BSBI News September 2015 No. 130

Edited by Trevor James & Gwynn Ellis

ISSN 0309-930X Sorbus herefordensis (flower spray), Doward, Sorbus domestica (Service-tree) at Lancaut N.R., Herefordshire (v.c.36). Photo D. Green Gloucs. (v.c.34). Photo M. Hampton © 2009 © June 2013 (see p. 12) (see p. 30)

Rumex acetosa ssp. hibernicus, Predannack Hordeum marinum on roadside, A14, Northants Wollas, Cornwall (v.c.1). Photo F. Rumsey (v.c.32). Photo P. Stroh © 2015 (see p. 29) © April 2015 (see p. 10) CONTENTS Important Notices Orchid conservation in South Yorkshire From the President...... I. Denholm 2 ...... E. & M. Linney 43 From the Company Secretary....C. Lovatt 3 Huperzia selago...... M. Wilcox 44 Annual Report and accounts...... 3 Diary for 2015...... C. Metherell 44 BSBI List of Members...... 3 Adventives & Aliens News, 6...M. Berry 45 BSBI AGM...... 3 Francoa sp. found in Dartmouth, Devon New Journal of Botany moves to on-line (v.c.3)...... P. Pullen 48 publication...... L. Marsh 4 Botanical Crossword 26...... Cruciada 49 2015 BSBI Photographic Competition Notices...... 50-52 ...... J. McIntosh 4 Beginners’ workshops...... F. Anstey 50 Notes from the Editors T. James & G. Ellis 5 The launch of the Burren Botany Bubble Notes...... 7-44 ...... M. Bermingham 51 Hybrid between Atriplex prostrata and Requests & Offers...... 52-53 A. patula...... J. Richards 7 Recording Pink, Blue and Hybrid Water- Taraxacum ciliare new to Britain speedwells...... M. Wilcox 52 ...... J. Richards 9 Assistance with digitising field data It’s hairy on the margins! - two more Data- ...... P. Stroh 52 Deficient taxa to check for F. Rumsey 10 The flora of Hawick Burgh Juncus inflexus × J. conglomeratus ...... M. Braithwaite 52 ...... M. Wilcox 11 Request for UK material of Allium species Sorbus of the Doward...... D. Green 12 and Ficaria verna...... M. Duchoslav 53 ‘Digitised’ herbaria – where past and Book Notes...... J. Edmondson 54 present meet ?...... J. Hewitt 16 Correction to The flora of Oxfordshire Runnymede - a botanical perspective (1998)...... J. Killick 55 ...... A. Sankey 17 Recorders and Recording...... 56-57 Higher Education and the future of field Panel of Referees and Specialists.....J. Ison 56 biology skills: too much gloom? Panel of Vice-county Recorders P. Stroh 56 ...... R. Goulder & G.W. Scott 23 Recording Juncus gerardii and Saving field biology skills from extinction: J. compressus...... M. Wilcox 57 a further comment...... J. Richards 25 Obituary Notes...... 58 Mibora minima in the north-west of Scotland, Notes from the Officers...... 58-64 on Baleshare Island, (v.c.110) Hon. Gen. Sec...... C. Metherell 58 P.A. Smith, O. Pescott & S.J. Bungard 26 Scottish Officer...... J. McIntosh 59 Hazels continued – additional information Welsh Officer...... P. Spencer-Vellacott 60 ...... M. Wilcox 28 Publicity & Outreach Officer...L. Marsh 61 Hordeum marinum in Northamptonshire Key to cover photo of BSBI News 129... 62 ...... P. Stroh 29 Database officer...... T. Humphrey 63 Sorbus domestica in the Wye Valley Hon. Field Secretary...... J. Shanklin 64 ...... M. Hampton 30 BSBI Atlas 2020 Pollination of Platanthera orchids Coordinator’s Corner...... P. Stroh 65 ...... T. & A. Swainbank 34 Solution & crib for Crossword 26...... 67 Foraging in the Anthropocene Deadline for News 131...... 67 ...... M. O'Donovan 40 Administration and Important Addresses 68 The case for responsible foraging: by a practising forager...Mouseinthewoods 41 2 Important Notices – From The President

IMPORTANT NOTICES

From The President IAN DENHOLM, 4 High Firs Crescent, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 1NA; (01582 760180; 07974 112993; [email protected]) The summer seems to have sped by, marked Like me, many of you will by now have by prolonged spells of indifferent weather. taken possession of the long-awaited I trust this did not quell members’ enthusi- Hybrid flora of the British Isles. It is a asm for field work, and that as many of you majestic work and for the first time we have as possible were able to participate in events detailed morphological descriptions of based around recording, training, or simply hybrids, both sporadic and persistent, along visiting great habitats and the plants they with comprehensive accounts of their support. Our meetings aimed at strengthen- occurrence. Huge congratulations go to ing Atlas recording appear to have been Clive Stace, Chris Preston and David well attended and I look forward to reading Pearman for steering this to fruition (a state the reports published in the next BSBI Year that many hybrids fail to reach!). Contin- Book. I was fortunate enough to spend a uing on the theme of publications, this issue week on the northernmost of the Shetland of BSBI News announces important changes Isles in great company and we covered a lot to the way that New Journal of Botany will of ground – some very rewarding and some be distributed in future years. This reflects less so, but with botanical monotony a much wider ongoing transformation in the relieved by being dive-bombed by skuas mode of scientific publishing, and also and fantastic views of Red-throated Divers coincides with our publisher to date (Maney in breeding plumage on remote lochans. Publishing) having been acquired by the The Annual Summer Meeting in the north Taylor & Francis Group, who have of Ireland in June involved a lot of Irish expressed strong support for the continua- Vice-county Recorders and an impressive tion and promotion of NJB over years to number of younger delegates and less come. One challenge is to increase the experienced botanists keen to be introduced visibility of and citation rates for NJB to the rigours of completing recording papers through inclusion in the largest bibli- cards, although fewer members from ographic databases, including ‘Scopus’. mainland UK attended than we had hoped. The combined Annual Exhibition I thank John Faulkner and Louise Marsh for Meeting and AGM returns this year to the taking on much of the organisation and the Natural History Museum in London and I University of Coleraine for hospitality, hope to meet up with many of you there. As despite a faulty fire alarm in our accommo- always, we urge members to offer exhibits dation block leading to an impromptu relating to all aspects of botany, and will 6 a.m. gathering of inhabitants outside the have presentations covering field meetings, building! In keeping with a developing as well as current and forthcoming BSBI tradition of alternating the location of the projects. This event will mark the end of ASM between countries, plans are my Presidency after a fulfilling and underway to base the 2016 event at the rewarding period of two and a half years. I Field Studies Council’s field station at look forward to congratulating and offering Blencathra in the Lake District, details to be full support to my successor, who will be circulated at the end of the year. appointed at the AGM. Important Notices – From The Company Secretary 3

From the Company Secretary CLIVE LOVATT, 57 Walton Road, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 9TA; (Tel.: 01173 823 577; 07513 458 921; [email protected]) BSBI Annual Report and Accounts 31st BSBI AGM and revision of Articles of March 2015 Association The Society’s 31st March 2015 Annual A notice of the second AGM of the Botani- Report and Accounts were approved by the cal Society of Britain and Ireland which is Board of Trustees and signed by our to be held on Saturday 28th November 2015 Independent Examiners, WMT of St at the Natural History Museum in London Albans, on 9th September 2015. Their accompanies this mailing of BSBI News. report was unmodified. A PDF copy may The Rules of the Botanical Society of the be obtained from the link on the home page British Isles were replaced by the Articles of our website. Paper copies will be availa- of Association of the Botanical Society of ble at the AGM on Saturday 28th November Britain and Ireland, a company limited by 2015 but any member who requires a copy guarantee. In the course of time, certain should send a request to the Company Articles were found not to be working quite Secretary. as we might have wanted. Principal Summarised financial statements have amongst these was the realisation that as also been prepared, with a Treasurer’s’ Council is not a governance body member- Report, and these are included in the Annual ship of Council can include, without Review which accompanies this mailing of election or co-option, office bearers or BSBI News. delegates of the society’s committees ex officio. Whilst amending the relevant BSBI List of Members Articles, the opportunity has also been A printed List of members was last issued in taken to revise the clause on the date by April 2013. The Board believe that it is which nominations should be received to a valuable and important to have a list availa- date closer to the now-settled AGM date in ble to members but have been mindful of late November. the cost of producing and distributing a Whilst the changes have been carefully printed list. Many similar societies no drafted by the Honorary General Secretary longer print membership lists. The Board and others (to whom thanks are due), and therefore propose to prepare the list in considered by all relevant committees of the electronic form only. This will also allow society, they can only take effect when easier searching and a more frequent updat- approved by the members. In order to allow ing than has hitherto been possible. The time for this, the changes are outlined on a society needs to take reasonable steps to posting already accessible through the balance access and security and although home page of BSBI’s website. Members the precise way this would be done has yet are invited to look at the documents and if to be concluded, it is likely that the list will they have any comments, to let the be on a password-protected members’ page Honorary General Secretary know. and if in PDF form, the file would also be In addition, having in the interim adopted password protected. the old Standing Orders of the society (insofar as not incompatible with the 4 Important Notices – From The Company Secretary / New Journal of Botany moves to on- line publication / 2015 BSBI Photographic Competition society’s Articles), new Standing Orders will be issued with the authority of the and Rules (including standing orders, rules, Board and will not need voting on to be and regulations as defined in Articles 5.4-6) adopted. Comments are again invited from have been prepared by the Board of the membership. Trustees for the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. These Standing Orders, in Any member requiring paper copies of any place for the smooth running of the AGM, material referred to above should request the committees and the society in general, them from the Company Secretary.

New Journal of Botany moves to on-line publication: a message from the Editorial Team LOUISE MARSH, The Herbarium, Department of Genetics, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH; ([email protected]) Starting in 2016, we intend that New A dedicated email address has been set up Journal of Botany will be published almost to provide more information and handle any entirely in electronic form and are currently requests. Please contact: printcopynjb@ in discussion with our new publishers, bsbi.org, or you can write to the Editorial Taylor & Francis, to bring this about. As Office at the address above. If you are well as being more attuned to the future happy to continue accessing New Journal of direction of scientific publication, this Botany electronically, you do not need to move will represent a financial saving to the notify us or pay any extra – just continue society, enabling us to channel more logging in via http://www.bsbi.org.uk/NJB/ resources towards core activities such as and using the password. our training, research and outreach programmes, and reducing the need to Meanwhile, Dr Richard Gornall, who has increase membership subscription rates. served as Editor-in-Chief of New Journal of We will still provide print copies for insti- Botany since its inception in 2011, is stand- tutional subscribers who have paid the ing down at the end of this year, so applica- higher subscription rate for both print and tions are sought for his replacement. If you on-line access. We will also be able to would like to know more about what this provide print copies, as well as continuing honorary role entails, if you think you may to provide electronic access, to any BSBI have the necessary skills – and the time – to members who feel that this is essential to take on this prestigious position, or if you their enjoyment of New Journal of Botany, would like to propose a colleague for but there will be a charge for this service, consideration, please contact us at the currently set at £10 per year. address above.

2015 BSBI Photographic Competition: open to all BSBI Members JIM MCINTOSH, c/o Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR; (Tel.: 0131 2482894; [email protected]) Thank you to everyone who entered the who made it such a success! We plan to 2014 BSBI Photographic Competition and repeat the competition in 2015, but with Important Notices – 2015 BSBI Photographic Competition / Notes from the Editors 5 new categories and rules. We would like to ([email protected]), using the largest use this year’s photographs to create a BSBI possible file size. calendar. So, in order to get a selection of Please send them as soon as possible and suitable photographs of plants throughout certainly no later than 24th October, to the seasons, our theme will be plants Natalie to allow time for printing and through the seasons and we will have four mounting before the Scottish Annual categories: Meeting, where the winners will be chosen 1. Plants in Winter by a popular vote. We will mount a display 2. Plants in Spring at the Annual Exhibition Meeting and 3. Plants in Summer publish a selection of winning photographs 4. Plants in Autumn. in various BSBI publications including You may enter up to three images in each BSBI News. category. Photographs should be taken in Please note that copyright of images will Britain and Ireland and must be of vascular remain with the photographer. However, plants or stoneworts, but do not have to be the BSBI claims the right to exhibit the taken during 2015. entries, and to use them to further its aims In order to encourage entries and stand- generally and to promote the BSBI and its ardise print quality and size, please send photography competition. The BSBI also entries in electronic format only, along with claims the right to edit or use images in titles, directly to the 2015 competition combination with others. organiser, Natalie Harmsworth So, get your cameras out and start snapping your autumn photographs!

Notes from the Editors 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, Wales, CF23 5BU (Tel.: 02920 332338) ([email protected]) What a pleasure it is to see a line drawing Faulty copies of an alien plant once more in BSBI News So far only one copy has been reported (p. 46). Our thanks go to Robin Walls, not with faulty pagination. This has page 62 only for the drawing in this issue but also followed by a repeat of pages 55 to 62, for the offer to provide drawings of other then page 79, with pages 63 to 78 missing. alien plants that feature in the Adventives It would be very unusual if there was only and Aliens News section compiled by one instance of this fault so please check Matthew Berry. Perhaps this might your copy and let GE know of any similar encourage more members to send in problems. records and it would certainly be nice to have more aliens from other parts of BSBI News deadlines Britain featured in that section. May we remind all contributors that we do have deadlines for a good reason – if only Hybrid flora of the British Isles to limit the damage to our time in sorting All prepublication orders for this book out each issue. The late arrivals seem to be have now been dispatched. Any member getting later and later, and we are going to still waiting for their copy should contact have to draw a firm line if this continues. GE at the above address. 6 Notes from the Editors

The deadlines, which remain the same On the last page of every issue of BSBI each year, are always given on the penulti- News is the message – ‘Please quote mate page of each issue of BSBI News: membership number on all correspondence; December 1st for the January issue see address label on post, or Members List’. March 1st for the April issue The first line of each address label has the August 1st for the September issue following information: In addition the deadlines for receipt of 26673 Mem. No. 029487 v.c.41 printed inserts and hard copy for printing where the first number is the mailsort code, inserts are the middle of January, April and followed by the membership number, then September. by the vice-county. The deadline for contributions to BSBI Eighteen months ago the BSBI member- Yearbook is always December 1st. ship database was upgraded to a new and It is also important to remember that much improved system but this introduced ALL contributions must be sent to the a change with how the membership number Receiving Editor, Trevor James, with an was automatically generated. Both optional copy to the General Editor, databases are currently kept up to date with Gwynn Ellis. the old database still being used to create mailing labels for BSBI News. Thus recent Figures, maps and tables are often sent in members will see another number – after full colour which is fine so long as there is their name; this is their correct member- space in the Colour Section to accommo- ship number; the number on the first line date them. Sometimes, however, space is can be ignored. limited and they have to go in with the text A new online Members List is planned to in black and white. So please choose be published later this year (see p. 3) which colours which are easily distinguished if will include the membership number of all they have to be printed in black & white or current members. send two versions, one in colour and the other in grey-scale. Where are they now? We are still trying to trace the current Membership Number whereabouts of the following members: Do you know your BSBI Membership Number or do know where to find it? Mrs H Coyte, formerly of Upper Wolver- Considering that it is required when order- cote, Oxford. ing books from BSBI or Summerfield Mr J Darke, formerly of London Road, Books, and when contacting the Member- Stroud. ship Secretary, it is surprising how many Miss J E Ferguson, formerly of Clincart members do not! Road, Glasgow. New members have, since May this year, Ms M Hili, formerly of St Mellons, been given a BSBI folder with their Cardiff. membership number printed inside when Ms C Moore, formerly of Clevedon, they join but for all other members, the Somerset. Membership Secretary at least would be Mrs M L Pullen, formerly of Middlestone very grateful if you could take the trouble Village, Bishop Auckland. to record your number somewhere where Mr M J Skelton, formerly of Hamilton you can easily find it when needed. Road, Bournmouth. Notes – An apparent hybrid between Atriplex prostrata and A. patula 7

NOTES

An apparent hybrid between Atriplex prostrata and A. patula JOHN RICHARDS, High Trees, South Park, Hexham, NE46 1BT; ([email protected]) In the British Isles, Atriplex is well-known for ‘flabby’ herbaceous bracteoles, and it became its hybrids, some of which (A. ×gustafssoni- clear that no fruits had developed within the ana, A. ×taschereaui) are more common and bracteoles. Most other plants in the popula- widely distributed than their rarer parent tions scattered abundant seed when picked or (Taschereau, 1985). Thus, it is surprising that knocked and the hard swollen fruits could be the two most widespread species, A. prostrata felt between the bracteoles. and A. patula, which are commonly found as On further examination, it was clear that ruderals inland and often grow together, have bracteole shape was intermediate between never been reported reliably to hybridise those of A. prostrata and A. patula; triangular (Stace, 2015) and this hybrid was not but with untoothed straight to slightly convex mentioned by Tascherau (1985). However, it margins and with a broadly cuneate base to had been created artificially and the specimen which point the bracteoles were fused, so that exhibited (Hulme, 1958). Although the two the degree of fusion was intermediate between species are classified within the same section the presumed parents (see p. 8). Most of the (Teutliopsis), they differ in chromosome basal leaves had withered, but stem leaves number, A. prostrata being diploid (2n = 18) were lanceolate and did not differ from those and A. patula tetraploid (2n = 36). Thus, the of A. patula. hybrid created was a sterile triploid (2n = 27), This specimen was submitted to Dr J.R. as predicted, and, being annual, short-lived. It Akeroyd, who wrote as follows (13th February was said that this plant did not resemble speci- 2015): mens representing earlier claims for this “...as good a hybrid between the two hybrid (Jones, 1975). common weedy Atriplex as I’ve ever seen. Although these two familiar species differ in The sterility, and the strange, slightly leafy general appearance, and in particular in the look about the bracteoles, perhaps reflecting shape of the basal leaves, both are very plastic the sterility (which I’ve seen in other ‘difficult’ and are most safely separated when in fruit, specimens), strongly suggest the elusive with the bracteoles fully developed. The hybrid. If its characters were at all obvious, bracteoles differ markedly in shape (illustrated we’d perhaps have more records...... perhaps well in Stace, 2010: 491); those of A. prostrata sheer numbers in a persistently open habitat being triangular with a truncate base and free has created the right conditions. There appears to the acute angle with this base, whereas those to be no confirmed record for the hybrid.” of A. patula are more nearly ovate, with a References: cuneate base, and are fused to about half their HULME, B.A. (1958). ‘Artificial hybrids in the length. genus Atriplex’. Proc. B.S.B.I., 3: 94. th On 4 September 2013 I examined a large JONES, E.M. (1975). ‘Atriplex’. In: STACE, C mixed population of both species growing A. (ed.). Hybridisation and the flora of the beside the spur road to Oakwood from the British Isles. Academic Press, London, p. main Hexham roundabout, South Northumber- 185. land (v.c. 67) (NY915655). No other Atriplex STACE, C.A. (2010). New flora of the British species was present. I noticed particularly one Isles. (3rd ed). Cambridge University Press, individual with rather large (5-7mm long), Cambridge. 8 Notes – An apparent hybrid between Atriplex prostrata and A. patula

STACE, C.A., PRESTON, C.D. & PEARMAN, TASCHEREAU, P.M. (1985). ‘Taxonomy of D.A. (2015). Hybrid flora of the British Isles. Atriplex species indigenous to the British Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, Isles’. Watsonia, 15: 183-209. Bristol.

Atriplex prostrata × A. patula, Hexham (v.c.67) Photo A.J. Richards © 2015 Notes – Taraxacum ciliare new to Britain 9

Taraxacum ciliare van Soest new to Britain JOHN RICHARDS, High Trees, South Park, Hexham, NE46 1BT; ([email protected]) On a one-day visit to Guernsey on 23rd April On 18th April 2015, the BSBI New Forest 1966, I visited Grande Mare in the south of the Taraxacum field meeting, organised by Martin island, principally to see Anacamptis laxiflora. Rand, visited Ossemsley Ford, Holmsley Close by, I collected seeds of a Taraxacum, (SU2316.0040). Here T. palustre was found to which flowered in cultivation the following be locally abundant, and, slightly to the south- year and proved to belong to Taraxacum west but overlapping, good numbers of section Palustria. This was tentatively named T. anglicum Dahlst. were also found. The T. austrinum Hagl., but, when material was latter proved to be a new County record and it shown to J.L. van Soest, he expressed the is curious that Bowman never collected it. opinion that it was a new species, which I subse- Among the T. palustre, and closely resembling quently named T. sarniense (Richards & them, were small numbers of a plant in which Haworth, 1984). It was collected at this locality the ovate appressed exterior bracts differed by subsequently by David McClintock, and near St having only a narrow border, which was Ouens pond, Jersey by Frances Le Sueur. notably ciliate (See Colour Section, Plate 4) In their monograph of this section of Tarax- (T. palustre bracts have broad scarious acum, Kirschner and Stepanek (1998) re-deter- borders, which occupy about half the bract). mined these collections as T. ciliare van Soest, Also, the ligules were shorter than those of a widespread species in western France, which T. palustre, scarcely exceeding the interior also occurs in the mountains of southern Spain, bracts, and the ligule stripe was a solid brown and possibly in Italy and Switzerland. There is to the base (those of T. palustre are a paler an additional note (p.29), which reads as grey-brown and become fainter basally). follows: “At present a number of plants grown Photographs were emailed to Jan Kirschner, from seed samples are in cultivation at who identified them as T. ciliare, stating that Pruhonice, coming from S England, New he knew it from “several sites in the New Forest. The plants probably come from the Forest”, thereby updating Kirschner & T. ciliare group, to a taxon intermediate Stepanek (1998). This is only the third Palus- between T. ciliare and T. palustre. However, tria species to occur in Britain (two more are the season in 1996 was not favourable for found in Ireland), all of which occur at this cultivation of some taxa of the section Palus- locality. All are rare and potentially threatened. tria, and another generation of New Forest It remains to be seen whether T. ciliare plants should be cultivated to be sure about occurs in other sites in the New Forest or their identity.” possibly elsewhere in southern England. Unfortunately, these preliminary findings References: were not communicated to Dudman & DUDMAN, A.A. & RICHARDS, A.J. (1997). Richards (1997), who used the outmoded Dandelions of Great Britain and Ireland. name T. sarniense for Channel Island plants. I Botanical Society of the British Isles, had examined previously more than 50 gather- London. BSBI Handbook 9. ings made by R.P.Bowman from a large KIRSCHNER, J. & STEPANEK, J. (1998). A number of sites in the New Forest, Hampshire monograph of Taraxacum sec. Palustria. (v.c.11) in 1976 and 1977, and although most Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of were T. palustre (Lyons) Symons, doubts were the Czech Republic, Pruhonice. expressed as to the correct identity of some. A RICHARDS, A.J. & HAWORTH, C.C. (1984). few were sent to van Soest, but New Forest ‘Further new species of Taraxacum from the Palustria are characteristically very small and British Isles’. Watsonia, 15: 85-94. poorly developed and he expressed no opinion. 10 Notes – It’s hairy on the margins! - two more Data-Deficient taxa to check for

It’s hairy on the margins! - two more Data-Deficient taxa to check for FRED RUMSEY, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD; ([email protected]) The publication of the England Red List and 1982. This presumably was in the sort of dune ongoing work for Atlas 2020 have brought into habitat favoured by the taxon in its western Irish focus several critical taxa which we strongly coastal epicentre. Interestingly, in the light of suspect to be under-recorded. For some there the Predannack find, the most recent of the three are real issues surrounding their discrimina- Scottish records was made on the serpentine tion, but many readily identifiable plants suffer debris on Unst (v.c.112). Previously, it had as already over-stressed recorders (perhaps been found on strands on Barra and the Monach understandably) do not tackle more infra-spe- islands, both in the 1940s. It has been recorded cific taxa, feeling there are already enough for Foxdale in Man (v.c.71), probably associ- species to be dealing with! The status and ated with metalliferous soils, and there are two worth of many of these infra-specific taxa is Welsh records, the only recent one being from also contentious and their existence and key Llansannan, (v.c.50), possibly also in a metallif- features may initially only be known to those erous area, the other, by H.J.Riddelsdell, on the BSBI plutocrats who can afford Sell & coastal headland at Burry Holms (v.c.41). It Murrell. It is those which have then passed the would seem well worth checking Sorrel plants approval of Clive Stace and which we have in coastal situations, but also on serpentine and attempted to map in past atlases (albeit often metalliferous sites elsewhere, particularly in shamefully badly) that are the focus of this more oceanic areas. ongoing series of gentle provocations and Pedicularis sylvatica L. ssp. hibernica hopefully helpful guidance. D.A.Webb Here I have chosen two taxa whose nominate First described from Ireland and the Outer races are distinctive and frequent but for which Hebrides by David Webb in 1956, this subspe- records of the subspecies are definitely lacking. cies is distinguished from the common Both are easily identified, share a name, a nominate subspecies by virtue of its uniformly distinctly western distribution (we believe) and hairy calyx and pedicel. Subspecies sylvatica the fact that they are distinguished by being often has some short hairs around the calyx decidedly furry in comparison with their lobe margins and, as Webb (1956) noted, common, widespread near-glabrous counterparts. within and particularly at the edges of the Rumex acetosa L. ssp. hibernicus (Rech. f.) range of ssp. hibernica, plants could be found Akeroyd which were intermediate in hairiness, the hairs During recent survey work for Isoetes histrix on predominantly on the angles of the calyx. the Lizard (v.c.1), this sub-species of Common These plants, best regarded as hybrids, match Sorrel, distinguished by its covering of conspic- the description of ssp. lusitanica (Hoffmanns uous long papillae/short hairs on leaves and & Link) Cout. Their relationship still needs to stems (see inside Back Cover) was found on the be examined and whether uniformly hairy serpentine outcrop at Predannack Wollas plants referable to ssp. hibernica occur in (SW6731). Consultation with the Atlas Iberia needs to be established. (Preston, et al., 2002) and the BSBI DDB The recent Flora Gallica (Tison & Foucault, revealed, rather surprisingly to me, that, aside 2014) records only ssp. sylvatica in France and from a couple of records from Bryher in the limited investigation would seem to suggest Scillies, most recently in 2007, the only English that, although distinctly Atlantic-oceanic in its record was from the north Cornish coast at distribution, ssp. hibernica is absent from the Gwithian Towans, made by Chris Preston in far south-west of England (Pearman, pers. Notes – It’s hairy on the margins! / Juncus inflexus × J. conglomeratus 11 comm.), although it occurs as close as hibernica, but differ in their possession of a S. Wales (v.cc. 35 & 41, etc.). Within England second set of calyx teeth. it is only currently recorded from several References: upland sites in v.c.70, where first found in ABBOTT, P.P. (2005). Plant atlas of Mid-west 1994, and from west of Malham Tarn (v.c.64) Yorkshire. Yorkshire Naturalists Union, (Abbott, 2005). The distribution as currently Bradford. known is not easy to explain but may become CHATER, A.O. (2010). Flora of Cardiganshire. clearer as additional records are made. Chater Privately published, Aberystwyth. (2010) notes that in v.c.46 there are no ecolog- PRESTON, C.D., PEARMAN, D.A. & DINES, ical or geographical differences between the T.D. (2002). New atlas of the British & Irish subspecies, which often occur intermixed flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford. within the county. TISON, J.-M. & DE FOUCAULT, B. (2014). Care should be taken when rapidly Flora Gallica: flore de France. Biotope, examining Pedicularis calyces – those of Mèze. P. palustris are hairy like P. sylvatica ssp. WEBB, D.A. (1956). ‘A new subspecies of Ped- icularis sylvatica L.’ Watsonia, 3: 239-241. Juncus inflexus × J. conglomeratus MICHAEL WILCOX, 43 Roundwood Glen, Greengates, Bradford, BD10 0HW; ([email protected]) The new Hybrid flora of the British Isles (Stace atus (J. ×kern-reichgeltii) (see Wilcox 2010), et al., 2015) mentions the hybrid between Hard it stands to reason that it is possible some Rush and Compact Rush, Juncus inflexus × plants of J. conglomeratus could be flowering J. conglomeratus (= J. × ruhmeri). It states that at the same time as J. inflexus. there are no convincing specimens in the wild. An artificial hybrid between female The type specimen was said to be in Berlin. J. inflexus and male J. conglomeratus has been Having been in touch with Berlin Dalhem made. Four plants exist in cultivation. It is Museum herbarium, Berlin, which was different from J. ×diffusus, but with a similar decimated during the war; there are no specimens general appearance, so could be overlooked. currently lodged with this hybrid combination. However, it is likely to be extremely rare, and The two species increasingly grow together, may not occur in the wild. Any putative usually due to human influence. For example, hybrids can be compared with the artificially in the Grizedale Forest complex near Stock’s produced material. If anyone feels they may Reservoir (v.c.64), J. inflexus occurs along the have a putative hybrid between these two rides where the more lime-based chippings species and/or even J. ×diffusus, I would have been laid down for cycle tracks. Also at welcome any specimens from anywhere in the Beamsley Beacon (near Bolton Abbey) world. For Atlas recording, for any hybrid (v.c.64), lots of J. inflexus grow along the edge please collect a voucher. There is a referee of the road (with some J. ranarius (Frog Rush) system but I would be happy in the first too), and in the rough grassland near to the instance to try and help. road, with both J. effusus (Soft Rush) and References: J. conglomeratus growing with it. At both STACE, C.A., PRESTON, C.D. & PEARMAN, these sites J. ×diffusus occurs. D.A. (2015). Hybrid flora of the British Isles. Although flowering is usually much later in BSBI, Bristol. J. inflexus, there is likely to be some overlap, WILCOX, M.P. (2010). ‘A novel approach to as J. conglomeratus, though generally early, the identification of Juncus × diffusus Hoppe may have younger plants in a colony that and J. × kern-reichgeltii Jansen & Wacht. ex flower as the season progresses. Also, as Reichg.’ Watsonia, 28: 43-56. J. effusus also hybridises with J. conglomer- 12 Notes – Sorbus of the Doward

Sorbus of the Doward DAVE GREEN, 36 Budbury Close, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1QG; ([email protected]) Sorbus species belong to the Rosaceae (rose) first collected on the Doward only in 1911, by family, and are closely related to Malus Miss E. Vachell. During the second half of the (Apple). They tend to be found in three differ- 19th and early 20th centuries many specimens ent sorts of habitat: cliff faces and rocky ledges of ‘different’-looking Sorbus were collected, (the most common habitat); broadleaved their accurate determination sometimes taking woodland; and heaths/downland and hedge- years - in one case over 150 years. rows. Some species thrive in more than one Recent developments habitat type. Trevor Evans was the first to re-investigate the Background Doward whitebeams in the early 1980s, and The Doward is the generic local name for the Michael Proctor looked at some of the puzzles Great and Little Doward hills near Ross-on- Evans found in the 1990s, using isoenzymes. Wye and Monmouth. It consists of carbonifer- Tim Rich also collected material in the early ous limestone and conglomerate outcrops on 2000s related to hybrids between S. aria and the western edge of the Lower Wye Valley, on S. torminalis. David Price subsequently took the southern boundary of Herefordshire this forward in the mid 2000s. (v.c.36). It has been known historically as a In 2002 a cliff-based Sorbus survey of the botanical hotspot, and forms part of an exten- Upper Wye Gorge was commissioned by sive grouping of SSSIs that include Symonds English Nature. This work covered rock face Yat and Lady Park Wood, both in adjoining habitats in Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire Gloucestershire (v.c.34). and Herefordshire, where records existed or The Doward has long been recognised as that were considered potentially suitable. On important for its rare and diverse flora, but the Doward, this survey included a number of until recently the recorded history of Sorbus rope-drop observations by Libby Houston, was sketchy. The first published Sorbus Angus Tillotson and Colin Charles between record from the Doward seems to be by 17- 26th September 2002, and covered both the Purchas & Ley (1867), although Ley collected Great and Little Dowards, Dennis Grove, cliff a range of specimens at the end of the 19th faces of Dropping Wells and Seven Sisters on century. There were few other published the Great Doward; and a walk-through study records during the late 19th and 20th centuries, of cliff-edge habitats on the Lord’s Wood and these have needed reinterpreting in the south-eastern scarp, above Seven Sister and light of developing taxonomy. The original Dropping Wells, by Libby Houston and Tim determination of a number of specimens in Rich on 9th October 2002. Identification of herbaria, especially those collected by A. Ley, material gathered during these studies was have been re-assessed by T. Rich. determined and confirmed by Tim Rich. Of the three common British species, Sorbus During this survey a number of previously aria (Common Whitebeam), previously recorded species were identified, their known as Pyrus aria, has been known in the locations recorded and population sizes noted British Isles since 1570. This species’ natural (see inside Front Cover). The species found western limit is in or about the Wye Valley. were: Both S. aucuparia (Rowan) and S. torminalis S. anglica (English Whitebeam) (Wild Service-tree) are frequent in suitable S. aria (Common Whitebeam) habitats. In fact the Wild Service-tree is S. aucuparia (Rowan) commoner along the cliff edges of the S. eminens (Round-leaved Whitebeam) Dropping Wells than I have seen it anywhere S. porrigentiformis (Grey-leaved Whitebeam) else in the U.K., although it seems to have been S. rupicola (Rock Whitebeam) Notes – Sorbus of the Doward 13

S. torminalis (Wild Service-tree) Sorbus greenii S. ×thuringiaca ( S. aria × S. aucuparia) A walk-over survey in 2011 produced 24 trees, (German Service-tree) all but one within 150m of the first finding. S. ×vagensis (S. aria × S. torminalis) (subse- During summer and autumn of 2012, further quently re-named S. ×tomentella and now trees were found near the first population, and S. ×decipiens) (False Service-tree). a second large population of mature trees was In addition, a number of single trees and found some 400m north of the original site, groups of trees were found that did not again in a disused quarry. The populations conform to these known species. Following now consisted of 59 individuals (see inside on-going re-assessment of these specimens Front Cover and study of historic material from the Upper Samples of leaves collected in summer 2012 Wye Gorge as a whole, two previously uniden- were sent to Kew Gardens for flow cytometry tified species have subsequently been named assessment. The result showed this material to as S. saxicola (Symonds Yat Whitebeam) and be triploid, indicating it had probably origi- S. eminentiformis (Doward Whitebeam). nated as a hybrid between two local species. These surveys and other studies of the The presence of two separate locations Sorbus genus nationally led to the publication indicates that fertile fruits have been dispersed of BSBI Handbook No.14: Whitebeams, (probably by birds), have germinated and have rowans and service trees of Britain and produced new trees of two roughly similar Ireland in 2010. This book drew together ages across a considerable area. This proved it various papers published over the previous was fertile, despite being of hybrid origin. decade, including information from new Sorbus greenii appears to need open soils to methods of determining parentage. It clarified germinate but is able to survive in sub-climax the identity of some previously undetermi- secondary woodland. It occurs on the western nable material. edge of the Great Doward in old quarries. Sorbus herefordensis My work on The Doward Miner’s Rest Reserve is a Hereford Wildlife Between 2009 and 2012, I began collecting Trust site on the limestone central dome of the Sorbus leaf material, attempting to identify the Great Doward. It has elements of ancient confusing plethora of Sorbus aria - type woodland, mostly with a history of coppicing material. I was sending specimens to Tim and charcoal burning, as well as land clearance Rich for determination and producing interest- by quarry men and squatters in the 17th and 18th ing enough results for us to meet on the centuries. Very few botanists visit this area, Doward one June day in 2011. The outcome normally heading for the famous cliff vegeta- of this meeting was that I was able to go tion of the Seven Sisters. Parts of this site forward with accurate determinations of a support high concentrations of Sorbus speci- number of Sorbus species that I had previously mens, with six species confirmed in November located. During Tim Rich’s visit I showed him 2012. There are large numbers of S. aria, one of a number of trees that did not seem to which displays a broad range of leaf morphol- fit the known taxonomy and he said that it was ogy. I noted that many of the trees identified likely to be new to science. These specimens as S. aria on this site had leaves that were acquired the working name of ‘Car Park heavily tomentose and with particularly promi- Clone’, but were subsequently named after me nent lobes. These trees acquired the working - Sorbus greenii (Green’s Whitebeam) (see name of ‘Miner’s Rest clone’. During 2013 a Front Cover). second set of leaf material that showed consist- ent morphological similarities in a number of Distribution of selected species trees located in the Miner’s Rest Reserve was Since 2011, I have been attempting to plot the sent to Kew Gardens for flow cytometry analy- distribution of five selected Sorbus species as sis, and it was also found to be triploid. I set out below. subsequently named it as a new species, 14 Notes – Sorbus of the Doward

Sorbus herefordensis (Herefordshire White- Other Sorbus species on The Doward beam) as suggested by Tim Rich (see inside During the surveys for the above species, I also Back Cover. noted the occurrence of other Sorbus species. From the confirmation of these findings, I Sorbus anglica undertook a systematic search, initially of the This is usually a small bush growing out of a Miner’s Rest Reserve, and then fanning out to sheer rock face and occurs in very few places, cover surrounding land and habitats. What only on the two cliff faces of the Great Doward became evident was that there are a lot of trees and one small tree on Little Doward. of this new species: to date 118 trees have been located. They grow and compete with forest Sorbus aria height trees. They have a history of coppicing This is the commonest species, with vary and have regenerated, possibly for centuries. variable shape and toothing to the leaves. Young saplings showed that the tree is fertile Sorbus aucuparia and it was also spreading into derelict pasture. This is frequent in suitable areas, limited to the It is now known to be a high forest species central acidic area of rocks, occurring in the that occurs in high densities on the central Woodland/heath of Lords Wood and the dome of Miner’s Rest Reserve and adjacent Gritstone of the Little Doward. Woodside Reserve. Its frequency reduces towards the Lords Wood scarp, east of Sorbus eminens Dropping Wells. This occurs sparingly on cliff faces and tops on both Dowards. A very large specimen was Sorbus eminentiformis confirmed in 2012 in the Woodside Hereford- This is an open high forest species. Its distribu- shire Wildlife Trust reserve. tion lies behind the eastern end of the Seven Sorbus evansii (Evans’ Whitebeam) Sisters, with populations in the Pits area of This is a cliff edge and open woodland fringe Lords Wood and along the north-west disused species. It is most common on the Seven quarries, with outliers on the central dome. Its Sisters and Car Park Quarry. This was found population size as of December 2014 was 54 by the Monmouthshire botanist T.G. Evans, trees. who showed it on a BSBI field meeting in 1983. Flow cytometry showed this clone to be Sorbus saxicola a triploid and it was named after Trevor Evans This occurs on open aspect cliffs. Its distribu- in 2014. tion is mainly on Seven Sisters, Car Park Sorbus porrigentiformis Quarry and King Arthur’s Cave scarp. The This is very localised on rocky faces, frequent quarry adjacent to the car park on the top of the on the central section of Seven Sisters. It was Doward produced a large number of this recorded during the 2002 study from cliff faces species, many of them saplings. This on Dropping Wells. increased the known world population from 17 to 40 as of December 2014. Sorbus rupicola This is a small bush on sheer rock faces, occur- Sorbus ×decipiens (S. ×tomentella) ring only on Great Doward. Four small speci- This is a high forest tree that occurs behind the mens have been recorded on Seven Sisters, and Dropping Wells scarp in Lords Wood and there is one standard tree on the boundary of behind the Seven Sisters (one young specimen Miner’s Rest Reserve. here). This tree is the largest Sorbus on the Sorbus torminalis Doward. The hybrid vigour shown by this This is a high forest tree, occurring in very species has produced a number of spectacular large numbers in some parts of Lords Wood, specimens. Its population size as of December frequent throughout the cliff top woodlands, 2014 is nine trees. even existing as a cliff edge shrub. Notes – Sorbus of the Doward 15

Sorbus ×thuringiaca to Kew Gardens for flow cytometry tests. This is represented by a single small tree on a Although specimens I had collected appeared cliff face on Dropping Wells. It did not seem visually identical, the test results showed that to be thriving at the time of writing. some material was triploid and some tetra- Assessment ploid. Rich visited the site in September 2013 The detailed data on the five studied species and, on collecting fruit and more leaves, was shows some overlap of species location, but concerned that the Doward specimens showed strongly indicates distinct geographical centres some differences in morphology from the for the majority of the species studied. Habitat Coldwell Rocks population. My ongoing preferences are also evident. survey work has produced a further five trees. The overall total Sorbus species on the Great The population on the Doward contains trees Doward is 14, which makes this location the of differing ages, some of which have second most important site for this group in the produced fruit. Subject to further study, this British Isles. The site holds seven endemic population, may turn out to be a Doward form species: both S. greenii and S. herefordensis of S parviloba, or possibly a separate, as yet occur nowhere else in the world; whilst unnamed, species of Sorbus. S. evansii, S. saxicola and S. eminentiformis Acknowledgements: have the majority of their world populations During 2012 Doug Lloyd of Herefordshire here; S. eminens and S. porrigentiformis occur Wildlife Trust had contacted Tim Rich, asking in a number of locations in England and Wales. if he could visit a number of the Trust’s Ongoing work reserves on the Great Doward to identify the A number of other clones have been identified Sorbus species. During that day, which I as occurring within the Great Doward. Some attended, Doug was convinced that tagging all of these exist as a single tree and others have the Sorbus trees in HWT reserves was a good discrete populations limited to one outcrop or thing to do and this helped me in my mapping along a section of cliff. Details of these are not task. Doug’s subsequent records have led me set out here, as more work is being undertaken, to some interesting locations. especially detailed surveys of the various level I would like to thank Tim Rich, as BSBI of cliff and scree encompassing the two cliff Sorbus referee, for acting as my mentor, systems on the Great Doward. I have a lot of putting up with so many specimens of Sorbus records already and hope to add unnamed and aria until I could see the differences and for under recorded species to the data base and reviewing and commenting on the text of this distribution maps. The appropriate conserva- article. I would also like to thank Alan Foulds tion bodies are aware of these new data and are of Natural England, whose perseverance with in the process of re-writing their management converting my data into usable maps was very plans to allow this nationally important group much appreciated. of species to perpetuate themselves. This article is a revised version of an article During 2012/13 I noted and located seven originally published in Herefordshire Wildlife trees that appeared to correspond with the Trust’s The Flycatcher (2015): 10-16. recent description of Sorbus parviloba (Ship References: Rock Whitebeam). Previously, just eight trees HOUSTON, L., TILLOTSON, A.C. & CHARLES, were known, all from Coldwell Rocks, Wye C. (2002). Wye Valley Sorbus Project, Upper Valley, Gloucestershire. The trees I looked at Wye Gorge, Autumn 2002. Unpublished are scattered around and above a combe that report to Natural England. lies between two rock outcrops of the Seven PRICE, D.T. & RICH, T.C.G. (2007). ‘One-way Sisters, and above a track that leads down to introgressive hybridisation between Sorbus Symonds Yat East. Material sent to Rich in aria and S. torminalis (Rosaceae) in southern 2013 was confirmed on a visual basis as Britain’. Watsonia, 26: 419-432. S. parviloba. He forwarded samples of leaves 16 Notes – Sorbus of the Doward / ‘Digitised’ herbaria – where past and present meet ?

RICH, T.C.G., CHARLES, C., HOUSTON, L. & Sorbus L. Botanical Society of the British TILLOTSON, A. (2009). ‘The diversity of Isles, in association with National Museum Sorbus L. (Rosaceae) in the Lower Wye Wales, London. Valley’. Watsonia, 27: 301-313. RICH, T.C.G., GREEN, D., HOUSTON, L., RICH, T.C.G., HOUSTON, L., ROBERTSON, A. LEPŠÍ, M., LUDWIG, S. & PELLICER, J. & PROCTOR, M.C.F. (2010). Whitebeams, (2014). ‘British Sorbus (Rosaceae): six new rowans and service trees of Britain and species, two hybrids and a new subgenus’. Ireland: a monograph of British and Irish New Journal of Botany, 4: 1-12. ‘Digitised’ herbaria – where past and present meet ? JOHN HEWITT, 41 Rutland Court, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8ED

The article from Richard Bateman: ‘Money As a relative late-comer to the world of talks: developing egalitarian ‘citizen science’ digitisation and the web, it would seem to me frameworks in the 21st century’ (BSBI News, that the cost of data handling and securing 129: 68-69) struck a chord with me. permanence of the assembled data, must be For nearly five years I have been associated taken into account when any such venture is with the herbarium@home digitisation project, undertaken. Making stored information avail- working on the British Isles section of the able to the public in this way requires both Hume herbarium at the South London Botan- specialist technical skills and computer ical Institute, at Tulse Hill, in London. I must hardware. These do not come free. stress that the project is a joint effort, with a One way to recover the unavoidable costs team of people, all working voluntarily. Our would be for a charge to be made for access to input has been in the preparation of digital the final data (that on the HerbariaUnited images, working through the flowering plant website) through a registration scheme material collected over the past two centuries, requiring a subscription. Any subscription including material from every vice-county in would probably need to be on a sliding scale, Britain and Ireland. Our collection is an rising from that for individuals, through chari- amalgamation of many contributory herbaria- table organisations, libraries and academic a significant number having been donated or institutions, to e.g. commercial agencies. bequeathed by botanists of note who collected Whether a charge could readily be tailored to well before the time of the Institute’s founda- reflect level of usage of the website I am not in tion. a position to say. Such a scheme would need Through the good offices of the BSBI, who oversight, but bureaucracy would need to be loaned photographic equipment, we have minimised. The accessibility, for record made good progress with the imaging of the keeping, study and research, of significant entire collection. With initial guidance and parts of Britain’s botanical heritage is at stake. continued assistance from Tom Humphrey, Since its foundation the BSBI has excelled at BSBI Database Officer, and using the the bringing together of amateurs and profes- Herbaria@home crowd-sourcing (but moder- sionals in their field. It would appear that there ated) ‘citizen science’ model, a large propor- is still some way to go before responsibility tion of these images and their associated data and financial realism take hold regarding the have been made available for public access on safeguarding and future maintenance of data the http://herbariaunited.org/ website. Our from herbarium collections in this digital age. own input sits alongside that from many other Are the necessary skills and the commitment contributing institutions, small and large, in an required for such a task available within our imaginative and exciting way. membership? Notes – Runnymede - a botanical perspective 17

Runnymede - a botanical perspective ANN SANKEY, 3 Glenrose, Old London Road, Mickleham, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BY; ([email protected]) Introduction by the woods and fields of the more acid slopes In this year of the 800th anniversary of the to the south? Across the river was Ankerwyke sealing of Magna Carta, I thought it appropri- Priory, founded near the ancient Yew of that ate to consider Runnymede from a botanist’s name. Quite why the flat grasslands of viewpoint as the site has much to offer us. Runnymede were chosen for the sealing of Modern day Runnymede might be described as such an important document, the Magna Carta, that area owned by the National Trust on the can be left to historians, but it must have been south side of the River Thames, plus the small a special place even then. One suggested area associated with the Kennedy Memorial, explanation of the name is its being a now American soil. However, in ancient times compound of ME ‘runinge’, an island or taking it would probably have stretched further counsel, and maed, a meadow. The name upstream towards Windsor and also further suggests that the mead had been the scene of downstream on what is now private land, earlier unrecorded assemblies from which it roundabouts and the M25. Runnymede is had already earned this significant description. tucked into the north-west corner of Surrey That seat of authority, Windsor Castle, is, after (v.c.17), not far from the boundary with all, just a short distance north. Berkshire (v.c.22), and with the Thames The whole site has a long and complex forming the northern boundary for the most history, changing from a braided river system part of v.c.17. The site covers 122.39 ha with with many eyots, small islands, and swampy a central grid reference of TQ002721. A woodland to the highly managed landscape of hectad boundary runs N – S through the site, today. Runnymede and Ankerwyke would which covers seven monads. Such niceties did have been part of the same system. The whole not concern earlier botanists and consequently area was used in Neolithic and Bronze Age it is not always possible to assign their records times through to the medieval period, with precisely to specific squares. Runnymede is much river trade. Gradually the woodland one of our iconic sites, covering as it does a would have been cleared to form grassy eyots range of grasslands, a series of ponds, with a southern branch of the river along the woodland, hedges and the banks of the Thames foot of the sloping ground to the south. It is itself. It rivals many others for its abundance thought that Magna Carta was sealed on one of of taxa and rarities. This is despite the these islands, now a meadow in the east of the popularity of the riverside and the Magna site. Gradually the grassland developed into Carta and Kennedy Memorials and the ever flood meadows managed on the Lammas present road and aircraft noise. The busy system, with strips in different ownerships. A308 now divides the meadows from the Seasonal flooding would have helped to riverside. The extent of the Runnymede sustain the fertility and this continued until at holding is defined by a pair of kiosks at the least 1817. A map of 1604 shows the southern east end and a pair of lodges to the west, both branch of the river still connected to the main designed by Edwin Lutyens (see map, Colour river, but by the 19th century at least all that Section, Plate 1). remained of this was a ditch system and a series of ponds. The main river was kept in History th What would it be like to go back to control by wooden revetments in the 19 Runnymede in 1215? Would it be a reedy, century. rushy place with lush damp meadows by a Egham Races were held on a course around meandering river lined with willows, backed two of the present day eastern meadows from 1734 until 1884, on land included in the 18 Notes – Runnymede - a botanical perspective

Egham Enclosure Act of 1814, which stated Species recorded that the “land should remain at all times To date, at least 425 taxa have been recorded hereafter open and unenclosed”. Even today at Runnymede. Of these, rather less than half this area is unfenced, with consequences for its are Surrey axiophytes. The species of conser- management. Parts of the current meadows vation importance that still occur at were in arable cultivation in the 18th and 19th Runnymede or have been recently recorded are centuries. Whilst it is not known how contin- as follows: using the GB Red List 2005, there uous this type of management was, some of the is one species in the Endangered category, 3 in fields were under the plough as part of the Vulnerable and one in the Near Threatened Langham Farm until 1952. The meadows and category. Following publication of the riverside were bought to protect them from England Red List in 2014, the situation is now development in the 1920s and given to the one species classified as Endangered, seven as National Trust in 1931 by Lady Fairhaven. Vulnerable and six Near Threatened. In The sloping ground of Cooper’s Hill had a addition, two Rare and nineteen Scarce species rather different history, being at one time part are to be included in the Surrey Rare Plant of the then vast hunting ground of Windsor Register. Forest. After this link was severed, probably Habitats th in the 17 century, part of the hillside was Ponds divided into small fields. Some of these Although called Langham Pond SSSI, there remain, others have become wooded. Clay for are now three linked ponds with a fourth pond brick making was dug from the slopes, much further east. Originating as an ox-bow, evidence for this being in an old field name these three ponds would once have been one ‘Brickground’ and the presence of small long pond and before that, they would have depressions, former pits. 110 acres of the been part of a flowing river. The most hillside were given to the Trust in 1963. Red westerly pond, Top Pond, is now becoming Kites are now seen regularly over the overgrown, especially with Salix cinerea ssp. meadows, a reminder of former times. oleifolia (Rusty Willow) and Glyceria maxima Geology and geomorphology (Reed Sweet-grass). Persicaria mitis (Taste- The flat meadows and riverside lie over the less Water-pepper) and/or Persicaria minor London Clay Formation, with superficial (Small Water-pepper) used to occur here but Quaternary deposits of alluvial clay, silt, sand have not been seen for a few years. The and gravel. The soils lying over these are marshy area between this and the main Long mainly calcareous clays. A ditch marks the Pond supports Mentha aquatica (Water Mint), boundary between these flat meadows and the Mentha arvensis (Corn Mint) and their hybrid north-facing slopes to the south-west. The Mentha ×verticillata (Whorled Mint). The more acidic ground of Cooper’s Hill Slopes is small pond to the south-east is currently part of a river terrace deposit of slowly perme- shaded by willows and is rather silty. In the able, seasonally water-logged fine loam over open area to the south Alopecurus geniculatus clays. The meadows are about 16m AOD, (Marsh Foxtail) can be seen and nearby its whilst the slopes rise to c.90m AOD. hybrid with Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Foxtail), Alopecurus ×brachystylus can Site status occasionally be found. 29.5ha of the site, including the ponds and The pond with the main botanical interest is their immediately surrounding grassland plus Long Pond, the pond people envisage when the wooded slopes to the south-west, was referring to Langham Pond. For the most part notified as Langham Pond SSSI in 1986. The the south-west side is unfenced and so open to remainder of the site has been selected as two grazing by cattle. This allows the low-growing Sites of Nature Conservation Interest: the species, such as Alopecurus aequalis (Orange grasslands and the riversides. Foxtail) and Apium inundatum (Lesser Marsh- Notes – Runnymede - a botanical perspective 19 wort) to survive in spite of Crassula helmsii conditions. Nearby, where cattle reach over (New Zealand Pigmyweed) enjoying the same the fence to eat the highly palatable Glyceria conditions. The north-east side is fenced to maxima, Stellaria palustris (Marsh Stitchwort) allow vegetation such as Glyceria maxima and has emerged from the formerly dense vegeta- Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia to grow thick as tion. cover for nesting birds. Other marginal Around and between the ponds in places are vegetation in the open area includes dense stands of vegetation which may repre- Eleocharis palustris (Common Spike-rush), sent stands of more original vegetation. Carex otrubae (False Fox-sedge), Oenanthe Prominent species here are Phragmites aquatica (Fine-leaved Water-dropwort), australis (Common Reed), Phalaris arundi- Oenanthe fistulosa (Tubular Water-dropwort), nacea (Reed Canary-grass), Bidens tripartita Rorippa amphibia (Great Yellow-cress), (Trifid Bur-marigold), Carex acuta (Slender Rorippa palustris (Marsh Yellow-cress) and Tufted-sedge) and C. disticha (Brown Sedge), Veronica scutellata (Marsh Speedwell). both the latter scarce in Surrey. Carex riparia The open water provides a habitat for species (Greater Pond-sedge) and C. acutiformis such as Alisma lanceolatum (Narrow-leaved (Lesser Pond-sedge) are locally abundant, as Water-plantain), Alisma plantago-aquatica are Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet), (Water-plantain), Butomus umbellatus Juncus articulatus (Jointed Rush), Lysimachia (Flowering-rush), Ceratophyllum demersum vulgaris (Yellow Loosestrife), Thalictrum (Rigid Hornwort), Hydrocharis morsus-ranae flavum (Common Meadow-rue), also scarce in (Frogbit), Nymphaea alba (White Water-lily), Surrey, with occasional Galium palustre ssp. Potamogeton pusillus (Lesser Pondweed), elongatum (Great Marsh-bedstraw) and Potamogeton trichoides (Hairlike Pondweed), Stellaria palustris. Would there have been Ranunculus trichophyllus (Thread-leaved much more of this type of vegetation and was Water-crowfoot) and Sagittaria sagittifolia it this or just what he imagined when Rudyard (Arrowhead). Four duckweeds are noted in the Kipling wrote his poem ‘The Reeds of SSSI citation: Lemna gibba (Fat Duckweed), Runnymede’? Lemna minor (Common Duckweed), Lemna Tucked away in the south corner of the site trisulca (Ivy-leaved Duckweed) and Spirodela is the fourth pond, shown on an OS map of polyrhiza (Greater Duckweed). The latter has 1872 as a fish pond. Now it has dense stands not been seen for many years, but Lemna of Typha latifolia (Bulrush), Rumex hydrolap- minuta (Least Duckweed) now occurs. In athum (Water Dock), Epilobium hirsutum some years the pond has been red with the (Great Willowherb) and occasional Carex non-native Azolla filiculoides (Water Fern) but otrubae and C. riparia, but in the 1950s it this has hopefully been successfully treated. supported Butomus umbellatus and Sium The north-east side of Long Pond is where latifolium. the iconic species Sium latifolium (Greater Grasslands Water-parsnip) occurs at its only site in Surrey. The flat meadows are, despite their varied The main area was the ditch on the north side history, essentially relic flood meadows. They of Long Pond but this has now also become still support an interesting range of species overgrown. Fortunately the Sium has migrated characteristic of the few remaining Thames to the pond edge, where it is closely monitored valley grasslands in Surrey. This is in part due by the NationalTrust. In recent years numbers to the neutral to slightly alkaline soils. Grasses have rarely been more than 20. Also having recorded include Alopecurus pratensis, migrated away from the ditch is Juncus Avenula pratensis (Meadow Oat-grass), compressus (Round-fruited Rush), this time to Avenula pubescens (Downy Oat-grass), Briza west of the ditch, where cattle are allowed media (Quaking-grass), Bromopsis erecta access to a small area of the pond for water. (Upright Brome), Bromus commutatus Open poached ground has created just the right (Meadow Brome), Bromus racemosus 20 Notes – Runnymede - a botanical perspective

(Smooth Brome), Hordeum secalinum places, especially around the wet flushes, but (Meadow Barley), Schedonorus pratensis in 2015 only one sterile frond was seen. (Meadow Fescue) and rarely the hybrid Typical species include Anthoxanthum ×Schedolium loliaceum (Schedonorus prat- odoratum (Sweet Vernal-grass), Agrostis ensis × Lolium perenne). Carex flacca capillaris (Common Bent), A. stolonifera (Glaucous Sedge) is scattered. Prominent (Creeping Bent), Cardamine pratensis forbs include Crepis biennis (Rough Hawk’s- (Cuckooflower), Carex hirta (Hairy Sedge), beard), Filipendula vulgaris (Dropwort), C. leporina (Oval Sedge), Cynosurus cristatus Galium verum (Lady’s Bedstraw), Geranium (Crested Dog’s-tail), Festuca rubra (Red pratense (Meadow Crane’s-bill), Knautia Fescue), Hypochaeris radicata (Cat’s-ear), arvensis (Field Scabious), Leontodon hispidus Lotus corniculatus, Luzula campestris (Field (Rough Hawkbit), Leucanthemum vulgare Wood-rush), Lysimachia nummularia (Creep- (Oxeye Daisy), Lotus corniculatus (Common ing-Jenny) and Stellaria graminea (Lesser Bird’s-foot-trefoil), Pimpinella saxifraga Stitchwort). The mixes of Potentilla reptans (Burnet-saxifrage), Poterium sanguisorba (Creeping Cinquefoil) and Potentilla ×mixta (Salad Burnet), Rhinanthus minor (Yellow-rat- (P. anglica × P. reptans) always keep botanists tle) and patches of Trifolium fragiferum occupied. The small area of grassland (Strawberry Clover). Silaum silaus (Pepper- included as part of the Kennedy Memorial is saxifrage) appears confined to the large not grazed and good stands of Succisa meadow to the east, where Poterium pratensis (Devil’s-bit Scabious) are a feature sanguisorba ssp. balearicum (Fodder Burnet) of this area. is frequent. This is perhaps from introduced Woodland seed, as is Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin) in Only about half of the woodland on Cooper’s the adjacent field. Hill Slopes is included in A revision of the One of the best of the meadows is the small Ancient Woodland Inventory for Surrey. The one immediately to the north-east of Long remainder appears to have become established Pond. It was here in 2005 that Michael Keith- on a series of small fields. These were deline- Lucas discovered Carex filiformis (Downy ated by earth banks, some of which are visible fruited Sedge). It is interesting that such a today, with their ancient boundary oaks on well-botanised site should yield such an them. The mixed history of the woods is important species as this so recently. Up until indicated by the relatively small number of then, the only existing site for this sedge in species regarded as ancient woodland indicator Surrey was a few miles away at Thorpe in a species (AWI) in the south-east of England. similar hay meadow. Examples include Acer campestre (Field The larger meadows have had a mixed Maple), Anemone nemorosa (Wood history. At least one, Great Meadow, has been Anemone), Carex sylvatica (Wood-sedge), re-sown after being used as arable. Another is Dryopteris affinis (Scaly Male-fern), often grazed quite hard during most of the year Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell), whilst others are kept for hay with aftermath Lysimachia nemorum (Yellow Pimpernel) and grazing. The large meadow to the east is cut Polystichum setiferum (Soft Shield-fern). for hay but is not grazed. Sussex Red cattle There are some planted exotics, including graze most of the remainder of the grasslands Rhododendron ponticum (Rhododendron), and on a long term farm tenancy agreement. both Acer platanoides (Norway Maple) and The sloping grassland of Cooper’s Hill Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore) are scattered Slopes is also grazed by the same cattle and is throughout. Parts of the ground flora are topped periodically, sometimes too early in the dominated by Impatiens parviflora (Small season. Currently these fields are not particu- Balsam), despite the efforts of NT volunteers larly species rich. Ophioglossum vulgatum to remove non-native species. As in the grass- (Adder’s-tongue) used to occur in several land on the slopes, wet flushes occur in the Notes – Runnymede - a botanical perspective 21 woodland, occasionally developing into (Dewberry), Rubus fruticosus agg. (Bramble) streams. Perhaps the most botanically reward- and Tamus communis (Black Bryony). More ing area within the woods is a recently cleared rarely and nearer the river Cuscuta europaea wet area below the Commonwealth Air Forces (Greater Dodder) has long been a feature. Memorial, where Ranunculus hederaceus There are numerous hedgerow trees, such as (Ivy-leaved Crowfoot) was recorded recently. Acer campestre, Fraxinus excelsior (Ash) and These wooded slopes are included in the SSSI Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak). There are mainly because of their breeding bird interest. many willows recorded, including Salix alba Interestingly, the woodland bordering the path (White Willow), S. caprea (Goat Willow), to the Kennedy Memorial has a similar number S. cinerea ssp. oleifolia, S. viminalis (Osier), of AWI species as the woodland to the south, S. ×holosericea (S. cinerea × viminalis), even though it is much smaller. Species S. ×fragilis (Crack Willow) vars. ‘furcata’ and recorded here included Iris foetidissima ‘russelliana’ and nothovar. basfordiana f. (Stinking Iris), Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. basfordiana. Some of these trees were montanum (Yellow Archangel), Milium pollarded in the past. effusum (Wood Millet), Moehringia trinervia Thames riverside (Three-nerved Sandwort) and Poa nemoralis There is a narrow strip of land between the (Wood Meadow-grass). river and the Egham to Windsor road, A308. Hedges and trees Some of this is mown amenity grassland and There are numerous hedges and hedgerow parking. The remainder is either true riparian trees on the site. Not only are they a good vegetation or occasionally mown grassland. habitat in their own right but they do help to The river edge is a mixture of hard and soft separate areas, affording protection for some edges, with the latter supporting most of the places and also a sense of discovery when one flora. Typical woody species include Alnus explores. Many of the hedges are old and glutinosa (Alder), Clematis vitalba (Travel- some are sinuous, marking the lines of former ler’s-joy), Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus river channels and drainage ditches. Others monogyna, Euonymus europaeus (Spindle), are of more recent origin, especially the ones Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa (Black- dividing the A308 from the meadows. The thorn),Rubus caesius and Salix ×fragilis. older hedges are mainly unmanaged and some Bunches of Viscum album (Mistletoe) grow on of those on the slopes, having no stock-proof Hawthorn hanging out over the water. Forbs function now, are more gap than hedge. The clinging on here include Barbarea vulgaris bases of these hedges do provide protection for (Winter-cress), Carduus crispus (Welted herbaceous species, such as Silene dioica (Red Thistle), Hypericum tetrapterum (Square Campion), Sison amomum (Stone Parsley), stalked St John’s-wort), Lycopus europaeus Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort) and (Gypsywort), Persicaria amphibia (Amphibi- Symphytum officinale (Common Comfrey). ous Bistort), Lythrum salicaria (Purple-loos- The hedges are a mix of Crataegus monogyna estrife) and Symphytum officinale. There are (Hawthorn), Cornus sanguinea (Dogwood), also vigorous stands of Dipsacus fullonum Corylus avellana (Hazel), Prunus spinosa (Wild Teasel), Helminthotheca echioides (Blackthorn), Rhamnus cathartica (Bristly Oxtongue) and other ruderals. Patches (Buckthorn) and Sambucus nigra (Elder). of Trifolium fragiferum are a feature here, at Roses include Rosa canina (Dog-rose), the edge of the grassy path, as they are lining R. obtusifolia (Round-leaved Dog-rose) and the drive to the South Lodge car park and R. andegavensis (R. stylosa (Short-styled elsewhere in the meadows. The river itself Field-rose) × R. canina). Scrambling through supports occasional patches of Nuphar lutea all of these are Bryonia dioica (White Bryony), (Yellow Water-lily) and Sparganium emersum Calystegia sepium (Hedge Bindweed), (Unbranched Bur-reed), but this popular Humulus lupulus (Hop), Rubus caesius stretch of the river experiences much boat 22 Notes – Runnymede - a botanical perspective traffic. Further east, the edges of Runnymede Acknowledgements: Pleasure Grounds, not National Trust property, I should like to thank many members of Surrey are all neat and tidy, with little of interest. Botanical Society, past and present, for all the Species lost? records provided and for help with more recent We will never know what was originally at surveys, Barry Phillips for his considerable Runnymede, although pollen analyses have botanical knowledge of the site and Caroline shown some species to have been present for a Bateman for helpful comments on earlier long time. There would have been losses with drafts of this article. National Trust staff have every change of land use, through mediaeval always been helpful, especially this year with times to the present day. A browse through providing access to their newly published Salmon’s Flora of Surrey, shows a number Conservation Plan and other documents. The that were present in the 19th century. These map is by Alistair Kirk of Surrey Biodiversity include Campanula glomerata (Clustered Information Centre and Linda Pitkin allowed Bellflower) on Egham Racecourse, Genista me to choose from a selection of her very fine tinctoria (Dyer’s Greenweed) on Cooper’s photographs (see Back Cover and Colour Hill, Hottonia palustris (Water-violet) in a Section, Plate 1). pool by the Thames at Runnymede, Limosella References: aquatica (Mudwort) in a ditch between CHEFFINGS, M. & FARRELL, L. (eds) (2005). Runnymede and Glanty and Pedicularis palus- The vascular plant red list for Great Britain. tris (Marsh Lousewort), also on the racecourse. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, It is likely that many species were lost in the Peterborough. 20th century. Those not seen for some time DAVIES, R. (2011). A revision of the Ancient include Groenlandia densa (Opposite-leaved Woodland Inventory for Surrey. Surrey Pondweed), Myriophyllum verticillatum Wildlife Trust, Woking. (Whorled Water-milfoil), Potamogeton pecti- NATIONAL TRUST (2015). Runnymede and natus (Fennel Pondweed), Schoenoplectus Ankerwyke conservation plan and appendi- lacustris (Common Club-rush) and Utricu- ces. National Trust. laria vulgaris (Greater Bladderwort). One can NATIONAL TRUST (2009). Runnymede nature also speculate what may have been there but conservation evaluation. National Trust. not recorded. There have been gains, both SALMON, E.E. (1931). Flora of Surrey. Bell & archaeophytes and neophytes. Whatever we Son, London. have lost, it is important to recognize what we STROH, P.A., LEACH, S.J., AUGUST, T.A., still have. By recording, we help to conserve WALKER, K.J., PEARMAN, D.A., RUMSEY, this precious habitat. Thank goodness the area F.J., HARROWER, C.A., FAY, M.F., MARTIN, was not bought by a developer in the 1920s or J.P., PANKHURST, T., PRESTON, C.D. & dug for gravel, the fates of many good sites TAYLOR, I. (2014). A vascular plant red list further downstream. for England. Botanical Society of Britain & Access Ireland, Bristol. The area is open at all times. There are car parks and a tea room by the lodges, in the north-west corner of the site, and Egham station is fairly close, as is the M25. Notes – Higher Education and the future of field biology skills: too much gloom? 23

Higher Education and the future of field biology skills: too much gloom? RAY GOULDER, 5 Bishops Croft, Beverley, HU17 8JY; ([email protected]); GRAHAM W. SCOTT, School of Biological, Biomedical & Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX; ([email protected]). It may be that Ashton et al. (2015) are too associated skills of recognising, identifying gloomy in their assessment of the state of field and naming organisms are relegated to the biology and identification skills in UK higher lowest level of cognitive skills and are education. Shreeve & Riddoch (2015) also excluded from university courses. It is, draw attention to widespread concern over the however, easy to find evidence to the contrary. loss of field skills and especially identification Today’s UK degree programmes are modular. skills, but challenge the view of Ashton et al. Students undertake a number of modules, that less than ten new graduates per year some being compulsory and some optional. It throughout the UK are sufficiently proficient is common to find modules in organism diver- in field identification skills to be employable. sity, through which students are exposed to the They point out that more than ten appropri- key anatomical features that are used to ately qualified students graduate each year define/describe taxa and which underpin from Oxford Brookes University alone. species identification. These modules Perhaps Ashton et al. are using hyperbole to typically involve first hand observation of make the point that few graduates are likely to curated or recently collected specimens in a bring to their immediate post-university laboratory setting, and often involve students employment a detailed taxonomic knowledge in the construction of simple taxonomic keys. of difficult groups. Our view is that if employ- It is also common to find individual modules ers require highly specialised skills and knowl- that consist of biological field studies or a field edge they might be expected to provide course. Such modules tend to be compulsory appropriate task-specific training, or allow for students following environmental/ecolo time for skills to be learnt on the job. In truth gical programmes and optional for those there are many graduates from UK universities following more general biological who have the theoretical and practical knowl- programmes. Each module is described by a edge and enthusiasm to allow them to develop module specification. This is a technical specialised identification skills and apply these document written using a template that in an ecological context. provides information about the content and The concerns of Ashton et al. are supported intended outcomes of the module. These by a number of authors who have perceived a module specifications, unlike more glossy decline in biological fieldwork in UK universi- descriptions of programmes, can be difficult to ties and schools (e.g. Barker, Slingsby & unearth on university websites and sometimes Tilling, 2002; Smith, 2004). More recently, access is restricted. Nevertheless, less than however, renewed interest in the prominence two hours searching of somewhat randomly of field studies in the curricula of both schools chosen UK university websites yielded a and universities has demonstrated that the sample of module specifications for field decline has at least halted and perhaps in some based modules at diverse levels of study that areas reversed (e.g. O’Donnell, Morris & specifically referred to the identification of Wilson, 2006; Maw, Mauchline & Park, 2011). plants and/or animals. Modules, for example, The criticism by Ashton et al. of the state of offered by the Universities of Birmingham, field-studies learning and teaching in UK Durham, Edinburgh Napier, Essex, Hull, higher education is swingeing. They express Leeds, Leicester, Newcastle, Nottingham and the view that field studies are undervalued and Sheffield – we suspect a far from complete list. regarded as being too simple and that the 24 Notes – Higher Education and the future of field biology skills: too much gloom?

Furthermore, half of these specifically refer to be encouraged to work together to develop the use of taxonomic keys. their own field-based plant and animal identi- From the evidence of the module specifica- fication skills (Scott & Boyd, 2014). To argue tions referred to above and from experience at that the nature table is trivial is perhaps to Hull University of teaching field courses and underestimate the significance of a child-cen- designing programmes and modules with field tred process of individual discovery that, if content, we conclude that it is usual for appropriately nurtured, might very well be the students participating in biological field first step on a road towards a life long interest courses to learn identification skills and to in the cataloguing of diversity in either an apply these to ecological interpretation. This amateur or professional capacity. applies at all levels of study, from pre-certifi- References: cate (roughly A-level equivalent) to final-year ASHTON, P., TAYLOR, S, THOMAS, P., undergraduate. By way of illustration, our TOWNSEND, S. & WARREN, J. (2015). ‘Save pre-certificate level students enjoyed learning field biology skills from extinction’. BSBI to identify forest trees and ground flora and News, 129: 6-7. were able to apply that knowledge to field BARKER, S., SLINGSBY, D. & TILLING, S. projects (Goulder & Scott, 2009); while final- (2002). Teaching biology outside the class- year students, although they had little prior room: is it heading for extinction? A report experience of traditional botany, became on biology fieldwork in the 14-19 curricu- competent in identification, recording and the lum. Field Studies Council, Preston recognition of communities of heathland Montford. FSC Occasional Publication 72. plants and were able to go on to use this GOULDER, R. & SCOTT, G. (2006). ‘Phytosoci- knowledge to undertake complex ecological ology for undergraduates with minimal projects (Goulder & Scott, 2006). Moreover, botanical background’. Journal of Biological another point in favour of biological field Education, 41: 26-29. studies in UK universities is that they are GOULDER, R. & SCOTT, G.W. (2009). ‘Field enjoyable for the students. Most students study of plant diversity: extending the appreciate field work and would rather do field whole-class knowledge base through open- work than attend lectures. They are not neces- ended learning’. Bioscience Education, 14 sarily put off by bad weather and they believe (DOI: 10.3108/beej.14.1). that fieldwork teaches them valuable skills GOULDER, R., SCOTT, G.W. & SCOTT, L.J. (Goulder, Scott & Scott, 2013). (2013). ‘Students’ perception of biology Ashton et al. also hold schools to be guilty. fieldwork: the example of students undertak- They believe that, from primary school ing a preliminary year at a UK university’. onwards, the trivialities of the nature table lead International Journal of Science Education, to a dismissive message about identification 35: 1385-1406. skills that is reinforced throughout later MAW, S.J., MAUCHLINE, A.L. & PARK, J.R. schooling. It is true that school teachers face (2011). ‘Biological fieldwork provision in many constraints that may hinder them in higher education’. Bioscience Education, 17 enabling children to learn about the organisms (DOI: 10.3108/beej.17.1). in their environment: for example lack of O’DONNEL, L., MORRIS, M & WILSON, R. experience; lack of physical and timetable (2006). Education outside of the classroom: space; limited support from managers; the an assessment of activity and practice in pressures of national testing and inspection schools and local authorities. National (Scott et al., 2014). With a little support, Foundation for Educational Research/ however, these can be overcome. One of us Department for Education and Skills, DfES (GWS) has worked with primary school Publications, Nottingham. Research report children and shown that, with very little 803. practical help, teachers and their charges can Notes – Higher Education and the future of field biology skills / Saving field biology skills 25 from extinction: a further comment

SCOTT, G.W. & BOYD, M. (2014). ‘Getting out of doors?’ Journal of Biological Educa- more from getting out: increasing achieve- tion, 49: 165-178 (DOI: 10.1080/00219266. ment in literacy and science through ecolog- 2014.914556). ical fieldwork’. Education 3-13, (published SHREEVE, T. & RIDDOCH, B. (2015). ‘Open online December 2014) (DOI: eyes to field skills’. Times Higher Education, 10.1080/03004279.2014.996242). Letters, 20th March 2015. SCOTT, G.W., BOYD, M., SCOTT, L.J. & SMITH, D. (2004). ‘Issues and trends in higher COLQUHOUN, D. (2014). ‘Barriers to biolog- education biology fieldwork’. Journal of ical fieldwork: what really prevents teaching Biological Education, 39: 6-10. Saving field biology skills from extinction: a further comment JOHN RICHARDS, High Trees, South Park, Hexham, NE46 1BT; ([email protected]) Much as I support the sentiments behind the floristics, collection projects, distributional letter to the Times Higher Education Supple- mapping, even WFS diaries (!)). Given gentle ment, reprinted in BSBI News, 129: 6-7, dare I initial support in regard to technical vocabu- suggest that it is missing the point? There are lary and suitable identification guides, young intellectual and practical reasons in support of people learn plants amazingly rapidly (to an the acquisition of field identification skills, but oldie!). The problem is to get them to maintain to cite them as the primary justification for their initial interest and sense of achievement. such skills falls neatly into Benjamin Bloom’s This indeed is the crux of the issue. The own trap. younger generation is bombarded with so Surely, the real point is that the identification many competing calls on their spare time and of plants is fascinating, life-enhancing, even interests. It is easy to blame social media, but addictive, and like many other complex and Facebook or Twitter can be excellent ways to testing disciplines (classical music, drama, the disseminate one’s botanical activities or history of art, archaeology, astronomy, discoveries (illustrated!). There are great geology, you name it) is worthwhile in its own identification apps and software downloads right as something that adds to one’s quality of that can be used in the field. life? Rather, the problem seems to be that As someone who attempted to teach field exposure to so many media has tended to dilute identification skills in universities over four the intellectual stamina of the younger genera- decades, I am convinced that it is not an tion. They become interested in plants easily, academic discipline and as such not really and learn them readily, but then they find that suitable material for a university syllabus. there are an awful lot of them, and telling many University courses are conceptual and deal apart from one another is far from easy. Really with theories and ideas, not with practical worthwhile accomplishments are acquired skills. It is possible to offer an excellent course with difficulty, and this is just too much on the theoretical and historical basis of plant bother. Let’s not blame universities, but rather taxonomy and classification, but the only way the pace of modern life. to encourage students to learn the correct I suspect and hope that today’s youth will names of plants is to get them to do it become much more interested in field skills as themselves. they age, just as the last generation did. Sadly, Students can be provided with an environ- they will find plants harder to learn the older ment which gives them reasons to learn plant they get! names (ecological survey/quadratting, local 26 Notes – Mibora minima in the north-west of Scotland, on Baleshare Island, North Uist (v.c.110)

Mibora minima in the north-west of Scotland, on Baleshare Island, North Uist (v.c.110) PAUL A. SMITH, 8 Locks Road, Locks Heath, Southampton, SO31 6NT; ([email protected]); OLIVER PESCOTT & STEPHEN J. BUNGARD In the course of tetrad recording for a new flora Concern in the GB red data list (Cheffings & of the Outer Hebrides, PAS has made efforts to Farrell, 2005), reflecting the stable populations visit many habitats at different times of year. in known sites. It is not included in the Scottish Spurred on by the prospect of interesting Tarax- Biodiversity List. acum (dandelions), this has led to several early Oli had to return to the south the day after- season visits in recent years, and this year a wards, but some of the second week’s partici- group of botanists visited North Uist in early pants (PAS, SJB, Mary Inglis and Beth May. On one excursion to the north end of Newman) duly returned to Mol Greannach on Baleshare on 8th May to look at the Taraxacum 13th May to survey the extent of the population. on the dunes (PAS with Oli Pescott and Alison Even with the GPS showing the exact coordi- Wilson), there was an additional objective, to nates, and knowing what we were looking for, locate Cerastium semidecandrum (Little it was initially hard to relocate! But, as we Mouse-ear), for which there are several records gained experience, it became a little easier to in v.c.110, but which needed confirmation and spot the plants and the habitat they preferred. localisation. Oli’s sharp eyes soon found it, Mibora was mostly in fairly open, stable standing out as a paler, more upright plant sandy areas at the top of the taller fixed dunes among the C. diffusum (Sea Mouse-ear). While (i.e. on dune ridges, Fig. 3, Colour Section, Paul was photographing it, Oli continued to Plate 3, on the leeward side of a spit maybe examine the community of small annuals, and 200m across. It seemed to be strongly associ- soon found a tiny grass, immediately under ated with Cerastium semidecandrum and suspicion of being Mibora minima (Early Sand- Saxifraga tridactylites (Three-fingered grass), and quite unlike the Aira praecox (Early Saxifrage), and was not found in the absence of Hair-grass) growing near it. Later examination both of these (which served as helpful indicators showed the characteristic hairy lemmas of in the field). It was a component of a commu- Mibora. Cope & Gray (2009) suggest that the nity of annuals and mosses, and in a few places two subspecies described by Ortiz should not be there were plants growing rooted in the mosses formally upheld, but the Baleshare plants would as well as in bare sand. The habitat was quite fall in ssp. littorea, with larger, apparently two- specific and distinctive and after a concentrated rowed spikelets. A specimen (conf. T.A. Cope) surveying effort it became quite easy to pick out will be lodged in E. the areas where Mibora would be likely. All the Mibora minima is an annual species of bare plants were diminutive (Fig. 1, Colour Section, sand, germinating in the autumn and known for Plate 3), with the largest no more than 3cm tall. flowering very early in the year (often in Bigger plants formed clumps with many February on Anglesey), which contributes to its flowering shoots (Fig. 2, Colour Section, Plate elusiveness. Mibora is a rare grass in Britain, 3). This population was counted in some detail, found as a native in the Channel Islands, and contained around 1000 plants. However, Studland, Gower and Anglesey, and recently on since Mibora is an annual, this may fluctuate the Sefton coast in Lancashire. There is also a according to the suitability of conditions. scattering of casual records. It has been known Mibora did not grow on the dunes nearest the at Weaklaw Rocks in v.c.82 East Lothian as a sea, although these were searched carefully. presumed introduction since 1851 (John, 1999; There was one dune ridge which held a large data from BSBI Distribution database), the only population of several hundred tiny plants, and previous Scottish site. It is assessed as Least this seemed to be the centre of the distribution, Notes – Mibora minima in the north-west of Scotland, on Baleshare Island, North Uist (v.c.110) 27 with smaller patches to either side. Altogether distance movement from its currently known there were around 1000 plants in 10 patches that range. On balance it is perhaps most likely to we counted. There were probably other small be native. patches within the habitat that we did not inves- tigate. Mibora was present in five 100m grid cells, all in the same monad (NF7663). Associated species were: Cerastium semide- candrum , C. diffusum, Saxifraga tridactylites, Erophila glabrescens (Glabrous Whitlow- grass), Valerianella locusta (Common Corn- salad), Festuca rubra (Red Fescue), Galium verum (Ladies Bedstraw), Viola tricolor (Wild Pansy), Trifolium repens (White Clover), Ammophila arenaria (Marram), Taraxacum section Erythrosperma (dandelion) and Plan- tago coronopus (Buck’s-horn Plantain). The perennials in this list were close by rather than a part of the community containing the Mibora. Some other recording expeditions during our visit were to other areas of sand dunes. Dunes on Berneray in the Sound of Harris were much more vegetated ‘grey dunes’, with no real bare areas, so clearly not all dune habitats are suitable. SJB, however, returned to the larger, southern end of Baleshare Island, with limited time before catching the ferry on 15th May, and found Mibora to be widespread, recording it in Fig. 4: Currently discovered distribution of Mibora 22 further 100m squares, in NF7860 and minima on Baleshare Island, North Uist (v.c.110). NF7859 – thus extending the area occupied to a Contains O.S. data © Crown copyright and data- second hectad. The distribution as so far base right (2014) discovered is shown in Fig. 4. 365 plants were V.c.110 is endowed with large areas of machair, counted in this second area, but this is likely to much of which is formed of dunes. It seems that be a very considerable underestimate. A more some really early season visits might be in order detailed examination is needed here to see how to look for Mibora elsewhere in this habitat; and far the population extends. SJB assesses that of course it would be worth looking anywhere Valerianella locusta is the most constant with suitable coastal sandy habitats, as there is associate across these sites. The locality on a chance that there will be more Mibora to find. Baleshare Island is part of the Baleshare & SJB has already looked on Canna, Eigg, Kirkibost SSSI, so there is already some statu- Kilmory (Rum) and Glenbrittle (Skye), the only tory protection for Mibora. sandy areas in v.c.104, but says it is not there. It seems likely that Mibora was more detect- able in 2015 because the spring was so late, and References: that it is overlooked in places unless there is a CHEFFINGS, C.M. & FARRELL, L. (eds.) (2005). conjunction of late spring and early botanists. The vascular plant red data list for Great Of course it is impossible to know whether it is Britain. JNCC, Peterborough. native here, but it seems unlikely that it would COPE, T. & GRAY, A. (2009). Grasses of the have been deliberately introduced. Baleshare is British Isles. B.S.B.I., London. used mainly for sheep grazing, so it is conceiv- JOHN, R.F. (1999). ‘Mibora minima’. In able that it has come in with movements in Wigginton, M.J. (ed.), British red data books livestock, but then it would require a long 1: vascular plants. JNCC, Peterborough. 28 Notes – Hazels continued – additional information

Hazels continued – additional information MICHAEL WILCOX, 43 Roundwood Glen, Greengates, Bradford, BD10 0HW; ([email protected]) There are still difficulties around what we call catkins would be useful as it would at least Hazel (Corylus avellana), Filbert (C. maxima) show whether it is native or not. and any putative hybrid between the two. This This preliminary look at the flowers of Hazels year, I have looked at a number of Hazels for has shown there are apparent differences at their male catkins and female flowers, the latter least between what I would consider the native being of little use. The plants looked at and C. maxima/hybrid types. The native has included what I consider to be the native narrow catkins (c.”PP ZLWK“PRVWO\TXLWH C. avellana and previous ones I have seen that small anthers (c. ”PPîPP DQGWKHµC. are either some form C. maxima or (more maxima/putative hybrid’ types have fatter likely) a form of their putative hybrid. The catkins (c. 7 mm) and larger anthers (often > non-native types (including putative hybrids)   PPî•PP UHPHPEHUWKHUHDUHWZR might be more frequent than one might expect halves to anthers). It may be useful, if so we need further differences to help us decide recording from catkins, to call those with the what to record (assuming any of this informa- fatter catkins and large anthers “C. cf. maxima” tion is reasonably correct!). One of the for the time being so that it includes both problems is in part due to planting and re-intro- putative C. maxima and any putative hybrids; ductions in hedgerows etc., where the plants but to indicate whether it is C. maxima or a used are said to be C. avellana but possibly of putative hybrid, the nuts/bracts need to be seen, dubious provenance (all of which spread once (see below). established). I have seen these in a number of Previously, bracts have been used to separate places where one expects it to be the native that them (Wilcox, 2013; Marshall, 2015). ‘Filberts’ they have planted, but looking at their fruits, it with large, leafy, completely fused bracts tells me some are not C. avellana. Even at the around the nut and partially or ± forming a catkin stage it should be possible to tell native sleeve over the nut, is a good starting point for from C. maxima including putative hybrids. C. maxima, but cultivars and putative hybrids Whether plants are the native, or the non-na- could ‘muddy the waters’ so to speak. Given tive C. maxima or some kind of fertile hybrid, that most plants seem to be fertile, for putative they are nearly all fully fertile; I have only seen hybrids the intermediate bracts as reported one ‘Filbert’ that had a lot of sterile anthers as previously (Wilcox, 2013) might go some way well as some reasonably good ones – but it also to suggesting a hybrid origin. This character produced abundant fruit (see Marshall, 2015, could be used to record putative hybrids and it plate 2, ‘C. maxima – nuts’). It seems the would be useful to see catkins for more difficult sterility in that case was just an anomaly. If plants. The putative hybrids usually have a many of the C. maxima types are some kind of combination of bracts that are large, leafy fertile hybrid producing good fruit it will be (coarsely fimbriate at their apex) and fused on near impossible to know what true C. maxima one side and smaller ± overlapping bracts at the looks like. [Interestingly, in addition, a few base on the other side, though some may be ‘Corkscrew Hazel’ catkins looked at suggest quite mixed or tend toward one or the other they also belonged to the C. maxima/hybrid parent so more than just a couple need to be types rather than the native, though all these seen (Wilcox, 2013). were from gardens]. The plant illustrated in Here (in Bradford) we have a nice Filbert BSBI News 128 (Kay, 2015, plate 2, colour cultivar (for which I do not have a name) with section, and see p. 44) as ‘C. avellana var. strong, purplish, leafy bracts (see Colour grandis’ is almost certainly not C. avellana and Section, Plate 4). It is more than likely a is either a form of C. maxima or more likely C. maxima cultivar given the completely fused with the larger open bracts, a putative hybrid; bracts (but a hybrid cannot be ruled out). It is Notes – Hazels continued – additional information / Hordeum marinum in Northamptonshire 29 definitely not a cultivar of C. avellana,and this that haven’t dehisced properly. It may help to is additionally borne out by the size of its catkins decide what we have in the countryside and and anthers. Note that it is very similar in its urban areas. Often the cultivars and hybrids large leafy bracts (except their colour, and being have large, coarse, scruffy leaves and may look more enclosed over the nut) to the ‘var. grandis’ like they are introduced. Don’t be fooled by of Kay (2015) and is further evidence the latter is what look like ‘native’ hedgerows as often not C. avellana. I cannot tell if ‘var. grandis’has these have been reinstated with stock not neces- fused and or a mix of fused/overlapping bracts sarily from native stock. from the photo but it is either a form of C. Perhaps only a DNA study would help to maxima or a putative hybrid. The open bracts differentiate between true C. avellana, showing the nut may suggest the latter, but it is C. maxima and the hybrid types, but the main very difficult to tell from the photo shown. difficulty would be starting with the correct Therefore, from my preliminary study of the parental material, as some suggest many (if not flowers, it seems possible to separate them as C. all) Filberts and Cobs could be hybrids of one avellana or C. maxima/hybrid based on their form or another. catkins and anthers. The bracts around the nut are still the most useful indicator of a putative Acknowledgement: hybrid. Once the catkin/anther type has been Tony Marshall is thanked for his help. established, some difficult plants of C. maxima or a putative hybrid, might be better recorded References: (perhaps) as ‘C. cf. maxima’ to include putative KAY, G.M. (2015). ‘Confusion over cobs: are hybrids and cultivars. Cultivars which are placed planted Corylus not what they seem?’ BSBI under C. avellana may actually be hybrids. News, 128: 44. Initially look at catkins, which appear later in MARSHALL, T. (2015). ‘More on the hybrid the winter and early spring; this must then be Cob Corylus avellana × C. maxima’. BSBI coupled with looking at nuts in the autumn or News, 128: 44-45. the other way round, making a note of which WILCOX, M. (2013). ‘Hazels – Corylus avella- trees you have looked at. Catkins are best na, C. maxima and putative hybrids’. BSBI looked at fresh with at least a number of anthers News, 124: 15-16. Hordeum marinum in Northamptonshire (v.c.32) DR PETER STROH, BSBI, 14 Rushmere Close, Islip, Northamptonshire, NN14 3LG; ([email protected])

My drive to Cambridge has changed over the marinum (Sea Barley), growing with A. littora- years, with noticeably more traffic, often leading lis, P. distans and S. marina. A flick through the to desperately slow journeys. With a glass-half- new Flora of Northamptonshire (Wilson & full perspective, this does lend the frustrated Gent, 2014) when I arrived home revealed that driver the opportunity to look at the rapid spread this was the second record for the county inland of a range of now commonplace (v.c.32), just over 100 years since the last casual halophytes, such as Atriplex littoralis (Shore occurrence. It is certainly nice to have such an Orache), Cochlearia danica (Danish Scurvy attractive grass so close to home, especially as I grass), Plantago coronopus (Buck’s-horn live about as far from the coast as it is possible to Plantain), Puccinellia distans (Reflexed be! The continued spread inland of halophyte Saltmarsh-grass) and Spergularia marina (Sea species is likely to be evident when the next Atlas Spurrey). On a wondrously traffic-free journey is published, so why not take the opportunity home to Islip one day in mid-June, I spotted a (when stationary!) to look out of the car window neat-looking Hordeum along a c.100 metre when everyone else is staring into the middle stretch of verge on the A14 Junction 12 slip-road. distance and perhaps add a species or two to your Closer inspection revealed abundant Hordeum local flora. 30 Notes – Sorbus domestica in the Wye Valley

Sorbus domestica in the Wye Valley MARC HAMPTON, 9 Burton Terrace, East Aberthaw, Vale of Glamorgan, CF62 3DE; ([email protected])

Following the finding of the Cornish Sorbus and continue to endure over a long period. domestica L. (Service-tree) on hard rock and in Nennius’s observation is confirmed in fairly partial shade by David Pearman, it was precise details. decided to re-examine the areas looked over The two main apparent populations are at some years ago with this in mind. Previously, Porthkerry, 60+ trees, smaller plants and low the tree has only been found on horizontal beds suckering plants, spread over 250m, and of relatively friable Lias Limestone or basal Fontygary, about 10, with an equal range, over conglomerate of a similar age and in positions 120m, both being south-facing cliffs. In in receipt of the full arc of the sun. It was not researching the place-names at these sites a thought likely to find the tree in either the critical source is available, dating from 1968. Avon Gorge or the Wye Valley because they It pre-dates the apparent knowledge of the had been intensively studied over some years; trees. The 34 forms of Porthkerry dating from nevertheless the lower Wye around Chepstow 1254, are discussed and the meaning of the was examined closely in January. This was first element is clear, it is Latin Portus, giving because Sorbus domestica has very character- Welsh porth, inlet or creek. The second istic branching, which is, with familiarity, far element Ceri has been ‘the object of consider- more revealing than the tree in full leaf, when able speculation’, and ‘it has been suggested the branching is obscured. In addition there that this element is the W[elsh] saint’s name was the observation of the Welsh monk Curig, and it would appear that several of the Nennius of 830, in a document of the 11th forms listed which are dated after c. 1566 have century, which suggested that this tree, said to been inspired by this interpretation and, and be the seventh wonder of Britain, must be possibly, formed deliberately to conform with somewhere in the lower Wye area: it. The earlier forms evidenced do not seem to Iuxta flumen, quod vocator Guoy, poma bear this out’ (Pearce, 1968). In a partial inveniuntur super fraxinum in proclivo Latin/Welsh/English dictionary of 1592 occurs saltus qui est prope ostio fluminis the name as ‘Ceri, cerien, servis, sorbum, Pren Ceri’ (Geriadur Prifysgol Cymru, p.467), and A group of around six trees was found in the the name also occurs in the Cad Goddeu, the Lancaut Nature Reserve (v.c.34) having the ‘Battle of Trees’, a 14th century manuscript of correct branching and it was decided to return the Book of Taliesin of an earlier unidentified in May when the flowers emerge to confirm date, in which the Britons take the forms of the identity. The trees proved to be Sorbus trees in battle (Haycock, 1990: 321), a fanciful domestica, demonstrating its characteristic idea thereby giving a complete listing of early features, a silvery ‘Sorbus’ style of emerging tree names, which in her critical translation of leaves, but pinnate, and an elongate paniculate the relevant passage is: inflorescence. Even observing from perhaps 40 metres away the flowers could be seen to be KERI kywrenhin (the strong SERVICE TREE) considerably larger, at 16-18mm, than the Gwrthrychyat gwrthrin (one who anticipates flowers of Rowan (S. aucuparia). The habitat the battle) is a high west-facing, horizontally-bedded This term can apply to two species of tree. Carboniferous Limestone cliff. Deposits of There do not seem to be many examples of this rock are usually tipped over in Wales and place-names indicating Sorbus torminalis elsewhere at lower altitude and it was decided (Wild Service-tree). This species is Sarff or that this horizontal layer echoed the formation Sarth in Welsh, clearly derived from Latin, of Lias Limestone, allowing the tree to sucker Notes – Sorbus domestica in the Wye Valley 31 possibly via English. In botanical texts, terms the first Millennium. It is noted that there was like Cerddinen folwst are recent coinages, and a considerable knowledge of trees, and the can be discounted (Wade, Kay & Ellis, 1994). natural world generally, among the Celtic The only two place-names featuring the former peoples. Evidently the trees were considered are in Gwent, and therefore close to the border, important enough for commemoration in the occurring as ‘Penllwynsarth’. There are place-names at these two sites. In addition several creek-side localities in north Pembro- there are other mentions in the Book of keshire which do not occur in the place-names, Taliesin, possibly pertaining to the fruit of this and the tree does not seem to have been gener- tree, but the preservation of this and other ally worthy of note. medieval books is, for the most part, Christian. It should be noted that the word Ceri has an The place-name at Lancaut was researched. entirely different origin from the river and Although west of Offa’s Dyke, but on the personal name Ceri, from Caru, to love. In English bank of the river Wye, the place-name fact it is of considerable age, being used in the was not included in Welsh texts. Although the Irish and Welsh names for the Rowan, region came under English kings in 950, it was Caorthan and Cerddin, which have Caora and formerly Welsh. It occurs as an early record Ceri as a first element (M. Haycock, pers. from c.700 as Podum Ceuid or Lann Ceuid comm.). It is not now possible to be certain of (Liber Landavensis), which would seem to be the meaning of the second element, but it is problematic, with the u for r. This is used possibly a diminutive. The word also occurs throughout the Liber Landavensis to indicate at Fontygary (+ mutation) and therefore can the mutations of a variety of letters, but not hardly be discounted, as the two places having usually an r. It is possible the name was this name are the only localities of Sorbus already influenced by Saint Cewydd, the domestica having Welsh names. At Porth obscure saint to whom the area was subse- kerry there is a distinct population, differing quently dedicated. There is a ruined 12th from all others, in its wide, coarsely serrated century church in an odd setting with a full leaflets and round fruit (maliform). This view of the cliff, with little else nearby. It is distinction is identical over 250m of cliff, again possible that an early pagan knowledge which is therefore derived from suckering of the trees was replaced with a Christian one, across this considerable distance from a single as at Porthkerry. The early form of the name source, a feature which, in the case of an at Lancaut possibly indicates an earlier final d extremely slow growing tree, would have or t, as suggested by the names for Rowan, lost taken considerably longer than the <2000 in the later forms at our two sites, but proven years estimated for an introduction by the to occur elsewhere. Romans, as has been put forward by profes- Some five miles away from the new find is sionals. There is also the concern that an the Romano-British town of Caerwent, which introduction would have included a Latin remained steadfastly pagan until at least the derived name, as is usual in these cases, mid-fourth century (Brewer, 2004). In 1908 a whereas instead we have a wholly native name. statue of a ‘mother goddess’ was found in a For these reasons the introduction of the temple, which was dated to the 2nd or 3rd species must be a mistake. There is much century AD, the face is deeply Celtic. This evidence from French, which preserves Celtic bears a pinnate leaf in one hand and a distinctly names in archaic form, that there was a oval fruit in the other, at a correct scale for cognate form on the Continent, until Sorbus domestica, and held between the supplanted by Latin. That material is beyond breasts (see page 33). This statue was first the scope of the present brief outline. noted some ten years ago. However, with the It seems likely that, although only known to finding of the Lancaut site, and the close science relatively recently, there must have similarity of the place-name, it now seems been knowledge of the trees a considerable rather more likely. Professor Miranda Green time ago, possibly as far back as the middle of has written variously about the statue, 32 Notes – Sorbus domestica in the Wye Valley attempting to find an identity, and was not periods from before the arrival of the Romans, aware of Sorbus domestica and its very partic- and continued in use after they had left. ular combination of a pinnate leaf and large However, it represents a depiction of a lesser oval fruit. Her opinion is that the identification god at the Temple of Nuada. The main focus with the tree may well be correct. It seems does seem to be the Severn Bore, although it unlikely that the Rowan could be intended, for should be noted that Sorbus domestica is it is far too frequent and the scale of fruit to particularly prone to bores, growing low on the leaf is quite wrong. Only in Sorbus domestica river cliffs. is a moderately large fruit in combination with The line of populations along the upper a pinnate, rather than an entire leaf. It seems Severn shore from Fontygary to Lydney was likely that the group of six trees have been clearly known and the peculiar nature of the re-growing over and over, as observed trees was exploited in a way which suited the elsewhere, and represent the identity noted by times. Perhaps this continued until it became Nennius and by the craftsman of the 3rd known that there were, in fact, trees of the Century mother goddess. There are other same characteristics on the Continent, but similar types of goddesses; however none, there is no evidence of this. There has long including those from the Continent, has been sought some characteristic which ties anything similar in its grasp. If one were to Lydney and Caerwent, and these rare trees choose some characteristic of Sorbus domes- provide one. According to the available tica to show its uniqueness, it would be a leaf evidence there was never, during the period of and a fruit. The statue is designed for a niche, recorded time, any appreciable change of possibly put up at a small height to represent population. It is interesting that the archaeo- the position of the actual trees. They would logical characters of both Caerwent and make an interesting trip to see a marvel, with a Lydney were resolved a long time before the steep, although accessible climb, as we know trees were re-discovered. Lastly, there is a that the Celts actually did. Looking closely at trend towards multiple disciplines in science, the statue it seems as though the mouth is open, and this is highly desirable. However, in this indicating speech, or a declamation, such as a case the lack of a Roman name and the goddess might be expected to make presence of a Celtic one of considerable age (Aldhouse-Green, 2012). Mention should be has not been given sufficient consideration, made of the witch in the Book of Taliesin, which is why this brief exploration is given. variously called Ceridwen or Cerritwen, -wen References: being female. However, this book, dating ALDHOUSE-GREEN, M. (2012). ‘‘Singing from c.1400 is unlikely to be correct in details, stones’: contexting body-language in separated from the mother goddess by over a Romano-British iconography’. Brittania, 43: millennium. Nevertheless, the final t or d in 115-134. the earliest place-name and in the names for BREWER, R. (2004): ‘The Romans in Gwent’, Rowan is again present. in: M. ALDHOUSE-GREEN AND R. HOWELL Lastly there is an identification at Lydney, at (eds.). The Gwent County History. Vol. 1: the Temple of Nuada, a Celtic god with Gwent in Prehistory and Early History. cognate name forms in Irish and Welsh University of Wales Press, Cardiff. Pp. 205- (Wheeler & Wheeler, 1932). This is close to 243. the easternmost site. The depiction is of a leaf GERIADUR PRIFYSGOL CYMRU. A Dictionary and fruit having greater detail than the of the Welsh language. Cyfrol 1. (2004). Caerwent goddess. Again the scale is such that University of Wales Press, Cardiff. Gwasg the identification with Sorbus domestica is Prifysgol Cymru. P. 467. very likely. An unknown figure carries a HAYCOCK, M. (1990). ‘The significance of the basket and an agricultural implement on the ‘Cad Goddau’ Tree List in the Book of same plate. Unfortunately there is only this Taliesin. Celtic Linguistics, 68: 321. John piece, which is a fragment of a bronze, ornamented in repoussé. The site represents Notes – Sorbus domestica in the Wye Valley 33

Benjamins Publishing Co., Amsterdam, WADE, A.E., KAY, Q.O.N. & ELLIS, R.G. Philadelphia. (1994). Flora of Glamorgan. Her Majesty’s PIERCE, G.O. (1968). The place-names of Stationery Office, London. Dinas Powis Hundred. University of Wales, WHEELER, R.E.M. & WHEELER, T.V. (1932). Cardiff. Report on the excavation of the prehistoric, RHYS, J. & EVANS, J.G. (eds.) (1893). The Text Roman, and post-Roman site in Lydney Park, RIWKH%RRNRI/ODQGИY. Oxford. Gloucestershire. Society of Antiquaries, Stevenson, J. (ed.) (1838). Nennii Historia London. Brittonum ad Fidem Codicum Manuscripto- rum. English Historical Society.

Celtic mother goddess statue from Caerwent (v.c.35). Photo © Newport Museum & Art Gallery (see p.31) 34 Notes – Pollination of Platanthera orchids

Pollination of Platanthera orchids TERRY & ANNE SWAINBANK, Juniper Cottage, Chapel Street, Hook Norton, Oxon, OX15 5JT; ([email protected])

Both the Platanthera species, P. bifolia Fruit-set efficiency (Lesser Butterfly-orchid) and P. chlorantha The fruiting efficiency – the proportion of (Greater Butterfly-orchid), found in Britain are flowers that eventually set fruit – of Platan- widely distributed throughout Europe, extend- thera species appears to be very variable. It is ing down to the Mediterranean, and up to also not clear that there is consistency between northern Scandinavia. There are also pockets reported studies in the way that data has been in the Middle East and Asia. In Britain they reported. Observations of both species in are widespread. P. bifolia occurs in 949 out of southern Bohemia (Kindlmann & Jersakova, 2,810 10km squares, whilst P. chlorantha 2006) gave efficiencies of 65-93% for occurs in 1,163. The distribution of P. bifolia P. bifolia and 64-83% for P. chlorantha, with is more westerly and northerly, as witnessed significant annual variability. In a rather by its greater level of occurrence in Ireland similar long-term study to our own, in Poland, (308 compared to 251 10km squares out of the two isolated populations of P. bifolia were total of 985) (see Biological Records Centre: monitored and the fruit-set efficiency was Online atlas of British and Irish flora). reported as around 80-90%, although 60% of P. bifolia is a BAP priority species throughout these high levels was attributed to autogamy the UK because of habitat loss. (Brzosko, 2003). Again, the annual variability Molecular studies have shown that P. bifolia was significant. In the southern Caucasus, and P. chlorantha are almost indistinguishable Nosrati et al. (2011), in 2 small, separate (Bateman et al., 2009) even though morpho- populations, found that the fruit-set in logically there are clear differences (Sexton & P. bifolia averaged 62.7%, ranging from 45- McQueen, 2004). Hybridisation between the 87%. Nilsson (1978) found for P. chlorantha two species also occurs. an efficiency of 54.0%. On our one-time three-acre shoreline croft on On Skye, flowering is over by the end of July Skye both orchids are found, and whilst there and by early September the plants have set are some habitat preferences one to the other, seed. Post-flowering there can be three there are also areas where they intermingle, outcomes. Firstly, pollination of flowers and where there appears to be introgression. succeeds and at least some seed-set occurs. We have monitored their progress over seven Secondly, pollination fails and none of the years, with the position of individual flowering flowers set seed. Whether pollination is or is spikes marked for identification. Our exami- not successful, a third outcome is that the spike nation of the root systems of Platanthera disappears, either simply by rotting away, or showed that they are not extensive and the more probably disappears after being chewed marking of flowering spikes equates to the off by slugs, or, less often, field voles. position of plants and their tubers. Seed pods were counted when they had fully This note concentrates on the efficiency of developed and it was clear that they contained fruit-set and the mechanism of pollination, seeds (gentle pressure on the pod to confirm comparing the two species, which, because the point). Some seed pods looked to have they are growing together, means that macro- developed but were empty. Table 1 (p. 35) environmental variables, such as climate, are provides the results, showing the number of taken out of the equation, being the same for flowering spikes, the aggregate number of both. We were also looking for differences in flowers and the aggregate number of seed the pollination mechanisms of the two species. pods. If the spike had disappeared for whatever reason then this was counted as a zero. Colour Section 1

Map of Runnymede (v.c.17), showing area designations. Courtesy Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre

Sium latifolium (Greater Water-parsnip) by Long Pond View NW along Long Pond

Both photos taken at Runnymede, Surrey (v.c.17) by L. Pitkin, © 2015 (see p. 17) 2 Colour Section

Ann Sankey and fellow botanists examining Trifolium fragiferum (Strawberry Clover). The possible site of sealing of Magna Carta is in the middle distance

The grassland of Cooper’s Hill with the meadows beyond. The River Thames is marked by the line of trees beyond the road Both photos taken at Runnymede, Surrey (v.c.17) by L. Pitkin, © 2015 (see p. 17) Colour Section 3 Mibora minima Fig. 3: Two views of the habitat Two Fig. 3: with a 5p piece for scale Mibora minima All photos taken by P.A. Smith on Mol Greannach, Baleshare (v.c.110) © Smith on Mol Greannach, Baleshare (v.c.110) All photos taken by P.A. 2015 (see p. 26) Mibora minima Fig. 2: Larger plant of Fig. 2: Larger Fig. 1: Diminutive plant of 4 Colour Section (Lesser Butterfly-orchid) (see p. 60) in Ballycroy National Park, W. in Ballycroy National Park, showing collapsed pollinia column. Photo: T. Swainbank ©T. Photo: 2015 (see p. 34) Mayo (v.c.H27). Photo R. Hodd ©Mayo (v.c.H27). 2015 Platanthera bifolia Saussurea alpina Saussurea with pur- Corylus maxima showing notably ciliate narrow border, Holmsley (v.c.11). Holmsley (v.c.11). border, Photo M. Lynes ©Photo M. Lynes 2015 (see p. 9) Photo M. Wilcox ©Wilcox Photo M. 2015 (see p. 28) probable form of A araxacum ciliare plish-red bracts, Gaisby Lane, Bradford (v.c.63). T , Dartmouth, (v.c.3). , Dartmouth, (v.c.3). Both photos P. Pullen ©Both photos P. 2015 (see p. 48) Francoa appendiculata Notes – Pollination of Platanthera orchids 35

Table 1. Seed pod development

Year Platanthera bifolia Platanthera chlorantha No. of Total no. of Seed Seed set No. of Total no. of Seed Seed set spikes flowers on pods (%) spikes flowers on pods (%) spikes spikes 2011 20 268 69 25.7 21* 232 121 52.2 2012 36 412 157 38.1 105 1229 524 42.6 2013 41 545 168 30.8 108 1020 309 30.3 2014 34 368 112 30.4 77 824 184 22.3 Total 131 1225 394 32.2 311 3305 1138 34.4 There is considerable variability in the fruiting seed pod size and packing density at 500 seeds efficiency, one year to the next, for both per pod). species. These annual differences are so large, Approximately a third of flowers are polli- owing no doubt to environmental factors, that nated and stay the course to a fruit set. These they mask any difference in seed-set efficiency results are much lower than are reported between the two species, if indeed it exists. elsewhere. As noted earlier, we have included Time of flowering, availability of pollinators, those plants that have been damaged in some climate at flowering time, such as rain or way or indeed have been completely annihi- strong winds, and at seed-set, the number of lated, and this might be inconsistent with other slugs and other agencies that can damage studies. Even so, we found only a very small flowering spikes make for a complex situation. number of flowering spikes achieved a fruiting Having said that, the efficiency of seed set may efficiency of over 75%. Ranking the extent of not be terribly important of course, because seed-set of the individual spikes by quartile each seed pod contains very large numbers of gave the following result (Table 2.). very fine seeds (which we estimate from the

Table 2. Extent of conversion (flowers to seed pods) of flowering spikes Seed pods / flowers (%) P. bifolia – % of spikes P. chlorantha – % of spikes Total Total 04141 1-25 15 16 26-50 23 18 51-75 17 14 76-100 5 10 Total 100 100

Over 40% of the flowering spikes of P. bifolia remaining. Only around 5% of the spikes of and P. chlorantha do not produce any seed P. bifolia see at least three-quarters of the pods irrespective of how many flowers are flowers develop into seed pods. The conver- produced. Some of these will have been sion efficiency for P. chlorantha looks rather damaged, but undamaged spikes without fruits similar, although a larger proportion, 10%, were commonplace, with only a withered stem reach the upper quartile. 36 Notes – Pollination of Platanthera orchids

Pollinators tion to try to explain specialisation, where We were keen to see if there were different floral traits are altered in response to selection pollinators for the two species. Most studies of a subset of pollinator species (for example have concluded that pollination of Platanthera Bloch, 2009). flowers is achieved by night-flying moths, We found that the spurs of the two species particularly hawk-moths of the Sphingidae are of different lengths and is a discriminating family. In the Stirling area of Scotland, Sexton morphological feature between the two. In our (2014) and a team of volunteers trapped moths case, we found that the spur of P. bifolia amongst populations of P. chlorantha looking averaged 1.6cm compared with those of for pollinia attached to the eyes of moths to P. chlorantha at 2.5cm, based on measure- confirm pollination activity. Pollinators of ments made over five years. In Britain, a P. chlorantha included the moths, Silver Y, definite inverse correlation was found between Beautiful Golden Y, Plain Golden Y, geographical latitude and spur length by Burnished Brass, Lesser Elephant Hawk-moth, Bateman & Sexton (2008), although they Straw Dot, Spectacle, Gold Spangle, Gold- recognised that this relationship does not spot, Lempke’s Gold Spot, Large Yellow appear to hold in parts of Scandinavia. Our Underwing (occasionally) and Marbled data agree closely with their data for north- Coronet. They had less success in finding west Scotland. More generally, spur lengths in pollinators for P. bifolia, having ‘only once the 37 species in the Platanthera genus found caught a Beautiful Golden Y moth with throughout the world vary greatly, from long P. bifolia pollen masses on its tongue in the (6cm) to very short (1cm), and it seems to be great outdoors’. Nilsson (1992) and Maad rather evolutionarily plastic (Efimov, 2011). (2000) found long-tongued moths from the We have not been able to replicate the Sphingidae and Noctuidae families were published moth pollination findings. During attracted by the sweet scent of and nectar daylight hours, we have never seen any insect produced by P. bifolia. On the Isle of Skye, activity on any of the orchid flowering spikes, Keith Sadler found a Marbled Coronet with other than one unidentified true fly (Diptera) – pollinia of P. chlorantha attached in 2013, and far too small to effect pollination of a P. a Golden Y in 2015. In a Dutch study, the chlorantha flower. A trail camera was put in noctuid moth Cucullia umbratica (The Shark) front of one plant of each species when fully in regularly visited flowers of the hybrid (Cleas- flower, covering 24 hours. Despite taking sens et al., 2008) and was capable of removing over 700 photos of the P. bifolia plant and pollinia. 3,000 photos of the P. chlorantha, owing to The possibility of autogamy has not been breeze and the sensitivity of the trigger, not a considered extensively, although Brzosko single one showed a moth or any other insect. (2003) did find that it was a significant contrib- To see what the moth cohort was at utor to fruiting efficiency. flowering time we put out a Skinner moth trap Platanthera species are believed to reward amongst the orchids (once in 2010, twice in pollinators by providing nectar from their long 2011 and three times in 2014). The trap was spurs, so that when a pollinator accesses the left out throughout the hours of darkness and nectar, the orchid pollinia attach to its eyes or inspected at around three hours after sunrise. face. Rewarding orchids rely on a restricted Sadly, weather conditions on Skye are not very range of specialist pollinators (Neiland & friendly to moth trapping out in the open, Wilcock,1998), in contrast to other members which limited the number of trapping nights to of the Orchidaceae, which use deceit to attract just these few. Table 3 (p. 39) provides a pollinators and pollinators are therefore more summary of the moths which might be suffi- casual and less specialised. Because of the ciently large to effect pollination caught in the importance of reward, moth interaction and the moth trap (micro-moths have been excluded). spur length have received considerable atten- The trapping data are grouped: firstly, those Notes – Pollination of Platanthera orchids 37 caught before the average flowering date for often 100% (Gill, 1989), whereas those P. bifolia; secondly after the average date for orchids that offer no reward show much lower P. bifolia but before the date for P. chlorantha; efficiencies. It has to be recognised that polli- and lastly after the date for both species. nation failure is common in plant species (P. bifolia flowers between seven and nine (Wilcock & Neiland, 2002), owing to environ- days before P. chlorantha, based on our study mental effects (Burd, 1994; Larson & Barrett, over seven years, the difference between the 2000). The first explanation for low fruit-set two species being remarkably consistent one is that environmental effects have limited year to the next). pollinator activity. Staying with the reward All the moths trapped were photographed but model for the moment, it may be that there just at no time were any moths found to have are not enough moths around to generate high pollinia attached. Ten species representing five fruiting efficiencies. We do need to recognise families could be found throughout the the different conditions moving north and, for flowering period of both species. On our list example, the hours of darkness in June and hawk moths feature but only one Elephant early July are very short (four hours at most) Hawk-moth was caught (and none in 2014) and on the Isle of Skye, which will limit moth only one Poplar Hawk-moth was captured. In activity, especially if it is cool, windy or wet the period coinciding with the flowering of P. (or all three), yet a decent number of moths bifolia there were 17 moth species representing would surely be needed to be able to achieve eight families, but in the period coinciding only the levels of pollination seen. The total counts with the peak flowering of P. chlorantha there in the moth trap ranged from a lowly ten to a were 13 species from just two families. There modest 45 in 2014. The single hawk moth that are some clear differences, but, in the absence we did find would hardly seem to be sufficient, of any pollinia attachment, the results remain especially as the orchids are spread out over frustratingly inconclusive. Different moth more than an acre. species are around at the peak flowering time A second explanation is that the reward for the two orchids, but without positive pollinia model does not hold true and that, if moths are attachment it is not possible to conclude involved, then some of the other moths on our whether there are any preferred moth – plant list, especially in the families Noctuidae and interactions. Lasiocampidae, might be pollinators – not Sexton (2014) listed 11 moths which were necessarily seeking nectar but attracted by the pollinators, but only one of these appeared on orchid scent, more akin to the deceit pollina- our list, Beautiful Golden Y. Of the other ten tion model – and there is a wider range of moths, four have not been recorded on any part pollinators than is commonly thought. Our of our croft in the last five years, and the other lower fruit-set efficiencies are more consistent five are not on the wing until well after the with orchids that deceive their pollinators, and peak of flowering and at a time when P. bifolia we would therefore expect that a wider, less have definitely gone over. It does therefore specialised cohort of moth species would be appear to be the case that if moths are the involved. This is consistent with our trapping primary pollinators on Skye, then the species results, save that we found no evidence of involved are not the same as those 200 miles actual pollination activity by any of the cohort. away to the south. Bateman & Sexton (2008) There is a third possibility. Moths may not counselled caution when assuming strong be the main pollination mechanism for either pollinator specificity. orchid species in the northern and western However, moths might not be the principle extremities of their range, and the failure to agent of pollination and we suspect that the find any moths bearing pollinia, irrespective of commonly asserted pollination model for moth species, points in this direction. In the Platanthera may be too simplistic. Our results absence of any other viable animal pollinator, are not in line with the expectation that then autogamy looks to be a realistic possi- nectariferous orchids show high fruit-set rates, bility, as was seen in the Polish study of 38 Notes – Pollination of Platanthera orchids

P. bifolia cited earlier. Indeed, on quite a BRZOSKO, E. (2003). ‘The dynamics of island number of flowers in 2014, it was very hard to populations of Platanthera bifolia in the determine if the pollinia had been removed, Biebrza National Park (N.E. Poland).’ Ann. and in a few examples the pollinia column had Bot. Fennici, 40: 243-253. collapsed (see Colour Section, Plate 4). Such BURD, M. (1994). ‘Bateman’s principle and a possibility applies to both species. plant reproduction: the role of pollen limita- This supposition is consistent with our tion in fruit and seed set.’ Botanical Review, finding that there was no correlation between 60: 83-139. the number of flowers on a spike and the CLAESSENS, J., GRAVENDEEL, B. & KLEYNEN, fruiting efficiency of that spike. Nor was there J. (2008). ‘Cucullia umbratica L. als Bestäu- a correlation between the height of the spike ber von Platanthera × hybrida Bruegg. in and the fruiting efficiency. Evidence Süd-Limburg (Niederlande). Jour. Eur. elsewhere has shown that taller flower spikes Orch., 40(1): 73-84. and more flowers on a spike do indeed EFIMOV, P.G. (2011). ‘An intriguing morpho- encourage pollination, probably because the logical variability of Platanthera s.l.’ pollinator is able to satisfy its nectar needs European Journal of Environmental Scienc- with the minimum of effort (e.g. Tremblay et es, 1(2): 125-136. al., 2006). With no such link found in our GILL, D.E. (1989). ‘Fruiting failure, pollinator study, the moth pollination model is less likely inefficiency, and speciation in orchids.’ In: than autogamy. OTTE, D & ENDLER, J.A. (eds.) Speciation Conclusions and its consequences.Sinauer, Sunderland, We are unable to shed light on whether there Mass., U.S.A. Pp. 458-481. are differences in the pollination vectors of the KINDLMANN, P. & JERSAKOVA, J. (2006): two Platanthera species, although the cohort ‘Effect of floral display on reproductive of moths around at the different peak flower- success in terrestrial orchids.’ Folia Geobo- ing times show some marked differences. Our tanica, 41: 47–60. fruiting efficiency results are lower than have LARSON, B.M.H. & BARRETT, S.C.H. (2000). been seen elsewhere which may be related to ‘A comparative assessment of pollen limita- the plants being at their north-western distribu- tion in flowering plants.’ Biol. J. Linn. Soc., tion limits in an open area where the number of 69: 503-520. pollinators may be low. There was further MAAD, J. (2000). ‘Phenotypic selection in trapping in 2015, but the results were similar hawk moth-pollinated Platanthera bifolia: to previous years. We suspect therefore that targets and fitness surfaces.’ Evolution, 54: autogamy may play a part in fertilisation. 123 et seq. NEILAND, M.R.M. & WILCOCK, C.R. (1998). References: ‘Fruit set, nectar reward and rarity in the BATEMAN, R.M. & SEXTON, R. (2008). ‘Is Orchidaceae.’ American Journal of Botany, spur length of Platanthera species in the 85(12): 1657-1671. British Isles adaptively optimized or an NILSSON, L.A. (1992). ‘Orchid pollination evolutionary red herring?’ Watsonia, 27: biology’ Trans. Ecol. Evol., 7: 255-259. 1-21. NILSSON, L.A. (1978). ‘Pollination ecology BIOLOGICAL RECORDS CENTRE. Online atlas and adaptation in Platanthera chlorantha of the British & Irish flora. (http://www.brc. (Orchidaceae ).’ Botaniska Notiser, 131: ac.uk/plantatlas/) (accessed August 2015). 35-51. BLOCH, D. (2009): Butterflies and moths - NOSRATI, H., HAJIBOLAND, R., RAZBAN agents of pollinator-mediated selection and HAGHIGHI, A., & NIKNIAZI, M. (2011). ‘A species separation in the two closely related comparative assessment of fruit formation in carnations “Dianthus carthusianorum” and some orchid species from the southern “D. sylvestris”. PhD Thesis, University of Caucasus region’. Turkish Journal of Basel, Faculty of Science Botany, 35: 553-560. Notes – Pollination of Platanthera orchids 39

SEXTON, R. (2014). ‘The moth pollinators of in sexual reproduction in orchids and its Greater Butterfly-orchids Platanthera evolutionary consequences: a spasmodic chlorantha in Central Scotland.’ Journal of journey to diversification.’ Biol. J. Linn. the Hardy Orchid Society, 11(1): 71. Soc., 84: 1–54. SEXTON, R. & MCQUEEN, A.D.E. (2004). WILCOCK, C. & NEILAND, M.R.M. (2002). ‘Greater Butterfly Orchids’. Forth Natural- ‘Pollination failure in plants; why it happens ist and Historian, 27: 77-88. and when it matters’. Trends in Plant TREMBLAY, R.L., ACKERMAN, J.D., ZIMMER- Science, 7: 270-277. MAN, J.K. & CALVO, R.N. (2005). ‘Variation

Table 3. Moths caught in a Skinner trap placed near Platanthera orchids at flowering time

Pre P.bifolia average Post bifolia Post average flowering date for both flowering date pre species chlorantha

Family 06/06/2014 11/06/2010 15/06/2014 28/06/2014 03/07/2011 11/07/2014 Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea Erebidae XXXXX X Drinker Philudoria potatoria Lasiocampidae XXX Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina Noctuidae X X X Dark Brocade Mniotype adusta Noctuidae XXX Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Noctuidae XXXX Middle-barred Minor Oligia fasciuncula Noctuidae XX Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi Noctuidae XXX Buff –tip Phalera bucephala Notodontidae XXX X X Elephant Hawkmoth Deiliphila elpenor Sphingidae X X are flowering (10 species) Poplar Hawkmoth Laothoe populi Sphingidae XX X Moths around when both species Poplar Lutestring Tethea or Drepanidae X Cl ouded Buff Diacrisia sannio Erebidae X White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda Erebidae XXX Brimstone Opisthograptis luteolata Geometridae XX Ruddy Highflyer Hydriomena ruberata Geometridae X X Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata Geometridae X Map-winged Swift Hepialus fusconebulosa Hepialidae XX Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi Lasiocampidae X is at its peak (17 species)

Broom Moth Ceramica pisi Noctuidae XXX Glaucous Shears Papestra biren Noctuidae XX

Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis Noctuidae X P. bifolia Small Angle-shades Euplexia lucipara Noctuidae XX Cl ouded Bordered Brindle Apamea crenata Noctuidae X Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa Noctuidae X Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius Notodontidae X Pebble Prominent Eligmodonta ziczac Notodontidae X Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth Hemaris tityus Sphingidae X Moths around when Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata Geometridae X Barred Straw Gandaritis pyraliata Geometridae X Magpie Abraxas grossulariata Geometridae X is at its Purple Bar Cosmorhoe ocellata Geometridae X Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica Noctuidae X X True-lovers Knot Lycophotia porphyrea Noctuidae XX X

Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea Noctuidae X P. chlorantha Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura Noctuidae X X Antler Cerapteryx graminis Noctuidae X peak (13 species) Dotted Clay Xestia baja Noctuidae X Heart and Dart Agrostis exclamationis Noctuidae X Spectacle Abrostola triplasia Noctuidae X Triple-spotted clay Xestia ditrapezium Noctuidae X Moths around when 40 Notes – Foraging in the Anthropocene

Foraging in the Anthropocene MICHAEL O’DONOVAN, Moneygoff East, Coppeen, Co.Cork, Ireland; ([email protected])

The exploitation of wild plants in a western Following the rules culture in the 21st century raises many Codes of conduct and law are often quoted like questions. Some of these questions go to the scripture by foragers, but as very few studies heart of the human relationship with plants have been done on the effects of foraging on through the ages and challenge our concepts of plant populations and the environment, they future conservation and guardianship of the must be treated with caution. This point is environment. proven by the fact that plant NGOs in the U.K. Foraging folk even disagree over policies. For example, Some people believe they have the right to Kent Wildlife Trust forbids the harvesting of forage wild plant material and usually develop Crambe maritima (Sea-kale), whereas a code of conduct, often based on environmen- Plantlife UK does not. The fact that a plant tal ethics, to facilitate their activities, while which has only recently come off the Red Data others are driven by economics and may be List, having been almost wiped out by Victori- only constrained by market forces and the law. ans for the table, and still very rare in many There are also those who, worried by the localities, should get back into the food chain drastic falls in numbers of people engaging is appalling to many conservationists, with the natural environment, wish to use especially since the plant is in cultivation. In foraging as a means of getting people into the recent years there have been several arrests for countryside while engaging in an educational illegal picking of plants, mostly destined for and rewarding activity. top restaurants. Bizarrely, some foragers’ defence was that they were helping plants to The modern forager grow by picking them! Epping Forest, which Traditional foraging (skills passed on) in the is now patrolled by guards and closed to forag- UK and Ireland are very restricted and tailored ers, has created a flashpoint between people locally. In contrast, the modern forager is a who both believe they hold the environmental creation of books, (e.g. Richard Mabey’s Food higher ground and the public at large. A for free), television (e.g. Ray Mears Wild similar situation is developing in the New Food), and various internet sites that reference Forest and will spread no doubt to more mostly mainland European skills that are a mix ancient woodland sites. This does not help the of modern and archaic. The effects of this may conservation movement, as it has divided be profound, as plants previously not foraged people and drawn so much unwanted press fall under a management regime, and ecosys- coverage. tems like ancient woodland are invaded by Even the BSBI code of conduct and the people. Trampling and introduction of statutory plant protection laws are out of date invasive species are an example of potential and have failed to keep up with changing changes. Differentiating between very similar human activities. For example, according to unfamiliar species is also highly problematic, Rabinovitz (1981), annual/biennial seed even for a skilled botanist, and may cause collecting and root harvesting are ranked accidental local or national extinction of rare highest for potential for over-exploitation, but species. If forager numbers become large then annual/biennial seed collecting is not specifi- wildlife disturbance becomes an issue, as in cally mentioned in the BSBI Code of Conduct parts of Germany, where large hordes of as a major threat. Uprooting of unprotected mushroom pickers are seriously disturbing plants is allowed by law on private property mating Red Deer for instance. with the landowner’s permission. This is clearly bad practice that cannot be measured. Notes – Foraging in the Anthropocene / The case for responsible foraging: by a practising forager 41

Rabinovitz also states that a species which i) wild areas rarely visited by people, with poten- has a narrow geographic distribution, ii) is tial for disturbance of feeding/breeding/ habitat-specific, and iii) has small population roosting birds etc. Despite all of this, EU plans sizes everywhere, is more easily over-har- are coming on line to encourage landowners to vested than species of any other pattern. This allow foraging to improve human mental is not generally recognised within the guide- health and as a new revenue stream. lines either. Extreme rarities are highly Medicinal plants are the most vulnerable to unlikely to be foraged unless they are similar over-exploitation as they often occur in low to common species, and the codes of conduct numbers and are more likely to be collected are misguiding and failing in their main objec- unscrupulously, as has been documented tive where foragers are concerned. It is my throughout Europe. belief that the entire Red Data species protec- Saving the future tion regime is fundamentally wrong. It is the Can we get the next generation interested in more common plants that are the driving force plants and indeed loving plants just for what behind our ecosystems and they receive almost they are by teaching them to eat them? For me no protection until it is too late and their role in this is just a reinforcement of the anthropocen- the bio-system has lessened considerably. The tric approach we have always taken towards Red Data Book approach has in fact facilitated plants. Humans have their hands and feet all widespread habitat degradation and destruc- over the so-called natural world and the latest tion. Before we encourage foraging as an foraging craze is all about what plants can do introduction to plants, we need to sort out these for people and not what we can do for plants. issues. Schippmann, Cunningham & Leaman In truth, the countryside has never had so little (2002) and Luczaj et al. Wild food (2012) to offer and it is no wonder young people could provide a starting point to developing struggle to get meaningfully involved in it, new guidelines. especially those living in an industrialised Commercial foraging and sustainability landscape where nature reserves seem more The most dangerous aspect of commercial like zoos and wilderness is more easily foraging is creating an unstoppable demand for imagined in digital form than realised in the wild foods. Some supermarket chains are now field. stocking these products and haute cuisine We are in desperate need of a new approach chefs continue to indulge their love affair with to our beleaguered wild places. So, rather than foragers and their wares, while many country teaching children how to exploit plants, I house hotels and restaurants offer foraging would make them custodians of whatever courses to those who can afford them. wilderness is left around them and let them Salt marshes are one example of habitats watch from a distance as the world re-creates popular with commercial foragers, which often itself. means bringing people into highly sensitive The case for responsible foraging: by a practising forager MOUSEINTHEWOODS, 15 Bryant Avenue, Westfield, Radstock, Bath, BA3 3SR; ([email protected]) As a forager, most of the feedback I receive is foraging is and always has been that, if done positive and inquisitive, although foragers are correctly, foraging can be beneficial for both regularly asked: “What if you poison the environment and the target plants. yourself?” and “What about dog-pee?”. There Ethical foraging is, however, the age-old debate around the Even the slightest suggestion of a forager ethics surrounding how and why an individual acting unethically or in any way improperly harvests wild food. My argument in favour of around wild food is likely to put most foragers 42 Notes – The case for responsible foraging: by a practising forager on the defensive. The ongoing debate between Loss of habitat has a greater impact than conservationists and foragers seems to go foraging round in circles, which is astonishing consider- We all agree there are massive problems ing that both groups of people have so many arising from land development and the use of similar interests and passions. chemicals in our stretch to meet the growing I suppose I am lucky I have never met a food demands of an ever-growing population. forager – and yes, I include professional Habitat destruction, degradation and fragmen- pickers – who does not share my love of, and tation seem to be the price of progress. It is my consideration for, wild food. This does not firm belief that foraging can actually be part of mean that there are not unethical foragers out the solution to these problems. It is definitely there. I do not wish to imply they do not exist, not part of the problem. and it would be completely delusional to state My argument is and always has been that that as a collective we are perfect. foraging, if done correctly, can be beneficial for both the environment and the target plants. Impact of foraging A certain level of botanical knowledge is I think we have to become realistic about essential for correct identification of a target foraging as a practice. Undoubtedly, there is plant and successful harvesting over time; and an impact caused by the act of foraging, but knowledge of the uses of edible and medicinal determining if the impact is negative, positive plants is of interest to many botanists. or even neutral is key in moving this debate forward. To clarify, by ‘impact’ I would be The future looking at: Botanists and foragers need to work together to find better solutions. This needs coopera- Ɣ How will the target wild food be affected in the short term? tion and agreement that each side of the argument for and against foraging has merits. Ɣ How will it be affected in the long term? The fact is that we are all custodians of this Ɣ Who or what else relies on it, i.e. which other entities will be impacted? planet and need to unite and act together. Next time you drive to the supermarket and buy Ɣ How will the surrounding habitat be affected? your pre-packaged dinner, consider the impact comparison between a forager’s activities and How and why I forage the footprint caused by the commercially Let me stand up and say “Yes, I have foraged produced food we otherwise all have to rely on pretty much every wild resource I have discov- day to day. ered”. From root to fruit, I actively make use So how can we as a group of people come of wild food and this often involves managing together to make changes? Certainly foragers my intended crop for months, even years, could do more to record where wild plants before I am able to take a withdrawal. grow. Maybe botanists could suggest less I truly believe that I collect food from the invasive harvesting methods? Perhaps, with wild in much the same way that primitive man organisation, revenue could be accessed would have done, before environmental making some of our lesser supported areas of conservation was even considered. We had a natural beauty self-funding through controlled connection then to our environment that was foraging? far more intelligent than our modern approach; I will continue to share my uses of wild we had an understanding that because of the ingredients and finds. I hope that my love for need we have to survive we had a pre-deter- the connection we have to the natural world, mined responsibility to protect the very species expressed through my responsible foraging, is we rely upon to survive. understood for what it is - an infectious love for all things wild. Notes – Orchid conservation in South Yorkshire 43

Orchid conservation in South Yorkshire ELAINE AND MEL LINNEY, South Yorkshire Botany Group, 18 Yvonne Grove, Wombwell, Barnsley, S. Yorkshire, S73 8NA; ([email protected]); (http://bsbi.org.uk/south_yorkshire.html; http://southyorkshirebotany.blogspot.co.uk/) Travelling along Manvers Way in the Dearne spikes of Bee Orchids, probably more, from Valley on the border of Barnsley to Rotherham the Broomhill roundabout to the roundabout (v.c.63) we saw the notice in the attached after Old Moor, no doubt helped by the slip- picture on the roundabout to the RSPB Old stream of traffic along this busy road. Also, Moor Nature Reserve. The Dactylorhiza we now have a thriving colony of Lathyrus species and hybrids have been growing in the nissolia (Grass Vetchling) in that area. verges along this stretch of road for a number Thanks must go to Matthew Capper, of years, but it was not until someone found Manager of the RSPB Old Moor reserve, Pete Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchids) at the bus stop Wall of the NIA and Rotherham MBC for their about three years ago that Pete Wall of the combined efforts in maintaining and Dearne Valley Nature Improvement Area improving this particularly rich area of the approached Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Dearne Valley. On our way to a field meeting Council, and, as partners in the NIA, they we saw a similar notice on the A1 roundabout agreed not to cut the verges in that area until at Marr, which is in the area of Doncaster the autumn. This year, on our annual visit to MBC, who are also NIA partners. No doubt see how things are going on, we found that not the other two councils in South Yorkshire are only are the D. praetermissa (Southern Marsh- encouraging our natural heritage in this once orchids) and D. fuchsii (Common Spotted-or- heavily industrialised part of Yorkshire. chids) thriving, but we counted over 100

Orchid conservation sign in Dearne Valley, S. Yorks. (v.c.63). Photo M. Linney © 2015 44 Notes – Huperzia selago

Huperzia selago MICHAEL WILCOX, 43 Roundwood Glen, Greengates, Bradford, BD10 0HW; ([email protected]) Huperzia selago (Fir Clubmoss) is divided They are difficult plants in general, but it into two subspecies, ssp. selago and ssp. might be possible that what we have in the arctica (Stace, 2010). The differences and British Isles could be a relict hybrid and there- distribution are given in Stace, and other works fore our H. selago ssp. arctica needs to be give the same information. Primarily, in ssp. reviewed. It is possible that most if not all selago the leaves are more or less patent and plants recorded as ssp. arctica could be this the stem is up to about 12(-15) mm wide; while ‘intermediate’. in ssp. arctica the leaves are appressed and the Interestingly, the spores of H. selago ssp. stems are (consequently) up to c.6mm wide. It selago are dark brown and appear more or less is likely that these two taxa are species (the fertile (being loose single spores when opened latter being known as H. appalachiana in N. on to a glass slide). The intermediates America). (putative hybrids?) have spores that in general Plants received from Skye and Shetland, appear clumped (stuck) together, even when courtesy of Stephen Bungard and Walter Scott placed in water on a glass side. The latter also respectively, are in my opinion intermediates appear to be pale and many are misshapen. (putative hybrids). F. Rumsey (pers. comm.) Records and vouchers need to be collected. says that the late J. Beitel thought that hybrids In the first instance I would be happy to look might occur in the British Isles. These plants at fresh plants with mature sporangia. from Skye and Shetland might be recorded as Reference: H. selago ssp. arctica. However, they are too STACE, C.A. (2010). New flora of the British wide, but they do have erect leaves, becoming Isles. 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, more appressed as they dry. They are c.8-12mm Cambridge. wide, with the yellowish green of ssp. arctica.

Diary for 2015 CHRIS METHERELL, Woodsia House, Main Street, Felton, Northumberland, NE65 9PT;(01670- 783401; [email protected])

Date Meeting Location Wednesday 7 October Records and Research Committee London Thursday 15 October Publications Committee London Saturday 24 October Committee for Wales tbc Wednesday 28 October Training and Education Committee Shrewsbury Wednesday 4 November Council London Saturday 7 November Scottish AGM Edinburgh Wednesday 18 November Board of Trustees London Saturday 28 November 2015 BSBI AEM &AGM London Adventives & Aliens News, 6 45

Adventives & Aliens News, 6 MATTHEW BERRY (Compiler), Flat 2, 11 Southfields Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1BU; ([email protected]) My latest nomination for a non-native plant appeal, and can hardly be bettered as a means of species on the increase would have to be conveying botanical detail. It is my aim to Euphorbia oblongata (Balkan Spurge) (and see include as many as is practicable. Robin has Peter Stroh’s note in BSBI News, 129: 88). In very generously offered to produce drawings April 2015 I recorded it from four new sites for other records in future numbers of ‘Adven- around Eastbourne; these in addition to the two tives & Aliens News’. I am very grateful to already existing ones for the Eastbourne area. him, to those who submitted details of their The number of records for Sussex as a whole interesting finds (please keep it up!), and to Eric has been climbing steadily since the first in Clement for pearls of botanical wisdom. 2002. This spread presumably correlates with V.c.6 (N. Somerset) its increasing popularity as a garden plant and it Panicum capillare (Witch-grass). Shapwick is often to be found growing in pavement cracks Heath (ST4241), 1/2015, J. Mason (conf. & close to gardens, or where garden waste has comm. E.J. Clement): weed of bare peat, been dumped unceremoniously. I have clearly established, having survived the included two v.c.13 records and one v.c.14 removal of the peat mound in 2014. record below, so that others might be encour- V.c.11 (S. Hants) aged to send theirs, as I am certain that this will Calepina irregularis (Asso) Thell. (White Ball- prove to be a trend replicated elsewhere in other mustard). West Quay, Southampton (principally southern?) counties. (SU41741159), 4/5/2014, P. Stanley (det. A record for Panicum capillare (Witch-grass) E.J. Clement): in gravel below raised flower sent by John Mason (see v.c.6) suggests it might beds. This is most likely to be confused with be spread in peat used for agri-/horticultural Crambe hispanica ssp. abyssinica (Abyssinian purposes, and I hope that this might suggest Sea-kale), but Calepina irregularis has clasping alternative locations in which to keep a lookout stem leaves, with patent, acute auricles, while for the species, generally thought of as a classic Crambe hispanica has non-clasping, distinctly bird-seed alien around towns and parks. I petiolate stem leaves, with truncate bases to the would welcome other records which seem to leaf blades. It is a native of the Mediterranean support this association (of course it is possible region. that the peat contained bird-seed, or had bird- seed scattered on it). V.c.13 (W. Sussex) While on the subject of bird-seed aliens, Euphorbia oblongata (Balkan Spurge). Hove Aaron Woods has sent details of four exciting (TQ2832104881), 16/8/2010, A. Spiers: garden new records (see v.c.36), three Niger seed aliens escape, bottom of gate, New Church Road, from ground close to where bird feeders are Hotham Park (SZ9381599432), 13/7/2011, M. cleaned, and one pot plant alien from an indoor Shaw: in recently landscaped area near ponds. gardening centre. They will probably be new to As well as having reddish, patent-hairy stems, most members (as they were to me), but there is short rhizomes and capsules with low, no reason why they should not occur in similar hemispherical papillae, it nearly always has situations elsewhere, possibly in the company cyathia with two glands rather than the normal of other long lost and/or novel exotics. four. This might very nearly be diagnostic and Finally, I am very pleased to be able to present seems to have been missed in much of the Robin Wall’s drawings of Calepina irregularis literature. Note that some cyathia can have (White Ball-mustard), an alien crucifer with three or four glands, particularly the solitary very few recent records (see v.c.11) (fig. 1). ones found in the leaf axils (known formally as Drawings can match photographs for aesthetic alar flowers) and those of later flowering growth. For detailed drawings of this species by 46 Adventives & Aliens News, 6

Calepina irregularis (Asso) Thell. del. R.M. Walls a) Upper stem; b) Cauline leaf (10mm); c) Basal leaf (20mm); d) Fruit and pedicel (2mm); e) Dried fruit (1mm) Adventives & Aliens News, 6 47

Delf Smith, see BSBI News, 71: 47, enlargement verge opposite New Inn; Five Ashes ‘f’ in the sequence, showing very clearly the (TQ557245), 7/2005, E. Rich: sheltered verge, two glands and the structure of the cyathium. Spring Lane; known here since 1984. Though V.c.14 (E. Sussex) it can be long-persistent, it is unlikely that estab- Limonium platyphyllum (Broad-leaved Statice). lished colonies will be replaced or supple- Eastbourne (TV6100497894), 8/9/2014, M. mented by new ones, unless it comes back into Berry (det. E.J. Clement): growing out of retain- favour as a garden plant. Nearly all British ing wall, base of steep embankment by prome- records are thought to refer to ssp. uralensis. nade, Holywell. The presence of these plants V.c.15 (E. Kent) was first noted by D. Nicolle. A glabrous or Linaria dalmatica (Balkan Toadflax). Little- glabrescent form that keys out as L. vulgare in stone (TR085244), 6/1998, D. Walker (det. & Stace (2010), but that is exclusively a species of comm. E.J. Clement): on waste ground. A muddy saltmarsh. The rather similar Gonioli- thorough search in July 2015 failed to relocate mon tataricum (German Statice), another it, its habitat probably destroyed by one of the garden plant with potential to naturalise, has numerous recent beach front developments significantly winged stems. (pers. obs. M. Berry & R. Wells). I would like Euphorbia oblongata (Balkan Spurge). West to hear of other records or updates of known of Swanborough Manor (TQ397074), sites. It can form long-lived colonies and is 22/8/2008, A. & K. Knapp: one plant on north highly garden-worthy, although potentially side of road. invasive (as in N. America). Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) F. Muell. ex V.c.26 (W. Suffolk) Benth. (Slender Celery). Eastbourne Amaranthus albus (White Pigweed). Breck- (TQ6234100167), 1/7/2015, M. Berry (conf. lands (TL8149779853), 8/8/2014, B. Laney E.J. Clement): one plant in gutter of Latimer (det. & comm. E.J. Clement): along the new Road, probably originating from a plant A11 dual carriageway. A. albus is more erect container in a nearby garden. The first Sussex than the next species (although not when record. See E.J. Clement’s note, BSBI News, trodden on or driven over, always a hazard in 116: 76. the places where it tends to occur), has spine- Campanula pyramidalis (Chimney tipped bracteoles and small seeds up to 1mm Bellflower). Eastbourne (TQ62580089), across. 26/4/2015, M. Berry (conf. E.J. Clement): on a Amaranthus blitoides (Prostrate Pigweed). wall top by the A259. Since I have known Brecklands (TL8147180099), 8/8/2014, about the plant (April 2014), it has not flowered. B. Laney (det. & comm. E.J. Clement): along Ken Bull recorded it from “a wall top near the new A11 dual carriageway. A. blitoides is Princes Park” in 1972, which at a push would genuinely prostrate, lacks spine-tipped bracte- describe the present location. It would be oles and has larger seeds than the previous pleasing to think that, even if not identical, this species, up to 1.8mm across. The very narrow plant is somehow of the same stock. Clement et hyaline leaf margins noted in Poland & al. (2005): 263. Clement (2009) might not always be apparent in Phuopsis stylosa (Caucasian Crosswort). pressed material. The Mediterranean Lower Willingdon (TQ5850303894), A. graecizans (Short-tepalled Pigweed) is also 28/8/2012, H. Proctor & P. Smith (det. rather similar; for differences see Stace (2010). M. Berry): established as a 2 × 2m patch in a V.c.36 (Herefordshire) grassy area on the north side of the A2270. Centipeda minima (L.) A.Braun & Asch. Formerly Asperula ciliata, it is a garden plant (Spreading Sneezeweed). King’s Acre native to the Caucasus and Iran. This patch was (SO471415), 6/9/2014, A. Woods (conf. probably destroyed by the installation of a gas E.J. Clement): pot weed with bonsai tree in main. indoor plant centre of Wyevale Garden Centre. Cicerbita macrophylla (Blue Sow-thistle). Aaron has seen it previously in a bonsai pot in a Hadlow Down (TQ532241), 2005, E. Rich: 48 Adventives & Aliens News – 6 / Francoa sp. found in Dartmouth, Devon (v.c.3) garden centre in Bucks. (v.c.24) and thinks it growing on the edge of a yard at Wofferwood might be overlooked. The first post-1930s Common. This annual grass, native to north- records (?). east Africa, with ligules that are a fringe of Guizotia scabra Sch. Bip. ssp. schimperi hairs, has leaf-blade bases that are broadly (Sticky Niger). Stanford Bishop (SO698515), rounded or cordate, with a false petiole; the 24/9/2014, A. Woods (conf. E.J. Clement): six latter creating an opportunity for vegetative plants growing at the edge of a yard at Woffer- recognition, particularly important in the case of wood Common. It can be distinguished from tropical species unlikely to produce inflores- G. abyssinica (Niger) by the presence of cences in this country. Of the three Stanford numerous glandular hairs. Bishop Niger seed aliens only Guizotia scabra Arthraxon hispidus (Thumb.) Makino (Small ssp. schimperi reached the flowering stage Carpet-grass). Stanford Bishop (SO698515), before being killed by frosts. 4/9/2014, A. Woods (conf. E.J. Clement): two References: plants growing at the edge of a yard at Woffer- CLEMENT, E.J., SMITH, D.P.J. & THIRLWELL, wood Common. This annual grass, native to I.R. (2005). Illustrations of alien plants of the Africa and Australasia, has distinctive amplexi- British Isles. BSBI, London. caul stem leaves that are ovate-lanceolate, with POLAND, J. & CLEMENT, E.J., (2009). The tuberculate-ciliate margins, the cilia often being vegetative key to the British flora. Privately most obvious about the rounded auricles. The published, in association with the BSBI, inflorescence, should one be produced, is an Southampton. umbel of 2–50 racemes. Ryves et al. (1996): RYVES, T.B., CLEMENT, E.J. & FOSTER, M.C. fig. 13. (1996). Alien grasses of the British Isles. Pennisetum petiolare (Hochst.) Chiov. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London. Stanford Bishop (SO698515), 4/9/2014, STACE, C.A. (2010). New flora of the British A. Woods (conf. E.J. Clement): one plant Isles. (3rd ed.) CUP, Cambridge. Francoa sp. found in Dartmouth, Devon (v.c.3) PHIL PULLEN, 95 Yealmpstone Drive, Plymouth, PL7 1HE; ([email protected]) Francoa species (Bridal Wreath or Wedding European garden flora only recognised one Flower) are attractive perennials from Chile that species, Francoa sonchifolia, but that five are grown in gardens. The Royal Horticultural variants of this extremely variable species had Society describes them as ‘evergreen perennials been given species names. He gave his opinion with lance-shaped, sinuately lobed basal leaves that the Dartmouth plant was closest to F. appen- and four-petalled flowers in racemes on erect diculata,if the segregates were to be recognised stems.’ as species, as it had a (weakly) branched inflores- This July I spotted a plant that was unknown to cence. me flowering amongst the Crithmum maritimum This is not the first time that Francoa has been (Rock Samphire) that were growing on the inner recorded from Britain. The other records are harbour wall at Dartmouth in Devon (v.c.3) (grid from the Isles of Scilly (v.c.1b), and the BSBI ref. SX8785351410). It had made a decent sized Distribution Database map names them as clump and had several flowering spikes. F. ramosa,with the latest record coming in 2012 Collecting one of the spikes and a couple of basal from Tresco. Additionally, a plant was found in leaves, and taking photos (see Colour Section, Aberystwyth (v.c.46) in July 2014, and a photo Plate 4), the experts on the website ‘iSpot’ were sent to ‘iSpot’, where it was identified as able to identify it as a Francoa. F. sonchifolia. This plant was described as It proved to be much more difficult to find out having been found “in my field’s hedge; very tall which species the plant belonged to. I sent the with leaves that look almost like a dandelion, plant to Fred Rumsey at the Natural History with slightly pinkish colouring around the edge.” Museum in London, who explained that the Botanical crossword 26 49

BOTANICAL CROSSWORD 26

by CRUCIADA

Across Down 7. Straight and narrow attained in real order (6) 1. Foxglove is not computerised (7) 8. Multiple numbers frame what’s full (6) 2. Feature on utricle shown to headmaster (4) 9. Sap, we hear, of Scottish Betula (4) 3. Root, fruit, fish, flower or fly – it does become 10. Fragrant shrub that’s excellent when re-sown on rather boring (6) domestic ground (8) 4. Painter, perhaps, in mixing slip depicts an arrange- 11. Bell tents put up from scratch, it’s said, at night ment of leaves (6) (11) 5. Alone, pen thesis about pitcher-plant drug (8) 14. Hot trade she dealt in on Studland Dunes (6,5) 6. Interrupt waxy covering (5) 18. Medico is treating separation of sexes (8) 12. Looks where no-one is put back by early colonisers 19. It’s 100 to 1 you’ll get reproductive result from (8) pine, say (4) 13. It’s painful resting on nettle! (7) 20. Species hankering for petty caper with sea and sun 15. Fern supports return to south-eastern pits (6) at Portland, for example (6) 16. Fruit (culinary vegetable) excessively laid on 21. Old dancing girl finds way to spread out along the carpet (6) ground (6) 17. In short, invasive coastal plant or animal (5) 19. Heard to trade in structural unit of plant (4) 50 Notices – Beginners’ workshops

NOTICES

Beginners’ workshops FAITH ANSTEY, The Old Smithy, Dalguise, Dunkeld, PH9 0JX; ([email protected]) This year in Scotland we held our third series couplet 1 of any general key – Francis Rose, of one-day workshops aimed at beginners and Stace etc., – and attempt to go from there). improvers in field botany, run by BSBI volun- Instead we approached the subject more teers (including several vice-county recorders) logically: if you can learn to recognise ‘family in association with Plantlife. Our objects resemblance’ enough to place a specimen in were, firstly, to make plant identification one of the common families – or establish that accessible, interesting and enjoyable; it is not from a common family – you can then secondly, to raise the profile of the BSBI and proceed to a family key in your field guide perhaps attract new members; and thirdly to where you will have a much better chance of try out an approach to teaching novice amateur ending up with the correct identification. botanists by means of plant families. So the next item on the programme was a We have held seven workshops so far, in ‘flowchart’, which asked a number of various locations around Scotland, attended by questions in order, beginning with ‘Is it a a total of about 150 people. Very few of the monocot?’ (simple definition of monocot participants were complete beginners and included), ‘Is it a composite?’ (ditto) and so fewer than we expected were just pursuing a on. Certain groups would be either chosen or general hobby. Many were students on univer- eliminated at each juncture, until a likely sity courses in plant science and related candidate for the family was found. Note that subjects, others worked in environment depart- this flowchart was not exhaustive: it did not ments or consultancies, quite a few did volun- claim to find every family unequivocally, only teer work for the BSBI, Plantlife, the Scottish that the suggestions offered would be worth Wildlife Trust and similar organisations. pursuing. The flowchart formed the first part By the speed with which the workshops of a field-friendly (A6 ringbound waterproof) became fully booked, the enthusiasm with ‘Pocket Guide’. The second part of the Guide which they were received, and the praise for consisted of descriptions of 24 common the friendly and approachable professionalism families, copiously illustrated with photos and of the tutors, there can be no doubt that recog- explanatory diagrams plus a glossary. Next nition of the BSBI and enhancement of its year we hope to put an expanded edition of the standing has been achieved. Guide on general sale. The workshop programme, which developed At this point the participants were divided from discussions among members of the into groups roughly reflecting their current Outreach initiative of the Committee for levels of expertise, and spent time with their Scotland, was as follows. The anchor person group tutors using the flowchart to find just the started with a basic rundown on what families of a number of fresh specimens of flowering plants are, their structure and the common species. Tentative answers would ‘naming of parts’. Then we went on to the then be checked with family descriptions and business of identification. But we rejected the examples and, with appropriate help from the idea of playing snap (plant in one hand, field tutor, each plant could be assigned to a family. guide in the other, keep thumbing through until We have found that trying to use dichoto- you find a match), the show-and-tell method mous keys is often a great destroyer of confi- (your mentor shows you the plant, then tells dence for novices, so it was important to slay you what it is) and the absolutely-impossible- that dragon. With the whole class reassem- and-terrifying-to-beginners method (start with bled, we worked through a series of keys from Notices – Beginners’ workshops / The launch of the Burren Botany Bubble 51 ultra-simple up to a realistic level of family done in ‘streamed’ groups, where the tutor key to genera and species. Back in their small could tailor his or her approach to the appro- groups, they were then ready to try the family priate level. Around 90% found the handouts keys in Francis Rose and/or Collins Flower (Pocket Guide plus other takeaway worksheets Guide to arrive at species identifications for – no Powerpoint here!) very useful and the their plants. other 10% ‘quite useful’. Later on in the afternoon the groups went out The group leaders came across, according to to an adjacent site with their Pocket Guides the evaluations, overwhelmingly as knowl- and fieldguides and tried out these methods on edgeable, approachable, helpful, enthusiastic, plants in the field. The families approach was clear, patient and so on. The only negative found to be easy to use, much enjoyed and comments were from a couple of people who productive of mainly correct identifications. felt they had been given too much help – they This year we also held (optional) half-day did not want to be told the answers! follow-ups nearby the next day to continue We made a small charge just to cover our with the fieldwork. These were well-attended expenses and Plantlife was very helpful in and gratefully received. giving us wide publicity to potential partici- We carried out evaluations for each pants. The original idea of these workshops workshop. Overall in the seven workshops, was that the format and materials could be 95% of participants felt that the level of the made available to any BSBI member who course was pitched just right for them, even would like to run one in their own area. So, if though more than a quarter said they had very you are interested in knowing more or want to little previous experience, and just under a have a look at the Pocket Guide to Families – quarter claimed to have quite a lot. We a few copies are still available, just p. & p. attribute this to the fact that so much work was £2.50 – please contact the author, details above.

The launch of the Burren Botany Bubble MARY BERMINGHAM, The Burren Nature Sanctuary, Cloonasee, Kinvara, Co Galway, Eire; ([email protected])

As part of Ireland’s National Heritage Week in be collected under license from the National August 2015, the Burren Bubble at the Burren Parks and Wildlife service. Nature Sanctuary in Kinvara has been Burren Nature Sanctuary also showcases five officially launched. of the Burren natural habitats: limestone This state of the art dome exhibit, which pavement, orchid-rich grassland, ash wood- opened to the public in July, has been carefully land, hazel scrub and a fresh-water tidal designed under the principles of The Interna- turlough. This unique two acre disappearing tional Agenda for Botanic Gardens (BGCI) lake (or turlough) empties completely twice and Leave No Trace as an educational resource every 24 hours, as the underground Black- and plant bank for conservation of the Burren water River drains out into Kinvara Bay. The flora. In development for the last five years, carefully designed paths around the habitats the Burren Bubble contains the National show the visitor, who may be casually inter- Collection of Burren Flora – the most exciting ested in the Burren botany, many of the Burren and diverse place in Ireland for natural history. plants in situ, as an alternative to walking Specimens have been carefully selected from across fragile pavement on the Burren in around the richly biodiverse, 50 acre organic search of, for example, the famous Gentiana farm to build the collection. Some plants have verna (Spring Gentian). been propagated on site and donations have The collection has been managed by local come in of specimens from areas under threat plantsman Mr Edward Dea, who is delighted locally. Specimens to build the collection will with the way the plants have flourished in the 52 Notices – The launch of the Burren Botany Bubble / Requests & Offers –Recording Pink, Blue and Hybrid Water-speedwells / Assistance with digitising field data / The flora of Hawick Burgh experimental environment. With a system of tion to visit this special landscape in a sustain- fans and vents, the climate has been adjusted able manner and identify the wonderful mix of and he has been very excited to find that flora. The Burren Bubble will also be a although the grasses need quite an amount of valuable resource for study and for conserva- control the orchids are growing in line with tion in the future and we would like to appeal those in their natural habitats. Beds are to the wider botanical community for any divided into limestone pavement, orchid-rich support. grassland, heath and coastal collections. Burren Nature Sanctuary is open daily all The aim of the new exhibit, and the interpre- year apart from January. For more informa- tation around the walks, is to educate the tion, see the website: www.bns.ie visitor and leave them armed with the informa- REQUESTS & OFFERS

Recording Pink, Blue and Hybrid Water-speedwells MICHAEL WILCOX, 43 Roundwood Glen, Greengates, Bradford, BD10 0HW; ([email protected]) Pink Water-speedwell (Veronica catenata), and some information seems to be misleading. Blue Water-speedwell (V. anagallis-aquatica) I would be pleased to help and am keen to and Hybrid Water-speedwell (V. ×lackschewit- receive any fruiting material of these taxa. This zii) may cause difficulty in recording. They may help with recording for Atlas 2020. Mid- are much easier than the keys and text suggest to-late summer is a good time to record these.

Assistance with digitising field data DR PETER STROH, BSBI, 14 Rushmere Close, Islip, Northamptonshire, NN14 3LG; ([email protected])

With so many records being collected for the teers for this vital task. Data entry requires a Atlas, it is inevitable that assistance is great deal of patience, time, and ideally previ- sometimes required when it comes to digitis- ous experience with botanical datasets. If you ing field data. Until April 2015 and thanks to feel that you have the necessary skills and can the generosity of the Biological Records offer your help, then please get in touch with Centre, a member of staff was able to help us, me for a chat about what is involved. but having now retired, we are seeking volun-

The flora of Hawick Burgh MICHAEL BRAITHWAITE, Clarilaw Farmhouse, Hawick, Roxburghshire, TD9 8PT; ([email protected])

The booklet The flora of Hawick Burgh, with photographs and distribution maps. A outlined in my article in BSBI News, 128: limited number of copies are available from 16-19, has now been published. It is 64 pages me free of charge from the above address. A5 format, liberally illustrated in full colour Requests & Offers – Request for UK material of Allium species and Ficaria verna 53

Request for UK material of Allium species and Ficaria verna MARTIN DUCHOSLAV, Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 11, CZ 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic; ([email protected])

I am a researcher working at Palacky Univer- bulbils of other individuals <10cm from a sity, Olomouc, Czech Republic. My current sampled plant, in order to minimize the proba- research covers various topics of polyploidy bility of sampling multiple ramets of individ- (e.g. population ecology, distribution, chromo- ual genets. Simply put the inflorescence with some numbers) in various species of the genus its bulbils into a small paper bag, separately (!) Allium and in the polyploid complex Ficaria for each sampled individual. Small bags of verna (Lesser Celandine). samples from individual plants in one popula- I have specifically been studying the tion should be put into a large paper bag to polyploid complex Allium oleraceum (Field ensure that individuals from respective popula- Garlic) since 2000 and Allium scorodoprasum tions are in one bag. Early autumn is the (Sand Leek) since 2014. My first step has been optimal period for such sampling because to collect plant samples from the species’ Allium species are in the ripening phenological ranges across Europe in order to obtain solid phase, bulbils within the inflorescence are ripe data on population compositions (e.g. detec- and plants are still visible in the field. Please tion of ploidy levels, genome size, samples for record the O.S. grid or lat. long. coordinates genetic study) and also to uncover large-scale and a short description of the sampled popula- cytogeographic patterns. We have published tion (location, habitat, population size, and if several papers on this topic based on collec- possible also a photo). Please send samples by tions from Central Europe (for published post to the address above, and send the locality papers see: https://scholar.google.cz/citations information via e-mail. ?user=i93C9x8AAAAJ&hl=en). ii) Ficaria verna Because we have identified very complex This is rather a complicated taxon, consisting cytogeographical patterns, we have decided to of four subspecies (Sell, 1994; Stace, 2010). enlarge our research across Europe. Over the We have started a biosystematic study of this last few years, our team has sampled popula- taxon throughout its European range but we tions of A. oleraceum, A. vineale (Wild Garlic) lack samples from Great Britain. We plan to and A. scorodoprasum across Europe to get a visit Britain next spring (2016) and to sample solid collection of populations for cytogeo- populations of all subspecies occurring in the graphic and molecular analysis. However, we British Isles. We would be very grateful if have very limited material of A. oleraceum, somebody could help us find and collect suffi- A. vineale, A. scorodoprasum and Ficaria cient numbers of populations. Of course, we verna from the British Isles. We would there- would be much obliged for samples of fresh fore be pleased to get population samples of tubers of plants or fresh plants with under- these species from the British Isles, as follows. ground organs from various populations sent i) Allium oleraceum, A. scorodoprasum and to us by post for subsequent cultivation, A. vineale independently of our visit. We would prefer fresh aerial bulbils (or bulbs) References: of A. oleraceum, A. vineale and A. scorodo- SELL, P.D. (1994). ‘Ranunculus ficaria L. prasum from several individuals within a sensu lato.’ Watsonia, 20(1): 41-50. population (from at least five individual plants, STACE, C.A. (2010). New flora of the British the more the better); and from a range of Isles. (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press, populations. Sampling should cover the total Cambridge. area of the population, but avoid collecting 54 Book Notes

BOOK NOTES

JOHN EDMONDSON, Book Reviews Editor, 243 Pensby Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH61 5UA; ([email protected])

The following titles are to be reviewed in Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. current or future issues of New Journal of 2014. £40 flexible covers. ISBN 978 0 521 Botany. Also included are notes on books that 82071 4. are not being given a full review (marked *). Subtitled “a portable dictionary of plants, Unsigned reviews are by the editor. their classifications and uses”, this regularly updated compendium traces its origins to *GREENWOOD, E. F. Hunting plants: the story of those who discovered the flowering plants J.C. Willis’s Dictionary of the flowering and ferns of North Lancashire. Scotforth plants and ferns. With family circumscrip- Books, Lancaster. 2015. £12.00 p/b. ISBN tions brought into alignment with APGIII, 978 1 90817 22 7. and having now included some ‘economical- The absence of a chapter on plant collectors ly important’ bryophyte genera, it continues and recorders from Eric Greenwood’s to serve as a reliable and usable reference recently published Flora of v.c.60 has now work for taxonomic botanists, ecologists, been rectified. This viii + 82-page biograph- editors and curators. ical history, illustrated with 29 plates (mostly *MANCUSO, S. & VIOLA, A. (tr. by Joan in colour) and a graph, contains a great deal Benham). Brilliant green: the surprising of original research and is therefore of wide history and science of plant intelligence. interest to botanical historians. The book Island Press, Washington, U.SA. 2015. comprises two sections. The first is a narra- £12.99 p/b. ISBN 978 1 61091 603 5. This tive part, headed “How the plants were very odd little book mainly deals with the found”; and the second is an index in the science of plant neurobiology, and describes style of, but more detailed than Ray how plants use various sensory mechanisms Desmond’s Dictionary. The work concludes to help them survive and prosper. It also with a bibliography. The fascinating family touches on phytoremediation, whereby trees of the Backhouse, Crosfield and plants intercept and neutralise environmental Fothergill families on pp. 4 and 5 are titled toxins. “Family relationships of Quaker botanists”, MEINERS, S.J., PICKETT, S.T. & CADENASSO, some of whom featured prominently in the M.L. An integrative approach to succession- early history of the botanical exploration of al dynamics. Cambridge University Press, north Lancashire and, indeed, elsewhere Cambridge. 2015. £65.00 h/b. ISBN 978 0 (e.g., James Backhouse of Darlington (1794- 521 11642 8. “The fourteen chapters [cover] 1869) in Tasmania). community assembly, heterogeneity, LINNAEUS, C. (with a new introduction by functional ecology and biological invasion” C.Jarvis). Species plantarum. Ray Society, (blurb). London. 2015. 2 vols. £125 h/b. ISBN 978 MILNER, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland. 0 903874 49 6. Natural History Museum, London. 2011. LOCKTON, A. & WHILD, S. The flora and £19.95 h/b. ISBN 978 0 565 09295 5. vegetation of Shropshire. Shropshire Botan- RAY, J. Methodus plantarum nova, tr. by ical Society, Shrewsbury. 2015. £35 p/b. S.A.Nimis, K.T.Unroe & M.A.Vincent, with ISBN 978 9530937 2 4. commentaries by M.Black, M.W.Chase & *MABBERLEY, D.J. Mabberley’s plant-book. M.A.Vincent. Ray Society, London. 2015. 3rd ed., reprinted with corrections. £60 h/b. ISBN 978 0 903874 46 5. Book Notes – Correction to The flora of Oxfordshire (1998) 55

*REVELS, J.R., BOON, C & BELLAMY, G. Wild *VAUGHN, W. Hawthorn: the tree that has orchids of Bedfordshire. Bedfordshire nourished, healed and inspired through the Natural History Society. 2015. £20 h/b. ages. Yale University Press, New Haven. ISBN 978 0 9506521 9 1. 2015. £17.99 h/b. ISBN 978 0 300 20349 3. Rarely can three experts in the fields of A somewhat Thoreauesque treatment of a photography, plant recording and environ- non-native (to North America) species by an mental conservation have come together American author, this book focuses on the with such good effect. Although this book is one-seeded hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, ostensibly focused on one small county, it but also broadens its scope to include New deserves to be cherished by orchid enthusi- World native hawthorns, the so-called asts across these islands. With 1×1km distri- ‘American thorns’, and even muses on bution maps, based largely on a two-year Cooksonia, their ancient ancestor. Its main intensive survey, and introductory chapters theme is the European hawthorn in myth and on orchid conservation in general and work legend. on Autumn Lady’s-tresses in particular, it also tells where each of the 27 species, varie- WILMOTT, A. & MOYES, N. The flora of ties and hybrids can be seen on sites in Derbyshire. Pisces Publications, Newbury. Bedfordshire accessible to the public. 2015. £38.50 h/b. ISBN 978 1 874357 65 0. STACE, C.A., PRESTON, C.D. & PEARMAN, D.A.. Hybrid flora of the British Isles. Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, Bristol. 2015. £45 h/b. ISBN 978 0 901158 48 2. A correction to The flora of Oxfordshire (1998) JOHN KILLICK, 17b Park Crescent, Abingdon, Oxon., OX14 1DF; ([email protected]) Among the articles I write for The Oxford Times, number 882 was ‘Sharp-flowered Rush Juncus acutiflorus’. It began: “I was relieved to find few errors in The flora of Oxfordshire, but unfortunately the distribution map for this rush is one of them.” In fact, the map for this species, which occurs in only 94 of the Flora’s 596 tetrads, was that for J. articulatus (Jointed Rush), which is found in 295. I am submitting the correct map (see fig. 1), printed at about the right size, in the hope that readers can paste a copy over the wrong one on page 261. Reference KILLICK, J, PERRY, R & WOODELL, S. (1998). The flora of Oxfordshire. Pisces publica- Fig 1. Replacement map of Juncus acutiflorus in tions, Newbury The flora of Oxfordshire (1998), p. 261 56 Recorders and Recording – Panel of Referees and Specialists / Panel of Vice-county Recorders

RECORDERS AND RECORDING

Panel of Referees and Specialists JEREMY ISON, 40 Willeys Avenue, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8ES;(Tel.: 01392 272600; Mob.: 07970 309205; [email protected]) Please note the following changes to the list of showing buds and an open corolla would be Referees and Specialists. very helpful. Paul Green (referee for Allium) now has a Quentin Groom, Botanic Garden Meise, post code. His full address is: Yoletown, Bouchout Domain, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Ballycullane, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Y34 Meise, Belgium; ([email protected]) XW62, Republic of Ireland. is replacing Mark Watson as referee for Oxalis. Bob Leaney took over Symphytum from The correct email address for Timothy Clare O’Reilly in 2014, but this was not Walker (referee for Euphorbia) is: timothy. updated in the 2015 Yearbook. The entry [email protected] should have read: Symphytum: Dr R.M. Leaney, either fresh I am currently spending such a lot of time material in a sealed plastic bag or pressed with away from home that contact by landline is one corolla slit open and a note of bud, corolla unlikely to be successful. Email is preferred, tube & bell colour. Colour photographs but for my mobile number, see above. Panel of Vice-county Recorders PETER STROH, c/o Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, 1 Brookside, Cambridge CB2 IJE; ([email protected]) Following the retirement of Tony O’Mahony, Gerry will be receiving plenty of emails from mentioned in the April edition of BSBI News, enthused local botanists! we now have a new Vice-county Recorder for In other news, Mark Duffell has recently West Cork (v.c.H03), Clare Heardman. Clare resigned as assistant VCR for Montgomery- is a Conservation Ranger based in County shire (v.c.47) and Gill Foulkes is now Cork, and is a fine addition to the VCR supporting Kathryn Thorne. Jeff Waddell, network. She can be contacted at: joint recorder in Selkirk & Roxburgh with Rod [email protected], or by writing to: Corner, has a new address: Bonavista, Heath- NPWS Conservation Ranger (Beara), Main eryett Drive, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, TD1 Gate Lodge, Glengarriff Woods Nature 2JL. Martin Rand, VCR for South Hampshire, Reserve, Glengarriff, Co. Cork. is also on the move. From the end of County Monaghan (v.c.H32) also has an September, his new address will be 3 Kings excellent new recruit, Alexis FitzGerald, to Close, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, assist Pat Lenihan. Alexis’s email address is: SO53 2FF. [email protected], and his Finally, and on a sadder note, Jim McIntosh postal address is: Apartment M, Coliemore has informed me of the passing of three VCRs Apartments, Coliemore Road, Dalkey, Co. from Scotland. Jim writes: Dublin. “BSBI Recorder, Pat Evans died on 26th Staying in Ireland, Gerry Sharkey (v.c.c.H26 April. She had been Recorder for West & H27) has asked for his email address to be Sutherland (v.c.108), one of the biggest and included here: [email protected]; most remote counties, since 1993, latterly and following the wonderful success of the jointly with her husband, Ian Evans. Ian will recent field meeting in Mayo, I am sure that continue as Recorder. Recorders and Recording – Recording Juncus gerardii and J. compressus 57

Peter Macpherson died suddenly but peace- It is also sad to report that Edna Stewart died fully at home on 6th May. He was editor of the on the 1st August. Edna was the BSBI Vice- BSBI Scottish Newsletter since its inception in county Recorder for Stirling (v.c.86), from 1979, and was also an active member of the 1994 until 2013, when she retired. She was BSBI Committee for Scotland, most recently also an active member of the BSBI Committee as Chairman from 1995 until 1999. Peter was for Scotland from 1997 until 2003. Edna was appointed Recorder for Lanarkshire (v.c.77) in an early adopter of technology, and digitised 1978, taking over from Robert McKechnie, over 50,000 records well before many others and was in the process of writing a flora. The had got to grips with computers, which has draft was almost complete and we hope it will been a great starting point for succeeding be published. The BSBI Recorder post is now BSBI Recorders, Ruth McGuire & Philip vacant. Sansum.” Recording Juncus gerardii and J. compressus MIKE WILCOX, 43 Roundwood Glen, Greengates, Bradford, BD10 0HW; ([email protected])

Saltmarsh Rush (Juncus gerardii) and Round- (passed on to me by C.A. Stace) showed that fruited Rush (J. compressus) both occur inland he was also of the opinion that J. compressus on roadsides and other habitats (although more did not occur directly on the coast. From this so J. compressus), such as flood meadows, work, it included reports of both species at near springs, and reservoir or lake edges. inland sites, e.g. near Cambridge, and putative J. gerardii,albeit primarily coastal, is a relict hybrids were sent to Snogerup in Sweden (an inland taxon in Britain and of course is also expert on Juncus), but he said they were not spreading through the activities of man. hybrids. All material I have looked at in J. compressus is an ‘inland’ species. It does herbaria said to be this hybrid was J. gerardii not occur directly on the coast or in that was poorly fruiting or yet to set seed, as saltmarshes. Plants found on the coast that reported in the new Hybrid flora. If recording look superficially like J. compressus, with J. compressus in a coastal situation or either ‘rounded capsules’, are J. gerardii that just species on an inland roadside etc., please happen to be full of seed. Often J. gerardii collect a voucher for confirmation (preferably will not fruit or will only partially do so. The in fruit, as the anthers are retained behind the anthers and seed sizes are diagnostic in these tepals). two taxa (Stace, 2010), and those with rounded References: fruits, e.g. sometimes on the Lancashire coast- GREENWOOD, E.F. (2012). Flora of North line (v.c.59/60) (see Greenwood, 2012: 490), Lancashire. Palatine Books, Carnegie or Hartlepool (v.c.66) and elsewhere, are Publishing Ltd., Lancaster. J. gerardii. STACE, C.A. (2010). New flora of the British As they can occasionally both occur along Isles. (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press, the same stretch of road, (although I do not Cambridge. know of any that are particularly close STACE, C.A., PRESTON, C.D. & PEARMAN, together) hybrids might increasingly be a D.A. (2015). Hybrid flora of the British Isles. possibility. In the new Hybrid flora (Stace et Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, al., 2015) it reports that R.P. Libbey searched Bristol. for hybrids in areas supporting both species. R.P. Libbey’s work with careful measurements 58 Obituary Notes / Notes from the Officers – From the Hon. General Secretary

OBITUARY NOTES

Since the publication of BSBI News 129, we Mr C A Jacobs of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, regret to report that the news of the deaths of a member since 2009. the following members, including several of Dr P Macpherson FRCP FRCR of Glasgow, long standing, has reached us. We send regrets a President of the Society from 1991 to 1993, and sympathies to all the families. a member since 1957, Recorder for Lanark- shire (v.c.77) since 1978, and editor of the Mr K Barnett of Malvern, Worcestershire, a BSBI Scottish Newsletter for many years. member since 1994 Mrs E W Stewart of Milngavie, Glasgow, a Mr D J Belcher of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, member since 1989 and Recorder for Stirling a member since 1985 (v.c.86) from 1994 to 2013. Mr T Davidge of Goldaming, Surrey, a Miss J P Vinson of Kingsbridge, Devon, a member since 1984 member since 1979. Mrs P A Evans of Lairg, Sutherland, a Dr J T Williams DSc of Cheadle, Cheshire, a member since 1952 and Recorder for West member since 1953. Sutherland (v.c.108) since 1993. Mr K M Goodway of Stone, Staffordshire, a The BSBI is still looking for an Obituaries member since 1951 and referee for Galium Editor and if any member would be from 1973-1995. prepared to take this on please contact John Mr J Greaves of Ossett, West Yorkshire, a Poland, 13 Grasmere Close, Southampton, member since 1992. Hants., SO18 3NP; (jpp197@alumni. Dr F M Hall of Canterbury, Kent, a member soton.ac.uk) since 1961.

NOTES FROM THE OFFICERS

From the Hon. General Secretary – CHRIS METHERELL Woodsia House, Main Street, Felton, Northumberland, NE65 9PT; (01670-783401; [email protected])

One of the current roles of the Hon. Gen. within their main archive, where they will be Secretary is to look after the BSBI’s archive easily available for use. collection. Until a couple of years ago the Once the archive has reached its new home papers were stored in the old British herbarium and is more readily viewable I intend to at the Natural History Museum. However, describe the contents in more detail in BSBI when that moved to its new and rather more News. However one new acquisition is luxurious premises in the basement of the perhaps worthy of note now. Some months Darwin Centre, the archive had to find a new ago the BSBI was offered a card index of the home. Pro tem, the archive is stored in Harro- old Botanical Exchange Club records. The gate, near to Kevin Walker’s office. However BEC was operative more or less until 1947, I am pleased to say that, once re-sorting and a and up to the Second World War published a little pruning has taken place (mostly to report, detailing, amongst other things, new remove duplicate material), the papers will vice-county records. It has to be said that the return to be housed once again in the NHM, system was rather haphazard up to 1932, when Notes from the Officers – Hon. General Secretary / Scottish Officer 59

P.H. Hall undertook the monumental task of extremely able minuting secretary, Dr Helena going back through the records and preparing Crouch. She will be much missed by all those a definitive card index of the results. Although involved in the running of the Society for the I have yet to see the cards themselves, it seems speed and accuracy with which she produced likely that it is this index which is now to Council minutes and Council and the Board of return to the archive. If it is it will doubtless Trustees extend their warmest thanks to her. prove to be a valuable resource for historic And so, a volunteer is sought to fill this role; records. only two meetings a year.... On a completely different note, I am sad to report that Council is to lose the services of its

From the Scottish Officer – JIM MCINTOSH c/o Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR; (Tel.: 0131 2482894; [email protected])

MapMate and Windows 10 operating system, I would not rush to update Not surprisingly we have had several Windows 7 & 8 computers that are happily concerned emails from MapMate users after running MapMate. The important thing to do, MapMate’s most recent Newsletter (Newslet- as always, is to make sure that your data is ter 110). It states that they ‘drop any recom- backed-up after every data entry session and mendation that MapMate will run on Windows that you synch records with the hub frequently. 8 or subsequent Windows versions.’ This Atlas 2020 Guidance response was prompted after recurring Much new Atlas 2020 guidance has been problems with Windows 8. published this summer and is now available on The Newsletter also raised the specific question the Atlas 2020 page of the BSBI website, as about whether MapMate will work satisfactorily mentioned in Peter Stroh’s Atlas 2020 Coordi- with Windows 10 and more general questions nators’ Corner (p. 65). about the long term future of MapMate. Quick Many of you will remember the series of as a flash, our Database Officer, Tom Humphrey, green Atlas 2000 guidance booklets which downloaded the beta version of Windows 10, and were distributed with BSBI News during the established that MapMate did work absolutely Atlas 2000 project. These guidance booklets fine with that operating system. It continues to have been comprehensively updated and work well with the final version of Windows 10 revised and are now online. The Atlas 2020 that was launched at the end of July. I also know instruction booklet and A beginner’s guide to many recorders are using MapMate quite happily recording are both primarily aimed at BSBI on computers with the latest versions of members; while Collecting and pressing speci- Windows 8. mens and Notes on identification works and None the less, the news from MapMate has difficult and under-recorded taxa are essential been helpful in prompting us to begin to plan references for everyone involved in Atlas for a post-MapMate future, and we will be 2020. A copy of the latter is enclosed with this discussing options in a meeting this autumn. BSBI News. As mentioned above, MapMate continues to There are two other pieces of required work normally for the vast majority of users, reading. The first is the Atlas 2020 guidance and we hope that it will continue do to so until for vice-county recorders – a collation of all the end of the Atlas 2020 project. the information and advice specifically for So where does that leave us? In the long-term, recorders that has already appeared in various Windows 10 is a worthwhile upgrade, but until editions of BSBI News, so little is new, but it is MapMate has been tested for a while on the new 60 Notes from the Officers – Scottish Officer / Welsh Officer / Irish Officer really useful to have it all set out in one place directly over the word ‘Resources’, then scroll in logical order and with an index. The second down to find the card for the vice-county. is the one-side-of-A4 guidance on Where and Cover sheets are available at the top of the lists what do we record? Take a look now! ALL of vice-counties. I print them back-to-back on this new guidance is on the Atlas 2020 page on light card (120 or 160gsm), which is more the BSBI website. durable in damp and windy weather than Customised recording cards on the BSBI ordinary paper. Recorders in the wetter west website might even like to print a batch on waterproof One or two folk have said that they have had paper (available online). Going back to the difficulty finding the vice-county customised BSBI website, if you left click on any of the cards on the BSBI website. If you bring up the other headers, a home page with that heading BSBI home page, left click with the cursor will also open.

From the Welsh Officer – POLLY SPENCER-VELLACOTT POLLY SPENCER-VELLACOTT: c/o Natural Resources Wales, Chester Road, Buckley, CH7 3AJ (Tel.: 03000 653893; [email protected])

For the last year Paul Green has been the left Wales (although we know he will continue Welsh Officer, and I am sure there are many to be active, especially in Ireland). However, Welsh members who would like to joining me I have now returned to (as of the end of in thanking Paul for the great work he has done August) and will be carrying on with the (since 2012) in Wales. As you may well be Welsh project, supporting the work of the aware the Welsh Officer post was funded full- Welsh Vice-county Recorders. My time will time by a grant that finished in June this year. be spread more thinly than before but we are As this date approached we were afraid that very grateful to Natural Resources Wales for there would not be a successor grant. the continued funding. I am very much However, in April we were very glad to hear looking forward to catching up with some of that a new grant had been awarded, albeit only our Welsh members and Vice-county Record- sufficient to cover a post for three days per ers and spending some time in the field again. week. Unfortunately, therefore, Paul has now

From the Irish Officer – MARIA LONG C/o National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; (Tel.: 00 353 87 2578763; [email protected]) Ireland’s first botanical recording week – a Over the eight-day event, 42 improver or big success! expert botanists took part, heading off in small Held over a period of eight days between 27th groups in the mornings to record. We went in July – 3rd August, and aimed at helping with all directions, taking in every habitat you can recording for Atlas 2020, the Mayo Botanical think of. One lucky group even got to go out Recording Week 2015 was an unprecedented by boat to an ancient, wooded and little-visited success. lake island. The week also included two Mayo is one of Ireland’s most scenic ‘rough crew’ days, tackling the mighty counties, with impressive mountainous terrain, Mweelrea mountain and parts of the truly wild expanses of blanket bog, stunning coastline, as Ballycroy National Park. A talk (and walk on well as inland lakes and other important the following day) was held mid-week for lowland habitats; and we visited them all! beginners and members of the public. Notes from the Officers – Irish Officer / Publicity & Outreach Officer 61

What did we achieve you might ask? Here county Recorder for these two huge vice-coun- are some results: ties, Gerry Sharkey. Ɣ 42 botanists took part (some for the entire Special thanks go to Gerry, to all who were eight days, and this is not counting beginners) leaders, especially Paul Green and Rory Hodd, Ɣ 33 hectads (10×10 km sq.) all across Mayo and to all at the excellent Lough Lannagh were visited Holiday Village, Castlebar. I can not recom- Ɣ 132 monads (1×1 km sq.) were visited mend it highly enough as a ‘base camp’ for Ɣ 10,824 plant records were collected botanical adventures. When I and Gerry thought first about organ- This is a really great result, particularly consid- ising this week we were not sure who, if ering that the ratio of expert to improver was anyone, would come. Now that we know that about 1:4/5, meaning that there was a huge there are lots of willing and able participants, emphasis on teaching and learning; i.e. the … … roll on 2016, when we will hopefully run event was not simply aimed at hard-nosed, more botanical recording events and build on full-on, speedy recording! this success story. Residential recording events such as this are, Photographs taken by Rory Hodd are on the without doubt, one of the best ways to improve Back Cover and in Colour Section, Plate 4). your botany. You see the experts in action in The names of the ‘rough crew’ in the gully are: the field, you learn their i.d. tips, and you have Catriona Mher, Kate Marie O'Connor, Róisín the chance to share and learn further in the NigFhloinn, John Deasy, James Owens, Sean evenings; and… they are always fun too! & Cathy Seale and Mark O'Callaghan. and Overall this was an adventurous, educational those on Mweelrea Mountain are: Graham and inspirational week. Everyone learned a lot Day, David Bourke, Mark O'Callaghan, and made new friends and, very importantly, Eamon Gaughan, Oonagh Duggan, Pat we made very many plant records for use in Lenihan, Sunniva Hanley and Derek Atlas 2020. This will greatly help the Vice- McLoughlin. Dates for your diary: a message from the Publicity & Outreach Officer – LOUISE MARSH The Herbarium, Biology Dept., Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH; ([email protected]) The AGM and AEM visiting: http://www.bsbi.org.uk/exhibition_ This year’s Annual Exhibition Meeting and meeting.html Annual General Meeting will take place on Any members wishing to exhibit at the AEM Saturday 28th November at the Natural History should contact us at: [email protected] to Museum, London. A flyer included with this discuss any requirements and reserve a space. issue of BSBI News gives more details and We welcome any poster or exhibit concerning includes a booking form. It is of course possi- British and Irish botany and would be happy to ble to just turn up on the day but it helps us if offer extra support and guidance to any we know in advance how many people are member who has never exhibited before. coming. We also hope to offer guided tours of the This year’s theme is BSBI North, East, West herbarium. Spaces on these tours fill up very and South. Speakers will focus on the botan- quickly so, if you are interested in joining a ical delights to be found right across BSBI’s tour, please book as soon as possible. geography, including the most far-flung New Year Plant Hunt 2016 outposts! If you have never attended an AEM A reminder that we plan to run our very before, you can get an idea of what goes on by popular Plant Hunt again for four days over the New Year holiday, and we hope that you will 62 Key to cover photo of BSBI News 129 1 2 3

4 5 6

8

9 7

10 11 12

13 15 14

1. Petasites fragrans 6. Geum urbanum 11. Euphorbia peplus 2. Sonchus oleraceus 7. Sanicula europaea 12. Prunella vulgaris 3. Erica lusitanica 8. Geranium robertianum 13. Ulex europaeus 4. Veronica serpyllifolia 9. Ficaria verna 14. Hedera helix 5. Cymbalaria muralis 10. Senecio vulgaris 15. Primula vulgaris

All photos taken at Glengarriff Woods NR, W. Cork (v.c.H3) January 2015 The composite image was put together by Clare Heardman Notes from the Officers – From the Publicity & Outreach Officer 63 want to join us in recording what is in flower on our Facebook page: in mid-winter. Details of how to get https://www.facebook.com/BSBI2011 involved will be published on the following on the BSBI Twitter account: pages, which are also a great way to keep up https://twitter.com/BSBIbotany. with all the latest botanical news until the next issue of BSBI News is published: You can also contact the Plant Hunt Team by email at: [email protected] on the News & Views blog: http://www.bsbi.org.uk/news_ _views.html

From the Database Officer – TOM HUMPHREY c/o Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB; (Tel.: 01491 692728; [email protected]) For a long while I had intended to include By default the new map pages display an brief updates about my work and about data- interactive ‘Google-map’ style layout that is related topics in each issue of BSBI News. designed to integrate data recorded at finer My role centres on development and resolutions. It had become increasingly management of the BSBI’s database system anachronistic to present hectad resolution (DDb) and, over the past year, has included maps while encouraging recorders to submit work on developing replacement software far more detailed records. for the BSBI’s distribution maps. The current website provides equivalents for all the capabilities of the old maps The BSBI Maps website system, but also adds several new formatting http://bsbi.org/maps/ options. Printable and downloadable The distribution maps on the BSBI website, versions of the maps are still available by launched in 2005 by Alex Lockton, Alan clicking on the ‘printable map’ button near Hale and Quentin Groom, rapidly became a the top-right corner of the page. popular and widely used facility. Over the The new software should still be seen as a past year a replacement mapping system, work in progress. Feedback and suggestions updated daily with new records from the are extremely welcome and will substan- BSBI’s database, has been phased in at: tially influence the focus of work on the new bsbi.org/maps/. Since May, visitors to the system. For more information about using old map scheme pages have been automati- the news maps please visit: cally redirected to the new website. http://bsbi.org/mapshelp/ The original maps website had become difficult to support in parallel with the BSBI ‘Looked for and not found’ – recording distribution database and the maps were no absence longer up-to-date. Maintaining a completely An under-used feature of MapMate and the separate database of summary records for BSBI’s database is the ability to formally the maps had become a distraction from record that a taxon is absent from a site, focusing on improving the quality of ‘looked for and not found’. detailed records in the main database and Negative records can be valuable as a way was causing confusion as the two systems to systematically document the loss of sites drifted apart. or sometimes as evidence to refute earlier 64 Notes from the Officers – Database Officer / Hon. Field Secretary records that may be in doubt. Many absence and also, whenever possible, state recorders include comments about loss of a when the taxon was last seen, or what has site in the notes fields of earlier records but, changed leading to its extirpation. Once in a less structured form, the notes are hard added to the BSBI database, negative to analyse and can easily be overlooked. records are marked using a status of ‘looked In MapMate, absence can be marked by for and not found’. Within the DDb, entering ‘-7’ in a record’s quantity field. negative records are not mapped and, by When creating such records please also default, are hidden from search results, but include a comment that makes it as clear as can be viewed by modifying the search filter possible that the record is a marker for to include all records regardless of status.

From the Hon. Field Secretary – JONATHAN SHANKLIN 11 City Road, Cambridge, CB1 1DP; ([email protected])

The 2015 field meetings are drawing to a appear in her blog as well. I have just come close and planning is already underway for back from the BSBI meeting in North North- the 2016 season. Dates for some future umberland, where we saw many rare flowers meetings are on the BSBI meetings web on the coastal dunes around Holy Island, and page, so that you can put them in your diary on one day had the experience of recording now and avoid clashes. Booking details will dune slacks in the pouring rain. Fortunately follow when they are known and will also (perhaps!) I had printed a few record cards appear in the Yearbook. The 2016 BSBI on waterproof paper, so my group endured Spring Meeting is going to be held at the recording three slacks. In addition to partic- Field Studies Council Blencathra centre in ipants learning new ways of identifying Cumbria in May. The timing is a bit early species, these meetings also give recorders a for the upland areas, so we will be concen- chance to compare notes, which can be a big trating on the spring flowers, which do not help in reducing discontinuities at county require physical fitness to reach! We will be boundaries. visiting a mix of nature reserves and areas in I hope to have an outline list of the 2016 need of general recording, so there should be meetings on display at the Annual Exhibi- something for everyone. Do come, as the tion Meeting in November and welcome meeting will be designed to be suitable for offers of meetings further in the future. As all levels of experience. always these will be a mix of general, Reports from the 2015 meetings will be recording, specialist and training meetings, published in the Yearbook for 2016 to give although there is likely to be an emphasis on members a flavour of the excitement of recording for Atlas 2020. If you are consid- participating in these events. The reports ering hosting a meeting do let me or your should go to the Yearbook editors by the end country secretary know. Ideally we would of November at the latest, but if you have like a broad coverage across England, written them promptly send a copy and Ireland, Scotland and Wales. pictures to Louise Marsh and they may BSBI Atlas 2020 – Coordinator’s Corner 65

Coordinator’s Corner PETER STROH, c/o Cambridge University Botanic Garden, 1 Brookside, Cambridge, CB2 1JE; ([email protected])

After a late spring, summer really did kick I cannot hope to list all the notable finds in, and I hope you have had a full and very this year, and indeed this is probably not the fun few months recording for the Atlas. I place to do so, but I did want to give a find that ‘square bashing’ fine-tunes identifi- flavour of what can be discovered, even in cation skills like nothing else and there is such scrupulously well recorded Isles. For always something of interest, even in the example, two species – Mibora minima most unpromising landscapes. Indeed, in (Early Sand-grass) (see p.26) and Epipactis my opinion, finding a locally uncommon phyllanthes (Green-flowered Helleborine) – species in such circumstances beats twitch- have been discovered, new to Scotland, in ing a national rarity any day! I will be the Western Isles and Moray respectively, sharing a few of the more spectacular dramatically extending their known British discoveries from this summer’s recording in northerly ranges. From one extreme to the a bit, but first a quick mention that you can other, Reseda luteola (Weld) has been found read and download all of the Atlas guidance for the first time on Scilly, and there are first documents (contain your excitement!) on the records for Melica uniflora (Wood Melick) Atlas 2020 web page. In addition, and and Sanicula europaea (Sanicle) on Jersey, thanks to the generosity of the Biological amply demonstrating that one person’s Records Centre, a printed version of one of common plant is another’s rare and exciting these booklets – Notes on identification addition to their local flora. Amongst the works and some difficult and underrec- plethora of other new county records whilst orded taxa – will have landed on your recording for the Atlas, special mention goes doorstep with this edition of BSBI News. I to Juncus planifolius (Broad-leaved Rush) trust that there is something of use to be found in Mayo during the wildly successful found in this booklet for all BSBI members. BSBI field meeting, Fumaria purpurea I must also mention the recently published (Purple Ramping--fumitory) in Denbigh- Hybrid flora, a wonderfully comprehensive shire, Euphrasia scottica (Scottish work and one which will help us to record Eyebright) in Waterford, and a large popula- and therefore better understand the distribu- tion of Neotinea cordata (Lesser Twayb- tion and ecology of such an important part of lade) in Herefordshire, always worth our flora. looking out for as you stumble through the 66 BSBI Atlas 2020 – Coordinator’s Corner heather! It is also interesting to hear of Gateways, however, may still turn up good Himantoglossum hircinum (Lizard Orchid) finds, e.g. Polygonum arenastrum (Equal- turning up in East Norfolk for the first time leaved Knotgrass) and P. rurivagum in 60 years and at a new site in Oxfordshire (Cornfield Knotgrass) – it is unlikely that on an otherwise rather unpromising roadside these areas will have been deliberately verge. Roadside halophytes continue to sown!. march inland, with Hordeum marinum (Sea But the 2015 prize for the most surprising Barley) now firmly established in a slip-road discovery must surely go to Mick Crawley near my house in Northamptonshire (see p. for Leontopodium alpinum (Edelweiss), 29), and a first record for Sagina maritima growing on a pavement in Lewisham, south- (Sea Pearlwort) in Leicestershire – a long east London! Some kind of pun about the way from home! It is also worth looking out Sound of Music seems appropriate here, but for Anisantha diandra (Great Brome) and I am afraid Nun come to mind. Bromus secalinus (Rye Brome) in your area, Thank you all for your time and expertise as these species would also appear to be on this summer, and happy recording for the the move. autumn and winter months ahead. I have a particular fondness for arable weeds, perhaps borne out of necessity, as I Overlooked species nos. 2 and 3: Equise- live in an area dominated by arable farming, tum hybrids; Conyza spp. and so it has been very pleasing to hear of so In the first case, I have taken a rather loose many new records for Torilis arvensis interpretation of both ‘overlooked’ and (Spreading Hedge-parsley), notably in the ‘species’, but late summer and early autumn Cambridgeshire fens. I was lucky enough to really is a good time to look for and get to find this species with Trevor James in grips with those Equisetum (horsetail) Hertfordshire on a recording day out that hybrids you suspect may be lurking in your included perhaps the best arable weed flora area, and we now have the Hybrid flora (pp. we have ever seen, including four Fumaria 7-13) alongside Stace (ed. 3) to help us. (Fumitory) species and a thriving population Even if the plants you find turn out not to be of Galeopsis angustifolia (Red Hemp- hybrids, taking a critical look will help to nettle). Ann Sankey also tells of finding reinforce diagnostic features of the species Lithospermum arvense (Field Grom-well) in in question, so you cannot lose! Surrey, a species that, as with so many Secondly, Conyza (fleabane) species are at arable species, relies on regular disturbance their best at this time of the year and are not and uncropped headlands – a niche that is, in too difficult if you use the keys; and many areas, something of a rarity in these remember to look for hybrids here too (both times of sown ‘wildflower’ field margins. within the genus and with Erigeron). Solution & Crib for Botanical Crossword 26 / Deadline for News 131 67

Solutions to Botanical Crossword 26

Across Down 7. LINEAR 8. PLENUM 9. BIRK 1. DIGITAL 2. BEAK 3. DRAGON 10. GARDENIA 11. CAMPANULATE 4. SPIRAL 5. NEPENTHE 6. CUTIN 14. DORSET HEATH 18. DIOECISM 12. PIONEERS 13. STINGER 15. STIPES 19. CONE 20. SPURGE 21. TILLER 16. TOMATO 17. HIPPO 19. CELL

Crib to Botanical Crossword 26

Across Down 7. anagram IN REAL 8. multiPLE NUMbers 1. DIGITALIS 2. dd 3. DRAG/ON 9. sounds like BERK 10. GARDEN/ rev A1 4. anag SLIP round RA 11. CAMP/anew/LATE 14. anag HOT 5. aloNE PEN THEsis 6. Charade TRADE SHE (answer can be the plant or the 12. P< rev NO/1>EERS place) 18. anag MEDICO IS 13. anag RESTING (& lit) 19. C/ONE 20. SP/URGE 15. rev SE/PITS 16. TOO 21. double definition 17. dd 19. sell

The General Editor Gwynn Ellis can be contacted by phone on 02920 332338 or 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 Britain & Ireland. Enquiries concerning the Society’s activities and membership should be addressed to: The Company Secretary, 57 Walton Road, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 9TA; Tel.: 01173 823 577 or 07513 458 921; [email protected] 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]).

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (known as BSBI) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (8553976) and a charity registered in England and Wales (1152954) and in Scotland (SC038675). Registered office: 57 Walton Road, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 9TA. Administration and Important Addresses President Dr Ian Denholm Department of Life Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts., AL10 9AB Tel.: 07974 112993; [email protected] Hon. General Secretary Mr Chris Metherell Woodsia House, Main Street, Felton, Northumberland, NE65 9PT Tel.: 01670 783401; [email protected] Hon. Treasurer (email preferred) Mr Terry Swainbank Juniper Cottage, Chapel Street, Hook Norton, Oxon, OX15 5JT Tel.: 07710 491 589; [email protected] Membership Secretary (Payment of Subscriptions and changes of address) & Mr Gwynn Ellis BSBI News General Editor 41 Marlborough Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU (Please quote membership number on all correspondence; see address label on post, or Members List) Answerphone & Fax.: 02920 496 042; Tel.: 02920 332338; [email protected] Hon. Field Secretary (including enquiries about Field Meetings) Mr Jonathan Shanklin 11 City Road, Cambridge, CB1 1DP Tel.: 01223 571250; [email protected] Panel of Referees & Specialists (Comments and/or changes of address) Mr Jeremy Ison 40 Willeys Avenue, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8ES Tel.: 01392 272 600; [email protected] New Journal of Botany – Receiving Editor Dr Richard Gornall Biology Dept., University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH Tel.: 0116 252 3394; [email protected] New Journal of Botany – Book Reviews Editor Dr John Edmondson 243 Pensby Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH61 5UA Tel.: 01513 428 287; [email protected] BSBI News – Receiving Editor Mr Trevor James 56 Back Street, Ashwell, Baldock, Herts., SG7 5PE Tel.: 01462 742 684; [email protected] Head of Operations Ms Jane Houldsworth 16 Carlisle Street, Bromley Cross, Bolton, BL7 9JF Tel.: 07584 250 070; [email protected] Head of Science Dr Kevin Walker Suite 14, Bridge House, 1-2 Station Bridge, Harrogate, HG1 1SS Tel.: 01423 538 553 or 07807 526 856; [email protected] BSBI Web-site & Network Officer (& Research Fund applications) Mr Alex Lockton 34 Gordon Road, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4NF Tel.: 01227 504 674; [email protected] BSBI Projects Officer Mr Bob Ellis 11 Havelock Road, Norwich, NR2 3HQ Tel.: 01603 662 260; [email protected] BSBI Scottish Officer Mr Jim McIntosh c/o Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR Tel.: 01312 482 894; [email protected] BSBI Welsh Officer Dr Polly Spencer-Vellacott c/o Natural Resources Wales, Chester Road, Buckley, CH7 3AJ Tel.: 03000 653893; [email protected] BSBI Irish Officer Dr Maria Long c/o National Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland Tel.: 00 353 87 2578763; [email protected] BSBI Scientific Officer (& Vice-county recorders - Comments and/or changes of address) Dr Pete Stroh c/o Cambridge University Botanic Garden, 1 Brookside, Cambridge, CB2 1JE Tel.: 01223 762 054 or 01832 734 156; [email protected] BSBI Database Officer Mr Tom Humphrey c/o CEH, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB Tel.: 01491 692 728; [email protected] BSBI Administrative Officer (All financial matters except Membership) Dr Clive Lovatt 57 Walton Road, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 9TA Tel.: 01173 823 577 or 07513 458 921; [email protected] BSBI Publicity & Outreach Officer Ms Louise Marsh c/o The Herbarium, Dept. of Biology, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH Tel.: 07971 972 529; [email protected] BSBI Publications Mr Paul O’Hara c/o Summerfield Books, Unit L, Skirsgill Business Park, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0FA Tel.: 01768 210 793; Fax: 01768 892 613; [email protected] BSBI Website Address www.bsbi.org.uk Sorbus greenii habit, Doward, Herefordshire (v.c.36). Photo D. Green © June 2013 (see p. 12)

Map of Sorbus species on the Doward, Herefordshire (v.c.36) (see p. 12) Rough crew in gully in Ballycroy National Park, W. Mayo (v.c.H27) (see text p. 61 for names)

Rough crew on Mweelrea mountain, W. Mayo (v.c.H27) (see text p. 61 for names) Both photos taken by R. Hodd (joint-VCR for H01 & H02) © 2015