edgington's (2008) concluding remarks last seen in Somerset when 17 plants were concerning the status of Asplenium septentri­ seen on an old wall near Porlock between onale (Forked Spleenwort) and other cryptog­ 1916 and 1939. Repeated searches of the ams in Kent. There is a parallel in Devon, Somerset localities in recent years have where A. septentrionale and Cryptogramma consistently drawn a blank. There is no infor­ crispa (Parsley Fern) have small, isolated mation regarding the substrate of either the populations in the south ofthe county, and yet, Lynton or Barnstaple populations in Devon unlike the Kentish population, are both reported in the 19th century. The two popula­ regarded as native by the authors of the New tions of C. crispa in Somerset occurred on a atlas (Preston et aI., 2002). stone wall at Challicombe between 1840 and Both species seem to be connected to the 1854, and on scree at Simonsbath between core of their ranges in Wales via outliers in 1956 and 1976. North Devon and Somerset (Martin & Fraser, In South Devon A. septentrionale was 1939; Green et al., 1997). In the 19th century discovered in1841 on natural rock in the Teign A. septentrionale used to occur plentifully on Valley, where the population has now been loose stone walls in the parishes of Culbone reduced to a single plant. I have no doubt the and Oare, and less plentifully on loose shale plant is native there. On the other hand Notes - Isolated populations offems in South Devon / Forensic botany 21

C. crispa was first discovered on Dartmoor in should we be re-assessing the status of these 1968, where there is a very small population two ferns in Devon and Somerset, all mapped growing between the granite blocks of an by Preston et al. (2002) as 'native'? Like internal wall of some 19th century quarry Simon Leach (2003), I sometimes wonder buildings in the centre of the moor (see photo, about our ability to determine the status of Colour Section Plate 3). Since there are no individual plant species or populations such as earlier records of it on Dartmoor, I have these. If we are to attempt to distinguish always suspected that it was an introduction between 'native' and 'introduced' popula­ here. This may have been deliberate, some tions, I would suggest a substrate's time following the closure of the quarries. 'naturalness' is best viewed in the context of Alternatively, it may have been an earlier other evidence. In the case of ferns this may introduction, accidentally or even deliberately, include the possibility of long distance disper­ by quarrymen coming to work at this site from sal, even though, as if to deliberately mislead Wales or the Lake District. On the other hand, us, the spores may have ended up on a wall this could be a case of 'natural' long distance rather than a 'natural' rock outcrop. dispersal, and therefore a 'native' rather than References an 'alien', justifying the blue dot in Preston et EDGINGTON, J. (2008). 'Asplenium septentri­ al. (2002). Even in summer, the plants are onale in Kent - native or alien?' BSBI News very small and can easily be overlooked and 107: 16-18. may have been missed by earlier visitors to the GREEN, P.R., GREEN LP. & CROUCH, G.A. site - (see photo, Colour Section Plate 3). (1997). The atlas flora a/Somerset. Private­ Within their core range both A. septentrion­ ly published, Wayford & Yeovil. ale and C. crispa occur on a variety of LEACH, SJ. (2003). 'Roadside halophytes and substrates, including mortar-free walls the native/alien conundrum'. BSBI News 93: (Preston et al., 2002), where, unlike the 18-20. Kentish outliers, such populations tend to be MARTIN, W.K. & FRASER, G.T. (1939). Flora regarded as native as a matter of routine. If a/Devon. T. Buncle, Arbroath. isolated populations of plants on walls are to PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A. & DINES, be judged by different standards and accord­ T.D. (2002). New atlas 0/ the British & Irish ingly regarded as dubiously native at best, flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Forensic botany ROD CORNER, Hawthorn Hill, 36 Wordswarth Street, Penrith, Cumbria, CAll 7QZ

I don't know if anyone saw an article on the 2005 find the site of a body north east ofYork. female forensic botanist in the Daily Mr Jones was able to tell them where the plant Telegraph Magazine, 14th February 2009, p. assemblage was likely to be, from the pollen 55. The BSBI gets a mention through Mr V. found on mud from the car which the murderer Jones, the vice-county recorder (v.c.62: used to dump the body. North-east Yorks.) helping the police in 22 Notes - Northern Deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) in upper Teesdale

Northern Deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) in upper Teesdale JEREMY ROBERTS, Eden Croft, 2 Wetheral Pasture, Carlisle, Cumbria CA4 8HU ([email protected]) On 7th June 2008 the author led a party from chlorenchyma (green tissue) with no aeren­ Carlisle Natural History Society through one chyma (air-filled channels). Michael of the many calcareous mires on Widdybank Braithwaite, BSBI referee for the genus, Pasture, Co. Durham (v.c.66). The flora kindly confirmed that specimens from several associated with the distinctive 'hummock­ plants were indeed T. cespitosum (L.) Hartm. and-runnel' topography included exciting On 23 rd, 24th and 28 th July (on the last date local specialities such as Bartsia alpina with Mike Porter), I was able to spend time on (Alpine Bartsia), Gentiana verna (Spring systematic searches of the calcareous mires of Gentian), Juncus alpinoarticulatus (Alpine Widdybank Pasture to determine the extent of Rush), Kobresia simpliciuscula (False Sedge), the T. cespitosum. The first-found colony, Primula farinosa (Bird's-eye Primrose), close to Widdybank Farm (Natural England's Tofieldia pusilla (Scottish Asphodel), and headquarters in the district, (see photo 1, others. Colour Section Plate 2), had about 45 discrete We saw some rather depauperate clumps of tussocks, whilst another series of springs and a deergrass (Trichophorum) growing on peaty flushes 1.lkm to the east had a stronger colony ground just above the runnels, but were of about 76 discrete tussocks. puzzled to spot it unexpectedly (for a plant we However, large areas of apparently suitable knew to be typical of acidic ground) in much ground, both in the extensive mires between richer calciphile vegetation on the hummocks, these two sites, and beyond them, seemed to and then as scattered short wispy stems be devoid of the plant. Eventually, only three actually in the runnels. Here it was growing in further sites were located, with a mere one, habitat typical for Eleocharis quinquejlora two, and four plants. The five colonies (Few-flowered Spike-rush), and looking not occurred over an altitude range of 380-440m dissimilar, with its loosely-tufted growth, a.s.l. There was no sign of T. germanicum short stems and small heads. Only later did it anywhere in these mires. occur to me that the plants we had seen might Widespread in the calcareous mire be not the abundant and familiar T. germani­ complexes were scattered patches of similarly cum Palla (Deergrass), but the scarce - and to small and depauperate plants which were me previously unknown - T. cespitosum (L.) completely sterile, the spikelets by late July Hartm. (Northern Deergrass) (see section being largely bare of glumes, and with merely 'Note on deergrass nomenclature', below). a few traces of whitish filaments and perianth This suspicion was heightened by reading in bristles, any remaining nutlets being pale and edition 3 of Sedges of the British Isles (Jermy unfilled. Indeed, the first deergrass patches at et al., 2007) that this much more localised the 7th June site mentioned above proved to be plant grows in evidently similar calcareous sterile, growing around, and just above, flushes on limestone in Perthshire. patches of fertile plants, on less obviously On 30th June, it was obvious that the lime-flushed ground. puzzling plants - those in the calciphile Many fertile and sterile plants were sampled, communities - were ripening fruits, and so and stem cross-sections prepared. Reassuring­ could not be the hybrid between the two ly, in every case, the cross-section anatomy species, T. xfoersteri, which is said to be confirmed the identification of fruiting plants completely sterile (Swan, 1999). Stem cross­ as the species T. cespitosum, and of sterile sections of specimens gathered that day agreed plants as the hybrid T. xfoersteri. The sub­ well with the descriptions in Jermy et al., stomatal pits provided a ready differentiating having large substomatal pits and 'solid' character - these were well-developed in the Notes - Northern Deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) in upper Teesdale 23 species, producing obvious more-or-less spikelet and number of flowers per spikelet. rounded cavities at intervals around the Tussocks were never as dense as those charac­ circumference, lined with a discrete layer of teristic of T. germanicum, and the stems were small clear cells; in the hybrid the cavities often interspersed between sedge, rush and were smaller and considerably less deep, often grass shoots to a greater or lesser extent (see irregular in form, and (as Arthur Chater (AC) photo 3, Colour Section Plate 2). Indeed, as pointed out, pers. comm.) sometimes lacking already stated, in the runnels and open wet the discrete lining. The dimensions of these hollows, some plants grew as loose patches of pits matched those given in Jermy, et at. low stems. By late July the species was immediately Tussocks of T. cespitosum occurred on the separable from the hybrid in the field, since sides of runnels and on hummocks, within many stems in each tussock were carrying more open areas, with bare wet ground exposed clusters of tiny dark brown nutlets, between. In several cases, larger plants superficially looking almost black (see photo actually formed the tussocks. In almost every 2, Colour Section Plate 2). No instances were case plants were clustered near spring-heads observed where individual tussocks had only and for a few metres downstream. A very few a small proportion of ripe stems or ripening tussocks grew in more closed vegetation, nutlets. Plants had either very many ripe although it was not clear whether these were heads (thus the species), or none (thus the plants which had grown from seed within hybrid). pre-existing closed vegetation, or whether Contrary to the suggestion in Jermy et al. initially a seedling had developed in more that the nutlets of the two species are identical, open vegetation, and only later become there did appear to be consistent differences surrounded by other colonising species. between nutlets in Teesdale plants. Nutlets of Nowhere was the plant seen in dense or tall T. cespitosum had means of 1.61 mm x 0.90 communities. mm; whilst those of T. germanicum had means These particular flushes were all situated of 2.20 mm x 1.04 mm (length included the within fenced or walled pastures, grazed with callus tissue at the base, and was to the base of cattle and sheep. The site near Widdybank the style-cone). The nutlets ofthe former were Farm is above a hay-meadow, and is grazed more glossy and a darker brown, whilst those only after the cutting of the lower ground. ofthe latter had a more obvious greyish bloom Further to the west and at higher altitudes on and were paler brown. AC commented that the open eastern flanks of Widdybank Fell, the upper leaf-sheaths on Teesdale peaty ground was encountered, with an often T. cespitosum specimens terminate in abrupt transition to more acidophilous heathy openings which are generally somewhat vegetation. In places, sterile clumps of the oblique, and hence, importantly, do not show hybrid were again obvious, but looldng here the more transverse openings which have been considerably more vigorous. Eventually, suggested as a strong initial character for searches further up the fell revealed detecting this species. These apparently T. germanicum itself, ripening fruit as with the significant differences require to be tested on rarer species. The ripe spikelets of T. german­ a wider range of material both from Teesdale icum had a quite different appearance from and beyond. I would greatly welcome those of T. cespitosum at the same stage, samples of fully ripe spike lets or shed nutlets having more fruits (mostly eight or more in of either species, with a few shoots to check T. germanicum; five or fewer in T. cespito­ the identification, dry or fresh, from anywhere. sum), and, as previously suggested, larger In gross morphology, the tussocks of nutlets not becoming as dark nor as glossy as T. cespitosum were very much less robust in in T. cespitosum, whilst the glumes were less all respects than the familiar aspect of prone to being shed until rather later in the T. germanicum, in size of tussock, number of season (see photo 4, Colour Section Plate 2). stems, height and width of stems, size of 24 Notes - Northern Deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) in upper Teesdale

Somewhat incomplete searches of accessible narrower, wiry stems, whilst on the fell-top mires on Widdybank Fell summit itself, peats hybrid plants were larger and denser, further west again at around 500-520m a.s.l., more vigorous, and had taller and thicker revealed large amounts of the hybrid and stems, and thus more resembled T. germ an i­ T. germanicum, but, perhaps surprisingly, no cum. AC remarked that in his experience of further T. cespitosum. In every case, the Welsh sites where the hybrid grows in blanket colonies of T. cespitosum located were well­ bog and other sites away from raised bogs, it separated from the nearest T. germanicum - by is similarly less densely tussocky, less robust, at least 200 metres (as in the case of the two and tends to grow in flushes. On the raised smallest colonies), and by about 500 metres bogs it is more densely tussocky and the habit (for the two largest colonies). is then somewhat more similar to T. germani­ cum. Discussion It is interesting to speculate upon whether The distinctive 'hummock' topography of the this variability in the hybrid might be an calcareous mires is a familiar feature in upper expression of genetic variation, conceivably Teesdale, and a few other areas of the north resulting from back-crossing, or, perhaps a Pennines, such as between Orton and Crosby more satisfying explanation, given the evident Ravensworth in Cumbria, and Great Close sterility of the hybrid, a response of a more-or­ Mire near Malham in Yorkshire. Such topog­ less uniform hybrid gene-type to varying raphy may be a very persistent feature in the edaphic or other growth conditions. landscape, as is suggested by the presence of Bartsia alpina and other species, in a suite of Conclusion what are taken to be late-glacial relicts. The I hope this note may give readers some hints plant is an interesting addition to Teesdale's as to what constitute the distinctive features of list of notable relict species. Table 1 (p. 25) this plant in the field, and the sort of places gives lists of close associates (within 0.5 m) that may be worth searching for it. Professor for the five known colonies of T. cespitosum. Swan's 1999 papers should be read, both for The vegetation classifies readily as M10 in their clarification of this taxon and its hybrid, the National Vegetation Classification and the identification of each, and also for the (Rodwell, 1991), with T. cespitosum being accounts of the species in rather different most associated with the 'Briza media - habitats and communities further north in Primula farinosa sub-community'. The Northumberland. preferential occurrence of T. cespitosum in Please may I reiterate my request for this association, and its evident absence from samples (dried or fresh) of spikelets of either any of the communities on acidic peat forma­ species, ideally fully ripe, with a few shoots to tions favoured by T. germanicum, provide a check the identification, from anywhere. I striking contrast between the two species in will gladly refund postage. I would also be this locality. delighted to receive any comments upon the An interesting feature noted in the Teesdale precise habitat preferences and associates of locality was the tendency of the hybrid the rarer species. T. Xfoersteri to occupy the full spectrum of Note on deergrass nomenclature damp habitats between the distinct preferences Jermy et al. give the two forms of deergrass of its parents. Furthermore, and probably full species status. This necessitates the worthy of further research, the vigour of the restriction of the epithet cespitosum to the hybrid appeared to be responsive to pH or rarer taxon, called by them 'Northern soil-type, hybrid plants becoming larger in all Deergrass'. Given the long-accepted and respects on increasingly acid soils. Thus deeply-ingrained usage by UK botanists of the hybrid plants growing with or near the names T. cespitosum and Scirpus cespitosus T. cespitosum parent were similar to that for the familiar taxon, now T. germanicum, parent, being small in stature, with shorter and Notes - Northern Deergrass (Trichophorum cespitosum) in upper Teesdale 25

Table 1: Associates within O.5m of Trichophorum cespitosum at five sites in upper Teesdale

Taxon Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Bartsia alpina y y Briza media y y y Carex capillaris y Carex flacca y y Carex xfulva y Carex hostiana y y y y y Carex panicea y y y Carex pulicaris y y y y Carex viridula ssp. brachyrrhyncha y y y y Cynosurus cristatus y Dactylorhiza incarnata y Drosera rotundifolia y y Eleocharis quinqueflora y y y Eriophorum angustifolium y y y Eriophorum latifolium y y Festuca ovina y y Gymnadenia borealis y Juncus acutiflorus y y y y Juncus alpinoarticulatus y Kobresia simpliciuscula y y y Linum catharticum y y Luzula multiflora y Molinia caerulea y y y y y Narthecium ossifragum y y Pedicularis palustris y Pinguicula vulgaris y y y Potentilla erecta y y y y y Primula farinosa y y y Selaginella selaginoides y y Succisa pratensis y y y y Tofieldia pusilla y y Trichophorum xfoersteri y y Triglochin palustris y y Valeriana dioica y

Site 1: 45 plants, NY837299 etc. Site 4: 2 plants, NY835303 Site 2: 76 plants, NY847304 etc. Site 5: 4 plants, NY842301 Site 3: 1 plant, NY837304 26 Notes - Northern Deergrass in upper Teesdale / Calamagrostis stricta in Easterness and Caithness

there is ample scope for confusion. It might be References a valuable step towards minimising potential HOLLINGSWORTH, P.M. & SWAN, G.A. confusion, and furthermore perhaps encourag­ (1999). 'Genetic differentiation and hybridi­ ing the general recognition of the two sation among subspecies of Deergrass deergrasses as full species, if a binomial (Trichophorum cespitasum (L.) Hartman.) in vernacular name such as 'Common Northumberland'. Watsonia 22: 235-242. Deergrass', rather than merely 'Deergrass', BSBI, London. were to be coined for T. germanicum. JERMY, C., SIMPSON, D., FOLEY, MJ.y', AND PORTER, M.S. (2007). Sedges afthe British Acknowledgements Isles. BSBI Handbook 1, edition 3. BSBI, I am indebted to Chris McCarty and his staff London. at Natural England, Widdybank Farm, for RODWELL, J. (ed.) (1991). British Plant Com­ access to the Widdybank pastures. Note that munities, Volume 2: Mires and Heaths. access to these sites, none of which are by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. rights-of-way, must be sought from the SWAN, G.A. (1999). 'Identification, distribu­ Natural England site manager's office at tion and a new nothosubspecies of Tricho­ Widdybank (01833 622374). Michae1 pharum cespitosum L. Hartman Braithwaite kindly confirmed my tentative (Cyperaceae) in the British Isles and NW identifications. Arthur Chater and Mike S. Europe'. Watsonia 22: 209-233. BSBI, Porter provided valuable input to discussion, London. and the latter contributed a photograph.

Calamagrostis stricta in Easterness and Caithness c. JAMES CADBURY, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedford~hire, SG19 2DL In August 2003, I carried out an intensive The largest of the additions was 18m (N-S) x survey of Carex chordorrhiza (String Sedge) 12m (E-W), and the smallest 4 x 4m. The main at the RSPB's Insh Marshes reserve, Easter­ associated plants were Equisetum fluviatile ness (v.c.96), where it is locally abundant and (Water Horsetail) (abundant or frequent in all spreading. A point was made to visit seven stands), Galium palustre (Marsh Caul Fen, a site at the northeast end of this Bedstraw) (seven, abundant or frequent in large area of northern marsh that floods four), Carex vesicaria (Bladder Sedge) (four, naturally from the River Spey. It was here that frequent in three), Caltha palustris (Marsh Ruth Meyer discovered Calamagrostis stricta Marigold) (four), Eriophorum angustifalium (Narrow Small-reed) for the first time in (Common Cotton-grass) and Potentilla palustris Easterness, and a considerable distance from (Marsh Cinquefoil) (both three, frequent in one), sites recorded in Caithness (v.c.l09), Selkirk­ Carex rostrata (Bottle Sedge) and Phal­ shire (v.c.79) and Ayrshire (v.c.75) in the New aris arundinacea (Reed Sweet-grass) (both Atlas (Preston et al., 2002). With Carl Mitch­ three). The NVC community with which the ell, then Site Manager, and Pete Moore, association had closest affinity was SlOb Warden of this RSPB nature reserve, we found Equisetum fluviatile swamp, Carex rostrata two stands, one 35 x 14m and a second of 19 sub-community; but there was a tendency x 18m at grid ref. NH818037. towards Sll Carex vesicaria swamp. In both In early July 2008, I revisited Coul Fen with years the Calamagrostis was flowering Karen Sutcliffe, the current Site Manager for abundantly (see photo 3 inside back cover). Insh Marshes. As well as the original stands Counts of panicles made in 2003 averaged of C. stricta that measured 34m (N-S) x 17m 411m2 (n=8) with a range of30-55. (E-W) and 18m (N-S) x 8m (E-W) respective­ Also in early July 2008, accompanied by ly, we recorded another five in the same David Jones, the warden, and general area, but extending to NH818036. Kirstin Carmouche, I visited the new RSPB Notes - Caiamagrostis stricta in Eastemess and Caithness 27 nature reServe at Broubster Leans, Caithness probably best assigned to M27 (v.c.109). Much of this is an extensive 170ha Filipendula ulmaria - Angelica sylvestris swamp that lies in a shallow depression mire, in view of the frequency of these two through which the Forss Water formerly ran a species and Carex nigra (Common Sedge). meandering course to form a series of ox-bows Though E. fluviatile was abundant in both, and lochans. The site has a high water table neither M trifoliata or P. palustris were throughout most of the year, so access even present. At the time of the July visit the with waders can be difficult. A further survey Calamagrostis stands could be picked out by was carried out by Mark Gurney in late the purple panicles from a distance of 200 m. September 2008. The vegetation of the site The total area occupied by the plant was about had previously received the attention of 1.3ha. Ian MacDonald in June 1999 and e. stricta has been recorded from four 10km Andrew McBride (Scottish Natural Heritage) squares in Caithness since 1987 (www. in June 2007. Calamagrostis stricta was bsbimaps.org.uk). The endemic C. scotica recorded in S27 Carex rostrata (Scottish Small-reed) occurs with e. stricta at Potentilla palustris tall herb fen by McBride one of these sites (Preston et al., 2002) (see (unpubl. report, 2007). photo 2 inside back cover). We found e. stricta abundant over a tract of The two surveys of Broubster Leans in 2008 spongy fen and swamp habitat, flowering recorded a total of 146 species of vascular prolifically and forming tussocks in rather plants. Potamogeton obtusifolius (Blunt­ open swamp vegetation (see photo 4 inside leaved Pondweed) and Carex vesicaria appar­ back cover). There were large stands around ently had not been previously recorded in the edge of drains and natural water courses, Caithness (Preston et al., 2002). In Septem­ but it was absent from the very wettest areas. ber, the pondweed was frequent in many ofthe e. stricta was mainly concentrated on the pools out in the centre, which are inaccessible western side of Broubster Leans between grid for much of the year. e. vesicaria was refs. ND03626040 and ND03616076. The recorded in July as being locally abundant in largest stand measured 13m (N-S) x 67m the spongy swamp as at ND036605. Other (E-W). In September four patches Were found more notable species, for at least Caithness, on the east side of the flood plain, at were C. aquatilis (several large stands), ND040608 and ND041607. e. diandra (Lesser Tussock-sedge), C. dioica Six of the eight stands sampled for their (Dioecious Sedge), e. disticha (Brown Sedge) vegetation commlmity Were considered to be and Triglochin maritimum (Sea Arrowgrass), S 1Ob Equisetum fluviatile swamp, sub-com­ as well as T. palustre (Marsh Arrowgrass). munity Carex rostrata, in which E. fluviatile References: was abundant in all six, Menyanthes trifoliata McBRIDE, A. 2007. Broubster Leans Site (Bogbean) abundant in five, Po ten­ Visit. Unpublished report. Scottish Natural tilla palustris abundant in two and frequent in Heritage, Edinburgh. two. Carex rostrata was abundant in one and PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A. & DINES, frequent in another. e. vesicaria was T.D. 2002. New atlas of the British flora. abundant in one. This latter could alterna­ Oxford University Press, Oxford. tively be classified as S 11 Carex vesicaria swamp. The other two sampled stands were 28 Notes - Calamagrostis purpurea thrives on Speyside / 4-merous Glaux maritima on Eriskay

Calamagrostis purpurea thrives on Speyside c. JAMES CADBURY, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL Calamagrostis purpurea (Scandinavian the east. It would appear that stands expand in Small-reed), an apomictic probably derived size by rhizomes, but fragments are probably from C. epigejos x C. canescens, has been spread by flooding, mainly in winter, to form confirmed in Britain from about eight sites, satellite colonies. It is a robust grass with including the Insh Mashes, Easterness (v.c.96) culms up to 1.8m high, and forms dense (Stewart & Wigginton, 1999). Though much stands, to the exclusion of most other plants. of these northern flood plain marshes lie The best NVC fit appears to be M27 Filipen­ within the RSPB's nature reserve, this dula ulmaria - Angelica sylvestris mire. Calamagrostis seems to be confined to Among the associated plants were Carex Dunachton Fen, just outside, between the aquatiUs (Water Sedge), Scutellaria galericu­ River Spey and the railway. I was first shown lata (Greater Skullcap) and Valeriana offici­ the site in 1997 by Les Street, the warden of nalis (Common Valerian). In early July, the Insh Marshes at the time. The following year, grass was in full flower and the purplish in late September, he and two volunteers panicles could be seen with binoculars over located 13 clumps and measured their circum­ 500m away. Aerial mapping would be possi­ ferences, which ranged from 1.5 m to 11 Om; ble at this time of year. the largest had dimensions of 49m x 14m. Calamagrostis stricta (Narrow Small-reed) In early July 2008, I visited Dunachton Fen was discovered at Insh Marshes in 2002, but with Chris Lockyer, a volunteer at the reserve over one km away from the C. purpurea site. (see photo 1 inside back cover). We recorded C. epigejos (Wood Small-reed) is recorded 34 stands in approximately the same area from the Spey valley, but C. cansescens around grid ref. NH806032. Twenty-nine of (Purple Small-reed) does not occur further the stands were less than 10m in diameter, and north than Southern Scotland. there were two much larger ones of 50m x 14m and 85 mX 22m. C. purpurea is a vigor­ Reference: ous perennial that is flourishing at Insh STEWART, O.M. & WIGGINTON, MJ. in Wig­ Marshes in two areas: one 116m (SW-NE) x ginton, MJ. (ed.). (1999). British Red Data Books 1: Vascular plants. yd edition. 30m (NW-SE), close to the railway; and another 183m (SW-NE) x 30m (NW-SE) to IN.C.C., Peterborough. 4-merous Glaux maritima on Eriskay MIKE ATKINSON, 7 Old Bridge Rise, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS299HH

In 2007, I saw Glaux maritima L. (Sea merous, with no doubts expressed - except Milkwort) at various locations in the Outer 'Wikipedia' (not my first candidate for an Hebrides v.c.ll0. I photographed it on authority) which says, blithely, 'generally Bonnie Prince Charlie' s beach on Eriskay, and pentamerous both in the calyx and the seed also near the ferry on Berneray (see photos capsule'. In an earlier web search (now lost) inside front cover). Looking at the photos, the an Alaskan seemed surprised that it was 5- Berneray plant seems uniformly 5-merous (as merous though he did not give the impression expected) but the close-up from Eriskay of knowing the plant well. All the photos I shows all the 25 or so flowers in the frame as have found on the Web, including one from equally unifonnly 4-merous. I have also Sowerby, are 5-merous. Is Glaux maritima photographed the plant from Gotland, where sometimes 4-merous? Can anyone shed any also it appears to be 5-merous. The literature light? I have consulted treats it consistently as 5- Notes - Lobelia urens at Flimwell, East Sussex 29

Lobelia urens at Flimwell, East Sussex D.W.SHIMWELL, High House Farm, High Stoop, Satley, Bishop Auckland DLl3 4HL Being a Red Data Book species (Dinsdale, Supreme Court Costs Office in March 2004. 1997), Lobelia urens (Heath Lobelia) has Described as the former Flimwell Bird Park of attracted a good deal of ecological and plant approximately 23ha and with 14 artificial sociological research, much of which was ponds, the property is presently on sale admirably presented by Dinsdale, Dale & (February, 2009) by the Property UK Group. Kent (1997). The nature of each of the six When I 'viewed' the site on 31 st August 2008, extant sites in southern England was consid­ in a necessarily cursory fashion born of the ered in terms of its historical ecology and the apprehension of and for trespass, I found it dynamics of the species populations. At overgrown with rank grassland, brambles and Flimwell in East Sussex, the plant was fIrst invading shrubs, with never a sign of the recorded in 1922 growing under rotational Heath Lobelia within the 23ha compound. On Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut) coppice, the eastern margin of the bird park, however, and the record accepted as native, in spite of between the peripheral fence, screened by tall its comparatively late discovery. It remained bushes of Rhododendron ponticum confined to coppice rides until 1986, and when (Rhododendron), and young growths of the trees were felled, it was widespread coppiced Castanea sativa, running south through the wood, with a population estimate along what might be construed as the modem of 200 plants. Unfounded fears were equivalent of a 'ride', I came across a small expressed for its survival when planning population of L. urens of perhaps fifty flower­ permission was granted in 1989 for the devel­ ing plants, some in the early stages of fruit. opment of the site as a bird park by local Had I not lmown something ofthe history of general practitioner, Peter Player, for by 1993 its presence here, I would have dismissed it as the plant had invaded many areas of the an introduction. I took a 2m2 relevll, and made modified landscape and the population size a list of all companion species. In so doing I had increased to c. 2500. According to a could supplement the plant sociological report in the Times Educational Supplement records from Brightmore (1968) and those for 27th September 1996, Flimwell Bird Park from Dinsdale, Dale & Kent (1997) for a more housed 103 species of wildfowl collected from or less direct comparison of the communities all over the world, was a popular educational to which L. urens had become adapted through attraction, and visitors, presumably both the last forty years of change. The 1968 detail ornithological and lobelial, were greeted in the gives cover estimates on the Domin scale for tea room by a pair of free-flying cockatiels a single 4m2 quadrat, and the latter identifies called Lager and Lime. the NVC community M25 Molinia caerulea­ The bird park closed two years later and the Potentilla erecta mire (Rodwell, 1991) as premises became the short lived Headstart being the most prevalent at Flimwell - their Nursery School, whose 18 children obviously Twinspan Group D. In the table below, a had considerably less impact on the landscape Constant Group A comprises the seven than the vast numbers of wildfowl. The school species recorded in all three years; Group B closed at the turn of the twenty-first century contains those species recorded in 1968 and and planning consent was granted in 2002 to a 1997, but not 2008; Group C has those species local business for parking, vehicle storage and recorded in 1997 and 2008; and a final group display for sale of cars in the car park on the lists key indicator species for each ofthe three A268. Financial problems led to the sale of years. the former Flimwell Bird Park by the Royal Constant Group A: Lobelia urens, Rubus Courts of Justice in August 2003, only for the fruticosus, Holcus lanatus, funcus effusus, legality of the sale to be contested in the 30 Notes - Lobelia urens at Flimwell, East Sussex

Betula pubescens (sapling), Centaurium changing environmental disturbance factors. erythraea, Cirsium palustre. But when Dinsdale, Dale, & Kent concluded 1968-1997 Group B: Erica cinerea, Poten­ that existing populations will only be tilla erecta, Pteridium aquilinum , Agrostis maintained and expansion of the species capillaris, Hypericum humifosum, Hyperi­ distribution occur, if woodland succession is cum pulchrum, Hypochaeris radicata. prevented and the ground periodically 1997-2008 Group C: Lysimachia nemorum, disturbed, one cannot imagine they had the Epilobium montanum, Ranunculus repens, Flimwell case history in mind. Surely no other Prunella vulgaris, Senecio jacobaea, Red Data Book species has been faced with Teucrium scorodonia. such an unusual suite of vicissitudes of exist­ Key Indicators: ence and there may be more to come. 1968 - Succisa pratensis, Veronica officinalis, Amongst the potential uses listed in the Galium saxatile, Calluna vulgaris. current sales pitch for the former Flimwell 1997 - Molinia caerulea. Bird Park is the possibility of negotiating 2008 - Agrostis stolonifera, Poa trivialis, contracts for the tipping of spoil from road Pulicaria dysenterica. works associated with the re-routing of the Three aspects of this comparative analysis are A21 close to the western boundary of the site. clear. First, whether the quadrats are taken in The Heath Lobelia may have the capacity to the same precise spot or not, few species are survive such an event, but it may need a little constantly associated with Lobelia urens in help. the three sample years. Secondly, samples Acknowledgements from 1968 and 1997, and from 1997 and 2008 The arrangements of Tessa Pollard and have groups of species in common. Thirdly, Malcolm Smith and the insistence of Sarah in each of the three years there are associates Atkinson facilitated the field observations for of L. urens which are key indicator species of this note. a particular plant community. Thus, Dinsdale, References Dale & Kent (1997) could categorically BRIGHTMORE, D. (1968). 'Biological flora of identify the community as an M25 mire the British Isles: Lobelia urens L'. Journal through the Molinia caerulea-Potentilla ofEcology 6: 613-620. erecta combination. This was not, however, DINSDALE, I (1999). 'Lobelia urens L'. in the case in 1968 when the key indicator Wigginton, M.I (ed.) British Red Data species suggest that the plant was growing in Books. 1: Vascular plants. lNCC, Peterbor­ a heterogeneous, bramble-dominated grass­ ough. heath; nor was it so in 2008 when a closer DINSDALE,I, DALE, P. & KENT, M. (1997). relationship to MG 10 Holcus lanatus-Juncus 'The biogeography and historical ecology of effusus rush pasture is suggested by the combi­ Lobelia urens L. (the heath lobelia) in south­ nation of the two nominal species with Agros­ ern England'. Journal of Biogeography 24: tis stolonifera (Creeping Bent), Poa trivialis 153-175. (Rough Meadow-grass) and Pulicaria RODWELL, IS. (1991). British Plant Commu­ dysenterica (Fleabane). The ultimate conclu­ nities. Volume 2: Mires and Heaths. Cam­ sion is that Lobelia urens has a sociologically bridge University Press, Cambridge. adaptive capacity across a broad spectrum of Notes - Ruud van der Meijden and some early Dutch herbaria 31

Ruud van der Meijden and some early Dutch herbaria MARY lP. SCANNELL, Formerly Herbarium, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Eire Briggs (2009) reported the death in 2007 of naean polynomials beneath each specimen and Ruud van der Meijden of the Rijksherbarium, that 'more suitable names' followed, written Leiden, and quotes David Pearman: by William Sherard and taken from the Pinax , [he] ... was the leading expert on the European of Caspar Bauhin (1623). Thomas Molyneux flora ...... and editor offour editions of Heukels ' was a student of medicine at Leiden from Flora von Nederland ... ' . 1683-1685 and, on his return to Dublin, he Ruud van der Meijden is remembered in established a practice. Later, in 1715, he was Ireland. He was co-author of the publication appointed State Physician. His brother, Catalogue ofthe Herbaria ofAntoni Gaymans William, ordered him 'to buy books at (±1630-1680) and a comparison with the auctions in Holland' (Hoppen,1970). In his plant-collection of the Leiden Hortus Botani­ later years his residence was in Peter Street. cus in 1668 (Sosef, M.S.M., van Vliet, G., van In the Rijksherbarium, the two herbaria were der Meijden, R, & Scannell, M.lP., 1987). compared and contrasted. Specimens were Antoni Gaymans, a pharmacist ofVelp, near studied in great detail in conjunction with Arnhem, settled in Leiden from 1656 and died catalogues and literature relating to early there in 1680. He had access to the Leiden Dutch botany. The tracing of the pre-Lin­ Botanic Gardens, then the most important naean polynomials through the literature to plant collection in northern Europe. Two present-day taxa as in Flora Europaea (Tutin, herbaria exist, in four volumes, comprising et al. (eds.), 1964-1980) was an arduous task. some 2,500 specimens known to have been Ruud van der Meijden helped with the naming compiled by Gaymans. By great good fortune, of species and with nomenclature. The one volume came to light in Ireland in 1957 in Gaymans volumes ' ... represent the oldest the library of the Convent of the Immaculate lmown Dutch collections of this kind ... they Heart of Mary, Moore Abbey, Monasterevin, take a prime position in reconstructing the Co. Kildare; the second in 1964 in the history of Dutch seventeenth century botany' Biomedical Library of the University of (Heniger and Sosef, 1989). California, Los Angeles, following purchase from a dealer in antiquarian books (Anon., References 1965). ANONYMOUS. (1965). 'Early specimen vol­ The first herbarium, the Dublin volume - a runes acquired'. University of California large leather-bound book with spine title: publications in librarianship 18,3:30. Herbarium Vivum - was acquired through BRlGGs, M. (2009). Obituary notes. BSBI purchase in 1957 by the National Museum of News 110: 67. Ireland, and was placed in the Herbarium HENIGER, l., & SOSEF, M.S.M. (1989). (DBN). In 1970 the Herbarium and Botanic 'Antoni Gaymans (ca.1630-1680) and his Collection were transferred to the National herbaria'. Archives of Natural History Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin (Scannell, 1979). 16(2): 147-168. Attention was drawn to the inscription in Latin HOPPEN, K.T. 1970. The common scientist in in the handwriting of Thomas Molyneaux the seventeenth century - a study of the (1661-1733) on the first page of the volume: Dublin Philosophical Society 1683-1708. 'Dominus Gayman, Pharmacopeus Leydensis Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. ... totumque Herbarium ... circa annum Domini SCANNELL, M.l.P. (1979). 'A 17th century 1661', and: 'Dominus Gulielmus Sherard; Hortus Siccus made in Leyden, the property Amicus mihi ... Nomine aptiora ... benigne of Thomas Molyneaux, at DBN'. Irish Nat­ adscripsit; Dublinii anno 1693' . [A translation uralists Journal 19(9). was provided by Dr Noel Kis sane , National SOSEF, M.S.M., VAN VLIET, G., VAN DER Library ofIreland]. The statement established MEIJDEN, R., & SCANNELL, MJ.P. (1987). that Antoni Gayman had written the pre-Lin- Catalogue of the herbaria of Antoni Gav- 32 Notes - Ruud van der Meijden and some early Dutch herbaria / Romana Czapik (1929-2008), distinguished Polish cytologist

mans (+1-1630-1680) and a comparison TuTIN,T.G., et al., (eds.). (1964-1980). Flora with the plant -collection ofthe Leiden Hor­ Europaea. vols. 1-5. CUP, Cambridge. tus Botanicus in 1668. Leiden. 131pp. Romana Czapik (1929-2008), distinguished Polish cytologist MAURA SCANNELL, Raglan Road, Dublin, Eire

Professor Romana Czapik, Department of Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle and not Plant Cytology and Embryology, Jagiellonian Elodea nuttallii (Planchon) SUohn. University, Krakow, was born in Krakow on The tribute to Rommna Czapik in Acta ... 26 Jan 1929 and died in that city on 21 Febru­ Cracoviensis reveals a remarkable career both ary 2008. She received her early education in as teacher and cytologist. 'Professor Czapik her native city, when Poland lay bleeding and devoted her life to science'. One reflects on the broken, 'in the very difficult circumstances of background conditions in Poland in the mid- the Nazi [German] occupation'. In 1948 she 20th century, when tribulations abounded and enrolled at the Jagiellonian University, studied there was no space for serenity to study or under Wladyslaw Szafer and in 1953 she was research. appointed Assistant in the Department becom­ In 1939 the citizens of Krakow became ing Professor in 1979. In 1994 she achieved aware that the imposed manager - one Herter Poland's highest academic position, professor - of the Cracow Botanic Gardens, a valued ordinarius. Professor Czapik's main areas of amenity and study centre, allowed the Garden interest were Plant embryology, cytogenetics, to decline and 'sent hundreds of the most the karyology of angiosperms, and especially beautiful plant specimens to the residence of problems of apomixis in angiosperms. In Hans Frank ... for decoration'. (from Index recognition of her scientific work the Polish Seminum ... Cracoviensis Anno 1983). They government awarded her the Gold Cross of were doubtless also aware that 'Sonderaktion Merit (1981), the Polonia Restituta Chevalier's Krakau' had overtaken the Jagiellonian Cross (1985) and the National Education University, the oldest university in Poland, and Commission Medal (1985). The International that 183 professors and lecturers were arrested Embryological Congress in Leningrad in the Hall of the University and were awarded her the Navashin Medal in 1990. Acta dispatched to concentration camps 'where Biologica Cracoviensia (series Botanica) many of the most eminent met a martyr's volume 41 (1999) was dedicated to Romana death.' Polish academics were barred and Czapik on the occasion of her seventieth birth­ valuable equipment, books and apparatus, was day. Dr Andrezej Jankun of the Jagiellonian removed. The University however did not University provides an account of her life and yield and some 800 students were instructed a list of her publications. From this illuminat­ underground. (from, Buszko, J. (1975). The ing tribute many of the facts noted above have Jagiellonian University, tradition, present and been taken. future. Cracow) . In the course of her work Romana Czapik For the citizens there was the daily throbbing visited many foreign countries and centres of sorrow as news trickled through of brutalities research. In 1974 at a Conference in suffered at the extermination camp at Cambridge she read a paper, 'Apomixis in a Oswiecem, a few kms south of the city where sterile hybrid species of Potentilla'. The paper persons (including children) were systemati­ was published in 1975 in Conference Report cally starved and tortured before death in the No. 15 of the Botanical Society of the British gas chambers. The memory of the sadism Isles. In 1978 a paper was published in the lacerates the mind to this day. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, on Knowing this, the research of Romana 'The karyology ofHydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae) Czapik and others of the Jagiellonian Univer­ from Ireland and Poland.' The cytological sity is truly remarkable. examination (by R. Czapik) proved beyond all doubt that the plant in a lake near Renvyle was Colour Section 1

Polypogon viridis, Cornwall. Photo C. French © 2008 (see p. 39) Conyza bilbaoana, Recorder's garden

Lythrum salicaria, roadside gutter, Le Petit Val Nicandra physalodes, waste ground Water Lanes

All three photos taken in Alderney by B. Bonnard © 2008 (see p. 35) N

1. Site of Trichophorum cespitosum near Widdybank Farm 2. Stems of Trichophorum cespitosum showing ripening nutlets

4. Spikelets of: (left) Trichophorum cespitosum with single remaining ripe nutlet; (centre) T. xjoersteri; (right) on T. germanicum with o three ripe nutlets Ei C/.l visible, and retained g 3. Stems of Trichophorum cespitosum in loose patches upper ~lumes o. o Photos all Widdybank Pasture (v.c.66) July 2008.1-3 © J. Roberts, 4 © M.S. Porter (see p. 22) ::; (j o 0" 51 C/.l ~ ::to o ~

Limonium vulgare (Common Sea Lavender) on salt-marsh at Marshside, Derelict quarry buildings, home to Cryptogramma crispa Southport (v.c.59). Photo P. Smith © 2008 (see p. 15)

Cryptogramma crispa growing between granite blocks Vicia palaestina at Bransford (v.c.37). Photo P. Garner © 2008 Both photos, Dartmoor (v.c.3), R.E.N. Smith © 2008 (see p. 21) (see p. 41) UJ 4 Colour Section

Centaurea ragusina, Plymouth (v.c.3). Photo M. Shaw © 2002 (see p. 37)

MeUca altissima 'Atropurpurea', Histon (v.c.29) Photo I.D. Shanklin © 2008 (see p.38) Notes - Some observations on the Genus Symphytum in the UK / The Taraxacum collection at NMW 33

Some observations on the Genus Symphytum in the UK CHRISTOPHER WESTALL, 1 Rushford Avenue, Wombourne, Wolverhampton, Staffs., WV5 OHZ ( westa1l792@btintemet. corn) For over twenty years now I have taken an inter­ S. bulbosum took a while to feel at home, but est in this genus. I suppose it began when a now is aggressive, and has to be checked. It is fellow botanist opined that Symphytum the plant that pushes the others aside, even xuplandicum (Russian Comfrey) 'was invariably though it is the first to be 'over'. deep purple'. I thought I had seen other coloured S. grandijlorum does not like the other plants of that taxon. Comfreys and flees to the edges of the plot, but S. xuplandicum, S. officinale (Common it survives. It, and the others, give Convallaria Comfrey) and S. orientale (White Comfrey) (this majalis (Lily-of-the-valley) a hard time. species always seems to have necrosis on the S. x'Hidcote Blue' is nearly as rampant as corolla) all grow within a few hundred yards of S. bulbosum. It is not very blue except early in our house. The plants that I have cultivated in the season. It is the only one of the Comfreys in our garden are, or have been, S. asperum (Rough the plot that shows any sign of sexual reproduc­ Comfrey), S. caucasicum (Caucasian Comfrey), tion. Occasionally plants that I would refer to S. grandijlorum (Creeping Comfrey) S. bulbo­ S. xuplandicum appear, which I would suggest sum (Bulbous Comfrey) S. tuberosum (Tuberous might mean that the question mark in Stace Comfrey) and S. 'Hidcote Blue' (Hidcote (ed. 2) (s. grandijlorum x ?s. xuplandicum) Comfrey). . might be redundant. S. asperum lasted only a few years. It did not After twenty years, and having kept honey self propagate although I grew my plants from bees in the garden, I have never observed a seed. It is unmistakable when you see it. It is hybrid other than the one mentioned above. very tall, ov.er 2m in our garden. The clincher for An obvious absentee from my list is S. tauri­ identification is that all the leaves are petiolate. cum (Crimean Comfrey). If any reader would S. caucasicum was another short-stayer. The furnish me with material of this species I would other plants around it just swamped it. Although be most grateful. Of course, if any member not diagnostic, the leaves are grey. would like material of the plants I still have, then S. tuberosum has remained where I planted it I will do my best to supply them. (under an apple tree), and has not been swamped but has slowly increased (vegetatively). The Taraxacum collection at National Museum, Wales (NMW) TOM HUMPHREY & TIM RICH, National Museum Wales, Cardiff, CFIO 3NP

The 'National Taraxacum collection', donated to imens representing 560 species. 73% of the NMW by John Richards last year (BSBI News material is from Britain and 26% from Europe, 108: 27), has now been remounted using conser­ with a few sheets from Australia, North Amer­ vation-grade materials and documented in full, ica, etc. and comprises 3294 specimens. Some European The data from the combined collections have duplicates were donated to Oxford University been given to Bert Reid for the Taraxacum (OXF). It contains 530 species, and 146 type database, and are also available from Tim Rich specimens. on request. We also hope to make the data The existing NMW Taraxacum collection, available on the museum website in due course. which consisted of2895 specimens representing Anyone wishing to visit the collection will be 249 species, has also been revised and very welcome, preferably by prior appointment. documented, and the two collections have been The work has taken about 9 months with the integrated into one sequence. help of John Owen, Jacky Owen, Vicky Purewal, The National Taraxacum collection has more Katharine Slade and Sally Whyman, and, of than doubled both the number of specimens and course, John Richards, to whom we are indebted number of species, and significantly augments for such a stunning collection and fantastic and complements the existing NMW collection. research resource. The combined total collection is now 6189 spec- 34 Notes - Alderney botanical report, 2008

Alderney botanical report, 2008 BRIAN BONNARD, The Twins, Le Petit Val, Alderney, Channel Islands, GY93UU The Alderney Wildlife Trust, of which I Recording both the flora and fauna has was re-elected President in May 2008, been given considerably more attention continues to flourish and expand its activi­ this year, and several more new (or only ties and has cleared considerable areas of the second record) plant species noted (see bracken/gorse/ bramble scrub, to the below). Literally hundreds of new moth benefit of the low growing plants, formerly species and several dragonflies have been smothered. The Trust has also cleared added to our earlier lists thanks to the scrub from several footpaths, especially recent move to the island of a skilled along the coast, to give access to natural­ entomologist, newly retired and the sharp ists and other walkers. We now have two eyes of Lindsay and the students. areas designated by the Alderney States as A much improved Alderney Record Nature Reserves to maintain. The much Centre has been set up on the Internet and, larger reserve consists of the east coast, in the new States Information Centre and Longis Common, Corblets Quarry and A WT office at 51 Victoria Street, to which we Mannez Hill, where a second bird hide has moved on 1st December 2008 (www. been installed, this one at Mannez Pond at aldemeyrecordscentre.org). Visitors can add the south-eastern end of the island. The records to the lists via a touch-screen steep, watered and wooded, Val du Saue computer set up in the AWT shop, or (Willow Valley), halfway along the south on-line. Starting as an offshoot of what coast, has become the second and scrub was then the recently formed Guernsey cleared and part of the area replanted with Biological Record Centre, managed by Dr native deciduous trees. A third reserve at Charles David and the late Bridget the Giffoine on the SW tip of the island is Ozanne, it was soon combined here with under negotiation with The States. the Alderney Society Museum records to The States Agricultural Team has also form a single biological, historical and revised its mowing and spraying schedules archaeological record, also accessible from and hopefully some of our frequently both the A WT and Alderney Society mown public open land will bear better websites. crops of our smaller and more special Bridget Ozanne, who was for many years plants as a result, especially the Pyramidal the BSBI Recorder for Guernsey, had and Autumn Lady's-Tresses orchids. Our recently updated the Alderney bryophyte, single colony of Bee Orchids, which had lichen and fungi records, and her untimely suffered considerably from mowing over death in July has lost the Bailiwick one of recent years has, as a result, been excluded its best botanists. Jennie Page (JP in the from the spring and summer mowing older botanical records, now Jennie schedules and 25 plants in flower were Grange (JG)) a former chairman of La counted here on a single day in July 2007. Societe Guernesiaise's Botanical Section, This year has not seen quite as many but retired from teaching some time ago and the colony is still there. moved to Alderney during 2006. She has The Ramsar site has been re-surveyed for been of considerable help in expanding the both plant and animal species, and number of recorded sites of some of our expanded species lists published on the rarer plants. Margaret Long (ML), one of Trust website (www.alderneywildlife.org). the two Jersey BSBI recorders, has contin- Notes - Alderney botanical report, 2008 35 ued her many years of regular visits to corner of a field in Longis Road. Possi­ Alderney and also noted several new sites bly originating from the area being rota­ for established plants. Dr Charles David vated and sown with a UK 'Wild flower has now been appointed as the BSBI & grass' seed mix 2-3 years previously Recorder for Guernsey. and then left untended.. During the last two years, Lindsay Pyne, Second records and new sites. (LP), one of the Trust's busiest volunteers, Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid) Finder: Jean has spent much time in familiarising Burrows, 14.6.08. Single plant on grass herself with the island flora and fauna and bank above the old harbour. Confirmed has once again drawn my attention to some and photographed by BB. plant species not previously recorded, as Conyza bilbaoana (Hispid Fleabane) BB: well as noting new sites for several other 10.7.08 (see photo, Colour Section plate species. Further details of these will be 1). Several new areas around Town, found below. Island Hall Garden, in considerable Further work on Alderney's Ramsar site quantity, where two old houses were has added to the records of both the terres­ demolished, down Longis Road, Chemin trial and maritime flora lists and those of du Meunier, Platte Saline etc. Usually in various fauna noted in the site area. company with C. sumatrensis and some­ A 'perfect-bound' version of my book times C. canadensis. This is probably The Wildflowers ofAlderney (258 pp., with not new but not previously identified several maps, including the corrected separately from the others. Second island map and 95 colour photos) was records. published in April 2008, printed from a Carpobrotus glaucescens (Angular Sea­ single large .pdf file, by 'print-on-de­ fig) BB: 21.7.08. Scattered along S. mand' . Available from the Museum, the Cliffs from Les Couriaux to Telegraph A WT office, the Bookshop and the Alder­ Bay. Previously assumed to be C. edulis. ney Centre, the whole book can also be This is also present along this area of read on, but not printed from, my website cliffs. (flora.org.gg). New sites. New plant records for Alderney 2008 Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) New species. BB: 12.9.2008 (see photo, Colour Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid). Section plate 1). One large plant in full BB: 27.3.08, about 15-20 plants under flower in a gutter at the bottom of a steep and beside blackberry bushes, by a field stone wall in Le Petit Val. Second record. gate at Mannez. Only one actually in Nicandra physalodes (Apple-of-Peru) LP: flower, but the leaf differences seemed 24.10.08 (see photo, Colour Section plate conclusive. 1954 and 1957 records of this 1). In waste ground at the bottom of the species in other places have previously Water Lanes, probably a garden escape been rejected as probably being mistaken but no obvious source nearby at the time. for 0. morio. According to local Garden Second record. Services owner Mike O'Gorman, it has Cyperus longus (Galingale) BB: 27.10.08. been in this spot for at least 15-20 years. In boggy ground at the lower end of the Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife) LP: Fontaine David stream in some quantity. 22.8.08. Identified by BB, confirmed by New site. ML.7.9.08 2-300 plants in damp, shady, 36 Aliens - A tale of two silver lmapweeds: Centaurea cineraria and C. ragusina

ALIENS A tale of two silver knapweeds: Centaurea cineraria and C. ragusina ERIC 1. CLEMENT, 54 Anglesey Road, Gosport, Hampshire, POl2 2EQ John Poland's Vegetative key to the British marginal florets slightly enlarged. A line flora (due April/May, 2009) ambitiously drawing can be found in Coste's Flore de keys out a number of alien species that are la France (1903) (see BSBI News, 109: 80 currently outside mainstream recording. (2008) for details of a free www Some are, perhaps always, planted, others download), where it was considered to be a have scarcely jumped the garden fence, but native of the Alpes Maritimes (as well as have the potential to spread. Italy and Dalmatia). Sell & Murrell's Centaurea cineraria L., usually known Flora, vol. 4 (2006) gives a full description by gardeners as Dusty Miller (alas, a name and coins an apt English name of Ragwort shared by at least four other garden plants, Knapweed, but 'Dusty Miller's Rardhead' e.g. Cerastium tomentosum in D. Mc­ would have been more evocative. Clintock's The wild flowers of Guernsey, David Nicolle generously searched the p.77) is one such escapee that is borderline. Internet for me and sent me printouts, It is an endemic of the coastal rocks ofItaly including one of C. cineraria from the free and Sicily, although the 'endemic' symbol encyclopaedia 'Wikipedia' (http://en. is missing in Flora Europaea, 4: 270 wikipedia.orgl) - a curious mixture of good (1976). C. gymnocarpa Moris & De science and fiction; e.g. the coloured photo Notaris from the offshore island of Caprai a is of an Artemisia sp., as is part of the is, debatably, also best included within the description. huge variability (there are four subspecies To date, I have discovered recent records with "many taxa intermediate", according for C. cineraria in four vice-counties, viz.: to the Centaurea expert, J. Dostal). For v.c.O (Channel Islands). Alderney. this reason, some gatherings from Britain Recorded within the time span 1987- must surely lie in our herbaria without a 1999. BSBI Maps Scheme. positive identification, and hence the local­ v.c.1b (Scilly). Bryher (SV88101536), ities remain unpublished. Recognition of a June 2004. C.Pogson, A.Stevenson, et al. 'group qualifier' (see BSBI News, 108: 34 I or 2 plants just outside a garden. (2008)) would have prevented this loss of v.c.ll (South Rants). On beach, at base of knowledge. sea wall, near the barracks, Portsmouth, Vegetative plants are remarkably similar June 1969. R.M. Burton, collected as to Senecio cineraria (Silver Ragwort) in 'Centaurea sp.' (Herb. EJC.). It had their general habit and dissected, silvery, clearly spread (by seed) across the road wintergreen foliage. The Centaurea from nearby plantings. (Not re-found by initially has "stems herbaceous" (FI. Eur., EJC some years later). 4: 270), but they become woody at the base v.c.lI (South Rants). Branksome, Poole (and 30cm or so beyond!), and can form a (SZ066897), Nov. 2005. P. Budd. (hidden) trunk 8cm in circumference after (Herb. EJC). Also seen close by in 18 years that can easily withstand -6°C of 200612007 by D. Leadbetter, Bill Last, et frosts (pers. obs. of my own garden plant). al. In all, some ten plants seen at the The flowers are much like C. nigra bottom of the sandy clay cliffs) (EJC saw (Common Knapweed), with the purplish Aliens - A tale of two silver lmapweeds: Centaurea cineraria and C. ragusina 37

it on the adjacent Bournemouth cliffs yellow". Dr AC. Leslie mentions it in some 40 years ago, but I have mislaid the one of his most fascinating series of arti­ details). cles entitled 'Branch report: Parnassus' in v.c.15 (East Kent). Halfway down chalk Wild Flower Magazine, 437: 16-19 cliffs at Viking Bay, Broadstairs, (1996). c.1978/1979. K.E. Bull, collected as 'C. I have heard vague rumours that genuine dealbata' (Herb. EJC.). "A number of C. argentea L. has occurred in Britain, but plants". this plant is not garden-worthy. It has Since the well-known first Jersey record small flowers (involucre only 8-10 x 5- (1925) by Frere Louis-Arsene has been 7mm), of a dirty yellow, white or pink 'disallowed' (see Watsonia, 14: 167-176 colour (depending on its location in the (1982)), the earliest record as an escape Cretan region, where it is another endem­ remains uncertain. More research is ic). But it does have an attractive name! - required. doubtless one reason why gardening litera­ There is another, much whiter-leaved ture has carried the wrong synonymy of knapweed that has very rarely escaped in 'CO argentea' (= C. ragusina). Britain. It is the beautiful C. ragusina L. Mike Shaw kindly alerted me to the ssp. ragusina, an endemic of the coast ofthe splendid paintings (correctly labelled) of former Yugoslavia (ragusina refers, of C. ragusina and C. gymnocarpa that can be course, to the old name for the town of found in La Belgique horticole, vol. 18, Dubrovnik, and does not refer to the modern plates 20 and 21 (1868). He also points out city ofRagusa in southern Sicily). The plant that the coloured photograph of is totally covered with thick, white tomen­ 'CO argentea' on p. 152 of R. Phillips & tum, with the leaves mostly basal. It is very M. Rix'sPerennials, vol. 2: late perennials popular in warm clime public gardens, e.g. (1991) is clearly of C. ragusina, although in Malta (Herb. EJC), where, as elsewhere, the accompanying text does describe it is invariably known as 'CO candidissima'. C. argentea! It is not the true C. candidissima Lam., It is somewhat humiliating to notice that, which has been 'sunk' into C. cineraria L. way back in May 1753, C. Linnaeus' in all modern literature. Species plantarum, pp. 912-913 gave I can trace only two British records for the adequate diagnoses under Centaurea of the Dubrovnik Knapweed, as I like to call it: above three species: 16. ragusina; 17. v.c.3 (South Devon). Plymouth Hoe Cineraria [sic.] and 18. argentea, enabling (SX47795375), June 2002. Dr Mike any educated person to identify these Shaw, initially as 'c. argentea hort.'. plants. He quotes for each one all multino­ Growing below the dome, on wall below mial synonyms known to him. Interesting­ the road; it had self-sown from garden ly, under 16, we find Jacea arborea above, and was hanging downwards, argentea ragusina, published in 1675 presumably as it grows on its native mari­ (yes!) by G. Zanoni in his Istoria botanica, time cliffs (see photo, Colour Section p.107, together with an illustration (t. 43). Plate 4). Who has read this lately? v.c.9 (Dorset). On waste ground, near I have rambled for too long! But who Weymouth Station, 1993-1997. Dr knows of further records for these, or other H.IM. Bowen, as 'c. cj clementei'. rare alien Centaurea species? News is the Perhaps a relic of planting, but "a fine place to publish them. shrub 75cm tall, with flowers bright 38 Aliens - Melica altissima found in Cambridgeshire (v.c.29)

Melica altissima found in Cambridgeshire (v.c.29) JONATHAN SHANKLIN, 11 City Road, Cambridge, CBI lDP [email protected]) ALAN LESLIE, 109 York Street, Cambridge, CBI 2PZ Several clumps of Melica altissima L. valued for its ornamental effect in gardens, 'Atropurpurea' were found at the edge of it is an excellent dried cut flower, the heads waste ground, by the recently demolished seemingly everlasting, that is until they get buildings of Unwins seed merchants, too dusty to be respectable! Impington Lane, Riston, Cambs. v.c.29 (GR: As 15th November was a reasonably fair TL44306344) in November 2008 by day, I (JS) had decided to have a wander in J.D. Shankiin, (confrrmed by A.C. Leslie) a part of Cambridge that I had not previ­ (CGE) (see photo, Colour Section Plate 4). ously wallced around, despite having lived The species may be distinguished as follows: in the area for 35 years, albeit only with a A tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial, recently revived interest in botany. with leafy stems 60-150cm tall. Lvs 10-23 Although Cambridgeshire is generally x 5-15mm, flat, floppy, rough below and on being surveyed on a parish basis, I thought the sheaths. Flowers in dense, narrowly that for once I would record a tetrad, but cylindrical, usually one-sided spikes, 10- didn't expect to record many species, given 20cm long, interrupted below; spikelets the time of year. I vastly exceeded my numerous, oblong, large (7-12mm long), expectations, with a total for the day of 233 with one to two fertile florets, eventually species in the tetrad, including this Melica. nodding; glumes 7.0-10.5mm, sub-acute to As I was passing a demolition site, my eye obtuse, with broad hyaline margins; fertile was caught by an odd-looking grass lemmas pointed, more-or-Iess equalling the growing on some rough ground by tempo­ glumes, hairless but minutely rough; sterile rary fencing. Not being able to identify it lemmas much smaller. immediately, I took a sample and continued This appears to be the first British record on my walk, finding one or two other plants of self-sown plants of any form of this that I decided needed closer study with species, which is a native of central and reference books. On returning home I eastern Europe through to southern Russia started with the grass, but could not and eastern Turkey. It is widely grown in immediately find anything in 'Rubbard' or gardens, where it is known as Tall or Illustrations ofAlien Plants. Whilst check­ Siberian Melic, usually in this form, with ing the RHS encyclopaedia of plants and attractive reddish brown spikelets (rather flowers to see if one of the others might glossy and deeper coloured at first, but have been introduced as a garden plant, I paling with age). It comes true from seed stumbled across an illustration of Melica and does sow itself around some gardens, so altissima var. atropurpurea, which looked it is perhaps surprising that self sown plants remarkably similar to the plant that I had have not been reported before. In this case found. This species was not listed in the it is likely that the plant had been grown by Cambridgeshire flora, nor did it appear in Unwins, and this may be the source of the the BSBI atlas, so I asked the county record­ seed. It is not clear whether such coloured er, Alan Leslie ifhe could confirm it for me. variants are known in native populations as Re agreed with my diagnosis, and on visit­ well, but the Flora of Turkey (Davis et al., ing the site agreed that it appeared "wild". 1985) describes their populations as having It just goes to show that botanical walks at ivory spikelets (which is presumably what unlikely times of the year can repay the gardeners call 'Alba'). As well as being effort with some unusual finds. Aliens - Polypogon viridis 39

Polypogon viridis DA YID PEARMAN, Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA IAN BENNALLICK, Lower PolmorIa, St Wenn, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 5PE This is one of the fastest spreading alien plants rarities, and to tell the truth, I wasn't certain in Britain, no. 33 in a survey this year coordi­ what I was looking for. It was then masquer­ nated by Kevin Walker with Quentin Groom, ading as 'Agrostis semiverticillata' (Water and supplied to Defra. It is a perennial grass, Bent), but to me, then and now, very little like spreading, apparently, by stolons, but in reality an Agrostis and certainly not an aquatic plant. freely from seed. One of us (DAP) introduced I never found it until I went abroad and saw it with excitement into his new Cornish garden that it was a common ruderal plant from five years ago - bad mistake! France southwards. Andy Byfield first The 1962 Atlas (Perring & WaIters) has it as showed it to me in Britain after he saw it out a casual only on the British mainland, with ten of the train window at a railway station in dots, four before 1930. It was marked as Hampshire, and dashed out and back before established only in Guernsey, where McClin­ the train departed. I strongly suspect it is still tock (1975) notes that it was first recorded under-recorded, because until one sees it and there in 1906, by G.C. Druce, new to the works out what it is, it might look like a British flora. McClintock describes it as manky Agrostis. But the shape of the inflo­ common in some parts, probably on the rescence, especially when fresh, with the increase. By the New atlas (Preston et al., characteristic whorls of flowers, has an 2002), there were records from 94 hectads in unmistakeable jizz. Looking at the national Britain and one in Ireland, and currently, on map I strongly suspect it is not being recog­ the BSBI web site, there are a total of 292 nised by all recorders, though there is a hectad records (including four in Ireland). perfectly acceptable picture in Hubbard's In Cornwall, there were odd casual records Grasses. from dumps and docks up to 1980, but the Acknowledgements next year Keith Spurgin found it in Truro, and We would like to thank Alex Lockton and Adrian Grenfell by the ferry in Fowey. There Quentin Groom for the current British and were only another four records until 1990, and Irish distribution map from the BSBI website, then it took off, with a total of 20 tetrads and Colin French for producing both the recorded by the time of the last Cornish Flora current Cornish map from the ERICA (French, Murphy & Atkinson, 1999). By then database he maintains and the photograph it was very much concentrated in the China­ (see photo, Colour Section Plate 1). clay area around St Austell, but now it is ubiquitous along pavements and in disturbed References ground and bare areas in many towns and FRENCH, C.N., MURPHY, RJ. & ATKlNSON, villages, especially around ports such as Par, M.G.C. (1999). Flora of Cornwall. Wheal Fowey, Falmouth and Penzance, and must be Seton Press, Camborne. a weed in every nursery we have been to! MCCLINTOCK, D. (1975). The Wildjlowers of By the end of January 2009 the total tetrad Guernsey. Collins, London. count was 108! We both suspect it is spread­ PERRING, F.H. & WALTERS, S.M. (eds.). ing faster than the map shows, but it does not (1962). Atlas of the British Flora. Thomas seem to really compete with native vegeta­ Nelson & Sons, London. tion, though it can be a thug in the garden. PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A & DINES, T.D. (2002). New atlas of the British and DAP adds: lrishjlora. Oxford University Press, Oxford. When I was getting to grips with grasses, 30-odd years ago, this was one of the real 40 Aliens - Polypogon viridis

Polypogon viridis in Cornwall before (solid dots) and after (open circles) 1999

2 @BSBI 2009

o 1930-1969 19 1970-1986 "1987-1999 • 2000-

Hectad distribution map of Polypogon viridis in Britain and Ireland Aliens - Vicia palaestina Boiss. in v.c.37 / Ranunculusficaria (Lesser Celandine) with 5 sepals 41

Vicia palaestina Boiss. in v.c.37 ROGER MASKEW, Coppice House, Banalls Lane, Stoke Bliss, Tenbury Wells, WR15 8RZ In August 2008, Peter Gamer showed me a V. cassubica specimens in the herbarium and, Senecio sp. which he had found on some soil unsure of its exact identity, he had sent it to heaps at Bransford, near Worcester (v.c.37). Eric Clement. EC determined it as V. palaes­ After examining the plants, we agreed that it tina, which, in the Flora of Turkey keyed out was S. inaequidens, a second record for on legume width (6-9mm), and suggested it Worcestershire, the first being of a single plant was from a Lentil or Fenugreek packet. This on the Evesham bypass in 1996. On August represents the second British record of this 20th, I visited the site and found that there was species (see Clement & Foster, 1994), an a selection of other alien species present, annual from the east Mediterranean, Turkey, including Hyssopus officinalis, new for v.c.3 7, Syria, etc., which EC considers could be an and two small patches of a Vicia sp. which was overlooked species and is possibly the source unfamiliar to me. Its habit and general appear­ of other' V. cassubica' records (see photo, ance resembled that of V. cracca, although the Colour Section Plate 1). flowers were smaller, a much darker violet­ It will be interesting to see whether this and purple, but with a paler keel, and the legume other species manage to survive on the soil was short and broad. heaps, which cover an area of approximately After consulting the literature I came to the two hectares and appear to have been there for conclusion that it was V. cassubica (Danzig at least a few years, although as yet the source Vetch), and sent the specimen to David is unknown. Pearman. He confirmed the identification, but References asked to retain the specimen to compare with CLEMENT, EJ. & FOSTER, M.C. (1994). Alien those in E when he visited the herbarium some Plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London. time in the autumn. However, on his return DAVIS, P. (1970). Flora of Turkey and the from Edinburgh, DP informed me that my east Aegean islands. Vol. 3. Edinburgh plant did not in any way compare with the University Press, Edinburgh.

Ranunculus ficaria (Lesser Celandine) with 5 sepals MJ. SENIOR, 26 Hasilwoood Square, Coventry CV3 1 GH The other day I casually looked at a Lesser I have never before seen a R. ficaria plant with Celandine flower, and discovered to my other than three sepals per flower, and have surprise that it had five sepals, rather than the not heard of the possibility before. With such usual three. I then looked at all the other open a common plant it is of course impossible to flowers, and the about-to-open flower buds in examine every specimen, but one wonders just the clump and saw that they all had the same how widespread the phenomenon is, and if it anomalous number of sepals. A later search in has in fact been under-recorded through being, the same area, near the village of Brinklow, understandably, overlooked. All organisms Warwickshire, about six miles E of Coventry are, of course, variable, and the Ranuncu­ revealed a few other nearby clumps with the laceae family, being quite. 'primitive' perhaps same characteristic. All the other clumps in to a greater degree than average. All I can the vicinity and all the others I have since usefully add at this point is that all the anoma­ examined elsewhere, have proved to be lous clumps appear to be ssp.ficaria. I wonder completely normal as far as sepal number is if it also occurs in ssp. bulbilifer. concerned. I have enlisted the aid of several [This arrived (dated April 1st!) just as I was other keen botanists I know in my area, but as wondering how to fill a gap, hence it's appearance yet no other anomalies have come to light. in this section. G.Ed.] 42 Small Project Grant Reports - Assessment of Trifolium spp. across the UK

SMALL PROJECT GRANT REPORTS

Assessment of Trifolium spp. across the UK - the importance of outer islands SERENE HARGREA YES, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT Wild populations of plant species can be Initial findings for both T. pratense and subject to hybridisation and consequently T. dubium show that geographic distance is gene flow from introduced, taxonomically the largest determinant of genetic distance related plant material, such as widely grown between populations. Geographic distance is crop varieties. Gene flow from domesticated likely to be a clear obstacle to gene dispersal plants to their wild relatives can lead to a in these species, as pollinators will preferen­ 'homogenisation' of the gene pool, stifling tially travel short distances. However our local adaptation, a serious concern when the findings also indicate that distance may not aim is to conserve the genetic diversity of the be the sole cause of divergence between these species. Isolation of wild populations from populations. Island isolation in terms of introduced plants through increasing distance human transfer of individuals also appears to or other geographic barriers can provide be a significant factor in determining the some protection against this genetic contami­ uniqueness of island flora. Our results nation. indicate that island populations within the The UK comprises many remote groups of UK are crucial for conservation due to their islands, which may act as refuges for genetic divergence from their mainland counterparts, diversity. In conjunction with BSBI county highlighting the potential for islands to recorders, wild populations of Trifolium contain and maintain unique diversity. pratense (Red Clover) and wild populations of T. dubium (Lesser Trefoil) were collected Acknowledgements: I would like to thank all BSBI recorders who across mainland UK from Devon, Dorset, helped either through site suggestions or East Sussex, Cumbria and Inverness-shire, as through more in depth assistance. Special well as island populations from the Inner and mention goes to R. Parslow, W. Scott, Outer Hebrides, the Isles of Scilly and S. Bungard, R. Pankhurst and R. Smith for all Shetland Islands. We compared the genetic their help. I would also like to thank my diversity patterns observed in T. pratense, a supervisors Nigel Maxted and Brian Ford­ native, cultivated species, with T. dubium, a Lloyd, as well as the Institute for Grassland species with no known cultivation history in and Environmental Research (IGER) for the UK, using molecular marker assessments. assistance in the molecular analysis. Using these measures this project aims to provide: clarification of the role of islands as References: a key component of UK biodiversity strate­ ECKERT, C.G., SAMIS, K.E. & LOUGHEED, gies, information on current Trifolium distri­ S.C. (2008). 'Genetic variation across bution across the UK and information on species' geographical ranges: the central­ genetic diversity for developing conservation marginal hypothesis and beyond'. Molecu­ strategies and in situ conservation plans for larEcology, 17: 1170-1188. Trifolium. The BSBI aided this project by ELL STRAND, N.C., PRENTICE, H. & HAN­ funding the molecular marker assessments of COCK, IF. (1999). 'Gene flow and intro­ over half the populations assessed in this gression from domesticated plants into their study. Small Project Grant Reports - Assessment of Trifolium / Root endophytes and mycorrhizas of 43 carnivorous plants

wild relatives'. Annual Review of Ecology LEVIN, D.A. (1993). 'Local speciation in and Systematics, 30: 539-563. plants - the rule not the exception'. System­ HAYGOOD, R., IVES, A.R., ANDOW, D.A. atic Botany, 18: 197-208. (2003). 'Consequences of recurrent gene MAYR, E. (1954). 'Change of genetic envi­ flow from crops to wild relatives'. Pro­ ronment and evolution'. in: Evolution as a ceedings of the Royal Society London, B., process. (ed. J. Huxley, A.C. Hardy and 270: 1879-1886. E.B. Ford), pp. 157-180. AlIen & Unwin, HUNTER, M.L. & HUTCHINSON, A. (1994). London. 'The virtues and shortcomings of parochial­ SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIO­ ism - conserving species that are locally LOGICAL DIVERSITY. (2001). Handbook of rare, but globally common'. Conservation the Convention on Biological Diversity. Biology, 8: 1163-1165. Earthscan, London and Sterling, V A. LEVIN, D.A. (1970). 'Developmental insta­ bility and evolution in peripheral isolates'. American Naturalist, 104: 343-353.

Root endophytes and mycorrhizas of the carnivorous plants, Dros­ era rotundifolia (Round-leaved Sundew) & Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butterwort) DR RICHARD QUILLIAM, School of the Environment & Natural Resources, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW ([email protected])

The aim of this project was to determine the inside the roots (11 from the sundews and 6 mycorrhizal status of the native British from the butterworts). The DNA of these carnivorous plants Drosera rotundifolia and fungi have been sequenced, and results have Pinguicula vulgaris in the Snowdonia indicated that our native CPs host a diverse National Park. The roles and importance of group of fungal species, including the so­ carnivorous plant (CP) roots have received called dark septate endophytes. DNA analy­ very little attention in the botanical literature, sis of mycorrhizal colonisation has also and their mycorrhizal associations have never provided intriguing results: while mycor­ before been investigated. Samples of these rhizas were very rare in both plant species, two common native plants were collected in they were more frequent in the summer than early and late spring and summer, and the spring. This is in contrast with fungal modem molecular techniques, in combina­ endophyte colonisation, which was much tion with high-powered microscopy, were greater in the spring than in the summer. used to establish if mycorrhizal fungi were These exciting results not only provide vital present in their roots. Additionally roots information for future conservation strate­ were sterilised and incubated on growth gies, but are also crucial for the potential media to encourage the external growth of re-establishment of endangered native any other endophytic fungi living inside the species, e.g. Drosera anglica (the English root tissue of these plants. Perhaps surpris­ Sundew). ingly, 17 types of fungi were isolated from 44 Botany in Literature - A Slip under the Microscope by H.G. Wells

BOTANY IN LITERATURE - 50 A Slip under the Microscope by H.G. Wells - a question of class - lenticels and Sambuca - microscopes clarified MARGOT E. SOUCHIER, 26A Dryden Avenue, London, W71ES A slip under the microscope by H.G. Wells human being could discover. And all the (see Souchier in: BSBI News 104: 29-31 morning from ten till one the quill of (2007); 108: 35-38 (2008)), with its clever Wedderburn2 shrieked defiance at Hill's, double entendre of a title, is, like many of and the quills of the others chased their Wells's short stories, partially autobiographi­ leaders in a tireless pack, and so also it was cal' being derived, no doubt, from his time as in the afternoon. Wedderburn was a little a biology student which led to his gaining a quieter than usual, and Hill's face was hot first class degree in Zoology. The scene is the all day, and his overcoat bulged with "College of Science" in South Kensington, textbooks and notebooks against the last London [read The Natural History Museum], moment's revision. And the next day, in where a mixed class of students (unusual for the morning and in the afternoon, was the the time, except in America) are studying practical examination, when sections had to biology. Most of the story takes place in the be cut and slides identified. In the morning laboratory, the first half redolent of matters HilP was depressed because he knew he zoological, such as "freshly killed guinea had cut a thick section, and in the afternoon pigs", "a box of scalpels" sticking out of the came the mysterious slip. protagonist and anti-hero Hill's pocket, "the It was just the kind of thing that the alisphenoid of a rabbit's skull", "lists of botanical professor was always doing. Like crayfish appendages ... and vertebrate nerves", the income tax, it offered a premium to the the second, where the crux of the story lies, cheat. It was a preparation under the and where the extract below is taken from, microscope,? a little glass slip, held in its botanical. As a glimpse of an age where, place on the stage ofthe instrument by light possibly, stalwarts and students of science, steel clips, and the inscription set forth that with their volumes of William Morris, the slip was not to be moved. Each student Longfellow, Tennyson, Shakespeare, Pope, was to go in turn to it, sketch it, write in his Shelley, "Eliza Cook and Mrs Hemans", and book of answers what he considered it to Browning, were of a more literary mien than be, and return to his place. Now, to move of today, the story, with its elements of po ss i­ such a slip is a thing one can do by a chance ble romance, and the 'crime committed', has movement ofthe finger, and in a fraction of universal appeal, and, as concerns the continu­ a second. The professor's reason for ing debate of social background in respect of decreeing that the slip should not be moved education, is of topical pertinence, as much depended on the fact that the object he today as it was in Wells's time. wanted identified was characteristic of a At last came the day of the second certain tree stem. In the position in which it was placed it was a difficult thing to examination, and the professor of botany, 1 a fussy, conscientious man, rearranged all recognise, but once the slip was moved so the tables in a long narrow laboratory to as to bring other parts of the preparation prevent copying, and put his demonstrator into view, its nature was obvious enough. on a chair on a table (where he felt, he said, Hill came to this, flushed from a contest like a Hindu god), to see all the cheating, with staining reagents, sat down on the little and stuck a notice outside the door, 'Door stool before the microscope, turned the closed', for no earthly reason that any mirror to get the best light, and then, out of Botany in Literature - A Slip under the Microscope by H. G. Wells 45

sheer habit, shifted the slip. At once he Society, unlike Wedderburn who "because - remembered the prohibition, and, with an nauseous affectation! - he 'dined late"'. almost continuous motion of his hands, 4. Q. Jour. Mi. Sci.: Wells takes delight, moved it back, and sat paralysed with perhaps tongue-in-cheek, in employing the astonishment at his action. long-time custom of abbreviating scientific Then, slowly, he turned his head. The journal titles, still done today. professor was out of the room; the 5.lenticel: a small (microscopic to c. 1 cm in demonstrator sat aloft on his impromptu length), elliptical pore or loose cell in the rostrum, reading the Q. Jour. Mi. Sci.;4 the phelloderm (= secondary cortex or layer) of rest of the examinees were busy, and with the periderm of a woody or bark-bearing stem. their backs to him. Should he own up to It is often initially formed beneath stomata in the accident now? He knew quite clearly the epidermis, and, like these, permits gaseous what the thing was. It was a lenticel,5 a exchange, but in the periderm of plant axes. characteristic preparation from the elder­ The periderm, which consists of up to three tree.6 His eyes roved over his intent fellow layers (phellogen (= cork cambium), phello­ students and Wedderbum suddenly glanced derm, and phellem (cork)) is a protective over his shoulder at him with a queer tissue of corky (i.e. suberinised = containing expression in his eyes. suberin (ex Quercus suber, Cork Oak), which Notes renders the tissue resistant to decay and entry 1. professor of botany: This is Bindon, "a fat of water) cells which are often produced as a heavy man with a white face, who came up response to wounding. from Kew for January and February." As he The pattern of periderm formation largely comes into the laboratory to teach the "short dictates the appearance of the bark of a woody course on elementary botany that was now plant. The term 'bark' usually denotes all the beginning", he is described as "rubbing his tissues outside the vascular cambium (i.e. hands together and smiling, in silent affabili- phloem, cortex, and periderm), but can ty ... ". sometimes also include it; sometimes, too, the 2. Wedderburn: "a pleasant-featured, ruddy term is applied only to the periderm and outer young man of twenty, dressed in a well-fitting cortex. brown suit; young Wedderburn, the son of 6. elder-tree: Sambucus nigra L. (Elder Wedderburn the [great] eye specialist." He (Common Elder, Elder-berry)). Traditionally comes in "day after day with cuffs unfrayed, a member of the dicotyledonous Caprifo­ neatly tailored, precisely barbered, quietly liaceae (the Honeysuckle family), of subclass perfect." The biology list reads: "CLASS 1: Asteridae, order Dipsacales, subfamily Capri­ HJ. Somers Wedderburn, William Hill". folioideae, it is a foetid, pithy shrub-cum­ 3. Hill: "He was a sturdily built young fellow, small tree, widespread in the northern temper­ of the same age as Wedderburn; he had a white ate zone, the pith once being used for holding face, dark grey eyes, hair of an indeterminate specimens when sectioning botanical material. colour, and prominent, irregular features. He The fleshy berry-like fruits are still used to talked rather louder than was needful, and make preserves and wine. thrust his hands deeply into his pockets. His However, molecular classification aligns it collar was frayed and blue with the starch of a more closely with the Adoxaceae, largely careless laundress, his clothes were evidently because the genus lacks a nectary in the ready-made, and there was a patch on the side corolla, has a short style, fruits with 1-5 of his boot near the toe." The "son of a stones, small reticulate pollen grains, and Landport cobbler", he "knew neither French large chromosomes. Yet, despite this, it is so or Latin" but "had a considerable gift of far still included with the Caprifoliaceae (but speech" and attends the College Debating cf the A[ngiosperm] P[hylogeny] G[roup] 11 46 Botany in Literature -A Slip under the Microscope by H.G. Wells classification of Euasterids II (Campanulids), corpuscles. The latter is valueless if the Dipsacales). stains are a few hours old." (S.H. to Watson, A cross-section by Rudall of the bark of A Study in Scarlet)), dates from about 1590, S. nigra shows a broken epidermis with a and from then until 1930, the defmition of periderm, where the lenticels lie, forming 'microscope' was "an instrument in which beneath in the outer cortical layers. light was focused by curved glass surfaces The genus name Sambucus, authors of (or curved mirrors) to form enlarged images various nomenclatural titles postulate, is ofa specimen". The parts of the compound derived from the Latin sambuca, a type of light microscope normally comprise the tube harp, made from, it is suggested, elder wood. or the body, in which the lenses are mount­ But this Latin word comes from the Greek ed, the objective (lens) being at the base of O'u/lpUx;r\ (sambUche), indeed a kind of harp or the tube (there may be several objective trigonon played in ancient Greece, and which lenses of different magnification fitted to a resembled in shape the horns of an ox, hence revolving nosepiece) close to the specimen, the second syllable ofpu (bU, from poi3~, boils, and the ocular lens (eyepiece, projection an ox). Hence, this latter fact mitigates against lens, a basic type being the Huygenian the above. It is more likely that Sambucus is eyepiece) at the other end, close to the eye the Latin word for elder, and possibly a (sometimes there is a third lens, the corruption of the Greek word O'U/l1WUKO~ condenser (lens), which is situated beyond (sampoitkos), which, in Modem Greek at least, the objective), the stand, and the specimen means elder [-tree]. The specific epithet nigra stage. The distance from the top of the is the Latin word for black and simply pertains objective lens housing to the top of the to the perceived colour of the fruits. ocular lens housing is termed the mechanical 7. microscope: an optical instrument with one tube length (c! optical tube length = the or more lenses used to enlarge objects too distance from the rear focal plane of the small to be seen with the naked eye, and thus objective to the intermediate image). common laboratory equipment. The specimen stage, which is for the support of the specimen or slip (as in the There are now two main categories of micro­ story), can also, as a special-purpose stage, scope, the light (or optical) microscope, and include provisions for mounting specimens the electron microscope. Of the light micro­ at a chosen angle, for temperature control, scope, there are three types: (1) simple micro­ scopes, (2) compound microscopes, and (3) and for rotation of the specimen. The image is focused either by moving stereoscopic binocular microscopes. the body tube or the specimen stage, the light Light (or optical) microscopes source being either built-in or having a (1) Simple microscopes, in the form of mirror which reflects light from a lamp. magnifying glasses, and consisting of a Glare can be reduced by use of the iris single lens, were used in ancient Rome, if diaphragm which limits the part of the spec­ not earlier. They are little used today scien­ imen that is illuminated. tifically (but cf the hand lens) as they have The basic compound microscope forms a to be placed close to the eye, have a limited brightfield or positive contrast image in field of vision, and illuminating and mount­ which the details appear dark against a ing of specimens is very tricky. bright background (c! darkfield). The (2) The compound microscope, which is modem compound microscope is used what Wells, in his biological studies, would extensively for observing the fine detail of have been familiar with (and what Conan specimens and their sections, which are Doyle's Sherlock Holmes would have used often stained to increase contrast. The maxi­ ("Beautiful! beautiful! The old guaiacum mum resolution (= the capacity to observe test was very clumsy and uncertain. So is fine detail clearly) is c. 0.35 /lID (300 nm) the microscopic examination for blood Botany in Literature A Slip under the Microscope by H.G. Wells 47

(i.e. it can distinguish points only 0.35 f.Ull scope which is most widely used, (d) the apart; cf 80.5 pm for the average human phase-contrast microscope, (e) the modula­ eye). High quality light microscopes have tion-contrast microscope (MCM), and (f) the resolving powers of c. 0.25 f.Ull (200 nm). mirror-lens (or x-ray) microscope. Note: resolving power is a property of the Electron microscopes instrument and depends largely on instru­ The electron microscope has its geneSIS m ment design. It is not unlimited. Resolution 1926, when the first electron lenses were is the level of detail viewed of a specimen described, although it was not until 1932 that and not only requires adequate instrumental a prototype electron microscope was resolving power, but depends on suitable constructed, the first commercial instrument contrast properties of both the microscope becoming available in 1939. In 1970 the and specimen. Resolving power and resolu­ resolving power of an electron microscope tion are specified in terms of d = the min was 0.6 nm; by 1990 it was 0.1-0.2 nm, thus minimum resolvable distance. 'High resolu­ making it far greater than that of a light micro­ tion' = small values of dmin. Further aspects scope (cf the wavelength of an electron beam of the light microscope are concerned with being 0.005 nm with c. 600 nm for yellow light. magnification and calibration, and, for any The principle employed in the development lens, include lateral magnification (i.e. the of the electron microscope is the use of ratio of image dimensions to object dimen­ electromagnetic lenses to form a parallel beam sions), and, also depth of field (i. e. the axial of electrons by differential electron scattering. distance, or depth, in the specimen that In theory objects only 0.0025 nm apart may be appears in focus in the image), and depth of distinguishable (cf 200 nm for a light micro­ focus (i.e. the axial distance above and scope), but in practice lens aberrations below the geometric image plane, within (electromagnetic fields), deterioration of the which the image appears at an acceptable specimen during observation, and other leveloffocus). technical difficulties, reduce resolution to (3) The stereoscopic binocular microsco~e c. 1 nm (but this is still 300 times better than (stereomicroscope) is used for work reqUIr­ using light). ing lower magnification (up to 200x), such With the realisation of the electron micro­ as dissection, observation of intact small scope also came a redefinition of the micro­ organisms, or for viewing the detail of scope itself; that is as "an instrument that comparatively large specimens and similar directly provides maps of specimen detail at applications. Conventionally it has two resolutions superior to those obtainable by ocular lenses which give a three dimensional direct observation". In order to function, the image of the specimen, which is usually electron beam, which is emitted by an electron placed on a contrasting background. The gun, requires a high vacuum in the microscope working distance (i.e. from the top of the column. This is achieved by differential specimen to the first surface of the objective) pumping (either by mechanical, diffusion, or is important. Illumination is by halogen­ ion pumps). The electrons emitted by the gun lamps or cold-light sources. Zoom optics, focus to form a bright spot of light, and may attachments for drawing, simultaneous be released from unheated metal surfaces viewing by two observers, photomicrogra­ (field emission- or from those which are phy, TV display, and other features are often heated (thermionic ) emission). The condenser available. lens or lenses (= double-condenser lens) Other types of light microscopes innovatively refocus the gun spot at reduced magnification, include: (a) the inverted microscope, (b) the forming an intensely illuminated area of differential-interference-contrast microscope limited dimensions. On the standard stage of (DIC), (c) the interferometer microscope e.g. an electron microscope, specimen tempera­ the Jamin-Lebedoff interferometric micro- tures may reach 100DC under electron 48 Botany in Literature -A Slip under the Microscope by H.G. Wells bombardment. However, there are cold microscope exploits the concept that stages which are cooled by liquid nitrogen specimens are considered as a collection of (boiling point 77°K) or by liquid helium (b.p. point sources of radiation. The probe scans 4.6°K). There are also tilting stages which the specimen in a raster pattern by a commonly tilt ±1 0°, but some may tilt as magnetic deflection device. Each specimen much as ±60°, and which illumine specimens emits an output signal (= the 'picture used in darkfield imaging and for recording element' or pixel) of electrons and/or stereo pairs, and hot stages which are used in photons as it is irradiated, resolving power metallurgy. Hence the need for superconduct­ being limited by the size of the focused ing lenses, especially in biological microsco­ probe. The advantage of this operation is py, but even so, cool-down times of some related primarily to image contrast hours are required. There are two principal (topographic contrast). It is useful in the types of electron microscope: (1) the biology industry. Resolution is c. 10 nm, (conventional) transmission electron micro­ thus bridging the gap between the TEM and scope (TEM or CTEM), and (2) the scanning the light microscope. electron microscope (SEM). A third, which In the STEM (scanning transmission has both facilities i.e. scanning to transmission microscope), developed in 1963, the output operations, is the scanning transmission signal is transmitted by a transparent electron microscope (STEM). specimen, and not only is the specimen (1) The (conventional) transmission elec­ scanned, but this output data is collected for tron microscope (TEM or CTEM). observation or processing via a computer. During the first three decades of its Electron microscope innovations include (a) development it was the instrument of choice, the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM), and it continues to be the prime light which stems from the above STEM, (b) the magnification/high resolution instrument atomic-force microscope (AFM), (c) the despite the development of the SEM and tandem scanning microscope (TSM), (d) the STEM. It functions by focusing or photoelectron microscope, ( e) the acoustic redirecting radiation by lenses of whatever microscope, (t) the field-ion microscope and type to illuminate and form images of the (g) the ion, proton, and neutron microscopes. specimen. High-voltage (transmission) electron Summary of abbreviations of microscopes microscopes (HVEC), as well as high­ (and microscopy) (microscopy being the voltage scanning electron microscopes, direct imaging of individual structures of operate at c. 400 KV, with a current limit of dimensions no smaller than 1.5-2.0 nm in 5 mY, the cost and dimensions escalating which detail can be observed by inspection): with the voltage level. They tend to be AFM atomic-force microscope experimental instruments for specific BFEM brightfield electron microscopy applications. CTEM conventional transmission electron (2) The scanning electron microscope microscope/microscopy (SEM). DFEM darkfield electron microscopy The SEM dates from 1935, but was not DI C differential-interference-contrast commercially available until 1965. In a microscope scanning electron microscope, radiation EM electron microscope/microscopy from the source is focused via lenses to form HVEM high-voltage electron microscope a very fine probe, which is moved regularly MCM modulation-contrast microscope across the specimen. Different types of SEM scanning electron microscope/ electrons (secondary, back-scattered, low­ microscopy loss, Auger) may be emitted depending on STEFEM scanning transmission energy- the mode of operation. The scanning filtering electron microscopy Botany in Literature - A Slip under the Microscope by H. G. Wells 49

STEM scanning transmission electron HYAM, R. & PANKHURST, R. (1995). Plants microscope/microscopy and their Names: a Concise Dictionary. STM scanning tunnelling microscope Oxford University Press, Oxford. TEM transmission electron microscope JOHNSON, A.T. & SMITH, H.A. (1931). Plant TSM tandem scanning microscope Names Simplified: their Pronunciation, (In microscopy there is also darkfield micros­ Derivation, and Meaning (2nd rev. ed; 1986. copy, cryo-electron microscopy, cryo micros­ repr.). Landsmans Bookshop Ltd, Brom­ copy, fluorescence microscopy, Fourier yard. MABBERLEY, D.l (1987). microscopy, near-field microscopy, nuclear­ The Plant-book: a magnetic-resonance microscopy, phase micro­ Portable Dictionary of the Higher Plants scopy, polarizing microscopy, reflection-in­ (1989 repr.). Cambridge University Press, terference microscopy, scanning microscopy, Cambridge. RUDALL, P. (1992). and total-internal-reflection microscopy). Anatomy of Flowering Plants: an Introduction to Structure and References Development (2nd ed.). Cambridge Univer­ BLACKMORE, S. & TOOTILL, E. (eds.). (1984). sity Press, Cambridge. The Penguin Dictionary of Botany. (1988 SIMPSON, D.P. (1968). Cassell's Latin-Eng­ repr.) Penguin Books, London. lish English-Latin Dictionary (5th ed; 2000 CONAN DOYLE, A. (2001). A Study in Scarlet. repr.). Continuum, London. Penguin Books, London. SLAYTER, E.M., & SLAYTER, H.S. (1992). COOMBES, A.l (1992). The Hamlyn Guide to Light and Electron Microscopy. Cambridge Plant Names. Hamlyn, London. University Press, Cambridge. DONY, J.G., JURY, S.L., & PERRING, F.H. STAVROPOULOS, D.N. (1988). Oxford Greek- (1986). English Names of Wild Flowers. English Learner's Dictionary. Oxford (2nd ed.). Botanical Society of the British University Press, Oxford. Isles, London. STEARN, W.T. (1992). Steam's Dictionary of GUHL, E. & KONER, W. (1994). The Greeks: Plant Names for Gardeners. Cas sell, their Life and Customs. Senate, London. London. HEYWOOD, V.H., BRUMMITT, R.K., CULHAM, USHER, G. (1996). The Wordworth Diction­ A. & SEBERG, O. (2007). Flowering Plant ary of Botany. Wordsworth Editions Ltd., Families of the World. Royal Botanic Ware, Hertfordshire. Gardens, Kew. WELLS, H.G. (1998). The Complete Short Stories ofH G. Wells. D.M. Dent, London.

Corrections to Botany in Literature - 49

My apologies once more to Margot for more 2. on p. 40, note 1 - CF. should be lower case. errors that again 'slipped through my net'. 3. on p. 41, note 1 (contd) - Oder should be 1. on p. 40 the extract should have been indented Order, apud and et al. should be italicised. on both right and left-hand margins from 'The 4. on p. 41, note 2 - Wuasterids should be other day ... to ... far-away places.' Euasterids. 50 Requests & offers - Autumn Crocus sites / Spare publications on offer / Watsonia back issues wanted / Perthshire B&B for BSBI members / Accommodation offer, The Burren

REQUESTS & OFFERS Autumn Crocus sites DIANA DOWNING, 33, Westhoughton Road, Adlington, Chorley, Lancs. , PR7 4EU Crocus nudiflorus grows in Adlington, Lanca­ Marshall, BSBI News, 58: 33). Infonnation shire, and Prestwich, Manchester, on sites not about dates and reasons for introductions obviously "Legacy of the Crusaders" (Allan elsewhere would be of interest.

Spare publications on offer PATRICIA LOCKWOOD, 13 Stanley Road, Form by, Liverpool, L37 7AN; (patricia.annO [email protected]) Could a good home be found, please, for these Watsonia 24(3-4) (2003); 25(1-4), (2004- spare publications, (postage only required): 2005); 26(1-4) , (2006-2007). Welsh Bulletin, 68 (Winter 2000) and 70 - 80 BSBI News, 87 (2001); 91 (2002) and all inclusive (2000 - 2007). consecutive copies until 106 (2007).

Watsonia back issues wanted STUART CAMPBELL, 4 The Laurels, Moreton, Wirral, Cheshire, CH46 3SU (Tel.: 0151 677 7047 - evenings and weekends). ([email protected])

I have recently joined the society and Gwynn of issues ofWatsonia (viz. Vol. 23, part 1 and Ellis has kindly supplied a number of 'back Vol. 24, part 2) are 'sold out'. Has any issues' (of both Watsonia and BSBI News), as I member a spare copy of either ofthese, please? prefer 'hard copies'. Unfortunately a couple

Perthshire B&B for BSBI members MRS JOAN BROOKES, The Smith, Tombane, Trochry, Dunkeld, Perthshire, PH8 OBT (j [email protected]) My late husband, Brian Brookes, was a half a mile from myoId one. I would offer member of BSBI for many years, and we ran either B&B or Dinner + B&B, the use of a courses from our home in Perthshire. I intend microscope, reference books and a place to offering B&B at my new home, which is only work.

Accommodation offer, The Burren MARK HELMORE, Mount Vernon, Flaggy Shore, New Quay, Co. Clare, Ireland. (Tel: 00353 657078126; Fax: 00353 657078118; [email protected]; www.hiddenireland.comlmountvemon)

Lovely and very comfortable accommodation ising April - September. Substantial reduc­ available in historic seaside villa in The tions for BSBI members. Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland. Wonderful botan- Requests & offers - Open letter to BSBI News: an empirical, deterministic method of modelling rates 51 of change in populations recorded in biological recording schemes

Open letter to BSBI News: an empirical, deterministic method of modelling rates of change in populations recorded in biological re­ cording schemes JOHN R. CHARTER M.A. (retired), 16 Spring Wood Close, Dunston, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 8BS (formerly Visiting Research Worker, Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield) Compilation of the New atlas of the flora of quantifYing such population change based the British Isles (Preston et al., 2002) has on testing a deterministic model, derived led to much analysis of the results by a team from the long well-known Verhulst - Pearl appointed by the BSBI specifically funded (1839, 1920) equation, on the records of for the purpose, culminating in the computa­ individual invasive alien plants/species over tion of their, the BSBI's, 'relative change their whole life history in the British Isles, index' for each species (Telfer et al., 2002). regionally in parts of Britain, or in the This 'relative change index' is described as island of Ireland. Such a model would take based on a comparison of the proportionate account of the limits of British Isles datasets change for each species in their recorded in terms of numbers of IQ-km squares, and frequency by number of 10-km squares of might be expected to have some predictive the UK National Grid between the begin­ use. ning and end of two recording periods, these Historically, there is a background in proportionate individual changes being which the total numbers of 10-km squares combined to somehow be expressed as a recorded and mapped for each species was 'relative' figure in relation to a inexplicably unpublished in the 1962 Atlas, 'relative index' for all the species. and up to 47 years later in the latest official Comment by Hodgson (2003) in BSBI publications on individual species, such as, News, and Presland (2006) on Braithwaite et Defra's 'The Invasive Non-Native Species al. (2006*) has attracted BSBI responses Framework Strategy for Great Britain, from Preston et al. (2003 ) and Braithwaite 2008' and 'Centre for Ecology & Hydrol­ (2007) (sources marked * are not in local ogy Science Review 2001' there are no libraries). species' formulations of their rates of As no examples are given of details of population change. how the computations were done in a few I am thinking of computing the rates of illustrative species, it is not clear how, if at spread of some of the Environment all, this work might be replicated by the Agency's 'headline' species, such as individual enquirer without similar Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, resources in manpower, computer process­ etc., (or as may be, the rates of decline of ing, access to a bulk of data, and study declining species) in a discrete geographical time with the literature. There are previous area, comparatively not over-diverse attempts by British authors at such formula­ environmentally, such as the island of tions dealing with invasive plants in Britain, Ireland. all based on Lacey (1957), by Greig-Smith As is known, analyses of such modelling (1957), and as quoted in Harper appear tmder multiple authorships for obvious (1977), Trewick & Wade (1986), Trewick reasons, and, as I am long-retired, I wish to & Wade (1986) in Beerling (1992) and in invite involvement of interested active co-au­ Charter (2002). thors. I wish to lmow what interest there might be in an alternative approach to methods of 52 Requests & offers - Survey of British and Irish Plant-lore Notices - Exhibition of botanical illustrations

Survey of British and Irish Plant-lore Roy VICKERY, Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD. ([email protected])

The Survey of British & Irish Plant-lore has • traditional times for sowing and harvest­ grown from the Folklore Society's 'Survey of ing crops, and practices associated with Unlucky Flowers', which was conducted in the cultivation of plants. the early 1980s. It now holds over 11,000 • plants used for foretelling the future. items of information from approximately • children's games and pastimes which use 1,050 contributors, and a large number of plants. press-cuttings, off-prints, photographs, and • wild plants gathered for food. other material. • other traditional uses of plants. The Survey covers all aspects of the Information on the plant-lore of the various folklore and traditional uses of plants, and ethnic groups settled in the British Isles, and although previously published sources are of comparative material from overseas - partic­ interest, the emphasis is on contemporary ularly from the English-speaking world and (i.e. current and remembered) beliefs and Europe - is included in the Survey, and practices. would be greatly appreciated. Any informa­ Therefore information is sought concerning: tion, no matter how widespread and well­ • traditional beliefs concerning plants (for known it might be, will be gratefully received. example, the belief that certain flowers A copy of all the material received will are 'unlucky' if they are taken indoors). eventually be placed in the care ofthe Botany • local names of plants. Library of The Natural History Museum. • plants and plant materials used in tradi­ tional customs or religious festivals. Please send information and other corre­ • herbal remedies. spondence to: Roy Vickery at the address • sayings, riddles, tales and legends above. concerning plants. NOTICES

Exhibition of botanical illustrations: Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, near Romsey, Hants., 20th-30th April 2009 P.L. MITCHELL, Institutefor Analytical Plant Illustration, 22 Redcar Road, Sheffield, S10 lEX The original plates used in a forthcoming present and drawing so this will be an flora (Collins Flower Guide by David opportunity to see how botanical illustra­ Streeter) will be on show at the Hillier tors go about their work. Lizzie Harper Gardens, two miles north-east of belongs to the Institute for Analytical Romsey, from Monday 20th to Thursday Plant Illustration which is an institutional 30th April 2009. The plates are for sale member of BSBI. The full location along with other work by the illustrators details are: Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, who are Audrey Hardcastle, Lizzie Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, near Romsey, Harper, Christina Hart-Davies and Felic­ Hampshire, S051 OQA; website: ity Cole. For some of the exhibition, one www.hilliergardens.org; telephone or more of the illustrators hope to be (Visitor Services) 01794 369317. Notices - Annual Exhibition Meeting, London, Change of Date / St. Aubyn herbarium online 53

Annual Exhibition Meeting, London, Change of Date to 21§! No­ vember 2009: 'Floras of Small Areas' Roy VICKERY, Chairman BSBI Meetings Committee, 9 Terrapin Court, Terrapin Road, London, SW17 8QW; [email protected] We regret that Baden Powell House, which If you are engaged in producing a flora of a has hosted our London Exhibition Meetings small area, we would welcome an exhibit for many years, is not available on the last relating to it. We also hope that you will be Saturday in November this year. We have available to talk about your work and answer investigated alternative venues, but they are any questions. Needless to say, we shall also much more expensive. Therefore we will welcome other exhibits relevant to the meet at Baden Powell House, but have Society's interests, and entries to our annual changed the date of the meeting to Saturday photo competition. 21-~! November. We apologise for any incon­ The Meetings Committee welcomes venience this might cause. members' views on what they want from our As an experiment, our 2009 Exhibition Exhibition Meetings and other events. If you Meeting will have a theme: 'floras of small have any ideas please contact me, and fill in areas'. Are you involved in producing a flora the questionnaire from John Bailey enclosed of your parish, a local churchyard, park or with this mailing. community wood? Do you involve the local people? What are your plans for publication?

St. Aubyn herbarium online Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery will be treating fever, and describes its administration. launching the st. Aubyn herbarium online, with If you would like to discover more about this images, on the 20th March 2009. The collection 18th century collection, please visit this online was previously owned by Sir John St. Aubyn herbarium: www.plymouth.gov.uklmuseum (1758-1839) who had interests in both mineral­ staubyncollection ogy and botany. His botanical pursuits were Plymouth Museum is still on the look-out for first recognised in 1795, when he was elected a anyone who may have some information about Fellow of the Linnean Society. this herbarium. If you think you may have a St. With funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Aubyn specimen or you have any information Foundation and Renaissance South West, the about the history of this fascinating collection, Museum has finally been able to scan all the please contact Plymouth City Museum and Art specimens, allowing them to reveal its 200 Gallery on 01752 304774 or email us at: year old secrets to the public. It contains not [email protected] only plants that have been collected locally, but also specimens which have been collected [We make no apology for using a rather fine from early plant nurseries and important picture of an 18th century herbarium specimen gardens (see photo, front cover). Adjacent to from this collection on our front cover. It has retained an amazing amount of colour, consid­ many of the specimens are notes about the ering its age, and it just goes to show that flowering and fruiting times, as well as the herbarium specimens need not look like so uses of the plant. On a sheet containing Salix much straw, if well pressed, dried, and alba, Sir John discusses its effectiveness in curated. Eds] 54 Field meeting reports: 2008 - Thurso (v.c.109)

FIELD MEETING REPORTS: 2008 Reports of field meetings are collated by Dr Valley, High Wycombe, Bucks., HP144PA (tel.: Alan ShowIer, and copy for these should be sent 01494562082). Copy for day meetings should to him direct, not to the editors of BSBI News. generally be up to 500 words, and for weekend His address is: 12 Wedgwood Drive, Hughenden meetings, up to 1000 words. Thurso, Caithness (v.c.109) 18th - 2tst July KEN BUTLER The coolness and showers did not faze the 14 and surrounding cliffs, being rewarded with members and 2 non-members who attended 192 species, including Poa compressa the whole or part of the Thurso meeting. On (Flattened Meadow-grass) (a new v.c. record), Friday one party surveyed the rich lightly­ Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress Spurge) (a grazed machair at Greenland Links near new v.c. record), and the most northerly Dunnet and also undertook the Gentianella Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Crane's-bill). campestris (Field Gentian) survey there - A second party went north of the harbour and recording 837 plants in 17 colonies - and 128 looked at cliffs, fields and roadside. 158 species including Glyceria maxima (Reed species were found including Circaea Sweet-grass) as a new v.c. record. A second xintermedia (new v .. c. record), Rosa xdumalis party searched the west side of Dunnet Head, (new v.c. record) and Hypericum androsae­ which is very exposed peatland and maritime mum (Tutsan). The third party set off down heath. They recorded 83 species, including a the wooded and steep-sided Lybster Gorge, post-2000 record of the known Salix repens x wading through the bum and dodging rock to herbacea (Salix xcernua) and a new site for rock until eventually stopped by a vertical Arctostaphylos alpinus (Alpine Bearberry). A waterfall. 169 species were recorded includ­ third party worked on the east side of Dunnet ing Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose), Salix Head. This area had recently been taken over phylicifolia (Tea-leaved Willow) and Junipe­ by RSPB as a nature reserve and the warden rus communis (Juniper). They did not re-find came along, and was rewarded with a good list Juncus alpinoarticulatus (Alpine Rush) nor of the plant species on his patch. One intended Elymus caninus (Bearded Couch) ssp. task was to record exact locations and donianus, previously recorded there. numbers of Arctostaphylos alpinus in an area On Sunday, at the Munsary peatland reserve, where it was known to occur, but not one plant owned by Plantlife, nobody volunteered for an could be found! Several showed up a month 'easy' day, so one party took a long elliptical later when the new season shoots became walk out to the site of Saxifraga hirculus prominent - so maybe it gets missed a lot in (Marsh Saxifrage), taking in a bum valley on July. This side of Dunnet Head is more varied the way there and a blanket bog on the return. in terrain and 175 species were recorded They recorded 108 species, including Carex including Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort), limosa (Bog Sedge), Carex pauciflora (Few­ the most northerly Osmunda regalis (Royal flowered Sedge), Carex curta (White Sedge), Fern) and the most northerly Meum athaman­ and a new site for the elusive Vaccinium ticum (Spignel), plus large numbers of Listera microcarpum (Small Cranberry). A second ovata (Twayblade) and a surprisingly large party set off along another bum and into a collection of farmyard weeds at the spot where large basin peatland with dubh lochs and the Highland cattle are kept for tourists to pools, returning over blanket bog. They found photograph. 96 species, including Carex curta, Carex There were three parties on Saturday in the xfulva, Drosera xobovata and Eleocharis Lybster area. One party surveyed the harbour multicaulis (Many-stemmed Spike-rush). Field meeting reports: 2008 - Thurso (v.c.l09) I Llyn Eigiau (v.c.49) 55

There was one party on Monday, visiting the Gymnadenia borealis (Heath Fragrant-or­ Knockinnon and Achavrole area just north of chid). Pyrola media failed to show itself, Dunbeath. This is an area of thin peat cover­ despite much searching, which was important, ing mineral-rich rock with springs and flushes. because it had been selected as one ofthe sites There were unlocalised records of Pyrola for the Threatened Plants Project. Fortunately media (Intermediate Wintergreen) and our activities set the locals talking, and a week Primula scotica (Scottish Primrose) to be later I was shown a site by Neil Batchelor, found. 151 species were recorded, including outside our search area, with a few leaves of Primula scotica, Gentianella campestris, Pyrola media. Utricularia minor (Lesser Bladderwort) and Llyn Eigiau, Dolgarrog, Caernarvonshire (v.c.49) 2nd August WENDY MCCARTHY The weather forecast for the day of this tiny remote Cwm Eigiau cottage, at one time a meeting was poor, as it had been for much of shepherd's summer dwelling, and now a the summer, so we were pleased to find mountain club hut. ourselves in sunshine at the start. Ten of us set After lunch, we continued to a former offfor the longish walk to the lake, passing on quarry, where we found Cryptogramma crispa the way the huge gap in the wall left by the (Parsley Fern) on the ruined walls and spoil deluge of water when the dam gave way in heaps, and Lycopodium clavatum (Stag's-horn 1925, resulting in the drowning of 25 people Club-moss), and in the marshy grassland there in the village below. Today the water level of was Eriophorum vaginatum (Hare's-tail the lake was unusually high, due to almost Cotton-grass), Drosera rotundifolia (Round­ non-stop rain for three months, and we were leaved Sundew), Agrostis canina (Velvet disappointed not to find Subularia aquatica Bent), Carex pulicaris (Flea Sedge) and (Awlwort), despite a thorough search. Selaginella selaginoides (Lesser Club-moss). Potamogeton natans (Broad-leaved Pond­ We had now reached the foot of the steep cliffs weed) was abundant in the lake, and Littorella of Craig yr Y sfa, but as we began the long uniflora (Shoreweed) had survived the inunda­ ascent up the scree path, several of the party tion. There was also an abundance of Wahlen­ decided to remain at the bottom, as it had bergia hederacea (Ivy-leaved Bellflower) in become slippery after the brief shower at full flower, and as a bonus there was an Adder lunchtime, and also the midges had decided to curled up at the path side, which remained just make an appearance. Two of the more agile long enough for all of the party to admire it. participants set off for the cliffs, while the rest Leaving the lake, we followed the path uphill of us botanised along the stream, fmding into the valley of Cwm Eigiau, noting on the Eleocharis palustris (Common Spike-rush), way the stream banks which held several ferns, Festuca vivipara (Viviparous Fescue) and including Oreopteris limbosperma (Lemon­ Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum scented Fern) and Phegopteris connectilis (Crowberry). It was just possible to positively (Beech Fern). In the flushed grassland at the identify the mountain form of Juniperus path sides we saw Pinguicula vulgaris communis ssp. nana (Juniper) on a distant cliff (Butterwort), Anagallis tenella (Bog Pimper­ ledge, with binoculars. On their return, we nel) and sedges, including Carex dioica were able to add Arabis hirsuta (Hoary Cress), (Dioecious Sedge) and C. hostiana (Tawny Crepis paludosa (Marsh Hawk's-beard), Sedge), and C.xfulva, the hybrid between the Cystopteris fragilis (Brittle Bladder-fern), latter and C. viridula ssp. oedocarpa (Common Oxyria digyna (Mountain Sorrel), Saxifraga Yellow-sedge). The typical eyebright here, hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage), Sedum rosea Euphrasia scottica, was of interest and was (Roseroot), Thalictrum minus (Lesser new to several people. Lunch was taken by the Meadow-rue) and Trollius europaeus (Globe- 56 Field meeting reports: 2008 - Llyn Eigiau (v.c.49) I Glenshee (v.c.89) flower) to the species list. Returning along the wort) , which kept the photographers happy. Afon Eigiau, we found Veronica scutellata Thanks to Alex Turner and Peter Owen for (Marsh Speedwell), Pedicularis sylvatica venturing up the cliffs and returning with the (Lousewort) and some very impressive speci­ additional species list. mens of Pedicularis palustris (Marsh Louse-

Glenshee (v.c.89) 9th -12th August MARTIN ROBINS ON & JACKIE MUSCOTT Saturday 9th August in the opposite direction to the one that we had Our party of twelve had convened on the taken in the morning. We climbed a steep hill Friday night at the Log Cabin Hotel, up to the back of the other quarry, finding, to Kirkmichael, which was to be our comfortable our surprise, a large stand of Phalaris arundi­ base for the meeting. With the addition of nacea (Reed Canary-grass) up there. The Russell Leavett, we set out on Saturday quarry was lacking in any interest but the morning to brave the elements. On account of moorland to the south contained a few flushes the all-pervading rain we settled for some with Carex dioica (Dioecious Sedge), lower ground nearer to base and tackled the Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Saxifrage), two tetrads NOISE & J. These encompass the Triglochin palustre (Marsh Arrowgrass), small hills of Wester Bleaton, with their two among others. Most remarkable though was disused quarries, one of which is limestone, the density of Listera cordata (Lesser Twayb­ and the damp strath of Soilzarie, where it joins lade) in the heather, which was about as high the Black Water, which becomes the Shee as any of us had ever seen on moorland. Water further upstream. The southern part of Jackie's group botanised tetrad NOI5J and the area is moorland, rising up to 425 metres. started off in the rain towards some grazed, We split into groups, led by Martin and Jackie rocky hummocks, where they were rewarded respectively, doing one tetrad each. Martin's with Viola lutea (Mountain Pansy), Trientalis group headed straight for the eastern quarry, europaea (Chickweed Wintergreen) and seeing Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian), Phegopteris connectilis (Beech Fern). The Pimpinella saxifraga (Bumet-saxifrage), a few flushes there, however, presented some diffi­ leaves of Trollius europaeus (Globe-flower) culties particularly with sedges, as most of the and some fruiting spikes of Coeloglossum flowers had been eaten. After a damp lunch viride (Frog Orchid) and Gymnadenia conop­ squashed in the car they decided to head for a sea s.l. (Fragrant Orchid) in the increasingly stretch of the Shee Water, beside the A93, calcareous grassland on the way. The walls of where they picked up some riverside and the quarry were sheer and quite featureless, but roadside plants, including a good patch of the floor was covered by a shallow pool of Puccinellia distans (Reflexed Saltmarsh­ clear water full of Chara vulgaris var. longi­ grass) growing with Spergularia marina bracteata, a distinctly localised plant in this (Lesser Sea-spurrey) on the verge. Afterwards part of the country. Some Arabis hirsuta they returned to a substantial marsh by the road (Hairy Rock-cress) grew in the rocky jumble at over to Kirkmichael. The rain had stopped and the base ofthe quarry walls, and the woodland a few butterflies put in an appearance, but as around the access track supported a good their clothing dried out their feet got steadily colony of Listera ovata (Common Twayb­ wetter. There were plenty of fruits on the lade). John Edgington demonstrated Dryop­ sedges here, and there was Isolepis setacea teris cambrensis, which we were later able to (Bristle Club-rush), Helictotrichon pubescens compare with D. borreri. After lunch in a (Downy Oat-grass), and Ranunculus heder­ rather uncomfortable farm building we set out aceus (Ivy-leaved Crowfoot) in mud. Field meeting reports: 2008 - Glenshee (v.c.89) 57

Sunday, 10th August Juncus triglumis (Three-flowered Rush) and This was a far better day, still cool but clearer Sagina nodosa (Knotted Pearlwort). There with showers. We set off for the higher were patches of Salix herbacea (Dwarf ground at the head of the glen, once again Willow), S. repens (Creeping Willow) and splitting into two groups, this time finding one that looked like S. myrsinites (Whortle­ ourselves sexually segregated more by leaved Willow), with very glossy undersides accident than design. Martin's group started to its leaves, but which may have been a from the ski car-park and followed the vice­ hybrid between that and S. herbacea. A bit county boundary up Meall Odhar. The main was taken by Les Tucker to grow on and objective was to re-find Carex rariflora identify once it has catkins. Some Salix (Mountain Bog-sedge). It had clearly not phylicifolia (Tea-leaved Willow) was found been a good year for it at the site we visited, too, as was S. xtetrapla, its hybrid with as the few fruiting spikes we found were S. myrsinifolia (Dark-leaved Willow), though barely recognisable; or else we were too late. the latter species was not present. We However, there were several small colonies descended via the Allt Coire a'Bhathaich, of Veronica alpina (Alpine Speedwell) in finding lots of Equisetum pratense (Shady grassy flushes in the same general area, and Horsetail) and one small, low bush of Salix also Carex capillaris (Hair Sedge), Sibbaldia lapponum (Downy Willow). lackie's group procumbens (Sibbaldia), Gnaphalium headed for the tetrads H and I in NO 17, south supinum (Dwarf Cudweed) and Luzula west of the Cairnwell. Starting from the car spicata (Spiked Wood-rush). Skirting the park by the old military road they set off in ridge southwards towards Creag Leacach, we sunshine (even seeing some Dark Green found another site for Carex rariflora, with Fritillaries on the wing) to follow the river C. curta (White Sedge), just before leaving uphill, soon finding most of the common the tetrad NOI7N. As we entered the next alpines as well as Lycopodium clavatum tetrad, NOI7M, John Edgington and Mark (Stag's-horn Clubmoss) and Rubus saxatilis Tulley got Juncus trijidus (Three-leaved (Stone-bramble). The party split after a Rush) and Diphasiastrum alpinum (Alpine while, some members heading for the higher Clubmoss) higher up, whilst the others, lower ground, while the rest continued up river, down, found a nice series of stony and mossy soon entering an attractive gorge with Carex flushes containing Epilobium alsinifolium capillaris, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Helianthe­ (Chick-weed Willowherb), Saxifraga oppositi­ mum nummularium (Rock-rose), Galium folia (Purple Saxifrage), S. aizoides, Tofieldia boreale (Northern Bedstraw) and Helictotri­ pusilla (Scottish Asphodel) and a Cochlearia chon pratense (Meadow Oat-grass). Unfortu­ sp. (Scurvygrass) that didn't have any fruits nately it chose to rain heavily at that point. well enough developed for identification. The sun soon came out again - but so did Some drier flushes contained Sagina several million midges, and they were saginoides (Alpine Pearlwort) and trapped! Further up, they began to encounter S. xnormanniana (Scottish Pearlwort). We a little Rubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry), all converged in a north-west and north-fac­ which the higher-level party had found in ing grassy corrie, where there seemed to be some quantity. The whole group came acres of base-rich flushes and flushed grass­ downstream together at an intermediate level, land. There were fine stands of Carex capil­ finding a number of rich flushes with laris and lots of vegetative Carex vaginata Eriophorum latifolium (Broad-leaved Cotton­ (Sheathed Sedge). The flushes contained grass), Saxifraga stellaris (Starry Saxifrage), more Epilobium alsinifolium together with E. Epilobium anagallidifolium, E. alsinifolium, anagallidifolium (Alpine Willowherb), Thalictrum alpinum, and a single plant of Thalictrum alpinum (Alpine Meadow-rue), Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort) on a rock. 58 Field meeting reports: 2008 - Glenshee (v.c.89)

Monday, 11th August flushed by waters from above. The dry rocks Another cool day with some heavy showers had little but heathers, but the wet areas had and no midges. We had lost Mark and plants like Saxifraga oppositifolia, Potentilla Russell but gained Jim McIntosh. We all crantzii (Alpine Cinquefoil), Carex capilla­ started off at the Dalmunzie Hotel and then ris, Galium boreale, Botrychium lunaria and Martin's group crossed the Taitneach Burn Oxyria digyna (Mountain Sorrel), as well as a bridge to work our way up the gully on the fine display of Heracleum sphondylium north side of Ben Gulabin. This started to get (Hogweed) on some herbaceous ledges. interesting at about 550 metres, when we hit There were plenty offerns on the cliffs and on some calcareous flushes containing Carex the rocks below: Asplenium viride (Green capillaris and Equisetum variegatum Spleenwort), Polystichum lonchitis (Holly (Variegated Horsetail). From the bottom of Fern), Cystopteris fragilis (Brittle Bladder­ Coire Shith we then went south-eastwards fern), Dryopteris expansa (Northern Buckler­ over a saddle of bog. This was the start of the fern), Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Oak Fern), highlight of the whole meeting. First of all masses of Phegopteris connectilis and a fair Paul Bartlett found a nice stand of Betula amount of Huperzia selago (Fir Clubmoss). nana (Dwarf Birch), extending along the At lower levels the most exciting finds were edge of a peat bank. Then things then became Lycopodium clavatum (Stag's-horn Club­ even more intriguing. On a slope covered moss), Eriophorum latifolium and alpines with damp, flushed grassland and heathland (Oxyria, Saxifraga spp.) washed down the we started seeing Pyrola leaves, most of river. There was also a small patch of Sphag­ which had leaf venation intermediate between num sp. with Vaccinium oxycoccos (Cran­ P. media (Intermediate Wintergreen) and berry) crawling over it. P. minor (Common Wintergreen), though Tuesday 12t11 August some were clearly P. minor. Then when we Today Martin's group headed for the Spittal found a couple of flowers, it became clear of Glenshee, in order to cover the extensive that we had stumbled on a colony of P. rotun­ north-facing grassy corrie to the SW known difolia (Round-leaved Wintergreen), only the locally as Spittal Hill. The next corrie to the second one to be discovered in the vice-coun­ west has Kobresia simpliciuscula (False ty. The mixed colony continued uphill for Sedge) and one of the day's objectives was to about 100 metres, very densely in places. see whether its distribution might extend into There must have been thousands of plants. this corrie. In the event we found a lack ofthe There was also a group of <12 small plants of open stony flushes that it prefers and so we Salix lapponum and some Lycopodium drew a blank. The flushes were more closed, annotinum (Interrupted Clubmoss) in the with mossy spring heads containing a lot of same general area. The summit of Ben Epilobium alsinifolium, together with Gulabin yielded a small amount of Loiseluria E. anagallidifolium. Some Carex capillaris procumbens (Trailing Azalea) before we was found, and some Eriophorum latifolium negotiated the steep descent back down to the in the more base-rich areas. We split up in the bridge. Jackie's group had stayed on the west afternoon, Jim and Martin exploring more of side of the Taitneach Bum to cover tetrads the same tetrad and finding a colony of Meum N007W and X. Again the party split after a athamanticum (Spignel) stretching for about time, with one group remaining close to the 30 metres in grassland near the road and a lot river, while the second group headed for the more species along the roadside. The others rocks on Creag a'Chaise, joining the others carried on into N006Z and Les Tucker found for lunch and then taking off again for the some Carex vaginata on his way down. It cliffs and rock jumbles of Creag Dhearg. The was a short day for Jackie's group, who had latter cliffs were uninteresting except where Field meeting reports: 2008 - Glenshee (v.c.89) / Botanical Cornwall annual indoor meeting 59 to depart at about 3.00 pm. They surveyed an inella saxifraga and a good deal of Meum unexplored but 'dull-looking' area around athamanticum, along with Galium boreale. Dunmay Farm (tetrad N016N). It turned out Meum and Pimpinella turned up elsewhere, to be less dull than expected, producing but here they were unaffected by grazing. nearly 200 species in a single monad, with a Apart from some very heavy showers it was a good selection of marsh plants in flushes to good end to the meeting. Altogether we the north of the track, weeds around the track recorded approximately 387 taxa in 13 and farm, and meadow plants in an tetrads. A lot of very good plants were seen. unimproved strip by the Shee Water. but the main surprise was the huge mixed Common alpines such as Saxifraga aizoides, Pyrola colony. This was probably only found Persicaria vivipara (Alpine Bistort) and because we were 'tetrad-bashing'. Normally Selaginella selaginoides (Lesser Clubmoss) botanists might have gone up the gully nearby turned up in the flushes, while meadow plants and missed this area. included Cirsium heterophyllum (Melancholy Thistle), Geranium sylvaticum (Wood Cranesbill), Helictotrichon pratense, Pimp-

Botanical Cornwall annual indoor meeting COLIN FRENCH, 12 Seton Gardens, Weeth Road, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 7JS A very well attended meeting was held at the During the annual meeting a talk was given end of January at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. by Dr Loveday Jenkin about the Great Tree 2008 proved to have been a record year for Project and a discussion was held as to how biological recording in Cornwall, with the group could interface with that Project. 211,000 biological records added to the Erica Reports were also given about recording for Windows database (the principal database activity in Cornwall by the VCRs Colin in use in Cornwall), of which 147,000 were French and Ian Bennallick, and for the Isles of flowering plants and ferns. The Erica for Scilly by Rosemary Parslow. Nicholas de Windows database now holds 1,890,000 Sausmarez briefed the Group about bryophyte biological records for Cornwall, of which recording, David Pearman described BSBI 1,159,000 are vascular plants. initiatives and Rosaline Murphy gave a The Botanical Cornwall Group is systemati­ detailed account of the forthcoming BSBI cally re-surveying the whole of Cornwall in Fumitory Handbook. It was also reported that order to produce the next Flora of Cornwall. the three VCRs for Cornwall and the Isles of Every 1km square is being surveyed (3,878 Scilly are busy helping to finish the forthcom­ squares), and GPS devices are being used to ing Red Data Bookfor Cornwall and the Isles improve geographic accuracy. This re-survey of Scilly. Once that is published they will is approaching the halfway stage, with much compile Rare Plant Registers. A fern atlas for recording yet to be done, including 568 1km Cornwall should also be published in 2009 squares that have not been visited since 1999 and a new Botanical Cornwall journal (no. 14: (the date of the last Flora). In 2008 this 2009), is in preparation and should be availa­ recording process was boosted by a modest ble by the spring. The meeting ended with a grant from the County Council, which discussion of a programme of events for 2009. assisted with travel expenses. This enabled The finalised programme will appear on the more than 700 under-recorded 1km squares to group's website (www.floracam.co.uklbcgl). be targeted, and increased total recording Any BSBI member wishing to attend a effort by a third. meeting should contact Ian Bennallick before­ hand ([email protected]). 60 Book Notes - Authorship of The vegetative key / A Field Key to the Grasses of the East Midlands

BOOK NOTES Authorship of The vegetative key ERIC J. CLEMENT, 54 Anglesey Road, Gosport, Hampshire, POl2 2EQ The long-awaited The vegetative key to the fresh material of all the species (often from British flora will be published in April/May botanical gardens), spending much time 2009. Alert eyes will, by now, have noted studying the' gross anatomy', especially the that a co-author (EJC) has sneaked onto the vascular bundles and stomatal distribution. cover of John Poland's work. This requires He hunted for alternative characters, where an explanation! It was JP's wish that I I had chosen at an early stage the textbook should be added, in recognition of the many 'annual' versus 'perennial' separation. (45) years that I have been dreaming of such John Poland has invested five long years a volume, and have been assembling notes of his youth (now 29 years of age) in this on the topic. magnum opus. I hope that all members will I did, finally, write a skeleton key, and, buy a copy to reward him. If any profits with enormous help from Debbie Allan, the accrue, none will gravitate to EJC! The draft was computerised. John Norton made exceptional value of the pre-publication some improvements. It was then that I met price (£20, incl. p. & p.) will remain valid John Poland, and he rapidly became utterly until May 1st, if you have not already enthused over the project. He soon found ordered a copy. Rush to www.bsbi.org.uk that some of the keys needed major re-writ­ and download an order form. ing, and much more morphological detail was desirable. In particular, he looked at

A Field Key to the Grasses of the East Midlands by BRIAN N.K. DA VIS, published by the Hunts. Fauna & Flora Society, printed by Just Digital Ltd, Ellington, Cambs. Second edition February 2009

This book covers the 4 vice-counties of useful aid to grass identification in this Beds, Cambs, Hunts and Northants. and has region of England, but will also be of value details of 105 species found in this area. to students of grasses in other regions as it There is a general section which deals with covers most of the commoner species. the technical aspects of grass structure, It is available from Barry Dickerson, 27 followed by the key itself, and photocopied Eynesbury Road, St Neots PEl9 2QE, price images ofthe grasses themselves. It is a very £7.50. Add £1.50 for p&p. Obituary notes I Recorders and Recording - Panel of Referees and Specialists 61

OBITUARY NOTES MARY BRIGGS, 9 Arun Prospect, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 JAL With regret we report the loss of two past Bryan was a familiar figure at BSBI Vice-county Recorders who have died recent­ meetings in Wales and the West Country, ly, W.H. Tucker from Devon and B.W.R. always arriving on his motorbike. He was also Fowler from Staffordshire. a cheerful companion on alpine holidays, with Bill Tucker of Torrington, Devon joined the his interests not only in alpine plants and Society in 1959, and in 1983 he was appointed photography but also in Swiss transport as Recorder for N. Devon, V.cA. and served engineering. in that capacity until 2001. Also with regret we report the death of Mr Bryan Fowler of Wolverhampton, joined the J.A. Field of Longfield, Kent who had been a Society in 1972 and became Recorder for BSBI member for more than half a century, Staffs., v.c.39 from 1986 until 1998. having joined in 1955.

RECORDERS AND RECORDING Panel of Referees and Specialists MARY CLARE SHEAHAN, 61 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London SW13 9RZ; mc _ [email protected] Ken Trewren (pryopteris) has said that he will (essential if hybridisation is suspected); be away from 13 lh June, and asks that no emai1ed images are acceptable, but Dr specimens should be sent to him before 9!h Denholm requests that images should not August. There is also a correction to the entry exceed 1Mb. Supporting specimens are for Dryopteris, which should read: advisable for especially problematic plants: Dryopteris (except D. affinis complex): Mr K. no whole plants; fresh material encouraged. Trewren; ripe spores needed if hybrid A single fully open flower and the subtend- suspected. Please contact before sending, as ing bract in an airtight vial or similar (do not Mr Trewren is often abroad. include moss or cotton wool), plus the long- D. affinis complex: Mr A.C. Pigott; ideally a est sheathing leaf. Pickled flowers fresh frond c.70-100cm long (sent folded) supported by colour notes are less satisfac- cut to the very base, with mature sori, and tory (note: living material cannot legally be the basal pinnae intact. collected from species protected by Sched- ule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act). Prof. R.M. Bateman and Dr 1. Denholm have asked that their entry in the BSBI Yearbook Finally, there are three changes to referees' should be amended to read: addresses: Orchidaceae Patrick Acock (Equisetum) has a new email General (except Epipactis, but including address: [email protected] Dactylorhiza and Gymnadenia): Dr 1. Richard Bateman's postcode should be Denholm (esp. S. and Central England and changed to TW9 3DS, and his email address Wales) and Prof. R.M. Bateman (esp. N. to [email protected]. England, Scotland and Ireland). Minimum Dr Denholm's address should be updated to: requirement: images of whole plants plus Denholm, Dr 1., Head, Department of Plant close-up of inflorescence, ideally with scale, & Invertebrate Ecology, Rothamsted supported by notes on size, locality, habitat Research, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ; and other species of the same genus present [email protected] 62 Recorders and Recording - Panel of Referees and Specialists I Notes from the Scottish Officer

Panel of Vice-county Recorders DAVID PEARMAN, Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA; 01872 863388 New Recorders v.c.96 (Eastemess): Mr A.M. Ross retires (Ms v.c.9 (Dorset): Mr R.M. Walls, 10 Old Brick­ S. Smyth & Mr J. Waddell continue as fields, Broadmayne, Dorchester, Dorset, before). DT2 8UY. Mr D. Pearman and Mr B. Edwards retire. NOTES FROM THE OFFICERS

From the Scottish Officer - JIM McINTOSH Royal Botanic Garden, 20A lnverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR; Tel: 0131 2482894; j [email protected]

Scottish Officer visiting members might like to volunteer! The Scottish Officer project began its second Details of this years project are available on the term in November 2008. In addition to the BSBI web site (including the list of sites to be main funders BSBI and SNH, Royal Botanic surveyed) but if you would like more informa­ Garden Edinburgh is also supporting the post tion please don't hesitate to get in touch with - by way of an in-kind contribution of office me. facilities. The post holder, Jim McIntosh, will Site Condition Monitoring continue with a similar remit to deliver major The BSBI continues to make a significant conservation initiatives such as Site Condition contribution to Scottish Natural Heritage's Monitoring, the Threatened Plant Project and vascular plant Site Condition Monitoring Rare Plant Registers as well as to support the programme. Our volunteers are planning to BSBI Scottish membership - particularly the undertake surveys at a further eight sites Vice-county Recorders. across Scotland in 2009 from the coast at St Threatened Plant Project in 2009 in Cyrus (near Montrose) to high mountain sites Scotland such as Cam Gorm & Meall Garbh in Glen As in 2008 the species selected for survey fall Lyon, near Killin. into three categories in Scotland. The relatively Rare Plant Register Workshop: April 2009 widespread Heath Cudweed (Gnaphalium Rare Plant Registers, or local red lists, are a sylvaticum), Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum great way of making our records and botanical viride) and Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides). skill useful to conservationists and land The more local Wood Bitter-vetch (Vicia managers. They also help promote recording orobus), Narrow-leaved Helleborine (Cephal­ activity. So by the time you read this, we hope anthera longifolia), Tubular Water-dropwort to have held a very successful residential (Oenanthe fistulosa) and Opposite-leaved weekend workshop for Scottish Vice-county Pondweed (Groenlandia densa). Three of the Recorders on the theme of Rare Plant Regis­ species do not occur in Scotland - Rare Spring­ ters - how to make a start. There are also sedge (Carex ericetorum), Copse-bindweed sessions on MapMate, the Computerisation (Fallopia dumetorum) and Crested Cow-wheat Project and Site Condition Monitoring. We (Melampyrum cristatum) - so this should make plan to write up the workshop'S key points, the task a little easier. However, Scottish vice­ questions and answers and publish them in a counties are big and recorders might like to ask report to be distributed to all Scottish Record­ local members to help with the survey, perhaps ers. after some field training. Or conversely local or Notes from the Scottish Officer 63

Computerisation Project of Scottish BSBI Vice-County Recorders need Over the past year 250,000 Scottish Vice­ help to enter their plant records into comput­ county Recorders paper records have been ers. This aspect of Recorders' work is becom­ digitised by this project, which aims to make ing increasingly important in order to make them more widely available, to the BSBI, plant records more widely available to conser­ BRC Vascular Plant DataBase, the NBN vationists, botanists, land-managers and Gateway and to the Vice-county Recorders researchers. Help is required in the following themselves of course! Scottish Recorders vice-counties: Angus, Fife & Kimoss, the were consulted on the outstanding paper Lothians, Mid-Ebudes (Mull, Tiree & ColI) record sets they held, and the results were and Peebles - amongst others. collated, analysed and used to draft a work Knowledge of the flora, and geography of programme for the fmal two years of the the Vice-county obviously helps enormously, Project. A huge tranche of work involving and that often comes with living in or near the 400,000 records in Argyll, Clyde Isles & area. Therefore an advert has been placed in Kirkcudbright and relating to The Changing the Scottish Newsletter and on the BSBI Flora of Glasgow has just been given to website. However botanists elsewhere in the contractors. They will work closely with British Isles may be equally well-qualified and Recorders to complete the task. interested. If so please see the advert on the Meantime details of the Nationally Scarce BSBI website. and Rare plant populations monitored during Scottish Annual Meeting 2009 in Perth the first six year cycle of SNH's Site Condi­ Just a quick reminder that you will find a tion Monitoring - along with their associate warm welcome north of the border at the BSBI species - have been digitised in a separate but Scottish Annual Meeting on Saturday 7 similar project. This data will be invaluable November 2009. Thc event is held in conjunc­ for Rare Plant Registers. tion with the Botanical Society of Scotland, Beyond the Computerisation Project and is always very lively and enjoyable. It will With the Computerisation Project nearing be held at the Queen's Hotel, Perth which is completion, we are now looking for volunteers very easy to get to being right beside the main to help with the ongoing computerisation of bus and railway stations. Put the date in your new field records that are collected. A number diary now and watch out for the flier!

CONTRIBUTIONS INTENDED FOR BSBI NEWS 112 should reach the Receiving Editor before Au ust 1st

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, clo 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, Hawick, Roxburghshire, TD9 8PT Tel. 01450 372129 HON. GENERAL SECRETARY (General Enquiries) Mr David Pearman Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA Tel.: 01872 863388; [email protected] HON. TREASURER (All financial matters except Membership) Mr Anthony Nixon The Warwick Partuership, 1 Stonecross, St Albans, Hertfordshire, ALl 4AA Tel 01727846194, Fax 01727810885 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY (Payment of Subs and chauges 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) Answerphone: 02920496042; [email protected] HON. FIELD SECRETARY (Including enquiries about Field Meetings) Mrs Jane Croft 12 Spaldwick Road, Stow Longa, Huutingdon, Cambs., PE28 OTL Tel.: 01480 860561; [email protected] HON. ASSISTANT SECRETARY (General enquiries) Mr Peter Fry clo 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, IPl 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.: 01462742684; [email protected] BSBI NEWS GENERAL EDITOR Mr Gwynn Ellis 41 Marlborough Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU Tel. 02920496042; [email protected] BSBI HEAD OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Mr Kevin J Walker 97 Dragon Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG15DG Tel 01423 544902; [email protected] BSBI COORDINATOR Mr Alex Lockton 66 North Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY12JL Tel. & Fax: 01743 343789; [email protected] BSBI VOLUNTEERS OFFICER Mr Bob Ellis 11 Havelock Road, Norwich, NRZ 3HQ Tel.: 01603 662260; [email protected] BSBI SCOTTISH OFFICER Mr Jim McIntosh clo Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR Tel. 0131 2482894 (w); 0791 7152580 (mob);[email protected] RESEARCH FUND APPLICATIONS Dr Pete Hollingsworth Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR [email protected]. BSBI PUBLICATIONS Mr Paul O'Hara Summerfield Books 2007 Ltd, 3 Phoenix Park, Skelton, Penrith, Cumbria, CAll 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 1. Calamagrostis purpurea habitat, Dunachton 2. Calamagrostis scotica, Loch of Duran Fen, Speyside (v.c.96). Photo J. Cadbury © 2008 (v.c.109). Photo M. Gurney © 2008 (see p. 28) (see p. 27)

3. Calamagrostis stricta lush Marshes (v.c.96). 4. Calamagrostis stricta Broubster Leans Photo J. Cadbury © 2008 (see p. 26) (v.c.109). Photo M. Gurney © 2008 (see p. 27) Alpine ferns site near Bridge of Orchy 1995. Photo H. McHaffie © 1995 (see p. 7)

Alpine ferns site near Bridge of Orchy July 2005. Photo H. McHaffie © 2005 (see p. 8)