BSBI News January 2010 No. 113

Edited by Trevor James & Gwynn Ellis Ghost Orchid ( aphyllum), in (Ghost Orchid) in v.c.36. Buckinghamshire (v.c.24) in 1986, a year Photo T.C.G. Rich © 2009 (see p. 7) before it was seemingly lost from the site. Photo R. Bateman © 1986 (see p. 9)

Mutant Orchid ( apifera) nr Aveley in Galloway (v.c.73). (v.c.18). Photo P. Smith © 2007 (see p. 19) Photo A. Barbour © 2009 (see p. 20) Orobanche lucorum in St Andrews Botanic Conyza canadensis (Canadian Fleabane) hec- Garden (v.c.85). Photo R. Cormack © 2000 tad distribution map from BSBI website. See (see p. 57) text (p. 88) for details

Orobanche lucorum by Sports Centre in St Andrews Botanic Garden (v.c.85). Photo R. Cormack © 1985 (see p. 57) Former Agrosto-Festucetum grassland, now almost pure alpina (v.c.65). Photo L. Robinson © 2009 (see p. 53)

Cotula alpina showing flowering stems beside track Cotula alpina Polbain, Wester Ross on Kirkby Malzeard Moor, Yorks. Photo L. Robinson (v.c.105). Photo A. White © 2009 © 2009 (see p. 52) (see p. 54) CONTENTS Michael Walpole FCA...... M. Briggs 2 Small Project Grant Reports Editorial...... 3 Morphological variation and spatial separation Notes of two races of Cerastium nigrescens New molecular classification: relevance to the ...... S.Dalrymple & C. Chambers 45 flora of the British Isles...... C.A. Stace 4 in Literature Haunted Herefordshire: the “Ghost” reappears in 52 - On the purpose of books...... E.C. Nelson 46 Britain...... P. Garner 7 53 - Marine Botany in literature: George Eliot’s The Ilfracombe Journal – – is Ghost Orchid illustrates why the term ‘extirpation’ Phycology all at sea?...... M.É. Souchier 48 is element of conservation...R. Bateman 8 Spud, or spud?...... R.A. Nicholson 51 Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae in Aliens ...... L. Mackinlay & J. McIntosh 11 Cotula alpina in v.cc.62, 64, 65, new to Monotropa – acorrection...... P. Abbott 12 Britain and ...... L. Robinson 52 Tubular Water-dropwort on the Sefton Coast sand- First known record of Cotula alpina in Scotland,: dunes, Merseyside...... P.H. Smith 13 v.c.105...... A. White 54 Bisexuality in Salix ×friesiana on the Sefton Coast Landoltia punctata takes another step..J.H. Bratton 55 (v.c.59)...... P.H. Smith 18 Solanum triflorum (Small Nightshade) new Mutant Bee Orchid...... M. Smith 19 to v.c.59 and the Sefton Coast...... P.H. Smith 56 Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid) in The Stewartry of Orobanche lucorum (Barberry Broomrape) in Fife (v.c.85)...... G.H. Ballantyne 57 Kirkcudbright!...... A. Barbour 20 Alien near Thruxton (v.c.12)..A. Mundell 58 Anthoxanthum nitens (Hierochloe odorata (Holy- Fraxinus ornus (Manna Ash) in v.c.29.A. Leslie 59 grass): a habitat correction...... R. Corner 20 Untangling the climbers – Parthenocissus Meadow restoration works and arable plants at quinquefolia & P. inserta...... J.C. David 60 Ferndown LNR, Clayton, (v.c.39).W. Waller 21 Lagurus ovatus (Hare’s-tail) with secondary Lycopodium annotinum growing on fallen Pinus intravaginal ...... A. Idle 62 sylvestris in Abernethy Forest....A. Amphlett 22 The colour of the of Malva (Lavatera) cretica Giving a Co. Carlow hawkweed a little helping (Smaller Tree-mallow)...... E. Pratt 63 hand...... P.R. Green 23 Requests & offers acutiflorus –a disappearing act?.A. Hannah 23 A new fully interactive key to the British flora – Limonium recurvum in v.c.52...... E.I.S. Rees 24 photos wanted...... J. Poland 64 On the flora of railway banks...... R.M. Payne 25 Suffolk survey – help needed for a book. C. Jacobs 64 B & B in Central ...... D. Barker 64 Roadside botany...... S.J. Leach 25 Gofynne seed list 2010...... A. Shaw 65 Glaux maritima (Sea-milkwort) as a roadside BSBI News copies on offer...... C.. Jacobs 65 halophyte...... M. Robinson 26 Notices Gonocarpus – a native of with a bipolar Ashmolean Nat. Hist.Soc. of Oxfordshire: distribution...... E.J. Clement 26 Group Identification Courses, 2010...... 65 Hands-free magnifier...... E. Pratt 27 Wild Gladiolus in Britain: past, present and Inland dunensis...... M. Lynes 28 future one day conference, New Forest...... 66 Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin)...... D. Pearman 30 Excursion to Almería - April 2010...... T. Farino 66 (Early Spider Orchid) count in Field meeting reports: 2009...... 67-84 Dorset...... E. Pratt 31 Book Notes - Sacred trees and bushes of Ireland. 84 Waveney Forest saved from gravel extraction Obituary notes...... M. Briggs 85 ...... C. Jacobs 32 Recorders and Recording Snippets from v.c.24 ...R. Maycock & A. Woods 33 Panel of Referees and Specialists. M.C. Sheahan 85 Hell Kettles – a forgotten corner...... F. Sarker 35 Cotoneasters for determination...... J. Fryer 86 Chemically-induced colour changes in three Panel of Vice-county Recorders...... D. Pearman 86 diverse angiosperm ...... J. Oliver 38 Scottish V.c.Recorder Vacancies.....J. McIntosh 87 Paniculate plantains...... R.A. Dawes 39 BSBI website hectad distribution maps, ‘oldest on top’...... M. Braithwaite 88 Ciba-Geigy Weed Tables...... A. Hale 40 AEM: vegetative ID quiz...... J. Poland 89 Re-introduction of : update Notes from the Officers ...... P. Abbott 41 From the Hon. General Secretary....D. Pearman 89 Dorset Flora Grp and Wild Week...E. Pratt 41 From the Head of R. & D...... K.Walker 90 Botany on the Internet...... J. Poland 42 Conservation action for plants in Scotland Conservation ...... J. McIntosh & D. Long 92 The red data list for : Coordinator's Corner...... A. Lockton 93 year 2 amendments...... S.J. Leach 43 Diary...... 95 Deadline for contribution to News 114...... 95 2 Michael Walpole / Cover picture caption

MICHAEL WALPOLE FCA

MARY BRIGGS, 9 Arun Prospect, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1AL As we go to press we learn with deep regret owned collection in Britain. We would of the death of Michael Walpole, after a then have the privilege of admiring his new long battle with cancer. There will be an find, and sharing his pleasure in this, often Obituary in Watsonia. a very tiny book, before the business of the Mike was Hon. Treasurer of BSBI from meeting began. 1971 until 1997, and during those years he We are grateful to Chris Boon for the was the father figure to the Society and following note on Mike’s funeral. BSBI activities. When the time-consuming A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of task of membership Secretary became too Mike Walpole took place on 22 December much for a voluntary Hon. Officer, and 2009 at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough. after our first commercial replacement plan The BSBI was represented by Richard proved unsatisfactory, Mike took on this Gornall, John Bailey and Chris Boon. problem, setting up a programme on his As part of the service some “Memories of new computer. With this he was Member- Mike” were given in a presentation by his ship Secretary for many years until 2003. son Chris. He told of his father’s love of In 1991 Mike was elected as an Honorary the countryside and natural history, in Member of BSBI, and apart from being on particular botany. There were many Council for all the years that he was Treas- searches as a family for rare and unusual urer, he was also Chairman or a member of species – a particular story related to many of the Committees including: BSBI Lady’s-slipper Orchid which is to be found Co-ordinating, later the Executive in its only natural site at *****. After an Committee, the Publications Committee, unsuccessful hunt the family sat down to Chairman 1991-1997, and the Committees enjoy a well-earned picnic and caused the for the Welch Bequest, the BSBI Database warden to rush from his tent to remonstrate (Leicester), and the Warburg Fund. Mike with Mike that they had chosen the exact was also BSBI Referee for Herbals and location of the plant (probably a bit too Local Floras of the British Isles, and he near) to spread their rug. Luckily no gave a memorable lecture on early local damage was done – the plant had yet to Floras at the BSBI Conference on Local appear! Chris also told of the honour that Floras held in Liverpool in 1991. Mike and Ann felt to represent the BSBI at I recall Mike coming to London for many a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. Also meetings and often he would have spent a mentioned was the book hunting side to little time on the way hunting down some Mike’s life which, many-a-time, resulted in treasure for his botanical library, which the purchase of a volume already in his was acknowledged as the best privately possession. Editorial 3

EDITORIAL

TREVOR JAMES (Receiving Editor), 56 Back Street, Ashwell, Baldock, Herts., SG7 5PE Tel.: 01462 742684; [email protected] GWYNN ELLIS (General Editor), 41 Marlborough Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU Tel. 02920 496042; [email protected] David Pearman sign × (as distinct from the letter x), the sign On January 1st we said goodbye to David as may be placed adjacent to the epithet (i.e. Hon. General Secretary and now welcome without a space); this practice is followed in Lynne Farrell to the post and wish her well. BSBI News. Thus Vaccinium × intermedium David will continue as Chair of Records becomes Vaccinium ×intermedium or Committee and his involvement with the BSBI Vaccinium x intermedium, but not Vaccinium Plant Unit and he remains the contact point for xintermedium. the Panel of Vice-county Recorders Referees postage However, I can’t let this moment pass We have been asked by a referee to remind without paying a personal tribute to David who members that the rules (and prices) for postage has helped me enormously in my work for the have changed, and it is now important to know Society. I know that any success I may have not only the width, length and weight of a had as editor of BSBI News, Membership package but also the depth. This referee has, Secretary or Hon. General Secretary was/is in the past few months, taken delivery of due in no small measure to his constant several packages from BSBI members on encouragement, advice and, most of all, which excess postage had to be paid either at friendship. the door or on collection from a Royal Mail Thank you David, I couldn’t have done it depot which may be some distance away. without you, and I’m relieved that you will still All our referees are volunteers and it is very be only a phone call away! important that the correct postage is applied to Membership number all packages, especially if posted directly into As membership secretary I often get asked for a post box and is also enclosed with the speci- a membership number. This can always be mens if they are to be returned. It would also found in the List of Members in the Year Book be courteous to enclose a stamp or stamped and is also printed on the first line of the addressed envelope for any reply. address label on all mailings but as there are Congratulations to at least two of our two or more numbers on that line, the members whose names appear in the New following explanation should remove any Years Honours List 2010. ambiguity. Professor Alastair H. Fitter,Pro-Vice- 71641 Mem. No. 016607 v.c. 041 Chancellor for Research at the University of The first number (71641) refers to a Royal York is awarded the CBE ‘For services to Mail Postcode; the second number (016607) is Environmental Science.’ the membership number and the last number Professor Mary Gibby, the Director of refers to the vice-county. Science at the Royal Botanic Garden Hybrid names Edinburgh is awarded the OBE ‘For services Some contributors query the position of the to Botany.’ multiplication sign when used in hybrid names If anyone knows of other members whose in News and I repeat here the paragraph that names also appear, please let us know. appeared in BSBI News 96: 6. “The St Louis And finally, apologies to those members edition of the International Code of Botanical whose contributions have had to be held over Nomenclature recommends that when hybrid to the next issue through lack of space. binomials are printed using a multiplication 4 Notes – New molecular classification

NOTES

The new molecular classification: relevance to the flora of the British Isles CLIVE A. STACE, ‘Cringlee’, Claybrooke Road, Ullesthorpe, Leics., LE17 5AB ([email protected]) The arrangement of species in any floristic and there are even more divergences in family work is a matter of personal preference. relationships from those expressed in the pre- Purely artificial sequences are sometimes molecular systems, which demand a re-se- favoured, e.g. alphabetical order (as in the quencing of the families. Many changes at current Flora of Canada) or grouping by the generic level are also indicated, e.g. the flower colour (e.g. the RHS gardeners’ separation of Ficaria from , and encyclopedia of plants and ). The the amalgamation of Malva and Lavatera. A advantages of such a policy in special circum- radically new classification should not be stances are obvious, but they are outweighed adopted lightly, but the nature of the data now by the equally obvious disadvantages in most being utilised is such that it seems certain that situations (e.g. variation in flower colour classifications based on them will robustly within a species, radical alphabetical re-or- stand the test of time. This is not the place to dering necessitated by name-changes). All discuss the justification and the methodology ‘serious’ (i.e. botanically rigorous) floras in of molecular , but there can be this country have been arranged in systematic absolutely no doubt that the DNA data being sequence, often (but not always) the one most accumulated do indicate the evolutionary in favour at the time, and this situation is not pathways and therefore the true relationships about to change. of plants. The need for all botanists to come The classification of vascular plants most to terms with the new classification is there- widely accepted at any one time has changed fore obvious and overwhelming. radically over the past two centuries, as the Without using the technical language or amount and nature of available data have propounding the theoretical reasoning of increased. During the nineteenth century the molecular taxonomy, and at the real risk of system of Bentham & Hooker was most over-simplification, the circumscription of favoured. During the twentieth century this taxa (families and genera) has been changed became increasingly modified to produce a when the DNA sequences indicate either: less artificial, more natural, system, that of that a taxon (A) is represented by two or Cronquist (1981) ultimately being most more subtaxa (A1 & A2) that are separated widely championed, and the one that was by or otherwise associated with other taxa followed in the first two editions of my New not in the original taxon A, usually leading flora of the British Isles (1991, 1997). From to a splitting of taxon A into A1 and A2, e.g. the late 1990s onwards, however, our ideas on Ranunculus/Ficaria and /Nasturt- plant relationships (and therefore classifica- ium. (A different solution is also possible, tion) have been revolutionised by the use of viz. the continued recognition of taxon A molecular data, mostly the base sequences of but with the addition of the other taxa certain regions of DNA. Whilst this has enmeshed with it, e.g. Ficaria could largely confirmed previous ideas on the continue in Ranunculus providing some circumscription of most families, some other genera, e.g. Myosurus, were included unexpected novel features have emerged (e.g. in it too.) the dismemberment of the ), or: Notes – New molecular classification 5

that two or more taxa (A & B) are not the term pre-dicots may be coined. The rest separated by a simple split but are more of the former dicots are termed . In intricately entwined, usually leading to the the linear sequence, the pre-dicots must start amalgamation of taxa A and B, e.g. the angiosperms, followed by the eudicots Lavatera/Malva and and monocots. In LAPG-III the monocots are Artemisia/Seriphidium. (Sometimes the placed before the eudicots, but I prefer to continued separate acceptance of most place the monocots at the end, as this is much species of taxa A and B might be made the more familiar arrangement and equally possible by recognising extra segregate taxa valid. that have been causing the entwining: C, D, In the pteridophytes it has been discovered etc.) that the fundamental split is between The existence of two (opposite) alternative lycopods and all the others, including true solutions in both situations exemplifies an , horsetails and even whisk-ferns. important fact about molecular (or any other Within the ferns the division between euspo- taxonomic) data, i.e. that they do not always rangiate (in our flora only Ophioglossaceae) dictate the precise taxonomic outcome, but and leptosporangiate families (considered of that differences of opinion (e.g. splitters and great significance 100 years or so ago) appar- lumpers) will still exist, because both views ently occurred before that between horsetails express the molecular data equally faithfully and ferns. The new sequence in our flora is (hooray!!). thus lycopods, Ophioglossaceae, horsetails The third edition of New flora of the British and the rest of the ferns. Isles (early 2010), as far as I know, will be the In order to familiarise those readers who first British Flora to adopt the new molecular have not already acquainted themselves with classification of families. The version it uses the new molecular classification, I am listing will be the latest one now available (known as below the most important changes in family APG-III, 2009), produced by the large circumscriptions within our flora. Apart from informal international consortium, the the changes advocated in the previous two Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. The linear paragraphs, I shall not cover re-sequencing, sequence of families derived from this (and nor changes in circumscription at the generic set out in my Flora) is known as LAPG-III, level. A few of the latter are mentioned in also published in 2009. There is also much previous paragraphs, but there are many subjectivity associated with deriving a linear more. Mention could be made of the amalga- sequence from the evolutionary tree. In mation of Lloydia and Gagea, and of particular, where the tree branches into two, Lepidium and Coronopus, and the division of either portion may precede the other in Peucedanum, Helictotrichon and Thlaspi into sequence. three, three and four different genera respec- One of the main discoveries in angiosperm tively. evolution associated with the new molecular taxonomy is that the angiosperms did not Adiantaceae included in Pteridaceae divide at the start into dicots and monocots, Onocleaceae (Onoclea and Matteuccia) but before this event several families, separated from Woodsiaceae formerly considered primitive dicots, split off. Taxodiaceae included in Cupressaceae This group of diverse families (in our flora Fumariaceae included in Papaveraceae only Cabombaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Sauru- Escalloniaceae separated from Grossular- raceae, Aristolochiaceae and Lauraceae; for iaceae (and placed far from it) some time Ceratophyllaceae were also placed Parnassiaceae (Parnassia) separated from with these but are now considered true dicots) Saxifragaceae (and placed far from it) are termed primitive angiosperms, for which 6 Notes – New molecular classification

Caesalpiniaceae & Mimosaceae included in Liliaceae segregated into 9 families dispersed in 4 orders: Nothofagaceae (Nothofagus) separated from Tofieldiaceae (Tofieldia) in order Alismat- Fagaceae ales; Hypericaceae separated from Clusiaceae (the Nartheciaceae (Narthecium) in order Diosco- latter no longer in our flora) reales; Aceraceae & Hippocastanaceae included in Melanthiaceae (Paris), Alstroemeriaceae Sapindaceae (Alstroemeria), Colchicaceae (Colchicum) Tiliaceae included in Malvaceae and Liliaceae sensu stricto (5 genera, only Viscaceae included in Santalaceae Gagea, which includes Lloydia, native) in Chenopodiaceae included in order Liliales; Montiaceae (Montia and Claytonia) separated Xanthorrhoeaceae (5 genera, only Simethis from Portulacaceae native), Alliaceae (13 genera) and Aspara- Garryaceae (Aucuba) and Griseliniaceae gaceae (11 genera) in order (Griselinia) separated from Cornaceae (and Agavaceae included in Asparagaceae the latter placed far from it) Sparganiaceae included in Typhaceae Empetraceae, Monotropaceae and Pyrolaceae The families most disturbed are clearly included in Scrophulariaceae and Liliaceae. In contrast, Hydrophyllaceae included in it is worth noting that the limits of very many Cuscutaceae included in Convolvulaceae well-defined and long-established families Calceolariaceae (Calceolaria), Veronicaceae (e.g. , , Caryophyl- (11 genera), Phrymaceae (Mimulus) and laceae, , , , Paulowniaceae (Paulownia) separated from Poaceae, ), as well as some Scrophulariaceae sensu stricto (Verbascum, that show a huge range of morphology (e.g. Scrophularia, Phygelius and Limosella) ), remain unaffected by molecular Buddlejaceae included in Scrophulariaceae data. sensu stricto As expected, in the 13 years since the Semi-parasitic Scrophulariaceae (tribe Pedic- second edition of New flora of the British ularieae/ Rhinantheae) transferred to Isles was published, many taxonomic changes have accumulated, but it would be wrong to , Callitrichaceae and Hippuri- assume that a high proportion of these are the daceae are placed in Veronicaceae (often as result of molecular research. In all cases that Plantaginaceae) in APG-III, but I have kept have been investigated, however, the them separate decisions are backed up by the molecular Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Valerianaceae data. For example, the separation of Schedo- and Dipsacaceae are amalgamated in APG- norus (the three broad-leaved fescues) from III, but I have kept them separate Festuca is equally supported by morphologi- Hydrocotylaceae separated from cal, cytological, hybridisation and molecular (alternatively these two and Araliaceae characters. In addition, in the coming years could be amalgamated, or Hydrocotylaceae many more taxonomic changes will be neces- could be transferred to Araliaceae) sitated. Indeed, some have already become Acoraceae (Acorus) separated from Araceae apparent since the third edition was finalised Lemnaceae included in Araceae in APG-III, in July 2009, e.g. separation of Helosciadium but I have kept them separate from Apium (only A. graveolens remaining in Najadaceae included in Hydrocharitaceae the latter). Zannichelliaceae included in Potamoget- These are certainly exciting times, but onaceae challenging ones too. Notes – Haunted Herefordshire: the “Ghost” reappears in Britain after an absence of 23 years 7

Haunted Herefordshire: the “Ghost” reappears in Britain after an absence of 23 years PETER GARNER, Lea Cottage, 233 West Malvern Road, West Malvern, WR14 4BE There were five of us together in the wood, with one translucent triangular scale and a and it was 7.30 a.m. on the morning of 22nd single white flower. There was quite faint but September 2009. Some swore under their clearly discernible pink spotting or blotching breath, others giggled with poorly suppressed on the inside of the spur and to a lesser extent excitement, but how had Mark Jannink on the lip, which faded as the plant aged; reacted when he had first seen the Ghost otherwise the flower was white (see inside Orchid a couple of days earlier? I asked him Front Cover). what great words he had prepared for this The plant was lying at an oblique angle to very special moment - the ultimate dream of the bare mud of the sloping gully floor and so every British botanist, and he told me “Hello the flower was only 1 cm above the ground. you - so there you are!” The woodland floor where it was growing Many have searched for it. I have, but, I was much less strewn with -mould than I admit, without conviction. Local botanists had expected. In fact the stem could be seen are aware of the sites where Epipogium emerging directly from the dry compacted aphyllum has appeared in the past, some as earth. It was in a very sheltered spot, where recently as 1982, and others as long ago as it would receive very little direct sunlight. the 1850s. Mark, however, prepared with Although near the bottom of the gully, it great care and a sense of optimism, assisted grew about two feet up the gently sloping by his friend Paul Stanley. They identified north bank. The wood includes and auspicious weather trends for 2009 - some . Soil taken in the gully c.1m from the continuous periods of sub-zero temperatures orchid had a pH of 4.5, indicating a surpris- during the previous winter, followed by a ingly acidic soil. This is reflected by some of warm spell. The centre of the world distribu- the associated plants - Vaccinium myrtillus tion of Epipogium is Central Europe, where (Bilberry), Blechnum spicant (Hard ) cold winters and warm summers are the and Luzula sylvatica (Great Wood-rush). norm. Our warm spell didn’t arrive this year Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle), until September! Mark carried out detailed Rubus fruticosus (Bramble) and Sorbus research into all previous Ghost Orchid torminalis (Wild Service) were also nearby. discoveries - their preferred habitat, time of Mark returned a couple of times to the site flowering and weather patterns. Then he during the following few days and the plant staked out ten possible sites and visited gradually faded and “browned”, until on his them regularly throughout the summer. His last visit the stem had been eaten through by efforts and conviction were finally rewarded slugs. The remains were collected and dried by the discovery of one diminutive specimen. and have been deposited with photographs in One can only marvel at his powers of obser- the herbarium at the National Museum of vation. Even when he directed us to within a (NMW), where they may be seen on couple of metres of the plant, it was not request to Dr Tim Rich. Full details are held immediately apparent. When he first found it separately in the NMW archives. Exact on September 20th it was not fully out and he details of this site are not being released likened it to a snow-flake. The closest except on a need-to-know basis in order to comparison I can make is to a single leafless protect the plant and its habitat. white violet. It had a 5cm tall white stem 8 Notes – Ghost Orchid illustrates why term ‘extirpation’ is an element of plant conservation

The Ghost Orchid vividly illustrates why the term ‘extirpation’ is an essential element of plant conservation RICHARD BATEMAN, 10 Elizabeth Cottages, Kew, Richmond, , TW9 3NJ On 15th October 2009, Plantlife launched ‘The retain its full potency. I spent much of my Ghost Orchid Declaration’, a much-needed initi- youth occupying an increasingly faded T-shirt ative designed to re-invigorate rare-plant conser- that rightly proclaimed that ‘ is vation in the British Isles and spearheaded by forever’, a usefully unequivocal statement that, Prince Charles. Here, I explore why I consider it for example, firmly precludes any possibility doubly unfortunate that this generally laudable of instituting reintroduction programmes declaration begins with the assertion, underlined thereafter. That threat of irrevocably losing a by Prince Charles’s endorsement letter, that species from the Earth is justly one of the “With no sightings for 23 years, Ghost Orchids greatest motivators for conservationists world- are the latest of the UK’s native wild plants to wide. In contrast, accusing an organism of have become extinct.” having been extirpated means that, by defini- I have an especially strong personal interest tion, the species is performing better elsewhere in this issue because, as far as I know, I was the in the world. It may, for example, reflect first person to formally suggest that the Ghost losses along the margin of the distribution of Orchid, Epipogium aphyllum Sw., may no the species where one or more populations longer occur in the British Isles. I made such have fallen victim to natural, environmentally a statement at the BSBI conference held in induced fluctuations in range. It certainly does Leicester in 2003 to mark Clive Stace’s retire- not carry the same immediacy of threat that ment, and then published my concerns in the accompanies the correct use of the term ensuing conference volume (Bateman 2006), ‘extinction’. To conflate the two concepts noting that the evidence at the time suggested renders far more difficult attempts to prioritise that Ghost Orchid had “not been seen in species for conservation action. Today, conser- Britain for over a decade”. My comments may vation is rightly seen as an international have encouraged categorisation of Epipogium activity requiring global assessment. Admit- as ‘Extinct’ in the Vascular Plant Red Data tedly, conservation responses may well List for Great Britain (Cheffings & Farrell operate best at national or local level, but most 2005). This status is defined under IUCN authorities would agree that assessment of the criteria as: “Extinct (EX): a taxon is extinct conservation requirements of species should when there is no reasonable doubt that the last focus on the global scale. individual has died” (my italics). However, I Secondly, the chosen case-study. The Ghost also made a determined plea in the article that Orchid is a particularly problematic species to we should carefully distinguish between the choose as a “loss leader” for a rare-plant terms and associated concepts of extinction conservation initiative. Although its orchida- and extirpation. I feel obliged to repeat that ceous nature, its remarkable appearance and its plea here, given recent salutary events even more remarkable biology undoubtedly surrounding the occurrence of the Ghost confer great charisma, they also make it excep- Orchid in the British Isles. tionally difficult to determine whether a partic- Firstly, the word itself. Most effectively ular population has become extirpated. Most popularised by zoologists and palaeontolo- terrestrial orchids routinely sulk underground gists, including the well-known American for a year if they feel so inclined (e.g. Wells et naturalist Stephen Jay Gould, the term al. 2008), but Epipogium is renowned for ‘extirpation’ is synonymous with, but in my happily pursuing a subterranean existence for view greatly preferable to, the phrase ‘local decades. This is made feasible by its life extinction’ (e.g. Koford et al. 1994). Most history as an obligate mycoheterotroph: its importantly, it allows the term ‘extinction’ to and are especially well adapted Notes – Ghost Orchid illustrates why term ‘extirpation’ is an element of plant conservation 9 for a strong symbiotic relationship with the reminded ourselves of the appropriate search mycorrhizal fungi that are its only source of image by visiting selected examples of the nutrition (Roy et al. 2009). Indeed, I have many excellent localities for Epipogium that even observed it flowering beneath leaf litter, persist in mainland Europe, the most popular thus attempting to mimic the famous being a wood in the Black Forest near Australian ‘underground orchid’ Rhizanthella. Huefingen where abundant Ghost Orchids Those of us who annually survey well-known flower alongside fruiting Lady’s Slippers, and and long-standing beechwoods in Bucking- single coralline rootstocks can generate up to hamshire and Oxfordshire that supported two dozen inflorescences (see inside Front Epipogium into the 1970s and 1980s are Cover). Such experiences taught us something hoping that the plant has merely sulked for an we should already have known: although the unusually long time, perhaps still reeling from Ghost Orchid remains marvellously the combined insults of the 1987 beech-up- challenging and unpredictable to find, it is rooting storm, the subsequent beech-bark widespread and locally common across disease, and the hot dry summers of the late Eurasia (e.g. Pridgeon et al. 2005). For me, nineties and early noughties. this knowledge raises a real question of how When I speculated on the extirpation of the much gnashing of teeth should take place if the Ghost Orchid from Britain in 2003–6, the most Ghost Orchid becomes ‘locally extinct’ in the recent widely documented sightings appeared UK, and challenges internationally-oriented to be from Oxfordshire in 1979, the Welsh conservation bodies to develop, either individ- Borders in 1982 and a single three-flowered ually or collectively, ‘best practice’ responses plant in Buckinghamshire in 1987 (e.g.: to such extirpation events. Ettlinger 1998, p. 50). My own last UK However, the story does not end with this sighting was made in 1986 (see inside Front particular conundrum. In late September 2009, Cover). Many of us maintained our annual less than a month before “The Ghost Orchid pilgrimage for several subsequent years, and Declaration” was made public, rumours began some of us continue this practice, even after 22 to circulate among the cognoscenti that Epipo- years of consistent failure (in my case, ‘Ghost gium had been re-discovered in the British Isles. hunting’ gradually became a euphemism for These rumours carried more credibility than consoling myself with a post-prandial ale). those of the previous 22 years and spread There were many other more recent supposed widely, though the precise location of the find spectral sightings, from these and other locali- remained a closely guarded secret (the wisdom ties (cf. Harrap & Harrap 2005), but none was of, and motivation(s) for, maintaining such verified to my satisfaction. Given this secrecy merit separate, lengthy discussions). sporadic record of sightings, and my knowl- An exhibit at the November 2009 BSBI Exhibi- edge of its biology, I assessed the likelihood of tion Meeting placed formally on record the the Ghost Orchid being genuinely extirpated rediscovery of Epipogium in Britain on 20th from the British Isles as about 50:50. What I September 2009: a tiny stem bearing a single most hoped to achieve through my flower in surprisingly acid woodland in (deliberately low-key) announcement of its Herefordshire (Garner 2009). Had this new find possible demise was to flush out verifiable occurred serendipitously at an unrecorded local- post-1987 records of this remarkable species ity, we would have speculated over whether this that would happily prove me wrong. represented a previously overlooked population In the meantime, British field botanists or a recent immigrant from Continental Europe, became ever more deeply divided into two perhaps carried across the Channel in high-level camps: smug individuals such as myself who air currents (Bateman 2006). However, as I had had seen Epipogium in the UK and an hoped, the discovery was actually made at a expanding band of increasingly forlorn previously known locality, as a result of a individuals who had not! Some of us carefully planned systematic survey of several 10 Notes – Ghost Orchid illustrates why term ‘extirpation’ is an element of plant conservation known and likely localities on the Welsh I thank the late Stephen Jay Gould and Sean Borders. This success should reinvigorate those Cole for useful discussions, and the late Derek of us who still regularly survey potential Turner Ettlinger and Peter Gasson for the loan Chiltern localities. Unfortunately, this welcome of images. revelation at the BSBI Exhibition Meeting did References: not enjoy the depth of media penetration that BATEMAN, R.M. (2006). How many orchid was achieved by the more pessimistic ‘Ghost species are currently native to the British Orchid Declaration’ a month earlier. Isles? in J. BAILEY & R.G. ELLIS, eds., For me, this story conveys three crucial Contributions to taxonomic research on the lessons. Firstly, if conservation organisations British and European flora. Pp. 89–110 + wish to best utilise the commitment and enthu- Plate 1. Botanical Society of the British Isles, siasm of field botanists, extreme secrecy is London. counter-productive. One is unlikely to actively CHEFFINGS, C.M., FARRELL, L., AND EIGHT seek something that one does not believe exists. CO-AUTHORS. (2005). The vascular plant In this particular case, many of us ceased to Red Data List for Great Britain. Species believe in ghosts some time ago! Secondly, Status 7: 1–116. JNCC, Peterborough. even given cunning statistical methods of ETTLINGER, D.M.T. (1998). Illustrations of assessment (e.g. Roberts & Solow 2003), it is British and Irish orchids. Dorking: published extremely difficult to determine whether a by the author. particular species is truly extirpated (or indeed GARNER, P. (2009). Haunted Herefordshire – extinct), making this decision doubly difficult the “Ghost” reappears in Britain after an when dealing with a cryptic obligate mycohet- absence of 23 years. Poster, BSBI Exhibition erotroph that rarely raises its head above the meeting, 21st November 2009. ground. And thirdly, in developing maximally HARRAP, A. & HARRAP, S. (2005). Orchids of objective conservation plans, it is vital to distin- Britain and Ireland. A & C Black, London. guish between extirpation and extinction. Such KOFORD, R.R., DUNNING, J.B. JR, RIBIC, C.A. over-simplifications encourage backlashes that & FINCH, D.M. (1994). A glossary for avian cite exaggeration and ‘crying wolf’ as ongoing conservation biology. The Wilson Bulletin, features of the conservation movement. 106: 121–137. Thus, to proclaim that “one in five wild PLANTLIFE. (2009). The Ghost Orchid Declara- flowers in Great Britain today is at risk of tion: saving the UK’s wild flowers today. 15 pp. extinction” (Plantlife 2005) is ludicrous. By PRIDGEON, A.M., CRIBB, P.L., CHASE, M.W. definition, only endemic species could become & RASMUSSEN, F.N., eds., (2005). Genera truly extinct here, and we possess precious few Orchidacearum 4: 1. of those in our exceptionally youthful and Oxford University Press, Oxford. depauperate post-glacial flora. However, ROBERTS, D.L. & SOLOW, A.R. (2003). Flight- given the ‘double whammy’ of renewed less birds: when did the dodo become population growth in the UK and our particular extinct? Nature 426: 245. vulnerability to climate change, there is much ROY, M, SELOSSE, M.-A., AND SIX CO-AU- greater validity in recasting those threats more THORS. (2009). Ectomycorrhizal accurately in a ‘local’ (?= national) context, species associate with the mycohetetrotroph- and instead issuing a statement that “one in ic orchid Epipogium aphyllum but not its five wild flowers in Great Britain today may be asexual propagules. Annals of Botany 104: at risk of extirpation.” Carelessness with 595–610. concepts and associated terminology risks WELLS, T.C.E, ROTHERY, P., COX, R. & undermining the vital messages contained BAMFORD, S. (2008). Flowering dynamics of within “The Ghost Orchid Declaration”, which Orchis morio L. and Herminium monorchis is at heart a manifesto that deserves massive (L.) R.Br. at two sites in eastern . and sustained support. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 126: 39–48. Notes – Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae in Scotland 11

Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae in Scotland LINDSAY MACKINLAY, National Trust for Scotland, Wemyss House, 28 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4ET. ([email protected]) JIM MCINTOSH, BSBI Scottish Officer, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR. ([email protected]) Over the last few years, Phytophthora as increasing their surveillance. We are also ramorum and P. kernoviae, both serious fungal keen to see more resources put into Rhododen- pathogens, have received increasing publicity dron ponticum agg. control in Scotland, in the UK as their effects upon diseased areas especially around key wildlife sites. The have resulted in severe control methods. The disease could be spread by natural means or by first confirmed report of an infected tree was in management staff and the public – including England in 2003. Although the diseases have BSBI members! been present in the UK for some time now, it Biology of the disease is important we continue to adopt a precau- The disease has been known to infect a wide tionary approach. range of trees and but is particularly To date, it has been recorded at several associated with and heathland locations in Scotland, including several species (Table 1). The susceptibility of each National Trust for Scotland (NTS) gardens, varies, and the two pathogens are known to such as Brodick, Culzean, Inverewe and affect the same species differentially. The Arduaine. In some cases, such as at Brodick, susceptibility of common heathland species is very robust control methods have been shown in Table 2. adopted, including the large-scale removal of The disease is most likely to spread in cool, . This has resulted in a signifi- damp conditions, which may explain why it cant impact on the landscape of these gardens has mainly been recorded from the south west. – many of which are listed on the Inventory of It spreads by the movement of infected plant Gardens and Designed Landscapes. material (alive or dead) or infected soil. It can The outbreak is centred around the west also be transmitted in water, either flowing or coast, especially Argyll, where suitable cool in droplets blowing in the wind. In the USA it and damp conditions for its spread exist, in has been shown to be carried in material addition to easy availability of a key host plant, adhering to hikers’ boots. Typically, in Rhododendron ponticum agg. P. ramorum is Rhododendron, the disease causes a brown to also responsible for ‘sudden death’ in the black discoloration that can spread into the USA. In Scotland, the pathogens have the via the petioles. Further details of the potential to infect a wide range of native and disease and symptoms (including photos) can introduced plants in the Scottish countryside. be found on the Scottish Government website One pathogen (P. kernoviae) has already been and, specifically, at: http://www.fera.defra. recorded in Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry – gov.uk/plants/publications/plantHealth/docum ‘blaeberries’) in Cornwall and Merkland ents/newram.pdf Wood, Arran. Once present in natural or semi- natural habitats it will be very difficult to Table 1. Plant species confirmed susceptible eradicate, and the consequences for native to Phytophthora ramorum or P. kernoviae vegetation, especially heather moorland and Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore) woodland, is uncertain at the moment but has Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring Tree) the very real potential to be devastating. As a Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose) result, organisations like the BSBI Scotland, Rhododendron ponticum (Rhododendron) NTS and Plantlife Scotland have been strongly Rhododendron hybrids recommending that the Scottish Government Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut) do more to control pathogen outbreaks as well Fagus sylvatica (Beech) 12 Notes – Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae in Scotland / Monotropa – acorrection

Quercus ilex (Holm Oak) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry) Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak) Calluna vulgaris (Ling) Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Empetrum nigrum (Crowberry) Fraxinus excelsior (Ash) Erica cinerea (Bell Heather) Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) Erica tetralix (Cross-leaved heath) Salix caprea (Goat ) Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry, Blaeberry) baccata (Yew) Vaccinium vitis-idaea (Cowberry) Table 2. Comparison of the susceptibility of heathland species to Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae Heathland species P. kernoviae susceptibility P. ramorum susceptibility Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Highly susceptible Tolerant Calluna vulgaris Slightly susceptible Highly susceptible Empetrum nigrum Slightly susceptible Resistant Erica cinerea Tolerant Tolerant Erica tetralix Tolerant Tolerant Vaccinium myrtillus Highly susceptible Highly susceptible Vaccinium vitis-idaea Highly susceptible Slightly susceptible

Advice for BSBI members and recorders an infected plant, please report it to the Clearly, those working in and visiting the following agencies: countryside need to be aware of these patho- SEERAD Horticulture and Marketing Unit, Ed- gens. The disease is notifiable and where it has inburgh: (Tel: 0131 244 6303 Fax: 0131 244 been confirmed, whether in a garden normally 6449); ([email protected]) open to the public or in the wider countryside, (Website: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farming quarantined areas will be created and there will rural/Agriculture/plant/17937/Phytophthoras) be public notices. The best advice is to steer Or if you suspect the presence of the disease on well clear of areas where there have been trees you should contact: Forestry Commis- known outbreaks. Wherever boot disinfectant sion Plant Health Service, Edinburgh: facilities are provided you should use them - (Tel: 0131 314 6414 Fax: 0131 314 6148) on entry and exit. You should routinely clean (Website: www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth) footwear, taking care to remove all mud, With thanks to Richard Luxmoore and Jim between field visits - particularly to west coast Wightman (both of NTS), on whose research sites. Finally, if you think you may have seen and guidance this article is based upon. Monotropa – acorrection PHYL ABBOTT, Cedar Croft, 73 Ridgeway, Leeds, LS8 4DD At the end of the article on Monotropa in the (Yellow Bird’s-nest) which appeared in Grass September 2009 issue of BSBI News it is stated Wood, after an absence of a decade, but that: “On the phone Phyl Abbot[t] informed nidus-avis (Bird’s-nest Orchid); and TGE that Grass Wood, Yorkshire, also three spikes is not a very large colony, but produced an unexpected, large colony of better than none. Monotropa this year.” Fortunately both Trevor and I have a sense of Oops! There had obviously been a misunder- humour. I think we’re still friends and we both standing. It wasn’t Monotropa hypopitys apologise for the confusion. Notes – Tubular Water-dropwort on the Sefton Coast sand-dunes 13

Tubular Water-dropwort on the Sefton Coast sand-dunes, Merseyside PHILIP H. SMITH, 9 Hayward Court, Watchyard Lane, Formby, Liverpool, L37 3QP ([email protected]) Introduction slacks and their drainage ditches on what is Tubular Water-dropwort ( fistulosa) now the Sefton Coast. is a perennial member of the carrot family The New flora of South Lancashire (vascular associated with damp or wet habitats on fine- plants section) describes O. fistulosa as once textured, usually fertile soils, often where the frequent along the coast from Ainsdale to land floods in winter. It occurs particularly on Birkdale, but now much reduced in the dune the flood-plains of rivers, in marshes and fens system to a few small populations. Inland, the and in fringing vegetation by rivers, streams, plant has declined significantly, but a few , ditches, and . Found localised populations occur between South- mainly in the eastern half of England, the plant port, Preston and Chorley. There are no recent is very local in Scotland and Wales and records in the Manchester area, where the flowers between July and September (Garrard species was once occasional (D.P. Earl in litt. & Streeter 1983; Southern & Wigginton 2002; 2009). Tutin 1980). The Sefton Coast survey National status Because of its rapid recent decline, O. fistulosa O. fistulosa has appreciably declined in Britain has been targeted for detailed study by the because of drainage and the reseeding of old BSBI’s Threatened Plants Project (TPP). grassland or its conversion to arable agricul- Accordingly, it was decided to conduct a ture, most losses being since 1950. survey of the plant on the Sefton Coast sand- Braithwaite et al. (2006) suggest that this dune system in July 2009. Seven sites at decline may be continuing, as 21% of a sample which this species has been recorded in recent of tetrads lost this species between 1987 and years were visited and data collected using 2004. However, their small sample size means TPP methodology, standard record forms that confidence limits on the above figure are being completed for each site. The target high. They describe O. fistulosa as a small species was not re-discovered at Hightown herb which may have declined as eutrophica- reedbed (SD295.035) and Tagg’s Island, tion and a reduction in grazing have led to Birkdale (SD315.154). A breakdown of site denser, taller swards in sites. details, habitats and colony sizes for the five Southern & Wigginton (2002) give O. fistu- localities where O. fistulosa was found is losa a Change Index of -1.18, while the species shown in Table 1. All are situated in the is listed in the Vascular Plant Red Data Book north-central part of the dune system in four as “Vulnerable”, meaning that it is considered tetrads (21V, 21W, 31B, 31C), within a linear to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild distance of 4.5km. About 1280 plants were (Cheffings & Farrell 2005). counted in a total area of just over 1000m2, the Regional status largest colony numerically being in Birkdale O. fistulosa is notified as a Species of Conser- Sandhills Local Nature Reserve (LNR) slack vation Importance in North West England 14, while the most extensive was found in (Regional Biodiversity Steering Group 1999). Ainsdale Sandhills LNR slack 174. All sites In South Lancashire (v.c.59), this plant is are situated in dune-slacks, most plants being described by Savidge et al. (1963) as “frequent associated with ditches, drains or scrapes but mainly confined to the coastal plain below where human activity has lowered the ground 130m”. These authors also list the plant with surface, creating wetter conditions than would other characteristic species of the moister dune otherwise occur (see Colour Section, Plate 1) 14 Notes – Tubular Water-dropwort on the Sefton Coast sand-dunes

Table 2 lists the 52 vascular plants associated being known from only three sites in the area. with O. fistulosa at the study sites. Those with Indeed, Blanchard considers that O. fistulosa the greatest frequency of occurrence are had only recently become established in Hydrocotyle vulgaris (Marsh Pennywort), Massam’s Slack and had not had time to Mentha aquatica (Water Mint) and Salix spread to other areas. Twenty years later, this repens (Creeping Willow) (5 occurrences), species had markedly reduced in quantity, Rubus caesius (Dewberry) (4) and nigra except in the wettest parts of the slack, which (Common Sedge), Equisetum fluviatile (Water was becoming dryer and showing signs of Horsetail), E. palustre (Marsh Horsetail), becoming colonised by scrub (Knowles 1971). Ranunculus flammula (Lesser Spearwort) and Perhaps the last record of O. fistulosa there is Salix cinerea (Grey Willow) (3). All are that of Edmondson et al. (1988/89) who list common species in wet or semi-aquatic slacks this species in a 1988 Target Note for a scrape on the Sefton Coast (Smith 2009). Unsurpris- in Massam’s Slack. During the late 20th ingly, the largest number of associates (23 century, the slack was progressively destroyed species) was found in the large slack 174, by coastal erosion and sand-blow (Smith, while only nine were recorded at the small 2009) and O. fistulosa is no longer found there. scrape in slack 43. In recent times, the plant has been recorded Discussion mainly in the Ainsdale-Birkdale dunes, though The above findings accord with the published I have one record outside this area at Hightown dunes in a transitional zone between a reed- information on the habitat of O. fistulosa, in th particular its association with seasonally bed and salt-marsh on 20 July 1982. The flooded sites and the edges of ditches, ponds, present study shows that this site is now too etc., though this species is not specifically dry and too densely colonised by Phragmites listed as a component of dune-slack vegetation australis (Common Reed) to support O. fistu- by Rodwell (2000). Ellenberg indicator values losa. The New flora of South Lancashire show that the plant requires well-lit or partially database has two records for the Tagg’s Island shaded sites (L = 7), water-saturated soils (F = area of Birkdale dunes (Anon. 1998; D.P & J. 9), weakly acid to weakly basic conditions (R Earl 2000) but, although there still appears to = 7), sites of intermediate fertility (N = 6) and be some suitable habitat, I was unable to refind is absent from saline sites (S = 0) (Hill et al. O. fistulosa at this locality. 2004). These requirements are consistent with Edmondson et al. (1993) list O. fistulosa as the species’ habitat in Sefton Coast sand-dune well-established in wet slacks and scrapes in . Ainsdale NNR and Ainsdale & Birkdale There is relatively little information on the Sandhills LNR, but do not give locations. It history of O. fistulosa on the Sefton Coast, was not recorded during Smith’s (1983) survey though it may well have been much commoner of the Birkdale frontal dunes, but was present in the distant past. Thus, Hall (1838) writes twenty years later in the slack 43 scrape, where “In ponds and ditches, very common”, while it was first recorded in July, 2003 (Smith Dickinson’s (1851) description is almost 2006). The slack 14 site at Birkdale has been identical: “In ponds and ditches, common”. known for about 20 years, but the Ainsdale In her detailed study of dune-slack flora, NNR and LNR sites were first noted as Blanchard (1952) describes the plant as one of recently as July 2004, while the Green Beach the most abundant and successful species in drain was not colonised until 2007. the freshwater marsh community of Massam’s Conservation Slack in what later became Ainsdale Sand The locations of all current Sefton Coast Dunes National Nature Reserve (NNR). This colonies are protected by SSSI/Natura 2000 large slack was then about 50 years old and designations and benefit from management often flooded deeply in the winter. However, structures within an NNR or LNR. At most O. fistulosa was evidently quite localised, sites, habitat condition appears favourable for Notes – Tubular Water-dropwort on the Sefton Coast sand-dunes 15

O. fistulosa and, although quantitative data are EDMONDSON, S.E., GATELEY, P.S. & NISSEM- lacking, the plant appears to have increased at BAUM, D.A. (1988/89). National sand dune several of the localities in recent years. It also vegetation survey: the Sefton Coast. Report seems readily to colonise suitable adjacent no. 917. Nature Conservancy Council, Peter- new habitat, such as the drain pond at Birkdale borough. Green Beach, which is only about five years GARRARD, I & STREETER, D. (1983). The wild old (personal observations). Indeed, it is flowers of the British Isles. Macmillan, evident that, without the presence of excavated London. ditches, scrapes and ponds, O. fistulosa would HALL, T.B. (1838). The flora of Liverpool. be much rarer or extinct on the Sefton Coast. Whitaker & Co., London. However, like many other wetland plants, it HILL, M.O., PRESTON, C.D. & ROY, D.B. may be susceptible to natural slack infilling, (2004). PLANTATT: attributes of British and vegetation maturation and atmospheric Irish plants: status, size, life history, geogra- nitrogen deposition (Smith 2009). For phy and habitats. CEH, Monks Wood, example, the Ainsdale NNR slack 17 ditch is Cambridge. being colonised by Salix cinerea, which may KNOWLES, B. (NÉE BLANCHARD) (1971). Visit soon smother the O. fistulosa colonies. It is by Dr Barbara Knowles to Ainsdale NNR, intended that the bushes will be removed in the September 8th – 10th 1971. Ainsdale Sand near future by volunteers. At all sites, the Dunes NNR archive. maintenance of the dune water-table and REGIONAL BIODIVERSITY STEERING GROUP control of competitive vegetation, such as (1999). A Biodiversity Audit of North West willow-scrub and tall herbaceous plants, will England. 2 vols. Environmental Advisory be beneficial to this species’ future status on Service, Maghull. the Sefton Coast. RODWELL, J.S. (2000). British Plant Commu- Acknowledgements: nities, Vol. 5.: maritime communities and I am grateful to Patricia Lockwood and Mike vegetation of open habitats. Cambridge Wilcox for assistance with field work. University Press, Cambridge. SAVIDGE, J.P., HEYWOOD, V.H. & GORDON, References: V. (eds.) (1963). Travis’s flora of South BLANCHARD, B. (1952). An ecological survey Lancashire. Liverpool Botanical Society, of the vegetation of the sand-dune system of Liverpool. the south west Lancashire coast, with special SMITH, P.H. (1983). Ecology and management reference to an associated marsh flora. of Birkdale frontal dunes, Merseyside. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Liverpool. Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, BRAITHWAITE, M.E., ELLIS, R.W. & PRESTON, Bootle. C.D. (2006). Change in the British flora, SMITH, P.H. (2006). Changes in the floristic 1987-2004. BSBI, London. composition of sand-dune slacks over a CHEFFINGS, C.M. & FARRELL, L. (2005). The twenty year period. Watsonia 26: 41-49. vascular plant red data list for Great Britain. SMITH, P.H. (2009). The sands of time revisit- JNCC, Peterborough. ed: an introduction to the sand-dunes of the DICKINSON, J. (1851). The flora of Liverpool. Sefton Coast. Amberley Publishing, Stroud. Deighton & Laughton, Liverpool. SOUTHAM, M. & WIGGINTON, M.J. (2002). EDMONDSON, S.E., EDMONDSON, M.R., Oenanthe fistulosa (Tubular Water-drop- GATELEY, P.S., ROONEY, P.J. & SMITH, P.H. wort). In: C.D.PRESTON, D.A.PEARMAN & (1993). Flowering plants (Angiospermae). T.D.DINES, (eds.) New atlas of the British & In: D. ATKINSON & J. HOUSTON, (eds.) The Irish flora, p. 462. Oxford University Press, Sand Dunes of the Sefton Coast, pp. 109-118. Oxford. National Museums & Galleries on Mersey- TUTIN, T.G. (1980). Umbellifers of the British side, Liverpool. Isles. BSBI, London. 16 Notes – Tubular Water-dropwort on the Sefton Coast sand-dunes

Table 1. Site and colony information from the Sefton Coast survey of O. fistulosa Site Grid Ref. Approx. Approx. Habitat (SD) no. of area occu- plants pied (m2) Ainsdale Sandhills LNR 296.120 230 785 Large wet-slack and slack 174 small scrape Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR 288.108 110 20 Old ditch in wet- slack 17 slack Birkdale Green Beach 303.138 170 13 Small drain pond surface-water drain Birkdale Sandhills LNR 305.141 300 15 Small scrape in wet- slack 43 slack Birkdale Sandhills LNR 305.141 470 188 Scrape and drain in slack 14 large wet-slack Total 1280 1021

Table 2. Relative abundance of vascular plants associated with O. fistulosa on the Sefton Coast r = rare; o = occasional; f = frequent; a = abundant; d = dominant; l = locally. Numbers refer to slacks. a, b = separate samples. GB = Birkdale Green Beach drain pond.

Taxon English name 174 17 GB 43 14a 14b Total occurrence Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent-grass f f 2 Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain r 1 Apium nodiflorum Fool’s Watercress f 1 Berula erecta Lesser Water-parsnip a 1 Caltha palustris Marsh-marigold o 1 Carex disticha Brown Sedge a 1 Carex nigra Common Sedge a a a 3 Centaurium erythraea Common Centaury o 1 Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle o 1 Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass r 1 Eleocharis palustris Common Spike-rush lf a 2 hirsutum Great Willowherb o lf 2 Epilobium palustre Marsh Willowherb f 1 Epilobium parviflorum Hoary Willowherb r 1 Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail la 1 Equisetum fluviatile Water Horsetail a a a 3 Equisetum palustre Marsh Horsetail a f o 3 Equisetum ×litorale Shore Horsetail o 1 nemorosa Eyebright o 1 Notes – Tubular Water-dropwort on the Sefton Coast sand-dunes 17

Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet o 1 palustre Marsh Bedstraw o r 2 Hydrocotyle vulgaris Marsh Pennywort f f o f o 5 Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked lf 1 St. John’s-wort Jointed Rush o 1 Lotus corniculatus Bird’s-foot-trefoil f 1 Lycopus europaeus Gypsywort o 1 Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife o f 2 Mentha aquatica Water Mint oooof 5 Oenanthe crocata Hemlock Water-dropwort 1 Persicaria amphibia Amphibious Bistort a 1 Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass r 1 Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass o 1 Potentilla anserina Silverweed o 1 Potentilla palustris Marsh Cinquefoil a 1 vulgaris Selfheal r 1 Pulicaria dysenterica Common Fleabane f 1 Ranunculus flammula Lesser Spearwort o o o 3 Ranunculus lingua Greater Spearwort f 1 Ranunculus repen Creeping Buttercup o1 Rubus caesius Dewberry oo oa4 Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock o 1 Rumex crispus Curled Dock r o 2 Salix cinerea Grey Willow ld r r 3 Salix repens Creeping Willowlalfooo5 Salix ×friesiana Hybrid Willow la 1 Samolus valerandi Brookweed f 1 Schoenoplectus Grey Club-rush f a 2 tabernaemontani Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet o 1 Trifolium repens White Clover f 1 Typha latifolia Bulrush o r 1 Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch o 1 Total taxa: 52 23 22 11 9 10 10 18 Notes – Bisexuality in Salix ×friesiana on the Sefton Coast

Bisexuality in Salix ×friesiana on the Sefton Coast (v.c.59: South Lancashire) PHILIP H. SMITH, 9 Hayward Court, Watchyard Lane, Formby, Liverpool, L37 3QP ([email protected]) and poplars (Salicaceae) are charac- Salix myrsinifolia,with 600 specimens out of teristically dioecious, with male and female over 3300 investigated showing this character. flowers (catkins) on separate plants. I was Over a period of nine years, many marked therefore surprised on 16th April 2009, when individuals that were originally monosexual visiting a population of the rare hybrid Salix became bisexual. He states that, until recently, ×friesiana (S. repens × S. viminalis (Creeping bisexuality was rare, only 2.3% of 1887 Willow × Osier)) at Cabin Hill National examples of this taxon in herbaria showing Nature Reserve near Formby, to find a bush bisexual catkins. Subsequently, Rottenberg with bisexual catkins (at O.S. grid ref.: (2007) found an “extraordinary” polygamous SD28412.05082). This individual was essen- population of S. acmophylla in , where tially female, but, in a sample of 103 catkins, all individuals are bisexual. The Neotropical 35 (34%) showed bisexual characters, the top willow S. martiana is habitually monoecious of the catkin being female and the base male (Rohwer & Kubitzki 1984). In , with a fairly sharp horizontal division between where introduced willows are becoming a the two sexes. Styles, stigmas, filaments and major ecological problem, bisexuality is anthers appeared normal, but the proportion of described as quite widespread, especially in male and female sections varied, some catkins hybrids, such as S. ×sepulcralis, S. × pendulina having more of one sex than the other (see and S. matsudana × S. alba, but also S. aegyp- plates). This bush was one of several hybrid tiaca and some forms of S. alba (Cremer willows retained when a 1ha dune-slack was 2003). Falinski (1998) does not consider that cleared of dense scrub, mainly S. cinerea bisexuality is necessarily associated with (Grey Willow), in November/December 2005 hybridisation. Neither, however, is he able to (Smith & Kimpton 2008). Only one of 29 provide a convincing explanation for its occur- bushes known to be of this taxon in the vicinity rence, suggesting “anthropogenic influences in had bisexual catkins, and I have not previously the environment that are hard to identify at noticed this feature in about 200 bushes of present” or “pressures to which individuals S. ×friesiana studied in recent years on the and populations of the given species on the Sefton Coast (see Colour Section, Plate 2). edge of its geographical range are subject.” A (limited) literature search provides While bisexuality in willows has been conflicting evidence on the frequency of this described since the early 19th Century (Falinski phenomenon. Thus, in his comprehensive 1998), it seems to be relatively rare in most “Handbook” Meikle (1984) makes no mention taxa, though it may be increasing in frequency. of bisexual catkins but does refer to androgyny I should be particularly interested to hear of (i.e.: mixed male and female flowers) in Salix any other examples in S. repens and its hybrids ×pendulina and S. × sepulcralis. Stace (1997) known to readers. states: “Bisexual catkins are not rare, Acknowledgements: especially in hybrids, including some of those I am grateful to Mike Wilcox for helpful ad- noted as ‘female only’”. Newsholme (1992) vice and references, including a copy of finds that: “exceptionally, the flowers of one Falinski’s paper. catkin may be bisexual, or catkins may produce both male and female flowers, as References: sometimes occurs in S. aegyptiaca.” In a CREMER, K.W. (2003). Introduced willows detailed paper, Falinski (1998) describes an can become invasive pests. Biodiversity 4(4): increasing frequency of bisexuality in Polish 17-24. Notes – Bisexuality in Salix ×friesiana on the Sefton Coast / Mutant Bee Orchid 19

FALINSKI, J.B. (1998). Androgyny of individu- tion. Plant Systematics and Evolution 268: als and polygamy in populations of Salix 257-260. myrsinifolia Salisb. in the south-western part ROHWER, J. & KUBITZKI, K. (1984). Salix of its geographical range (N.E.Poland). martiana, a regularly hermaphrodite willow. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution Plant Systematics and Evolution 144: 99-101. and Systematics 1(2): 238-266. SMITH, P.H. & KIMPTON, A. (2008). Effects of MEIKLE, R.D. (1984). Willows and poplars of grey willow (Salix cinerea) removal on the Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook floristic diversity of a wet dune-slack at no. 4. Botanical Society of the British Isles, Cabin Hill National Nature Reserve on the London. Sefton Coast, Merseyside, England. Conser- NEWSHOLME, C. (1992). Willows – the vation Evidence 5: 6-11. Salix. B.T. Batsford, London. STACE, C.A. (1997). New flora of the British ROTTENBERG, A. (2007). Fertility and sexual Isles. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, structure in a polygamous willow popula- Cambridge.

Mutant Bee Orchid MARY SMITH, 33 Gaynes Park Road, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2HJ; ([email protected])

Reading the interesting article titled flowers, so annual checking will need to be ‘Teratology – a revival?’ by John Presland in done for several more years yet. BSBI News 112, September 2009, I was I assume the self- that happens in reminded of a find a few years ago. this species across the UK would allow Three pictures of this strange plant (see production of many kinds of mutants fairly inside Front Cover) were taken by my husband frequently, and this is indeed so, at least in on 20th June 2007, at TQ5720.8245 in Belhus comparison with other Ophrys taxa (see partic- Woods Country Park, near Aveley, South ularly Orchids of Europe, North and the Essex (v.c.18). One of the rangers had pointed Middle East by Pierre Delforge, A&C Black, it out to me, and he wanted to know what it 2006). The mutant depicted here is not shown was. It grew by a stony path on sandy soil with or mentioned in this book. The same species little vegetation, among several normal Bee grows in the Mediterranean area, where the Orchids. Bee Orchids often appear in various Eucera (the pollinating insect) live. sparsely vegetated places in the Park. Delforge says that the flowers are often self- At first glance, from a distance, it looked like pollinated across its entire range, but clearly a small Lily, but closer inspection showed it sometimes the bees do the job. Do the was a Bee Orchid with 6 identical pink tepals, Mediterranean plants produce far fewer 3 outer and 3 inner, just like a Lily, and with mutations than are seen in UK? I would be no ‘bee’ or diminutive petals. The column was interested to know if anyone has any informa- normal and the flower was self-pollinating in tion on this aspect. the usual way, as can clearly be seen in the I live only about 3 miles from the site. I have picture. All the flowers lower down the stem botanised most of the surrounding area for were the same, but not yet fully open. The several miles in each direction, and elsewhere mutant was probably one of the type described in South Essex, over the last decade. Although as peloria, but I am open to correction here. I I have encountered many Bee Orchids, I have was not able to check it later in the season, so never seen a mutation of a Bee Orchid like this I do not know if seed was set. Looking in the before or since. Has anyone else ever seen one same area each year since has produced of these? nothing abnormal, but I am not sure how long the seeds take to form plantlets and later 20 Notes – Ophrys apifera in Kirkcudbright! / Anthoxanthum nitens : a habitat correction

Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid) in The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright! TONY BARBOUR, 8 Lovers’ Walk, Dumfries, DG1 1LP As an amateur wildlife enthusiast, I have a Pollitt, we made a careful count of ninety particular love of plants. On my annual visit flowering spikes! I was delighted to read to in May 2009 I found and photo- “absent in Scotland” in the first reference book graphed about thirteen species of wild orchid, we consulted. However, only days later, The some of which seemed to be doing particularly Times of 13th June reported that, amongst well after a more than usually wet winter. In various native orchids doing well for a variety June I visited some sites in Galloway where I of reasons, “for the first time the fabulous bee had seen orchids in the past, including on the orchid is spreading into Scotland” and that 9th an impressive stand of some 150 Northern “global warming may be behind exotic reviv- Marsh Orchids spotted while driving past al”. them in 2008. My attention was drawn to a My delight at perhaps being the first person bare patch of ground nearby and I realised to to spot these orchids in our region is tinged my astonishment that I was looking at a with unease at this local evidence of a climate flowering spike of Ophrys apifera (Bee change which may be the harbinger of more Orchid) (see inside Front Cover). This struck drastic and unfortunate effects yet to come. me as rather exotic for our region, although I Nevertheless, the discovery of this stunning knew the species was found further south, and orchid on my doorstep in South West Scotland a similar orchid is on my Turkish list. was the cause of considerable excitement. I On further inspection I counted roughly have of course sent photos to my friends in seventy plants, and on returning with the head Turkey. of Dumfries and Galloway E.R.C., Mark

Anthoxanthum nitens (Weber) Y. Schouten & Veldk. (Hierochloe odorata L.) (Holy-grass): a habitat correction ROD CORNER, ‘Hawthornhill’, 36 Wordsworth Street, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7QZ Having received my copy of the very fine new remained as a large stable and healthy colony. Grasses of the British Isles by Tom Cope and It is situated on the fertile alluvium beside an Alan Gray, (BSBI Handbook 13), I naturally old, deep drainage channel, and, although turned to look at the treatments of the rarer there are the remains of a small much modified species which I know. I was sorry to see that raised mire set back from the channel, the some of the old Latin names had been replaced Hierochloe can hardly be described as being by unfamiliar less descriptive ones and of associated with the acid conditions of the mire. course Hierochloe odorata, now Anthoxan- I have been unhappy with the “raised mire” thum nitens,comes into that category. A list of description since it was originally published in its varied habitats is given, including “raised the Red Data Book and should really have ”, presumably referring to Alan Gray’s mentioned this before. It was only when I read account in British Red Data Book: 1 Vascular the account in the new grass book that I felt it Plants, 3rd edition, compiled and edited by should be corrected. I have been in touch with M.J. Wigginton (1999), where the habitat of Alan Gray and he tells me that, at his early visit “raised mire” is given for the Ale Water site in to the site, the full extent of the colony was not Selkirkshire (v.c.79). apparent, and added that he was not sure where I have known this Ale Water site since 1965, the notion of the grass being in a raised bog when I first discovered it there, and it has came from originally. It was not his phrase. Notes – Meadow restoration works and arable plants at Ferndown LNR, Clayton, Staffordshire 21

Meadow restoration works and arable plants at Ferndown LNR, Clayton, Staffordshire BILL WALLER, 53 Gravelly Bank, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 7EF;([email protected]) This article describes meadow restoration Due to the poor weather conditions in 2008, techniques at Stafford Borough Council’s the field was not sown until April 2009. By “Ferndown” Local Nature Reserve (LNR), July the field was growing nicely and included between 2007 and 2009. The site consists of some surprise finds: Centaurea cyanus 6.5ha of amenity and rough grassland, with (Cornflower), Agrostemma githago (Corn areas of scrub and woodland. Cockle) and Chrysanthemum segetum (Corn The most obvious solution to developing and Marigold). The company providing the seed enhancing the site was to work on the grass- were asked if it was possible that their mix was land. This included one amenity field mown contaminated with the above. They answered regularly, plus other areas of coarse grasses that this was not the case, but the County that had not been managed in any way for over Recorders for v.cc.39 and 40 both suspected thirty years. The latter areas consisted mainly that this “ideal” combination must have come of Arrhenatherum elatius (False-oat), Rumex from the seed provided. Many other arable acetosa (Sorrel) and Urtica dioica (Nettle). plants appeared, including Viola arvensis The mown field had provided better conditions (Field Pansy), Spergula arvensis (Corn for finer grasses such as Cynosurus cristatus Spurrey), convolvulus (Black (Crested Dog’s-tail) and Anthoxanthum Bindweed), (Field Forget- odoratum (Sweet Vernal-grass), and had some me-not), Chaenorhinum minus (Small pratensis (Lady’s Smock) and Toadflax) and arvensis (Scarlet Carex flacca (Glaucous Sedge). Pimpernel). Of greatest interest was the The first step in management was to take a discovery in early August of Lithospermum summer hay cut in August 2007. It was decided arvense (Field Gromwell). This was only the that trying to encourage species rich meadows by second record for Field Gromwell in Stafford- just taking a hay cut could be a very slow process, shire. Was it possible that the soil inversion with no guarantee of success. This was followed had unearthed a long dormant seed bank? The therefore by sowing seed from Rhinanthus minor fields were originally enclosed in the (Yellow-rattle) to help improve diversity. The nineteenth century with a history of arable use Yellow-rattle took well in the formerly mown until the early 1960s. Due to the presence of field, but very poorly in the rougher grassland. In rare arable plants it was decided to amend the 2008, the site was awarded funding from management plan and plough a strip every Breathing Spaces for further restoration works. autumn in the hope of maintaining them. It was decided to create nutrient-poor conditions Of note, Amaranthus retroflexus (Common on the central area of rough grassland by Amaranth) and Guizotia abyssinica (Niger) inverting the soil profile, burying 400mm of were also recorded in this area, and must have topsoil beneath the clay subsoil. This meant we had their origin from the nearby bird feeding had to then sow a wildflower seed mix. A local station. company was chosen to provide an appropriate On the former field of amenity grassland, a mix that included species already found on site good population of Yellow-rattle developed. like Centaurea nigra (Black Knapweed), Vicia This area appeared to provide the right condi- cracca (Tufted Vetch) and tions to try green hay-strewing from the donor (Yarrow). Of botanical interest, a colony of site, Mottey Meadows SSSI. In July, three (Broad-leaved Helle- bales of green hay were spread, with plenty of borine) was found in the main wooded area at help from local volunteers. We will monitor this time. how all the fields develop in the coming years. 22 Notes – Lycopodium annotinum on fallen Pinus sylvestris in Abernethy Forest,

Lycopodium annotinum (Interrupted Clubmoss) growing on fallen Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) in Abernethy Forest, Scotland ANDY AMPHLETT, RSPB, Abernethy National Nature Reserve, Forest Lodge, Nethybridge, Inverness-shire, PH25 3EF In Britain, Lycopodium annotinum frequencies in more natural forests in Scandi- (Interrupted Clubmoss) is a nationally scarce navia and north-western Russia are at least 10 species, recorded from 88 hectads post 1987 times those currently found in Abernethy (Preston et al. 2002). Apart from a single (e.g.: Rouvinen et al. 2002; Karjalainen & recent record from northern England, it is Kuuluvainen 2002; Edman & Jonsson 2001; restricted to the Highlands of Scotland. In the Jonsson 2000). RSPB management at Cairngorms area, it is most frequent in heath- Abernethy seeks to increase dead wood land within a rather narrow altitudinal band, volumes towards those expected in forests from c.750 to c.900m A.O.D. In Strathspey, with a more natural structure. This is being on the north-western flank of the Cairngorms, achieved through non-intervention in semi- L. annotinum is also occasionally found in natural areas of the forest, and active creation native Caledonian pinewoods and plantation of dead wood in former Scots pine planta- Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) woodland. In tions. As large sized fallen dead wood , L. annotinum ssp. annotinum is increases in frequency, we may gain a greater mainly a forest plant, and is rare in open understanding whether such regeneration heathland where it is replaced by ssp. alpestre niches are a currently under-represented (Jonsell 2000). alpestre is not feature in the forest. confirmed from Britain. References: Abernethy Forest is the largest of the EDMAN, M. & JONSSON, B.G. (2001). Spatial remnant Caledonian pinewoods, and in the pattern of downed logs and wood-decaying RSPB Abernethy National Nature Reserve, fungi in an old growth Picea abies forest. J. 13 stands of L. annotinum at 10 locations are of Veg. Sci. 12: 609-620. currently known, within c.4000ha of JONSELL, B. (ed.) (2000).Flora Nordica, vol. woodland. Median area for 11 stands, 1. Stockholm. measured between 2004 and 2009, was 10m2 ONSSON 2 J , B.G. (2000). Availability of coarse (range 1 – 512m ). woody debris in a boreal old-growth Picea In November 2009, while surveying abies forest. J. of Veg. Sci. 11: 51-56. with Oliver Moore, we came ARJALAINEN UULUVAINEN 2 K , L. & K , T. across a new site for L. annotinum. A c.1m (2002). Amount and diversity of coarse patch was growing on the trunk of a large woody debris within a boreal forest windblown Scots Pine (see Colour Section, landscape dominated by Pinus sylvestris in Plate 1). The Lycopodium was growing a Vienansalo wilderness, eastern Fennoscan- little above the -plate, where the top of the dia. Silva Fennica 36: 147-167. trunk was c.75cm above the surrounding PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A. & DINES, ground. It had clearly germinated and T.D. 2002. New atlas of the British & Irish become established on the downed log, and flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford. on one side had reached the ground, ROUVINEN, S., KUULUVAINEN, T. & becoming established there (lower right of KARJALAINEN, L. (2000). Coarse woody photo). I can find no records in the literature debris in old Pinus sylvestris forests along a of L. annotinum growing in such a situation. geographic and human impact gradient in Abernethy Forest is of exceptional impor- boreal Fennoscandia. Can. J. For. Res. 32: tance for its dead wood dependent fauna and 2184-2200. flora. However, dead wood volumes and Notes – Giving a Co. Carlow hawkweed a little helping hand / Juncus acutiflorus –a disappearing act? 23

Giving a Co. Carlow hawkweed a little helping hand PAUL R. GREEN, 46 Bewley Street, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland ([email protected]) Megan Morris sent me a text saying she had down to cut the ivy. We went to the nearest found a hawkweed on a river bridge in Co. house, which had an extremely large vegetable Carlow. To her amazement I replied that she garden adjoining the river bank by the bridge, must be at Killedmond. I had not told her that to ask the lady living there if she had a billhook I had a copy of The Flora of Co. Carlow she could lend us. With the three of us at work (Booth 1979) in front of me. the ivy was soon cleared and the Hawkweed A year later Megan was again doing her now has a chance of survival again. freshwater pearl mussel survey of the The owner of the vegetable garden ran it as Mountain River near Killedmond and found to an organic business and when the council had her surprise that the ivy was now hanging come along to spray the ivy from the bridge down the side of the bridge like a curtain, she had stopped them because of her business shading out the hawkweed. A few days later, interests, not wanting the spray to drift onto on 26th September 2009, Megan returned to the her vegetable garden. bridge, this time with me, and we were able to It is very pleasing to think a member of the confirm that it was sabaudum (as public had stood up to the council and that in Booth had named it in her Flora), as it matched the future she will keep an eye on the the material we took along that I had grown in hawkweed. my garden from seed from a Co. Wexford site. Reference: We were armed with a pair of secateurs, but BOOTH, E.M. (1979). The flora of Co. Carlow. neither of us had long enough arms to reach Royal Dublin Society, Dublin. Juncus acutiflorus –a disappearing act? ANGUS HANNAH, Glenmore, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, PA20 0QU;([email protected]) In response to Mike Wilcox’s plea (BSBI News J. acutiflorus material. (Mike has since told me 113: 7-8), I have been searching on Bute for that he is still awaiting his first sight of this convincing specimens of J. acutiflorus (Sharp- (allegedly common) species.) flowered Rush) in fruit, and have failed to find I should add that J. articulatus (Jointed Rush) a single one. This despite having recorded the is a common but very much less abundant plant in 136 of the 154 1km squares on the species on Bute, and is restricted to localities island. When fruiting heads are inspected in with some degree of base-enrichment and autumn it is apparent that in every case many significant water movement. It is a well-de- capsules have failed to develop at all, and those fined taxon, which does not appear to intro- that have are usually empty or malformed. A gress, and always has well-formed capsules and small proportion of plants have a few fruits of apparently good seed. It is also perhaps worth passable acutiflorus type, and it would be inter- noting that J. ×surrejanus shows great morpho- esting to know if these contain viable seed, and logical variety, possibly linked to habitat. There whether they would in turn produce fertile is a type of with branches offspring. Be that as it may, it is clear that the diverging at about right angles, found on large extensive swathes of a jointed-type rush that plants often in fen-like conditions, and a type clothe so many hollows and slopes in Bute with very acute angles between the branches, should be re-recorded as J. ×surrejanus (hybrid usually found on much smaller plants on slopes. of Sharp-flowered and Jointed Rush), and that Between these extremes there is a range of my records for J. acutiflorus should be deleted. intermediates, and I have found no convincing As to other areas, I await with interest Mike’s link between morphology and forma- report on the results of his request for true tion. 24 Notes – Rock Sea-lavender Limonium recurvum at Rhosneigr, Anglesey

Rock Sea-lavender Limonium recurvum at Rhosneigr, Anglesey E. IVOR S. REES, Carreg y Gad, Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, LL61 5JH; ([email protected]) Limonium binervosum agg. (Rock Sea-lav- places near Rhosneigr for other maritime ender) plants with rough scapes have been species so, although only Anglesey was found alongside others with smooth scapes given on the herbarium sheet, his 19th near Rhosneigr, on the south-west coast of century specimen may have come from the Anglesey (v.c.52). In the key by Ingrouille Crigyll estuary locality. A note was later & Stace (1986), scape roughness is one of added to the herbarium sheet by C.E. Salmon the features discriminating the L. recurvum refuting the original identification, probably part of the aggregate from those in the L. by comparison with plants from the species procerum / britannicum part, the latter two type locality (Portland, Dorset) and before being the only ones previously recorded in the propensity by L. binervosum agg. to Anglesey. Biomolecular evidence quoted by develop many local microtaxa was fully Ingrouille (2006) showed the local microspe- realised. cies of L. recurvum to be well separated from Four subspecies of L. recurvum were the overlapping L. procerum and L. britan- recognised in the British Isles by Ingrouille nicum ones, and thus likely to remain a valid & Stace (1986). L. recurvum humile, whose species after the expected re-grouping of type locality is St Bees, Cumbria, is others. Searches in 2009 showed that about geographically the closest to Anglesey. a fifth of the L. binervosum agg. inflores- Comparison with specimens in the Lancaster cences in the sandy saltmarshes of the Afon University herbarium shows the Rhosneigr Crigyll estuary near Rhosneigr had rough ones have similar branching patterns and leaf scapes. They were found in all four of the shapes, but much shorter spikes than those tetrads that intersect here, most being in from the St Bees. Ingrouille & Stace (1986) monad SH3174 (see Colour Section, Plate 2). indicated that sometimes this sub-species has With experience, clumps of L. recurvum very short spikes and recognised three varie- could be recognised at a distance by the ties. They included drawings of some of the denser clustering of the inflorescences, variants of L. recurvum, of which that shown before checking by feeling the scapes (see from Malin Head, Donegal has most Colour Section, Plate 2). Typically the inflo- similarity to the Anglesey plants. Given the rescences were <15cm high and usually had distances from the other localities, biomo- sterile branches in the lower half. At each lecular evidence would be needed to deter- node the lead section of scape often deviated mine where the Anglesey ones might fit into more than the branch so causing it to zig-zag. a biogeographic hierarchy of microtaxa. The spikes were short (8-12mm) and often Acknowledgements: sub-divided or at least turned down at an I am grateful to Ian Bonner for encouraging angle where partially sub-division occurred. me to seek out and try to discriminate the Although rough scape plants were not colonies of Sea-lavender in Anglesey. noticed in the Crigyll estuary until 2006, Martin Ingrouille confirmed from images there is a herbarium sheet in the National that the rough scape plants at Rhosneigr were Museum of Wales with a specimen showing a form of L. recurvum. Tim Rich drew my marked resemblance to the ones now attention to the disputed 19th century ascribed to L. recurvum. This was originally herbarium specimen in the National Museum labelled as Statice recurvum when collected th of Wales and provided photos of it. Geoffrey from Anglesey in the late 19 century by J.E. Halliday made available Lancaster Univer- Griffith. Griffith (1895) mentioned several Notes – Limonium recurvum at Rhosneigr (v.c.52) / Flora of railway banks / Roadside botany 25 sity herbarium specimens of L. recurvum the British & European flora. Botanical humile from St Bees, Cumbria. Society of the British Isles, London. Pp. References: 71-88. INGOUILLE, M.J. & STACE, C. (1986). The GRIFFITH, J.E. (1895). The flora of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire. Bangor. Limonium binervosum aggregate (Plumbaginaceae) in the British Isles. INGROUILLE, M.J. (2006). What use is sex? Rock sea-lavenders (Limonium binervo- Botanical Journal of the Linnaean Society 92: 177-217. sum agg.) revisited. In: BAILEY, J. & ELLIS, R.G. (eds). Current taxonomic research on

On the flora of railway banks R. M. PAYNE, F.L.S., 60 Waters Edge, Westcliff, Essex, SSO 7RH

Like Jean Combes (BSBI News 112: 9, Septem- species. But I cannot agree with her that either ber, 2009), I am also a diligent observer of Conyza canadensis (Canadian Fleabane) or plants from train windows, since I no longer Solidago canadensis (Canadian Goldenrod) drive a car. But there are limitations as to what can be identified without close examination. can be identified from a moving train. In south In this part of England the usual Conyza is Essex the frequent masses of Fallopia balds- sumatrensis (Guernsey Fleabane), but I would chuanica (Russian Vine), when in flower, are not name any Conyza without examining its an easy species to identify, as of course are inflorescence; and Solidago canadensis can Chamerion angustifolium (Rosebay Willow- certainly not be distinguished from the equally herb), Cytisus scoparius (Broom), Hedera common S. gigantea (Early Goldenrod) from a helix (Ivy), Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken), train window. Betula pendula (Silver Birch) and some other

Roadside botany SIMON J. LEACH, Natural England, Riverside Chambers, Castle Street, Taunton, , TA1 4AP; ([email protected])

Better for the environment, yes; but I have to though, and it’s true that some less conspic- take issue with Jean Combes, who thinks that uous species do tend to get overlooked. rail travel is botanically superior to road, as Plantago coronopus (Buck’s-horn Plantain) “car drivers must obviously focus on the road and Catapodium marinum (Sea Fern-grass), ahead, so they miss most of the roadside for example, can easily slip below the radar, plants” (BSBI News 112: 9). even at speeds as slow as 30mph. Don’t you believe it, Jean! With a bit of But roadside botany is, indeed, a hazardous practice, and a measure of good fortune, it is business. On one occasion, having parked on perfectly possible to do botany while at the the edge of the busy A38 near Exeter, I leapt wheel of a car. Being a passenger on such out of the car to take a closer look at the grassy journeys requires nerves of steel, of course, but verge and promptly walked (head first) into a the rewards can be enormous. How many large metal signpost. And as the world began records of Bassia scoparia (Summer-cypress), to spin, passing motorists, who were clearly Echinochloa crus-galli (Cockspur) and amused at my misfortune – but probably Puccinellia distans (Reflexed Saltmarsh- unaware of the Spergularia marina (Lesser grass), to name but three, would have been Sea-spurrey) at my feet – hooted their horns in missed had botanists been properly concen- delight. trating on the traffic ahead? Jean has a point 26 Notes –Glaux maritima as a roadside halophyte / Gonocarpus – native of Ireland with a bipolar distribution

Glaux maritima (Sea-milkwort) as a roadside halophyte MARTIN ROBINSON, Dalreoch Farm, Enochdhu, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 7PF On 23rd August 2009 Leslie Tucker and I were Meadow-grass), Juncus articulatus (Jointed walking back down the A93 towards our Rush), J. bufonius (Toad Rush), Plantago vehicles, about 1.5 miles north of Spittal of major (Greater Plantain), Deschampsia cespi- Glenshee, having spent the day with an Action tosa (Tufted Hair-grass), Lolium perenne for Mountain Woodlands group. We were (Perennial Rye-grass) and, on its roadside pointing out the (by now) normal roadside edge, Spergularia marina (Lesser Sea- halophytes Puccinellia distans and Spergu- spurrey). laria marina when suddenly something quite The BSBI’s website distribution map shows different and unexpected appeared: a patch of about a dozen inland records, but it is not Glaux maritima (Sea-milkwort). It occupied a recorded whether any of these are roadside space of about 6 ft × 6.5 ft on the moist grassy plants. The New atlas states that there has verge, separated from the hard road edge by a been no change in distribution since the first narrow band of loose, gravelly tarmac. None atlas. This may now change, although it is of it was in flower. Its companions were Carex perhaps significant that the Glenshee patch nigra (Common Sedge), Agrostis capillaris was vegetative only. (Common Bent), Poa pratensis agg. (Smooth

Gonocarpus – a native of Ireland with a bipolar distribution ERIC J. CLEMENT, 54 Anglesey Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2EQ A good start – I now have your attention! Green planet: the story of plant life on earth When Paul Green et al. discovered Halor- (1982) (pp. 223-225). British and Irish plants agis micrantha (Thunb.) R. Br. ex Siebold & ‘pop up’ as natives in places like southern Zucc. (Creeping Raspwort) north of Carna Chile and , as well as on high (Co. W. Galway), in a “remote area of mountain tops anywhere in between. Ireland… trailing through very wet, peaty Examples mentioned include Carex lachenalii heath” in a bog, it was deemed to be “well (Hare’s-foot Sedge) and Juncus trifidus naturalised”, even though “the only associa- (Three-leaved Rush). Often the populations tion with man…appeared to be the peat-cut- appear to be morphologically identical. tings”, which it seemingly preferred. “There Occasionally there are minute differences: was certainly no evidence of any recent habita- Carex magellanica ssp. irrigua (Tall Bog- tion nearby”, and it was growing alongside sedge) is probably the best known example, Juncus planifolius R. Br. (Broad-leaved Rush) with ssp. magellanica being restricted to “also well-naturalised in the area”. I quote southern South America and the Falkland from BSBI News 51: 48 (April, 1989). Islands. Our Koenigia islandica (Iceland No one seems to have challenged the claim Purslane) occurs across northern Eurasia and of ‘alien status’ of these two plants, both of , and then reappears in Tierra Australasian imagery, even though there is no del Fuego. A world map of Phleum alpinum firm evidence at all to support an introduction (Alpine Cat’s-tail) shows a vast fragmentation by Man. Much more likely, in my view, is that over the colder parts of the northern they are both examples of bipolar distribution, hemisphere, picking out the mountain tops almost never mentioned in BSBI literature. even as far south as Central America, but it Dr Andrew Powling drew my attention to the does not reappear in the southern hemisphere, fascinating account of (vastly) disjunct plant except in Chile. distributions described in D.M. Moore (ed.) Notes – Gonocarpus – native of Ireland with a bipolar distribution / Hands-free magnifier 27

The bipolar, disjunct species of Carex are Some bad news: the vexed question of discussed at length (with 6 world maps) by nomenclature, which despoils so much of the D.M. Moore and A.O. Chater, in Bot. Notiser, joys of botany, emerges here. Mabberley’s 124: 317-334 (1971). Included are Carex Plant Book (2008) is a “wondrous plant-book” curta, C. magellanica, C. maritima and and “no one working seriously with living [or C. microglochin, all well-known British pressed] vascular plants should be without a natives. copy” – quoting from two recent reviews, but Carex diandra (Lesser Tussock-sedge) is not the latest one in Watsonia 27(4): 390-391 most remarkable. It occurs all across Ireland, (2009). It has an entry (of course) for Haloragis as well as in most boreal lands, but British (p.387), but (space-limited) it fails to state that floras fail to record that it is also a native in the only 28 species (currently) remain herein. The southern hemisphere solely in New Zealand, other 41 species are now hived back (the where it occurs “between latitudes 38º and familiar botanical see-sawing) to Gonocarpus, 40º…in very wet bog or peat”, according to including our G. micranthus Thunb. Sell & L.B. Moore and E. Edgar’s Flora. This is Murrell’s Flora 3: 97 (2009) failed to spot this clearly the antithesis of Haloragis, and I have subtlety, and also mis-spelt the new/old genus no doubt that similar patterns occur in other in the synonymy. Simply put, any “Haloragis (micro-)organisms, including bryophytes. sp.” with fruits 1-locular (and not 2- or 4-locu- They are all native in both hemispheres. lar) should be changed back to a Gonocarpus Haloragis micrantha enjoys bare, peaty sp., as was the case in 1783 (do you remember?). ground. Only Man currently provides it, now I cannot find any illustrations of Haloragis that the Woolly Mammoth, Great Elk and co. (sensu lato) in British or Irish floras, apart no longer roam Ireland. This species is diffi- from the one in The Vegetative Key (2009). cult to maintain in cultivation (pers. comm..: Take your copy out into the of Ireland Brian Laney, a professional gardener). It is (and too!), and seek further localities certainly not a weedy species in Europe, and is that probably remain undiscovered. not grown in any (botanical) garden that I am Remember that it is a very tiny plant. Six aware of. further illustrations, showing flowers and As a recognised native, Haloragis has an fruits, can be located via the references given enormous range (amend your Stace!). It in the BSBI’s Alien plants of the British Isles occurs from north Japan, China, Himalaya, (1994), p.187, but the whole entry should now Malesia and south-east Australia to the be deleted. southern tip of New Zealand (see the world Need I stress it? I regard Juncus planifolius map (p.57) in C.G.G.J. van Steenis The as an equally blatant native of Ireland, to be mountain flora of Java (1972). In Java, it treasured, and not blighted as an unloved, alien escapes the tropical heat by growing only at species. Who will write to support me, or to 2050-2500m. scientifically contradict me? Hands-free magnifier EDWARD PRATT, 7 Bay Close, Swanage, BH19 1RE When I am dissecting something in the fingers with glasses, fitting over the front of specta- of both hands, like a grass flower, in the home cles. It can be obtained from Jack’s Toolshed or in the field, I sometimes try to hold a in the USA quite cheaply - $2.39 plus carriage. jeweller’s (watchmaker’s) eyeglass in my eye. Go to www.jackstoolshed.com, and in the However, try as I will, it is not long before it Product Search box (“Let Jack the wonder dog drops out! I was therefore very glad to come find what you need”!) type in ‘Jeweler’s across one which has a stiff sprung loop which Hands-free Eye Loupe Magnifier’. Note there fastens very easily around my head. It also has is only one letter ‘l’ in American ‘Jeweler’s’! the advantage that the eyeglass can be used 28 Notes – Inland Epipactis dunensis (Dune Helleborine)

Inland Epipactis dunensis (Dune Helleborine) MARK LYNES, Westlands, 21 Akeferry Road,Westwoodside, Doncaster, DN9 2DX ([email protected]) Two recent articles (Harrap 2009; Richards & known inland Cumbrian populations, as well Squirrell 2009) have sought to clarify the as those in North Lincolnshire and Lancashire. distribution of the species within the Epipactis Most, if not all, of these were unknown at the leptochila (Narrow-lipped Helleborine) time. The third population referred to by complex in Great Britain. I would take issue, Richards & Squirrel was in fact also in North however, with the impression left by the latter Lincolnshire, and not South-east Yorkshire as that all inland populations of E. dunensis stated. This population, on Crowle Moors, (Dune Helleborine) are of the same appear- was extirpated in the mid 1990s, when the site ance, and further that they are all indistinguish- flooded. It was also not sampled genetically. able from coastal populations. This is not the So, what do we really know of the inland case. Indeed I would argue that it has not yet populations and how do they differ from plants been proven that all the inland populations are at coastal sites, if at all? That the populations referable to dunensis. found on the Tyne river gravels in Northum- Harrap quite rightly alludes to the fact that berland, with plants of similar appearance E. leptochila and E. dunensis until quite extending into Cumbria, look different is recently have been confused, resulting in undeniable. They have a different ‘jizz’. concomitant errors in our understanding of Overall, the epichiles appear cleaner and their relative distributions. Indeed, as recently whiter, largely lacking the often strong pink as 2005, Foley and Clarke show the distribu- flush found in typical coastal plants. Addition- tion of the latter species extending into ally, the base of the pedicel is – without excep- Scotland. Much of this confusion has been tion in my experience – green in colour. In driven by the often leptochila-like appearance contrast, most, but by no means all, coastal of the epichiles of some plants within certain flowers show a pink/red tinge to the base of the well-visited Tyne river-gravel populations, pedicel. Other so-called differences, such as notably that at Williamston Northumberland the implication that the Tyne plants invariably Wildlife Trust reserve. Here and elsewhere in show a pointed epichile, which is recurved, Northumberland, plants with long pointed and have an overall cleaner appearance epichiles have been dubbed “aff. leptochila” (Harrap 2005) are not borne out by field (Ettlinger 1998). experience (Lynes in prep.). Were all the inland populations of Away from the Tyne river system and E. dunensis morphologically identical to those Cumbrian railway infrastructure, two further at coastal sites, as claimed by Richards & extant inland populations are known. Both Squirrel, then arguably the true status of differ in appearance from those in Northum- E. leptochila as a plant restricted in the UK to berland and Cumbria. The population in North beechwoods in southern England would not Lincolnshire is small, with from 4 to 23 spikes have been masked for so long. The simple fact and grows under Betula (birch) in a rather is that we do not know if the inland and coastal damp hollow. It is confined to an area of no populations are morphologically identical, as more than 20 square metres, and is vulnerable no one has done the necessary work. The data to trampling, with many of the plants very produced by Richards & Squirrell in support of small and often hidden in vegetation. I would their claim is entirely genetics based. therefore not encourage further site identifica- An additional difficulty is that not all inland tion. Plants at this site show a red tinge to the populations of plants referable to E. dunensis base of the pedicel and invariably a particu- have been genetically sampled. The list in larly strong pink wash to the epichile. This can Squirrell et al. (2002) excludes all the three be especially pronounced on some plants and Notes – Inland Epipactis dunensis (Dune Helleborine) 29 has led to suggestions (A.J.Richards pers. To date I have datasets from most of the comm.) that there may be some introgression coastal populations, two of the three known from E. helleborine, although this species is Cumbrian sites, a number of ‘Tyne’ sites, both not present on site. An unusual plant seen in of the ‘non-Tyne’ populations and, of course, 2007, but not subsequently, possessed the E. sancta. An additional east coast population broad, rounded and ribbed leaves so typical of of dunensis-type plants could not be found in E. helleborine, spiralling up a stem which was 2009, and may have gone. It is hoped to topped with a dense helleborine-like flower collect genetic datasets in 2010. spike. The flowers, however, appeared It is only by collecting sufficient morpholog- identical to those of the other plants on site, ical data and allying it to any genetic data and were autogamous. available, that it may be possible to say with The Lancashire population is much larger, any degree of certainty whether all the inland with up to 165 spikes counted in recent years populations of presumed dunensis are indeed (J.Miller pers. comm., personal experience), that species. Whether some of the English and is spread over a large area. It grows on populations are also contaminated with genetic land which is undoubtedly contaminated. material from E. helleborine and whether, as I Slightly atypically for dunensis – traditionally suspect many of us hope, the plants on Lindis- associated with Betula – plants at this site grow farne are as holy as suspected also remains to under a variety of tree species including be discovered. From the data currently avail- (poplar) sp. and Crataegus monogyna able it is not possible to substantiate the claim (Hawthorn). The Helleborines here also show by Richards and Squirrel that all the inland both a red base to the pedicel and usually a populations are referable to E. dunensis, nor pinkish wash to the epichile, although the latter that such plants are morphologically identical appears less pronounced than found on the to those in coastal localities. Thus the splitting Lincolnshire plants. Interestingly E. helle- by Kreutz of the Tyne populations as ssp. borine does grow at this site, and the appear- tynensis, far from being the “noble option” ance of a few plants, nominally dunensis, suggested by Cole (2008), also looks prema- showing atypically broad, more rounded ture at best. There must surely be other undis- leaves, may again suggest introgression from covered or undisclosed inland populations of E. helleborine. As no genetic work has been dunensis type plants. Rumours persist of a site carried out on either the Lincolnshire or in Worcestershire for example. I would Cheshire sites, then a situation similar to that welcome any information. found on the Scottish bings,where similar Acknowledgements: plants occur and the populations are known to Jeremy Roberts provided invaluable construc- lack the classic genetic signature of English tive criticism of an earlier draft of this article. E. dunensis ,cannot be ruled out. Conscious of the lack of published data, I References: have been collecting morphological data from COLE, S. (2008). Naming new Orchid taxa: E. dunensis populations since 2007. what are the rules? Journal of The Hardy Following the contentious splitting of the Tyne Orchid Society 5(3): 86-90. plants as ssp. tynensis by Kreutz (2008), this ETTLINGER ,D.M.T. (1998). Illustrations of work has been intensified and broadened to British & Irish orchids. Privately published, include the plants on Lindisfarne. E. sancta Dorking. (Lindisfarne Helleborine) is a taxon which has FOLEY, M.S.Y. & CLARKE, S. (2005). Orchids been woefully neglected since its effective of the British Isles. Griffin Press, Chelten- split in 2002. A lack of meaningful data means ham. we still do not know whether this taxon is HARRAP, A. & S. (2005). Orchids of Britain morphologically distinct from E. dunensis. and Ireland – a field and site guide. A. & C. Black, London. 30 Notes – Inland Epipactis dunensis (Dune Helleborine) / Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin)

HARRAP, S. (2009). What is the British distri- SQUIRRELL, J., HOLLINGSWORTH, P.M., bution of Epipactis leptochila (Narrow- BATEMAN, R.M., TEBBETT, M.C. & lipped Helleborine)? BSBI News 111: 12-14. HOLLINGSWORTH, M.L. (2002). Taxonomic KREUTZ, C.A.J. (2008). Update on British complexity and breeding system transitions: orchids. Journal of The Hardy Orchid conservation genetics of the Epipactis lepto- Society 5(1): 11-16. chila complex. Molecular Ecology 11: 1957- RICHARDS, J. & SQUIRRELL, J. (2009). Epipac- 1964. tis leptochila complex in Britain. BSBI News 112: 8-9.

Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin) DAVID PEARMAN, Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA

Eric Clements’s note (BSBI News 112: 19-20) circa Cantabrigiam nascentium, published in is interesting, and I agree with his suggestion 1660, found it on the Gogmagog Hills and on that cytological work could only assist in the balks all thereabouts, and, again, it is diffi- determining whether there is a native subspe- cult to draw any conclusions from this. cies. But he omits points that I think are Clement cites with disapproval Stace’s view significant and makes conclusions that seem to as “possibly native” in his 1997 Flora, but me to be somewhat tenuous. omits the view in the New atlas (Preston et al., The first record in Britain is not that of 2002), where we categorised it as ‘native or Gerard. Michael Foley wrote in 2005 (BSBI alien’, echoing Stace’s views, and stating that News 99: 71-72) of annotations by the botanist the chalk downland form might be native, Thomas Penny (c.1530-1588) to Conrad though of course it may, like other plants such Gesner’s collection in Switzerland. Michael as Gastridium ventricosum (Nit-grass), or has supplied me with further details, including Gaudinia fragilis (French Oat-grass), have Penny’s annotation for this species as spread from the fields into the adjoining grass- “provenit in agro Cantabrigensi in Anglia land. I note that most of my W. European circa agrorum margines” (this in turn derives Floras doubt its nativeness anywhere in that from the work by Zoller et al. (1979) on this area, hazarding that it arrived from the east and important herbarium). Thus this record could Minor. be either of a weed in arable fields, or in the I agree with Clement that if there really is a balks around them (see below). Incidentally, native subspecies, which I am quite happy to Penny left for Switzerland in 1565, so I am believe, it should be protected and encouraged, dating the revised first record in Britain as but it will be fun trying to establish which are made by that date, in my forthcoming revision which subspecies, and, frankly, there are of Clarke’s First Dates. plenty of better candidates! Later in the note, Clement, in citing Gerard’s I am grateful to Chris Preston for comments record from Barton Hill in Bedfordshire, and sources. opines that ‘to quote such an obscure locality, References: it was clearly an unusual find, and not part of PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A. & DINES, a farmer’s crop’. I fail to follow this, and the T.D. (2002). New atlas of the British & Irish very fact that Abbott, in his Flora 200 years flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford. later, still found it rare, is a statement of fact ZOLLER, H., STEINMENN, M. & SCHMID, K. with no significance that I can see. It might (1979). Conrad Gesneri Historia Plantarum. well have been a rare establishment, or a rare Faksimileausgabe. Volume 6, t. 16: 42-43. native, until obscured by later plantings and Urs Graf-Verlag, Dietikon. escapes. Ray, in his Catalogus plantarum Notes – Ophrys sphegodes (Early Spider Orchid) count in Dorset 31

Ophrys sphegodes (Early Spider Orchid) count in Dorset EDWARD PRATT, 7 Bay Close, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1RE Ophrys sphegodes (Early Spider Orchid) has in areas to which they might have spread. declined in Britain over the last hundred This survey counted 49,256 flowering years, both through ploughing and also spikes. It is realised that numbers fluctuate through changes in grazing, but it still has year-on-year due to weather, but neverthe- strongholds in parts of Kent, Sussex and less this was a very positive result. This Dorset. In Purbeck, Dorset, its main national good news is an indication that those who stronghold, it is found chiefly on south- look after the land are in general managing it facing slopes on the south coast; on grazed well. 25,663 were found in just one large limestone grassland, especially on The south-facing NT field (ware) immediately Wares, most of which is owned by The west of Dancing Ledge. 21,670 were in 19 National Trust (NT); and on Dorset County other NT fields bordering or close to the sea. Council's Durlston Country Park. 310 were in cliff quarries. Exactly 1000 This orchid is the logo of the Dorset were counted in Durlston Country Park, Wildlife Trust. This has recently been re- including some in five fields where the designed, and now shows, appropriately, an species had not been seen before. 26 Early Spider Orchid on a sloping field with flowered late on the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s the sea adjoining. Townsend Reserve in Swanage, which is not Good management involves grazing the south-facing. Eleven other fields, mostly land where possible with cattle in the spring private, held small numbers of orchids. A once every few years, to the disadvantage of total of sixteen were in four private gardens. the flowering spikes in that year only, in Most fields surveyed are too steep or rocky order that young growth of Brachypodium to plough. However, in two fields which had rupestre (Tor-grass) is grazed well. Cattle been ploughed until the late 1960s no Early avoid this grass when it is older, to the long- Spiders were found in 1986, 28 and 248 term detriment of the orchids and other respectively in 1996, and 1005 and 591 flower species. There will always still be respectively in 2009. In two other fields plenty of Tor-grass for the Lulworth Skipper which were last ploughed in the late 1970s butterfly Thymelicus acteon, whose food none were found in 1986, one each in 1996, plant it is. and 422 and 187 this year. Counts It is a puzzle that only eight spikes were on In 1986 a count of the flowering spikes was the Chalk ridge, all the rest being on Purbeck made by Dick Burt, a County Council Limestone; whereas in Sussex and Kent they Countryside Ranger, and others. A repeat are plentiful on restricted areas of Chalk. count was made by him in 1996. The totals The prevailing wind should carry seed from were 10,381 and 10,907 respectively. Last the Purbeck Limestone to the Purbeck Chalk. Spring (2009) the National Trust’s Purbeck Method Estate Ecologist, Angela Peters, coordinated Fields where the orchids were at their most a third count, with Durlston Country Park dense were counted by small teams of three Rangers and the writer organising the to six people, walking in line five metres counting outside NT areas. At peak apart. Each carried two-metre bamboo flowering time, which is now the second half canes, to help keep themselves a constant of April, fifty to sixty volunteers counted, distance from the next person. Plastic bags both in areas where orchids were known and on walls or hedges were used as markers for 32 Notes – Ophrys sphegodes count in Dorset / Waveney Forest saved from gravel extraction the first person to walk towards. Where there Elsewhere was a rise in the middle of a field, preventing Correspondence with Vice-county Recorders vision right across it, extra bags were used as elsewhere (thanks to all concerned) revealed markers on the rise. the following information: the last record of Keeping in line abreast enabled neigh- a single plant in South Hampshire was in bouring team members to agree which of 1978; The Isle of Wight in 2003; Gloucester- them would count the orchids which were shire in 1989 and Suffolk in about 2000. about halfway between them. The person In East Sussex it occurs in two tetrads: the counting furthest from the starting wall during figures in 2008 were 2000+ in one and 68 in the first walkover became the first person for the other; there have been higher figures in the next walkover, so that he/she was walking the past (10,000 in the larger site). In Kent it adjacent to their previous strip and would has occurred in 21 tetrads since 1991; recent remember, hopefully, which orchids on their figures are not available for most of them, boundary they had already counted. but several colonies in the Dover area had Many thanks to all volunteers who helped 200+ plants flowering this year; at least one with the count, and to the landowners, of those had more in the past. farmers, graziers, wardens and rangers involved. Waveney Forest saved from gravel extraction COLIN JACOBS, 12 Grove Road, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9RB; (01502 719752)

During the past eighteen months I have been The site, particularly along the edge of the involved in gathering records from local River Waveney, produced the scarce Althaea naturalists for the former Suffolk sandling officinalis (Marsh-mallow), Sonchus palus- heath at Waveney Forest, Fritton (TG4601) tris (Marsh Sow-thistle), Erica cinerea (Bell (v.c.25: East Suffolk and v.c.27: East Heather) and Calluna vulgaris (Heather). Norfolk, due to the change in the political Several meetings and petitions were boundary in the 1960s). We botanists there- written, and many local naturalists, who are fore consider it to be Suffolk for recording now firm friends, rallied round and supported purposes, as the Watsonian boundary of the cause. Suffolk reaches the south side of Breydon In June 2009, I was informed the site would Water. not become a gravel pit, due to the rare flora In 2008, Norfolk County Council and fauna found there by my team of natural- announced that the forest, mainly planted ists. I have hundreds of records of not only with Pinus sylvestris (Scot’s Pine) in the mid my own but the Lowestoft Field Club, the 1950s, would be felled, and a series of gravel late Harold Jenner, and Dr E.A Ellis. Sadly, pits would be dug; but after the extraction the the locals were not really interested in the site would be turned into a nature reserve wildlife in the forest but the most concern with flooded pits. During my work there I was as where they would walk their dogs! made enemies, mainly the locals, who were The underlying message is that all natural more worried about losing a dog walking site, history records from past to present were able which involved the police in an attempted to be collated and a report made, which blackmail “to stop me sending in my helped the Norfolk County Council decide records”, and one case of bribery, which I that the wildlife was just too important to declined. destroy by gravel workings. Notes – Snippets from v.c.24 (Bucks.) 33

Snippets from v.c.24 (Bucks.) ROY MAYCOCK, 17 Osborne Street, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2LU AARON WOODS, 8 Clarkson Row, London, NW1 7RA Since the publication of our vice-county pentandra (Bay Willow) – 2005, Setaria Checklist in 2005, there have been some verticillata (Rough Bristle-grass) – 2005, changes. We have very few active recorders Spiraea douglasii ssp. douglasii (Steeple- in the county, but in September 2007 a Rare bush) – 2008, Taraxacum glauciniforme – Plants Recording Group was set-up and 2006, Taraxacum quadrans – 2006, some of its members have added to informa- Teesdalia nudicaulis (Shepherd’s-cress) – tion coming in. Much of it has been to 2008, Verbascum lychnitis (White Mullein) confirm what we already knew but new sites – 2005. have been discovered that demoted some of A number of species have been recorded our ‘rare’ plants to being ‘scarce’! Other of for the first time: our rare plants were looked for but not found. Cardamine corymbosa (New Zealand Are they extinct? Management work at the Bitter-cress). A small group of plants was only known sites in the country/county for found in a garden in Great Horwood, close to ciliata (Fringed Gentian) and some recently planted heathers, so, presuma- Arabis glabra (Tower Mustard) has ensured bly, they too, came from the garden centre. that these sites are preserved. April 2009. Some updates to species recorded in the Corydalis cheilanthifolia (Fern-leaved Checklist include: Corydalis). A couple of plants were growing lycopsoides (Scarce Fiddleneck) in the cracks between bricks which led to a – 2007, littoralis (Grass-leaved garden - ? from where the plants had origi- Orache) – 2007, Caucalis platycarpos nated. March 2007. (Small Bur-parsley) – 1946, Consolida Crassula tillaea (Mossy Stonecrop). regalis (Forking Larkspur) – 2005, Epipactis Found in June 2002 in the bare soil at phyllanthes (Green-flowered Helleborine) – College but it was not seen (nor looked 2009, Euphorbia ×pseudovirgata (Twiggy for) on the BSBI meeting in June 2009! Spurge) – 2007, Glyceria fluitans × G. decli- coum (Eastern Cyclamen). nata - 2006, Hedera colchica (Persian Ivy) – Doubtless originally planted, but naturalised 2006, Helianthus ×laetiflorus (Perennial in Horn Hill churchyard. February 2006. Sunflower) – 2005, Hieracium sabaudum – Dryopteris cycadina (Shaggy Wood-fern). 2005, Hieracium scotostictum – 2005, A garden escape found at Holtspur in August Lonicera henryi (Henry’s Honeysuckle) – 2006. 2005, Prunella laciniata (Cut-leaved Hypericum hircinum (Stinking Tutsan). Selfheal) – 1987, Pyrus pyraster (Wild Pear) An old record in a hedgerow at Bourne End – 2009, Rubus bloxamianus – 1998, Rubus from 1956 was discovered. cardiophyllus – 1987, Rubus echinatoides – Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern). 1998, Rubus echinatus – 1995, Rubus flexu- This is well-established in a garden planting osus – 1998, Rubus insectifolius – 1986, at Bledlow. September 2004. Rubus lindebergii – 2006, Rubus moylei – Oxalis laxa (Dwarf Wood-sorrel). 1984, Rubus pedemontanus – 1998, Rubus Probably the best find of 2009. It was identi- platyacanthus – 2006, Rubus raduloides – fied for us by Mark Watson, who believes it 1984, Rubus rudis – 1998, Rubus rufescens to be the first sighting for the United – 1998, Rubus sciocharis – 1987, Rubus Kingdom. Found not far away from the vestitus – 2006, Rubus watsonii – 1998, Salix Cardamine corymbosa site, but between 34 Notes – Snippets from v.c.24 (Bucks.) pavement cracks and in wood chips in the Bolboschoenus maritimus (Sea Club-rush). grounds of the local pub. It is a native of First recorded in the early 1970s from a Chile but weedy in California. How did it disused and water-filled gravel pit, and arrive here in May? probably brought there by visiting water Plantago afra (Glandular Plantain). fowl. This year it was recorded (by a visitor Another pavement crack weed – just a from Cornwall) in “a dampish area of a couple of plants. Again, its origin is dreary-looking grassy field” not far from the unknown. June 2008. Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union Rorippa austriaca (Austrian Yellow- and only just in Bucks! Quite a new area cress). A few plants in flower and fruit were and habitat for us. found by a “mock canal” in Old Wolverton Bromus secalinus (Rye Brome). On our in July 2008. They soon died but, hopefully, Rare Plant list, it was seen in vast quantity in some seeds germinated. field margins on the Hillesden farm. It may Rubus leptadenes - July 1998, from Lee have to be relegated to Scarce! Clump. Bunium bulbocastanum (Great Pignut). Rubus loganobaccus – August 1987, from This had not been seen for several years at Great or Little Brickhill. its, otherwise, well-known site near Ivinghoe Rubus rhombifolius – 1987, from Great or Beacon. This year basal leaves were seen Little Brickhill. early and four plants in flower in June. Selaginella kraussiana (Krauss’s Drosera intermedia (Oblong-leaved Clubmoss). 2 small patches were found in Sundew). Although last seen in the county an old shrubbery near Fawley in August in 1993 (for just that year) it had not been 2008. seen in Burnham Beeches since the 1960s. Senecio inaequidens (Narrow-leaved Both times there were very few plants and in Ragwort). This does not seem to have tracks left by vehicles. reached us in any quantity – yet? Its first Galium pumilum (Slender Bedstraw). record was at a farm in Hillesden in Until 2007, the last record we had for this September 2008. species was 1897! Amazingly, it seems to Solanum physalifolium (Green Night- have reappeared in the same field where it shade). A single plant was flourishing in a was last seen. In 2009, about 30 parts of the pile of imported soil (?from Northampton- field had between 1 and 18 plants, so it shire) in the Open University grounds. seems to be surviving well. September 2006. Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (Frogbit). Spiraea ×rosalba (Intermediate Bride- Another ‘return from the dead’ – though it wort). Doubtless of garden origin, from East must have been present since its last record Burnham Common in 1999. in 1982. A chance meeting with a mycolo- Viburnum farreri (Culver’s Root). From a gist who was looking for a on its field and waste ground near Taplow in 2006. leaves told us of its presence in the Slough ×Gymnoglossum jacksonii. An old and Arm of the Grand Union Canal. A search undated record from the Chilterns. was made and the Frogbit was found along Other sightings for 2009: the whole length of the canal in v.c.24 (and Amaranthus bouchonii (Indehiscent into v.c.21, Middlesex). There were no signs Amaranth). One plant was found in October of the smut fungus! along a fence line between a grassy area and Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasqueflower). a small garden managed by the pupils at a Always rare in the county, but regularly seen school in Great Missenden. at one site near Ivinghoe. This year one of its old sites was re-found, with just a few plants. Notes – Hell Kettles – a forgotten corner 35

Hell Kettles – a forgotten corner FALGUNEE SARKER, Darlington & Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club, 1 The Mill Race, Croft-on- Tees, Darlington, DL2 2TN The purpose of this research was to investi- Sparganium emersum (Unbranched Bur- gate whether the flora, that was recorded in reed), (Marsh Bedstraw), this area over one hundred years ago, is still Juncus subnodulosus (Blunt-flowered Rush), surviving. Hell Kettles consists of two ponds Eleocharis palustris (Common Spike-rush) situated in a marshy field between Darlington etc. Again, not far from these plants, I have and Croft-on-Tees (NZ281.109). Famous recorded significant different plant communi- botanists of Darlington: Stephen Robson ties, e.g.: Stachys officinalis (Betony), (1777), Dr R. Taylor Manson (1884), and J.B. Galium verum (Lady’s Bedstraw), Nicholson (1929) visited and recorded plants rotundifolium (Harebell), at Hell Kettles. Taylor Manson, past presi- Blysmus compressus (Flat-sedge) etc. There dent of Darlington and Teesdale is a characteristic growth of plant communi- Naturalists’Field Club and author of the book ties surrounding each kettle, and between the Zig-zag ramblings of a naturalist, said, and I two kettles. In the area between Croft Kettle quote: “I very heartily wish that before long a and the Double Kettle grows Scrophularia Naturalists’ Field Club may take up the work auriculata (Water Figwort), Lychnis flos-cu- I have begun”. This was the inspiration for culi (Ragged Robin), Hypericum tetrapterum my work. Taylor Manson explained the (Square-stalked St John’s-wort), Carex formation of these Kettles, stating: “Hell otrubae (False Fox-sedge), Ranunculus Kettles, [are] situated on…strata which [are], flammula (Lesser Spearwort), Caltha palus- in a descending order.... 1. Alluvial clay, tris (Marsh Marigold), Juncus subnodulosus, sand, gravel and clay; 2. Red sandstone; 3. Eleocharis palustris, Deschampsia cespitosa Magnesian limestone. A series of cavities in (Tufted Hair-grass), and many Dactylorhiza the magnesian limestone filled with water, fuchsii (Common Spotted-orchid). which was under pressure.... During wet There were some plants recorded by Taylor weather hydraulic pressure caused the gravel Manson and Nicholson that I could not find and clay roof to force outward by water and during my study period. They were: Thalic- by compressed gases.... resulting in the trum flavum (Meadow-rue), Stellaria palus- formation of these kettles.... water charged tris (Marsh Stitchwort), Angelica sylvestris with salts of magnesia, lime and soda still (Wild Angelica), Valeriana officinalis flows from the Magnesian limestone.” The (Common Valerian), Eupatorium cannab- maps presented were drawn in 1855 and inum (Hemp Agrimny), Achillea ptarmica 1896, showing four kettles. The 1967 map (Sneezewort), Solanum dulcamara shows only two kettles. (Bittersweet), Veronica scutellata (Marsh My recordings were taken from the years Speedwell), Pedicularis palustris (Marsh 2006 to 2009. The Double Kettle, situated Lousewort), Utricularia vulgaris (Greater not far from Croft Kettle, has a pH of 7.0, and Bladderwort), Scutellaria galericulata surface water reaches freezing point in the (Greater Skullcap), Persicaria amphibia winter. Here, at the edge of this kettle (Amphibious Bistort), Iris pseudacorus Schoenoplectus lacustris (Common Club- (Yellow Iris), Juncus bufonius (Toad-rush), rush) and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Carex acutiformis (Lesser Pond-sedge), (Grey Club-rush) are growing in the thick Carex muricata (Prickly Sedge), mud. The area surrounding the Double Kettle Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder’s-tongue also supports many plant communities, e.g. Fern), (Marsh Helle- Alisma plantago-aquatica (Water-plantain), borine), Listera ovata (Twayblade), Hydro- 36 Notes – Hell Kettles – a forgotten corner cotyle vulgaris (Marsh Pennywort) and I found that Taylor Manson’s list did not Trollius europaeus (Globe-flower). describe any boundaries. In the year 1884, as Identity of the orchid species was not clear he had been rambling through Hell Kettles, – ‘Orchis maculata’ could be Dactylorhiza he described various plants meticulously. maculata (Heath Spotted-orchid). Again, I These descriptions were simple so that people could not find Carex vulpina (Fox-sedge), could identify and enjoy botany. He and instead found Carex otrubae. Due to the described Triglochin palustre (Marsh Arrow- sensitive nature of the kettles, and with grass) flowers as being small and scattered preservation in mind, Potamogeton and over the upper part of the stalk, the petals Charophyte species have not been studied for green, tinged with brown. One plant that identification. attracted his eyes and flourished among the I found Cladium mariscus (Saw-sedge) was mosses and grasses was Scrophularia auricu- recorded by Stephen Robson in 1777, and lata. He said “figwort has a flower of a fine then, in 1834, Gordon’s Guide to Croft crimson colour, shaped like a small pea mentions this plant. It was also recorded by blossom turned upside down”. These plants Taylor Manson in 1884 and Nicholson in are still blooming here. 1930. It is growing at the water’s edge in Well – this was in 1884, then in 1929 both kettles. Unfortunately I could not find another botanist from the same club, J.B. Stephen Robson’s comprehensive list of Nicholson, researched and recorded all the plants. Another group of plant they all plants in Hell Kettles, and most of the plants recorded, and still seen here, are the Charo- present today superimpose on old records phytes. They can be seen submerged in Croft quite well. The following plants were Kettle - a record surviving 232 years. recorded from 2006 to 2009, and also repre- sent Taylor Manson’s records.

List of plants recorded in Hell Kettles in 1882,1884,1929, and 2006 - 2009 Achillea millefolium Epilobium parviflorum Ranunculus acris Alisma plantago-aquatica Equisetum arvense Ranunculus aquatilis Alnus glutinosa Equisetum palustre Ranunculus bulbosus Alopecurus geniculatus Galium palustre Ranunculus ficaria Barbarea vulgaris Galium uliginosum Ranunculus flammula Berula erecta Galium verum Ranunculus repens Blysmus compressus Geum rivale Ranunculus sceleratus Briza media Glyceria fluitans Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum Caltha palustris Hippuris vulgaris Schoenoplectus lacustris Campanula rotundifolia Hypericum tetrapterum Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Cardamine pratensis Juncus inflexus Scrophularia auriculata Carex hirta Juncus effusus Sparganium emersum Carex otrubae Juncus subnodulosus Stellaria graminea Carex panicea Lemna minor Stellaria uliginosa Charophyte spp. Lotus uliginosus Succisa pratensis Cirsium palustre Lychnis flos-cuculi Taraxacum officinale agg. Cladium mariscus Mentha ×verticillata Triglochin palustre Myosotis laxa Veronica anagallis-aquatica Deschampsia cespitosa Myosotis scorpioides Veronica beccabunga Eleocharis palustris Oenanthe fistulosa Veronica officinalis Epilobium hirsutum Phragmites australis Epilobium palustre Potentilla anserina Notes – Hell Kettles – a forgotten corner 37

It can be appreciated from the above list how temperature changes and development of rich these kettles were, and still are, and in housing nearby. such a small area. It is the underlying I hope the plants retain their glory in Hell geology that holds the key for richness in Kettles and conservation remains a top prior- species. Here the pH of the soil and water ity. It is not only the plant communities but varies from acid, neutral to alkaline. The also other species: insects, butterflies, birds ground around the kettles is ‘poached’ by and fish that thrive here. cattle, creating small indentations that hold I would like to thank Mr and Mrs Fell for water and keep the soil structure moist. kindly giving me permission to study Hell Triglochin palustre and Glyceria fluitans are Kettles and also Gordon Simpson BSc, MBE, found here. This area is rich in Oenanthe for verifying identifications in situ. fistulosa, Berula erecta and Cladium References: mariscus that grow close to the water’s edge. CUDWORTH, W.J. (1862). Darlington Satur- The water in Croft Kettle does not freeze and day half holiday guide. Darlington. is also quite alkaline, with a pH of 8.0. This LONGSTAFFE, W. HYLTON DYER (1854). The kettle gets its supply from an underground history and antiquities of the parish of spring in the Magnesian limestone. This is Darlington. J.H. Parker, London. the only kettle that has an underwater garden MANSON, R. TAYLOR. (1884). Zig zag of the Charophyte community. Factors that ramblings of a naturalist. William Dresser may have contributed to the disappearance of & Sons, Darlington. plants were land drainage, road building NICHOLSON, J. B. (1929). The vegetation of nearby, public access for fishing, global Hell Kettles. Vasculum 15.

Map of Hell Kettles-1855 showing four kettles 38 Notes – Chemically-induced colour changes in three diverse angiosperm species

Chemically-induced colour changes in three diverse angiosperm species JACK OLIVER, High View, Lockeridge, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4ED Anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar By July/August, the leaves can go red too. The pigments that, like litmus, may appear red, red pigment, presumably a closely-related purple or blue, according to pH. Hydrangea anthocyanin to the above purple pigments, macrophyllus (Hydrangea) flowers have failed, in the leaves of this species, to show the which can be pink in acid (low pH) soil, purple above, reversible indicator colour reactions. in neutral soil and blue in alkaline soil. The Ammonia to the outside of the red twigs was purple Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus likewise ineffective, but caused rapid black- ‘Atropurpurea’) has leaves with beautiful ening when the solution was fed in via the purple undersides. Household ammonia vapour woody cut end, i.e. from underneath any protec- on wet-rubbed undersurfaces of these leaves can tive surface chemical layers. change the pink-purple to steely Prussion blue; “Anthocyanins are red to blue flavonoid or, putting the leaf across the bottle neck pigments used throughout the plant kingdom…” opening and inverting the bottle gives a blue (Hollinger 2009). In the angiosperms, they ring. Too little ammonia may not penetrate the colour flowers, fruits, and autumn leaves, acting waxy surface, but too much may damage the as attractants for insects in flowers, as ultraviolet leaf chemistry. However, if careful, vinegar or screens and anti-feedants in leaves, and as other acids can reverse the colour to purple and powerful anti-oxidants in tissues (Hollinger then clear pink. I made aqueous solutions of this 2009; Sullivan 2009; Wikipedia 2009). purple pigment, which behaved like litmus, with Cameron Crook told me (in. litt.) that the purple reversible colour changes: pink « purple « pigment on some leaf undersurfaces may reflect blue. If too much from the finely light back to the mid-leaf chloroplasts, thereby cut up and microwaved leaves contaminates the giving them a second go (from the opposite solution, the reaction tends to be pink « purple direction) at sugar manufacture. The local « black. purple Sycamores (Acer pseudoplatanus Spirodela polyrhiza (Greater Duckweed) had purpurea and ‘Atropurpurea’) are quite as no less than 13 earlier scientific binomials (Sell vigorous as their green counterparts, and more & Murrell 1996). One of these was effective at blocking out light to competing S. atropurpurea Montadon. The late August brambles and other saplings beneath their shade and September fronds usually develop the (as with Copper Beeches – another anthocyanin purple pigment on the undersurfaces, and it can function?). spread to the edges of the uppersides too. I have several reasons for thinking that the Because of the colour similarity to the purple reactive rich purple pigment on the undersurface Sycamore leaf undersurfaces, I repeated the of Acer pseudoplatanus purpurea and above procedures. It was possible to use the ‘Atropurpurea’ leaves and Spirodela fronds is a fronds as if they were bits of litmus paper, different anthocyanin from the Dogwood red providing the surface waxiness was penetrated pigment, or the red pigment seen on so many and the chemistry not too drastic. Again, a pink Acer fruits, or the autumnal reds (Moore 2009). solution could be extracted, which could I would be interested to hear if the same colour undergo the pink « purple « blue (black) reactions occur in other purple plants (e.g. the reactions, depending on the pH. The purple house-plant Setcreasia purpurea (Purple pigment spreads down the Spirodela roots, and Heart)), or purple variants of other plants, and microscopic scrutiny appears to show that it have yet to see whether ammonia vapour can inhibits internal invasion of the tissue of these change some pink petals to blue. roots by filamentous algae (Entocladia). Acknowledgements: Cornus sanguinea (Dogwood) is characterised My thanks to Cameron Crook and Lavdim and by red pigment on the sunny side of its twigs. Katy Cena. Notes – Chemically-induced colour changes in 3 diverse angiosperm species / Paniculate plantains 39

References: SELL, P. & MURRELL, G. (1996). Flora of Great HOLLINGER, J. (2009). Anthocyanins. Web Britain & Ireland, volume 5. Cambridge publication: http://bornnaturalist.org/essays/ University Press, Cambridge. anthocyanin. Accessed: 17th June 2009. SULLIVAN, J. (2009). Anthocyanin. Web publi- MOORE, K. G. (2009). Senescence in leaves of cation: http://www.charlies-web.com/ Acer pseudoplatanus and Parthenocissus specialtopics/anthoyanin.html. Accessed: 17th tricuspidata. Web publication: http://aob. June 2009. oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/29/3/4 WIKIPEDIA. (2009). Anthocyanin. Web publication: 33. Accessed: 17th June 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthocyanin. Accessed: 17th June 2009. Paniculate plantains RUTH A. DAWES, Rosedale, Chapel Lane, Trefonen, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 9DX ([email protected]) One of the joys of being an adult education Plantago species seems to have its own tutor is the interesting items that participants perverse mode of growth, for instance the bring in to challenge your brain. One dull bracteate and paniculate forms are almost October 2008 morning, David Evans from exclusively confined to Plantago major, the Weston, Shropshire, strolled into the class- roseate form to P. media (Hoary Plantain) and room carrying a large carrier bag containing a the proliferous form (containing a rosette 50cm high specimen of Plantago major arising from a normal flower) to P. lanceolata (Greater Plantain) with a large pyramidal (Ribwort Plantain)”. branched inflorescence, found on a roadside Gardeners still seek out these botanical verge near Marchamley in lowland north oddities with enthusiasm, and the Plantain Shropshire (see Colour Section, Plate 2). family has a number of forms, such as Looking deceptively innocent, he asked me if ‘Rosularis’, which arose from phyllody (a I knew what it was. condition where parts of a flower are replaced Martin Cragg-Barber, author of Botanical by leaf-like structures, generally caused by a Monstrosities,kindly provided the answer that virus or bacteria carried by insects, but appar- it could be a form called ‘Tony Lewis’ (a ently happening spontaneously in Plantago); “besom plantain” or a “plantain with spoky ‘Atropurpurea’, a dark-leaved plant; and tufts”), arising from spontaneous mutation. ‘Variegata’. Some come true from seed and This type of mutation has long been known, can be purchased via the Internet from only and John Gerard the herbalist from Nantwich £4.50! (1545-1612) referred to them as besom Plantaginaceae has historically been known plantains. as a useful medicinal family. Plantago The Victorian botanists gave the name psyllium (P. ovata) is used in laxatives. teratology to describe the study of plant References: monstrosities. Maxwell T. Masters produced CRAGG-BARBER, M. (1997). Botanical a comprehensive treatment of the subject in a monstrosities: a first step in plant teratology. book called Vegetable Teratology, published South West Litho, Swindon. by the Ray Society in 1869. There are many MASTERS, M. T. (1869). Vegetable teratology. known causes of teratogenesis, including Ray Society, London. genetic mutation, insect action, viral or bacte- ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (2008). The rial damage, and exposure to radiation or to Plant Finder. Dorling Kindersley, London. chemicals such as insecticides. Plantains are one of our richest native genera Websites: for supplying aberrations, both in the garden www.alternativeplants.co.uk and in the wild. Masters noted that “each www.bioimages.org.uk 40 Notes – Ciba-Geigy Weed Tables

Ciba-Geigy Weed Tables ALAN HALE, ‘Northfield’, Cliff Terrace, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 2DN; ([email protected]) In the mid-1970s I worked as a barley-breeder ours, usually approximately life-size. Both the at what was then the Welsh Plant Breeding line-drawings and the water-colours were done Station, at Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth (now by graduates of the scientific drawing class of subsumed in I.B.E.R.S. – the Institute of Karl Schmid at the Zurich School of Applied Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Arts and have a uniform style. of Aberystwyth University). In that environ- Accompanying the accounts and illustrations ment, and in the agricultural mode of the day, is a rather unique (at least I’ve never seen one which was all about production (Stapledon’s before) circular key to “the plant families with famous “two blades of grass where one grew weeds of world-wide importance”. before”) arable weeds were seen only as a It may seem odd that a chemical company, nuisance to be obliterated. However, within producing products designed to destroy these the particular project I worked on, which plants, should have produced such a beautiful involved some sophisticated genetic mecha- guide to them. I quote from the Editor’s nisms, we were concerned that application of foreword: “What can induce a chemical chemical weedkillers might interfere with our company to produce a scientific work of this experiments, so we did not spray. As a result sort and distribute it to schools, advisory the gaps between the rows of barley in our bureaux and research institutes? We believe experimental plots would burgeon with a that it is no longer enough to develop .... high- variety of weeds. In those days I was not quality products; rather the chemical industry entirely enamoured by them since it fell to me must bear a share of the responsibility for the and a colleague to hoe out the weeds by hand. correct application of its products..... To use Nonetheless, I could not help but notice the plant protection products correctly, it is neces- different species, some of them rather beauti- sary to recognise the pest or weed in question. ful, and wanted to know what they were. I had This work, concerned solely with botanical little botanical training at that point, other than interests, with no reference to control measures agricultural botany – which only covered the and hence with some claim to longevity, is crop plants – so I went looking in the Plas intended to close the gap”. Gogerddan library. There I found, to my I wondered whether the original plates for delight, a copy of the Ciba-Geigy Weed Tables. the illustrations still exist somewhere, so wrote These consist of individual accounts and to Ciba (Ciba-Geigy no longer exist) last year, illustrations of around 100 herbaceous and but had no reply. I’ve also wondered how graminaeceous arable plants which were many copies were produced and how many considered to be weeds. The accounts and still exist. Copies can still be obtained from illustrations, each on a single loose sheet of A4 second-hand book dealers, but they seem to be card, are grouped by family in an enclosing quite uncommon. I bought my own copy in folder, which also serves to carry identification 2006 for about £90. details, and black and white line-drawings of a I am guessing the Weed Tables are wider range of species within the family. The unfamiliar to most botanists (other than whole is enclosed in a cardboard box – rather agricultural botanists), but I would be inter- like the familiar ‘box file’. The main habit ested to hear from anyone who knows any illustrations of the individual species are more about them. beautifully and accurately painted water-col- Notes – Re-introduction of Cypripedium calceolus: update / Dorset Flora Group and Dorset 41 Wild Flower Week

Re-introduction of Cypripedium calceolus: update PHYL ABBOTT, Cedar Croft, 73 Ridgeway, Leeds, LS8 4DD The Lady’s Slipper re-introduction programme peared. As far as possible the plants were has been ongoing for some 20 years – a long protected from predators but they apparently learning curve. Two plants which have survived lacked sufficient vigour to enable them to in cultivation, having been removed from their survive. Now they are being kept in cultivation wild sites in the early twentieth century, are used for five years and pampered a little, and they to cross pollinate the one plant which remains in seem to be faring much better after being planted a wild situation. Seed is then sent to a scientist at out. the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to be germi- This year, 2009, has been splendid. Flowers nated. The resulting seedlings are then passed to have been produced in all the re-introduction volunteers, who are known to be competent, to sites, and fruits have developed in some. It will be kept until they are ready to be planted out. be interesting to see if they can do as well next Initially they were planted in the re-introduc- year, or whether they will need a rest to regain tion sites after two years and monitored regularly, their vigour – or will they gradually fade? Only but it was found that, gradually, they all disap- time will tell but, currently, we are optimistic. Dorset Flora Group and Dorset Wild Flower Week EDWARD PRATT, 7 Bay Close, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1RE The Dorset Flora Group was formed three years interest; the week was targeted at beginners and ago, following the example of neighbouring improvers. counties, all of which have similar organisations. The spring bank holiday week (of nine days!) at the The Dorset Environmental Records Centre (DERC) end of May was chosen. Fifteen walks were provides the administrative back-up, including a arranged, spread over the county, with a variety of web site. Other organisations represented on the habitats. Finance for a leaflet (A4 folded to DL) was Committee of ten are Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dorset most kindly provided by the County Council/AONB, Natural History and Archaeological Society who provide similar help to the county Bird Weeks. (DNHAS), Natural England, National Trust, Wessex Water also gave a grant. Bundles of leaflets Plantlife, British Wildlife magazine. The Chair- were circulated to County Council Visitor Centres, man, Robin Walls, is now the BSBI Vice-county National Trust centres, Dorset Wildlife Trust centres, Recorder. Another member, the writer of this note, RSPB centres, Tourist Information Centres and is a Wild Flower Society Branch Leader. County Libraries. The Week was also publicised in The Group arranges field meetings, some of which the County Council, Poole Borough Council and have been to sites of known interest, some to record Purbeck District Council publicity for all walks in particular areas, and some to record particular species their areas. – Gentianella anglica (Early Gentian), Ophrys Thirteen walks were well attended. One of the sphegodes (Early Spider Orchid), Hammarbya two exceptions was due to bad weather, the other paludosa (Bog Orchid). It also holds occasional was a town walk. Total attendees, some of whom training days – on grasses, sedges etc, and an exhibi- were the same people more than once, were tion meeting in conjunction with it’s AGM. It assists approaching 300. the Vice-county recorder with Threatened Plant Some of the walks formed part of another Surveys, and FWAG (Farming and Wildlife organisation’s programme, for example Durlston Advisory Group) with arable farm surveys. Country Park, RSPB, Dorset Wildlife Trust. In Anyone wishing to join the Group should, prefer- 2010 it is planned that more will take that form, so ably, email [email protected] or otherwise as to gain extra publicity. Insurance cover was write to DERC, Library HQ, Colliton Park, provided by the DNHAS. Dorchester, DT1 1XJ. Membership is free. The Group would like to commend the idea of the Last year the Group borrowed an idea from Week to other counties, as a way of encouraging county birdwatchers and organised the first Dorset beginners and improvers. If there is no county Wild Flower Week. The idea was to encourage botanical organisation, perhaps this could be a spur more people to enjoy botanical walks in areas with to forming one? 42 Notes – Botany on the Internet

Botany on the Internet JOHN POLAND, 91 Ethelburt Ave., Southampton, Hants SO16 3DF; ([email protected]) Internet Floras are a little-known resource but Obviously the annual Anogramma is absent a welcome addition to typical book texts. This but otherwise comprehensive of British & article is by no means exhaustive but will give Irish species. the user a flavour of those available. Some of 4. Database www..org the Floras were consulted during the prepara- This site gives good descriptions of genera tion of the Vegetative Key to the British Flora, but only occasionally of species. although I am sure there are many cyber-bota- Nonetheless, helpful for identification of nists who are far more qualified than me to some of our less widely planted species. Can write on this subject. anyone find a better ID site? Often one requires more information that 5. GrassBase www.kew.org/data/grasses-db they may have in their library and the world- This ‘Online World Grass Flora’ covers the wide web provides one such means. Below I vast majority of grasses worldwide. discuss a few of my more trusted sites. I still Descriptions are succinct but comprehensive. don’t believe botanical web browsing will replace books in the foreseeable future, but it In addition to the above, there are numerous permits the botanist access to more informa- other websites which assist with botanical tion than most shelves or wallets will allow. identification. The BSBI website For example, the majority of members will (www.bsbi.org.uk) is an amazing compen- have internet access but may be unable to dium of resources and recent news (including purchase all the weighty volumes of the Flora a blog), plus links to BotanicalKeys of China. It is surprising how similar the (interactive ID keys designed by Quentin identification characters are across the globe Groom) and Herbaria@home (an astonishing so this should not deter the use of world-wide attempt to photograph and categorise speci- Floras in UK determinations. mens from UK herbaria). Elsewhere, the My top five websites for Flora-style descrip- Ecological Flora Database (www.ecoflora. tions for identification are given below. co.uk) gives a wide range of ecological infor- 1. eFloras www.efloras.org mation. Perhaps the best available. I have found Other sites worth visiting include: Bioimages online access to the Flora of North America – a Virtual Field-Guide to UK Biodiversity and the Flora of China particularly helpful. (www.bioimages.org.uk), Floral Images The Flora of Pakistan also gives some good (www.floralimages.co.uk), Wild Flowers of descriptions of British native and alien plants. the British Isles (www.ukwildflowers.com) and the Flora of 2. Flora of New Zealand (http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/). http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz Flora Cyberia (http://floracyberia.net) and Wild A good deal of their alien flora resembles Plants of Malta (www.maltawildplants.com) both that of the UK. It also covers lichens, which have some useful (European) photos of UK some members may find useful. Sadly, the species. The Isle of Skye Flora (www.plant- website can be quite slow, with sessions identification.co.uk/skye) gives some good photos often ‘timing out’. and descriptions. 3. Hardy Fern Library WildGuides have also published Arable http://hardyfernlibrary.com Plants – a field guide and Britain’s Orchids as An excellent account of hardy ferns (i.e. freely available interactive books (www. those winter-tolerant and surviving a wildguides.co.uk). minimum temperature of -15ºC) ferns. Notes – Botany on the Internet / Conservation – The vascular plant red data list for Great Britain: 43 year 2 amendments

Those wishing to investigate nomenclature Although not web-based, two excellent CD should visit the International Plant Names ROMs are the Interactive Flora of the British Index (IPNI) (www.ipni.org) – a database of Isles (Stace et al, 2004) and the Interactive the names and associated basic bibliographical Flora of the Burren, Ireland (Fitzgerald et al, details. Every plant in the world is featured 2008) which can be purchased for use on a here. home computer. Virtual botanists may also wish to join There are many more websites, and apolo- eGroups such as UKBotany (http://tech. gies if any members maintain their own. Please groups.yahoo.com/group/UKBotany) and the let me have any suggestions of useful sites for wildflower, plant and tree forum on ‘Wild identification so I can write a future update to About Britain’ (www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk). this article. CONSERVATION The vascular plant red data list for Great Britain: year 2 amend- ments SIMON J. LEACH, Natural England, Riverside Chambers, Castle Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4AP;([email protected]) Following publication of the year 1 amend- JNCC ‘master’ list – probably in September ments to the Red data list (Leach 2007), the 2010 or January 2011. JNCC-coordinated ‘Species Status Assess- palustris is now assessed as ment Group’ produced an agreed list of Year 2 ‘Vulnerable’, rather than ‘Endangered’, amendments, covering the period January to having been recorded from at least four locali- December 2007. These changes were incorpo- ties in the Endrick Valley, S.W. Scotland rated into the JNCC ‘master’ list in August (Mitchell 2006). 2009, a copy of which can be found at There seems to be good support, genetic http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3408. and/or phenotypic, for recognition of Dacty- As the JNCC spreadsheet is rather large and lorhiza incarnata ssp. cruenta and D. incar- unwieldy (45.8 megabytes when ‘unzipped’), nata ssp. ochroleuca (Bateman pers. comm.). we give a summary of the ‘year 2’ changes Both taxa were previously listed as ‘Data below. It should be noted that all these Deficient’, but have now been re-assessed as changes were made by applying the same ‘Endangered’ and ‘Critically Endangered’ I.U.C.N. threat criteria (I.U.C.N. 2001, 2003) respectively. as those used when compiling the Red data list Euphrasia cambrica was re-assessed during (Cheffings & Farrell 2005). preparation of the Welsh red list (Dines 2008); Eagle-eyed BSBI members will see that previously listed as ‘Vulnerable’, but with quite a few recently described taxa – the flurry populations restricted to just four sites and of new whitebeams from the Avon Gorge and evidence of a ‘continuing decline’, this species Cheddar Gorge, for example – are missing has now been re-assessed as ‘Endangered’. from the list. Don’t worry, we haven’t Fritillaria meleagris has been removed from forgotten them! These are being considered as the main list to the ‘waiting list’, as there are part of the Years 3 and 4 Amendments process, now serious doubts about its presumed native being coordinated this time by the BSBI and status in Britain (Pearman 2007). It was covering the period January 2008 to December categorised as ‘Native or Alien’ in the New 2009. We expect that these amendments will atlas and listed in Cheffings & Farrell (2005) be finalised in early 2010 and published in as ‘Vulnerable’. BSBI News once they have been added to the Hieracium portlandicum, restricted to the Isle of Portland, Dorset, was described as a 44 Conservation – The vascular plant red data list for Great Britain: year 2 amendments new species by Rich, Edwards & Pearman References: (2007) and, with just 103 plants in three BRAITHWAITE, M.E., ELLIS, R.W. & PRESTON, locations and evidence of decline, has been C.D. (2006). Change in the British flora, assessed as ‘Endangered’. 1987-2004, p. 41. BSBI, London. Lycopodium lagopus was described by CHEFFINGS, C.M., FARRELL, L. (eds.). (2005). Rumsey (2007) as a hitherto overlooked native The vascular plant red data list for Great taxon. At present under-recorded, but quite Britain. Species Status 7: 1-116. JNCC, possibly rare and threatened; as such, we have Peterborough. listed it for now as ‘Data Deficient’, pending DINES, T. (2008). A vascular plant red data list further work to clarify its distribution in Britain. for Wales. Plantlife International (Plantlife The ‘carrot broomrape’ has changed Wales), Salisbury. more than once in the last I.U.C.N. (2001). I.U.C.N. Red List Categories. twenty years. At the time the Red list was I.U.C.N. Species Survival Commission. As compiled it had varietal status as ‘Orobanche approved by the 40th Meeting of the I.U.C.N. minor var. maritima’, and was not assessed, Council, Gland, Switzerland. but it has now been elevated to the rank of a I.U.C.N. (2003). Guidelines for using the subspecies as O. minor ssp. maritima (Rumsey I.U.C.N. Red List Categories and Criteria: 2007). ‘Nationally Scarce’, but not thought to version 3.1. I.U.C.N. Species Survival be under any threat, it has been added to the list Commission, Gland, Switzerland and as ‘Least Concern’. Cambridge, UK. Symphytum tuberosum has been removed LEACH, S.J. (2007). The vascular plant red from the main list to the ‘waiting list’, as there data list for Great Britain: year 1 amend- are now serious doubts about its presumed ments. BSBI News 104: 19-21. native status in Britain (Braithwaite, Ellis & MARGETTS, L.J. (2007). A new species of Preston 2006; Pearman 2007). It was catego- Taraxacum Wigg. (Asteraceae) from south- rised as ‘Native’ in the New atlas and listed in west England and Ireland. Watsonia 26: 481- Cheffings & Farrell (2005) as ‘Least Concern’. 484. Taraxacum ronae was described as a new MITCHELL, J. (2006). Callitriche palustris L. species by Margetts (2007), and has been in the Endrick Valley. Glasgow Naturalist assessed as ‘Least Concern’. 24(4): 109-111. Listed as ‘Near Threatened’ in Cheffings & PEARMAN, D.A. (2007). ‘Far from any house’ Farrell (2005), recent detailed monitoring of – assessing the status of doubtfully native Woodsia alpina has indicated that the British species in the flora of the British Isles. population is much lower than previously Watsonia 26: 271-290. thought, with about 750 individuals (700 in RICH, T.C.G., EDWARDS, B. & PEARMAN, Scotland, 50 in Wales); as such, it now has a D.A. (2007). Hieracium portlandicum revised threat status of ‘Vulnerable’. (Asteraceae), a new endemic hawkweed Acknowledgements: from the Isle of Portland, England related to The present note is written on behalf of the Hieracium leyanum. Watsonia 26: 451-461. vascular plant Species Status Assessment RUMSEY, F.J. (2007). A reconsideration of Group, including representatives from the Orobanche maritima Pugsley Biological Records Centre (CEH), BSBI, (Orobanchaceae) and related taxa in southern Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and the Channel Islands. Watsonia England, Natural History Museum, JNCC, 26: 473-476. Plantlife, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh RUMSEY, F.J. (2007). An overlooked boreal and Scottish Natural Heritage. I would like to clubmoss Lycopodium lagopus (Laest. ex thank Trevor Dines, David Pearman, Chris Hartm.) Zinserl. ex Kusen. (Lycopodiaceae) Preston, Anna Robinson and Ian Taylor for in Britain. Watsonia 26: 477-480. their comments on an early draft. Small Project Grant Reports – Morphological variation in two races of Cerastium nigrescens 45

SMALL PROJECT GRANT REPORTS

Morphological variation and spatial separation of two races of Cerastium nigrescens (Shetland Mouse-ear) SARAH DALRYMPLE & CORINNE CHAMBERS, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen Cerastium nigrescens ssp. nigrescens include leaf length and width (smaller on (Shetland Mouse-ear), is a Scottish endemic Nikkavord), and stem length (longer on Nikka- listed as vulnerable and nationally rare due to vord). Notably, the shape of the leaf tip was its very limited distribution on serpentine not a defining feature of Nikkavord versus debris habitats on the Keen of Hamar National Keen plants. Both leaf size and stem length Nature Reserve and the adjacent hill of Nikka- tend to be plastic responses to habitat condi- vord on the island of Unst, Shetland. The tions – leaves are bigger in better conditions species is morphologically variable and has whilst etiolation (longer stems) is a response to been named several times, including a period light competition. However, in a MSc project as a subspecies of C. arcticum. The identifica- by Keith Stuffins in 1983 these features were tion of individuals at Nikkavord with acute (as found to be retained in cultivation. Subse- opposed to obtuse) leaf tips and a straggling quently, we believe these traits to be conserved habit was first made by Edmonston in 1845, and particular to plants from each site. and have been named as the variety acutifo- The fact that we did not find any convincing lium. The variety has been associated with this specimens of var. acutifolium, but still identi- site in particular, although recent surveys of fied site differences, indicates that the varieties the Keen of Hamar NNR have also found may be difficult to separate by eye. For individuals with pointed leaves. example, we saw individuals with a straggly This project, undertaken in 2008, aimed to habit but rounded leaves suggesting that even if look at varieties nigrescens and acutifolium plants with acutely pointed leaf tips emerge and identify whether the two races were from the seed bank next year, they may be restricted to the Keen and Nikkavord respec- difficult to describe as acutifolium with any tively. Our first job was to describe the varia- certainty. For this reason we propose that tion of the Cerastium at both sites, then try and instead of two distinct varieties of Cerastium separate out any identifying features that might existing, there is instead continuous morpholog- be definitive of each variety and each site. ical variation between the two extreme forms. Unfortunately it was a very bad year for Ceras- Future studies should try to identify whether tium on Nikkavord – only 20 plants were the pointed leaf tips, which define acutifolium, found despite seeking advice from local can be found in Nikkavord individuals. If not, botanist David Leask. David had located these this would signify a loss of morphological plants earlier in the year and thought that there variation indicative of a loss of genetic diver- may have been so few plants (and all of them sity. This would mean that the already having finished flowering already) due to the declining populations may have lost some unseasonably warm and dry May. natural resilience and adaptability to climatic We recorded a suite of 25 morphological changes which are already apparent on traits in 193 plants across both sites and using Britain’s most northerly inhabited island. multivariate analysis we were able to discern This project was funded by a BSBI research morphological differences between the plants grant and the University of Aberdeen. Corinne at Nikkavord and the Keen. Due to the lack of was awarded an MSc in Environmental flowers on the Nikkavord plants, the differ- Science with Distinction, of which this project ences are in the vegetative characteristics and formed part. 46 Botany in Literature – 52 / On the purpose of books

BOTANY IN LITERATURE – 52 On the purpose of books E. CHARLES NELSON, Tippitiwitchet Cottage, Hall Road, Outwell, Wisbech, Cambs., PE14 8PE Andrew Young, Vicar of Stonegate in Sussex, The nature of the book is significant. In Neil poet and botanist (see R.G.C. Desmond (1994) M. Gunn’s fine novel, The well at the world’s Dictionary of British and Irish botanists) – end (1951), which is set in the western “That I am not a botanist is so true that even to highlands of Scotland and is suffused with say so would have an air of untruth” (A plants as well as the old Gaelic lore, the prospect of flowers: 72 (1946)) – born in Elgin principal character, Professor Peter Munro, and educated in Edinburgh, admitted playing sets out in search of the titular well. On one truant when he was a schoolboy. During one leg of his journey he seeks a plant that can such truancy he went to Cramond on the Firth restore virtue, and is told that the minister, Mr of Forth, and “seeing a pretty blue flower ... Cameron, “has names of the weed itself. And stopped a countryman and asked its name; he he’ll give you the right name for the plant, the told me it was Forget-me-not. ... Not believing saving plant.” (p. 191). him, I picked a flower and pressed it in a From bees to flowers, from flowers to lesson-book.” With this, the youthful Young particular plants, from vegetable dyes to was able to ascertain that the plant was a medicinal virtues, was a sequence in speedwell, “name of happy omen.” thought and in culture both natural and The admission that he had pressed the flower pleasant. Peter said he had a wife who was in a book chimed with something else I had very interested in plants and who had heard read recently, and set me pondering. Young, that there was one wild flower in particular by the way, was converted into a botanist (he which, according to Gaelic lore, has the confessed) by a Cornish leek: “ ‘By the dog’, I power of restoring virtue — cried, the oath of Socrates leaping to my lips, “Well, now, if that isn’t a remarkable ‘the Leek proclaims me a botanist’ ...” (A coincidence,” said the guileless old man, prospect: 111). This transformation occurred “for in the course of our talk before you because, he recalled, he had found the leek on came we arrived at just that very flower. As the banks of a Cornish river by its smell: “It I was saying, in the Gaelic it is called was already dark. ... Suddenly I recalled mothan. It is a flower which, if we may Wordsworth’s definition of a botanist, ‘a fine- believe those who lived here before us, had nosed hound’ ...” (A prospect: 111). the power of restoring virtue to that which Young was a friend of a fellow cleric, Harry had lost it whether in the case of man or of Joseph Riddelsdell, one of the several authori- beast.” (p. 196). ties on brambles in the first half of the last A while afterwards, the professor, the minister century: “the famous collector”, wrote Young and a Mrs Douglas are discussing mothan. “... (A retrospect of flowers: 36 (1950)). Watching “And has not this plant an English name?” Riddelsdell deal with a morning’s haul of Mrs. Douglas asked out of her courteous brambles, a “carload”, Young mused that “I amusement.” Cameron responded: “Now we thought of how he must have started, a school- are in difficulties, for the matter is in dispute, boy pressing Buttercups and Milkmaids in an but so far as this district is concerned, I am in exercise-book; and now he had come to this, no doubt. It is a pearlwort—and uncommon sending plants by goods-train” (Retrospect: variety of the pearlwort peculiar to a few of our 37). There is a difference between Young and Scottish mountains, and with us is to be found, Riddelsdell in these extracts: Young pressed and found only, on the west slope above Loch his speedwell in a “lesson-book”, but a’ Cheo.” “How interesting!” declared Mrs. Riddelsdell in an “exercise-book”. Douglas. “And at least, ma’am, botanically Botany in Literature – 52 / On the purpose of books 47 verified. Indeed if you would care to walk up carry a cup to and from his mouth; and because to my humble dwelling I should be able to he has no wallet at hand he drops into books show you a pressed specimen.” (p. 197). the fragments that are left. ... Now the rain is Later, both the lady and Peter, separately, over and gone, and the flowers have appeared found the mothan – a “ ‘blessed plant’ because in our land. Then the scholar we are speaking it was the first plant on which Christ’s foot of, a neglecter rather than an inspecter of fell” (p. 201) – at Loch a’ Cheo. And, they books, will stuff his volume with violets, and both gathered specimens of “this interesting primroses, with roses and quatrefoil. ... (R. flower”. Several days later at another place, Bury (1909) The love of books: the Philo- and in different circumstances, Peter needed a biblon of Richard de Bury ... (translator charm. “He took out his pocket-book and from E.C.Thomas). London.) one of its compartments extracted no less than What is so very remarkable about Richard two specimens of the mothan, the pearlwort of Bury’s depiction of youths stuffing violets into the mountains. As he looked at them he saw their books is that it was written before 1340, that, alas! they were almost withered. Had the that is a couple of centuries before the virtue been taken out of them, too?” (p. 232: I “invention” of the herbarium (hortus siccus, leave you to read the rest.) hortus hiemalis) by Luca Ghini (1490–1556). Peter Munro’s “pocket-book” was a Richard Bury (Aungerville) (1281–1345), of container for money, as we are told, so it Willoughby in Leicestershire, was a Benedic- probably wasn’t even a notebook, just a wallet. tine monk, Bishop of Durham (1333–1345) No botanist – or even someone professing he and one of the first English collectors of books. wasn’t a botanist – would try to preserve a Can there be any earlier account of pressing specimen in such a contraption. flowers in books? But pressing flowers in a book is my theme, Holbrook Jackson (1874–1959) certainly and it is a practise deeply deplored by true disapproved too, quoting and paraphrasing bibliophiles. Holbrook Jackson, in his Bury under the subheading “Neglect and wonderful compilation The anatomy of biblio- Misusage”. Earlier in his own tome (p. 136), mania (p. 422 (1950)), points to this remark- under the subheading “Their use as tools etc.”, able commentary: Jackson acknowledged that books “have been “You may happen to see some headstrong used as presses from early time; but most of all youth lazily lounging over his studies, and for pressing flowers either as souvenirs or for when the winter’s frost is sharp, his nose scientific purposes.” running from the nipping cold drips down, nor I came across a much more recent comment does he think of wiping it with his pocket- about pressing flowers in books in “Grub handkerchief until he has bedewed the book Street”, a column by Andrew Taylor in The before him with the ugly moisture. Would that author 108 (no. 1): 26–27 (Spring, 2007) (the he had before him no book, but a cobbler's members’ magazine for the Society of apron! His nails are stuffed with fetid filth as Authors), where it was reprinted from The black as jet, with which he marks any passage Bookseller: that pleases him. He distributes a multitude of “The ever-impartial Mr Bent [in The straws, which he inserts to stick out in different Bookseller] ... records that Boris Johnson MP places, so that the halm may remind him of ... struck an altogether more satisfactory note what his memory cannot retain. These straws, when addressing members of the Publishers because the book has no stomach to digest Association on the subject of textbooks and the them, and no one takes them out, first distend threat they face from Google and digitisation. the book from its wonted closing, and at In stirring terms, Mr Johnson urged his length, being carelessly abandoned to obliv- audience not to worry about the death of print, ion, go to decay. He does not fear to eat fruit and in doing so provided a glimpse of what or cheese over an open book, or carelessly to books are really for. ‘How can you press a 48 Botany in Literature – 52 / On the purpose of books / – 53 Marine Botany in literature flower on a computer?’ he asked. ‘Or light a public transport people would need books to fire?’ There is a man who clearly understands read.” http://www.thebookseller.com/news/ the importance of literature.” 83520-boris-google-no-threat-to-publishers. The inimitable Boris – “politician and html, accessed 17th October 2009). polymath” (grumpyoldbookman.blogspot.com, Postscript: for an entirely different reference accessed on 19th October 2007) – has recently in literature to pressed flowers, I can draw added to his definition of the purpose of books, attention to Stieg Larsson’s novel The girl with again according to The Bookseller, and again the dragon tattoo. It has been widely praised, in the context of Google: “... “I don’t think justifiably in my opinion. Larsson lays a trail [Google] will stop people reading books”, of clues, including some pressed plants. explaining that as long as there were delays on BOTANY IN LITERATURE – 53

Marine Botany in literature: George Eliot’s The Ilfracombe Journal – Algae – is Phycology all at sea? MARGOT É. SOUCHIER, 26A Dryden Avenue, London, W7 1ES The mention of angiosperms typically George Eliot’s The Ilfracombe Journal is conjures up plants which live terrestrially, not, I confess, fiction, but it is such a case in less so those that live partially or wholly in point. Written between the 8th of May and fresh (with the possible exception of the 26th of June 1856, when she and partner Water Lily (Nymphaea spp., Nymphaeaceae) George Lewes took a holiday at Ilfracombe or brackish water, and even less still those few on the coast of Devon where it faces the that can tolerate life in the sea, such as the Bristol Channel, partly in an attempt to Zostera marina (Eel-grass relieve Lewes’s tinnitus, and to disprove T.H. (Sea-grass, Grass-wrack; Zosteraceae)) and Huxley’s criticism that he was merely a Posidonia oceanica (Neptune Grass; Posido- ‘book-scientist’, it ventures Ruskin-like to niaceae). ‘know the names of things’ and to express Thus, in talking of botany, the term ‘Marine Eliot’s desire ‘to escape from all vagueness Botany’ needs to be recognised, even if, more and inaccuracy into the daylight of distinct, commonly, this is enveloped somewhat by the vivid ideas’. more general and established one of marine Hence is described the Wilder, a ‘clear little biology. stream, fringed with Veronica and Stellaria’ But when it comes to the study of Algae [both sic.], and sea-anemones such as the red (Phycology), the fact that as one of the four Mesembryanthemum [sic.] which was as kingdoms of the Superkingdom (Supra- ‘plenty as blackberries’, and which Eliot and regnum) Vegetabilia they immediately come Lewes later ‘disdained to gather as much as if under the same large umbrella as the Plantae, it had been a nettle’. There is mention of a which, in both Brummitt and Powell and the ‘Strawberry’, which arguably, as it is more International Code of Botanical Nomenclature precisely known as Actinia fragacea (e.g. Greuter et al.), is seen to be very much the Tugwell† (Phylum Coelenterata, Class case, one could be forgiven, as Algae are Anthozoa (Sea-anemones and their allies), largely of marine habitat, for including them Order Actinaria (Sea-anemones)) is rather sensu lato in the former category, or even more more vivid than distinct. Also the ‘pale fawn- broadly in the latter. Marine botany vs. marine coloured tentacles of an [anemone] Anthea biology: “Which way?”, cried Alice: is cereus viciously waving like little serpents’ Phycology all at sea?* and ‘three treasures - an Eolis pellucida, a Botany in Literature – 53 / Marine Botany in literature 49

Doris billomellata [both sic.], and an Aplysia and less commonly, known in the singular [Phylum Mollusca, Order Aplysiomorpha, as sea-ware, the coarser seaweeds being e.g. Aplysia punctata (Sea Hare)], the first of collectively called sea-wrack or grassrack. each genus I had ever seen’. The sea-whistle (Ascophyllum nodosum) is But other than this foray into marine a seaweed, the bladders of which can be zoölogy, Eliot’s account deals equally specif- made into whistles. A typical seaweed is ically with marine botany, as the following usually composed of a holdfast (= attach- extract about Algae shows: ment organ) and a frond, these termed When at last, by the seventeenth of June together as the thallus. In Charles Dickens’s both my articles were dispatched, I felt A Christmas Carol, Scrooge sees as part of delightfully at liberty and determined to his vision of Christmas Present, shown to pay some attention to sea-weeds1 for which him by the second spirit ‘a solitary light- I had never seen in such beauty as at house. Great heaps of seaweed clung to its Ilfracombe. For hitherto I had been chiefly base, and storm-birds – born of the wind, on chalky and sandy shores where there one might suppose, as seaweed of the water were no rock-pools to show off the lovely – rose and fell about it, like the waves they colours and forms of the Algæ.2 There are skimmed’. tide-pools to be seen almost at every other 2. Algæ: the plural of the Latin feminine step on the littoral zone at Ilfracombe, and nominative singular alga, meaning I shall never forget their appearance when ‘seaweed’. we first arrived there. The Corallina Formerly the Algae were placed with the officinalis3 was then in its greatest Bacteria and the Fungi in the division perfection, and with its purple pink fronds Thallophyta (‘thallus plants’), but now these threw into relief the dark olive fronds of form three separate kingdoms: the Monera the Laminariæ4 on one side and the vivid (Bacteria and Cyanobacteria (= Blue-green green of the Ulva5 and Enteromorpha6 on Algae)), Protista (Algae, including the other. After we had been there a few sometimes the Phylum Protozoa), and Fungi weeks the Corallina was faded and I (, Toadstools, and Lichens). noticed the Mesogloia vermicularis7 and An alga is a primitive non-flowering the M. virescens, which look very lovely in photosynthetic plant of a large assemblage the water from the white cilia which make that includes many aquatic forms such as the most delicate fringe to their yellow- seaweeds and many plankton, the latter brown whip-like fronds, and some of the providing the food which support nearly all commoner Polysiphoniæ.8 But I had not marine life. As such many of these are yet learned to look for the rarer single-celled and microscopic, but there are Rhodospermiæ9 under the olive and green also multicellular forms with no vascular weeds at the surface. These tide pools tissue or absorbent root-system. Thus there made one quite in love with sea-weeds, in is no differentiation into root, stem, and leaf, spite of the disagreeable importunity with although some, such as the kelps, possess, which they are made to ask us from shop- like many fungi, a stipe (= a ‘stem’). Being windows – “Call us not weeds”. So I took holophytic (= ca. phototropic), algae store up Landsborough’s book10 and tried to get chemical energy, which, according to a a little more light on their structure and certain oil company’s advertisement, is history. ‘renewable while absorbing CO2’ and suitable for biofuels for cars (see Time Notes: magazine, 9th November 2009). 1. sea-weeds: a collective vernacular term for Classification of the Algae is partly on the large marine algae growing in the sea or on basis of pigmentation, e.g.: red (Division rocks in the intertidal zone. Alternatively, 50 Botany in Literature – 53 / Marine Botany in literature

Rhodophyta), green (Chlorophyta), brown ing a rich hunting ground for marine (Phaeophyta), yellow (Xanthophyta), and botanist and zoölogist alike. golden-yellow (Chrysophyta). 5. Ulva: the genus to which the translucent 3. Corallina officinalis: an alga of the green Sea Lettuce Ulva lactuca belongs Division Rhodophyta, Class Rhodophyce- (Division Chlorophyta, Class Chlorophyce- ae, Order Corallinales (heavily calcified ae, Order Ulvales, Family Ulvaceae). There algae), Family Corallinaceae, Subfamily are three other species in the genus. Coralloïdeae, with fronds of 50 to 120 mm 6. Enteromorpha: a genus of 11 species, long, which branch paripinnately, as do the ranging from pale (e.g. Enteromorpha intes- branchlets in their turn (i.e. exactly opposite tinalis) to dark (e.g. E. compressa) to bright each other). The whole alga is made up of green (e.g. E. linza (Ulva linza)) in colour a series of calcified segments which are and allied to the above Sea Lettuce genus longer than broad and linked by pliable (thus also a member of the Green Algae or joints to form the frond. Thus, in a sense, it Chlorophyceae). resembles the legs of an (‘jointed- 7. Mesogloia vermicularis [vermiculata]: a limbed’). There are no ‘horns’ on the termi- brown seaweed (i.e. green-yellow-brown), nal reproductive bodies. In colour it ranges with a frond ca. 60 mm long, and a shiny from the purple pink as observed by Eliot to rounded stipe which bears numerous red or even yellow-white and is found on branches of various thicknesses and lengths, rocks and in pools at all levels of the eulitto- giving them a tufted, fan-like, pyramidal ral zone (= middle shore) and down to appearance. It grows on rocks covered by shallow water, usually in the Mediterrane- sand on the middle and lower shores of the an, Atlantic, English Channel (but in Eliot’s northern Atlantic and North Sea. There are case in the Bristol Channel), North Sea, and several other species in the genus. rarely in the Baltic. 8. Polysiphoniæ: the plural form of the genus 4. Laminariæ: Eliot’s or Lewes’s plural term Polysiphonia, a large genus of the Rhodo- for the genus Laminaria (Division Phaeo- phyceae or Red Algae, containing many phyta, Class Phaeophyceae, Subclass Heter- poorly defined species. There are about 30 ogeneritae, Order Laminariales, Family European species: e.g. Polysiphonia Laminariaceae (the Kelp Family)), elongata, P. urceolata, P. lanosa, P. nigres- members of which include e.g. Laminaria cens. digitata (Oarweed or Tangle), and 9. Rhodospermiæ: from the Greek prefix L. saccharina (Sea Belt (Sugar Kelp, Poor ϹȩįȠȞ (rhódon, ‘rose’), and Gk. ıʌȑΕȝĮ Man’s Weather Glass)). The largest algae (spérma, ‘seed’); aff. Rhodosporous found in European waters, they show a (‘having pink spores’). characteristic alternation of heteromorphic 10. Landsborough’s book: A popular history generations, i.e. an asexual phase of British seaweeds (1849) by David Lands- (sporophyte), which forms the typical kelp borough the Elder (b.1779-d.1854). plant, followed by a sexual phase * (gametophyte), which is microscopic and The more prosaic answer to this question is generally not visible to the non-profession- twofold: al. Habitat is on the extreme sublittoral (1) No. Although the majority are marine zone (= lower shore) and in shallow, coastal (Divisions Haptophyta, Chlorophyta, water, and on many rocky shores, where Dinophyta, Phaeophyta, Rhodophyts, and they are usually only uncovered at Spring Class Bacillariophyceae of the Bacillario- tides. Their zone, which includes other phyta (or sometimes Chrysophyta)), some marine algae, is very characteristic, provid- flourish in brackish water (Xanthophyta, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta), such as in lakes (Bacillariophyta), and ponds Botany in Literature – 53 / Marine Botany in literature / Spud, or spud? 51

(Charophyta), while a few divisions are also George Tugwell (b.1830-d.1910), who Lewes terrestrial (Xanthophya, Chlorophyta (moist and Eliot met during their visit, and whose land)). Manual of the Sea Anemones of the English (2) Yes (metaphorically). (a) The -phyta of Coast (1856) Lewes reviewed in the Leader divisional names such as Rhodophyta, of 25th October 1856. Chlorophyta, and so forth, means ‘plant’ and References: is derived from the Greek ijЋIJȩȞ phùtón), BLACKMORE, S. & TOOTILL, E. (eds.). (1984). latinised as phyton, but commonly and The Penguin Dictionary of Botany. (2nd erroneously it is interpreted in the English repr. 1988). Penguin Books, London. YHUQDFXODUDVµDOJDH¶,WLVWKH*UHHNijІțȠȢ BRUMMITT, R.K. & POWELL, C.E. (eds.). (SKNJNRV, latinised as phykos) which means (1992). Authors of Plant Names. Royal ‘seaweed’, and which is therefore equivalent Botanic Gardens, Kew. to the Latin alga, ‘seaweed’. Thus, divisional CAMPBELL, A. (2005). Philip’s Guide to names, such as the above, should be, sensu Seashores and Shallow Seas of Britain and stricto, rendered in the vernacular as ‘Red Northern Europe. Philip’s, London. plants’, ‘Green Plants’, and so on, while it is DICKENS, C. (1993). A Christmas Carol. the class name, such as Rhodophyceae, Wordsworth Classics, Ware, Hertfordshire. Chlorophyceae, which should bear the algae ELIOT, G. (1990). Selected Essays, Poems, appellation. Hence, for examples, Charo- and Other Writings. Penguin Classics, SK\FHDH 6WRQH $OJDH IURP *UHHN ȤȐȡȠȢ London. (cháros, death)), Ulvophyceae (Sedge Algae; GORNALL, R.J. (2006). From the President. from Latin ulva (sedge)) (both in Chlorophy- BSBI News 101: 3 ta), Chrysophyceae (Golden-yellow Algae; GREUTER, W., MCNEILL, J., BARRIE, F.R., IURP *N ȤȡȣıȩȢ chrusós), latinised as BURDET,H.M., DEMOULIN, V., FILGUEIRAS, chrysos, gold)). T.S., NICOLSON, D.H., SILVA, P.C., SKOG, (b) Until authors of textbooks on Phycology J.E., TREHANE, P., & TURLAND, N. (eds.). stop believing that the student does not (2000). International Code of Botanical require classification to be made below the Nomenclature (Saint Louis Code). Koeltz rank or Order, and as a result fails, not only to Scientific Books, Königstein, . give families, but also a synopsis of the classi- [Regnum Vegetabile, vol. 138]. fication system used, and rank titles, then the LEE, R.E. (2008). Phycology. Cambridge decline in taxonomy as mentioned by Dr University Press, Cambridge. Richard Gornall in BSBI News 101: 3, will STACE, C.A. (1991). New Flora of the British continue, and thus Phycology will, in this Isles. Cambridge University Press, respect, be ever ‘all at sea’. (This comment Cambridge. can, however, apply equally to other biolog- USHER, G. (1996). The Wordsworth Diction- ical kingdoms, both vegetable and animal). ary of Botany. Wordsworth (Reference) Editions, Ware, Hertfordshire. †The name of the author of this polyp being none other than the Curate of Ilfracombe,

Spud, or spud? RACHEL A. NICHOLSON, Kirkland Cottage, Caldbeck, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 8DZ With reference to “Botany in Literature – 51” which botanists may have used in the days (BSBI News 112), I would like to suggest that when specimens were dug up, rather than a the spud defined in note 3 is perhaps more potato. likely to be the narrow digging tool or ‘spud’ 52 Aliens – Cotula alpina in Yorkshire, new to Britain and Europe

ALIENS Cotula alpina (Hook. f.) Hook. f. (Alpine Cotula) in North-west Yorkshire (v.c.65), Mid-west Yorkshire (v.c.64) and North-east Yorkshire (v.c.62), new to Britain and Europe LINDA ROBINSON, The Cottage, Melmerby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1HN; ([email protected]) Because I am relatively new to the job of joint Moor and collected a plant to send off to Eric BSBI Recorder for v.c.65: North-west Clement. I also emailed the Australian Yorkshire, I organised a series of field National Herbarium to see if they could meetings in 2009 throughout the vice county to confirm the identification from my photo- help me get acquainted with the area. Because graphs (see Back Cover). I had a reply from of the lack of botanists living in the vice Brendan Lepschi, the Curator, who said it was county some of the field meetings were not very likely Cotula alpina (Hook. f.) Hook. f., well attended. The meeting on Sunday 28th but he would like a specimen to be certain. I June had one of the worst weather forecasts of have since collected and pressed this and am in the summer, but I duly turned up at the touch with the Herbarium in The Royal meeting place on Potts Moor, part of Kirby Botanic Garden, Edinburgh who will Malzeard Moor, an isolated grouse moor on hopefully be able to do an exchange to get it the border of v.c.64 and v.c.65, between through Customs into Australia. In the Nidderdale and Masham. I could hardly see meantime Eric replied telling me my identifi- my hand in front of my face the mist was so cation was correct. It matched Cotula alpina thick and there was a constant drizzle. As I (Hook. f.) Hook. f., apparently new to Britain expected, no one materialised, but rather than and Europe. It is however, likely that some waste a day I put the brolly up and kept to records of the sparsely hairy Cotula squalida – roadside verges and tracks for fear of getting see Stace’s New flora of the British Isles, 2nd lost. ed., p.737 – should be re-determined, as the At an altitude of almost 430m O.D., on the totally glabrous, but otherwise very similar border between the two vice counties, is a Cotula alpina. Both are typically less than cattle grid. The vegetation on both sides of the 5cm tall. road is a well grazed peaty, gritty turf and In its native range Cotula alpina is confined dotted around was a small inconspicuous to New South Wales, Victoria and . prostrate plant I recognised as a Cotula. I was In New South Wales it is found in the Snowy not surprised because before I set out I checked Mountains, alongside the road over Mount through the records for the hectad and had Kosciuszko, the highest point in Australia, noted Cotula squalida (Button Weed) found in where the terrain and climate is much like parts 2004. Naturally, I assumed that was the record. of Yorkshire’s moorlands. That evening, going through the day’s I then produced a paper on my find and records, I realised that the 2004 record was submitted it to BSBI News. However, about about 5km away. Cotula not featuring promi- twenty minutes later I received an email from nently in any of my Floras, I quickly got on to a botanical friend of mine telling me that Anna Google and started going through the Cotula White in Dumfries, whilst on holiday in species found in Britain, but no match. Wester Ross, had found Cotula alpina along a Eventually I came across Cotula alpina roadside verge near Polbain (Anna White, (Alpine Cotula) from New South Wales, 2009). I immediately got in touch with Anna, Australia, which looked identical. I hadn’t who informed me that Eric Clement had collected a specimen, so went back to Potts confirmed her record and was wondering Aliens – Cotula alpina in Yorkshire, new to Britain and Europe 53 about other Cotula squalida records in the be Cotula alpina. It had covered about 5 same area, and whether they might be Cotula metres of trackside in 1995 but now covered alpina too. the roadsides to the northern and southern With this in mind I thought I ought to check boundaries of the moorland, the longest out the 2004 record for Cotula squalida on the distance being 2.5 km. This meant it was same moor but about 5km away from my Potts spreading at a rate of at least 0.18 km per year. Moor find. On 11th September I set off, We then went up the track from Grewelthorpe approaching the moor from the eastern side via and recorded the extent of the Cotula there and the hamlet of Ilton. About 30 metres through on the track from the Dallowgill road. This the gate onto open moorland, I came across had Cotula alpina from the cattle grid near Cotula alpina, lots of it, almost the dominant Malaby House all the way to Stopes Bridge plant on both sides of the sandy moorland and beyond. We then drove round to Bouth- track. Any open areas of Agrosto-Festucetum waite at the eastern end of the same track and grassland were now nearly pure Cotula alpina, found the Cotula went all the way over the and in places where the moorland had been moor. burnt it was spreading on to the bare peat (see Phyl Abbott emailed me again a few days Back Cover). In places it was growing along- later to say she had spotted a record of Cotula side the little New Zealand alien Epilobium squalida on Rudland Rigg on the North York brunnescens, the Kiwi and the Aussie Moors on the Ryedale Naturalists website, obviously at home on an English moor. I with a photograph of Cotula alpina. On 23rd followed the track until I reached the grid October I visited Rudland Rigg to see if this reference for the 2004 record. It was obvious plant was Cotula alpina and how much ground that this was the Cotula that had been seen and it covered. I approached from the southern end mistaken for Cotula squalida. I then turned and came across it almost at the top of the back and went down a side track towards ridge, at first only intermittently in the short Grewelthorpe and found that the Cotula alpina Agrosto-Festucetum turf on the tracksides but was still present well into v.c.64. I then after 50 metres it became more frequent but decided to go back and approach the moor not quite so dominant as on Kirkby Malzeard from the western side just below my original Moor, where it was also growing in the record and sure enough about 1km in from the drainage channels alongside the track. The road I came across more Cotula alpina. As Australian literature mentions that it grows in darkness was falling, I headed home, but came boggy areas too. It was present along the track back to this point on 28th September and sides for 2km, then gradually disappeared. It walked all the way across the moor to the site will be interesting to see if it spreads further of the 2004 Cotula squalida record. Cotula along the track in the future. alpina was present in the same quantity all the I sent Vince Jones a copy of this paper and way. I investigated another path going down the records I collected on my visit to Rudland to Bouthwaite and this too had Cotula alpina Rigg. He replied telling me he had seen the well into v.c.64. same plant on Egton High Moor, south of I reported these finds to the v.c.64 recorder Glaisdale, nearly 2km on the well defined Phyl Abbott, who informed me that she had footpath and 4×4 track across the moor. There found a small Cotula in 1995 on a track just to were also a few patches where the above track the south near Dallow Moor. It had keyed out merges into Smith’s Lane near Wintergill in Stace to Cotula squalida. I suggested we Plantation. meet and check it out but due to getting held up In v.c.64 and v.c.65 Cotula alpina occurs in in traffic we missed each other and decided three hectads: SE16, SE17 and SE27; and that rather than waste the day my colleague within these was present in 19 tetrads. In and I would check out all the other tracks on v.c.62 (excluding the Egton Moor record) it the moor. Phyl’s Cotula record turned out to occurs in hectads SE29 and NZ70, and is 54 Aliens – Cotula alpina in Yorkshire, new to Britain and Europe / First known record of Cotula alpina in Scotland, Wester Ross: v.c.105 present in two tetrads in each of these. In total with this paper; also Brendan Lepschi from the it covers a distance of approximately 20.5 km, Australian National Herbarium, who sent but there may be more around. There are other botanical information regarding Cotula alpina; tracks on the moors that were not investigated. and Phyl Abbott, Rod Corner, Dr Margaret Obviously this small plant has been around Bradshaw, David Shimwell, Rita Mark and for some time and probably came in with wool Beryl Armstrong for their assistance. shoddy (waste), which was used as a manure References: on lowland brassica and rhubarb crops (pers. COSTIN, A., GRAY, M., TOTTERDELL, C. & comm.: D. Shimwell) and market gardens WIMBUSH, D. (2000). Kosciuszko Alpine (Dony, 1952). How it found its way from there Flora. 2nd ed. C.S.I.R.O. to the open moorland is likely to remain a DONY, J.G. (1952). Wool aliens in Bedford- mystery, but it obviously relishes the well shire. BSBI Conference Report, 1952: 160- grazed, sandy, peaty track/roadside habitat. It 163. is possible that seed is being spread from moor THOMPSON, I.R. (2007). A taxonomic treat- to moor on the wheels of 4×4 vehicles used by ment of the tribe Anthemidaea (Asteraceae) the off-roading fraternity. All the moorland in Australia. Muelleria 25: 21-58. tracks are bye-ways open to all traffic WHITE, A. (2009). First known record of (BOATS) or bridleways. If anyone has spotted Cotula alpina in Scotland. BSBI News 113: this small plant elsewhere I would appreciate 54-55. it if they would let me know. WILMORE, G.T.D. 2000. Alien plants of I would like to thank Eric Clement for all the Yorkshire. Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. research he did to identify this plant and help First known record of Cotula alpina in Scotland, Wester Ross: v.c.105 ANNA WHITE, Smithy Cottage, Milton, Crocketford, Dumfries, Scotland, DG2 8QT (annawhite43 @yahoo. co. uk) Location: O.S. grid ref. NB99200.10709 what I thought was a Cotula, growing at Discovery approximately 219ft above sea level. Whilst On the 8th August 2009, while on a summer Gwen drove the car, I walked for a mile down holiday at Lochinver, my friend Gwen to Badentarbet pier, from where the boat for Richards, my son, Callum, and I set off south the Summer Isles leaves. This inch-high down the exceedingly twisty ‘Wee Mad plant was widely distributed all the way along Road’ that terminates at Achiltibuie, on a both verges. We ran out of time to search somewhat overcast, but warm day. We had further, but presume this is a very large site. two objectives in mind; the first being to go Identification on a boat trip round the Summer Isles and see When I returned home, I contacted the terns, and the second to search two sites County recorder, Duncan Donald, sending where there had been earlier reports of Marsh him photographs (see Back Cover) and speci- Fritillary webs. We searched the meadows in mens of the plant. He, like myself, thought it Polbain, but found very little Devil’s-bit was a Cotula, but was uncertain which partic- Scabious, the food plant of this butterfly. ular one. Eric Clements was consulted and he We reached the second site along a typical identified the plant as Cotula alpina . He also single track Highland road amid heather-clad confirmed this was a new record of this plant moorland, where sheep wander at will in for Scotland. front of one’s car. When I got out of the car, I contacted Julie Clarke who informed me I found the verges on both sides covered in that Linda Robinson had recently discovered Aliens – 1st record of Cotula alpina in Scotland (v.c.105) / Landoltia punctata takes another step 55 this plant growing at high altitude on road ’, but across a sea loch. I wonder if this verges by a Yorkshire grouse moor (v.c.65). record is a mis-identification. It is possible Linda Robinson has been carrying out a lot of that Cotula alpina is more widely distributed research into the plant, and is in contact with than has been previously supposed. Cotula Eric Clements, and with Brendan Lepchi alpina is only known to New South Wales, from the Australian National Herbarium [see Victoria and Tasmania, and it is a mystery as article above. Ed.]. to how it reached two very remote and appar- In Eric Clement’s Alien plants of the British ently unconnected areas in Wester Ross and Isles there is mention of Cotula squalida in Yorkshire, both new records being made being found under bracken above Gairloch within the last five months. beach, 50 miles to the south ‘as the crow Landoltia punctata (Lemnaceae) takes another step JOHN H. BRATTON, 18 New Street, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5HN; ([email protected])

Based on its occurrence in garden centres, in common name Dotted Duckweed, in reference 2001 it was predicted that Spirodela punctata to a “barely visible ridge of dots on the leaf would soon be found in a natural setting in surface” (University of Florida Center for Britain, if it was not already there and being Aquatic and Invasive Plants website – overlooked (Rumsey, 2003). I can report that http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/222). These are it has taken a step towards fulfilling that visible at ×20 as a row of 5-10 pimples along prediction. On 19th September 2009 I the mid-line of the upper surface of the frond. collected some duckweed from a small garden The source of the Treborth Landoltia is not pond in Treborth Botanic Garden, known (Nigel Brown, Treborth curator, pers. SH5503.7110, v.c.49 (see Colour Section, comm.). As would be expected in a botanic Plate 1). From above it looked vaguely odd garden, the pond contains a range of native for Lemna minor (Common Duckweed), and and non-native species, and Landoltia could in ventral view it was clearly not this, as it had have been inadvertently introduced at any time multiple roots to each frond. A search on the over a number of years. Rumsey (2003) web found The Charms of Duckweed mentioned its occurrence in garden centres in (www.mobot.org), showing images of Britain. I have visited two garden centres Landoltia (formerly Spirodela) punctata within 2 miles of Treborth and didn’t find it in (G. Mey.) Les & D.J. Crawford, which either of them, although one had an excellent matched the Treborth plants, and I am grateful range of alien invasive aquatics. The website to Richard Lansdown for confirming that this of the U.S. Geological Survey (yes, they have tentative determination is correct. a section on alien aquatic species: To detect L. punctata from above, look for www.usgs.gov) gives its native range as duckweed fronds of similar oval shape to Australia and SE Asia. It is now widespread Lemna minor but with the edge of each frond in the USA. picked out in maroon. On the underside, the References: maroon colour and multiple roots distinguish RUMSEY, F.J. (2003). Annual exhibition it from all British Lemnaceae except Spirodela meeting 2001 – abstracts: Spirodela puncta- polyrhiza (Greater Duckweed). Landoltia ta – the next invasive duckweed? BSBI News punctata supposedly has 2-5 roots per frond, 92: 71. whereas S. polyrhiza typically has 7-16 (Stace, STACE, C.A. (1997). New flora of the British 1997). However, Landoltia fronds with more Isles. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, than seven roots were frequent among the Cambridge. Treborth population. In America it has the 56 Aliens – Solanum triflorum (Small Nightshade) new to South Lancashire and the Sefton Coast

Solanum triflorum (Small Nightshade) new to South Lancashire and the Sefton Coast PHILIP H. SMITH, 9 Hayward Court, Watchyard Lane, Formby, Liverpool L37 3QP ([email protected]) On 29th July 2009 I was contacted by Peter SLF/Flowers/S/Solanum%20triflorum%20pic Brash, a member of the National Trust’s s.htm), collected a few stems for the vice- biological survey team, with the news that, on county recorder and listed the associated 13th July 2009, he and colleagues had found vascular plants (Table 1). All these are typical what appeared to be Solanum triflorum (Small of disturbed ground on the Sefton Coast sand- Nightshade) on the National Trust estate at dunes. Formby Point. The following day, I visited the Small Nightshade is an introduced casual site and located the target species on a rabbit from Western North America, found in culti- warren in an old asparagus field near the N.T. vated and rough ground and very scattered in office building (SD27743.07694). I counted a England and Wales (Stace, 1997). The BSBI total of about 15 straggling plants colonising Atlas Update Project (online) shows only 30 bare sand in an area of about 8.5m×2.5m hectad (10km2) records for this species in around the rabbit holes. The distinctive, Britain, four of these being after 2000. This deeply divided, rather succulent leaves made plant is not known to have been seen before in the plant easy to find and identify. Several South Lancashire (v.c.59) (D.P. Earl, in litt., specimens had small white flowers in twos or 2009) and is therefore also new to the Sefton threes, while a few were developing fruits Coast. How it got to Formby Point is a mystery. rather like miniature green tomatoes. I took Reference: photographs (see Colour Section, Plate 3) and STACE, C.A. (1997). New flora of the British the South Lancashire Flora web-site Isles. 2nd edition. Cambridge University http://www.johnsomerville.co.uk/ Press, Cambridge.

Table 1. Vascular plants associated with Small Nightshade at Formby Point o = occasional; f = frequent; a = abundant. Taxon English name Frequency Agrostis capillaris Common Bent o arvensis Bugloss f capillaris Smooth Hawk’s-beard o Cynoglossum officinale Hound’s-tongue o Erodium lebelii Sticky Stork’s-bill o Fallopia convolvulus Black Bindweed o Oenothera ×fallax Intermediate Evening-primrose o Rubus caesius Dewberry a Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort f Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade o Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle f Urtica urens Small Nettle f Aliens – Orobanche lucorum (Barberry Broomrape) in Fife (v.c.85) 57

Orobanche lucorum (Barberry Broomrape) in Fife (v.c.85) G.H. BALLANTYNE, ‘Branksome’, 193 Nicol St., Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY1 1PF In their account of Orobanche in Britain and business to observe that some plants were Ireland, Rumsey & Jury (1991) mentioned present in most years right down to 2009, that O. lucorum was known then only from when there was disturbance at the second site Oxford and St Andrews Botanic Gardens (p. due to the construction of an electricity 294), and this was repeated in Clement & substation, although this revealed more plants Foster (1994: 284). A follow-up paper by than had been previously suspected (pers. Rumsey (2008) made no allusion to the St comm, 03/08/09). Some days later, another Andrews record, despite the fact that the interested resident “went to look at the species had become well established both in Orobanche. It is in the most uninspiring the Garden itself and also ‘in the wild’ in the place, by the side of a path on a steep slope town. The introduction of the broomrape is below various shrubs. Building work is going described by Bob Mitchell as follows (pers. on. I counted 38 spikes - they have gone over comm, 9/10/09): a bit now, of course, but I don’t think they “My predecessor at St Andrews Botanic have been damaged” (pers. comm., Dr Jean Garden tried unsuccessfully with Stewart, 27/08/09). Owing to illness, the Orobanche lucorum on Berberis. I arrived author did not get the opportunity of visiting in 1962 and took up the challenge, initially either site until late summer 2009. He is with little success. We removed soil therefore very grateful to all four individuals around the perimeter of the Berberis plants named for supplying details and for allowing and sowed the seeds close to the him to quote from their (informal) notes, developing young roots, covering them without which it would not have been possible lightly. It was when we started to replant to compile this account. Acknowledgement is the Berberis collection to their permanent also made to Bill Hay, whose initial sighting positions about 1967 that we started to of the broomrape in April 2009 prompted the notice the pale creamy-yellow flowering interest, and, as ever when aliens are shoots. Now, wherever there are Berberis concerned, to Eric Clement, who encouraged plants, the broomrape has successfully self the writing-up and who drew attention to the sown, and it is quite a sight [see inside note by Rumsey (2008). Back Cover] As far as I know this As a footnote, perhaps it should be added broomrape is confined to Berberis, but that also in St Andrews Botanic Garden, a certainly not to B. vulgaris alone, for it is relative of the Orobanche has long been estab- hosted by at least 20 species throughout the lished, and it too is a colourful spectacle in borders in St Andrews Botanic spring, i.e. clandestina (Purple Garden.” Toothwort) – “on willow species. It has “The occurrence of O. lucorum ‘jumped’ borders, but I do not know how!!” [elsewhere in St Andrews] was at Andrew (per R. Mitchell, Oct.2009). Melville Hall [near the Sports Centre], References: almost certainly the result of surplus CLEMENT, E.J. & FOSTER, M.C. (1994). Alien affected plants being transferred from the Plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London. Botanic garden nursery, about 1970”. RUMSEY, F.J. & JURY, S.L. (1991). An Plants were spotted at the latter site about account of Orobanche L. in Britain and 1985 by Prof. Richard and Dr Edith Cormack Ireland. Watsonia 18: 257-95. [see inside Back Cover] and were seen at RUMSEY, F. (2008). Identification: Broom- regular intervals thereafter both there and in rapes of the British Isles. British Wildlife 19: the Garden. Indeed, they made it their 264-70. 58 Aliens – Alien plants near Thruxton, North Hampshire (v.c.12)

Alien plants near Thruxton, North Hampshire (v.c.12) A. (TONY) MUNDELL, 38 Conifer Close, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire SU52 6LS In BSBI News there is a long history of reports strumosa (Cape-jewels), maroccana of remarkable numbers of different alien plants (Annual Toadflax), Cosmos bipinnatus cropping up on areas of disturbed soil or (Mexican Aster) and houstonianum rubbish tips. A recent example is given by (Flossflower). Shaw (2008), and this report is in the same Characteristic ‘rubbish-dump’ species like vein. In 2009, photos of numerous alien plants Datura stramonium (Thorn-apple), Nicandra were sent to me by Miles Hodgkiss. He had physalodes, and Lycopersicon esculentum taken them in a very large area of disturbed (Tomato) were plentiful, but I was surprised to soil west of Thruxton, just south of a motor- see numerous flowering plants of Cerinthe racing track and airfield. In fact John Moon major (Greater Honeywort) and several had recorded Nicandra physalodes (Apple-of- Mirabilis jalapa (Marvel-of-Peru). Other Peru) and Nicotiana ×sanderae (Garden interesting plants were Chenopodium Tobacco) in this area in 2005 and he thinks that hybridum (-leaved Goosefoot), Erucas- the massive earth-moving now underway in trum gallicum (Hairy Rocket), Physalis the area had started nearly ten years ago. One peruviana (Cape-gooseberry), Eruca vesicaria intention, as well as providing a hard-core (Garden Rocket), Echium plantagineum recycling facility, was to fill up the gap (Purple Viper’s-bugloss), Guizotia abyssinica between the A303 and the Thruxton race-track (Niger), Amsinckia micrantha (Common with a mound so as to cut off views of the Fiddleneck), Silene armeria (Sweet-William racing cars, as these were a distraction to Catchfly), and Rumex scutatus (French Sorrel). drivers. That original mound is now well-veg- Eric homed in on a plant of Portulaca etated, mainly with grasses, but still has a few oleracea ssp. sativa (Garden Purslane) (see surviving alien species such as Alchemilla Colour Section, Plate 3). Stace (1997) notes mollis (Garden Lady’s-mantle), Sisyrinchium that this subspecies has apparently not yet been striatum (Pale Yellow-eyed-grass), Persicaria recorded in Britain. It was much more robust amplexicaulis (Red Bistort) and Phuopsis in habit than P. oleracea ssp. oleracea stylosa (Caucasian Crosswort). However, (Purslane) and had larger seeds. The seeds recycling of huge quantities of builders’ hard- were covered in tubercles and measured core and soil from many sources still continues 1.3mm across with some reaching 1.4mm (see nearby, so there are large areas of transient Colour Section, Plate 3) – the smallest scale habitat bursting with alien plants. divisions are 0.1mm). Flora Europaea Vol. 1, I decided to take Eric Clement along to see Tutin & Heywood et al. (1964) gives the seeds what we could find, together with Miles of P. oleracea as c.0.5mm, whilst the illustra- Hodgkiss. Our first visit was on 3rd October tion of ssp. oleracea in Clement, Smith & 2009, and I noted a list of over 150 taxa, 17 of Thirwell (2005) shows a seed just under 1mm them new to v.c.12 (though mainly escaped across. garden plants). Amongst a sea of Chenopo- It was surprising to see several plants usually dium album (Fat-hen) and Mercurialis annua found in aquatic or at least damp, habitats. (Annual Mercury) there were scattered Scrophularia auriculata (Water Figwort), splashes of colour from various ‘out-and-out’ Veronica anagallis-aquatica (Blue Water- garden plants, including Tropaeolum majus speedwell) and Myosoton aquaticum (Water (Nasturtium), Calendula officinalis (Pot Chickweed), were all flowering well on the dry Marigold), Petunia ×hybrida (Petunia), bare soil – no doubt due to the source of some Verbena bonariensis (Argentinian Vervain), of the imported soil. Other plants were from Eschscholzia californica (Californian Poppy), arable habitats. Examples were Misopates Lavatera trimestris (Royal Mallow), orontium (Weasel’s-snout), Chrysanthemum Aliens – Alien plants near Thruxton, North Hampshire (v.c.12) / Fraxinus ornus in (v.c.29) 59 segetum (Corn Marigold), Nepeta cataria villosum can be yellow as illustrated by Shaw (Cat-mint), Fumaria officinalis (Common (2001), or red, as shown in the Interactive flora Fumitory) and Fumaria densiflora (Dense- by Stace et al. (2005). Possibly the fruit of ssp. flowered Fumitory). miniatum could also be red. All three of us returned a fortnight later, and The most surprising addition on our second we continued to find additional locations for visit was Agastache rugosa (Korean Mint) (see the species we had seen earlier as well as extra Colour Section, Plate 3). A key to three species. Verbascum virgatum (Twiggy Agastache species was given by Clement Mullein) was added to the V. blattaria ( (2005), and A. rugosa was illustrated on the Mullein) and V. phoeniceum (Purple Mullein) cover. It can also be keyed out in that splendid found earlier. Incidentally V. blattaria always new book The vegetative key to the British has single flowers at each node, but even low flora (Poland & Clement 2009). down on its stems V. virgatum can also have References: single flowers at each node. So, as Eric CLEMENT, E.J. (2005). Agastache rugosa – an pointed out, the best distinguishing character alien new to Britain. BSBI News 99: 44-46. between them is pedicel length. POLAND, J. & CLEMENT, E.J. (2009). The Miles showed us a spot with at least 40 more vegetative key to the British flora. Privately plants of Amsinckia micrantha and we also published J. Poland, Southampton. stumbled on at least another 20 plants of SHAW, J.M.H. (2001). Confusion with Solanum villosum ssp. miniatum (Red Night- Solanum villosum hides unrecorded shade). This is almost glabrous, but with a few Solanum. BSBI News 87: 41 & 59-60. eglandular adpressed hairs on the stems. On SHAW, M. (2008). An unusual collection of the lower stems it has small ‘wing-like’ aliens. BSBI News 108: 45-48. angular ridges with tiny distant prickles. The STACE, C.A. (1997). New flora of the British fruits were all yellow when fully ripe (see Isles. CUP, Cambridge. Colour Section, Plate 3), so the vernacular STACE, C.A. et al. (2004). Interactive flora of name is confusing. The related ssp. villosum the British Isles. DVD-ROM . ETI Bioinfor- differs in having its stems densely covered in matics, Amsterdam. spreading hairs, some of them glandular, and TUTIN, T.G. & HEYWOOD, V.H. et al. (1964). the stems lack angular ridges with prickles. It Flora Europaea 1: 114. CUP, Cambridge. appears that the ripe fruit colour of ssp.

Fraxinus ornus (Manna Ash) in Cambridgeshire (v.c.29) ALAN C. LESLIE, 109 York Street, Cambridge, CB1 2PZ Having found it self-sown in Berwick-upon- base of fences and walls along Histon Road, Tweed, D.W. Shimwell asks in BSBI News near a number of planted trees. They had 112, if Fraxinus ornus is self-sowing in other clearly been there for some time and further counties in the British Isles. The response searches in the vicinity showed that it was also from Cambridgeshire is an emphatic yes. This self-sown in neighbouring gardens and around species is quite widely planted here as a the base of buildings across the road. Some street/amenity tree and has started to sow itself saplings were over 10ft tall and plants of this around with some abandon. I now have it in size have been recorded elsewhere in the city, about 14 locations around the city of where in total there must now be many Cambridge (10km squares TL45 & 46), and hundreds of young plants. They occur in a with other localities in Wilbraham (TL55), variety of places, from wall and fence bases, as March (TL58) and Ely (TL49). This spread well as in shrubberies and as weeds in garden was first noticed in Cambridge in 2002, when hedges, on common land, around graves in a hundreds of young plants were found at the cemetery, in car parks and as a pavement 60 Aliens – Fraxinus ornus in (v.c.29) / Untangling the climbers – Parthenocissus quinquefolia & P. inserta weed, even under a doorstep in one case. Their platform 3: not for much longer though, I fear, almost blue grey buds and rather glossy as new works for a neighbouring guided bus leaflets are readily picked out once known. system are about to engulf it. This plant The plant which has ventured furthest from flowered and fruited in previous years. Unfor- any parent persists on the old sidings at tunately I have not recorded the sex of the Cambridge station, where, as a result of past potential parent planted trees in each case. It unsuccessful efforts to clear the area, it is now seems likely that this species is here to stay and a vigorous multi-stemmed stool, with new is rapidly making itself at home. Indeed it may growth a good 6ft tall and readily visible from have the potential to be a troublesome weed.

Untangling the climbers – Parthenocissus quinquefolia & P. inserta JOHN C. DAVID, RHS Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB In a recent consultation on proposed amend- western parts of the United States (Webb ments to the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1967). Traditionally (e.g. Stace 1991) the two (1981), where further species of plants deemed species have been separated on the basis of the invasive have been added to the list given in branching of their tendrils and the formation of Schedule 9, two species of Parthenocissus adhesive pads where the tendrils make contact (Virginia-creepers) have been suggested for with a solid surface. However, there has been inclusion. Both species are of ornamental some suggestion that this is not a reliable value as climbers, especially for the autumn characteristic and that both species will form colouring of their leaves, but are known to be adhesive pads, just to varying degrees. closely related and hard to separate. The Since both species are considered to be confusion is increased by the fact that there has invasive, it was important to check that the been some disagreement over the application inclusion of both species was not the result of of the names in the past (Webb 1967), so that confusion over identification. The possibility accounts of these species in the literature need also exists that identification of the two species to be viewed with some caution. may be made more uncertain by the existence The two species in question are from North of hybrids, which are said to occur spontane- America, and have slightly different but ously in cultivation (Schneider 1912; Clarke overlapping distributions. One, P. quinque- 1976). In looking for other characteristics by folia (Virginia-creeper), comes from the which the two species might be separated, two eastern United States and extends into Mexico, North American regional floras were consulted as well as north into southern Canada. The (Cooperrider 1995; Voss 1985) and the range other, P. inserta (False Virginia-creeper), other characters are given in the following occurs in southern Canada and northern and Table. Character P. quinquefolia P. inserta Leaf surface dull more or less shiny Leaf-undersides distinctly pale green or slightly not or only slightly paler glaucous Leaflet base moderately to long-tapering short-tapering Petiolules 1-10mm 5-10(-30)mm Inflorescence Cymes in terminal panicles, with Cymes solitary, usually forked near the elongate central axis and smaller base with two main branches of more side branches or less equal size Fruits 6mm, not or slightly pruinose, 8mm, usually pruinose, with 3-4 seeds with 2-3 seeds Aliens – Untangling the climbers – Parthenocissus quinquefolia & P. inserta 61

Of these characteristics, it can be seen that it clearly has a nectariferous disc, and the the nature of the inflorescence branching leaves, although they can be deeply lobate, and the underside of the leaves gives good are never divided into separate leaflets. This support for distinguishing these species. account does not include P. inserta as a These back up the distinction made on the synonym and it is therefore recommended formation of adhesive pads, where P. that the use of the name Cissus verticillata quinquefolia consistently forms cup-like for the False Virginia-creeper should be pads at the end of the tendrils, and P. inserta rejected. at most produces swollen ends to the References: tendrils, usually where the tendril has BROWN, N. (1997). ‘Cissus’. In: CULLEN et worked its way into a crevice. On examina- al., (eds.). European garden flora 5. CUP, tion of living material, it is clear that in the Cambridge. latter species the tendrils almost always CLARKE D.L. (ed.) (1976). Trees and shrubs attach themselves by means of twisting hardy in the British Isles, vol. 3 (N-Rh), 8th round other objects. While hybrids between edition. John Murray, London. the two species may well exist, no material COOPERRIDER, T.S. (1995). The Dicotyledo- came to light in this study. neae of Ohio, Part 2. Linaceae through Those consulting the recent volume of the . Ohio State University Flora of Great Britain & Ireland (Sell & Press, Columbus. Murrell 2009), which includes the Vitaceae, LOMBARDI, J.A. (2000). Vitaceae: Gêneros should be aware that Parthenocissus inserta Ampelocissus, Ampelopsis e Cissus. is treated as a synonym of Cissus verticil- Flora Neotropica Monograph 80. New lata. This seems to follow the account of York Botanical Garden, New York. Vitaceae in the European garden flora SCHNEIDER, C.K. (1912). Illustriertes (Brown 1997), although no other published Handbuch der Laubholzkunde 2: 1-1070. treatment could be traced to support this Verlag von Gustav Fischer, Jena. synonymy. Cissus is distinguished from SELL, P.D. & MURRELL, G. (2009). Flora of Parthenocissus on the presence or absence Great Britain & Ireland 3. CUP, of a nectariferous disc in the flowers. In the Cambridge. latter genus there is no nectariferous disc STACE, C.A. (1991). New flora of the British and examination of material of P. inserta Isles. CUP, Cambridge. showed that there was no nectariferous disc, WEBB, D.A. (1967). What is Parthenocissus supporting the placement of this species in quinquefolia (L.) Planchon? Feddes Parthenocissus. Cissus verticillata is a Repertorium 74: 6-10. species from tropical to subtropical central VOSS, E.G. (1985). Michigan flora, Part III: and North America and a recent treatment of Dicots (Saururaceae – Cornaceae). Vitaceae from this region (Lombardi 2000), University of Michigan Herbarium, Ann shows that, while this is a variable species, Arbor. 62 Aliens – Lagurus ovatus (Hare’s-tail) with secondary intravaginal inflorescences

Lagurus ovatus (Hare’s-tail) with secondary intravaginal inflorescences ANGUS IDLE, 10 Whitfield Road, Hughenden Valley, High Wycombe, Bucks., HP14 4NZ ([email protected]) I have been recording the flora of Shellness in Nowhere in the literature could I find this the Isle of Sheppey, a very under recorded grid feature actually described. I reported this to square, which is in fact mainly sea - grid Dr Tom Cope at Kew, who warned that reference TR0568. It consists of a spit of very growing plants out of stress indoors can make shelly sand at the eastern end of the Swale in odd things happen. So I checked the wild the Thames estuary, and an area of salt marsh. population at Shellness and found the second Off the salt marsh and immediate sea shore the inflorescences were common. I have checked dominant vegetation is couch grassland with Rachel Rabey in Guernsey, where I know consisting of three species: Elytrigia atherica Lagurus is native, and she has confirmed that (Sea Couch), Elytrigia juncea (Sand Couch), second inflorescences are common there. I and their hybrid Elytrigia atherica × Elytrigia have visited Dr Cope at Kew, and the juncea. I collected specimens of all three to herbarium specimens frequently exhibit familiarise my self with them. I also collected second inflorescences. He mentioned that a specimen of Lagurus ovatus (Hare’s-tail), Calamagrostis canescens (Purple Small-reed) which I understand was introduced there quite exhibits culm branching like this. Interest- a long while ago. ingly, Bentham and Hooker’s British Flora From the specimens lying on my desk I describes Lagurus as “having characters collected seed of the Hare’s-tail and Sand nearly of Calamagrostis, except of the inflo- Couch and planted them in a pot on the rescence”. windowsill. Both germinated and grew The other species in the pot, the Sand Couch, together. The Hare’s-tail flowered, admittedly also exhibits an unusual feature. The long two months later than the wild population at leafy sprawling stems have distantly spaced Shellness, ripened and died back. leaves, and the sheaths rotate through 180° so This July I cut down the Lagurus to soil that the leaf blades are all on one side of the level, and much to my surprise noticed stem, pointing downwards. Being an annual, something on the cut material that I had never almost all the tillers culminate in an inflores- seen before. There were second inflores- cence. But frequently, even commonly, at cences on some of the culms, emerging intrav- least one node on the culm produces a branch aginally from leaves further down the culm which emerges from its parent nodal leaf than the flag leaf. I dissected off the leaf and sheath intravaginally, with a smaller, but found that the second inflorescence came from normal, inflorescence. There is a groove in a branch at that node and, as expected, there the main internode to accommodate the bud. was a long prophyll adaxial to the primary Slightly distant from the parent node there is a culm. The intercalary meristem had elongated long (2cm or more) lanceolate, membranous and pushed the second inflorescences up the prophyll, followed by a node with a flag leaf, inside of the leaf sheath, against some resist- with a somewhat inflated sheath because of ance, causing the internodes to wiggle. The the second inflorescence. The lateral inflores- second inflorescence was smaller than the cence is smaller than the primary one, but primary one but the spikelets achieved anthe- appears normal, achieving anthesis and ripe sis, so I assume the flowers were fertile (see seeds. I am checking viability of these. drawing p. 63). I will check to see if they The Sand Couch grew long sprawling leafy germinate. stems, but has not yet flowered, presumably because it is just not under stress. Aliens – Lagurus ovatus (Hare’s-tail) with secondary intravaginal inflorescences / Colour of the 63 petals of Malva (Lavatera) cretica (Smaller Tree-mallow)

The colour of the petals of Malva (Lavatera) cretica (Smaller Tree- mallow) EDWARD PRATT, 7 Bay Close, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1RE

Three identification books in my possession and last year I saw it on Guernsey. In each give this as lilac, one gives it as pinkish-lilac, case it was pink, with darker veins. When and one as rose-purple with darker veins. I dried, the petals turn blue-purple – the deeper realise that people see colours differently, but colour of lilac. some years ago I saw it in the Isles of Scilly 64 Requests & offers – A new fully interactive key to the British flora – photos wanted / Suffolk survey help – needed for a book / B & B in Central France

REQUESTS & OFFERS

A new fully interactive key to the British flora – photos wanted JOHN POLAND, 91 Ethelburt Avenue, Southampton, Hants SO16 3DF; ([email protected])

Together with Alan Hale, I am working on Consequently, I am keen to receive plant producing a fully interactive multi-access key photos from the many enthusiastic photogra- to the entire British and Irish flora, for use with phers within the BSBI for inclusion in the a hand-held computer (PDA), home computer interactive key (contributors will be fully and potentially with an iPhone. The key is acknowledged). Ambitiously, the first beta primarily based upon the simple divisions of version is anticipated within just two years. the Vegetative Key (2009) but flower and fruit Despite the wealth of Floras on the internet, characters will be added. The combination of few are fully interactive. Details of the ones I characters will enable rapid and reliable identi- am aware of can be found on p. 42. fication of a plant found in any stage of growth Reference: at any time of year. POLAND, J. & CLEMENT, E.J. (2009). The Unlike books, space is much less of an issue Vegetative Key to the British Flora. John and the interactive key will contain numerous Poland, in association with the BSBI, South- digital images and some line illustrations. ampton.

Suffolk survey – help needed for a book COLIN JACOBS, 12 Grove Road, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9RB

In June 2009 I was requested to survey over experts who could help record the area. The 400 acres of farmland and village surrounding survey will be made into a report in 2020. Barsham Hall (TM3989), near Beccles in East Neither I or the owners of the Barsham Hall Suffolk, by the Hall’s owners. The survey will estate and surrounding farms can offer start officially in 2010, and will last ten years. payment, but I can offer free digs at my home I have been visiting the area on a frequent for as long as is needed, including access to my basis, but I would like to give other botanists study and library. and naturalists the chance to hone their field Anyone interested in recording for us, please skills. I would then, of course, like to invite email: [email protected], or tel: any botanists who may either specialise in 01502 719752. All recorders will be certain species such as Rubus, or beginners and mentioned in the book.

B & B in Central France DAVID BARKER, La vallée d'en bas, 86390, Bourg Archambault, France 00 33 (0)5 49 48 22 47; [email protected]

We wonder whether perhaps some members dation in a fairly large and characterful house, might like a holiday break with us to explore with a wonderful meadow full of orchids and this tranquil part of France (60km south east many other species of both plants and animals. of Poitiers). We can offer B&B (other meals Please write, phone or email to the addresses available in village 2km) in simple accommo- above for further details. Requests & offers – Gofynne seed list 2010 / BSBI News copies on offer / Notices – Ashmolean 65 Natural History Society of Oxfordshire: Education Group Identification Courses

Gofynne seed list 2010 ANDREW SHAW, Gofynne, Llanynis, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3HN; ([email protected]) A small quantity of seed from any of the Juncus pygmaeus following species is sent free upon receipt of a Limosella aquatica SAE. Limosella australis Alisma gramineum Oenothera stricta Bromus interruptus Pilosella peleteriana ssp. subpeleteriana Campanula patula Poa infirma menthifolium Rumex maritimus Cyperus fuscus Rumex rupestris alisma Silene noctiflora Dianthus armeria Sonchus palustris Epilobium lanceolatum Viola kitaibelianna Fumaria purpurea BSBI News copies on offer COLIN A JACOBS, 12 Grove Road, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9RB I have the following BSBI News free to a good 1981), no.29 (Dec. 1981), no32 (Dec. home. The recipient may collect or pay 1982)(×2), no.73 (Sep. 1996), no.77 (Dec. postage. I will split. 1997), no.82 (Sep. 1999), no.84 (April 2000). Vol. 3, no.2 (May 1974), no.3 (Nov. 1974), I would like to thank Martin Sanford for filling no.9 (March 1975), no.10 (Sep. 1975), no.11 the gaps in my collection of BSBI News and (Sep. 1975), no.12 (Feb. 1976), no.13 (Sep. some gaps in Watsonia. In return I am looking 1976), no.13 (Dec. 1976), no.15 (April 1977), for any pre-1990 Watsonia’s to complete my no.16 (Sep. 1977), no.17 (Dec. 1977), no.18 BSBI collection. I also have in my collection (April 1968), no.19 (Sep. 1978), no.20 (Dec. the leaflets, indexes and other ephemera. Am 1978), no.21 (April 1977), no.22 (Oct. 1979), I one of the biggest BSBI publication collec- no.23 (Dec. 1979), no. 24 (April 1980), no.26 tors? (Dec. 1980), no.27 (April 1981), no.28 (Sep. NOTICES

Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire: Education Group Identification Courses, 2010 The Ashmolean Natural History Society of and Vegetative Identification’. There will also Oxfordshire has been providing plant identifi- be a day studying ‘Grassland Flora and cation courses through its Education Group for Quadrat Recording’ and a course on the ‘Use eight years now, and has acquired a national of Microscopes’. reputation for the rigour and accessibility of its Tutors for all courses are active botanists or teaching. In 2010, in addition to the basic experts in the particular botanical group that course, which aims to teach the use of a dichot- the course is covering. omous key, the continuation courses (for those For further information on all courses phone who have attended the basic course or have a Frances Watkins on 01865 863660 or email: similar level of experience) include ‘Grasses [email protected] 66 Notices – Wild Gladiolus in Britain: past, present and future, Conference / Excursion to Almería (South-east ) - April 2010

The Wild Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus) in Britain: past, present and future A one-day conference on its biology and status: Brockenhurst Village Hall, New Forest, Hampshire Saturday 13th March 2010 Gladiolus illyricus Koch (The Wild Gladiolus) Adrian Newton and Sarah North (University of is one of the most prized and emblematic wild Bournemouth): Mapping the habitat of plants of the New Forest. Yet knowledge of its Gladiolus. existence in Britain goes back little more than Richard Reeves (Christopher Tower Library, 150 years. Its taxonomy and status have often New Forest Museum): Gladiolus and historic been called into question; and now its fortunes land management. seem to be in decline. Simon Weymouth (Chief Ecologist, Forestry This one-day conference will bring together Commission, New Forest): Current initia- many of the people who have studied the plant tives to conserve Gladiolus. in recent decades, with the hope of consoli- The day will end with a discussion session dating knowledge, encouraging further study chaired by Clive Chatters, bringing together and supporting conservation efforts. The day the strands of the day and eliciting suggestions will be organised as a series of formal presen- for future work. Many other individuals and tations, each followed by an opportunity for members of institutions with a keen interest in questions and discussion. Forest ecology have already shown their The conference will be chaired by Clive interest in attending, so a lively discussion is Chatters, Chairman of the New Forest guaranteed! National Park Authority. Clive is well-known The conference fee will be £5 per head, to for his botanical writing and his work over include refreshments during the day. An many years to conserve Hampshire wildlife optional buffet lunch can also be booked at a and safeguard traditional land management. modest extra cost. Formal speakers include: A full brochure and booking form can be Anthony Hamilton (British Gladiolus Society, downloaded from the following website: author of Gladiolus in Flora Europaea): http://hantsplants.org.uk/gladconf.php or Taxonomy and genetics. obtained from: Natalie Rogers, Hampshire and Jonathan Stokes (Tree Council, former Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Beechcroft researcher on New Forest Gladiolus): House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, Hampshire, Biology and ecology. SO32 2DP. (email: [email protected]) Geoff Toone (Botanical Society of the British For further information about the day’s Isles): The early recording history. content, contact: Martin Rand, BSBI Recorder Martin Rand (South Hampshire Recorder, (v.c.11), 21 Pine Road, Chandlers Ford, Botanical Society of the British Isles): Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 1LH. (email: Recording and populations in the last 60 [email protected]) years. Excursion to Almería (South-east Spain) - April 2010 There are still a few places available for the are from Thursday 15th April to Thursday 22nd spring field meeting in sun-drenched Almería, April 2010. For further details, please contact: where we can expect to encounter a wealth of Teresa Farino, Apartado de Correos 59, colourful plants, birds and butterflies, many of 39570 Potes, , Spain; tel.: 00 34 942 them not found elsewhere in Europe. Dates 735154; e-mail: [email protected] Field meeting reports: 2009 – Cors Erddreiniog NNR (v.c.52) 67

FIELD MEETING REPORTS: 2009 Reports of field meetings are collated by Dr Valley, High Wycombe, Bucks., HP14 4PA (tel.: Alan Showler, and copy for these should be sent 01494 562082). 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. Cors Erddreiniog NNR, Anglesey(v.c.52), 6th June WENDY MCCARTHY & JOHN BRATTON

The unseasonal weather (north wind, rain) that invertebrates were not much in failed to deter 17 BSBI members and friends evidence, but a cold, wet dragonfly was from enjoying a tour of Cors Erddreiniog led carefully examined and found to be Libel- by Countryside Council for Wales warden, lula quadrimaculata (Four-spotted chaser). Les Colley and their peatland ecologist, Lunch was taken mostly standing up, and Peter Jones. The National Nature Reserve is then the party crossed the fen to the more centred on a cut-over raised bog, with 4000 acidic western side, overlying old red years’ worth of peat having been removed in sandstone. A pond here was fringed with recent centuries to leave a mosaic of wetland large tussocks of Carex elata (Tufted habitats famous for their rare plants and Sedge), alongside Hippuris vulgaris invertebrates. (Mare’s-tail), Sparganium emersum We set off along the foot of the slope on (Unbranched Bur-reed) and Hottonia palus- the east side where calcareous groundwater tris (Water Violet). The fenny fields were feeds the fen. Ditches here were infilled to dominated by Equisetum fluviatile (Water prevent loss of the groundwater and this has Horsetail) and Menyanthes trifoliata (Bog- produced a series of ponds, where we saw bean), but careful searching produced Baldellia ranunculoides (Lesser Water- Stellaria palustris (Marsh Stitchwort), plantain), (Fen Carex diandra (Lesser Tussock-sedge), Pondweed), Eleogiton fluitans (Floating Potamogeton berchtoldii (Small Pondweed) Club-rush) and Potentilla palustris (Marsh and leaves of Sparganium natans (Least Cinquefoil). Bur-reed). By now we had reached the final, The calcareous ground further north held most acidic area of the fen, with abundant colourful patches of Aquilegia vulgaris Cladium mariscus (Great Fen-sedge), and (Columbine), with vulgaris also Narthecium ossifragum (Bog (Butterwort) and the emerging leaves of Asphodel), Drosera rotundifolia (Sundew), Parnassia palustris (Grass of Parnassus). Viola palustris (Marsh Violet), and, in the Several orchids grew here, including Ophrys wetter centre, a fine stand of Carex limosa insectifera ( Orchid), (Bog-sedge), a very recent discovery in this (Lesser Butterfly-orchid) and Gymnadenia well botanised site. The route back took us conopsea ssp. densiflora (Fragrant Orchid). over a dry grassland mound, which Nearby, a stand of Calamagrostis epigejos supported Viola riviniana ×lactea (a hybrid (Wood Small-reed) was investigated, but violet) and Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort), was not yet in flower. despite having being ploughed and reseeded A brief search of the wood failed to in 1980, prior to becoming part of the NNR. produce Carex pallescens (Pale Sedge), Thanks to Les Colley and Peter Jones for found here on a previous BSBI meeting in their expert guidance and enthusiasm the early 1990s. The cool weather meant despite the weather. 68 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Cavehill and Collinward (v.c.H39)

Cavehill and Collinward, Co. Antrim (v.c.H39), 20th June DAVID MCNEILL A group of nine botanists, including three accurate grid reference, we searched suitable students from the University of Ulster, met at habitat in vain. Belfast Zoo with plants rather than animals The colourful flora ensured an idyllic lunch being the order of the day. The woods spot, and the damp conditions did not deter the immediately above the zoo have yielded both students from lounging in the long grass. After minor (Common Wintergreen) and lunch, we contoured round the mountain to Pyrola media (Intermediate Wintergreen) in other flushed ground. Just as we were about to the past, and we aimed to see if either species turn back, Paul Hackney spotted a Dacty- was still present. Roger Field was able to lorhiza incarnata (Early Marsh-orchid) spike. pinpoint a streamside bank where he had seen The flesh-coloured flowers indicated ssp. Pyrola minor many years earlier, but none incarnata. There were about half a dozen could be found on this occasion. Amongst the flowering spikes in the immediate vicinity. more local woodland species observed were The party then set off on a long trek between Galium odoratum (Woodruff) and Melica Cavehill and Collinward, in the direction of an uniflora (Wood Melick). ugly landfill site. During a short drink stop, we Climbing through the open woodland, we discussed the discovery of Pyrola media in a paused frequently to enjoy the views back over nearby moorland site in 1991. It had been Belfast Lough and down into the narrow gorge re-discovered in 2008 in a basalt quarry cut by the stream we had followed earlier. adjoining the landfill site, and the group now Shortly after emerging from the woodland, a proceeded into this quarry. The Pyrola media stile took us out onto the grazed slopes of was seen almost immediately, in much greater Collinward Mountain. Almost immediately quantity and in a wider area than seen in 2008. we found a butterfly orchid, the first of several, Approximately 20 flowering spikes and 60 all unopened. John Faulkner demonstrated other plants were counted. The quarry that the divergent pollinia of Platanthera provided an interesting contrast to the earlier chlorantha (Greater Butterfly-orchid) could habitat. The plants seen included still be observed, even in bud. In the same minima (Small Cudweed), Arenaria serpylli- field we saw the first Helictotrichon pubescens folia (Thyme-leaved Sandwort), Catapodium (Downy Oat-grass) of the day and also Ranun- rigidum (Fern-grass), Erophila verna culus bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup). (Common Whitlowgrass), Listera ovata Nearby, we came to an attractive area of (Common Twayblade), Dactylorhiza broken rocky pasture and wet flush. Swarms purpurella and tasty Fragaria vesca (Wild of brightly-coloured Dactylorhiza maculata Strawberry). Mycelis muralis (Wall Lettuce) (Heath Spotted-orchid), D. purpurella even made an appearance, venturing far from (Northern Marsh-orchid) and their hybrid kept its urban home. everyone happy. Pedicularis palustris (Marsh Another long climb brought us to the top of Lousewort) and Crepis paludosa (Marsh Cavehill. We paused at McArt’s Fort, known Hawksbeard) were also prominent, whilst a to locals as Napoleon’s Nose, and were little more patience was required to spot Carex appalled to see a lady dangling her legs over dioica (Dioecious Sedge) and Eleocharis the edge of the cliff. The scramble down the quinqueflora (Few-flowered Spike-rush). steep slopes was not fun for most of the group, Another target species eluded us. Pseudorchis but we came safely to the cave, which gives the albida (Small-white Orchid) was recorded on mountain its name. Here Helictotrichon the slopes of Collinward above Belfast Zoo in pubescens turned up again and the very local 1987 and 1988. Unfortunately, without an Pimpinella saxifraga (Burnet-saxifrage) was seen. Two members of the group, one of Field meeting reports: 2009 – Cavehill and Collinward (v.c.H39) / Fearn Peninsular (v.c.106) 69 whom was the leader, inadvisedly decided to through a different part of the woods. Pyrola climb up a steep grassy slope to the base of the minor would have been a nice end to a long cliff. When everyone was eventually re- day, but it wasn’t to be. united, we chose a route back to the car park Fearn Peninsular (v.c.106: Easter Ross), 20th -21st June BARBARA & BRIAN BALLINGER The aim of this meeting was atlas updating and Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Crane’s- a review of the Easter Ross Rare Plants Regis- bill), not common in Easter Ross, and new for ter. this location. Carduus tenuiflorus (Slender On the first day, nine of us met at Fearn Thistle) is also frequent here. Station, which was covered in flowers in spite Time did not allow us to venture further of Network Rail’s weedkillers. Here we onto the dunes, but we were able to view a spotted Vulpia myuros (Rat’s-tail Fescue) ditch on the way out that was filled with growing up against the station buildings. Catabrosa aquatica (Whorl-grass) and The RAF had kindly given us permission to Veronica anagallis-aquatica (Blue Water- visit the Morrich More bombing range near speedwell). Tain and we were greeted by a bomb disposal On the second day we were joined by five officer who gave us a safety briefing. This more members and guests, and drove the short site is a splendid area of dunes and saltmarsh, distance to the shore at Shandwick. Near the and it has remarkable quantities of Juniperus village, a large and persistent patch of communis (Common Juniper). There has, Lepidium draba (Hoary Cress) grows in its however, been some concern about how well only v.c.106 location, and nearby was Sapon- it is growing here at present. In the Red Stripe aria officinalis (Soapwort), unusual in this Loch area the tussocky ground was covered area. with Dacytylorhiza incarnata (Early Marsh- Thalictrum minus (Lesser Meadow-rue) is orchid), although ssp. coccinea was not common along the coastal path and we saw refound. The first of the Juncus balticus danicus and Catabrosa aquatica (Baltic Rush), which is widespread on the again. The base-rich turf was very colourful, range, was also seen here. The base-rich loch although the (Early-Purple grew a dense mat of Chara species. Orchid) had just finished flowering. At the road end we refound Botrychium The sandstone cliffs support Helianthemum lunaria (Moonwort) and Astragalus danicus nummularium (Common Rock-rose) and (Purple Milk-Vetch) was scattered along a Carlina vulgaris (Carline Thistle). We then considerable length of track. In an area of examined the area where Oxytropis halleri regenerating Salix, more than 30 spikes of (Purple Oxytropis) is seen, and we counted Corallorhiza triflda (Coralroot Orchid) grew, around 40 plants, a few still flowering. The and this is one of several known locations on number of plants has fallen considerably here the site. and the causes of this were discussed. The At Loch na Muic we had a long debate about other two Easter Ross sites for Oxytropis are the identity of a Brassicaceae species, which in more difficulty, with one reduced to five we finally decided must be Rorippa micro- plants and the other to only one (these repre- phylla (Narrow-fruited Water-cress). sent three of the ten known British 10km Baldellia ranunculoides (Lesser Water-plan- locations for this species.) It may be that tain) had just come into flower. Near the withdrawal of grazing from the steep cliffs, targets we re-found Equisetum variegatum overgrowth by Ulex europaeus (Gorse) and (Variegated Horsetail), only discovered in climate change are factors. this part of Morrich More recently, and also 70 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Town Yetholm (v.c.80)

Town Yetholm, Roxburghshire (v.c.80), 4th - 5th July ROD CORNER Twelve members assembled on the village provides a last refugium in the vice-county green on a bright morning with sunny and for some species. The recorder was last here dry conditions holding up over the whole almost 30 years ago, so it was of interest to weekend. We split into two groups, with note changes in the flora. On a steep flushed Michael Braithwaite leading the first group, slope above the burn, Carex laevigata which recorded around the village, on (Smooth-stalked Sedge) was abundant, and Yetholm Haughs beside the Bowmont Water first recorded here by George Swan in 1959, and up the Halterburn valley. In the village a with Carex muricata ssp. lamprocarpa good selection of species was seen including (Prickly Sedge) in the dry andesite grassland. the local Euphorbia lathyrus (Caper Spurge), At the foot of the slope, a flush Geranium pyrenaicum (Hedgerow Crane’s- had produced the rare moss Tomentypnum bill) and the first localised vice-county nitens (Woolly Feather-moss) during a record for Parietaria judaica (Pellitory-of- reconnoitre the previous day. Sedum the-wall). Among species recorded from the villosum (Hairy Stonecrop) was only seen in open conditions of the haugh were Dipsacus two sites, the lower one being limited to a fullonum (Teasel), Echium vulgare (Viper’s few plants, with only a high level flush at Bugloss), Malva sylvestris (Common 670m having a good population. This Mallow), Vicia lathyroides (Spring Vetch), contrasts with observations in 1975, when it and Viola tricolor (Wild Pansy), with Ranun- was recorded as being “locally common culus hederaceus (Ivy-leaved Crowfoot) in from 300-610m”. This species has lost wetter conditions. There was an old record ground throughout the Borders, mainly from for Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink) from forestry and over-grazing. Saxifraga the Witchcleuch Burn at Halterbum, made by stellaris (Starry Saxifrage) has its only vice- Professor George Swan in 1959 but not seen county population here, and seemed rarer since. It was deemed worthy of a search than before, with only a few plants seen on more in hope than expectation, especially as the upper part of the burn. Epilobium alsini- it was a targeted species on the Threatened folium (Chickweed Willowherb), last seen in Plant Project list. Indeed much to the delight 1997, appeared to be extinct. The steep of the party, a large healthy population was irrigated bank where it occurred had been found to be extant and given intensive undermined by the drastic floods of Autumn monitoring treatment. Closely associated 2008 and swept away, and it was not found species of note were Helianthemum nummu- in the high-level flush where it was last seen larium (Common Rock-rose), Helictotrichon in 1981. Heavy grazing over the last few pratense (Meadow Oat-grass) and Koeleria decades has badly degraded these flushes. macrantha (Crested Hair-grass) with Carex Saxifraga hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage) was muricata ssp. lamprocarpa (Prickly Sedge) present in small quantity on a ledge and in nearby. addition, Luke Gaskell spotted two The second group travelled up the flowering plants of S. granulata (Meadow Bowmont Water to the farm of Cocklawfoot, Saxifrage). This would have been the site from where the ascent of the Cheviot Burn where it was previously recorded by Clive began. They had montane species in their Dixon as “610m”, but a GPS check on the sights, as this part of v.c.80 has the highest map contour level reduced the altitude to ground in the vice-county, reaching 743m at 550m. Among the species on blanket peat the edge of The Cheviot plateau, and which below Auchope Cairn were Rubus Field meeting reports: 2009 – Town Yetholm (v.c.80) 71 chamaemorus (Cloudberry), Vaccinium Spearwort) were seen, and a conspicuous and vitis-idaea (Cowberry) and Carex bigelowii unexpected stand of Scrophularia umbrosa (Stiff Sedge), and it was good to see a (Green Figwort), presumably as a relative population of the hybrid (C. ×decolorans), newcomer, was admired. The quantity of with C. nigra (Common Sedge). As a bonus, fruiting fimbriatum was conspic- the conspicuous pink montane moss Bryum uous and remarked upon. The traverse weigelii (Duval’s Thread-moss) was seen in through the wet jungle-like conditions of the two flushes and was new to the vice-county. carr was not to every one’s liking, but lunch The two groups met up later and enjoyed an was partaken in a dry sunny glade and the excellent meal and chat over their finds at the object of the traverse, Carex riparia (Great Plough Hotel. Pond Sedge), in one of its only two vice- On the following day the Scottish Wildlife county sites, was finally attained and found Trust reserves of Hoselaw Loch with Din to be dominant over 20×10m. The utricles Moss and Yetholm Loch were visited. were still infected by the smut Farysia Hoselaw Loch had fine stands of thuemenii, noted in 1981. The hybrid Rumex virosa (Cowbane), especially on the north ×pratensis (R. crispus × R. obtusifolius) side, but attempts with the grapnel to obtain (Curled × Broad-leaved Dock) was seen at aquatics were singularly disappointing, with the field edge before reaching the cars. no sign of living plant material. This must be Yetholm Loch was a haunt of the Berwick- due to the run-off from the intensively shire Naturalists’ Club, and many of the managed land partly surrounding the loch aquatics recorded, especially by Andrew and, as Martyn Stead pointed out, the lack of Brotherston 130 years ago, are still extant. any waterfowl on the loch indicated this. At The sight of 80 mute swans on the surface the western end, only a brief foray was made boded well for aquatics. Indeed, the grapnel on to the raised bog of Din Moss, where the was draped with masses of Potamogeton surface was very tussocky and much pectinatus (Fennel Pondweed) and P. pockmarked with holes, so that any progress pusillus (Lesser Pondweed), with small was painfully slow. Calluna vulgaris amounts of Callitriche hermaphroditica (Heather), Empetrum nigrum (Crowberry), (Autumnal Water-starwort) and Erica tetralix (Cross-leaved Heath) and Zannichellia palustris (Horned Pondweed). Vaccinium oxycoccos (Cranberry), with the Along the western shore grew Butomus two common Eriophorum (Cotton-grass) umbellatus (Flowering-rush), Carex acuti- species were noted, but Trichophorum formis (Lesser Pond-sedge), Cicuta virosa (Deergrass) was absent. The hybrid fern (Cowbane), Ranunculus sceleratus (Celery- Dryopteris ×deweveri (D. dilatata × leaved Buttercup) and Veronica anagallis- D. carthusiana) (Broad Buckler × Narrow aquatica (Blue Water-speedwell), with Buckler-fern) was seen in the birch Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered woodland. This is the only v.c. site, but it Crane’s-bill) in the farm-yard. There was no must be over-looked elsewhere. At the opportunity to explore the extensive area of western margin of the loch, fen conditions, fen to the south of the loch. It had been a with willow carr and Phragmites (Common very worth-while weekend, with a good set Reed) graded into birch woodland fringing of updated records, and I would like to thank the raised bog. None of the less common those who attended for contributing their willows to the area was observed. Carex expertise and good humour, the land owners curta (White Sedge), Lycopus europaeus for access and to Julian Warman of the (Gypsywort), Potentilla palustris (Marsh Scottish Wildlife Trust for help in preparing Cinquefoil) and Ranunculus lingua (Greater the visit to the reserves. 72 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Carmarthenshire Recording Week, Glynhir

Carmarthenshire Recording Week, Glynhir, 11th – 18th July KATH PRYCE Saturday 11th July a new (the sixth) site in the county. After Nine BSBI members assembled for lunch at crossing the Salthouse Pill, the general Glynhir (SN6315). Mary Smith and Fay consensus was to break for lunch, after which Newbery, who had not visited Glynhir before the party returned along the former tramway were welcomed by the ‘regulars’. The planned on the south side of the pill, although some gentle introduction to the week was an excur- members wisely (as it turned out) re-crossed sion to a nearby hay meadow at Bryntirion, the bridge and retraced their steps. The main Llanedi (SN5808), with hosts Pat and Barney party followed Richard to another bridge, Gill, many interesting plants (including which was found to have been demolished! Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. borealis (Fragrant This resulted in most people choosing to walk Orchid)), Marbled White butterflies, and the length of the tramway to the road, but the continuous heavy rain – a demonstration of drivers had little alternative than to cross the why Wales appears so green! Margot Godfrey pill on a precarious log in order to fetch the (perhaps wisely and certainly of great value) cars to pick-up the others! This wasted at least chose to forego the field meeting and instead an hour, so the visit to Ginst Point (SN3208) made a species list from around Glynhir was shorter than planned. However, the effort Mansion. Andrew Stevens attended the field was worth it, as plants seen at Ginst included meeting and brought along a living grass the first Vice-county record of Parapholis specimen grown from English seed, as a incurva (Curved Hardgrass), which has subse- puzzle for the evening session. Martyn Stead quently been confirmed by Arthur Copping, collected specimens of two varieties of Rumex Mick Crawley and David Pearman. As the sanguineus (Wood Dock) from the roadside day’s finale, the sight of acres of Limonium near Bryntirion which were demonstrated that vulgare (Common Sea-lavender) in full flower evening as varieties viridis and sanguinalis. was well appreciated. Arthur Chater reported a plant of Cannabis Monday 13th July sativa (Hemp) growing beneath the bird- The party split into three groups. Richard feeders at Glynhir. Andrew’s grass was distributed new versions of the Carmarthen- quickly determined by Arthur and Graeme shire field-record card amended to highlight Kay as Bromus interruptus (Interrupted species for which more detailed notes and/or a Brome), a species now extinct in the wild. specimen are desirable. Arthur, Graeme, John Poland arrived in time for the evening Richard and I visited the River Tywi at Llwyn meal. Jack, Llandovery (SN7533), where we were Sunday 12th July joined by the Cokers. The river here includes The party travelled to Salthouse Farm near extensive shingle shoals, and gravel workings Pendine (SN2909) for the morning and were have created several ponds. Species on the joined by Nigel Stringer, Stephen and Anne gravels included 16 plants of Bromus secalinus Coker (the County Dragonfly Recorders) and (Rye Brome), frequent Rorippa islandica Simeon Jones. Trifolium glomeratum (Northern Yellow-cress), Senecio viscosus (Clustered Clover) had been reported from (Sticky Groundsel), Spergularia rubra (Sand here recently by Ian Morgan and the plants Spurrey) and Silene uniflora (Sea Campion). were re-found on a rocky bluff at the foot of S. uniflora occurs sparingly at the coast in the densely vegetated Old Red Sandstone Carms., as well as inland on some mountain cliffs. Very few flowers remained but its seed cliffs and old lead-mine tips. It is presumably heads are very distinctive. Carex punctata from these tips that it has washed down the (Dotted Sedge) was found by the track nearby, Tywi to become occasionally established on Field meeting reports: 2009 – Carmarthenshire Recording Week, Glynhir 73 the shoals. Arthur identified several trees of 1960s with 89 single-species blocks of up to Betula celtiberica and demonstrated its distin- about 0.15ha each of both coniferous and guishing characters. It is believed to be a broad-leaved species to test their potential native species in Wales and he exhibited commercial value under forest conditions in details at the BSBI Welsh AGM in Builth in the mild, wet, west Wales climate. Forty-two June 2009 (Chater, in press). Another group species have survived although not all are (Margot, Mary and Martyn) visited several growing vigorously, whilst twenty-two have sites in the Llanddeusant area (SN72) with the failed. The spruces and firs have grown well, express purpose of monitoring past records of whilst many pines have done less well. After Vicia orobus (Wood Bitter-vetch) for the lunch the party opted to walk along the forest Threatened Plants Project. Richard and I had track to the River Gorlech. The track verges been to two of the sites earlier in the year and yielded some interesting species, such as had failed to find it, but had noted Lathyrus Wahlenbergia hederacea (Ivy-leaved linifolius (Bitter-vetch). Today’s excursion Bellflower), whilst Phegopteris connectilis was just as unsuccessful. Both past records (Beech Fern) and Equisetum sylvaticum had been made by non-botanists, which invites (Wood Horsetail) grew by the river. On the the question as to whether L. linifolius had return to the main road through the forest the been misidentified as V. orobus. However, the party made a brief stop to be shown one of the group did not have a wasted day and recorded few Formica rufa (Red Wood-) nests in the Sedum telephium (Orpine), Equisetum sylvat- county. Back at Glynhir, Mary and James Iliff icum (Wood Horsetail), Jasione montana joined us for the evening meal, Julie Clarke (Sheep’s-bit) and pratense and Marion Chappell joined us in the evening (Cow-wheat) on roadside banks in the vicinity to stay a few days, and Barry and Sandra of the search-sites. Fay, Priscilla Tolfree and Stewart arrived to set up three overnight moth Heather Colls visited tetrads SN52Q and traps in the grounds. After dinner Martyn and SN52V in the central Tywi valley. One of Margot reported their Carmarthen discoveries, their tasks was to refind Carex strigosa (Thin- which included Potentilla intermedia (Russian spiked Wood-sedge) at Allt-y-Wern SSSI, Cinquefoil) on waste ground near the station, where it was last seen in 1999. They duly the first county record. Among many other found about 20 tufts by a streamside in the species in the vicinity, they had also found woodland, at one of its two sites in the county. Catapodium rigidum (Fern-grass), Vulpia They also recorded Bromopsis ramosa (Hairy myuros (Rat’s-tail Fescue), Rorippa islandica, Brome), Rorippa islandica and Carex otrubae Sagina nodosa (Knotted Pearlwort) and (False Fox-sedge), which is scarce inland in Euphrasia confusa × E. nemorosa (an the county. eyebright), whilst a single plant of Veronica Following the evening meal, a small group agrestis (Grey Field-speedwell) was found visited Glynhir Waterfall to pay homage to the growing as a pavement weed. Dryopteris aemula (Hay-scented Buckler- Wednesday 15th July fern). Small groups visited several places today. Tuesday 14th July Julie, Marion and Fay went to Llyn-y-Fan Today Margot and Martyn went to Carmarthen Fach and its vicinity (SN8022 & SN8023), as (SN4119) to do some urban botanising, while they were keen to see Euphrasia rivularis the rest of the party visited Abergorlech to be (Snowdon Eyebright), where it had been shown the “Brechfa Forest Garden” (SN5635) discovered in 2003. They also recorded or by Forestry Commission staff. We were met monitored numerous other species on nearby by Andy Jones, who was joining the Glynhir rock outcrops and in flushes and bogs, party for the remainder of the week. The including Cystopteris fragilis (Brittle Bladder- Forest Garden is an area of Brechfa Forest fern), Ranunculus peltatus (Pond Water-crow- experimentally planted in the late 1950s and foot), Drosera rotundifolia (Common 74 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Carmarthenshire Recording Week, Glynhir

Sundew), Linum catharticum (Fairy Flax), minutes, Graeme had re-discovered several Anagallis tenella (Bog Pimpernel), Wahlen- plants, growing within yards of where we sat! bergia hederacea, Equisetum variegatum I had never seen it before but it is quite distinc- (Variegated Horsetail) and Pedicularis palus- tive and, once seen, we found several more tris (Marsh Lousewort). Mary, Andy and small populations. Other noteworthy plants Martyn went to monitor the oxbows in the along the cliff path were Inula conyzae Tywi valley below Dynefor Castle, Llandeilo, (Ploughman’s Spikenard), Rubia peregrina in order to re-find and make a population (Wild Madder) and the native, dwarf, estimate of Persicaria minor (Small Water- glaucous, maritime variety collina of Dactylis pepper) at one of its two Carmarthenshire sites. glomerata (Cock’s-foot). Morfa Bychan, This was prompted by the proposal to release although impressive scenically with its storm a psyllid bug to control Fallopia japonica beach, was rather disappointing botanically, (Japanese Knotweed), which may affect the P. but Coronopus squamatus (Swine-cress) and minor. Plants were found still to be abundant more Erodium maritimum were of interest. around the edges of Gwaith Gro-bach Pond Thursday 16th July (SN619.219), together with Apium inundatum Most of the group spent the day at Allt Rhyd- (Lesser Marshwort), which seems to have y-Groes National Nature Reserve (SN7647 - declined considerably in recent years, maybe SN7548), in soft Welsh rain. We were met by because of more intensive agricultural the Cokers, Andrew Stevens and our guide for practices in the vicinity of its characteristic the day, Mary Iliff, who knows this area very ox-bow habitat. Other finds included Rumex well. One aim of the visit was to monitor Vicia ×dufftii (a hybrid dock – R. sanguineus × orobus in the hay-meadow for the Threatened R. obtusifolius) and Mentha ×smithiana (Tall Plants Project and Richard announced that the Mint), both new hectad records, Rorippa islan- party would ‘route march’ to the spot in order dica (seemingly becoming ubiquitous in the to complete this task first so that the remainder county) and, in the far western pond at of the day could be more leisurely. This was SN610.216, Nuphar lutea (Yellow Water-lily). definitely a mistake: the majority did ‘route Arthur, Graeme, Priscilla, Heather, Richard march’ but were then understandably and I travelled to Pendine (SN2307) with the frustrated as the back markers were increas- aim of walking over the limestone-cliff path ingly delayed by every plant of interest! Circaea past Dolwen Point and Gilman Point to Morfa ×intermedia (Intermediate Enchanter’s-night- Bychan (SN2207), the next bay to the west. In shade), Wahlenbergia hederacea and Phegop- Pendine village, pavement weeds(!) included teris connectilis were recorded! By the time the Sagina maritima (Sea Pearlwort), Erodium whole group had assembled, the field had been maritimum (Sea Stork’s-bill), Crithmum scoured by the front-runners and the location maritimum (Rock Samphire), Spergularia of every V. orobus plant noted, as well as rupicola (Rock Sea-spurrey) and Parapholis several Genista tinctoria (Dyer’s-greenweed), strigosa (Hard Grass). It was too late in the Lathyrus linifolius, Sanguisorba officinalis season to hope to see any sign of Scilla verna (Greater Burnet) and Carex pallescens (Pale (Spring Squill) at its only Carmarthenshire site Sedge). The party had lunch in the rain sitting in thin turf on the summit of Dolwen Point, but in a line at the top of the field overlooking the not far away was a single prominent plant of special plants and discussions took place about Allium ampeloprasum ssp. babingtonii the wisdom (or not) of introducing locally- (Babington’s Leek), which was the first record collected seed to restore species-diversity to for the county. The weather was pleasantly degraded hay-meadows. “It’s like GARDEN- sunny and during the lunch-stop mention was ING” was one eminent comment with a very made of Barker’s 1905 record from these cliffs derogatory tone to the word “gardening”. of Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass), After lunch, the party attempted to systemati- which had never been re-found. Within cally count the V. orobus and G. tinctoria Field meeting reports: 2009 – Carmarthenshire Recording Week, Glynhir 75 plants. Under the direction of Richard, all discussion, but after examination later was present lined up and proceeded slowly across confirmed as V. cracca. The second task was the hayfield in the manner of a forensic police to get expert opinion on the extensive stand of search! The first pass resulted in 38 Vicia and possible Carex acuta (Slender Tufted-sedge) 3 Genista. The count was repeated in the or an acuta hybrid, discovered by Sam a week opposite direction with observers changing previously. He led the party to the spot where, positions in the line with the aim of obtaining after a good deal of discussion, it was gener- an ‘average’ count. This resulted in 26 Vicia ally agreed as likely to be Carex ×elytroides and 3 Genista and was such a disappointing (C. acuta × C. nigra), and this was confirmed discrepancy, bearing in mind the small number later after material had been examined by Mike of plants, that a third tally was attempted Porter and Mike Foley; about the fifteenth UK which revealed 30 Vicia and 3 Genista. These record. Then a small party was led by Sam latter figures were those taken for the record. through waterlogged reeds to accomplish the The walk continued westwards up the third task. Oenanthe aquatica (Fine-leaved Pisgotwr valley with Mary Iliff leading. The Water-dropwort) had been reported by David path steadily deteriorated and eventually Stevens when carrying out an early survey of became a scramble on the steep, north-facing, the fen in 1988. The record had never been shaley side-slope but the difficulties were confirmed but Sam had come across three forgotten when tens of plants of Lycopodium plants the previous week, one in flower, not clavatum (Stag’s-horn Clubmoss) and a single knowing (at the time) that the previous uncon- Huperzia selago (Fir Clubmoss) were found firmed record of the plant existed. He wished scattered over the slope. Vaccinium myrtillus to get confirmation from the experts present, (Bilberry) dominated the vegetation. and those that ventured through the flood were Friday 17th July able to do just that: six plants in a location The party spent the morning at Ffrwd Fen, hidden by tall reeds not 50m from one of the Pembrey (SN4102), where the high water usual ‘circuits’ taken by visitors to the fen but levels meant getting wet both underfoot as about 400m from David Stevens’ original well as from above! (see Colour Section, Plate record. 4). Sam Bosanquet, Lizzie Wilberforce, the The rain continued as the group travelled to Cokers and Andrew Stevens joined the group, Moat Farm (SN4305). Richard discovered which had three main tasks, the first of which some large populations of Oenanthe fistulosa was to monitor Oenanthe fistulosa (Tubular here in 1987, but the site had not been visited Water-dropwort) for the Threatened Plants since. Despite twenty pairs of eyes searching, Project, and about 130 plants were counted no plants were found, presumably because the within the small section of fen examined. area had been fenced to prevent farm stock Lathyrus palustris (Marsh Pea) was abundant, from grazing the fen (and getting stuck) and but few flowers remained, although several was now occupied by a dense monoculture of seedpods were seen, and Menyanthes trifoliata Phragmites. In the adjacent field a tiny plant (Bog-bean) was also in seed, with just one very of Isolepis setacea was enthused about. In a late flower spike remaining. Mary, being used nearby hedgerow, the identity of a thorn bush to the drier climes of Essex, throughout the was discussed before all agreed with Arthur week had been enthusiastic about the lush that it was Prunus ×fruticans, the hybrid greenness of the Carmarthenshire countryside between Blackthorn and Bullace (P. spinosa × and was anxious to compare and contrast the P. domestica). When leaving the field, the western and the eastern floras. For instance, group was halted by the dense growth of on the drier land here at Ffrwd, a glaucous- ephemeral and tall-herb species growing in the looking form of Vicia cracca (Tufted Vetch) poached field gateway, which included several was reminiscent of V. villosa (Fodder Vetch), plants of Chenopodium ficifolium (Fig-leaved which is common in Essex, and prompted long Goosefoot) and a few plants each of Agrostis 76 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Carmarthenshire Recording Week, Glynhir / Isle of Tiree (v.c. 103) gigantea (Black Bent) and, most notably, the etc. desirable or not? Also when the whole third county record of rurivagum group visits the same place, would smaller (Cornfield Knotgrass). Returning past the sub-groups be better – targeting smaller areas pond, Bidens tripartita (Trifid Bur-marigold), – even if this meant that not everyone saw all Mimulus guttatus (Monkeyflower) and the species? Lycopus europaeus (Gipsywort) were growing Reference: on the banks, and Prunus domestica ssp. CHATER, A.O. (in press). Betula in Wales, in: insititia var damascina (Damson) was in the Abstracts of Exhibits shown at the 27th BSBI farmyard. Welsh Exhibition Meeting, Builth, Radnor- Saturday 18th July shire, June 2009. BSBI Welsh Bull., 85, Jan. After breakfast everyone departed for home. 2010. We would welcome any constructive sugges- tions on how the week is run for next year. Is the addition of bat detection, moth trapping, Isle of Tiree, Mid Ebudes (v.c. 103), 14th – 20th July LYNNE FARRELL (v.c. recorder: Mid Ebudes) & JOHN BOWLER (RSPB) Seventeen members arrived safely on the after- and lunched, whilst sitting at the only extant noon ferry from Oban, having observed site for Astragalus danicus (Purple Milk basking sharks and common dolphins on the Vetch) growing on the low, rocky knolls. way across. We were a little late docking at Scanning around, many tiny flowering plants Tiree, owing to the lifeboat having to be of Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian) deployed to a yacht which had ‘run out of fuel’ became noticeable, and Scilla verna (Spring on a totally calm afternoon. In other words, Squill), still with a few pale blue flowers. they were ideal conditions in which to have a We divided into two groups, one heading lifeboat practice session. John Bowler, across the dunes back towards Loch a ‘Phuill resident RSPB officer, joined us at our base at in search of aquatics, and the other ascending the Alan Stevenson house for the evening meal to the trig. point on Beinn Ceann a’Mhara at and then gave us an excellent scene-setting 103m, one of the high spots of the island. talk about the island. Walking south along the cliff tops here we The morning of Wednesday 15th was slightly found Sedum roseum (Roseroot) at its only overcast and drizzly, but it soon brightened up Tiree location, and Ligusticum scoticum and the next three days were bright and sunny, (Lovage), Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern) with showers returning on the final afternoon, and Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern). Ferns Sunday 19th. The first site visited was Traigh are relatively uncommon on Tiree. Almost at Bhi on the southwest coast. Here there was a the tetrad boundary and at the end of the day, typical, wide, sandy bay, backed by an exten- we spotted three flowering plants of Spiran- sive dune system and machair grassland. We thes romanzoffiana (Irish Lady’s-tresses) fanned out to count Eryngium maritimum (Sea growing in a wet patch, with just one plant of Holly), at one of its five sites on the island. ssp. incarnata (Early Some superb flowering plants were found, Marsh-orchid), and Hypericum tetrapterum including one broken off. An attempt was (Square-stemmed St. John’s-wort). made to press this in the evening! 181 The machair yielded small plants of Draba flowering plants plus 6 vegetative ones were incana (Hoary Whitlowgrass), and many counted. It took some time to walk across the viride (Frog Orchid), both green rich machair, as it was in full flower, with pink, and red-flowered. A new island record, Matri- yellow and white predominating. But we caria recutita (Scented Mayweed) was finally made it to the western end of the beach growing on the waste ground near the sewage Field meeting reports: 2009 – Isle of Tiree (v.c. 103) 77 works! The ditch near the bird hide produced However, RSPB, working with local farmers, Senecio ×ostendfeldii (S. jacobaea × S. aquat- are now re-establishing the water levels and ica), and the beach itself had scattered plants traditional grazing regimes. A few plants of of Polygonum oxyspermum ssp. raii (Ray’s Platanthera bifolia (Lesser Butterfly Orchid) Knotgrass), Polygonum boreale (Northern were found, and a single plant of Anacamptis Knotgrass) and Salsola kali (Prickly Saltwort). pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid). Surprisingly, On the second day, 16th July, we divided into the most significant find was Stellaria small groups straight away and set off to graminea (Lesser Stitchwort), which was a explore the north-western coast. Most people new record for Coll and Tiree. Potamogeton visited the only locality for Mertensia coloratus (Fen Pondweed), P. pusillus (Lesser maritima (Oysterplant) near Ard Mor, where Pondweed) and Utricularia intermedia some damage from quad bike tyres was notice- (Intermediate Bladderwort) were some of the able. 106 flowering plants and 51 vegetative aquatics ‘fished out’, but returned, of course. were counted. The coastal grassland and Some folk then continued north across The flushes around Cornaigbeg and Ainshval Reef itself, and others investigated the western proved good hunting ground, with corner around the airport and Crossapol. Coeloglossum viride widely scattered and Several locations for Juncus balticus (Baltic Oenanthe lachenalii (Parsley Water-dropwort) Rush), a small, delicate often overlooked rush, in flower. This was a very good time of year were recorded, and Leontodon saxatilis to observe the latter species, which is easily (Lesser Hawkbit ) was frequent in the grass- overlooked otherwise, as it has very fine land patches. We had spent about 10 minutes leaves. In the wetter ground also grew discussing the differences between L. saxatilis, Pinguicula lusitanica (Pale Butterwort), L. autumnalis (Autumn Hawkbit), Hypoch- Ranunculus sceleratus (Celery-leaved Butter- oeris radicata (Cat’s-ear) and Crepis capil- cup) and R. baudotii (Brackish Water-crow- laris (Smooth Hawk’s-beard) on The Reef, so foot). we now had our ‘eyes in’. An area between the Loch Riaghan area was a mixture of damp airport and McLeod’s shop was surveyed, as heath, sandy grassland , loch edges, burns and there was a possibility of development here. ditches, so species of both wet and dry habitats Parnassia palustris (Grass of Parnassus), not a occurred, including Drosera intermedia common species on Tiree, was scattered over (Intermediate Sundew), Hypericum elodes the eastern end, Juncus balticus throughout, (Marsh St. John’s-wort), Listera ovata and also Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder’s- (Twayblade), Carex caryophyllea (Spring tongue). Hundreds of Listera ovata grew Sedge) and the rather uncommon Medicago nearer the airport, and one corncrake was lupulina (Black Medick). heard, but not seen, in the field. The coastal walk to the Ringing Stone is not The northern Reef group dipped into the only scenic but botanically varied. Some of the wetter patches, finding Myosotis scorpioides best finds were not the showy plants but those (Water Forget-me-not), Uticularia vulgaris often overlooked – Radiola linoides (Allseed), (Common Bladderwort), more Senecio Anagallis minima (Chaffweed) and ×ostenfeldii, Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. Deschampsia setacea (Bog Hair-grass). The coccinea, and a hybrid Epilobium ×waterfallii inland lochs yielded Baldellia ranunculoides (E. hirsutum × E. palustre), although there are (Lesser Water-plantain), Lobelia dortmanna definitely no waterfalls on Tiree! A specimen (Water Lobelia), Isolepis setacea (Bristle was collected for final confirmation. Club-rush) and Isoetes lacustris (Quillwort). Because it was light until at least 10pm, On Friday 17th, John Bowler led us onto The people often investigated the area around the Reef, RSPB’s main reserve here. This exten- Alan Stevenson house at Hynish, where we sive area in the centre of the island was once were staying, after dinner. Veronica persica much wetter, but was partially drained. (Common Field- speedwell) was growing near 78 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Isle of Tiree (v.c. 103)

Hynish house, and a bush of Hebe were noted. A clump of a lemon-flowered ×franciscana (Hedge Veronica) was flowering Water Lily (Nymphaea sp.), was photo- happily in a rock crevice on the headland. graphed, presumably introduced, as it was very Saturday 18th arrived, and the time to visit near the house at the end of the road. the east end of the island. The south-east tip Around Salum, along both sides of the ‘main was new territory for me, and it had several road’, several ferns proved to be the highlight- different aspects and a range of habitats. Most Oreopteris limbosperma (Lemon-scented people clambered up to the old broch, Dun Fern), Dryopteris affinis (Scaly Male Fern), Mor, near Milton, which afforded panoramic and further patches of Pilularia globulifera. views. In the Ruaig area Stachys palustris Chara virgata (Delicate Stonewort) was (Marsh Woundwort), an uncommon species on abundant in Lochan Feneed, whilst hundreds Tiree, was in full flower, and it was also found of individuals of uliginosum in several other places on this day. A few (Marsh Cudweed) – not common here, plants of Inula helenium (Elecampane) grew in crowded into a field corner. a ditch, and more Field Gentians and Tway- For our final complete day, Sunday 19th, blades were found in small quantity, whilst 16 three groups returned to the west end, some flowering plants of Lesser Butterfly Orchid finally gaining the highest point on Beinn were counted in a new area amongst Schoenus Hough at 119m, and others went down to the nigricans (Black Bog-rush). Pilularia globu- sea, dunes and beaches again at Hough Bay lifera (Pillwort), found on Tiree, but not Coll – and near Kilkenneth. Inverness Botany Group, surprisingly, was relocated in many of its who had preceded us, had mentioned that they previously known sites, and also in a few new had found on the spots. It had been very dry before our visit, so dunes, and two of our groups located over 100 pills were in evidence, as water levels were flowering plants near the old World War II low. Water had been brought over in tankers concrete constructions. Ophioglossum on the ferries in recent weeks. vulgatum was also frequent in the dune slacks. The intimate mosaic of wet, dry, brackish The ‘wet’ group (but we all got wet this after- and freshwater conditions over rocky ground, noon, as heavy rain came in), led by James ensured that botanising in this part of the island Cadbury, tried to circumnavigate Loch Bhasa- was never dull, and you always expected to poll in the hopes of re-finding some significant find something to be added to the list, as sedges, but were unable to reach some parts indeed it was – a new site for Spiranthes owing to the deep water and muddy margins. romazoffiana, with three flowering spikes. However, Myriophyllum alterniflorum Members of the group remarked that it was (Alternate Water-milfoil) and Chara virgata often the tiny plants that were of particular were collected and specimens pressed. interest, such as Elatine hexandra (Six- Pressing specimens was an after-dinner stamened Waterwort), which Ro Scott insisted activity, mainly undertaken by Lynnette we all looked at down the microscope to see its Borradaile and Mary Pugh, after specimens minute flowers. had been confirmed. These specimens will be The grazed saltmarsh and stony shore near lodged in the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Milton yielded dwarf Aster tripolium (Sea Gardens for future reference. Aster), Salicornia europaea (Glasswort), We recorded in 20 of the possible 42 tetrads. Suaeda maritima (Annual Sea-blite), and Recording at this level certainly makes Oenanthe lachenalii. Away from the shore, in botanists look more closely, and as a result, the wet margins of the lochs and in ditches, many more interesting records have been Veronica scutellata (Marsh Speedwell), added to the existing Flora of Tiree, Gunna Sparganium erectum ssp. neglectum and Coll (Pearman & Preston, 2000). The (Branched Bur-reed), and a white flowered aims of the field trip were to experience and form of Scutellaria minor (Lesser Skullcap) enjoy the habitats and scenery of the island, to Field meeting reports: 2009 – Isle of Tiree (v.c. 103) / Wetland sites in v.c.H32 79 record species included in the Threatened participants, who are keen to complete the Plants Project, and to consider whether remaining tetrads, and to hold a similar field recording at a tetrad level was worthwhile (in meeting on Coll, I can report that all the aims view of the fact that there was a good, recent were fulfilled. Flora). From the responses received from the Wetland sites in Co. Monaghan (v.c.H32), 18th - 19th July IAN MCNEILL The original plan was to visit the lakes and Both Kilroosky Lough and Summerhill wetlands of the Dromore River system Lough have superb fenland flora on their between Ballybay and Rockcorry on Saturday margins. Their botany is superior to that of the 18th July, and to move on to Kilroosky Lough Ballybay lakes, so our Saturday party saw the and Summerhill Lough, marl lakes north-west change of venue as a blessing in disguise. of Clones (on the Monaghan/Fermanagh At Kilroosky Lough the outstanding plant is border) on the Sunday. However, in the event, Pyrola rotundifolia (Round-leaved Winter- this plan had to be materially altered. green), occurring as a very strong colony on Six of us assembled at the Ballybay the south-west shore and in the adjacent fenny Wetlands Centre on Saturday morning at wood. This plant is known from similar 10.30am, and immediately we recognised that ground much further south in Ireland, e.g. in our Saturday plan had to be abandoned. The Co. Westmeath, and the Kilroosky Lough site very wet weather of the preceding fortnight appears to be a distant outlier. In the lake we had led to a 40cm rise in the water-level of the found Potamogeton coloratus (Fen nearby lake, and we realised there would be no Pondweed), a very clear indicator of limestone. chance of botanising the lakes along the valley. Along the wooded shoreline was much However, the Wetlands Centre has a floating Cladium mariscus (Great Fen-sedge), with its walk-way on to their own lake, and this fierce saw-edge. At the south-east corner of allowed us to observe such plants as the lake, lying back from the shore a little, in Potamogeton crispus (Curled Pondweed), an area free of trees, there is a marvellous P. obtusifolius (Blunt-leaved Pondweed), colony of Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helle- Bidens cernua (Nodding Bur-marigold), borine), with over 200 flowering spikes. Near Lemna trisulca (Ivy-leaved Duckweed) and to here are Gymnadenia conopsea (Fragrant Elodea nuttallii (Nuttall’s Waterweed). Orchid), Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. pulchella Clumps of sedge in the flooded marshland (Early Marsh-orchid), Eleocharis quinque- turned out to be Carex vesicaria (Bladder flora (Few-flowered Spike-rush) and Sedge). Up at the Centre building we found Parnassia palustris (Grass-of-Parnassus). Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Crane’s- Further east we found Sagina nodosa (Knotted bill), presumably a casual arrival. Pearlwort) and the beautiful flower of Utricu- We discussed the situation. I suggested that laria australis (Bladderwort). Bladderwort is the Clones lakes (our Sunday venue) should not often seen in flower in northern parts of not flood to the same extent, and that we Ireland. Other plants of note were Catabrosa should transfer there. Apart from myself, no- aquatica (Whorl-grass), Carex diandra one else in the party was committed to coming (Lesser Tussock-sedge), C. pulicaris (Flea on the second day, so it was agreed. We Sedge) and Cicuta virosa (Cowbane). Flea thanked the Wetlands Centre for opening up Sedge was unexpected in this habitat. especially for us, and for providing us with Cowbane is uncommon by British Isles stand- coffee and an interesting (if somewhat unsta- ards, but is, in fact, a frequent lake plant in Co. ble!) time on the floating walk-way, and drove Monaghan and adjacent counties. the 25km or so to Clones. Having drunk from such a wealth of botan- ical interest, we moved on to Summerhill 80 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Wetland sites in v.c.H32

Lough, thinking perhaps it might prove to be doors, and were generally whooping it up. So an anti-climax. But we soon found we were I returned to our parked cars, and immediately once again on excellent ground. We immedi- realised that we had to “get out of this place”, ately came across Carex pseudocyperus or we would find our cars hemmed in for the (Cyperus Sedge), Epipactis helleborine afternoon. So we did a very quick further (Broad-leaved Helleborine) (or so we thought) sortie, never reaching the Utricularia austra- and Potamogeton lucens (Shining Pondweed). lis, and just escaped by the skin of our teeth Cicuta virosa and Cladium mariscus were before fans started to abandon cars in the again present. Fenland on the east shore middle of the road! provided nummularia (Creeping- Thankfully, Summerhill Lough was a mile Jenny) and Listera ovata (Common Twayb- further out of town, and proved a haven of lade). In adjacent woodland we got Euonymus peace and quiet. We managed to explore it europaeus (Spindle-tree), Prunus padus (Bird better on the Sunday than we had on the Cherry) and Rhamnus cathartica (Buckthorn). Saturday and added Utricularia sp. (probably So would Sunday work out more straightfor- U. australis again, but we had no flowers to aid wardly? As Saturday went on, I began to have a decision) and Parnassia palustris. On the worries, for I knew that the Ulster Gaelic Sunday, much discussion arose as to whether Football final between Tyrone and Antrim was the Helleborine was, in fact, Epipactis phyllan- to take place on the Sunday in, you’ve guessed thes (Green-flowered Helleborine) and not it, Clones! Our 10.30am meeting-place was to E. helleborine (Common Helleborine). The be Kilroosky Lough, less than a mile from the florets were mostly unopened, creamy-green ground. The match was due to start at 2pm. in colour, and hung down somewhat inwards When I arrived in Clones on the Sunday towards the stem. Moreover, the leaves on morning in good time for our 10.30am rendez- most spikes were in two ranks on opposite vous, the town centre was already thronged. It sides of the stem, rather than spiralled around was clear that car-parking was going to be the stem. Many photos were taken, but I have chaotic, and Kilroosky Lough would come not yet heard an expert verdict. under car-parking pressure. Anyhow, seven of We decided to break up for the day before us met up at 10.30am, and we proceeded to the big match would finish, which was disap- view the delights of our venue. I started with pointingly early, but probably wise. Seven the Pyrola rotundifolia area, and then moved botanists all went home happy (I hope!). on to the Epipactis palustris. By now I could 16000 Tyrone Gaelic fans went home happy; hear shouts of anticipation from football fans 16000 Antrim fans went home miserable. as they hooted their horns, banged their car- Happiness ratio: Botany 100%, Football 50%. Sutton and Lound Gravel Pits, Notts. (v.c. 56), 25th July DAVID WOOD Ten participants (including the leader) turned The party proceeded southwards along the up at the appointed place on a bright sunny public footpath alongside Bell Moor Farm morning. This included the reserve manager lagoon, used for fly-fishing, and an introduced for this Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust site, plant of Origanum vulgare () was who stayed until midday. The Trust kindly noticed in the first few metres. The speciality gave permission for the meeting. The site is Linum bienne (Pale Flax) was soon encoun- owned by Tarmac Ltd. Geologically, 1st tered, just a few flowers still out, at its only site terrace deposits are underlain by Triassic in the county. The thin sandy grassland also sandstone. As it turned out, only Bell Moor produced Filago vulgaris (Common Quarry was covered in the time available, with Cudweed), acer (Blue Fleabane), the larger Lound Quarry not visited. Luckily, both species of Aira (Hair-grass), Vulpia the weather stayed fine and dry throughout. bromoides (Squirrel-tail Fescue) and Field meeting reports: 2009 – Wetland sites in v.c.H32 / Wareham (v.c.9) 81

V. myuros (Rat’s-tail Fescue). The lagoon had culus fluitans (River Water-crowfoot) in Juncus acutiflorus (Sharp-flowered Rush), abundance, while the gravelly track alongside Myosotis laxa (Tufted Forget-me-not), had good populations of Lepidlum hetero- Pulicaria dysenterica (Common Fleabane) phyllum (Smith’s Pepperwort), Spergularia and Veronica anagallis-aquatica (Blue Water- rubra (Sand Spurrey) and a large patch of speedwell). Lysimachia vulgaris (Yellow Loosestrife), An extensive area of mature lagoons, with much admired by the party. Other species in rough grassland and scrub was entered, the grassy scrub included Rosa tomentosa bordering the R. Idle on its west side, with (Harsh Downy-rose) (where lunch was taken), some mature scrub, dominated by Salix alba Malva moschata (Musk Mallow), Carex ovalis (White Willow) and S. fragilis (Crack (Oval Sedge), Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid), Willow), unfortunately with rampant plus aliens such as Oenothera glazioviana Impatiens glandulifera (Indian Balsam) in (Large-flowered Evening-primrose), and places. Reed-swamp and open water species Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion). of note included Nuphar lutea (Yellow Water- A more disturbed area of barish gravel close lily), Hippuris vulgaris (Mare’s-tail), Lemna to the works produced Echium vulgare trisulca (Ivy-leaved Duckweed), with (Viper’s-bugloss), Verbascum thapsus (Great marginal vegetation including Carex pseudo- Mullein), Teucrium scorodonia (Wood Sage) cyperus (Cyperus Sedge), Lythrum salicaria and Buddleja davidii (Butterfly-bush). The (Purple Loosestrife), Stachys palustris (Marsh walk was much enjoyed by the participants, Woundwort) and Juncus subnodulosus (Blunt- who were impressed by the botanical richness flowered Rush). The river itself had Ranun- of this part of an under-rated county.

Wareham (v.c.9), 25th July EDWARD PRATT It was a sunny day with a gentle wind, as range of other colourful commoner species. sixteen of us set off down the short track to On the north side of the next meadow a small East Holme Meadows, together with their drainage channel called Cobbs Lake provided owner, William Bond. Beside the track we a contrasting flora. Three species of Calli- saw Parentucellia viscosa (Yellow Bartsia), triche (Water-starworts) were present. Some Kickxia elatine (Sharp-leaved Fluellen) and expanded and notched leaf-ends of one proved Filago vulgaris (Common Cudweed). it to be Callitriche brutia (Pedunculate Water- Very soon after entering the first meadow, starwort). The considerable variation in the cameras were out to snap some of the few shape of the leaves of Sagittaria sagittifolia flowers of Lysimachia terrestris (Lake (Arrowhead) was noted. The Sparganium Loosestrife). It produces thousands of stems erectum (Branched Bur-reed) was found to be but few of them flower. It is propagated by red ssp. neglectum. There was speculation as to bulbils, which form later in some of the leaf- whether a Veronica was anagallis-aquatica axils. This is one of its few sites away from (Blue Water-speedwell) or a hybrid. The Windermere, where it was introduced in the leader returned to the site a few weeks later late 19th century. How it got to Dorset is a and found it setting good seed, so it was the mystery. William Bond suggested that it species. might have been introduced by machinery William Bond enlightened us with explana- involved in the burying of a pipeline twenty- tions about the management of these private five years ago. meadows, which were in excellent shape. We Further up one of the ditches, Sanguisorba were grateful to him and to his farming tenant, officinalis (Great Burnet) showed well in its Ron Barnes. Retracing our steps we came only current site in Purbeck, together with a upon Carex viridula, and after some debate 82 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Wareham (v.c.9) / Alyn Waters Country Park (v.c.50) agreed it was ssp. brachyrrhyncha (Long- river contained Potamogeton pectinatus stalked Yellow-sedge), before stopping for (Fennel Pondweed), P. perfoliatus (Perfoliate lunch. Pondweed) and a piece of P. ×salicifolius After lunch we crossed the railway into a (P. perfoliatus × P. lucens), which had floated third meadow, where a small Persicaria was downstream. There was also a clump of seen. The leader named it P. mitis (Tasteless Schoenoplectus lacustris (Bulrush). On the Water-pepper), but Geoff Field thought it was way back across the meadow more Persicaria P. minor (Small Water-pepper). After debate minor was found, growing with one plant of and consultation with various books the leader Veronica catenata (Pink Water-speedwell) agreed that he had got it wrong. (He had and, surprisingly, four plants of Chenopodium indeed found P. mitis in the two previous years glaucum (Oak-leaved Goosefoot). on the other side of the same ditch, but not this After returning to the road, and passing both year). Berula erecta (Lesser Water-parsnip), Agrimonia species (Agrimonies), a short walk Oenanthe fistulosa (Tubular Water-dropwort) to a piece of restored heathland lead to gasps and Rorippa palustris (Marsh Yellow-cress) of surprise and delight from those who had were seen in or by the same ditch, and Phil only seen Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal) Budd pointed out Veronica scutellata (Marsh grazed prostrate in the New Forest. A host of Speeedwell) too. Butomus umbellatus splendid upright plants greeted us. Finally, (Flowering Rush) was seen nearby. before leaving, we moved our cars a quarter of The party then crossed into a final meadow a mile to a lay-by to see Pyrus pyraster (Wild which was bordered by the River Frome. The Pear), complete with thorns and a few fruit. Alyn Waters Country Park, near Wrexham (v.c.50), 25th July SARAH STILLE The enforced absence of Delyth Williams and was Carex divulsa ssp. divulsa (Grey Sedge), Jean Green meant a substitute leader, but with looking very typical in a bareish patch in the many experts in the party, and much local hedgebank, and, as we reached the eastern side knowledge from North Wales Wildlife Trust of the park, a single patch of Geranium members, there was little leading to do! A columbinum (Long-stalked Crane’s-bill). In good crowd of 15 people turned up on a fine the birch and willow woods here there was a day and it was especially good to welcome fine drift of Monotropa hypopitys (Yellow some newer members of the BSBI. Bird’s-nest). Lunch was declared as we gained We walked down through the planted the calcareous grassland but botanising woodland to the west side of the river Alyn continued as we sat in the sunshine – seeing with willows and hybrids: Salix ×smithiana, Blackstonia perfoliata (Yellow-wort), Carlina S. alba (White Willow) and S. viminalis vulgaris (Carline Thistle) and Centaurium (Osier). Along the river we enjoyed a rich, but erythraea (Common Centaury) in the short turf unexceptional flora. Concern was felt about around us. the abundant Impatiens glandulifera (Indian In the longer grass we found the remains of Balsam) invading the woods. We found a rich orchid flora, sadly well past its best: Scrophularia auriculata (Water Figwort) and Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid), Dactylorhiza Carex acutiformis (Lesser Pond-sedge) in the fuchsii (Common Spotted-orchid) and a single wetter parts, with a lot of Luzula sylvatica plant of Gymnadenia conopsea (Fragrant (Great Wood-rush) and Carex pendula Orchid). This meadow area was rich with (Pendulous Sedge) along the bank. Lotus corniculatus (Bird’s-foot Trefoil), We then crossed the river, picking up ruderal Anthyllis vulnararia (Kidney Vetch), Odont- species records alongside an old mill, and ites vernus (Red Bartsia), Rhinanthus minor some good hedgerow plants. One highlight agg. (Yellow-rattle), and mallows, Malva Field meeting reports: 2009 – Alyn Waters Country Park (v.c.50) / Dysynni Broadwater (v.c.48) 83 moschata (Musk Mallow) and M. sylvestris fewer, narrower leaves. As we finally left the (Common Mallow), making a wonderful woods, we diverted to look at some arable tapestry of colour. weeds alongside a paved part of the visitors’ The way home took us back into the woods, trail, including Cichorum intybus (Chicory), where we saw extensive drifts of Listera ovata Conium maculatum (Hemlock) and Picris (Twayblade) and some good patches of echioides (Bristly Oxtongue). Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helle- Thanks to Jonathan Shanklin who kept the borine), among which, although still uncon- card all day, recording over 250 species, and firmed at the time of writing, E. phyllanthes who by the end was still keen for more, adding (Green-flowered Helleborine) was tentatively a further 120 records in the next tetrad after we identified by its less hairy stems above, and had all gone home!

Dysynni Broadwater, Merioneth (v.c.48), 15th August PETER BENOIT On a day that seemed unpromising for weather sandy pasture, to see fine plants of Juncus but proved to be a classic example of “rain acutus (Sharp Rush) and fruiting Marrubium before seven, fine before eleven”, 17 members vulgare (White Horehound), in one of its two and friends met in Tywyn for a visit to the sites in v.c.48 – possibly the only surviving estuary of the river Dysynni (the ‘Broadwater’, one (see Colour Section, Plate 3). With the entirely in hectad SH50). Horehound were other typical inhabitants of The first stop was at an area of shingle and rabbit-disturbed ground: Urtica urens (Small sand near the river mouth, which had a quantity Nettle), Solanum nigrum (Black Nightshade) of Anthyllis vulneraria (Kidney Vetch) , Rhina- and Erodium cicutarium (Common Stork’s- nthus minor (Yellow-rattle), Silene uniflora bill), including a pale-flowered variant that (Sea Campion), Leontodon saxatilis (Lesser failed to qualify as E. lebelii. Hawkbit) and an eyebright, intermediate Eastward along the shore of the Dysynni was between Euphrasia nemorosa and E. a firm saltmarsh, with Glaux maritima (Sea- tetraquetra. A few early spikes of Spiranthes milkwort), Juncus gerardii (Saltmarsh Rush), spiralis (Autumn Lady’s-tresses) were admired. Puccinellia maritima (Common Saltmarsh- Exposed, grazed, stony ground yielded such grass), and occasional plants of a more-or-less small species as Trifolioum scabrum (Rough prostrate glasswort with red, ‘beaded’ spikes, Clover), Arenaria serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved belonging to the Salicornia europaea agg. It Sandwort), and the pearlworts Sagina procum- has been known here since 1953. There were bens, S. apetala and S. maritima, with very also Spergularia media and S. marina (Greater dwarfed Plantago coronopus (Buck’s-horn and Lesser Sea-spurreys), both conveniently Plantain). On the shingle there were a few with open flowers, for comparison. Rumex plants of Polygonum oxyspermum ssp. raii crispus ssp. littoreus (the strandline represent- (Ray’s Knotgrass), Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima ative of Curled Dock) was also common along (Sea Beet) and Glaucium flavum (Yellow the shore. Horned-poppy). A saline pool, a redundant part Further on, there was much Juncus marit- of the river channel, had Juncus gerardii imus (Sea Rush), with its characteristic associ- (Saltmarsh Rush), some clumps of Carex ates Oenanthe lachenalii (Parsley Water- extensa (Long-bracted Sedge), and the only dropwort), and the saltmarsh variant of plant of Spartina anglica (Common Cord- Leontodon autumnalis (Autumn Hawkbit), grass) seen during the day. with rather succulent, only shallowly-pinnat- After lunch, eaten in the shelter of hollows in ifid leaves, and glabrous phyllaries. Next, the shingle bank from a fresh sea breeze (see there was taller, more lush, more species-rich Colour Section, Plate 3), we moved to stable, vegetation, showing the transition from salt- to 84 Field meeting reports: 2009 – Dysynni Broadwater (v.c.48) / Book Notes fresh-water marsh, with Schoenoplectus taber- the crushed leaf was noted. With the common naemontani (Grey Club-rush), Bolboschoenus Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler-fern), maritimus (Sea Club-rush), Samolus valerandi there were plants of D. carthusiana (Narrow (Brookweed), and Carex otrubae (False Fox- Buckler-fern) and their hybrid D. ×deweveri. sedge), intermixed with Iris pseudacorus The last two made new hectad records. (Yellow Iris), Lycopus europaeus A patch of Molinia caerulea (Purple Moor- (Gipsywort), Angelica sylvestris (Wild Angel- grass), Nardus stricta (Mat-grass) and Poten- ica), Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin) and tilla erecta (Tormentil) reminded us that the Sonchus arvensis (Perennial Sowthistle). The acid, peat habitats so widespread in Merioneth special plant here was Apium graveolens (Wild were not far away. Back to the starting point Celery) – a native occurrence of a species rare after a round walk, the map showed it to have in v.c.48, and for which this is the very been about 5km (3 miles), through a diversity restricted habitat. The unmistakable smell of of coastal habitats. BOOK NOTES Trees of inspiration: sacred trees and bushes Monument Trees, and reveals their spiritual, of Ireland, by Christine Zucchelli. social, and historical functions from pagan Published in October 2009. Price: times to the present. Revered landmark trees €24.95/£22.99. ISBN: 9781-84889-013-8. were meeting places to install chieftains, hear Paperback with flaps. 220 pp. lawsuits, celebrate seasonal festivals, or to 245×175mm. 150 colour photos and line hold military, political and secret religious drawings. conventions. Sacred trees were channels of On Monday 6th July 2009 a new sacred tree communication with the divine, through was discovered in the village of Rathkeale, which seers and saints, poets and scholars County Limerick. Tree cutting was in gained insight and sacred knowledge. progress in the grounds of St Mary’s Church, With their miraculous qualities and associ- when workers realised the newly-shorn ation with saints, trees became prominent stump of a pine tree bore an amazing resem- features at pilgrimage sites. The ancient blance to a cloaked woman. The outline of a notion of trees providing a link with the female – understood to represent the Blessed otherworld realms of death and spirits Virgin – seemed to appear in the texture of survived in the tradition of graveyard trees the timber. News of an apparent apparition and the reverence for fairy trees. In words spread fast, and devotees flocked to and images, this is a rich compendium about Rathkeale, holding vigils and petitioning our relationship with trees, collating so many successfully to preserve the miraculous tree tree-related remnants of our pagan spiritual stump. past and tree-related oral history into one This willingness to believe in the magic of place. trees stems from ancient times. People Christine Zucchelli first visited Ireland in appreciated the spiritual value of trees and the 1980s. Captivated by its heritage, after often singled out individual trees for special graduating from Innsbruck University she veneration. In Ireland the roots of tree studied Irish Folklore at University College worship reach deep into pagan Celtic religion Dublin and travelled the country in search of and spirituality. Based on extensive personal the legends and folklore of stones and trees. research and fieldwork, not just existing Her first book was Stones of Adoration – literature, this book explores the stories and Sacred Stones & Mystic Megaliths of Ireland legends of Ireland’s sacred trees, of Fairy (2007). She continues her research into Thorns and Rag Trees, of Mass Bushes and aspects of sacred landscapes, and lives in West Clare and Innsbruck. Obituary Notes / Recorders and Recording – Panel of Referees and Specialists 85

OBITUARY NOTES

MARY BRIGGS, 9 Arun Prospect, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1AL

Sadly we report the death of Peter Green the House of Lords, Lady Nora David who was a good friend and supporter of the (briefed by Dick) was our spokesman Society which he joined in 1945. Dr P.S. through the Bills for the protection of wild Green was former keeper of the Herbarium plants, finally passed as the Wildlife and and Library and Deputy Director at Kew. For Countryside Act 1981. Dick and I attended BSBI Peter was Hon. Secretary of Publica- Parliamentary Committee meetings, and we tions Committee from 1968-1973, and BSBI sat through many interesting long hours of referee for garden plants in general from debates in the House of Lords, often far into 1995–2000. Dr Mary Clare Sheahan writes: the night while Nora spoke for us on the need "He was a very valuable referee who received for legislation for wild plants. about 35 enquiries a year – and we haven't yet Dick sadly died in 1993 but in 1994 Nora been able to replace him." came as the guest of honour at the launch of There will be an Obituary in Watsonia. the book Scarce Plants in Britain (Stewart, We also report with regret the deaths of the Pearman & Preston 1994) which was following members – their joining dates are published by JNCC and dedicated to the given: Mr J.L. Fielding, Bishops Stortford memory of Dick David. With regret we now (1954); Mr D.W. Coles, Telford (1972); Mr report the death of Nora David, at the age of D.A.W. Hill, Reigate (1981); Mrs M.E.P. 96. Little, Galashiels (1982); Mr J. Wild, Both Nora David and Michael Troy were Belfast (1988); Mr M. Troy, Monenotte, good companions on botanical holidays. Cork (1992) and Miss E.A. Piling, Both came with us to and we Edinburgh (1997). remember them with pleasure. Although not herself a member, the Baroness Now with restricted sight the preparation of David had many links with BSBI, mainly Christmas Cards is very slow and difficult, so through her husband Dick David who was may I take this opportunity to send good BSBI President in 1980-82 and a very wishes for 2010 to all friends in BSBI – Mary competent recorder specialising in Carex. In RECORDERS AND RECORDING

Panel of Referees and Specialists MARY CLARE SHEAHAN, 61 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London SW13 9RZ; ([email protected])

We have new referees: Douglas McKean is Isoetes and the Carex nigra group of sedges, taking on Crataegus and Quercus, and David and we wish him a speedy recovery. Fenwick will identify southern African There are also some address changes in the bulbous species (Crocosmia, Amaryllis, Eucomis, Galtonia, Tulbaghia, and Freesia - Yearbook – please check before sending in Anomatheca group). specimens. Because of ill health, Clive Jermy has had to retire from refereeing Diphasiastrum, 86 Recorders and Recording – Cotoneasters for determination / Panel of Vice-county Recorders

Cotoneasters for determination JEANETTE FRYER, Cornhill Cottage, Honeycritch Lane, Froxfield, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 1BE

When sending specimens to me for determi- me the date of collection of the specimen. nation, please send them between papers – Thank you. not in polythene, as I am often away from [This note from one of our Referees home. Also, may I remind BSBI members highlights the problems that they often face that it saves a lot of time if you include with of poorly-documented, inadequate material the specimen the vice county number, grid being sent to them for determination. We all reference, location, situation (growing on need to remember that they are volunteers, top of a wall or in the shade, etc.), height and and most often simply do not have the time habit, and, if applicable, , filament and to follow up such material when it is anther colour or fruit colour. Also, if possi- submitted to them. Please refer to the ble, include a sterile shoot of the current instructions for the supply of specimens in year’s growth (the leaves of this shoot are the Year Book. Ed.] extremely important when identifying Cotoneasters). And please remember to give Panel of Vice-county Recorders DAVID PEARMAN, Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA; 01872 863388; [email protected]

New Recorders V.c.H32 (Co. Monaghan). Mr P. Lenihan, V.cc.15&16 (E.&W. Kent). Mr G.D. Kitch- 21 Brooklawn, Mount Merrion Av, Black- ener, Crown Villa, Otford Lane, Halstead, rock, Co Dublin, Ireland. Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 7EA. Mr E.G.Philp, As ever, I would like to thank those retiring recorder since 1970, retires. for their sterling efforts over so many years – V.c. 8 (W. Norfolk). Vacant. Mrs Gillian and this seems so inadequate after often 30 or Mr Ken Beckett, recorders since 1988, retire. more years of help, but thank you all the same. V.c.37 (Worcs). Mr A.W. Reid, 27 Allesbor- Change of Address ough Drive, Pershore, Worcs, WR10 1JH to V.c.31 (Hunts). Mr D. Broughton, 10 Moor- be joint recorder with Mr J.J. Day (all corre- lands Avenue, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 6AD. spondence to Mr Reid). His email remains V.c.51 (Flints). Ms E. Meilleur, 1 Glan Aber, [email protected] Hill Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8EU. Dr Goronwy Wynne, recorder since Vacancy 1963, retires. V.c.38. (Warks.) – Since the death of Dr V.c.92 (S. Aberdeen) Dr I.S. Francis, East James Partridge there is a vacancy here. Cottage, Asloun, Alford, Aberdeenshire, Warwickshire has the benefit of a very recent AB33 8NR Checklist, contained in the excellent new V.c.H30 (Co. Cavan). Mr J. Shackleton, book on Warwickshire’s Wildflowers, by Lakeview house, Mullagh, Co Cavan, Stephen Falk, the Senior Keeper at Warwick- Ireland. shire Museum. Would any member who thinks that they might be able to help please contact me? Recorders and Recording – Scottish Vice-County Recorder Vacancies 87

Scottish Vice-County Recorder Vacancies JIM MCINTOSH, BSBI Scottish Officer; RBGE, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR (0131 2482894 or 07917 152580) ([email protected]) We are looking for keen, fit and reasonably botanical site is Holyrood Park, including competent botanists to fill a number of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags, and existing and forthcoming Vice-county Duddingston Loch and marshes. Here a Recorder vacancies, which will arise when great number of notable species occur such the present recorders retire. Two of the as Forked Spleenwort (Asplenium septentri- most immediate are advertised below. onale), Sticky Catchfly (Lychnis viscaria), Living in or near the vice-county is Spring Sandwort (Minuartia verna) and certainly an advantage, but is not essential – Spring Cinquefoil (Potentilla tabernaemon- some VCRs live remotely and operate very tani). Elsewhere in the county, one of the successfully. But you would have to be able few remaining Marsh Saxifrage (Saxifraga to spend significant time in the Vice-county hirculus) populations in Scotland survives each year. The principal VCR task is the in the Pentland Hills. collection, validation and maintenance of Vice-County Recorder Vacancy in Fife, vascular plant records in the Vice-county on v.c.85 behalf of the BSBI. Being a reasonable The present Vice-county Recorder for Fife, competent botanist is important, but George Ballantyne has given notice that he knowing one’s limits is even more impor- would like to retire in 2010, after some 40 tant. No one can be an expert in all aspects years as BSBI recorder. However he is not of a county’s flora – especially when just retiring completely. He would like to starting out as a recorder and our referees devote time over the next year or two to are on hand to support and help on identifi- completing his flora of Fife, and meanwhile cations and confirmations. BSBI staff and he would like to help a new recorder become neighbouring and retiring VCRs will be established. We are very grateful for happy to provide general advice and George’s contribution to the BSBI (and look support. Competency with computers, forward to seeing the flora!). particularly e-mail, the internet and This is another diverse vice-county which MapMate, would be highly desirable, includes extensive coastal habitats and an although some training can be provided. expansive patchwork of lowland farmland, Vice-County Recorder Vacancy in woodland and forestry. This low ground Midlothian, v.c.83 includes Loch Leven – the largest loch in the The present Vice-county Recorder for Scottish lowlands. The surrounding land Midlothian, Douglas McKean, would like to culminates in the moorlands of the Lomond retire and we would like to thank Douglas Hills and the Ochils. The vice-county for his contribution to botanical recording in includes a number of small islands in the the Lothians over the past 30 years. Firths of Forth and Tay, including most Although a relatively small vice-county it notably, the Isle of May. has a remarkably diverse flora mainly For further details of what a Vice-county because of its location in the south-east of Recorder’s job entails, or if you are inter- Scotland and its wide range of habitats from ested in these or similar vacancies, please coastal, farmland, urban, woodland to send me a note of your interest along with a moorland rising to over 600 metres above CV detailing your relevant experience by sea level. Perhaps the most important the 1st of March. 88 Recorders and Recording – BSBI website hectad distribution maps, ‘oldest on top’

BSBI website hectad distribution maps, ‘oldest on top’ MICHAEL BRAITHWAITE, Clarilaw Hawick, Roxburghshire, TD9 8PT Alan Hale has now upgraded the hectad Coverage has varied from date class to date distribution maps on the BSBI website so that class. Thus, in the map for Conyza one has an extra option of how to display the canadensis, there are rather few green ‘dots’, five date classes, -1930 (light blue), 1930- as coverage was poor in 1970-1986. Much of 1969 (yellow), 1970-1986 (green), 1987- the spread that occurred then was not picked 1999 (purple) and 2000- (dark blue). As well up until 1987-1999, and shows as purple as the option to view any one of the date ‘dots’. So you should infer that there are less classes individually you have two options: green ‘dots’ than there should be and more ‘show all (oldest on top)’ and ‘show all (most purple ‘dots’ than there should be. There are recent on top)’. If you haven’t tried this, do also likely to be too few light blue ‘dots’ so now and you will find a whole new world because of poor coverage pre-1930. has been opened up. There is much variation from species to The default map, as previously, is in the species in how good the ‘oldest on top’ maps ‘most recent on top’ format. This allows you are at showing spread. There are many aliens to see what coverage there has been in the that were not adequately recorded until 1987- most recent date class, 2000-2009, which is 1999, and even then coverage was often far helpful if you need to see how our BSBI from complete. So you may find that the repeat-recording is going. You can also use 2000-2009 recording mainly shows the these maps to see where decline may have filling-in of gaps in previous coverage and occurred, just like those in the New Atlas. that it is difficult to assess the real spread in Taking coverage in the 1987-1999 date class 2000-2009. Often a species suddenly comes as almost complete, you can look for ‘dots’ of into fashion for recording and records prolif- earlier date classes to get a feel for what erate. Sometimes it is real spread that has might have been lost and when. driven the new-found interest, but the You cannot use the ‘most recent on top’ circumstances need reviewing case by case format to study the spread of a species over before conclusions can be drawn. Even for time. That is where the ‘oldest on top’ maps native species, coverage was far from perfect come in. If you look at the map for Conyza in 1987-1999, especially for the more critical canadensis (Canadian Fleabane), (see inside species, so for them, too, apparent spread in Back Cover), you will see dramatic evidence 2000-2009 may be no more than improved for the continuing spread of this species. recording coverage. Trees and shrubs remain Previously it was necessary to view the maps something of a no-go area in the study of in the old Atlas and the New Atlas side by side spread, as the history of recording plantings to get a feel for this, so bringing it all together has been so uneven. on the website is a great step forward. But Some species you may like to have a look you can now go one better than the New Atlas at in ‘oldest on top’ format are Allium by seeing the spread that has occurred in the paradoxum, A. triquetrum, Anisantha decade 2000-2009. In the case of Conyza diandra, Atriplex prostrata, Buddleja davidii, canadensis, the map demonstrates that spread Cochlearia danica, Conyza canadensis, is continuing. In interpreting recent spread, Coronopus didymus, Epilobium brunnescens, you need to take into account the fact that E. ciliatum, Galega officinalis, Geranium there is only patchy coverage for the v.cc. in pyrenaicum, Ophrys apifera, Polystichum 2000-2009. You can review the recent setiferum, Puccinellia distans, Spergularia coverage for a particular species by switching marina, S. rubra and Valerianella carinata. back into ‘most recent on top’ format. Recorders and Recording – AEM: vegetative ID quiz / Notes from the Officers – Hon. Gen. Sec. 89

Annual Exhibition Meeting: vegetative ID quiz JOHN POLAND, 91 Ethelburt Ave., Southampton, Hants., SO16 3DF; ([email protected])

Thanks to everyone who took part in my (Honesty), (6) Leontodon autumnalis quiz at the Annual Exhibition Meeting in (Autumn Hawkbit), (7) Waldsteinia ternata London last November. The prize was (Dry Strawberry), (8) Foeniculum vulgare simply a mention of the top five highest (Fennel), (9) Delairea odorata (German- scoring entries in BSBI News. Joint congrat- ivy), (10) Geranium macrorrhizum (Rock ulations to David Bevan and Brian Laney Crane’s-bill), (11) Acacia dealbata for a highly respectable 13 out of 15 correct (Mimosa), (12) Laurus nobilis (Bay), (13) identifications of what was quite a Parietaria judaica (Pellitory-of-the-wall), challenging test of ID skills. (14) Aucuba japonica (Spotted-laurel), (15) Special congratulations to Imogen Joyce Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s-ear). (aged 10) who scored an impressive 12 of No-one correctly guessed Waldsteinia 15, with just a little bit of help from ternata (Dry Strawberry) on their quiz granddad Geoff. Well done Imogen! [She is sheets, although Fragaria vesca (Wild also our newest and youngest member (at Strawberry) and Duchesnea indica (Yellow- 30/12/2009). Ed] flowered Strawberry) are remarkably similar Other high scores came from Helena (see Group RO in the Vegetative Key for the Crouch and John Swindells. splits). The specimens were: (1) Hypericum Don’t forget that the BSBI are running calycinum (Rose-of-Sharon), (2) Arbutus Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) unedo (Strawberry-tree), (3) Ligustrum tests if anyone would like to try something a ovalifolium (Garden Privet), (4) Taxus little more serious (see: www.bsbi.org.uk for baccata (Yew), (5) Lunaria annua details). NOTES FROM THE OFFICERS

From the Hon. General Secretary – DAVID PEARMAN Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA; Tel: 01872 863388; [email protected]

Members of long standing Hon. General Secretary Last year I listed those who had joined in At the AGM last May, both Lynne Farrell 1949 or before and this year another five and I were appointed for 2009/2010. The reach 60 years of membership: Dr James arrangement between us was that I would act Cadbury, Mr F.N. Hepper, Mr Clive Jermy, ’till the end of December 2009, and she Dr A.B. Ireland and Dr Michael Proctor. thereafter. So please address any communi- cations from now on to her. I remain as Chairman of Records committee and thus responsible for V.c. recorders, etc. 90 Notes from the Officers – Head of Research and Development

From the Head of Research and Development – KEVIN WALKER BSBI Plant Unit, c/o 97 Dragon Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 5DG. 01423 544902 (mon-weds) 01904 328805 (thurs & fri), [email protected] Threatened Plants Project 2009 encouraging given how rare these species are We have had another excellent response to this over most of the country. We have made a project in 2009 with well over 500 completed special effort with some of the rarer species recording forms returned to me. I suspect there this year (e.g. Carex ericetorum (Rare Spring- are at least another 100 or so lurking on sedge), Fallopia dumetorum (Copse-bind- recorder’s desks so the total will hopefully weed) and Melampyrum cristatum (Crested pass the 650 mark. Once again we have very Cow-wheat)) but I feel we may need more good coverage for the most widespread species targeted survey work to fill in important gaps (see table below). The best recorded have been next year. For example, work on Melampyrum Coeloglossum viride (Frog Orchid), Oenanthe in Essex this year, one of its former UK strong- fistulosa (Tubular Water-dropwort) and holds, has shown how dire the situation is for Gnaphalium sylvaticum (Heath Cudweed) this species. In 2009 Ken Adam’s could only with recorders sending in valuable records relocate about 12 populations, and suspects from all corners of the country. The returns for that it could well be on its way to extinction Vicia orobus (Wood Bitter-vetch) and Groen- within five years unless the management of landia densa (Opposite-leaved Pondweed) are its remaining sites is dramatically altered. Species Returns 2009 Species Returns 2009 Carex ericetorum 25 Gnaphalium sylvaticum 77 35 Groenlandia densa 58 Coeloglossum viride 97 Melampyrum cristatum 11 Dianthus deltoides 45 Oenanthe fistulosa 75 Fallopia dumetorum 12 Vicia orobus 64 If you still have completed forms please send Sibbaldia procumbens (Sibbaldia), Sium them to me as possible as we hope to start latifolium (Greater Water-parsnip), Viola digitising the data in January. Remember we lactea (Pale Dog-violet)). I’ve already had are interested in both positive and negative members in touch to say they would like to get returns so please fill in a form even if you involved, but often they have been unsure of didn’t find the target species. We are still how to participate. The best approach is to get happy to receive data for the 2008 species in touch with your vice-county recorder (listed although if we don’t receive it soon it may be in the BSBI Yearbook or on the Website under too late to be included in the analyses (but the ‘Recorders’) and see what activities they have data will find its way into our system). planned for your vice-county. There may be Next year’s species field meetings that you can attend with a focus The species for this year’s (2010) TPP survey on TPP species or the VCR may be willing to were listed in the last News (Chrysanthemum delegate sites to you. Failing that you can just segetum (Corn Marigold), Hordeum marinum, download the details from the website and Juniperus communis (Juniper) (lowland have ago yourself, selecting populations that England populations only), Melittis melisso- you know well. phyllum (Bastard Balm), Meum athamanticum Each year we select populations that we (Spignel), Herminium monorchis (Musk would like BSBI members to revisit, based on Orchid), Polystichum lonchitis (Holly-fern), the records we hold. To make this as easy as possible for recorders we only use records Notes from the Officers – Head of Research and Development 91 localised to at least a 1km square, and prefer- highlight the main causes and call for action to ably to 100m. This year we will also exclude reverse losses. The planned launch is intended any records submitted in the last few years to to pre-empt this year’s General Election and save recorders have to revisit sites they may place these issues firmly on the new Biodiver- feel have been well covered in recent times. sity Minister’s desk – so it is a real opportunity There has also been some dismay about the for the Society to contribute its unrivalled spread of ‘randomly’ selected sites which in knowledge to this decision-making process. remote areas often requires lengthy journeys, Many thanks to the many recorders who or even boat trips. This is probably most responded so helpfully to our enquiries about acutely felt in the highlands of Scotland where specific sites and species, often at very short the numbers of recorders available are few and notice. far between. Unfortunately it is difficult for us One of the more interesting off-shoots of this to take this into account in selecting these sites. work has been an assessment of the status of What we would suggest is that you do the plants at an England, rather than a GB or UK selected sites where-ever feasible and substi- level. Wales and Scotland have already done tute any you feel are just too difficult to reach. this but it is only now that we are really starting We are currently in the process of selecting to see the whole picture for England. Working sites so these should be with VCRs by the end with Simon Leach of Natural England, we of the month. So please contact them or keep were able to produce a list of around 330 an eye on the website for updates. species that appear to be endangered in An ideal surveillance scheme? England either because they are in so few sites In December BSBI were awarded a contract by or have declined dramatically in recent times. JNCC to develop an ‘ideal surveillance Although there was a lot of overlap with the scheme’ for UK plants. This is a collaborative 2005 Red List, this list included around 90 project with Plantlife, Centre for Ecology and species considered ‘Least concern’ at a GB Hydrology and British Trust for Ornithology level. Most of these are ‘northerners’ that have and will aim to look at the ways different suffered dramatic declines in the lowlands organisations approach surveillance in the UK (e.g. Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlast- with a view to developing a common approach ing), Carex limosa (Bog-sedge), Drosera that makes the most of our existing schemes intermedia (Oblong-leaved Sundew), (Local Change, Countryside Survey, Common Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid), Lycopo- Plant Survey, Environmental Change dium clavatum (Stag's-horn Clubmoss)). We Network). This will address the optimal set of were also able to quantify (for the first time) species to survey and survey method, number the number of English : including of visits required, parameters to be recorded four hawkweeds the total came to 40 species, and the numbers of samples needed to record with thirteen surviving elsewhere in GB (e.g. significant change. The work is due to be Carex maritima (Curved Sedge), Hydrilla completed by the end of March and the results verticillata (Hydrilla), Melampyrum sylvat- should help to inform the Recording Strategy icum (Small Cow-wheat), Najas flexilis and underpin any future modifications to the (Slender Naiad), Polygonatum verticillatum Local Change methodology. (Whorled Solomon's-seal), Scheuchzeria palustris (Rannoch-rush), Spiranthes roman- Species extinction report zoffiana (Irish Lady's-tresses)). At this stage During December BSBI staff were drafted in the results are very preliminary but the lists are to help write a Natural England report on likely to form the basis of an ‘England only’ ‘species extinction’ due to be published in the Red List which we expect to follow, once New Year. This report, which covers all Natural England, Defra and the like, have had taxonomic groups, will focus on species time to take the results on board. declines in England, and is intended to raise awareness of the scale of the problem, 92 Notes from the Officers – Conservation action for plants in Scotland

Conservation action for plants in Scotland JIM MCINTOSH, BSBI Scottish Officer; (0131 2482894 or 07917 152580) ([email protected]) DEBORAH LONG, Plantlife Scotland Conservation Officer; (01786 478509 or 07917 691270) ([email protected]) At the November BSBI/BSS Scottish Annual Fallopia japonica (Japanese Knotweed), Meeting, we heard how the BSBI, Plantlife and Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry) or Allium the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are paradoxum (Few-flowered Leek). For aquatic working together on plant conservation, species, we would like to match volunteers to supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. sites with Crassula helmsii (New Zealand Questions to the panel underlined how effective Pigmyweed), Azolla filiculoides (Water-fern) the three organisations can be in working or Myriopyllum aquaticum (Parrot’s-feathers). together to achieve what is essentially the same Sites are accessible to the general public. goal but coming from different directions. This This means they are close to access points and partnership has always existed, but last year it are not land to which access is generally was formalised and called CAPS - Conserva- prevented, e.g. M.O.D. land, railways etc. tion Action for Plants in Scotland and a first It would be fantastic if Plantlife could have meeting was held and the following idea details of populations that meet these criteria. emerged: Plantlife can then, if possible, match that site to Non-native plants a keen and willing volunteer. The VCR would From a Plantlife perspective, there are a also then be able to meet new local plant enthu- number of ways that closer working with BSBI siasts and help Plantlife with their training, if and vice-county recorders (VCR) would reap they wished. And of course they will be given dividends. For example, the meeting discussed the resulting annual monitoring data. invasive non-native plants. Plantlife already Rare plant Flora Guardians pursues an active agenda in terms of policy Another area of work where we hope to work work on invasive species. They also recruit and together more closely is in matching up rare train volunteer ‘Flora Guardians’ to monitor, plant Flora Guardians with VCRs, in a on an annual basis, habitats close to where they mentoring scheme, if there is interest. Again stay, for the impact of selected non-native Plantlife have a number of Flora Guardians invasive species. However, Plantlife has more across Scotland who monitor annually ‘Back volunteers than sites! Ideally, we need sites from the Brink’ species close to where they where the following criteria are met: stay. A full list of BfB species in Scotland is on The presence of the following species: the Plantlife website (www.plantlife.org.uk). Impatiens glandulifera (Indian Balsam), Key species include: Rhododendron ponticum (Rhododendron), Habitat BfB Species Atlantic heath Arctostaphylos alpinus, Pseudorchis albida Coastal pasture Astragalus danicus, Dactylorhiza viridis, Gentianella campestris, G. uliginosa, Hiero- chloe oderata, Oxytropis halleri, Platanthera chlorantha, Primula scotica. Montane high Artemisia norvegica, Astragalus alpinus, Athyrium disentifolium, Bartsia alpina, altitude Betula nana, Carex atrofusca, C. lachenalii, C. rariflora, Cystopteris montana, Erigeron borealis, Juncus castaneus, Lychnis alpina, Minuartia rubella, M. sedoides, Phleum alpinum, Poa glauca, Sagina saginoides, Saxifraga cernua, S. cespitosa, Sibbaldia procumbens, Salix lanata, S. lappponum, Veronica alpina Pine woodlands Goodyera repens, Linnaea borealis,A5 Moneses uniflora, Orthilia secunda, Pyrola me- dia. Notes from the Officers – Conservation action for plants in Scotland / Coordinator’s Corner 93

Specifically, what we are looking for are Flora Guardian, both parties, and plant conser- (reasonably) accessible BfB rare plant popula- vation, would benefit! Please contact Jim tions, which could be usefully monitored over McIntosh if you would like to be involved in a period. They could be populations which are this scheme and Jim and Deborah will match believed to be under threat or in decline, for you up with mentees! example. Plantlife volunteers range from These are just a couple of the opportunities skilled botanists to enthusiastic people keen to for Plantlife Flora Guardians and BSBI VCRs learn. If VCRs would like to meet keen volun- to work together. We look forward to hearing teers in their vice county, and would be willing from you, if you are interested in being to act as an informal mentor to the Plantlife involved in either. COORDINATOR’S CORNER

ALEX LOCKTON, 66 North Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2JL; ([email protected])

What are ‘associated species’? little computer program for vegetation Something that has bothered me for some analysis that the Centre for Ecology & time is the concept of associated species, Hydrology gives out. This was a list of just which is creeping into all botanical publica- seven species that included no trees, and yet it tions from identification handbooks to scien- is a woodland plant. The answer came out as tific papers. As far as I can see, ‘associated U16 Luzula sylvatica – Vaccinium myrtillus species’ is a loosely defined term under which tall-herb, which is a moorland vegetation you can essentially list any plants you like as from the uplands of the north and west. long as they were within a few hundred Which struck me as interesting, but probably metres of their target. I find that over the wrong. However, shortly below that in the list years I have added lots of associated species of options was W12 Fagus sylvatica and W8 to my various databases, but I have never Fraxinus excelsior woodland, which may found any use for them except to produce new well both be correct in different parts of the lists of associates – i.e. to print them out country. What’s more, if you looked into it in again, as if that accomplished anything. detail, I would be willing to bet that I have heard several justifications. If you are F. altissima occurs in humid W8 and W12 searching for a rare plant in a remote woods whose ground flora bears a striking moorland, then sometimes it can be a helpful resemblance to U16 heath. There’s a potential clue if you come across another, slightly less dissertation in that. But never mind – clearly rare, plant that experience has shown often there is some phytosociological value in even occurs nearby. Fair enough, and very useful, the most basic list of associates. but that clearly does not apply to the vast A third reason for a list of associates is to majority of associated species lists that appear create a mental image of the habitat. It is not, in print. perhaps, as helpful to a botanist to write ‘on Another justification is that a list of associ- sloping ground in dense shade and high ates can act as a substitute for a full vegetation humidity on Silurian limestone overlain by a quadrat – easier to do and almost as useful. I humus-rich soil’ as ‘in a dingle of ancient can see the argument: N.V.C. analysis can be beech woodland with a ground flora of Luzula performed on fairly short lists without sylvatica.’ abundance or frequency scores, and the right So there are, in fact, good reasons for lists of answer is often obtained. So, to put this to the associated species. But – and this is a very big test, I have just analysed the associated but – I don’t like having three very different species of Festuca altissima given in the new reasons for doing something. We would not Grasses handbook, using MAVIS – a natty allow the authors of a Handbook to have three 94 Notes from the Officers – Coordinator’s Corner reasons for including an illustration. Imagine proportion of the plants out there really are that one species had a nice photograph for ever seen and recorded by a botanist: 1%? aesthetic purposes; the next one had accurate 0.1%? More like 0.0000001%, if we are botanical illustrations of diagnostic features; honest. and the third one had a watercolour sketch of What other factors influence the perfection its habitat. The editors would go ballistic, and of our data? For several years now the BSBI of course they would insist on the same style has been running Field Identification Skills and purpose of illustration for each species. I tests on a range of botanists from beginners to suggest that we need to apply the same sort of experts. These show that even when experi- scientific discipline to the concept of associ- enced botanists get plenty of time to survey a ated species. We should define the term and fairly small area of vegetation they never say what is acceptable within that definition. come up with the same list as each other, and If it is to be used for phytosociological no-one ever gets all the species. Everyone purposes, for example, then it should be local- makes a few errors, too. The honest truth is ised, dated, systematic and repeatable. If it is that all the data we collect is full of errors of merely to conjure a habitat impression, then it omission, misidentification and transcription. should be clearly identified as such (and That does not mean that the data have no preferably omitted from a scientific publica- value, it merely means that there will never be tion). Editors (and authors) need to be aware a point at which any survey is perfect and of this dangerous term ‘associated species’ complete. If we gave you a thousand years to and question its purpose whenever it arises, finish recording a county you would be especially if the author is not completely further from finishing it by the end of that explicit about what it means. time than you were at the beginning, because Say hello to date class 5 so much would have happened in the I am so relieved that date class 4 is over at last. meantime that you had missed. Over the last few years we have been trying to So please try to understand this: you cannot persuade BSBI recorders to structure their fail a date class. If you like recording plants, recording so we can have an ongoing program then go outside and make some records. Do a of survey over the entire country over regular good job of it by identifying things as ten year intervals. I have always promised accurately as you can and sending the that this would involve no extra effort whatso- resultant records to us (or to your county ever – just a more efficient and effective way recorder). Unless you send the records to us of working. And yet the complaints I get are they don’t count. We will produce maps and always based on a misunderstanding. For analyse the data. For instance, we can look at example, one person wrote to me recently and the proportion of grasses that someone said ‘I cannot finish this date class by 2010 – records and work out how good their ID skills I need until 2020.’ That’s a bit like saying ‘I are. We can often find out when someone has can’t allow tomorrow to arrive until I’ve made an error of identification, or ticked a finished this job.’ It is so silly that I don’t species they didn’t really see, or when they really know how to respond. But it is a have knocked off early because of the rain and common misconception. gone home. Such things happen all the time, The best explanation I can come up with is and they are not really failings – they are that some botanists believe that there is such merely attributes of the data. Just do what you a thing as perfection. When they produce a can. The more you do, the better; and the county Flora, for example, they believe that it better your work, the better; but it will never be perfect. That’s just the way it is. DC5 has will actually say where all the plants of the st st county occur. This strikes me as extremely started: 1 January 2010 till 31 December naïve. It would be interesting to know what 2019. If you want to do some recording, you can be part of it. You would be very welcome. Diary / Deadline for contributions to BSBI News 114 95

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

23 Jan Committee for Ireland 6 Mar Committee for Scotland 28 Jan Records Committee, London 10 Mar Database Subcommittee, Leicester 2 Feb Publications Committee, London 17 Mar Council, London 3 Feb Meetings Committee, London 7 Aug Irish AGM, Co. Mayo 10 Feb Training & Education 17 Sep Recorders’ Conference 12 Feb Committee for Wales, Aberystwyth 26 Nov Conf. - History and discovery of the 24 Feb Executive Committee, London British Flora, Birmingham

The General Editor Gwynn Ellis can be contacted by answerphone 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 Registered Charity Number in England & Wales: 212560 and in Scotland: SC038675 Enquiries concerning the Society’s activities and membership should be addressed to: The Hon. General Secretary, c/o Dept. of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: 0207 942 5002. www.bsbi.org.uk 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) Miss Lynne Farrell 41 High St, Hemingford Grey, Cambs, PE28 9BJ Tel.: 01480 462728; [email protected] HON. TREASURER (All financial matters except Membership) Mr Anthony Nixon The Warwick Partnership, 1 Stonecross, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 4AA Tel.: 01727 846194, Fax 01727 810885 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY (Payment of Subs and changes of address) Mr Gwynn Ellis 41 Marlborough Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU (Please quote membership number on all correspondence; see address label on post, or Members List in Year Book 2009 or 2010) Answerphone: 02920 496042; [email protected] HON. FIELD SECRETARY (Including enquiries about Field Meetings) Mrs Jane Croft 12 Spaldwick Road, Stow Longa, Huntingdon, Cambs., PE28 0TL Tel.: 01480 860561; [email protected] HON. ASSISTANT SECRETARY (General enquiries) Mr Peter Fry c/o Dept. of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD Answerphone only: 0207 942 5002 BSBI PROJECT MANAGER & Mr David Pearman VICE-COUNTY RECORDERS Algiers, Feock, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6RA (Comments and/or changes of address) Tel.: 01872 863388; [email protected] PANEL OF REFEREES & SPECIALISTS Dr Mary Clare Sheahan (Comments and/or changes of address) 61 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London, SW13 9RZ Tel.: 020 8748 4365; [email protected] WATSONIA RECEIVING EDITOR Mr Martin Sanford c/o SBRC, Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3QH Tel.: 01473 433547; fax: 01473 433558; [email protected] WATSONIA BOOK REVIEWS EDITOR Dr John Edmondson 243 Pensby Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH61 5UA Tel.: 0151 342 8287; [email protected] BSBI NEWS RECEIVING EDITOR Mr Trevor J James 56 Back Street, Ashwell, Baldock, Herts., SG7 5PE Tel.: 01462 742684; [email protected] BSBI NEWS GENERAL EDITOR Mr Gwynn Ellis 41 Marlborough Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU Answerphone: 02920 496042; [email protected] BSBI HEAD OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Mr Kevin J Walker 97 Dragon Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 5DG Tel.: 01423 544902; [email protected] BSBI COORDINATOR Mr Alex Lockton 66 North Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2JL Tel. & Fax: 01743 343789; [email protected] BSBI VOLUNTEERS OFFICER Mr Bob Ellis 11 Havelock Road, Norwich, NR2 3HQ Tel.: 01603 662260; [email protected] BSBI SCOTTISH OFFICER Mr Jim McIntosh c/o Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR Tel.: 0131 248 2894 (w); 0791 7152580 (mob); [email protected] RESEARCH FUND APPLICATIONS 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, CA11 9SD Tel.: 01768 484910; Fax: 01768 484909; [email protected] BSBI WEB SITE ADDRESS www.bsbi.org.uk

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

Lycopodium annotinum growing on fallen trunk of large Scots pine in Abernethy Forest (v.c.96). Photo A. Amphlett © 2009 (see p. 22)

Landoltia punctata in Treborth Botanic Garden nr Oenanthe fistulosa along dune slack ditch on Bangor (v.c.49); Lemna minor also present at pic- Sefton Coast (v.c.59). Photo P.H. Smith © 2009 ture edge. Photo J.H. Bratton © 2009 (see p. 55) (see p. 13) 2 Colour Section with paniculate Dawes © 2008 (see p. 39) inflorescence, from roadside nr Plantago major Marchamley (v.c.40). Photo R.A. Marchamley (v.c.40). catkins on bush Sefton Coast nr catkins friesiana × friesiana × Salix Salix Formby (v.c.59). Both photos P.H. Smith © Both photos P.H. Formby (v.c.59). 2009 (see p. 18) Bisexual .H. Smith © 2009 (see p. 18) P Female Coast nr Formby (v.c.59). Photo Coast nr Formby (v.c.59). on same bush as above Sefton agg. (r). The two shown (r). Limonium binervosum , with densely grouped inflorescences L. procerum / britannicum L. procerum Limomium.recurvum Photo E.I.S. Rees © 2009 (see p. 24) (v.c.52), with particularly abundant (v.c.52), Part of the sandy saltmarsh in the estuary of the Afon Crigyll, Rhosneigr Part of the sandy saltmarsh in estuary were <1m apart at Rhosneigr (v.c.52). Photos E.I.S. Rees ©were <1m apart at Rhosneigr (v.c.52). 2009 (see p. 24) Comparison between forming a compact clump (l), and Colour Section 3 , dis- ) in fruit, miniatum ssp. Marrubium vulgare turbed ground, Thruxton (v.c.12). turbed ground, Photo A. Mundell ©Photo 2009 (see p. 59) Solanum villosum Dysynni Broadwater (v.c.48). Dysynni Broadwater (v.c.48). Photo J. Maynard © 2009 (see p. 83) White Horehound ( with seeds (r), disturbed ground, Thruxton with seeds (r), disturbed ground, sativa ssp. (v.c.12). Photo M. Hodgkiss ©(v.c.12). 2009 (see p. 58) (see p 56) Portulaca oleracea at Formby Point (v.c.59) with flowers and fruits. Photos P.H. Smith © with flowers and fruits. Photos P.H. at Formby Point (v.c.59) 2009 , disturbed Agastache rugosa Solanum triflorum M. Hodgkiss © 2009 (see p. 59) ground, Thruxton (v.c.12). Photo Thruxton (v.c.12). ground, 4 Colour Section

The Master’s words of wisdom, John Poland at Ffrwd Fen, Pembrey (v.c.44). Photo K. Pryce © 2009 (see p. 75)

Dysynni Broadwater (v.c.48) – picnic on shingle bank. Photo J. Maynard © 2009 (see page 83)