BSBINEWS

December
1997

Editedby R. GwynnEllis
4l MarlboroughRoad,Roath

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Aronia melunocarpa del. Margaret B. Brown O 1996 (see page 49)

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ADMINISTRATION
Mr David Pearman
The Old Rectory,Frome St Quintin, Dorchester,DorsetDT2 OHF
T e l & F a x0 1 9 3 5 - 8 3 7 0 2

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Mrs Mary Briggs,MBE

9 Arun Prospect,
Pulborough,West SussexRII20 lAL
Tel 01798-8732321

Enquiries)
HON. GENERAL SECRETARY(General

Mr Gwvnn Ellis

, 1 1M a r l b o r o u g h R o a d , R o a t h , C a r d i f f C F 2 5 8 U
Tel & Fax 01222-196042 e-nrail bsbihss@aolcom
Mr Michael Braithwaite
l a t t e r se x c e p lS u b s c r i p t r o n s )
H O N . T R E \ S t R E R t A l l I l n a n c i am
l9 Buccleuch Street, Hawick, Roxburghshire, TD9 0HL
T e l 0 1 4 5 0 - 3 7 2 2 6 ' /F a x 0 1 . 1 5 0 - 3 7 3 5I9
Mr NlichaelWalpole
NIENIBERSHIP SECRETARY
( P a 1 , m e not f S u b s a n d c h a n g e so l a d d r e s s ) 6 8 O u t w o o d s R o a d , L o u g h b o r o u g h , L e i c s . L E l l 3 L Y
(Pleasequote membershipnumber on all correspondence)
T e l 0 1 5 0 9 - 2 1 5 5 9 8 e - m a i l :m i k e . w a l p o l e @ d i a l . p i p ecxo m

Mrs M. Lindop
on FieldMeetings)
IION. FIELD SECRf,TARY(Enquiries
36 WoodlandHill, Whitkirk, LeedsLS157DG
T e l O ll 3 - 2 6 4 6 5 1 3
BSBI CO-OR-DINATOR

Mr Cameron S. Crook.
Millstones, 8 Woodstock Close, Lostock Hall, Preston, Lancs. PR5 5YY
Tel. & Fax 011'12-316717.e-mail: Cameron SC@biefbot com

onAtlct.s
2000)
BSBI ATLAS 2000ORGANISER(Enquiries

Dr Trevor Dines
Rhyd y Fuwch, Near Bethel, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 3PS
com
Tel. 0 1248 6707 89. e-mail. TrevorDines(@compuserr,'e.
h t t p / ' m e m b e r sa. o l .c o m , / b s bh ig s

BSBI WEB SITE ADDRESS

COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
Nominations fbr vacancieson Council, in writing, signed by two members of the Society and accompanied by the written consent of the candidateto serve, if elected, should be sent to the Hon. General
Secretary.at the above addressto arrive before February lst 1998 (see Yeur Book I99B for the list of
p r e s e n tC o u n c i l m e m b e r sM a y 1 9 9 7 - 1 9 9 8 ) .
Members are reminded that Ofhcers are also elected or re-elected at the AGM, and Committee
members are appointed by Council at the meeting following the AGM. The Hon. Gen. Sec. will be
pleasedto receive nominations for considerationby the Executive Commlttee.
C w y n n E l l i s . H o n . C e n e r a lS e c r e t a r y

Contributions intended for BSBI NEWS 78

should reach the Editor before FEBRUARY 28 1998

lmportant Notlces

TMPORTANTNOTICES
P R E S I D E N T ' SC O M M E N T
Tlris is merely an end-of-year report for the95o/oofmenrbers who are not on Council or our central and
regional conrmittees.
I Co-ordinator
C a m e r o nC r o o k h a s b e e n i n p o s t f o r 2 v e a r s ,w i t h a l i r r t h e ry e a r t o g o . H i s p o s t h a s b e e nh a l f - t u n d e db v
E n g l i s h N a t u r e , S c o t t i s h N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e a n d C o u n t r y s i d eC o u n c i l f b r W a l e s . w r t h t h e o t h e r h a l f
c o m i n g f i o m t h e E s m e e F a r r b a i r nF o u n d a t i o n .O u r i n v o l v e m e n th a s b e e n q u i t e c o n s i d e r a b l eo n t h e
management side. especially lor a voluntary body with no oflice His role was to aid storage and
disseminationof botanical records, that is make our vice-county recorder netivork even better and to
h e l p d e l i v e r r e c o r d s t o B R C . p a r t i c u l a r l yi n r e s p e c to f t h e n e w A t l a s 2 0 0 0 T h e o t h e r h a l f o f h i s r o l c
w i i s t o p r o m o t e ( t h e e x r s t e n c eo f ) t h e B S B I w i t h t h e C o u n t n A g e n c i e s ,w i t h o t h e r N G O s a n d w i t h t h e
g r ' n e r a lp u b l i c A n a m b i t i o u ss p e c i f i c a t i o n !
\ \ ' e h a v e m a d e a n i n t p r e s s i v es t a r t o n t h e c o m p u t e r i s a t i o nl r o n t , b u t t h i s i s a c o r n p l e xf i e l d a n d w e
are dealing with a wide spectrunrof county recorders who difler greatl) in the tirne and eflbrt they carr
nlanage, they are, of course, all volunteers. At the same time ambitious national plans lor a Nattonal
Biodiversity Network (NBN) are taking fresh shape after an earlier abortive start Thrs envisages.lzrr'
zr1la.a national network of Environmental Record Centres linked together, and intimatelf involr,edwith
Societies such as ours with their own national networks It is an exciting concept with many parts not
clear We (well, most of us) are quite certain that we must be involved in the preparations.lor all sorts
o l - o b v i o t t s r e a s o n s .T h i s w i l l n e e d t i m e . e f f o r t a n d c o n r n r i t n r e nat n d o u r c o - o r d i n a t o ri s t h e o b v i o u s
c ll L)tce

S i m i l a r l yw e a r e c o n v i n c e dw e h a v e a r e a l r o l e i n p r o v i d i n g i n f o r m a t i o nt o t h e g o v e r n m e n to f l i c e s
and to the voluntary network Somehow we have to crack severalproblems here. We have to let people
know we exist, collect and disseminatethe information. be available for questions. discussthe canards
that are always getting into the system (and then explain the whole thing again rvhen the staffchangel)
Clameronand I have done this over the last two years and believe me it takes time I step down in May,
the work must be continued
I still feel that we need to rvork more closely with Plantlife, who. after all are the only charity other
t h a n o u r s e l v e sa n d t h e W i l d F l o r v e r S o c i e t yc a m p a i g n i n gs p e c i f i c a l l yf b r p l a n t s T h e v n o w h a v e 1 0 , 0 0 0
n l e n t b e r sa n d s e v e no r s o s t a f f a n d a r e d o i n g s o m e v e r y e x c i t i n gw o r k i n m a n y s p h e r e sr l o u r - c o u n t r i e s
\,Iany of us have f'ed information into local Biodiversity Action Plans on behalf of Plantfifle,the local
W i l d l i f eT r u s t sa n d t h e R S P B . T h i s w o r k m u s t b e c o - o r d i n a t e d .
2 . S c i e n t i f i c a n d R e s e a r c hC o m m i t t e e
I suspectit will be some tinie before a coherent picture comes from the National Biodiversity Network.
ln the meantime my colleaguesand I think we could be channellingour scientific expertise into more
o r g a n i s e dc h a n n e l sW
. i t h t h e d e c l i n eo f t a x o n o m i c b o t a n y i n o u r u n i v e r s i t i e sa n d s c h o o l s ,o u r s o c i e t yi s
one of'the remaining outposts I know it seemsthat Ll/ut.unuais full of articles on apomictic genera,but
that retlects the choices of our nrembersactive in the field We think that by focusing on researchand
p o s s i b l yl i n k i n g i n i t i a t i v e sw i t h o u r o w n f u n d s a v a i l a b l et h r o u g h o u r B e q u e s tF u n d , w e w i l l b e a b l e t c r
start, pump prime and direct projects that we think are important in the contert of botany in the British
lsles Our Bequest committee has only been going fbr 8 years, and the majoritv of its funds have gone
to funding our Databaseat l-eicester,with support also for publicationsfrom members and for the Atlas
2000 There is scope here to be more proactive. and, I hope. to encouragemore membersto remember
u s i n t h e i r w i l l s i f t h e y c a n s e e w e a r e u s i n g o u r e x i s l r n gf u n d s w e l l S o C o u n c i l p r o p o s et o w i d e n t h e
brief of our Bequest Commrttee, to encompass the aims above, and rename il the Scientifrc and
R e s e a r c hC o m m i t t e e .

lm

tant Noticcs / Dlan

3. Atlns and other recording matters

I am extremely grateful to our BequestsCommittee tbr providing the lunds to increaseTrevor Dines to
tirll tinre He and I f'eel on top of things, which is.just as well, becauseI suspectthe hardest part is to
come. I knon Trevor has appealed for volunteers for indoor jobs. and some have come forward. but
there are still nranv reallv helpful tasks that need to be done. We still have no news on what the frnal
product rvill look Iike. or r.vhowill publish it, something we had hoped to have settled at the start of the
project
W e a r e u o r k i n g a s e v e r . e x t r e m e l vc l o s e l yw i t h t h e s t a f f a t B R C . M o n k s W o o d o v e r t h i s p r o j e c t .
and others l\'lernberspresumablv knou thev have been the custodians fbr the last 40 years of our
botanical reccrrds that we have collected centrally. We have been having discussionswith them on
forrnalisingthis unwritten agreement,and on how we might assistwith other data collection.
Jhis seemsan inrperfect summary of how my days pass. I remind myself (and my rvife) that it is mv
clroice. and afier N4a,v.Councrl ancl a new president may have diflerent priorities. I see these moves
a b o r e a s r e f b c u s i n ga n d r e p o s i t i o n i n qo u r s e l v e sf b r t h e n e x t f ' e wv e a r s .
DA\ lD PF.AR\{AN Presrdent

THE FRONT (AND BACK) OF WATSONIA

F t r r s o m e y e a r sn o \ ! . t h e c o r . e r so f L I i t / . s o r t iht ta v e p r o r e d a t o p i c o f c o n v e r s a l i o n n o t o n l v a m o n g t h e
e d i t o r i a lp a n e l b u t a l s o a m o n g t h e n r e u r b e r s h i o
pf t h e S o c i e t yi n g e n e r a l a n d I h a l e a m e d i u m s r z e d
t r l e o f c o n i p l a i n t st h a t b e a r w i t n e s st o t h e l o a t h i n g ( i f t h a t i s n ' t t o o s t r o n g a w o f d ) t h a t s o m e o f y o u
have fbr the design or perceived lack of design. The colour has fluctuated greatly as well, getting
progressivelydarker as each issue appeared- I think the most impenetrablewas Volume 20, Part 3 in
'lighten
I 9 9 5 S u b s e q u e n t l I\ g o t t h e p r i n t e r st o
u p ' b u t t h e l a s t i s s u e( V o l u m e 2 1 , P a r l 4 ) w a s d r i f i i n g
b i r c kt o m u d d v g r e e n
W e h a d f u l l v i n t e n d e dt o r e d e s i g nt h e c o l ' e r i n t i m e f o r t h e s t a r t o f V o l u n r e 2 l b u t d e s i g n e r sa n d
artisls conspired against us and, inevitably, we couldn't agree either on any ofthe designs submitted.
BUT we nor'vthink we've got our act together and hopefully (everyone cross their fingers at this point.l
there will be a nerv cover lbr the first part of Volurne 22, due out in February, 1998 The centre piece
o t ' t h e f i o n t c o v e r r v i l l b e a n i l l u s t r a l i o na n d t h i s w i l l c h a n g et h r o u g h t h e f b u r p a r t s o f e a c hv o l u m e T h e
tbtrr plants used (L,upliln hitt h.therru. ,lfacrnt4t.ti.t ccuttht'ictt, I)rilt'nltllu tutglita antl ['rintukr .\'(oliLt ,
in alphabeticiil orderl) have been chosen to fepresent the tbur countries and have been drall,n by
Rosemary Wise The rest of the cover will remarn largely unchanged except for the font and sonre
trviddly brts. And. as for the colour, we felt that we couldn't really depart from green but we've opted
fbr a more pastel version. The back cover will have a broad green margin with the contents set out on a
*hile background to facilitate those of you who photoc:opythe list of contents We are very grateful to
R o s e r n a r yW i s e t b r s u p p l y i n gt h e i l l u s t r a t i o n sa n d D a v i d G r e c h f o r t h e a c t u a ld e s i g no f t h e f i o n t c o v e r .
lfyou like the neu design, then pleasetell us. ifyou don't, tlutt pleuse keep qtrtclt lr has taken us
so long to do this that the Editorial Panel has already startedthe process ofredesigning the new covers!
BRIAN S RUSHTON, Honorarf Receiving Editor, trlatsonla, School of Applied Biological and
C h e m i c a l S c i e n c e s ,U n i v e r s i l v o f U l s t e r , C o l e r a i n e ,N o r t h e r n l r e l a n d , B T 5 2 l S A . T e l . : 0 1 2 6 5
4 4 1 4 1e r t : l - 1 5 20; 1 2 6 - 51 2 4 4 5 2( d i r e c tl i n e ) ,F A X 0 1 2 6 51 2 4 9 0 6E - r r a i l B S R u . s h t o n ( @ uai cs u
t k
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DIARY
N o e x t r a B S B I d a t e st o r e p o r t b u t s e ep a g e s5 3 5 9 t b r d a t e so f o t h e r I 9 9 8 C o n l e r e n c e sa n d S y n l p o s i a
EDITOR

Edrtorial& Notcs

EDITORIAL & NO-TES

t a v i d N { o C l i n t o c ko n h i s e l e c t i o na s P r e s i d e n to l t h e W i l d
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s - t o o u r p a s t - P r e s i d e nD
F l o r v e rS o c i e t y
t o S t a n l e yN 4 a n ' i nr v h o c e l e b r a t c dh i s 9 0 t h b i r t h d a vo n N o v e m b e r2 S t h a n d s t r l it u r n e d u p f i r r o u r
E r h i b i t i o n m e e t i n gt h e f b l l o w i n g d a y H e r v r i t e st h a t h e m u c h c n j o y e dt h e m e e t i n ga n d ' .
met ser.,eral
p e o p l e I k n e w a b o u t b u t h a d n o t p r e v i o u s l ym e t i n c l u d i n g M r s B r i g g s r v h o i s a p h a r m a c i s ta s I a m
( r e t r r e d l ) W h a t a f i i e n d l y l o t b o t a n i s t sa r e a s r v e l l a s t r u l v s c i e n t i s t sI. h a r , eo n l l - b e e n a n r e r n b e rl O
vears and r.vishI had known about the Society earlier.'
t o G o r o n w y W y n n e ( r e c o r d e r f o r v c 5 l ) o n h i s e l e c t i o nt o t h e G o r s e d d o f B a r d s a t t h e 1 9 9 7
\lationalEisteddfod.
and to Stephen Jur-'r,
firr organising another memorable Erhibition meeting \Vhat a good 'enuc it
i s . r v i t h s o m u c h s p a c et o b r o w s e b o o k s . e x h i b i t so r j u s t s r t a n d t a l k ( G E )
C o r n n r i s e r a t i o n st o o L l r b i r r h d a l ' g i r l f i ' o n r t h e l a s t i s s u e ( r \ n n e C o n o l l y ) . r ' , h o . h a v i n g s p e n t a f ' e r r
* e e k s b o t a n i s i n gi n t h e A u s t r a l i a no u t b a c k t r a i p s i n go l e r a l l s o r t s o l r o u g h t e r r a i n . t n p p e d o v c r h e r
o * ' n l i o n t d o o r s t e p . b a d l v d a m a g i n g h e r s h i n - n e c e s s i t a t i n ga s k i n - g r a l t . W e a l l u i s h h e r a s p e e d v
r e c o r , e r y A n n e t h e E x h i b i t i o nN 4 e e t i n gw a s n o t t h e s a m er , , ' i t h o uyt o u l ( G E )
Obitu:rr1 note With regret we repoft the death in Novcmber of CaptainR B G Roe. R N He had
r f B S B I s i n c e 1 9 5 6 a n d f b r m n n y v e a r sw a s a r , i c e - c o u n t vr c c o r d e rf o r \ & S S o r r e r b e e na r n e r n b e o
s e t H i s l : k t n r o f . \ o n t c r ' . r cw/ a s p u b J i s h e di n 1 9 8I a f t e r - 1 0r ' e a r so f p l a n t h u n t i n g i n t h e c o u n t l u i t h
n r a n yc o l l e a g u c sa n d l r i e n d s \ 4 r s R o e $ a s h i s o o n s t a n tc o m p a n i o na n d r ' " e s e n c lo u r s v r n p a t h vt o h e r
I'here .,r'illbe an obituary h Ilirt.torriu. (NIB)
W e r r g e n u p d a t e . l f a n y p o t e n t i a l t r a v e l l e r st o W e n g e n w e r e p u t o f f b y t h e 1 9 9 6 s n o r . w p i c t u r e s i n
/J.tlj1
,Vcl's76.841
. rvouldliketoreportthati1
n997(onthesamedates)ourvisittothosesitesfbund
f l o r v e r - i r f l e dA l p s i n s u r n m e rs u n s h i n e !O f t h e ' e l u s i v e ' ( ' y p r i p e t l i u m c a l t a o l u . ; .o l r v h i c h l v e s a r v o n l v
'c)6.
r e n r n a n tc l u m p si n
i n t h i s f o l l o r v i n gv e a r m o r e t h a n 1 . 2 0 0f l o r v e r i n gs t e t ' n sw e r e c o u n t e d .
I n t a c t t $ o c o m p l e t e l vd i f t e r e n th o l i d a y sj n t h e t r i ' o y e a r s b o t h r v i t h b o t a n i c a li n t e r e s t sb, u t m o r e
s u n t a ni n 1 9 9 7 t( M B )
S * ' e d i s h s p r i n g s a l a d s . I n t h e e a r l y s p r i n go f 1 9 9 7 ,\ l c D o n a l d s r n S t o c k h o ] r no f ] - e r e da f i e e h a n t b u r g e r
firr l5 tlorvering stems of Iu.ssiltrgo /tuJhru (Colt's-foot)
fbr use in therr salads. Our Stockholnt
m c n r b e r ,E v a Z a c h e . t e l l s u s t h a t h e r s o n . R a g n a r , t e m p o r a r i l y o u t o l a j o b a t t h e t i m e a n d w c l l
'ltrssilugo.
q,as able to live on hanrburgerstbr the three r.veeksthe oii'er
infcrrrnedon local sites fbr
l a s t e d (l N { B )
T a i l p i e c e l l u m p h r y B o r v e n . R e c o r d e rf b r D o r s e t , t e l l s u s t h a t h e i s ' k e p t b u s v a t p r e s e n tf ' e e d i n gn t y
B S R t s u b s i d i s e dc o l r p u t e r r v i t h 19 0 . 0 0 0 t c t r a d r e c o r d sf b r v c . 9 ' H c c o m n l e n t s l v h o s a i d s l a r , e r yr v a s
abolished')'(N{B)
B a c k n u m b e r s o f R , I R I N e l ' s a r e a v a i l a b l ef o r n r o s t i s s u e se x c e p tt h e f l r s t f l v e a n d n o s 1 7 . 1 8 , 4 1 a n d
5 I b u t t h e s ec a n b e s u p p l i e da s p h o t o c o p i e s N
. u m b e r so f t h e e a r l y i s s u e sr a n g ef i o m I O t o o v e r 5 O a n d
a l l ( i n c l u d i n gp h o t o c o p i e s )a r e a v a i l a b l ef i o m t h e e d i t o r f o r I l O 0 p l L r sp . & p . a t c o s t .
H o r v e v e r ,t h e r e a r e q u i t e l a r g e s t o c k s o f l a t e r i s s u e sf i o m n o . 5 3 o n w a r d s ,a n d i n o r d e r t o r e c l u c e
sloraqe spaoe,these are being oftlred fbr sale at 50p each or three fbr a I I O0 (GE)
N l e m b e r s o n t h e ' b o x ' B o t h R a y W o o d s ( v c z l - l ) a n d M i k e P o r - t e r( v c . , 1 2 ) a p p e a r e do n a B B f l
W a l e s T o d a y n e r v si t e m t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e n e e d t o c o n s e n , eo l d a p p l ev a r i e t i e s M
. i k e , i n a d d i t i o nt o h i s
i n t e r e s ti n c r i t i c a lg e n e r a .i s a l s o s o m e t h i n go f a n e r p e r t o n a p p l e s I a r n g r a t e f u lt o G e o r g e H u t c h i n s o n
f b r t h i s s n i p p e to f i n f b r r r a t i o nr v h o a l s o s a i dt h a t ' c i d e r ' w a s n o t r n e n t i o n e do n c e l ( G E )
A n d l i n a l l y , a n o t h c rb l l m p e r i s s u eo f , V d r . ,ar n d I h a v c h a d t o h o l d o v e r m o r e t h a n 2 0 p a g e so f i n t e r e s t i n g a r t i c l c s .N ' l y a p o l o g i e st o a l l t h e a u t h o r sc o n c e r n c d ,y o u r n o t e sw i l l b e p u b l i s h e dn e x t t i m e . I n s e r t s
r','iththis issue are remarkablv t'ew in numbcr (only 4). RS,3/,\'or,.r.RSRI Yeur JJook 1998,and leaflets
a n d b o o k i n g f b r r n sf b r t h e 1 9 9 8D r u c e l e c t u r ea n d t h e 1 9 9 8A G N ' I i n C a r d i f T ( G E )

Editorial & Notes / Atlas 2000

We hopevou all had a good Christmas.and wish all our readersA Very Happy and PeacefulNew
l ear
GWYNN ELLIS (GE)& MARY BRIGGS(MB)
%
- i : . ' " ' ! : J ' ! ' . ' \ ' ' ' . . ' . . ] . ' ' ' . $ . 1 r * ' - 1 . + ' . \ ' - f \ . f ' V f u + ! @ e f @

ATLAS 2OOO
PROGRESSREPORT
'l'he

Fruits of Our l.,abours

It is a real pleasurenow to see the results ofour hard rvork beginningto arrive. Each day the postman
delirers a parcel of Mastercards or carefully packagedcomputer disks. ln order to streamlinethe flow
of Atlas 2000 data into BRC. Monks Wood, we are asking Vice-county Recordersto begin submitting
their records this lvinter. At the time of writing, Mastercards and records on disk have been received
fbr 129 hectads(10 km squares)from 3 I Vice-counties. The map below shows these squares.
,l

'rl
lt

ll

[-__l
*.-l
I

ql

A t l a s2 0 0 0
Congratulationsmust go to two Recorders that have submitted a!! thei records already. Both Ken
Br.rtler(Caithness.v.c. 109) and GeoffBattershall (Caerns, v c 49) have provided records on disk fbr
their entire Vice-countles. This highlights an obvious benefit ofgetting your records computerised all
r e c o r d so a n b e e x p o r t e dt o d i s k a t t h e s i m p l ec l i c k o f a b u t t o n l
Field Meetings
-lhe
tleld meeting calendar fbr 1998 has been drawn up (pleasesee R,\RI l'aur Rook 1998)and includes
manv meetingsto record for the Atlas 2000. As the project progresses,these meetingsare becoming
'targeted',
less square-bashing'and more
with emphasisberng placed on updating specifrcold records
I
9
9
7
m
e
e
t
i
n
g sw e r e s u p e r ba n d I h o p e e v e nm o r e p e o p l er v i l l b e e n c o u r a g e dt o
A t t e n d a n c e sa t t h e
c o m e t o t h e 1 9 9 8 m e e t i n g s R e p o r - t so f t h e 1 9 9 7 m e e t i n g sc a n b e f b u n d i n t h i s i s s u eo f I ' c v , . r .
( l o n f e r e n c e sa n d W o r k s h o p s
T h e r e p o r t o f t h e I 9 9 7 L a n c a s t e rR e c o r d e r sC o n f e r e n q ei s b e i n g i n c l u d e di n t h e s p r i n ge d i t i o n o f , \ z u , r
Becauseit r,"ill incorporate reports tiom each ofthe speakers.I thought it would be better to delay it
u n t i l t h e b e g i n n i n go f t h e n e x t f r e i d s e a s o n .
D u e t o t h e s u c c e s so f t h e L a n c a s t e rC o n f e r e n c e i,t i s b e i n g r e p e a t e di n 1 9 9 8o n t h e I l t h - l 3 t h
September,again at Lancaster.Pleasesee the next edition ofNarf.s for more details
T w o l d e n t i f i c a t i o nW o r k s h o p s a r e a l s o b e i n g p l a n n e df o r t h e S p r i n g .T h e f i r s t i s i n I r e l a n da n d w i l l
b e b a s e da t G l a s n e r . ' iBn o t a n i c G a r d e ni n D u b l i n i n t h e m i d d l e o f M a 1 , .T h e s e c o n dw i l l b e a t t h e e n d o f
April or earlv May in Scotland. Again, more details of both will appear in the nert Ners.
Winter Help
A g a r n , t ' d l i k e t o s t r e s st h a t . e v e n i n t h e d e p t h o f r v i n t e r , t h e r e i s p l e n t y t o d o l b r t h e A t l a s M a n y V i c e c o u n t v R e q o r d e r sr v i l l a p p r e c i a t eh e l p w i t h c o m p i l i n gr e c o r d s ,e i t h e rr n a n u a l l yo r o n c o m p u t e r .
H e r b a r i aa n d c o u n t y f l o r a s a r e v a l u a b l es o u r c e so f r e c o r d s . a n d i t ' s s u r p r i s i n gh o w m a n y o f t h e s e n e e d
'in
a t t e n t i o n D o n ' t a s s u m et h a t b e c a u s ey o u r c o u n t y h a s a t l o r a , i t ' s r e c o r d sr v i l l b e
t h e s y s t e r n ' !l f y o u
would like to help in any way, or need more infbrmation about the Atlas, pleasecontact either nryself or
y o u r V i c e - c o u n t yR e c o r d e r .
Finally. apologies for the short report; the round ofregional AGN'I's. conferencesand meetingshas
t a k e n i t ' s t o l l l t h o p e t o h a v e a l o n g e r r e p o r t n e x t t i m e . U n t i l t h e s p r r n g( w h i c h s e e m sa v e r y l o n g w a v
arvay). have a good \\,interl
TREVOR DINES (Atlas Organiser) Rhyd y Furvch, Bethel, Nr Caernarfbn,Grvynedd LL55 3PS
-l'el.
0 I 2 . 1 86 7 0 7 8 9 ,e - m a i l .T r e v o r D i n e s @ c o m p u s e r v e . c o n t

P L A N T S T A T U SN O M E N C L A T U R E A N D A T L A S 2 O O O
It is gratif_vingthat since the publication of our recommendationswith regard to Plant Status Nomenclature (N4acpherson1996) most of the ar-ticlesin IISRI Ncws have complied and I am informed that in
the Atlas 20OO N'[astercardsso lar submitted, ahnost all recorders have been cornpleting the'stat'
c o l u m nc o n s c i e n t i o u s l y
I w a s i n t e r e s t e dt o r e a d t h e a r t i c l e b y J o h n K i l l i c k ( 1 9 9 7 ) r e g a r d i n gp l a n t s w h i c h h a v e a p p e a r e d
spontaneouslyin his garden. As he unplies, spread within a garden should be ignored, but a record
should be accepted when the wrnd, or a bird has deposited seed in a garden other than rn an adjacent
'wild
l o c a t i o n ' . l n i t i a l l _svu c h a r e c o r d w o u l d q u a l i l y a s c a s u a l ,p e r h a p sr i s i n g t o a h i g h e r s t a t u si f l e f t r i r
Ilowever, rve appreciatethat assigningplants to a particular status can, on occasions.be difl'icult as
not all cases are clear-cut. During the consultative process which we undertook before issurng our
d e f i n i t i o n sw e r v e r el r e q u e n t l yr e q u e s t e dt o k e e p o u r r e c o m m e n d a t i o nas s s i m p l ea s p o s s i b l e a p o i n t
rvith which we were happy to comply ln any case we could not have catered for every eventuality In
the following paragraphsI hope to addressthe more common problems experiencedby recorders
P r o b l e m so f i n t e r p r e t a t i o nh a v e a r i s e nm a i n l y ' " v i t hr e g a r dt o t r e e sa n d s h r u b sw h o s e p r e s e n c ci n t h e
s t u d v a r e a i s d u e t o t h e i r h a v i n g b e e n p l a n t e d i n i tAi a
t al lxyo n w h i c h h a s b e e n p l a n t e d ( ' P ' ) r e m a i n s i n

Atlas 2000
that categor.v for the whole of its life, even when it has grown into a mature tree or shrub. lf it
p r o d u c e sp r o g e n y . t h e s e a r e i n i t i a l l y ' C ' ( c a s r - r a l )b u t i f t h e s e p e r s i s tf o r ( s a y ) + f i v e y e a r s t h e y c o m e
'S' (surviving)
into the
category. If in turn, this progeny spreads either vegetatively or effectively by
'E' (established).
seed.then the record for the site is
Ifmore than one ofthese categoriesappliesto the
'E','S','C',
s a m et a x o n i n t h e s a m e h e c t a d o r s i t e , o n e r e c o r d so n l y t h a t o f t h e h i g h e s tp r i o r i t y , v i z
'P'
downto
Some recorders have consideredthat there is an in-between grey area r.vherea planted tree or shrub
h a s p r o d L r c e dp r o g e n y , u ' h i c h h a s r e a c h e d n r a t u r i t y a n d i s p r o d u c i n g s e e d , b u t a s y e t w i t h o u t a n
o b l i o u s t h i r c lg c n e r a t i o n l f t h e r e i s k n o w n t o b e o n l y a s i n g l ep l a n t o f a t a x o n ( e . g . c o t o n e a s t e ri)n t h e
'C'
'S'.
wild rn the study area and it is not regeneratingeflbctively by seed,it cannot be other than
lf
or
it dies. the taxon will cease to exist in the wild in the study area. However, if two (or more) mature
plants ofthe taxon are present, it nray be diflicult to know whether both have been spreadfrom planted
nriiterial or one iiom the other We have had a number of representationson this matter and for the
p u r p o s eo f c c l n l o r r n i i vw e r e c o n r m e n dt h a t i n t h i s c a s et h e r e c o r d b e e n t e r e da s ' E ' .
Another problem arises rvhere a planted tree is spreading vegetatively by suckering or even by
lavering These are usually regarded as bringing the status into a difl-erentcategory. As it is impor-tantto
have confbrmitv of records for r\tlas 2000 rve recommend that the new groMh arising from below
g r o u n d s h o u l db e r e g a r d e di n t h e s a m ew a y a s a s e e d l n g .
Cameron Cirook (1997) is correct in his assunrption that we re-uard hybrids which have arisen
spontaneousll in this countn' lronl alien parents to be native. because thelr l2u. originated here.
However. onlv spontaneously occurring progeny of such a hybrid remarn native. If seed is sown or
'P'.
vegetation fronr the hybrid is planted elsewhere,that record is then
In turn, spontaneousoffsprrng
iiom the sown or planted material are alren becausethey have not come directly lrom a plant which is
native.
T h e r e c o m m e n t J a t i o nosf t h e W o r k i n g P a r t y o n P l a n t S t a t u s N o n r e n c l a t u r ew e r e a c c e p t e db y t h e
B S B I C o u n c i l a r r da d o p t e d b v t h e R e c o r d s f ' o m m i t t e e t b r u s e r n A t l a s 2 0 0 0 T h e u s e b y a l l r e c o r d e r s
ofthese recommendationswill produce the required uniformity necessaryin a publication ofthis nature.
However, we appreciate that we cannot make definitions by which every alien can easily be
categorised. Where a recorder experiences such a problem then the taxon should be classified into
what. in the opinion of the recorder, is the most appropriate categorv. Where there is doubt it can be
'A'
( a l i e n )g i v i n g f u l l d e t a i l so n t h e M a s t e r c a r d
t e c o r d e ds i m p l v a s
. A s i n d i c a t e db y T r e v o r D i n e s ( J 9 9 7 ) l s h a l l b e p l e a s e dt o g i v e a s e c o n d o p i n i o n o n q u e s t i o n so f
status.
References
C r o o k , C S ( 1 9 9 7 ) C o - o r d i n a t o r ' sC o r n e r B S [ i l N e w s ' 7 6 1 4 - 1 5
D i n e s ,T ( 1 9 9 7 ) A t l a s 2 0 0 0 0 P r o g r e s sR e p o r t B S R I N e w s7 5 : 6 - 1 0
K i l l i c k . J ( 1 9 9 7 ) . { l i e n sa n d l n t r o d r - : c t i o ni sn a v c 2 2 G a r d e n .B S R I , \ ' c r s 7 5 . 3 9 - 4 0
\ l a c p h e r s o n .P . D i c k s o n ,J H . E l l i s , R . G . , K e n t . D & S t a s e ,C A ( 1 9 9 6 ) . P l a n t S t a t u sN o m e n c l a t u r e .
/J.\8./Iev r 12 l3-16
PETER N4ACPHERSON, l5 Lubnaig Road, Glasgow G43 2RY

EXTRA ATLAS 2OOO

RECORDING OF 1\IOTINTAINPLANTS
ln spring 1997. the Wild Flor.verSociety was very qenerousin awarding the BSBI a grant to help
towards recording for the Atlas 2000. lt was decidedthat this was best used to fund a project targeting
under-recordins in a group ofplants that may otherrvisehave been poorly covered in the Atlas. After
some discussion,a project concerning mountain plants was chosen as these are traditionally underr e c o r d e dd u e t o t h e d i f f i c u l t i e so f a c c e s sa n d t h e p a u c i t yo f r e c o r d e r si n u p l a n da r e a s .T h e B S B I w a s
therefore able to employ two consultantsto undenake fieldwork in remote and inaccessibleareasat the

Atlas 2000 / Co-ordinator'sComcr

request of the local Vice-county Recorders. In all cases,these Recordersf-eltthcr'*'ould otheruise be
unableto visit these areasduring the Atlas prolect.
A t o t a l o f 2 0 d a y s w a s s p e n ti n t h e f r e l d W e s t e r R o s s ( 9 d a y s ) .E z i s t e rR o s s ( l d a y ) . K i n t y r e ( 3
d a v s ) .B a n f l ( 2 d a y s )a n d L a n a r k s .( 5 d a y s ) O v e r l z l h e s t a d sw e r e v i s i t e dr n t o t a l . a n d s o m et n p s
inr.,olvedoamping out overnight. Predictably,much ofthe recording involved getting basic hectad
specieslists, which, although short in speciespoor upland moorland, will be very valuableto the Atlas
2000 Some significant specieswere found, however, particularly in Wester Ross. Good records r.r'ere
made for Orthiliu secunda. Suxilroga rivulari.s, Ltrzulu arcuula, l'rn glutrcu, I)ott ulpinu, I)r'ubu
norvegiccr, ('orex dlralo, Arabi.s petruea and even l'4tipcrclis tilroruhens
W e a r e v e r y g r a t e t u lt o t h e W i l d F l o r v e r S o c i e t yf b r t h e i r g r a n t . u , h i c hh a s c o n s i d e r a b l yh e l p e d
recording in some difficult and under-recordedareirs
DAVID PEARMAN and TREVOR DINES (Atlas Organiser), Rhyd y Fuwch, Bethel. Nr flaernarfbn,
L L 5 5 : i P S . T e l . 0 1 2 4 8 6 7 0 1 8 9 ,e - n i a i l T r e v o r D i n e s - n ) c o m p u s e rcr "oem
Gu'1,nedd

CORNER
CO-ORDINATOR'S
lntroduction
l \ l u c h h a s h a p p c n e ds i n c e t h e l a s t i s s u eo f A t r ' . r . m o s t l y t o d o r v i t h c o m p u t e r sy o u ' l l b e g l a d t o h e a r !
But more on that later. A successful Recorder's Conf'erencetook piace in September at St Niartins
College, Lancaster which was much bigger than previous meetings r'vrthnrore than 95 delegatesor"er
the weekend. This time, the format was slightly difl'erentin that more time rvas allo*,ed fbr.lust talking
t o o t h e r v . c R e c o r d e r s . A n d o f c o u r s e ,t h e w h o l e e m p h a s i so f t h e m e e t i n g w a s A t l a s 2 0 O i l I n d c e d .
s u c h w a s i t ' s s u c c e s s i,t h a s b e e n d e c i d e dt o h o l d a n o t h e r c o n t t r e n c et h i s n e x t y e a r ( i n s t e a do 1 ' e r e n ,
s e c o n dy e a r ) a g a i ni n S e p t e m b e ra n d a t L a n c a s t e r( w h i c h i n c i d e n t a l l vi s w i t h i n ( r k m o f t h e e p i c e n t r eo l
G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d n o t l a r t i o m t h e t r u e * c e n t r eo f t h e B r i t i s h l s l e s- h o n e s t l ) + i . e n o t l - o n d o n l
NBN
E a c h i s s u e .I m e n t i o n t h e N a t i o n a l B i o d i v e r s i t yN e t w o r k ( N B N ) a n d t h i s i s s u e i s n o d i f l e r e n t [ ' l l t r v
not to bore you with the details but there are, I f'eel,a number of points which need reinfbrcing Whrlst
it is true that no-one really knows how this may progress and rvhat role BSBI may have, it r.r'illplouress
r v i t h o r w , i t h o u tu s f o r t h e N B N w a i t s f b r n o m a n l B e t t e r t h e n t h a t w e a r e i n v o l v e d e l ' e n i f r v e d o n ' t
a g r e e w i t h e v e r y . t h i n gt h a t i s p l a n n e d .A 1 1 e ra l l . i t ' s a l o t e a s i e rt t v r r i c ea n o p i n r o n f i o r n w i t h i n t h a n
fiom the outside something which has sadly happenedtoo often to BSBI in past years. Furthernrore.
t h e r e i s p o t e n t i a l l ya l o t t o b e g a i n e d b y b e i n g i n v o l v e d . F o r e x a m p l e a c c e s st o m o r e g r a n t a i d l b r
Computers or even accessto other data sourceswhich may be elusive at the moment.
Perhapsthe aspect of the NBN proposals which have caused most worry is the rnaking data available on the Internet. This needn't be a worry. lt is no worse (or diflerent really) than making data availa b l e i n a p u b l i s h e df l o r a . i n o t h e r w o r d s , i t i s o n l y t h e d a t a t h a t l v e r e l e a s ew h i c h w i l l b e m a d e a v a i l a b l e
a n d t h e n . o n l y i n t h e f b r m a t i n w h i c h w e r e l e a s ei t F o r e x a m p l c .i t i s l i k e l 1 't h a t A t l a s 2 0 0 0 r v i l l b c
n u b l i s h e do n C D R O M a s w e l l a s i n b o o k t b r m . A l l t h i s m e a n si s t h a t r n f b r m a t i o nc a n b e s e a r c h e df b r
o n a c o m p u t e r r a t h e r t h a n f l i c k i n g t h r o u g h p a g e sm a k i n g i t i n s o n r es e n s e \ m o r c a c e e s s i b l eB u t a t t h e
e n d o f t h e d a y , i t i s s t i l l t h e s a m ed a t a T h e s a m ew o u l d t h e n a p p l y t o d a t a r e l e a s e dt o t h e N B N t o p u l
on the lnternet. So, no need to worry (easy for me to say, eh?)
Srnce last I mentioned the NBN in BSRI Ncp.r', the only major prece of News is the successlll
grant-aid funding and the subsequentsetting-up ofthree Pilot Record Centres in Aberdeen, Po*1s and
C h e s h i r e .T h e s e w i l l h a v e t h e t a s k o f ' d e v e l o p i n g m o d e l w a y s t o e n s u r et h a t r e c o r d sn r e r e c e i v e da n d
'user-friendly
p u t i n t o a s t a n d a r df b r m a t ' a n d m a k i n g d a t a
a n d e v e n t u a l l ya c c e s s i b l e
to both publicand
private sectors, through gateways ranging fiom local museums, libraries and the lnternet' (theif words
n o t m r n e ) M a n y o f u s l ' m s u r e w i l l b e w a t c h i n g c l o s e l y h o w t h i n g s d e v e l o p h e r e W h a t e v e r ,t h e
outcome, on behalf of BSBI, I will continue to f'eedinto, and report back on, any lurther developments
and uould welcome any further comments from you on our potential role.

t(l

Co-ordirllrtor's ( omcr

Botanical Records
M a n v R e c o r d e r sa s k w h a t i s t h e m i n i m u m r e c o r d a c c e p t a b l ef o r A t l a s 2 0 0 0 W h i l s t i t i s t r u e t h a t t h e
absolute ntinimunt is only the BRC Number, l0 km square, date, site status and recorder. this really is
a n a b s o l u t em i n i m u m . T h e . { t l a s w i l l b e m o r e o r l e s sd o n e a n d d u s t e di n j u s t o v e r t h r e e y e a r st i m e n o t
l o n s i n b o t a n i c a lt e r n r s s o r e c o r d e r sn e e dt o t h i n k a h e a d G r a n t e dt h i s i s d i f f r c u l t\ \ ' i t h p r e s s u r e st o g e t
A t l a s r e c o r d si n a n d s o m e ( ' ? m a n y )V i c e - c o u n t vR e c o r d e r ss t r u g g l i n gw i t h c o m p u t e r sa n d d e a l i n gw i t h
requestsfor infbrmation. etc. But. lo reoord the nrinimum of information now, while you are out in the
field anyuay is f.ilse econornv. lt goes !r'ithout saving that national Red Data Book, Nationally Scarce,
Schedule8 species.etc., should be recorded to six figure grid relerence(100 m square) level. But what
is oflen overlooked is an indication of the population size. a factor which is very important to plant
consen"atlLrn.The rneasurementczrnbe an actual count rvithin a given area or a ttequency measure It
d o e s n ' t m a t t e r w h i c h s o l o n g a s t h e m e t h o d u s e d i s m e n t i o n e d ,w i t h a d e f r n i t i o no f a n y c o d i n g o r
a n n o t a t i o no f r e c O r d s
Also, it is usefirl to knorv what habitat the plant is growing in or other species with rvhroh it is
associated..{nd oi'course. it is not just nationally Scarce and Rare plants which should be treated this
u a v . b u t a i s o , l o c a l l y R a r e a n d S c a r c ep l a n t s ( g L r i d e l i n etsb r w h i c h a p p e a rl a t e f i n t h i s i s s u e ) .S o t h e
message is, when out in the field. as much detail as possible should be recorded, panicularly with
r a r i t i e s l f i n d o u b t . e r r o n t h e s i d e o f c a u t i o n a n d r e c o r d a t t h e h i g h e s tr e s o l u t i o np o s s i b l ev u i t h r nt h e
t i n r ea l l o w ' e dY
. o u ' l l t h a n k m e f o r i t i n y e a r st o c o r n e !
Computers
There have been many movements and much rvork behind tlre sceneswith respect to computers. l\tuch
of thrs to do with feeding into the development of Recorder 3.-l and towards the Windows version
which is due to be released sometime next year (possibly by summer!) and ivith development of
BioBase and Aditsite (both of which were revierved in the last issue of 1J.\81Ncl,.r) to meet rvith the
needsofbotanical recorders.But also, ironing out problems with data transfer to BRC, problems which
are now onlv comrnq to li-shtwith the first tranche of computer generatedrecords.
As far as computerisationofVice-county Recordersis concerned,the majoritv ofVice-counties are
now covered by computer operated by the recorders themselvesor by a computer link person But as
m a n v w i l l p r o t e s t .t h a t ' s n o t t o s a v t h a t a l l V i c e - c o u n t i e sh a \ , et h e i r r e c o r d sa c t u a l l yo n c o r n p u t e r lT h i s
is not entirely unexpected Many recorders are totally new to computing and conrputerisationis a long
ternr process Learnrng to use a computer is much like learning to drive a car (albeit a drfl'erentset of
s k i l L sa n d d i f f e r e n t s e t o f m u s c l e s n e e d e d l )i n a s m u c h a s i t t a k e s n r a n y h o u r s ( m o n t h s / v e a r si n s o m e
cases)to learn the multifarrous skills required. No-one ever got into a car and drove away safely having
n e v e r d r i v e n o n e p r e v i o u s l v lA n d o f c o u r s e ,t h e k e v t o b e c o m r n gc o m p u l e r i s e di s p r a c t i c e ,s o m e t h i n g
rvhich reqr,riresa fair amount of tirne a valuable resource not always in great supply. Even the most
expenenced computer users have problems and have to learn and relearn how to use software rvhich
thev rnal' never har.'eused or at best, not i-rsedtbr a while Nevertheless.over the last t\,,'oyears or so,
although it may not seem so at a casual glance, there has been considerableprogress and I am totally
confident we will get there. Eventuallyl
Andfinally...
ln the latesl issue ofBlologr.il (Journal ofthe Institute ofBiology) I came acrossthe latest collection of
B i o l o g i c a lE x a m H o w l e r s T h e s ei n p a r t i c u l a rc a u g h tm y a t t e n t i o n .
.
Herbir,'orymay causetemporary destruction of the plant
. T r o p i c a l r a i n f b r e s t sa r e d e c l i n i n ga t t h e r a t e o 1 ' o n eB e l g i a n
. I'he fuo conferenceheiped in banning certain rare tree species
'
A forest is detlned as an area between 3000 million hectares and 6000 million hectares of tree
cover
.
lt is rnrportant to control burning in heathlandby using fire bricks
.
S o m e s p e c i e so f r e p t i l e e e t a n n o y e di l t o o m u c h g o r s ei s r e m o v e d
S a t ,n o m o r e l
C A M E R O N C R O O K ( B S B I C o - o r d i n a t o r ) ,M i l l s t o n e s ,8 W o o d s t o c k C l l o s e ,L o s t o c k H a l l , P r e s t o n ,
L a n c s P R 5 5 Y Y T e l & F a x 0 1 7 7 2 - 31 6 7 1 7 .e - m a i l C a m e r o n S C @ b i s f o o t . c o m

l1

Rccordersurd Recording

RECORDERS
AND RECORDINC
There have been no new changesto the List of v c. recorders or Panel of Ref-ereessince R,\R/ Arevs 76.
all the earlier changeshave been incorporated into the I 998 YetrrRutk.
. orset DT2 OHF
D A V I D P E A R M A N . T h e O l d R e c t o r y .F r o m e S t Q u i n t i n . D o r c h e s t e r D
M A R Y C L A R E S F I E A H . A N . 6 I W e s t m o r e l a n dR o a d . B a r n e s .[ - o n d o n .S W l 3 g R Z

VICE-COUNTY RARE AND THREATENED PLANT REGISTERS

SELECTION
CRITERIAFORTHE BRITISHISLES
RECOMMENDED
SPECIES
Introduction
T h e t b l l o w i n g r e c o m m e n d a t j o n sh a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e dl i o m P e r r i n ga n d F a r r e l l ( I 9 9 6 ) a n d m o d i l i e d t o
t a k e i n t o a c c o u n tt h e l a t e s te d i t i o n o f t h e G B R e d D a t a B o o k f t r r v a s c u l a rp l a n t s( W i g g i n t o n ,i n p r e p )
rvhich utilises IUCN criteria (World Consen'ation Union, l99zl), and to allow tor decline in those taxa
. h e l o c a l c r i t e r i a( 2 - . { . ) a r e m o r e q u a n t i t a n o t c o v e r e db y e x i s t i n gn a t i o n a lp u b l i c a t i o n so r l e g i s l a t i o nT
. h i l s t t h i s m a y m a k e t h e m h a r d e rt o i m p l e m e n t ,s u c h q u a n t i f i a b l ed a t a
t i v e t h a n i n p r e v i o u sg u i d e l i n e sW
a r e n e e d e d s o t h a t . ( i ) d i r e c t c o m p a r i s o n sm a y b e m a d e b e n v e e n V i c e - c o u n t i e s ,( i i ) s u b j e c t i v i t yi s
r e d u c e ds o t h e y m a - vb e u t i l i s e dl b r e x a m p l ei n p l a n n r n gi s s u c s ,p u b l i c i n q u i r i e sa n d f b r l o c a l B i o d i v e r sitv Action Plans
The criteria are arranged in a hierarchicalmanner so that a taron fitting into a higher category need
not necessarilybe assessedfor a lower one lt is acceptedthat tbr many taxa, lactors such as population
size, decline and actual distribution are insuflciently knorvn to allow application ofrnanl" ofthe criteria.
Ho*'ever, it is recommendedthat within the limits of availabletime and resources,as many categories
a s p o s s i b l e s h o u l d b e a p p l i e dt o a s m a n y t a x a a s p o s s i b l e .l t i s a l s o r e c o m m e n d e dt h a t t h e r e s u l t a n t
'l'hrealened
l)lunl llegisters are updated at least every frve vears
I'rce-counl.l.Rttre &
GeographicalArea
T h e W a t s o n i a nV i o e - c o u n t y( D a n d y , 1 9 6 9 ,W e b b , 1 9 8 0 ) ) h a s b e e n c h o s e na s t h e a r e a o f c o r " e r a g et b r
e a c hR e g r s t e rs i n c ei t i s p r o b a b l yt h e m o s t s t a b l eg e o g r a p h i c aul n i t i n B r i t a i n . L o c a l g o v e r n n r e n rt e r i e *
a m o n g s to t h e r d i s r u p t i o n st o c o u n t y a n d d i s t r i c tb o u n d a r i e sh, a s r e s u l t e di n a p l e t h o r ao f c h a n g e sr n a n y
ofrvhich are not glraranteedto sun'ive the erpected litt ofthe Register. Objections to the use ofVicecounties are mainly that they are little understood by local authorities or the general public However. if
each Register includes a definition ofthe Vice-county together with a clear boundary rnap, there can be
little excusefbr misunderstanding
Format
There should be ideally a separate Register for each Vice-county (although the criteria have been
modified to allow merging where felt appropriate). lt is expectedthat the data upon which the Register
i s b a s e d ,w i l l b e s t o r e d o n a c o m p u t e r i s e dd a t a b a s ew h e r e v e r p o s s i b l et o a l l o w r e g u l a r u p d a t i n ga n d
relatrve ease of data management. Camera ready copy can be produced directly lrom the computer
reducing cost of production. The most cost eft'ectiveand recommended fbrmat for the Register is a
tabular layout such as that produced for Ceredigion (Chater 1995) and which would lorm a uselul
rnodel
T h e r e c o m m e n d e dm i n i m u m d a t a c o l u m n st o b e i n c l u d e di n t h e R e q i s t e ra r e .
.
I S c r e n t i f i cN a r n e( f b l l o r v i n gS t a c e , 1 9 9 7 )
. 2 E n g l i s hN a m e ( a f t e r D o n y , J u r y a n d P e r r t n g ,1 9 8 6 )
. i N a t i o n a lC r i t e r i a( s e eb e l o w )
. .1 l-ocal Criteria (see below)
.
5. National Grid Reference(this may be omitted for the most vulnerablespecies)
. 6 Latest Record (year only)

I2

Recorders
and Recording

Additional information such as site/location name and status (e.g. NNR, SSSI) would be useful but not
essential.Primarily. it is taxa indigenous to the Vice-county that should be consideredfor inclusion in
the Register Horvever, it ma1,be desirable to rnclude uncommon aliens and hybrids. In such cases,
t h e s es h o u l db e c l e a r l ym a r k e db y u s e o f s y m b o l s a f l e r t h e s c i e n t i f i cn a m e ,o r i n a s e p a r a t ec o l u m n .
The Criteria
\,'ascularplant taxa occurring within the Vice-county should be assessedusing the follorving criteria
and must fall within at least one category to qualily for inclusion rvithin the Vice-coutrh llure &
'l'hreul
ened P lont lle gi.\ler.
Naluntul ('rileria
.

A n v t a x o n l i s t e d i n t h e R e d D a t a B o o k f o r V a s c u l a rP l a n t s( t h i r d e d i t i o n ,W i g g i n t o n e d i n
p r e p ) ' . o r T h e I r i s h R e d D a t a B o o k ( [ ' u r t i s a n d l \ ' l c G o u g h ,1 9 8 8 ) l
A n y t a x o n l i s t e da s N a t i o n a l l yS c a r c e( S t e w a r te t a l l 9 a . { ) r o r N e a r T h r e a t e n e dl P a l m e r ,
le96)
Any taron listed on Schedule8 of the Wildlitb and Countryside Act l98l (Great Britain)',
, r , T h e F l o r a P r o t e c t i o nO r d e r 1 9 8 7
S c h e d u l e8 o f t h e W i l d l i f e ( N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d )O r d e r 1 9 8 5 1 o
( R e p u b l i co f I r e l a n d ) '
A n \ t a x o n l i s t e d ,o r o c c u r r i n gi n h a b i t a t sl i s t e dr n t h e E C H a b i t a t sa n d S p e c i e sD i r e c t i v eA n n e x
l l b . l \ b o r V b , A p p e n d i r I o f t h e B e r n C o n v e n t i o no r A p p e n d i r I o r l l o f C I T E S . ( o p t i o n a l )
.A.nytaxon endemic to the British Isles
Locul ('riterict

.
.

L Any taxon having occurred formerly in the Vice-county but which is now extinct.
2 . A n y t a x o n o c c u r r i n g i n 0 . 6 o ho r l e s s o f t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f I k m s q u a r e s w i t h i n t h e
V i c e - c o u n t v .T h e r e s u h sm a y b e b a n d e da s f b l l o w s < 0 2 % L o c a l l . vR a r e ,0 . 2 - 0 . 6 % L o c a l l y
Scarce
. i
A n 1 -l a x o n w i t h i n t h e V i c e - c o u n t yh a v i n ea k n o r v n o r r n f ' e r r e d e c l i n ei n p o p u l a t i o ns i z et r r
d i s t r i b u t i o no f 2 - 5 9 t o r g r e a t e r ,o v e r t h e p r e v i o u s2 5 y e a r s .
. 4 ,{ny taxon expected to lall within I , 2 or 3. above within the next 5 years.
Note r This applies only to the taxa occurring in a Vice County rvithin the area covered by the publication concerned.
References
(lhater. A.O (1995). (-eredigirn (v.c. 16) Rura L'lonl Regi.sler.Countrvside Council lor Wales.
Aberystwyth.
, N ( 1 9 8 8 ) l ' h t ' l r r s h l l e d D c t t aB o o k W i l d l i f e S e r v r c e O
C u n i s . T G F a n d M c G o r - r g hH
, ftlceof Public
Works. Dublin.
Dandy, J E (f 969) Watxnian L'ice Counties of ()reut []rilain.
D o n y , J G , J u r y , S L a n d P e r r i n g , F H ( 1 9 8 6 ) L n g l i s h N t t n e s o / W / i l tll. / o r ' r , e rEs d i t i o n 2 B S B I .
P a l m e r ,N l . . { . ( 1 9 9 6 ) . N e w M e t h o d s o f A s s e s s i n gt h r e a t a n d R a r i t y A R e s p o n s et o D a v i d P e a r m a n ' s
P r e s i d e n t r aAl d d r e s s . R S I I I N e v . r7 3 .
P e r r i n g ,F . H . a n d F a r r e l l , L . ( 1 9 9 6 ) G u i d e l i n e sl o r t h e P r e p a r a t i o no f C o u n l r y R a r e P l a n t R e g i s t e r s
8.tr3/ iVdrr.!71.
S t a c e .C . A . ( 1 9 9 7 ) A ' e wl . l o r u o J l h e B r i l i s h I . s l , ' s . 2 n de d i t i o n ,C a m b r i d g e
Steu,art,A. Pearman.D , and Preston C.D. (1991) Scarce Planl.sin Brilttin. JNCC. Peterborough
l i c e C o u n t i e s o f l r e l a n dP r o c . R . I r . A c a d . 8 0 8 1 7 9 - 1 9 6
W e b b , D A ( 1 9 8 0 ) T h e B i o l o g i c aV
Wigginton, ed. (in prep.). Retl l)ato []ctokJbr VctsculorPlonl.s 3rd. ed. JNCC, Peterborough.
World Conserr,'ationUnion (1991). IU('N Red List (-ult,goric.s.As opprot'ed h.vthe 10/h meelrrryof the
III(',1' ('truncrl. ()|und StrtlzcrI*rrl World Consen,ationUnron.
A c kn o w led gem en ts
Many people via BSBI Conservation, Records and DatabaseCommittees and the Country Conservation Agencies rvere consulted during the formulation olthese guidelinesbut particular thanks are due

t3

Rccordcrs rnd Rccordrng

to, Rodney Burton, Arthur Chater, Gwynn Ellis, Richard Gornall, Geoffrey Halliday, Clive Jermy,
N'liles King, N{argaret Palnrer, David Pearman, Franklyn Perring. Chris Preston, Clive Stace, Nick
S1ewar1.and Robin Walls
C A M E R O N S C R O O K ( l l S B l C o - o r d i n a t o r ) ,M i l l s t o n e s ,8 W o o d s t o c k C l o s e .l . o s t o c k H a l l , P r e s t o n ,
L a n c s .P R 5 5 Y Y . T e l . & F a x 0 l 7 7 2 - l l 6 7 1 7 . e - m a i l C a m e r o n S C @ b i e f o o t . c o m

DESIGN OF RECJORDC]ARDS
INTRODUCTION
Botanrcalrecordshave been collectedand uscd for centuries.Ad."ancesin tcchnologr'.coupled*ith an ever
incrcasingdemandfor more and bctter infonlation. have revolutioniscd
infomrationhandlingfrom thc ongrnal
sPokcnor *ritten uord to tlrc-culrcnt recordcard and conlputels),stcrnsIn additronto distributionmapprngfbr
ph\togcograph).recordsar.'used fbr othcr purposcsincludingconscnation,plaming- cnviromrentalrmpact
changcsrn drstributionand/or frequcncl,rvith tirne (thc BSBI Monrtoring Scheme.fuch &
asscssmcntsWoodrufl. 1996).etc.. but the informationcontentofnranv recordsis oftcn lorv. rvhichinrposesrcstrlctlonson
the nav rccordscan be uscd For instancc-nranvrecordscollectedfor thc Atlas o.fthe British flora (Pcrringand
Walters. 1962)are best rcgardedas ref'crring1o a lO-km squareduringthc pcriod 1954-1960:nruchoflhe datc.
localityand rccorderinfon.nation
apparenth'rclating
to rndiridualrecordsis spurious
Botanicalrccordcardsare a simplemeensofcollecting.assr-ssing.
organisurg.
storingand retricvingfloristic
infbrrnation.Their use rvas popularisedin Britain and lreland during the DistributionMaps Schemeand have
bccnriidelv uscd since.At thcir snnplcst.cardsconsistofa list ofabbruiatcd spccicsnames(oftenrrith index
nunrbcrsfor data processing)and spaceft'r dctails of rrhcre. *tcn and br rihonr thc recordsucrc collccted.
Thcrc arc no\\ nlan\ drflcrentcards rn circulatron(c.g. thosefionr thc DistributionMaps Schrme.thc BSBI
N{onitorrng
Schcme.local llora prolccts).and nrostfbllorr the sanrcbasrcdesign.
Espcrtcnceofusing botanicalrecordsduring the BSBI MonitoringSchcmchas shounnumcrousrnlpro\crrentsto data collectionlhtcli could incrcascthe informationcontcntofthc rccordsand improvcthc ofliciencv
rrith rvhrchther are handlcd.The purposcofthrs paper oLiginalll"prescntedat a BSBI nreetingin 1990)is to
prcsentsonlcofthcsc lde:rs.:rndto proposcsorncstandardrand conrentionsto hclp marimisethe uscofintbnnation As the rccordcardsarc centralto the $'a\ dataarc currenth collcctcd.the ideasarc hcrc relatedprincipally
to card dcsign The bettcrthc card design.thc rnoretime spentbotanrsrng
and thc lesson admrnistration.
Not all
thc rdcasarem\ own and fufiher suggcstions
are *clcomc.
Thosc u'ho are unawarcoi the imponanccof data aboutthc recordingin additionto the spccicslist should
rcadthe I/orzr ol'.4.;hrlou,n
lirc.rr (Rich et nl. 1996)or Rich (1997).
SUMMARISED VERSUS DETAILED INFORMATION
An rnitral considerationin dcsign is the type of rnfomrationto bc collcctedon thc cards (i.e. sumrnariscd
or
detailed).For instance.if cardsarc to be usedonll' as I 0 km squarcsunrmaries.
thercrs lrttle needfor dctarlsof
the recordcr Note that rvhilsta card designedto collectdetailedinlbnration can alsohold surmran'infbmratron.
a sunxran card riill rareN takr:nroredetailedrnfbrmalionsrtrsfactonl\'.Tlrc lacilrtt to recorddetarledrnfbmratronshouldthcrcfbrebe built into dcsisntrom thc outsct.
COLLECTION OF DATA
SpeciesList
The specreslist printedon thc cardsis perhapstlrc most inlportantfeature It shouldact as a guideto the local
t)ora It prornptsand educalesthc readers.It dlctatcsthc trpc ofrnlormalroncoilectedfor eachlaxon It should
be dcsignedfbr rapid use in the field and office. and shouldmininriseertra rvork. It is crucialto adapt it to the
local flora (and thc more local. the bcttcr. o g a vice-countvor group of 2-6 vicc-counties).for fbur main
teasons.
. Frrst.it generallrcuts doul the nunrbcrofspeciesto be includcd.allorvingthc additionoflocalll common
specicsand l Jargerprint sizc Generallr.thc largcr the prilrt sizc thc better nalncscan bc tbund and
crossedotf f'aster.and are casicr to read rn failing light or vcars. Thc small print on the SconishBSBI
MonitoringSchcrnecard resultedin sonrcresistance
to its usc.
. Second.the llst acts as a guide to the local flora, suggestingspcciesto be scarchcdfor. and cutting dorvn
-fhc
erroncousrecords(taxa not on the cards rvill generallt,be checkednrore carefull-v).
cducationalpotential
ofcards is cnormous- thc inclusionofsubspccics-aggrcgates
and localll'commonand distinctirecritical
Lrxacan stimulaterecordcrsto broadentherrknolledge
. Third. tt tbcusesattentionon taxa not includcdin thc hst as thev havcto bc writtendorrn scparatclr Rarities.
taxa of partrcularinterestand thoseuhich arc likcly to bc mis-recorded
can bc dchbcratelvercludedso that

l"+

Recorders and Recordrng

additronll infbrmatronabout thcm can be obtaincd Therc may.'be a casefor includinglessfrequentgarden

valuable.
esclpcsrnstcadoflocal spccialitiesas thc extradataobtainedtbr the latteris potcntial[1'more
.
Fourth.it inrproresthe efficicncvofdata proccssingas lesstrme has to be spendcodingadditionalspcctes
and correctlngerrors
Selectingrrhrch specicsto includc requircsconsidcrableskill. Onc approachis to adapt ur cxistingcard. but
rrhilst rt rs casv to suggestadditrons(e.g. [.omtuslruntguleohrlolonstbsp. a!tgentoluma'rdLuptnus x regults
resultingin an elcr-incrcasinghst.
could bc addcdto nrost British cards).dcletionsarc lcss often suggested.
'I
rtrtli.:aruensi.s..\rhthorpiuaurol)ueoand('t'nluureaja.cr7\\crc not rcally frequcntenoughto mcnt rncluslorlon
g c h c n rS
t h c B S B I N l o n i t o r i nS
c E n g l a n dc e r d s .
databasc
,fur:rltcnratrr,c
approachis to sclccttirc rnostfreqrrentspecicsusinga local tlora or ctltuputoriscd
Thc.lrr.rrrr pl(1t1tollus (Hall. li)l{0) lists frcquencvclassesfor cach spccicsand hencc those describedas
occnsional.frcqucnt. comrnon.\cn common or ubiquitousharc been includedon a ncw SussexBotanical
RccordrngSocictvcard.rvhilstthosc:descrjbcdcs rarc or \en rarc uere omitted.Similarll. a moreup-lo-datelist
detarlrngthe nunrbcrof rccordscollectcdfor cachtaron in -Susscrdurrngthe BSBI MonitoringSchcmccould bc
obtarncdsinrplr bv intcrrogatingthe databasccomprlcdfor that projcct.The potcntialofthis lattcr xpproachis
indrcatcdbr a conrparisonof thc tara listcd on thc Irish BSBI N{orritoringSchcmecard againstthe ta\a most
licqucntlr rccordcd(rt a l 0 km sqrrarcl*,el) in lreland for the rl l/a.ro.l tha Rntt \h .flora. lf :ll speciesoccurring
rn 5'l; or nr(]rcof thc l() krn sqrrarcsin lrcland u'erc to bc rncludcdon a nur card. thtrc *ould bc about 45
to thc c\istrtlgcard-a 20'X,change
addirionslnd 90 dclctrorrs
or segregatcs
arc
Attcntionmust alsobc gilen to thc n'ay in rthrchsonrctara arc recordedWheresubspccies
giren. the spccicsor aggregatcs
shouldalso bc rncludedor clserecordersmav tcnd to rccordmoreprcciselvthan
lrplrnrrm lnchomttne.tsubsp.qr.7./nli(r/(?'.f
r\ls
uas intcnded For instancc.for thc BSBI MonitoringSchcnre,
rrrcfudcdon thc S. Englandcard and A. trtchomanessensulato excluded.C'onscquenth.vrrtualll all the l.
trtt:homanesrccordsucrc assumcdto be subsp.quodrivalensand it is doubtlirlrvhcthcrevenonc in 20 rccords
r r a s v e r i l l c d t o s u b s p c c i e s l c r\c\ 'l h i l s t t h i s n r a v n o t m a t t c r r v h e r e t h c v a s t b u l k o l r e c o r d s r c f e r t o o l l c s u b s p e c i e s
rl ldds l s1;urious
rccurrcl to thc data
or -s!?rcgatc.
G r r c n t h e d i f f i c u l t r o f r d c n t i f i r n gp a r t l c u l atra \ a a t c c r t a i nt i n r c so f v e a r a n d v a n ' i n gl e v e l so f s k r l l i n t h c
rccordcrs.it mrghtbc sorth includrnga gcnencaggrcgatefbr cr,en criticalgenusand notJustthe sclcctcdonesat
present.t)rLrughthis rrould lcngthcnthe spccicslist. An alternatrvcapproachused br Eric Philp (personal
1986)rs to print thc aggregatcs
in a sepantebox on the card rrherethc\ act xs a rcnrinderthat
conlnrunrcrliDn.
specimcns
or expcn xd\,icearc rcqurrcd.
namcscannotbe read qurcklr,or accuratcl)'-and hencctheir rnterpretation
could bc
Often tlie abbrc','rated
cnhanccdbv erpandingthe standard3 lcttcr abbrcviatiensof specificcprthetsto 5. 6 or 7 letters*hcrc space
pcnrrits(c s ('artx on the BSBI l\'lonitorrngScheniccards).Alternltirclr'. colilnoner specicscould bc grvcn
lonserrbbrcvrationsso that thc\ f,remore raprdlrlocatcd
A nurnberof tara are occasionallvcrosscdo1'lrn error fbr eachotherduc to the simrlaritr,and prorimrtr of
crossedoffin error for I'iltpendula
abbrevratcdnamcs on the cards For instante- l.ilago vulgart.srs regularl,n.vulgarrt. Other spccrespairs rvherethis mar happenare Galium ntollugo and,Geraniuntmolle (G. Hallidar'.
pcrsonalcorumunrc:rtion
1989) Jnd Rum{ ecetosa and Il. actttt.sclla(P.M. Benoit,pcrsonalcommunication
I 9ll7) Again. longerabbreviations
couldbc usedfor theseta\a to avoidambrguitr,.
It is bestto fbllo*.a standardFlora for nomenclaturc
to avoid confusion,and statclvhich Flora on the card.
The substrtutionoflhe nomcnclalurallvcorrect,\ilenr lotifolrcr on computerprintoutsfbr the famrlar,S. a/bri
uscdon thc cardslnd rn thc llrr'arrron 17r1"/resultedll manv urlnccessanqucncsduring thc BSBI Monitoring
SclrcnrcNomonclature
can be updatcdrvhenthe standardFlora is updated.
thc fbmat in ri'hichxggrcgatesor infiaspecrfictaxa arc presentedon lhe spccieslists u'ould
Standardrsrng
Thc fbllolvrngfbmratsare*idelr- used:
alsohelp ;rrordambrgu:ties.
'xgg'
*
:
aggregatc (l personail)prcfcr the uscof * rathcrthan
as it crilrot be mistakcnfbr an
abbreviated
eDitlret)
= hr,brid
X
= r arietr
= fonna
f
suDspeclcs
sat nl8 sat nig = subspccies
as
rras uscdtLrindicatcsubspecics
l.lndcrlinirrg
on the BSBI Monitorin-qSchemecards,but it rs not rccomnrended
An explanationof theseabbreviations
it has bcen confiscd rrrth thc crossingout of specicson photocopies.
shouldbc givenon thc card
Further rcfinementsto the spccies list are to indicate taxa for rvhich voucher specimensare required. or
speciesulrich are locallvscarceor interesting(e.g.HertfordshircFlom cardsdesignedbl Tro,or Jamcs.Figure I
belorl). 1'hesehavc thc inrpodant effects of urgirrg caution u'hcn the more critical plants are found, and

t5

Rccorders and Recordrng

Thcv arc panlcularlvvalulble i'eaturcsfor recorders

generalingenthusrasm
u,henthe scarceroncsarc discoversd.
rvith the local flora.
who are unf-amiliar
i080 Junap
1082 Krckx
1083
1094 Knaut
Koe Le
1091 Labur
10 94 La.,'tu
ir-195
86.1 Lamra
11198 Lamiu
irl 99
l|t )t-)
11ir1
1103

com*
ela*
sL-.u*
ar'/
mac-)
ana
ser
\'1r+9
ga.I
al-b
amp
hyL *

1290 I'{ercu
L29I
1296 Millu
1298 Mimul

ann
per
eff
aggs
gur $
ten*$
1-103Mlnua
118 Mis.:p .rro*
11.J5 l.{oe}rr r,rr
.ae*
130? llolin
hyp
1310 Monot
fon*9
1312 Mcntr

trLa(rj
pLrr

t24
1315 Mycef

q.q

slb*
mur

erc requircd * = rare $ = spcclmen

Frgurc1. Exanrpleofusc ofrrillotationsindicatrngvoucherspccinrcns
requircd(Hertfordshrre
Flora Sun er')
N ,IIN I M U M I N F O R ] \ { A T I O N R E Q U I R E M E N T S
1'hefbllowrngrnlbrmationshouldbc collectedfor eachspecieslist:
localitr nameand vicc count\')
I Gcographicallocatron(includinggrid rcference.
-l Dete
I
Recordcr.
-1. Distributlorlstatus(i.e.nativcor introduccd.\\'hereothertlian cxpected).
5 Tiure spentrecording
fbr rccordsset out b\ Bern ct a/ ( I 9ltlt) Thts tnfbmraThe distributionsstatusls addltlonalto thc rcquirements
records of sonrc specics(eg pnntrosesrrhich are offen planted in
tron can bc cnrcill tbr rnteryrretrng
clrurchtards)and rn areasufierc rlild flo*cr' secdmlrturcs arc so\\n. Suchinfbnnatjoncan onh be collectcdut
the tlcld bv the orrginalrccorders.thoughit ls not al\\'avscrs\ to do so oblcctiveh.It shouldalso onh bc noted
as introducedat even sitc).
rrhereotlrerthan crpccted(i.e. therc is little porntin rccordingAcer pseucloplalanas
(seebelow).
and shouldbe collcctedusingstilndardised
annotations
Thc 1;ronrptsuscd to eficit thc f-rrstthrec itcnrsof infonnatronncedto bc carefullr'\\ordcd to collectf'ull.
prccrscdatafirst lrnrc:doublechcckrnglateris rery timc-consumingSuggested
rvordmgsare as fbllous.
' ( l r i d R e f e r e n c (eS W C o r n e r ) '
This is a modificationof the sording on th.- MonrtoringSchernecards ('SW comcr of square')nhicli rvas
rncludcdto stopgrrd rcfbrences
bcinggivcn for the ccntrcofthe squarc:it achievedthis. but resultcdrn grid rcfirof tetrad.ctc. A diagramshowingthc standard
enccsbeinggivcn tbr the conrerof the l0 knr squareirrespectrvc
for tetrads(Ellis. 1986)shouldbe printedon thc card. Encouragingthe use oflettcrs for the
BSBI nomenclaturc
'delcte
| 00 km squarehelps cut errors. A box or a list headed
as appropriatc' asking ilthc grid referenccrefersto
a l() km squarc.tetrad. I km square.100 m square(i.e.6 figure) or thc ccntral point ofa site *ould help
cnonnouslrrn interprctingthc gnd referencc
' L o c a l i t y- p l e a s eg i v ep l a c en a m e so n O S n r a pf r o m r v i t h i na r e ar e c o r d e do r c l o s e stto i t '
Thrs rrill hclp standardise
spcliingand citationofplace namesand mininlsc use oflocal nameswhch can bc
r en tinrc consunrngto tracc.
'\'ice-county'
Thc uscofadnruustrativecountresis not reconunend{rd
as thcir boundarrcs
and namcschlngc rvith trme
'Dare(so
) fvisit(s)'
This rvordrngrs to encouragcrccordersto noto datesof all vrsits.and not just thc first. Manl' cardsrecordcdfbr
recordsrvcrcsimplv addedto
thc Atla.s(t the Rnttsh I.lora weregiven the dateofthe first visit and subsequcnt
tn. for eramplc.rccordsofr{rlora in the auturrxr.
that lrst.resr.rlting
' R e c o r d e r ( s ) p l e a s eg i v ey o u r o w n , f u l l i n i t i a l s '
'T.
'T.C.C.
Indrrrdualrecordcrsarc vcn trrcouslstent
in thc ua1 in rvhichthc) write thcir namcs.e.g I usc
fuch'.
'Tim
'fuch'at
Rich or sometimcs
random.In thc casc of distinctivenames-or if the recordcrsare all
Rich'.
'P.
rnav seemuninlportantbut in the fllture it mav not bc so. Is
krosn personallr.rnconsistcncr
Smith' the samc
'J
'J.E.
L o u s l c \ ' t h e s a m ca s
L o u s l e r ' ' l \ ' f a r r i esdo m c n r n r v c o n s i s t e n tul vs et h c i rm a i d e no r
a s P A . S n i i t h ' -o r

Recordcrs and Rccording

nrarrrcd namcs. or thcrr crun or thcrr husband s rnitrals. but this ntar diffcr tiom the lrav someonc else cites thetr
natnc
Standardised Annotations
\\'hcrc annrrtatrorrsbr rccordcrs lrc not crplarncd. and tiris happcns sLtrprisinglv oftcn. thel catt bc vcn rnislcad-N
n t c a n n i l t l v e o r n a t u r a l i s c d l D o c s E ' n r e f , n c s c a p c .c r r o r o r c a r h - f l o u e r r n g l A s t a n d a r ds e t o f
inq Does
llnnotations rrould thcrcf'orc bc inrlluablc ln rntcrprctation ofdata- and thc slandards should be printcd on tltc
crrds Non-stlrDtlard anrrntntions rncreasc thc linrc takcn to interprct and process the card as tlie meaning of clch
o r r el r l s t o b c c h e c k c d
Suggcstcd standrrds tbr rccording distributiol status (N'lacpherson 1997) are as follorl'st
=
E
E s t a b l i s h c dl r ) t r o d u c t i o n
SurrnIttg
S
( asttll
(
Plented
P
SLrurcstcclstlncllrcls tbr c(rrrcctrrg crrors rrc
'
rrttcettilrr. (lr llr)ssrbl\ crr()r)aL)tis
\
crror (bcttcr still x---r througlt natne)
T h c s t l n d r r d D A F O R l i s t t b r l i c q r r c n c r c si s a s f b l l o u s :
domrnltrl
d
ltltulldallt
it
ticclucut
f
o
occ]sronill
TiI IC

q r r a l r f r cudr t l r I = l o c a l l r a n d \ - \ e r y a s a p p r o p r i l t cT. h c s ec o u l db e l n t t e n i n l o r r e rc a s ct t r l t e l pd t s t r n g u i s l t
thcrn fionr distrrbutionstatus iumotatious1'hc nrajor problcm urth subscquontusc of thescdata is that the
catugorics
arc r clltir c. end r cn dcpcndenton the obscnrr concarned.
V E R I f I C A T I O NA N D I \ T E R P R E T A T I O N
Bcfirrcanr rccordslrc uscdor copiedit is lrtal that tltcv are chccked.Oncc erroncousrecordsare in a svston'l
t h o c a nb c l c n d i t U c u l t o e n d r c a t o
It is partrcrrlarlr'rnportant fo crosschcck thc grid refcrcnceagarnstlocalitr,as thrs is a com:lon sourccof
ut the rlrong order (c.g fbr thc l(t(t km
crror A ficqtrcnterror rn crtrnggrid rcfcrcncesis to givc co-ordinates
'6 '.
'
sclulre I 6' instcadof I sec Stuvart & Briggs. I 91'|6fbr a classiccramplc).If thc I 00-km squarelottcrsare
trscdthc problcm is aroided..Anolhcrconrntonsourct ofmrsinterpretationresultsfrom tctrad grrd roterenccs
l r c r n -cri t c dr s r i t h c r r r u c I k r n s q l r . r r c sI t r s s r r g g c s t ct hdl t g r i d r e i c l c n c cssh o u l db e c t t c da s f o ] l o r i s

For l0 knrsqulrcs
F o rt c t r i l d s
I ' o r I k n r s q u a r c (si r r c s p e c t i rocf t e t r a d )
F o r ( r - i i g u r cr e c o r d s

(irtd llcllrcnct Itlrld Lttt(r

SD/l--.5-W
SD,ll--.-i-W
S D / 1 9 -5 2 SD/196.527
W

.A tlcscriptron oftlrc roLrlc takor xhrlst rccordrng is an lrrralulblc check that botanists rerc recording rvhcre thcir
grrcl rclerenccs suggcst (c g. BSBI Monitoring Schentc cards). Such dcscriptions also hclp to retiesh memortcs in
tirtrrrc r cars rs to e\rct|\ u hich areas rrcrc recordcd. though th* mav be of lesser value in rofinding particular
pllnls along thlt routc.
Inturprctrtion of thc rccords can bc hclped br lddrtional intbrmation dcscribing horv thc rccording *as
clrrred oLrt (c g shich hrbitats uerc visited. hol long rras spent botanising. ctc.).
It has becn crLstoulrn to inclLrdespace on thc card for a list of habitats recordcd. but thc data gaincd havc
bcen little rrsctl Thc lrst notcd on tlrc card crl bc conrplrcd rvith another Jist compiled fiom personll knoulcdqe
o r l r r o t l ra r r l r p t o c s t a b l r s hh o u c o r r r p r c h c n s i \ ec o \ e r r q e o f h a b r t r t s r s a n d s h e r c t ' u r t h c rc f l b r t c a n b c d i r c c t c d . A
srrndard list rrith boxcs to tick otfnhcn the hrbitats hlrc becn rccorded rvould hclp c(rllect and computcrisc thc
r n t i ) r m a t r o n( c - g \ V o r c c s t c r s h i r cF l o r a P r o ; c c tc a r d s d e s i q n c db r J . J . D a r . F i g u r c 2 ) .
Tlrc rccordcr carr bc lskcd hol thorough tlre rccording *as. This can rndicate arcas lvonh spcnding nrorc
tr)le ln. f,nd rn conrbrrr:ltron uith the numbcr ofspccrcs recordetl. can indtcatc specics richness f'ar better than
n u r r r b e ro f s p c c i e s l l o n c I ' o s s r b l cc a t c g o r i e st o b c i n c l u d c d o n a c a r d a r c :
'
.
.
.

- conrlrrchcnsire
good
pilrllrl/incornplotc
sclcctcd/nrrscclllncorrs

Rccorders and

Sonrc rndicationof thc qualitr oi thc arca rccordcdcan hclp ti)cus :r[tcntronorr ifltcrestingsrres
eualrtt rs
pcrhapsbcst assessed
on a local or count\ levcl as thcscrrc the areasrccordcrsrcnd to bc most tiuniliar rirth.
thoughthis is obriouslr subjcctirc Tlrc morc locarrscdthc rccordsarc (cg to onc nrcacro*).thc rn.rc usc the
datauill be Possibleciltcgoncsaro:
'
'
.
.

outstandmg
good
a\ crage
itoor
sul crcd trck as .tppn

*wee!1elqr'"!rr

Nlarsh

Plantalion

Scmb

Strcam/ Rilcr

Hed,_qe
ro*

Heath

Stl:anrr-idc
('anal

Park,' Churches

G
V
K

Rocki \\'aii
Arable
D rsturbcd\\'aste

Raill lr

tt

Lrban incl (ilrdcns

Gr:rssllnd
Road r

-l-he

l\{

Pond/ Lake

R
T

F t q u r c 2 H a b i t a t s s L r n e r e d ( W o r c e s t c r s h i r cF l o r a p r o j c c t )

ntrmbcr ofspccics recordcd is also rclatcd to thc timc spent rccordiug- s(J lt l\ c\scntl.ll
to harc thrs int.ornra_
t l o n ( c c . B S B I N 4 o n i t o r r n gS c n c m e c a r d s )
As all rrspccts ofrccordtng are relatcd to tltc qu.rlrtv ofthc rccordcr. garning some rdca
ofthc rccordcrs olrr
ilsscssnrcnt oftheir expcftlse can bc inrliuablc rn lsscssing unusual remrds (cg L'iolo c(!t1u1o
1t)loodland)
Botanrcalcrpeniscis.holevcr. rtr'ttlles:tnrets tccrlrlc\ ol recording. 1,"gi,u".,nrlr
hare lrttlc crpcricncc
"
but bc rcn carcfirl about *hal is rccorded Poss,bl( ciltego.r.s tor c\pertlsc
are:
.
begrnncr
.
a\ erage
'
gttod
.
c\pert
.good
\otc that tllc nattlr:rl nlodcst\ ofntost botanists rniulrt prerent tllctl not[ts thcntsclrcs
ls
ifonlr
t h r c c c r t c g o r i e su c r c i n c l u d c d !

the flrst

Card Masks
('ard rnasks are a beauttfullv stmplc tdca to hclp
lrth intcrpretatron: tlrcse. irs fnr as I anr 1\\rre. \\ore first uscd
fbr thc Aron Flora Prolect. Selected species arc cut out (litcralh) ofa blank card- rrhich
is thcn hitl rx,cr r flcld
(Figurc
card
3). rccords fbr thc selccted spccics instantlr stand out. all othcrs bcurg maskcd. B\ fbcqslrg
rttclltron on onlt lhe selccted specics- pattcms and trcnds can bc pickctl out |cn qLricklrl
$hich hclp chcck and dircct
r e c o r d r n gr c n e i t e c t i l e l r P o s s i b l cn r a s k sc o u l d b c u s c c l1 b r
.
contmon spectes (to scc *hich hale bccn rrtsscd)
r
critical specics or lcnerl (to scc rfanr arc rccordcd)
.
ntiaspccittc taxa
.
gr:lsscs
'
i r ) l c r c s t l n g , u n c o n l r t r rsl rp c c i e s
'
1a\il gasllY conlitsed
'
specles not kno*n in a l0 km squarc or r,ice-countr'(to see *hrch uc rddrtrons or errors)
.
s p e c r f i ch a b i t a t s ( c g o q u a t i c . c o a s t a l )
.
spnng or autull)lt spcctcs (picks oltt arcas nof risitcd carlr or late)
T h e p o t c n t i a l o f l n a s k s l b r i l n p r o r i n g t h c q u a l r t r o f r c c o r d r n g i s e n o r n r o u s .S r n l i l a r
s \ s t c r n s c a r r b c c l c s i g ; e dl b r
(0nrpIlcr dltrhlses
DATA PROCESSTNG
The nttnlbcrs on BRC cards *'erc dcsigneclas data proccssing aids crch taron \\'as glven
r unrquc. consceutr\c
number It ts faster and nlorc accurAte t() tvpc a flrr digits rltrr I Corrrputer tlnrr rilr.,lc
ur ebbrelrltcd La[i1
rlamcs. or complex nunbcrs rndicating ta.\ononlic relatronships (cg thoie in
Danrlr. l()jll) Conrputcr s\stclls
rrhich proccss records lionr sclL'ctro) olr:l rllcnu avoid this problcnr ind arc rcn quick
fo usc

llJ

Recordersand Record

lt is possible to data process numbcrs rlhich rndrcate taxonomic relationships. but these arc less cftcient. For
nlstance. Ftgurc 4 sho*'s part of a zoological card rvhere cach genus. and then cach spccies wtthin each gcnus.
hits b!:cn lllocatcd a nuntbcr When proccssrno rccords on such a card. up to 5 digits havc to be tvlted for each
taron contparod Io the 3 dlgrts actualh rcqurrcd to unlquel\, idcntifl clch taron (there are 400 tara on the onginalcard).:utincrclserntrprngol'upto50'f; Onccdatlhavebeeninputintoacomputerthc\ canbeconverted
iltlt{nlatlclll\ into a taxonortlrc sjquelrcc ur it tt\onon)rc scquerlcccan bc addcd latcr if rcquircd

Aspte adi+
TUt
tri
Athyr f i L
Azott fi L
Btech spi
Ceten off
Dryop aem

-3t
-

-fLu

185
192
194
?11
223
2t+1
4t)

660
662
666
661
665
71?
713

pat
ttl
tet
Ophi o vul l l B 1
o r e o p I i m 2 0 51
P h y t l s c o 1166
to,rp
151t1
i g? 1 5 t1 2
Potys acu 1\t+6
set
15 1 8
1619
-

Artem maF
VUI
Ar(m i ta+
mac
neq+
Aspar ofl
Asper cyn
A st i n o v ^ b
tni
A t r l e' q i 3
Iit

Atrop beI
Avena fat
Avenu pfa
puo
B a [| ' o n i 9
Barba ver

-E
BefuL
Beta

167
169
172
175
1771
| '/O

1772
179
182
201
20/.
212
217
218
21q
219
??0
9o1
962
?25
2?B
t5l

ere
vut

?3/.

lae
ni9
otf
ova
pat tes
panrcea
panrcuLa
p9l
plt
pse

385
393
396
397
399
/.00
401
101
405
107
4 t(

rlp
T O S tf a +
spi
str+

t-',

CarI i
Cafpi
Casta
Centa

VES

vuI
bet
sat
caI

.f-l
ou(

/.13
357
120
t+24
.raI

1?8
/.3?
lr39
441
4lr6
151
t53

Frgurc3. E\tract oft card rtrasktbr contmonspectcs

95i-]1 Tr,La::\'l.r
9: al:
95113
r'

atLenuatum
,Jawir:er Lr;l
itgulus

rr Lr'OtaLL..

!i:tJl
F.ll..rius
!t,[] J
sruLellatu:;
9rll Cr-ssol:rus
annuliles
r-lni)rilus
irrapll rsus
,:etrotits
Jrmir:l rar-us
dlstrnquen,lus
.f rnq.tulLrrj
-Leui:;Ftcma

1 1 4 1 r 1 MelIarlus arvensia
I I 4 t :)
craDraneu:i
1 i 5 0 1 Bembrx ro:rtrata
11601 Nys s.n drnLidratus
1161r:
intrrLrFrtu-s
116C-l
splnosus
]]rtnLacuulatu::l
1t 6C4
, l l i t I ; . L ' , ' : r: I n I u r L i c c -I. r r r s
11901 Gorvtes brcrnctus
\ 842
latfcirrirtus
L8!l
pLlnaital-us
18C4
quadrifasciatus
l8i)5
tunidus
1901Argogorytes
fargell
l9a2
mys tacerls

FrsurcJ E\tracl ofl zoologicalcard *hcrc trxononricnurrbcrinsis Lrscdfbr dataprocessirrg

Nurnbcrrngnumbcrsconsecutirclrtbr clataproccssingrs not as logical as Inav at first be apparent.Whcn
nunlbersarc tvped into a computcr.thcrc arc inevitablccrrorsand rnanualcheckingrareh correctsthem all. Bl
s c l c c t r negr e n ' t h i r d n u n i b e r( e . u . i . 1 . 7 . i 0 ) . L r pt o t \ \ o t h i r d so f t h c c r r o r sc a n b e p i c k c du p a u t o m a t i c a l h , o n
thc computcras thc erroncousnunrbersrvill not exist.Usrnga svstemrvhrchcheckcdfor erroneous
nunrbers.80,/o
of thc crrors for thc BSBl MonrtoringSchenrcrrcre spotted Notc that if BRC nunrbersare usedon rcgional
cardsthls chcckis crcatcdautomatLcallr
ls onlr I sclcctronofspecrtsf,repruscnt
Thc ortqtnalcotrsecutir
c BRC numbcnngs\ stem\\as modifredto includelnfiaspeclfictaxa.etc..bv addinga
d e c r n t a l p l a c c ( c . 9 . . 1 g r o . r l r . r ! r r r r l l s(uobnst np u - 1 5 l ' . . 4 c t t n t n us u b s pv r n e r r l l . i = j 5 . 2 . t h e d c c r m a l p o i n t i s
not shoun on the cards).This sloxs data input shghtll and has causcdproblcnrson somc personalcomputer
databases
rrhcredectntalpointsare not uscd:35 2 Agrostiscarrna subsp vineoli.;canbe misreadas 152 ('arex
htrthauntLtIt ml1 be \\drth consldcringx ncw standrrdsetof BRC numbcrsaftcr the l\,fillcrurrunr

Rccordcrs and
[f 1.ou are thinkurg of creating a new set of botanical numbers fbr 1'our own data. DON'T. fbr three reasrltls
(Rich.
.
First. the BRC numbcrs .rrc a standard. allorving transfer of infomration bctneen computcr databascs
l9ll9): a nerr set of nurnbcrs rvill not bc compatible and $'ill requlre painstaking couvcrsion bctbrc bcing
usablc slscrvhere
.
Sccond. problems suclt as treatment of scgrcgatcs and aggregates. s)uorl!ms. ctc.. rrhich have bccn solrcd tn
thc BRC numbcrs. ma\ be recreated.
.
Thrrd. BRC lists are availrrblc in computcrrsed fbmrat- ;rloiding a lot of unnecessan $ork (n$r'numbers can
bc rllocatcd tbr ne\\ taxa rf rcquested)
Thc cour.cutron ol positronrng nunrbers to thu lcli hand srde oi thc ulnrcs tnat' slo* tlorrtr data inptrt \\'lrcn strch
rccords are typed (iigure 5afthe-v have to be read using up to five erc nrorctncnts fbr eat$ rccord Ifthc nunlbcrs
arc positroned ro thc right hand side ofthc namcs- tlrere are onh two clc nto!cltlcnts (Figure 5b): tnput should
t l t e r u t b r cb c q u i c k e r a r r d l c s s t i r i r r g

Ftgure5 Pattcnrofcrc nrorcnrcnt( - i- - > rrhenreadrlgrccordstbr cardsrrith (a) uuntbcrsirn tltc left hlnd
sidcoithc names.(b) nrtmberson thc rrghthandsidcofthe nantes
With thc potentialof modem technolog\'.it should bc possibleto proccssdlta automatlcalll using optical
scanning.graphicstables.ctc. and somes\stemsare alreadvalailablc (War. I 990) and anothcrhes hccntrlalcd
(Rrch& Ricfr. lt)93) Theseslstcms arc unlikclvever to copc nith t.nuddrcirrdsannotatcdin thc ficld. bLrtthg
dltl] compllcdaftcnrards
summartsetl
nnr be surtlblcibr proccssrng
STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
flarc lrth thc layoutof the card can help or hindcrthc rctricvalof a particularcard from a pilc. lt is qurckestto
pick out cardson a combinatioltofdate and localitl'or recordor(thcscarc ttsuallvuniquc)as namesarc clslcr to
rcrd than nunrbcrs.Thc Card Nr:rnberon the Monitorng Schentccards*as origina)lr cnvisagcdas an tndcxitlg
and relatircly littlc usc The informatronon s'hich cardslrc to
s\stcnl but prorcd tirre consumingto adnrrnister
bc retriered shouldbc placedalongonernargin(usuallvthe longernrargin)so that thcv can be readquicklr nltilst
tlickingthrougha pilc.
It is rorthrrhilc duplicatrnga set ofcards for storagcelsovhcrcas an insuratrceaglinst fire or loss tn thc
post. Photocopylngprorides e sinrplemcansofduplication. though ifdift'erent colottredlnks arc uscd durrng
iccording.ther rl rll not be distingurshedA blank marginof 7- | 0 nrm shouldbe left arurnd thc cdgcsof thc cards
to illou fbr photocopicrblindress.or altenrativclvthc margtncould be ttlled rvith infomafion on sfendardiscd
notcs.ctc. rvhichdocsnot needto be duplicated.A contactaddrcss(c.g. BSBI. c/o
nornenclatural
altnotations.
Thc Natural History Museum. London) uould bc useful so that cards lost in thc post or clsovhorccould bc
rctunrcd
l f c o p r i n g i s p l a m e d .r t r s u o r t h d u p l i c a t r n sgo n r cr : c o r d r n gi n f b r r t r a t i oonn t h c b a c k o l t h c c a r d t o h c l p
eusurethat thc correctsidesofthe cardsharc bccncoprcdlogcthcr.
O T H E R A S P E C T SO F D E S I G N
Somcph)sical;tttrlbutcsof dosrgnsuchas srzcand paperqualitvdeferto pcrsonalprofirencc Thc traditronirlA5
priDt
c a r d s ( r . lcl .0 . l 4 8 n n t ) f i I i n t o a p o c k c t . : r n d c u b c u s c d h c l d a g r i n s t t h , i b a c k o f aHFol\out!ac r . t h e
srzers oftens6all. thereis lrttlc room for crplanaton or additronalinfbnratron.and thcv tnvolveendlosstLtrning
order!
backwardsand ibnvardsto crossspccicsoffunlessthe plantsare discovercdin alphabetical
A.l cards(i.e. 296 x 210 rnm) havcspacefor extra rnformationand arc quickerto use as the printedspccies
lrst can be flftcd on one sideofthe card.Thel can be fbldedin lialfto be uscdlikc .A5cardsifdosired.but rrhcrr
usedflat havc to bc hcld againste clipboardor A4-sizedbook (e.g.['lunt ('riht\ \hrch ottcn attrf,ctsf,rtention
tiom membcrsol thc pub[c Thor rnal' flap aroundrn the wind. tro l]]oroc\pcnslvcto llrint and takc Ltpnlorc
storagespaccthan A5 cards.An administratircadvantagcrs that A4 cardsare quickcrand oaslcrto photocop\.

20

Rccordersand Recordrns

Thrn card crcases.tearsand rvcars$'rth use.and mar' flap nrorein thc wind. but can be usedon an automatic
lced on a photocopier.Thicker card is more costlv. A gloss finish to the card Iill resist lvater better than a matt
surlacebut is more erpensive-srnLtdgcs
rvrthbiro and docsnot take pencilrvcll. A matt or lorv glossfinrshand a
mcdrumpaperrvetghtofabout 400-500gsntrs a roasonable
conrpromrse
For uet rveatherrccording.cardscan bc printedor photocopied
on rvaterproof(plasticised)
paper.The main
drarrbacksto usinq such cardsnll thc timc are thc highcr cost (currentl\ about l-5pper shcct)and that rvriting
tendsto smlldge\\lth tintc. but producingat leasts./ne rvaterproofcardsrvouldbe ven hclpful rn thc field (scc
alsolJ.\B1Nru.r76)
[.rsrngcolourcd(ratherthan rrhitc)card hasthc considcrable
advantage
ofl rcducedglarc crnsunnr davs.and
makcsthc cardsinstanth rocognrsableDark coloursand cspecrall)orangc.prnk and red. shouldbc aloided as
thc cardsphotocoprbadlv on sonrccoplers.but palegrecns.bluesandrellorvsprcsentJittleproblem
DISCUSSION
Therc js thLtsconsiderablc
scopefor improring thc rval botanicalrecordsare collected Srrchimprolcnrcntsrrill
allo* rccordsto bc uscd tbr manr purp()scsin addrtronto distnbutionmapprng.As the desrgnof cards is a
compronllscbet$eenthc ditltrcnt usesthe card is put to. a hmrtedtrial rvith subscquent
modificationsshouldbc
carrrcdout to tcst that thc dcsign is cfficrcnr.Thc dcsrgnshouldalso bc tarlorcdto the requirements
of elch
i n J i rr d u a lr r c o r d r n g
pro;ecl
Oncc a successfirldesrgnhas bcen achieved.it is best not to changcit. Printtngis chcapcrin bulk. data
proccssingsvstemsonh havcto be setup oncc.cardscan be storedln onc systclll.masksdo not traveto be rc-cut
and.mostlmportanth of all the familiarityof recordersrvrththcir cardsis not lost.
AC]KNOWLEDGEMENTS
I uotrld hkc to thanl Mrs R Woodmfffor much valuablcdiscussionduring the MonitoringSclieme.J Dar lnd
T Jluttcsfor pcnntsstonto Lrseparts ofthcrr recordcards.and E Nic Lughadhaand C D. Prcstonfbr lullerous
i l r p r u \e i l l e r l st o t h eo r i g i n . tm
l ilnilscnpl
References
B c r n . R J . . e d . ( l 9 l J 8 ) R i o l o g r c u l s u r v e yN e e d o n d n e t u o r kI.l e p o r t o f o w o r k i n g p a r t y s e t u p b y t h e L i n n e a n
\rqtttv rtll rnJ|, London
Dandr'.J E. (1958). List o/ lJrittsltva.;culttrplantt Lond,on
Elhs. R G. (1986).TetradnomencllturcB,\B/ Ncl.r 43: (.)
I l r l l . P f l ( l 9 l l 0 ) , \ a . r . r e r T r l u( lnl t . \ . B n q h t o n
M a c p h c r s o nP . ( ] 9 q 7 ) B . \ B I N e w y7 7 . 1 - 8
Perring.F.H & Waltcrs.S Nt. (l()b2). Arlt.sof tht Brjtt.sh./lora.Canrbridge
Rich.T.C c. (l9lt9) B'\BI o.mputer I./serGrouyt Data tran.tferstarrldr,/s.Abbotsfupton.
R i c h . T . C . G ( 1 9 9 7 . 1I s a d h o c g o o d e n o u g h ' l T r u n s a c t i o n s o l S u f f b t . k N u t u r a l i . t t , \ ' S o c il e
4 r y2tl3 3 .
Rich.T.C.C et ul. (1996).I'lora tt AshdownFurc.\t.SBRS.EastGrinstead.
Rich. T.C.G & Rich. N S J. (1991).Data processing
using opticalscanninganclcharacterrccognitionsoftrvare.
NLtti onol !-bdtrd t ron / i tr Bi ol o gi col l?tctt rd i n.q,Ncu,:
l cil cr l 5 : 2 1-22
Rich. T Cl.C & Woodmff. E.R. (1996) Changesrn the f'lorasol'Englandand Scotlandbctrvccn1930-1960and
I9tl7-|9fi8T
: h c B S B I N { o n i t o r r nSgc h e m eB. r o l o g r c uCI o n . s t n , a t t o n 7 5 . 2 1 j - 2 2 9 .

C R E A T I N G Y O U R O W N F I E L D R E C O R D I N GC A R D S
T h e o o m p u t e r i s a t i o no f t h e r e c o r d s t b r v . o l l O ( O u t e r H e b r i d e s ) h a s b e e n c o m p l e t e d ,u s i n g t h e
R E U O R D E R p a c k a g e . A p p r o x i m a t e l l , , 1 5 , 0 0 0r e c o r d s h a v e b e e n e n t e r e d , r e p r e s e n t i n ga l l k n o w n
r e c o r d s ,i . e . t h e p u b l i s h e dr e c o r d s ,f i e l d r e c o r d sa n d t h e e n t i r e c o n t e n t so f t h e r e c o r d e r ' sc a r d i n d e x .B y
the standardsof a southern English county, this is not very many records. but in the Western Isles of
S c o t l a n dt l i e r e a r e o n l y j u s t o v e r 7 0 0 s p e c i e st o r e c o r d , a n d v e r y f e w r e s i d e n tn a t u r a l i s t s( i n c l u d i n gn o
m e m b e r so l ' t h e B S B I , a s l a r a s I k n o w ) .

Rccordcrs and Recordins

ll

In the summer of 1997 I had my first chance to go into the field with the complete databaseon a
p o r t a b l en r i c r o c o m p u t e r T h i s w a s a l s o t h e t i r s t p o s s i b i l i t vo f m a k i n g m y o w n f l e l d r e c o r d c a r d s ,i . e
l i k e t h e t a m i l i a rB S B I w h i t e F i e l d C a r d t i o r n t h e B R C , b u t w i t h l i s t so f t h e l a t e s tr e c o r d st b r e a c ho f t h e
l0 km squares, and/or the geographical areas. Exanples are shown below. Each list has the taxon
narne,abbreviatedin the usual way, with 5 letters for the genus and 3 for the species,with a date ofthe
most recent record in fiont. A plus sign means that the laxon has already been recorded in that area for
t h e A t l a s 2 0 0 0 . W i t h o n e o f t h e s ep r i n t o u t s . I c a n s t a n di n t h e t l e l d a n d i m n r e d i a t e l yk n o r v w h e t h e rt h e
p l a n t t h a t I a m r e c o r d i n gi s
I 1 a l r e a d l r e c o r d e cflb r t h e r r e r vA t l a s
2 ) p r e v i o u s l l ' k n o r v n( a n d r v h e n )b u t i n n e e do t ' r e - r e c o r d i n g
3 ) a c o m p l e t e l yn e w r e c o r c lf b r t h e a r e a
Exarrrples
a ) . \ n a r n e da r e a Z O N E i 0 ( S c a l p a y ) 2 l 4 n a r n e s
+96
*96
Acer pse
Cyncrscri
+96
i9
Achil mil
Dacty gl<r
f96
Achil pta
4 I Dacty fuc heb
,o
cap x vin +90
Dactv rnac
..*ro,
b) A l0 km square NG/0.8
19
Acer Dse
+gb
Achil rnil
Achil pta
Aegod pod
::

Rodel
19
+9(r
+96
+e6

400 names
Calli harn
Calli sta
Callu r,'ul
Calth pal

l h e s e l i s t s r v e r ec r e a t e db y s e l e c t i n gt h e r e c o r d sl i o u i a g i v e n l 0 k r n s q u a r e .o r g e o g r a p h i c azl o n e T h i s
i s q u i c k t o d o , b e c a u s et h e s e d a t a f i e l d s a r e i n d e x e d .S i n c et h e v i c e - c o u n t yi s d i v i d e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e s
o f t h e F l o r a i n t o 2 9 n u m b e r e dz o n e s ,w h i c h a r e s u b d i v i d e dh i e r a r c h i c a l l iyn t o n a m e da r e a s ,i t i s p o s s i b l e
t o s o r t o u l d i f h c u l t i e ss u c h a s w h e r e a l 0 k n r s q u a r eo v e r l a p ss e v e r a lz o n e s( o t t e n d i f l b r e n tr s l a n d s )o, r
'fhe
t h e o t h e r w a y a b o L l t ,a n d t o s e l e c tt h e c o r r e c t r e c o r d s .
r e c o r d sa r e t h e n s o r l e d b y s p e c i e sa l p h a b e t i cally and by date (rvith the most recent first) and then the first record ofeach difl'erenttaron is picked
o u t T h e t a x o n n a m c ' sa r e a b b r e v i a t e do n t h e b a s i so f t h e n a m e sa l r e a d ys t o r e d r n t h e c o m p u t e r ,s o t h a t
a t ' e w o f t h e a b b r e v i a t i o n sa r e n L r lu n i q u e , e s R u m e x a c e . b u t t h i s c a u s e sl i t t l e d i f f i c u ) t yi n p r a c t i c e
Dates tiorn the last century are abbreviated with trvo dots, e.g. for Achlleu ltarmico in the Rodel
square.
The cards have been extensively used bv rnyselfand three other recorders during 1997. We have
f b u n d t h a t o u r s e n s eo f a c h r e v e n r e nitn r e c o r d i n g i s u r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d a
. n d p o s s i b l yt h e c o v e r a g eo l '
r e c o r d i n gi s i r n p r c r v e da s r v e l l l n t h e c a s eo f t h e O u t e r H e b r i d e s ,i t s e e r n st h a t m a n y o l d r e c o r d s ,i . e L r p
t o 5 0 y e a r s b a c k , c a n b e q u i c k l y c o n f i r m e d o r r e f b u n d ,j u s t b e c a u s et h e r e c o r d e r o n t h e s p o t k n o w ' s
what her'sheshould be abie to see and roughly where to look The databasein the portable, or suitable
p r i n t o u t sp r e p a r e di n a d v a n c e( o r v o u r c a r d i n d e x , i f a n v ) . i s t h e n r e r y u s e l u l s o a s t o q u i c k l y f i n d o u t
$ h e r e t h e o l d r e c o r d s c a m e t i o m I t s e e n r st h a t i n t h i s v i c e - c o u n t y ,a t a n y r a t e , t h e t l o r a i s r e l a t i v e l y
stable over a longish period of time, and that most areas are under-recorded As an example of this.
w h e n w e v i s i t e d t h e r s l a n do f T a r a n s a yf o r t h e d a y , w e h a d a l i s r o f 2 3 O s p e c i e s O
. f these, l30 tvere
r e f b u n d ,b u 1 5 0 n e w s p e c i e sw e r e a l s o f o u n d , s o w e s a \ r I 8 0 T h e t l o r a o f t h e r s l a n dh a s p r o b a b l vn o t
changed much, apart fiom the loss of some arable weeds, so we suspect that it rvas originally
under-recorded.
I r v i l l b e h a p p y t o m a k e c o p i e so f t h e f i e l d c a r d sa v a i l a b l et o a n ) , o n ew h o i s u o i n g t o t h e i s l a n d s .
R I C H A R D J P A N K H L T R . S T2, 3 R o y a l C r e s c e n t E
. d i n b u r g hE H 3 { r Q A

Noles and Articles

NOTESAND ARTICLES
VARIATION IN RUBLT.S
ECHINATOIDES AND ftUAtl,S MDULA:
ENVIRONMENTAL OR GENETIC?
R o b R a n d a l lh a s r e c e n t l vd r a n n a t t e n t i o nt o t h e p r o b l e m sa s s o c i a t e dr v i t h t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o no f m e m b e r s
of /?ribl.r sc:rieslr,r'.r/i-r,r
and environmental factors effecting species morphology. The placement of
b r a n r b l es p e c i e si n t o a p p r o p r i a t es e r i e si s o f c o u r s ea n a r t i f i c i a la r r a n g e m e ndt e s i g n e dt o a i d c l a s s i f r c a t i o n N { a n v o f t h e R u b i r v h i c h a r e n o w a d a y sr e f e r r e dt o a s s p e c i e sw e r e o n c e c o r r s i d e r e d
to be mere
r a r i e t i e s o f ' t h e R r r l ' r , r s p e c i e ss , h i c h h a d p r e v i o u s l vb e e n d e s c r i b e d .l 1 w o u l d o f c o u r s e s e e m l o g i c a l
t h a t a p r o p L r r t i o no 1 ' t h o s es p e c i e sw h i c h a r e m o s t w i d e s p r e a di n n o r t h - r v e s t e r nE u r o p e a r e p r e s u m a b l y
t h e a n c i e n ta n c e s t r arl e l a t i v e so 1 ' m a n -ov f t h e l o c a | s e d a n d r e g i o n a le n d e m i c so f t h e B r i t i s h I s l e s .
lltthu: t'chinurr;rclc.sis a species placecl in Series Ruduluc rvhich was originally referred to as
ll. ratltrltr \",tr cLltin(ltoidei by' W N4. Rogers Provided tvpical material of Il. echinaloizlc.ris encount e r e c lc l a s s r t l c a t i o ins i n t h c o r y a s i m p l ee n o u g hp r o c e d u r e A g o o d e x a m p l eo f t h e i n f . l u e n c o
ef e n v i r o n nrental factors (perhaps coupled rn,ithdeveloprnentalvariation) presumablyeffecting the appearanceof
t h i s s p e c i c sn ' a s p r o v i d c d l r ' h e n p l a n t s o b s e n e d a l o n g n r o o r l a n dl a n e st o t h e n o r t h o f L i t t i e b o r o u g h .
near Rochclalelate in the growing seasonwere found to have stems which were almost eglandular.
H o * e r e r ( ) n a r e t u r n v i - s rtto t h e s a m ed i s t r i c ta l l t h e p l a n t so b s e n , e di n t h e v a l l e l ,b o t t o m e a r l yo n i n t h e
qrowinq season\\'ere obsen'ed to be characteristicallyarnred.
C a r e d o e s n e e d t o b e t a k e n t o c r i t i c a l l y e x a m i n eb r a m b l e sr v h i c h o n s u p e r f i c i a le x a m j n a t i o nc a n
appear very,'similar. A bramble which is a leature of the rvoodlands and hedgerows of the Lower
fubblt' Darrven and Lostock river valleys can closely resemble R. ac:hinutoitle.ron account of the
n a r r o w w h i t e n o t c h e d p e t a l s .t h e w h i t e f e l t i n g o f t h e u n d e r s i d e so f t h e l e a v e s ,a n d t h e r a d u l i a na p p e a r ance of shade grorvn sterns. The stems of plants growing in the open hedgerow habitat are however
densely anned and hystrician. The identity of such plants was initially assumedto be that of R. echinatorLle.\and the hystrician armature ofthe plants was thought to be a direct response1o regular cutting ol
t h e h e d g e r o w s ,b u t o n c l o s e r e x a m i n a t i o ni t w a s f o u n d t h a t t h e c a r p e i so f s u c h p l a n t s a r e c o n s i s t e n t l y
hirsute. lt is currently assumedthat the plants are of an undescribedtaxon referred to at present as the
'Ley'land
hl,strix'
About Kettleshulme in Cheshire plants resembling Il. echittakide:t exhibit the stem characteristics
o f S e r i e sn i ( L o t l e : I n C u m b r i a p l a n t st o t h e s o u t h - e a s o
t f W i n d e r m e r ea r e r e g a r d e da s a l o c a l v a r i a n t
ol Il. echitrtttoitle.rand are characterisedby the obovate leafletsand the presenceofa large lobed leafor
leaflet in the panicle (see l'lora of ('rrnhria'1
ln West Lancashire(v c. 60) there are surprisinglyferv records of R. echinatoide.salthough a strong
p o p u l a t i o no f t y p i c a l p l a n t s o c c u r s i n t h e w o o d e d r i v e r v a l l e y a t B r o c k M i l l A m e m b e r o f t h e S e r i e s
radulae is however frequently encounteredin the Garstang area which flowers early in the seasonand
which shorvs afhnrties to both R. ratlula and R. echinaloides. Someq,hatfurther to the south another
early flou,ering tbrm which closely resembles ll. radulu is Iocally common in the Bollin valley in the
Altrincham Wilmsloudistrict
\\'hat processesare invoived? Ifplants which are assumedto be atypical tbrms olft. echinatoides
and R. rttdtrlct were to be grown in cultivation would the diflerences persist, suggestingthat changes
have occurred at a genetic level? l\'light some of the plants revert to the typical form suggesting a
physiological responseto the environment as might be the case with the moorland fringe plants ofthe
upperRoch r.alJey?
An interestingcase ofatyplcal stern armature is that exhibited by the localised Staffordshireendemic
ll. dultrit Edees & Rilstone a member of SubsectronRuhus, the stems of which are armed with clands
and pncklets and here the departure ftom the norln must clearly be genetic.

23

Notesand Artrclcs

Factors such as the degree of stem armature of Rubi are not just of taxonomic interest. but are of
r e l e v a n c et o e c o n o n r i cb o t a n v . l l r t i s t h e c a s et h a t t h e s t e m a r n r a l u r eo f p o s s i b l e u m b r e l l as p e c i e ss u c h
as I?. et:Jtirrtttttirl,.rand R. ratfuta can van, fiorn alnrost eglandular to hystrician then such tacies are
s f t h e m o l e c u l a re c o l o g y o f R u h u s
c l e a r f yo f v a l u e t o t h e h o r t i c u l t u r a li n d u s t r y .F u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n o
s p e c i a t i o nc o u l d r - r l t i m a t e l yl e a d t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f u n - a r m e d c u l t i v a r s o f t h o s e n r e r n b e r so f o u r
i n d i g e n o u sR u b i w ' h i c hy i e l d e x c e l l e n tf r u i t b u t a r e a t p r e s e n to f n o h o r t i c u l t u r a lv a l u e b e c a u s eo f t h e i r
stem armature
DAVE EARL, 4 Nieadow Way, Brooklyn Park, Gravei Lane, Banks, Nr. Southport PR9 SBU

BOTANY IN LITERATTJRE-9
Thomas de Quincey in his 1856 revision of ('otrfe.s.storr.s
of tnr l:.nglish opiun cdtar, which rvas flrst
p u b i i s h e di n i 8 l l ( P e n g u i nC l a s s i c s1 9 7 1 . r e p r i n t e d l i / 8 6 ) . I a n r e n t st h e s p o l i a t i o no f G r i r s r r e r eb v t h e
b u i l d i n go f a n u n n e c e s s a r ryo a d .
'
T h i r t y y e a r sa g o , a g a n g o f V a n d a l s ( n a m e l e s sI, t h a n k h e a v e n ,t o n l e ) . t b r t h e s a k e
[xri]
o f b u i l d i n g a m a i l - c o a c hr o a d t h a t n e v e r u ' o u l d b e w a n t e d ,c a r r i e d ,a t a c o s t o f l . l 0 0 0 t o t h e
defrauded parish, a horrid causeway of sheer granite masonry, for three-quarters-of-a-mile,
right through the loveliest succession of secret tbrest dells and shy recessesof the lake,
margined by unrivalled f'erns. arnongst rvhich u,as the Osmundu rcgalll This sequestered
a n g l e o f G r a s n r e r ei s d e s c r i b e db y W o r d s w o r t h , a s i t u n v e i l e di t s e l f o n a S e p t e m b e rm o r n i n g ,
i n t h e e r q u i s i t ep ( ) e m so n t h e " N a m i n g o f P l a c e s" F r o m t h r s a l s o - v i z . , t h i s s p o t o f g r o u n d ,
a n d t h i s m a g n i f i c e n t c r e s t [ t h e O s m u n d a ] - \ \ a s s u g g e s t e dt h a t u n i q u e l i n e
the frnest
i n d e p e n d e nlti n e t h r o u q h a l l t h e r e c o r d so f v e r s e ,
''Or
ladt of the lake,
S o l e - s i t t i n gb v t h e s h o r e so f o l d r o m a n c e" '
N I A R G A R E T E S O U C H I E R . 2 6 A D r y d e n A , , ' e n u e[.- o n d o n ,W 7 l E S

RAREAND SCARCEPLANTSDOCTIMENTATION
IN V.C.63
(souTH-wEST YORKSHIRE)
Projected Fieldwork
David Pearman's ercellent and informative PresidentialAddress I'rnords a New Delinrtittt of Rure
o n d S c u r t c P l u n t s ( I I ' u t s r n t u 2 l ( l ) 1 9 9 7 ) m u s t h a v e s t i m u l a t e dm a n y v . c . R e c o r d e r sa n d o t h e r B S B t
m e m b e r st o l o o k c r i t i c a l h ' a t t h e d i s t r i b u t i o na n d s t a t u s o f R a r e a n d S c a r c e P l a n t s w i t h i n t h e r r o r v n
v i c e - c o u n t i e sT. h i s P r e s i d e n t i aAl d d r e . s s\ \ a s p a f t i c l l l a r l \ , t i n r e i 1c' o
, n r i n g ,a s i t d i d . w i t h i n t h e t i n r e - s c a l e
o f t h e A t l a s 2 0 0 0 P r o j e c t t a m i n f u l l a g r e e r . n e nr ^t , i t hD a v i d t h a t , w h i l e t h e c o a r s e l O x l 0 k m g r r d ,
utilised since the.4//a.r of the Rritish I.kra (Perritg & Walters 1962) has been and strll is, perlectly
adequatefor recording the overall British Flora on a national basis,there is an urgent need to document
Rare and Scarce Plants at a much more detailed,tiner scale and, more importantly. to set up a regional
d a t a b a n ko r r e p o s i t o r yo f i n f o r m a t i o nw h i c h c a n b e r e g u l a r l yu p d a t e d .
P r e s e n td a v i n i t i a t i v e si n p l a n t r e c o r d i n ga n d n a t u r e c o n s e r v a t i o ns t r a t e g ya r e a l r e a d yl e a d i n gt o a
n r u c h m o r e d e t a r l e da p p r a i s a lo f t h e d i s t r i b u t i o no f r a r e a n d s c a r c es p e c i e sa n d A t l a s 2 0 0 0 h a s - q i v e n
c o n s i d e r a b l ei m p e t u st o t h i s . A d d i t i o n a l l y ,E n g l i s hN a l u r e , w i t h i t s N a t u r a l A r e a s p o l i c y . a n d t h e o t h e r
. r e a l s o f b c u s i n - ud i r e c t l yo n b r o a d e re n v i r o n m e n t ails s u e sa n d p o l i c i e s ,i n c l u d i n gt h e
CountryAgencresa
n e e dt o c o n s e r v eb o t h r a r e a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v sep e c i e st r n dh a b i t a t s W e a l l r e c o g n i s et h a t t h e S S S I ( S i t e
o f S p e c r a )S c i e n t i f i c l n l e r e s t ) s v s t e m o f d e s i g n a t i o nb v t h e C o u n t r y A g e n c i e s h i g h l i g h t sa n d g i v e s a
m e a s u r eo f p r o t e c t i o n t o t h e b e s t e x a n r p l e sc r f a v a r r i e t l , o f h a b i t a ttsh r o u g h o u tt h e c o u n t n , .
A t t h e s a n r e t r m e . m a n y a d n r i n i s t r a t i v er e g i o n s . r v h e t h e r t h e y b e M e t r o p o l i t i r n C o u n t i e s . S h i r e
C o u n t i e s ,\ \ ' i l d l i t e T r u s t r e - q i o n se t c . , h a v e a l r e a d r ' .o r a r e i n t h e p r o c e s so 1 ' s e t t i n qu p a s e c o n dt j e r

tl

Notesand Artrclcs

s v s t e n lt o i d e n t i f r "s i t e so f n a t u r ec o n s e r \ i r . t i o inm p o f t a n c ea t a r e g i o n a l e v e l D u r r n g n i y t l m e i i s a L o c a l
C ; o v c r n n r e net c o l o g i s to v e r t h e p a s t t w e n t ! v e a r s ,w e s e t u p a s v s t e mo f S S t ( S i t e o f S c i e n t i f i c l n t e r e s t )
d e s i g n a t i o ni n W e s t Y o r k s h i r c t o i d e n t i f \ a n d d o c u r n e n ti n d e t a i l s u c h s e c o n d t i e r s i t e s ,w h i c h n o w
r e c e i l e a n r e a s u r eo f p r o t e c t i o n t h r o u g h t h e L l n i t a r t D e v e l o p m e n tP l a n s , v s t e ma. l O - y e a r p l a n n i n g
b l u e p r i n td e v e l o p e db v t h e v a r i o u s M e t r o p o l i t a nC o u n c i l st h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y [ t h a s b e c o m e s e l f ' e v i d e n t t o r r e d u r i n g t h i s t i n r e t h a t . i n m a n y c a s e s ,t h e e c o l o g i c a l l yr i c h e r a n d r n o r e d i v e r s eh a b i t a t s
w i t h i n a r e q i o n d o c o n t a i n a l a l s e p r o p o r t i 0 n ,t h o u g h n o t n e c e s s a r i l a
y l l , o f t h e r a r e a n d s c a r c es p e c i e s .
b o t h p l i r n ta n d a n i n r a l .r , " i t h i nt h a t r e g i o n T h e S S I d c s i g n a t i o ni n W e s t Y o r k s h i r ec o n f i r n r st h i s i n t e n n s
o t ' t h e n r a j o r h a b i t a t t v p e s . e g . r . , n o o d l a n rc.lv. e t l a n cgl .r e r s s l a n dh.e a t h l a n de t c F o r e x a m p l e .L t r t o r t i t r n r
rrrrlrrr.rrrhich occurs in ()ne or t\\'o canals in West Yorkshire. Lpipacti.s phyllcutthes and Hypt,ricunt
tn()ntLunnnrn N{a{ne:ian Lirnestone woodland and.llliun .scrt'rxloprasumrrhich is locally fiequent in
t r r o o r t h r e c c a l c a r e o u sg r a s s l a n d si n t h e c o u n t y a r e a l l e x a r n p l e so f p l a n t s l i s t e d i n S c a r c e P l t n t : i n
R r i t t r i r r( 1 9 9 . 1 u) h i c h e c o l o g i c a l l ye n h a n c ea n d c o n f - e r a r i t y v a l u et o d e s i g n a t e dS S I ' s . a n d o c c u r r v i t h i n
e r i s t i n g d : r . ' esre v e s e t a t i o nc o J r r ' ] r u n l t l e s .
I t l i r l l o * s . t h e r e t i r r e .t h a t t h c i m p l e m e n t a t i o no f a R a r e a n d S c a r c eP l a n t sD o c u n r e n t a t i o nS c h e m e
r n u s t b c ' n r a c l ea n r l r s e n t r e ( l u [ e r n e n ta t t h e r e g i o n i i l] e v e l N o w t h a t A t l a s 2 0 0 0 r e c o r d i n gi r n d d a t a
i r t p L rh
t a s g o t w e l l u n d c r w a v i n r c 6 1 . a n d w h i l e k e e p i n gr e c o r d i n ga n d t h e i n p r . r o
t f data as a hrgh
p l i o r r t t . I i l r t e n d .i n l Q t ) 8 .t o i n i t i a t c a R a r . ea n d S c a r c eP l a n t sI ) o c u m e n t a t i o nS u r v e y t o r u n i n t a n d e m
r i i ( i r \ t l a : l t l 0 0 u n d [ r e y o n d i t . i n t o t h e t i r r e s e e a b l et u t r - r r e].' h e e n c l p r o d u c t u o u i d s e n ' e s e v e r a l
p u f p o s e s e g . , l 1 e n h a n c et h e q u a l i t y o f t h e A t l a s 2 0 0 0 d a t a . 2 ) p r o v i d e a s e p a r a t eR e g i s t e ro f d a t a
u h i c h c o u l d s t a n d a l o n e a n d 3 ) a n d , i n m y r " i e r . vm
, o s t i m p o r t a n t l y ,p r o v i d e a h i t h e r t o u n a v a i l a b l e
b a s c l i n eo f d a t a t o a s s i s ti n t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o :ar n c lc o n s e n r a t i o no f r a r e s p e c i e sa n d h a b i t a t s .
\ \ / i t h r n a r e g i o n s u c h a s \ c 6 1 . h o u e v e r , t h e r n t e r p r e t a t i c ronf R a r e a n d S c a r c eP l a n t si s o b v i o u s l y
d i l l e r e n t t o t h e n i r t i o n a lr e s i s t c r .a s c l e t a i l e dh l l r i l i s l t R e t l D u r t t B r x t k s . l . I : c r s u t l a t/ ) 1 a r r l .(r1 9 8 3 ) a n d
. \ ( L u ( ( l ' l ( t n t . \ i r t l J r i t u i t r ( 1 9 9 1 ) W h i J e s o m e n a t i o n a l l yR a r e a n d S c a r c e s p e c i e s .l i s t e d i n t h o s e
r trlurres. sr:ch as ('(tt L'r vull)utu, I'iluluriu gkthulrfcru- Rhirrurttltu,\.utgtt.\trfi)liusand Sorrchu.s
pulrr.s/ri.s
'regionally
c l o o c c u r . t h e r e a r e a s r g n i t i c i r nnt u m b e r o 1 ' s p e c i e sw h i c h c a n b e d e e n ) e d
rare or scarce',
a l t h o u g ht h e v m a y b e m o r e r v i d e s p r e a dn a t i o n a l l ya n d d o n o t q u a l i $ f o r i n c l u s i o ni n t h e N a t i o n a lr e g i s tbr exarnple. (-ir.sitrn Llissatlnnt, (-arex pulicuris, ('ludium nturi.scus.
ters Such species, includin-s:1,
,\ir:ott tttnrnutn and l,luhlt'tthtrgiu lrcdtruccu conler rarity value and. hence, enhance the ecological
s i g n r t r c a n caen d n a t u r e c o n s e r v a t i o nv a l u e o f t h e s i t e sa n d h a b i t a t si n w h i c h t h e y o c c u r . l t s e e r n ss e l f 'key'
s ' i d e n t t h a t t h e s t a t u sa n d d i s t r i b u t i o no f s u o h
s p e c i e ss h o u l da l s ob e a c c u r a t e l yp l o t t e d
O n t h e o t h e r h a n r l . t h e r e a r c a n u m b e r o f s p e c i e sl i s t c d , p a r t i c u l a r l y ,i n S c u l r c cl ) l r o t t s i t r l J r i l a i n
( 1 9 9 - 1 ) r v h i c hm a v b e r a r e n a t i r e s i n s o n l e p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r t , b u t w h i c h a r e r e c u r r e n ta l i e n s ,c a s u a l s
or recognised garden escapes in r'.c 6i Such plants include, fbr example, Metlitago polynnrpha.
trlcditago ntirtinu. i\4ccortr4t.;i:tumbriczr. Aconilun nopellus and Polemonium caenrleum. Sintilarly,
rare shn:bs such as .Brl.yu.\senltt,rt irens. restricted as a native pJantto the chalk and Oolitic Limestone
o f s o u t h e r nE n g l a n d .a r e r . v i d e l yp l a n t e di n r n a n yp a n s o f t h e c o u n t r y ,i n c l u d i n gv . c . 6 3 . S p e c i e ss u c ha s
t h e s ea l l f a l l o u t s i d et h e s c o p eo f t h e R a r e a n d S c a r c eP l a n t sS u r v e yi n v c 6 i .
C l o n r ' e : ' s e ltvh. e r e a r e s p e c i e sr , , ' h i c ha. l t h o u g hn a t i v e i n s o n r ep a r t s o f t h e c o u n t n ' , a r e r n t r o d u c e d
, u t a r e r , r ' e lel s t a b l i s h e da. l t h o u g h a l w a y s s c a r c ei n t h e r e g i o n .
a n d b e c o n r es p o r a t l i c a l l yn a t u r a l i s e d b
l)u1;htrc n(zcreuLn. It.y'drochuri.s morsus-rilrrc and StrLtliol(.\ uktide.s are among those which seem to
i r l l i n t o t h r s c a t e g o r y .S u c h s p e c i e sw i l l b e i n c l u d e di n t h e s u r u e y .
B e a r i n . -ar l l t h e s ef a c t o r s i n n r i n d , I w o u l d n o r v l i k e , l i r s t l y , t o o u t l i n e a s c h e m eo f i m p l e m e n t a t i o n
f i r r R a r e a n d S c a r c es p e c i e sd o c u l n e n t a t i o ni n v . c . ( ; 3 . S e c o n d l y ,t r v r l l g i v e a l i s t o 1 ' R a r ea n d S c a r c e
P l a n t s .i d e n t i f r e cl b
l r r ' . c . 6 3 . w ' h i c hr v i l l b e t a r g e t e dr n f o r t h c o r n i n gf i e l d w o r k .
I t i s e n v i s a g e dt h a t a d e t a i l e ' dd a t a b a s er v i l l b e s e t u p f b r e a c hs p e c i e s\.\ ' i t h t h e t b l l o w i n g f o r m a t .
I ['ode nLr:rbea
r n d n a l n eo l ' S p c c i e s- L a t i n a n d E n - s i i s h
2. \'ice-countv
I
l0 krn square and six tigure I km squaregrid rel'erencesand location (where not a recognisedsite)
'fhere
NB.
n r e t vb e n r o r e t h a n o n e s i q n i t i c a n p
n f t h e s p e c i e sr v i t h i na I k r n s q u a r e .
t opLrlatioo

Notesand Articlcs

25

'1

S i t e n z r m ea n d s t a t l r s ( e g . e x i s t i n g S S S I , Y o r k s h i r e W i l d l i t ' e l ' r u s t R e s e r v e ,S S l , L o c a i N a t u r e
Resen'e etc.) as appropriate and a precise six figure grid ref'erence.
5 Date of record
0 H o w n o t i f l e d i e l r t e r a t u r er e c o r d c o n t l r m e d ,f l e l d r e c o r d .e t c
7 Narne of Recorder and of Erpert/Ref'eree(where necessary)
8 F i e l d R e c o r d d e t a i l s o f h a b i t a tt y p e . a s s o c i a t e dv e g e t a l i o no r o t h e r t - e a t u r e o
s f e c o l o g i c a li n l e r e s t
r v h i c ha r e o f i n r p o r t a n c ei n p r e s e r v i n gt h e h a b i t a to f t h e s p e c i c sc o n c e r n e c l
9 Anl observed mernagementofthe habitat concerned.
l 0 E s t i m a t eo f p o p u l a t r o n s j z e o f t h e s p e c i e s(. l r e a l i s et h a t t h i s i s a v e n s u b j e c t i r . ea r e aa n d w o l d s I i k e
d o m i n a n t .a b u n d a n t .f r e q u e n t ,o c c a s i o n a l r. a r e e t c . m a y b e s u b j e c tt o d i f t b r e n ti n t e r p r e t a t i o n lsr o m
d i t l b r e n tp e o p l e I a m . t h e r c f b r e .s u g - q e s t i nt,hca t i t m a y b e u s e t u lt o a d o p t t h e q u a n t i t a t i v eD O M I N
s c i r l eo f f r e c l u e n c lL r s e d* i t h e f l e c t r n B r i t t . s hl ' l u r t ( ' o n n r t u r i t i t ' . sV o i s | - 5 ( e d s . . l S R o d u , e l l .
l 9 9 l e t s e q . ) I n s u c h a r i a y , i t r v i l l b e p o s s r b l eb. y t a k i n g a s u i t a b l eq u a d r a t s i z e o r ( i n t h e c a s eo f
canals or rivers or other linear f'eatures)length, tcl arrive at a DONIIN fiecluencv for the species
c o n c e r n e da
, n d a l s o g i v e a n i n d i c a t i o no l ' i t s r e l a t i v ea b u n e l a n crcv i t h r nt h e h a b i t a tc o n c e r n e o .
I L A t i r r e s c a l e1 b r r n o n i t o r i n gt h e s p e c i e sa n d r e s u n e v i n q .( l s u g g e s ta m i n i m l l m 5 1 , e a ra n d m a r i m u m
l 0 v e a rt r m es p a n)
Table I
L i s t o f R a r e a n d S c a r c e P l a n t S p e c i e s- r ' . c . 6 J
Allrttnt st:otrrlt4trastrn (SPI!\1
.A|lhueu rflicinoli,: (SPIB)
Antrgulli.tntittinn
ArttlnnteLluprtlifrtlrtt(SPIB)
Apt'ru spicu-renlr (SPIB)
.lltlnrtre.sittt\rpaLt(ttLr
A1ttun grttvcolens
A.s1tt,r'trlu
t:.|rttrnthicu
lJl).sntt,s(otnprc.\.\u:
JJolhoschoctrus
morllinus
Rttnrus coilntutaltts
(-tr/litrrclrt herntuplrrxlttttzT(SPIB)
('ullitriche ohtusurtgulu
('(u (r digitLtte (SPlBl
('tt!x LltotLe
('urex disl.ut,\
('arc'r divrtlsttsubsp /ccr.rll
(ircr c/rzcr(SPIB)
('arer ericeltruz (SPIB)
('1il(\ hostr(ilte
('utar pttlituris
('u'ex yiritlula subsp ya-lla/rr
('utc't vtrlpitto (SPIB)
('ttluhnx:ct trtlttttlictt
(.hr'.t'oYtletritrm trltcrnifttliun
(.tt.ttttnt tttuttlt,
('tr;ium tli.t:eclum
('ir.vum crirrythorunr
('luchunt ilturt.\(tt.\
('rrloglossun viritlt'
(.\.rnry171.;5,,,,,
ollicinule

!ntputiatt.srroli-tturget.e(SPIB)
,ltncus gcrunlii
Lutltl.rtt.snr.s.;riirr
L e t l u n t p u l t t . s l r seu b s p g r r , c l l r u i r l t r r r r r ( B R D B V P )
I t:gousiu h.tbrttlo
l.cpitlttrn luttfltltttrtt (SPIB)
La1'nus urelkrt'tu.\
l.itho.;penntrmprtrptrntcuerulermr(BRDB VP)
ltrrcutitrttt rrrlhlr.r'(SPIB)
1,1't:opotlittnr
t:lat'ttltrnt
L.t,sitnttthrath.yr.tr.flot
u (SPIB)
l,ltu'nthruntlrrlgcl.c(SPlt]1
Mlricu gule
trf.t;rtophlllrrmultt,rni.flortrnr
N_yntTthtrdas
pallzrla (SPlB.y
Oenanlht, luchettulii
( hthi.s nrt.io (SPIB\
()rohurtchc nttttor
Pilulur.iu glohuli/t'ro (SPIB)
l)olunLtgalrtt czrlrytrc.r..Vl.l
(SP[B)
l)oldmog(lott eptlrytlrus(BRDB VP)
l'rilantogelon trrclnitla.s (SPIB)
l'rilutttllu lk,trm(oluidilo (SPII))
l,q'rolu ntirul.
l'.vroltt roturlifitlir
subsp rotundi/oltu (splB)
)luttttncttltt:.fluiltttt.t
llununculu.spctrttillutu,s
(BRDB \/p)
|lhinunthtrt turgu.:ti.folrus
lifu.s olputtrm (SPIB)
llumcx ntut.ittmir,r(St)lB)
lluntcr pulu.stri.i(SPIts)

Notesand Articles

)6

l)uphne m,'zereum (SPIB)

Iileocharrs crttuiluris (.SPIB)
lileochari.s multictrult.s
l'.larrhorrs ttnrglunrrs
l:.lt'ogttotr fluitctrt.:
!',pipttctr.tlth-vlltlrllhes(SPIB)
I,.tltti.sclunthyemala
liuphorhiu serrulcrla (BRDB. VP)
!:e.stucda/rl.i.rlnrr (SPIB)
I'ritillartu rrrelccgrr^s(SPIB)
(iugeu lurau (SPIB)
(lcnottun::Lut1tutuum
(iarurtrunsllvttlrcunr
(ieunt '. itttcrmedrum
()rtuphulium.rl/valrcirn(SPIB)
()ntenlantlio denso
(i1'ntrtoturJtiumdryopteris
(;)nil()Loryiluiltroherlionunt(SPIB)
H t ' l l e b r r n s . f r r t r c l r r (. iS P I B )
H tpltoct t'1tiscotrto:ll
Hrt dell nus europueus (SPIB)
llldnrhurumorsus-rartae(SPIB)
H.lpencunt elodes
Hlpericttnt noillontort(SPIB)

Salsolu kctli
Scirpus s.vlvaticus
Scrophulurta umbroso (SPIB)
Stutellariu nttnrr
,\t'lagtnt:lltt 'salugittttides
S:etttltttlalitrtntria
Silene nuJlora
Sisrn anomum
Sonchuspolu,strls (SPIB)
Spiranthe.t spirulis
Stellariu ileglecta
Stellaritt J,ulltdtr
J ' t t d t i ( ) t t \o / r r l l e . r ( S P I B )
'lees<talta
nudicaulis (SPIB\
Tetrugtttrolcthusmurilimus(BRDB.\?)
fhelypteris palu.r/rls (SPIB)
'l
rliu plun:ph.vllos(SPIB)
I'ntlhtt.veur(4)ueu.s
I l n t h i l i L u vt t t l t L \ l t t \
I itritulurtu au:lral*
[ llrtculariu nrrttLtt
L"icias.t'lvalic,t
l"iolcr lutccr
Wuhlenhergiu hederucect

A b b r e vi a t i o n s
(1983)
BRDB VP The specieshas an entry in IJriti.sh]letl Datu IJooks. L I'trstulur 1']lcrr1^r
SPtB - The specieshas an entr] in Scarce I'lortl.; irr Brtlcun (1994)
T h e a b o v e l i s t c o m p r i s e st h o s e s p e c i e sw h i c h I w o u l d j u d g e a r e R a r e o r S c a r c ei n v . c 6 3 l n c o m p i l i n g
t h e l i s t b o t h h i s t o r i c a ll i t e r a t u r er e c o r d s a n d f i e l d r e c o r d s s i n c e 1 9 7 0 h a v e b e e n u s e d . l t w i l l b e s e l f evident, therefbre, that, by the very nature of the record sources, there are considerablegaps in our
k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p r e s e n ts t a t u s a n d d i s t r i b u t i o no f a p r o p o r l i o n o f t h e s p e c i e sl i s t e d T h e R a r e a n d
S c a r c eP l a n t sS u r v e yr ' r ' i l sl e e kt o a d d r e s st l i e s ep r o b i e m s
At the end of the dav (and t do not, obviously. see a finite time span for a Survey of this nature), I
envisage the establishmentof a detailed regional databaseof Rare and Scarce Species (and habitat)
intbrmation which would be of immediate use to planners,conservationistsand others in the manager n e n lo f o u r s e m i - n a l u r aeln v i r r r n m e n l
A s s r a t e da b o v e , I i n t e n d t o b e g i n w o r k o n t h i s S u r v e y i n t h e 1 9 9 8 t j e l d s e a s o na n d w o u l d l i k e t o
invite all botanists in the vice-county and elsewhere,rvho are interestedin participating jn such lvolk to
get in touch with me. I hope to arrange a seriesoforganised field ercursions during the sumrner,and,
i n a d d i t i o n .w i l l b e p r o g r e s s i n gr v i t h t h e S u r v ' e yo n a m o r e a d h o c b a s i s ,a s t i m e p e r m i t s
I hope this article may stimulate other vice-county recorders in \"orkshire to consider working
alon_lrsirnilar [nes in the near t'uture. I would be very pleased to meet with any one rvho wishes to
d i s c u s st h e S c h e m ef u r t h e r I t v u o u l d .i n d e e d ,b e m a r v e l l o u si f , i n d u e c o u r s e ,a R a r e a n d S c a r c eP l a n t s
R e g i s t e rc o u l d b e p r o d u c e dl o r t h e w h o l e o f Y o r k s h i r e .
References
l ddress. 1996. Towards a New Definition of Rare and
P e a r m a n .D A ( 1 9 9 7 ) B S B I P r e s i d e n t i a A
Scarce Plants. Wdlsonid )I 225-245.
Perring, F Il. & Farrell, L. (1983). British lled l)atu Btxtk l: L'uscularl'lants 2nd Edition. RSNC.
Perring, F H & Walters, S M (Eds ) (1962). Atlas rf the Rritish I;lctra London BSBI/Nelson

Notesand Articlcs

2l

R o d u e l l . J . S ( E d . ) ( 1 9 9l e t s e ( l l l J t n t . \ ' h f ' l c r r r t ( ' o n r m u n i lfl lea.m

r b r i d g e . C a m b r i d g e L n i rP r e s s
S t e w a r t .A . . P e a r n r a n D
. A & P r e s t o n ,C D . ( 1 9 9 4 ) .S c u c e J ' l u n t s i t t R r r t u i r t .J N ( i f i P e t e r b o r o u g h
GEOITFREY T D WILMORE, I Cilough Lane, Oakworth. Keighley. West Yorkshire BD2.?,7HP
( B S B I R e c o r d e r- v c . 6 3 )

A QUESTIONOF PRIORITIES
l n B r i t a i n . l i m i t e d l u n d s a r e o f t e n e i r r m a r k e cflo r t h e c o n s e r v a t r o no f r a r e p l a n t s . r e - g a r d l e sost ' t h e r r
s t a t u se l s e w h e r ei n t h e w o r l d C o n v e r s e l v t. h o s e s p e c r e sr v h i c h a r e o o m m o l rr n B r i t a i n .d e s p i t eh a v i n g a
r e s t r i c t e dg l o b a l d i s t r i b u t i o n ,t e n d t o b e t a k e n f b r g r a n t e d .S h o u l d c o n r m o np l a n t sw h i c h j r " r sht a p p e nr t r
b c r a r e i n t h e B r i t i s h I s l e s b e c o n s e r v e da t t h e e x p e n s eo f t h o s e r v h i c h a r e g e n e r a l l yt h r e a t e n e dq l o b a l l r
but thriveon our shores?
T h i s q u e s t i o n w a s r e c e n t l y a d d r e s s e db v t h e C o u n t r y s i d e( l o u n s i l t b r W a l e s ( C ' C W ) u ' h e n t h o
a w a r d e da r e s e a r c hl l r a n l t o t h e D e p a n n r e n to f B o t a n l . N a t i o n a l M u . s e L r rol rf W a l e s .t o i r r r e s t i - g a ltch c
p r o b l e m M a n y o f o u r s o - c a l l e dc o m m o n p l a n t sa r e e n d e m i co r n e a r - e n d e r n itco E u r o p e a n d b e l o n g t o
t h e O c e a n i co r A t l a n t i c e l e r n e n t so f o u r f l o r a ( E l l i s 1 9 3 3 ) ,a n d a l a r _ r .n: .uem b e r f l n d t h e i r : n a j o r r t - i i l : e s
i n r v e s t e r nB r i t a i n , W a l e s r n p a r t i c u l a r A d n r i t t e d l y , B r i t i s h p o p u l a t i o n sr n a y d i t l b r g e n e t i c a l l t t i o n r
s u s t b e b o r n e i n m i n d . E v e n s o , a b e t t e rL r n d e r s l a n d i n q
t h o s eo n t h e c o n t i n e n ta n d s u c h c o n s i d e r a t i o nm
o f g l o b a l d i s t r i b u t i o n s r v o u l d a l l o r . vt h e l b r r n u l a t i o r ro f i r n p l o r , e d c o n s e n , a t i o ns t r a t e s i e sa n d t h r .
infbrmed reallocation of available funds. Although conservation prosrztmmesmust be intplerlented at
t h e n a t i o n a l e r e l . I e t u s n o t l o s e s i g h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t c r ) n s e n : a t i o lne n r a i n sa g l o b a Ji s s L r c
A m a j o r d i f l i c u l t f i n t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o no f p r i o r i t y t a x a v ! ' a st h a t u n t i l r e c e n t l l 'n o s i n g l e .r e a d i l va v a i l a b l e .s o u r c eo f w o r l d d i s t r i b u t i o nm a p s \ \ a s a v a i l a b l e G
. w v n n E l l i s ( t h e n l J e a d o f V a s c u l a rP l a n t sa t t h e
N a t r o n a lN l u s e u mo f W a l e s ) s u g g e s t e dt h a t t h e f i r s t s t e p s h o u l d b e t h e p r o d u c t i o n o t - r n a p st i r r t h o s e
t a x a l i s t e di n t h e B r i t i s h l l c d l ) t r l u B o o t , t h o s eb e l o n g i n gt o t h e O c e a n r co r . { t l a n t i c e l e m e n t sa. n d t h o s e
s p e c i e so c c u r r i n g i n t b v u ' etrh a n l 0 h e c t a d si n \ \ ' a l e s . H e s L r b s e c l u e n tpl yr o d u c e d a p r e l i n r i n a r rlri s t o t
t a x a r v h i c h h e e n v i s a g e dC C W c o u l d u s e t o t a r s e t W e l s h s p e c i e sr v h i c ha r e g l o b a l l r ,r e s t r i c t e da n d i n i t i a t e c o n s e n ' a t i o np r o g r a m n r e sr v h e r et h e v r v o u l db e o f r r r o s t b e n e f i l
\ \ ' h i l s t e m p l o y e do n t h e r e s e a r c hc o n t r a c ta t t h e N n t i o n a l N , l u s e u nor 1 ' W a l e s ,C a r d i f i t r v a sa b l c r o
e x t e n d t h r s l i s t t o i n c l u d e 7 1 2 W e l s h t a r a w h i c h a r e e n d e r r i c o r n e a r - e n d e r n i tco E u r o p e ( i n c l u d i n q
s o m eN o r t h A l r i c a n c o u n t n e s )o r e l s eo c c u r l a r g e l yi n E u r o p e b u t h a v i n g a s o m e \ v h a m
t ore widespread
e x t r a - E u r o p e a nd r s t r i b u t i o n .F o l l o w i n g a n e x t e n s i v ei i t e r a t u r es e a r c h .p r e l i m i n a r yh a n d - c o l o u r e dm a p s
r v e r e p r o d u c e df b r t h e s e t a x a . T h e m a p r ss u g g e s t e dt h a t 2 8 9 p r i o r i t y t a x a r v a r r a n t e df i r n h e r i n r . e s t i g a t i o n . S o m e3 8 o f t h e s e s h o w e de x t i n c t i o n so n a n a t i o n a ls c a l ei n E u r o p e ,a n d a c c o r d i n gt o w h e t h e rt h c v
o c c u r r e di n u p t o 5 0 % , o r m o r e t h a n 5 0 1 i , ,o f E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s .u ' e r e a s s i g n e dt o ( ' a t e g o n A ( 1 6
t a x a ) a n d B ( 6 t a x a ) r e s p e c t i v e l yT
. h e r e m a i n t n gl 6 t a x a s h o , , v e da r e s t r i c t e de x t r a - E u r o p e a nd r s t r i b u r ' l ) ( s e el i s t s o f t i r x a o
t i o n ( C a t e g o r -C
r n p a g e2 8 )
P l a n t si n C a t e g o r i e sD , E a n d F s h o r v e dn o c v i d e n c eo 1 ' e r t i n c t i c l n
o n a n a t i o n a ls c a l ew i t h i n E u r o p e
a n d u e r e a s s i g n e da c c o r d i n gt o r v h e t h e rt h e y o c c u r r e di n u p t o 5 0 9 6 .o r m o r e t h a n 5 0 % . o f E u r o p e a n
c o u n t r i e sr e s p e c t i v e l y( C a t e g o r y f J . 1 5 7 t a r a . i : , 9 4 t a x a ) T h e 4 3 t i i r a a s s i g n c dt o ( l a r c s o r ) ,F s h o w e d
a more widespreadextra-European dtstribution
C o r n p u t e r - d r a u ' r r. v o r l dd r s t r i b u t i o nr l a p . sa n d t h r e a t - s t a t u sm a p s\ v e r c p l o d u c e d f b r t a x a r n C a t e g o ries A-E, rvhile hand-drau'n maps only were produced tbr the lcss threatenedtaxa in Categories F and
G [ n s u f l l c i e n ti n f b r m a t i o nr v a s a r , a i l a b l e
to map a funher 90 taxa (Categorl H) as rvellas the apomicts
Hieracrttm (10 taxa) and Iaroturcun (45 taxa) (Category [). Neverthelcss, incomplcte hand-drar,r,n
m a p sw e r e p r o d u c e df b r b o t h t h e s eg r o u p s .N o e l o b a l d i s t r i b L r t i odne t a i l sr v h a t s o e v ew
r e r e a v a i l a b l el b r '
s o n r eJ 7 o o f t h e t a r a e x a n r i n e d .

2l|t

Notes and Artlcles

The maps revealed that although 5.3o/oof the taxa showed a dininishing trend in Europe, as
evidenced by extrnctions on a national scale, this is an underestimate, since another 2.3qloshowed
unconfirmed national extinctions and a larger number oflocal extinotions.
S i r n i l a r l y ,l 7 . L ) o ko f t a x a s h o w e d s i g n s o f s p r e a d i n g a s e v i d e n c e db y n a t u r a l i s a t i o nos n a n a t i o n a l
scale,although, in some cases(e g Aconitum napelhs) it was uncertain whether this was due to natural
invasion ofadjacent sountries or to qarden e-scapes.
These extinctions and naturalisationsappearedto
occur largely in northern f:urope.
Six taxa, Aconitum naltellu.s,('ir.siutn luherosum, Illecehrum varlicillutum, ('heru4ndium urhicum,
Sedtm Jbrsterictnun and.Hrilortio pctluslrl.r,rvhilst already extinct in some European countries, seenrto
b e s p r e a d i n gi n t o o t h e r s .
Whereas few would be astonishedat many of the taxa included in Category A, the most threatened
group. there were some surprises For example, in Britain, Wahlenhergio hederaceu occurs commonly
only' in Wales and S\[' England. being rare elsewhere.Endernic to Europe, it has been recorded only
tiom Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France. Netherlands and Belgium. However, already it seems to be
e x t i n c ti n t h e N e t h e r l a n d sr. a r e i n l r e l a n da n d B e l g i u n ra n d ' q u i t e c o m m o n t c l r a r e ' i n N o r m a n d y .
Primula vulgarrs was assignedto Category B, the second most threatened group Although not
currently endangeredin the British Isles and Denmark. it is already extinct in Su'eden and Mecklenburg
V o r p o m m e r n ,e n d a n g e r e di n P o l a n da n d c a r e - d e m a n d i nign S c h l e s w i g - H o l s t e i n .
Perhapsthe greatest limitation ofthis studv was the general paucity ofup-to-date infbrnration. By
the trme data appearsin print, it is already out-oidate and the threat status ofa given speciesmay have
changed. Even so, a literature search still remains the most practical method of determining global
distribution and threat status. Whilst it is recognised that these two parametersrnay have changed tbr
some speciessince the compilation ofthe Report, the latter, nevertheless,provides a useful baselinefor
l u t u r e r n v e - s t r g a t i o nM
s o r e o v e r , s i n c e t h e m a p s w e r e p r o d u c e du s i n g c o m p u t e rg r a p h i c s .t h e s ec a n b e
updated as further field data become available.
T o c o n c l u d e ,w e c e r t a i n l yh a v e a r e s p o n s i b i l i t yt o c o n s e r v eo u r r a r e s p e c i e s b. u t t h i s r e s p o n s i b i i i t y
should ideally also extend to 1he conservation of all of Earth's rich biodiversity. Since many globally
restricted taxa find their major refuges in western Britain, these too desen/e our altention however
abundantwe consrderthern to be in an insular context
Copies of the fbur-volume report, maps and appendices are available for consultation at CCW
Headquafters.Banqor and the National Museum of Wales, Cardiftl
Category A taxa
('urum verlrcillolum
Acottilunt napellus
('rt.tium tubentsum
('repi.s nollis
Hritonru polu.stri.s
I I I ecebru m ver / i ci ll atu m
ll4thoru minimtt
N ar |he c i um ossifro gu nt
Ronunculus omiophyIhs
Suxifraga rosacea
\lcclun .fun's|critrrzrr subsp .firienun trnr
Category B taxa
Orchi.s uslulalcr
Runrt trcuI u.vhu udrl i i
Category C taxa
Arahis petrcretr
(-arex mrnlonu
('yperus longu.s
(ircenlctndiu den.vt
H1 menophyI I un tun brrgensr
f'ultcariu yulgqris

('icendiu
.filtJbrmis
Hordeum mqrtilum
Luronium natans
Ilanur u ulus hecleraceus
Il ahl en her gi a hederctcea

f'rimulu vulgarrs
Sugirut .whulato

Pseudrn chis alhida

Se.sleriucaerulca

('arex drvtstt
C ephal anthe ro I ongiJbl i a
Duc t' k trhiz(r h'uun.st. i ileri
().ymn ocnrp i un r o her I i ununt
L.ut hr a eu .st1uttn or i u

('orex Iimosu
Chenopodium urbicum
L)ro.sera anglica
Herminium monorchts
P t,r.si ctn'ro vi viTxtra

29

Notcs and Artrcles

References
'l
he itlcnttficaliort ol II'cl.th tttstulur plcutl lcrxo shrnittg t(strrLted glohal drrlrtDavres. K.L (1995)
. C W c o n t r a c tn o F C 7 l - 0 | - I I 6 .
b t t t i o t t .\ ' o l . I - l V ( u n p u b l i s h e d )C
Ellis, R.G 11983) h ktwerittg pluttts of Wales. NaticrnalMuseum of Wales. Cardiff
K E V I N L D A V I E S , B r i a r d a l e ,C h u r c h R o a d , Y s t a l v t e r a .S w a n s e a S
, A9 2DA

FOR ROUNDABOUTS?
FOXTAIL BARLEY - A PREDILEC-TION
In recent years thele has been a great increasein the occurrence ofFoxtail Barley (Httdeun.jubo/ilm)
a s a r o a d s i d ep ) a n t l t i s s o d i s t i n c t i v et h a t i t c a n b e i d e n t i f i e d .r v i t h c o n f i d e n c e f, i o m a m o v i n g v e h i c l e
W e h a v es e e ni t a t t h e s i d e o f m o t o r u a v s . t r L l n kr o a d s .o t h e r c l a s s i t i e dr o a d sa n d a r o u n d - s t r e eht : r n i t u r e
i n b u i l t - u p a r e a s .H o w e v e r . i n o u r e x p e r i e n c et.h e p l a n t i s r e l a t i v e l ym o r e c o n r n r o nc l n t h e r o a d s i d ea t
roundaboutsW
. e h a v e n o t i c e d t h i s o c c u r r e n c ep a r t i c u l a r l yr n L a n a r k s h i r e( v . c 1 1 ) b u t a l s o a t r o u n d abouts fiom Perth to York. lt may be that seed is displacedby centrifugal force fiorn a vehicle. or that
mud containing the seedis squeezedout ofa tyre tread as a vehicle tilts while rounding the curve.
We should be interestedto learn whether others have noted a similar increasedincidenceofFoxtail
Barley at roundabouts and if so whether they have any theories regarding the mechanism of its
d is p e r s a l .
; \ C & P M A C P H E R S O N , l 5 L u b n a i g R o a d , G l a s g o u ,C . l 3 2 R Y

A NE\\'LY LOCATED SITE FOR ERIC.4 VAGANSIN W. CORNWALL (V.C. I)

W h i l s t s u n ' e v i n ga n o t h e r s p e c i e s ,a t G e a r S a n d s( S W / 7 7 3 5 5 3 ) o n J u l y 2 5 , 1 9 9 7 , I a n d a f r i e n d c a m e
across an ertrernely stunted group of l5 plants ol Lricu ungrzrs (Cornish Heath). The largest clump
was 3 5 cm across and some of the smaller ones only 6- 10 crn across none were above 12 cm and most
only 3-4 cm hrgh.
Flowers were starting to open in July and most had an appreciabledisplay by mid August, when
revisited In all plants, tlie flowers were typical of the usual wild form and not a more brightly coloured
cultir.'ar The general impression was of a parent clunrp and surrounding seedlings,over about I 5 m
a l o n g a s h a l l o w d e p l e s s i o n .T h e r e w a s e l i d e n c e o f g r a z i n - rbj y r a b b i t s ,a n d t h e p l a n t s w e r e p r o b a b l y
dwarf'edby exposure and a hard-packed soil, almost certainly rvrth heavy metal content.
A l t h o u g h t h e p l a n t s h a d b e e n s e e nb y a l o c a l b o t a n i s t / p h o t o g r a p h ew
r ,h o r e p o r t e dt h e t l n d i n t h e
s u n l n l e r o f 1 9 9 6 , n o r e c o r d w a s a p p a r e n t l yn r a d e o f t h e i m p o r t a n t d i s c o v e r y ,a n d c o n s e q u e n t l yt h e
newly fbund, isolated colony was not mentioned h T'helled l)ata Bookftr ('ortuul! uttd the lslcs o/
S c l l l y e d i t e db v A S p a l d i n ga n d p u b l i s h e db l C r o c e a g oP r e s si n 1 9 9 7
E C M H A E S , 6 H a t c h ' s H i l l , A n g a r r a c k ,H a y l e , C o r n w a l l ,T R 2 7 5 H Y

NIARSH-ORCHID CONTROVERSY
'l'he

fbllowing t\\'Ll papers have been seenand commented orr by both authors. Ed

NotesandArtrclcs

S N I A I , LO R T H E L A R G E A R C U N I E N T . . . ?
I r c a d w i t l r i n t e r e s t ,a n d n o t a l i t t l e a m u s e m e n tt.h e a t t e m p tb y N ' l e s s rR
s o b e r t sa n d F o l e l , ' ( W a t : r t n i a 2 I .
3 7 1 - 3 1 6 . l o 9 7 ) t o d i s m i s sm v a d m i t t e d l ya m b i v a l e n ta t t e m p t a t a t i n y s l i c e o f b o t a n i c a li m m o r a l i t y i n
c i a i r n i n gi r n e r v v a r i e t v o f N a r r o r v - l e a v e di V l a r s h - o r c h i (dl l ' u t s o r t i t r2 0 2 6 3 - 2 7 3 . 1 9 9 5 ) . t t s e e n r st o m e
that in undefiaking the relatively untaxing job of debunking an argument in lavour of yet another
v a r i c t v t h e v h a v e i n a d v e r t e n t l vp r e s e n t e dn c o m p e l l i n g c a s e f o r a m o r e p r o f b u n d a r - q u m e n tt h a t o f
s r - r b n r c r g i nagl l s u c h n r i n o r t a r a u r t h i n a n r u c h l a r g e r h e t e r o g e n e t r ugsr o u p o f c l o s e l y r e l a t e dN ' [ a r s h o r c l r i d sl i n k e d b v t h e i r c h r o m o s o n r ec o l r n t ( 2 n - 8 0 ) . k n o w n a s t h e T e t r a p l o i dM a r s h - o r c h i d sl,) o c l t k r h r : , r t t t t t t a l r . s: e n s ul a t o T h e r c i n o f c c l u r s el i e s t h e c a u s eL r t ' m y a r n u s e n r e n t 'h e p a r t i c u l a ra u t h o r i t i e s
i n i o l v e d h a v e . b o t h s e p a r n t e l ya n d t o g e t h e r ,d o n e n r u c h t o p r o p o L r n dt h e o p p o s i t ea r g u m e n t .p a r t i c u lallv rvith regarcltir the Narrou-leaveci l\1arsh-orchid(r.r'hichI pretbr to c.rll D. ntofali,ssubsp. /zarn. t t t ' i t r c r t )n
. a n r e l yt h a t t h r ' i n d i v i c l u a ln i e m b e r so f t h i s t a x o n o m i c g r o u p s h o u l d b e r e g a r d e da s d i t l e r e n t
s p c c ei s
T h e r r c t h o d u s e d b v R o b e n s & F o l e 1 ,r n t h e i r N o t e w a s t o e x t r a c tc e r t a i nc a r e f u l l ys e l e c t e dc h a r a c t c r s ( s e v e ni n a l l ) f r o n r t n ' P a p e r ( r v h i c h u s e d 1 5 o f a t o t a l o f 5 9 c h a r a c t e r sa n a l v s e di n m y r e s e a r c h ) .
n e a n so f t h o s e d a t a o v e r l a p p e dw i t h c o m p a r a b i ed a t a
a n t l u s e t h e n rt o d e m o n s t r a t et h a t t h e p o p r - l l a t i om
tirr the Southern i\'{arsh-orchid(l). mulalis subsp.proetcrnrl,r:ia).They used this demonstrableoverlap
to irrsue that rnr,/). irzryrrlr.rsubsp tnutu.\'/ctt.'ri var hovntuili should in lact be regarded as'r'ariants
o f t h e l o c a l I ) . p t . l a t e r m i . \ . \ o( s i c ) p o p u l a t i o n ' .
Of course those fisures or,erlap wilh subsp przrr,/crrz.r,rzrl nrade that clear in my original paper
l'ircofthcsesevenmeanvaluesarefireofeightvaluesquotedinrlypaper(Tab2
l e741, )pt h a t s e n e
to dif]-erentiatevitr botttttuttir fiom tvpical vt.|t lroilnsleiilerl. precisely becauseofthal overlap in the
c a s c o f ' s o r n eo t ' t l r e c h r r i r c t e l s R o b e r t s& F - o i e lh a r e o n c e a g a i nc o m n r i t t e do n e o f t h e c a r d i n z rsl i n ss o
c l o c l u e n t l 'sr e t o u t b v B a t e n r a n& D e n h o l m ( 1 9 8 9 ) . i n a t t e m p t i n gt h c ' i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f t a x a b y v i s u a l
c o n r p a r i s o no i ' p o p u l a t i o nn r e a n sf o r a s n r a l ln u n r b e ro f c h a r a c t e r s '( p . 4 5 3 ) ,a t e L h n i q u er v h r c hB a t e m a n
'irredeernably
'should
t l a r v e d 'a n d r . v h i c h
& D e n h o l n rd e s c r i b ea s
not be practised'.
Q u i t e a p a r t l i o n r a n v h i d d e n d i s c r e p a n c i e rsn m e t h o d s o f g a t h e r i n gd a t a w h i c h n r a y r e n d e r a n y
'fiaught
conrparison of data collected by difi'erent rvorkers as
rvith hazard' (Bateman & f)enholn,
o 1 t . t i t . 1 t . 1 5 2 ) .R o b e r t s & F o l e y f u r t h e r m o r ec o n v e n i e n t l yi g n o r e t h e c o n s i d e r a b l en u m b e r o f o t h e r
nl(.an \,itlues that either or"erlap. or are svnonynrtlus rvith. those oftlpical var lrautt,stcint,ri Their
s e l e c t i o no f d a t a t o s u i t t h e r r a r g u n r e n ti s t h e r e f o r es p e c r o u sa n d s e l f ' - s e n , i n g
O t h e r l c a t u r e so f t h e s e v e n ' o d d p l a n t s .s u c h a s t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r i l yd e e p l yt h r e e - l o b e dl a b e l l u m .t h e
e r t r e n r e l yl o n g c e n t r a l l o b e . a n d t h e u n u s u a l l yd e e p c o l o u r , a r e r v e l l o u t s i d et h e p a r a m e t e r so f n o r m a l
su|tsp prat,tcrmlr:sn (and indeed of var lront),\'leiilclll), and serve to distinguish at a glance. from a
considerabledistance, plants of var. hot+'ntoniilrorr the rnany'normal' subsp.proetutmr,rsaoccurring
a t t h e t v p e s i t e . I n d e e d ,t h e c l e a rb i m o d a l i t yo f f b r m a p p a r e n ta t t h i s s i t e b e t w e e nt h e t w o M a r s h - o r c h i d
t a \ a p r e s c n t i s r e r y 0 b v i o u s . a n d i s a i s o t i n u s u a li n m 1 ' e x p e r i e n c e .O n e w o n d e r s i f t h e g e n t l e m e n
c o n c e r n e dh a v e a c t u a l l v\ , i s i t e dt h e s i t e t l f n o t . r n i g h t I r e c o m m e n dt h e a d e q u a t ep h o t o g r a p h i ci l l u s t r a t i o n s o f t h e s ep l a n t si n m r t w o b o o k s o n t h e o r c h i d so f t h e s ep a f i s ( J e n k i n s o n1 9 9 1 & 1 9 9 5 ( 2 ) ) ' l t m a _ v
b e t h a t m v a r t i s t r cc a p a b i l i t i e sa r e n o t r v h a tt h e y m i g h t b e .
'l'here
is a clear ambivalence in the attempt to mark such a distinctive form with some sort of
a c c e p t a b l ee p i t h e t , b e t s ' e e n t h e b e l i e f t h a t i t i s w o r l h y o f r e c o g n i t i o n ,a n d t h e e q u a l i y s t r o n g l y - h e l d
'lumped'
belicf that ali thesc difhcult N'larsh-orchrdtaxa should be
together under a single specific
n e r r i c I t i s p a d o f t h e p r o b l e r nt a c e db y a n a m a t e l l rt a \ o n o n l i s t u ' i t h n o s c i e n t i f i ct r a i n i n ga t t e m p t i n gt o
n r a k e s o m e s e n s co u t o t ' t h e m i - r i a df o r m s r o u t i n e l ye n c o u n t e r e di n M a r s h - o r c h i dp o p u l a t i o n s s, o t h a t
t h o s c r e s p L r n s i b lfeb r r e c o r d i n g s u c h o c c u r r e n c e sf t r r p o s t e r i t _av n d c o n s e r v a t i o np u r p o s e sc a n b e a s
a c c u r a t ea s p o s s r b l ei n t h e i r e n d e a v o u r s
I t i s s a d t h a t R o b e n s & F o l e y " w h o m a v e v e n b e c o r r e c t i n t h e i r c o n c l u s i o n ,h a r . er e a c h e dt h a t
c o n c l u s i o nt b r a l l t h e \ \ ' r o n g r e a s o n s a, n d i n s o d o i n g h a v es h o t t h e m s e l v e sc o m p r e h e n s i v e livn t h e f o o t .
Thev have unrvittinglv provided suppoft for a broader argument to rvhich they would not wish to be
s e e nt o b e a d h e re n t s

3t

Notcsand Articles

Interestingly, I find that Roberts & Foley do not criticise me for my failure in my original paper
totallv to eliminate the possibility of introgression from another taxon, the most likely candidate for
wlrich would have to be D. .litth.:ii on morphological grounds alone, despite the absence of leaf-markings in these plants I freely acknowledge that f'ailure,and the reason fbr it my lack of the approp r i a t e e x p e r l i s ei n p u r e l y b i o l o g i c a lt e c h n i q u e s .
A t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y , i t i s p u r e b i o l o g i c a l s c i e n c ew h i c h i s n o l r ' f a r o u t s t r i p p i n gt h e a b i l i t y o l
amateur niorphologists to make senseof these difficult plants. DNA analysisand tht'comparative study
of isozymes, involving techniques beyond the capabilitiesof anrateur botanists. is clearly pointing the
w a v t b r r v a r d - a n d w i l l u n d o u b t e d l l ' e v e r r t u a l l yr e s o l v e t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e c o r r e c t t a x o n o m y o f
l). tna1olis subsp. /roiarsleineri t'ar. hownotrii, along with that of manv other critical taxa ['[edren
( 1 9 9 6 . a n d p e r s c o m m s . 1 9 9 4 - 1 9 9 6 )a n d P r i d g e o n .B a t e n r a n .( i o x . H a p e m a n & C l h a s e( 1 9 9 7 ) . a n d
o t h e r s .i n t h e i r c o n t i n u i n g r e s e a r c hi n t h e s e f i e l d s a r e d i s c o v e r i n gd e e p e r e v i d e n c eo f o r c h i d r e l a t i o n s h t p s t h a t r e n d e r c o r n p a r a t i v en r o r p h o m e t r i c sw
, h i l s t n o t t o t a l l y i r r e l e v a n t .a m i n e f l e l d o f p o t e n t i a l l r
serious errors, rftaken uncritically in isolation fiom other rather more rigorous disciplines.Who after all
* o u l d h a v e c o n s i d e r e dt h a t t h e F r o g O r c h i d ( C o e l o g l o . s s u m
v i r i d e ) w a s e v o l u t i o n a r i l vn e s t e du , i t h i n ,
and therefore shoulcl be subsumed into. DucQ'lorhl:<r (Pridgeon el a/.. 1997)? ,And there is nrore rrr
c o n l e . . l I t r v i l l a l l b e s o r t e do u t e v e n t u a l l y w e m u s t . l u s tb e p a t i e n t .
R e f e r e nc e s :
B i t t e m a n ,R . N l & D e n h o l m , l . ( 1 9 8 9 ) N { o r p h o m e t r i cp r o c e d u r e ,t a x o n o r n i co b j e c t i v i t v a n d n r a r s h fi"dt.toni Lt 17 449-455.
orcliid s1'sternatl,cs
F l e d r - r ' nM, . ( 1 9 9 6 ) T h e a l l o t e t r a p l o i dn a t u r e o f D a c h l o r h i z u l ) r d e / e r m i . t . \ e( O r c h i d t r c e a ec) o n f i r m e d
I l c t t s o r r i u2 l I l i - l l 8
Hedren. N'l (unpub ) The origin of the tetraploid N,larshOrchids
H e d r e n ,N 4 .( u n p u b . ) .G e n e t i c d i f l ' e r e n t i a t i o np, o l y p l o i d i z a t i o na n d h y b r i d i s a t i o ni n N o f t h e r n E u r o p e a n
I )ttc1.r'/trhixt(Orchidaceae) Er,idencelrorn allozyme rnarkers
J e n k i n s o n ,i \ l . N ( 1 9 9 1 ) W i l d ( ) r c h i d : ; o l I ) o r s e r ( O r c h i d S u n d r i e sL t d , S t o u r P r o v o s t , G i l l i n g h a m ,
Dorset)
J e n k t : r s o nM
. N ( 1 9 9 5 ) . . A n e w v a r i e t y o f N a r r o w - l e a v e dM a r s h - o r c h i di n S o u t h H a r r p s h i r e( r ' c l l ) .
Wul-sottrtrZ0 263-213.
Jenkinson, M N (1995) trltild Orchid.s of Hampshire and the lsle of LVight (Orchid Sundries Ltd,
S l o u r P r o v o s t ,G i l l i n g h a m ,D o r s e t .)
P n t l g e o n ,A N [ , B a t e m a n ,R M . . C o x , A . V , H a p e n r a n J, . R . & C h a s e ,N l W ( 1 9 9 7 ) P h y l o g e n e t i c o
sf
, r c h i d a c e a eb) a s e do n N u c l e a rI T S S e q u e n c e sL. I n r e r g e n e r i c
S u b t r i b eO r c h i d i n a e( O r c h i d o i d e a eO
llelationships and Polphyly of Orchr.ssen:;ulab Lindlcyana l2(2) 89-109
R t r b e r t s ,R H . & F o l e t ' , N I J Y { 1 9 9 7 ) T h e t a r o n o n r i c s t a t u s o f I ) u t t l h r h i r u n t t t j o l i s ( R c h b f i l . )
Ir F llunt & Summerh. subsp lraln.rlelreri (Saut. ex Rchb.til.) H.Sund. var btnmanir N1N.Jenk.
Ifutsotiu 21 314-316.
l \ 4 . N J E N K I N S O N . T u o A c r e C o t t a g e ,B a g b e r .S t u r r n i n s t eN
r ewton, DorsetDTl0 2l{B

A R E P L Y T O N T . NJ. E N K I N S O h .
O u r t i r s t r e a c l i o n o n r e a d i n g J e n k i n s o n ' sn o t e i n r e s p o n s et o o u r c r i t i c i s m ( W a t s o n i a 2 1 . 3 7 4 - 3 1 6 ,
1 9 9 7 ) o f h r s p a p e r ( W o t . x n i a 2 0 2 6 3 - 2 1 3 . ) 9 9 5 ) . r v a s t h a t i t n e e d e dn o r e p l y , s i n c e t h e a n o n r a l i e si r
c o n t a r n e dr v o u l d b e a p p a r e n tt o a n y o n e c o n v e r s a n tw r t h b o t h p a p e r s .O n r e f l e c t i o n ,h o w e r , ' e ra, s s o
m a n v o f h i s s t a t e m e n t sa r e s o p l a i n l yu n t r u e ,w e n o w l e e l t h a t w e m u s t p o i n t t h e m o u t
T h e t l r s t o f t h e s e a p p e a r si n t h e s e c o n d p a r a g r a p ho f J e n k i n s o n ' sn o t e r v h e r e h e s t a t e st h a t o u r
'rvas
ntethod
to extract certarn carefullv selectedcharacters .
from mv paper .
and use them to
demonstratethat the population means ofthose data overlapped with comparabledata for the Southern
N'larsh-orchid'

t2

N o t c sa n dA n r c l c s

W e d i d n o t ' c a r e f u l l v s e l e c t ' t h e c h a r a c t e r sw
, h o s e p o p u l a t i o nr n e a n sa r e q u o t e d i n T a b l e 1 o f o u r
p a p e r { R o b e n s & F o l e v 1 9 9 7 ) T h e v w e r e u s e d b e c a u s es r x o u t o f t h e s e v e n a r e a m o n g t h e ' m a i n
'length
diagnostic charactersof l). tt uunsleineri' listed by us on the same page as our Table l. Even the
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g i r e s a n i m p r e s s i o no f t h e n a r r o n . l i n e a r - l a n c e o l a tIee a v e sr , v h i c ha r e a n a c k n o l v l e d g e dl e a t u r e o f t h e
Narrow,-leavedN'larsh-orchid.and have prontpted its vernacularnanre.
'to
A s e c o n de r r o r o c c u r s i n t h e s a m e s e n l e n c e l.t s t a t e st h a t w e u s e d t h e s ed a t a
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d a t a t b r t h e S o u t h e r nM a r s h - o r c h i d( D . n u y u l i s
sttbsp pruclermrs.sa)' This is a complete fallacy. we have not mentioned any data for the Southern
l \ . { a r s h - o r c h i de.i t h e r a s p o p L r l a t i o nn r e a n so t i n d i v i d u a lv a l u e s ,a n 1 ' r v h e rien o u r p a p e r . I t i s J e n k i n s o n
'Of
hinrselfrvho rrow adrnits that
course those figures overlap with ssp.prd.tlermis,r:a.I maciethat clear
in mv original paper' At the same tirne he has either fbrgotten or ignored the fact that four of the
charircters in his Table 4 (l1 dt:onid 20 27 1) are diagnostic characters of L). truunslcilarl, and has
failed to appreciatethe signitrcanceof this tact. nanrely,that his var howntonil belongs rc D. praelernrl.r.rirand simplv cannot beloDqto l). /rcnorstLirterlHis own data prove it
l r r t h e f b u r t h p a r a g r a p ho f h i s n o t e , J e n k i n s o ne v e nu s e st h e o l d a r g u m e n tt h a t t h e r en r a y b e ' h i d d e n
discrepanciesin methods of sathering data' which can invalidate the comparison of data collected by
d i f l ' e r e n *t o r k e r s B u t u e h a v e n o t u s e d a n \ /d a t a e x c e p tt h o s e c o l l e c t e db y J e n k j n - s ohni m s e l f ;w e h a v e
not selected data to suit our argurnent As rve have already shown, the data used in our Table I
( W t r t : r t r t t r 2 1 3 7 1 ) a r e f b r r i e l l - p r o v e n d i a q n o s t i cc h a r a c t e r so f I ) . t r a u n . s t c i n e ral n d t h e v a l u e sa r e a l l
f i o n r J e n k i n s o ns ' c L r n t r o l ' d a t a t b r t h i s t a r o n i n h i s T a b l e 3 ( l l / u l s o r t i a2 0 . 2 6 5 ) .
l n h i s s e v e n t hp a r a q r a p hh e a c c u s e su s o f r e a c h i n g o u r c o n c l u s i o n s ' f b ra l l t h e w r o n g r e a s o n s ' .I n a
f i r r r n e r . p a p e(rJ e n k i n s o n1 9 9 1 . 2 3 2 ) h e e x p r e s s e dh i s c o n v i c t i o nt h a t i n m a n v m a r s h - o r c h i dp o p u l a t i o n s
h e h a d s t u d r e di n H a m p s h i r ea n d D o r s e t ' t h e p l a n t s s e l e c t e df o r n r e a s u r e n r e natr e n o t c l e a r l y d i s t i n c t
fiom rnany more typical plants of ssp.praelerntisid at the site, but are merely taken from the extreme
e n d o f a m o r p h o l o u i c a lc o n t i n u u r l le n c o n r p a s s i nagn u n u s u a l l yw i d e r a n g eo f v a r i a t i o n ' .Y e t , t b u r v e a r s
'the population
l a t e r , w h e n d e s c r i b i n gt h e E x b u r y p o p u l a t i o n( J e n k i n s o n1 9 9 5 , 2 6 3 ) , h e c l a i m st h a t
of
\ a r r o w - l e a v e d M a r s h - o r c h i d ( c 2 0 0 p l a n t s ) f b r m e d a s n r a l l b u t d i s t i n c t m o r p h o l o g i c a lp o p u l a t i o n
within a much largef colony of l)ac4 lorhizu spp. consisting predominantly of D. nrujulis ssp.prdeternr.sstr.l). lirth.srr anclhvbrids between the two'. Without any explanation, Jenkinson has changed his
o p i n i o n c o m p l e t e l v W e r v o n d e rw h v
He has also made much ofthe dangersofcomparing data collected by difibrent workers. Perhapshe
can explarn u,hy Fig I in his paper (lVutxtnio 1995) shows two plants of var. bowmanli with a stature
o f 2 l 7 o m a n d 2 - l 4 c m , b u t h i s m e a n v a l u e s h o w n i n T a b l e 3 o f t h e s a m e p a p e ri s 2 7 . I 2 c n r S i m i l a r l y ,
the drawings show five leaves and six leaveson the plants while the averageleafnumber in his Table 3
rszl4
lt appearsthat it is Jenkinson lr'ho lias reached his conclusionstbr the wrong reasonsand we trust
t h a t a n v o n es t u d y i n gt h e r e l e v a n tp a p e r sw i l l a r r i v e a t t h e l o g i c a l c o n c l u s i o na s t o t h e t a x o n o m i cs t a t u s
of t ar lutrttt<tttii
Refel'ences
J e n k i n s o n .N l . N . ( l c ) 9 1 ) T h e m a r s h - o r c h i d si n H a m p s h i r ea n d D o r s e t . s o m e r e c e n t r e s e a r c h 1 ) r ( r c .
Hurnpsh. l:ieltl ('luh Art:htteol. .\oc. 47 225-257
. l c n k i n s o nM, N ( 1 4 9 5 ) A n e w v a r i e l l ' o f N a r r o w - l e a v eN
d i a r s h - o r c h iidn S o u t hH a m p s h i r e( v c . I l ) .
Lllu|vtntu 20. 2b3-213
Roberts, R H & FoJey, M J Y. (1997). The taxonomic status of Dactylorhiza malalis (Rchb. fil.)
P F. Hunt & Summerh. subsp. l,,crrr.r/sineri (Saut ex Rchb. fiI.) H. Sund. var howmonii
N 1N . J e n k . W a l s r n i t r 2 1 3 1 4 - 3 7 6
R H R O B E R T S . 5 I B e l m o n t R o a d . B a n g o r .G w y n e d d ,L L 5 7 2 H Y
N , {J Y F O L I : Y . D i l i s i o n o f B i o l o c i c a l S c i e n c e sU
, n i v e r s i t yo f l , a n c a s t e rL, A I 4 Y Q

-)-)

Notesand Arlrcles

Y E L L O W - E D C E D F L Y O R C ] H I DF I , O W E R S- F I N A L E
On 4 June 1994, I found a single specimen of Ophry.sinsaclifcru (Fly Orchid) rvhose flou,ers had quite
i,"'ideyellow edges in a hazel copse near Leatherhead, Surrey. Delfirrge (1994. the correct version)
showed that several other characteristicsof Ophrys aymotilnii were not shared by these tlowers so I
concfuded it was just a variant inseclifero.
A f t e r R . H . R o b e r t s( l J S l l l N e w . ; 7 4 ) r e p o r t e da s i m i l a rf i n d b y L C o l l e y i n A n g l e s e yh e k i n d l v s e n t
r n e ( w i t h p e r m i s s i o n )o n e o f C i o l l e y ' sp h o t o g r a p h s i.t s e e m e dt o b e i d e n t i c a lw r t h t h e L e a t h e r h e a do n e
T o b e s u r e o f t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o nI t h e n s e n t p h o t o g r a p h so f b o t h t o P i e r r e D e l f b r g e p e r s o n a l l v L
. le ven
kindll, replied in detail, pointing out the difltrences between the photographed plants and O. u.tnt()nnnt
a s d e s c r i b e da n d i l l u s t r a t e di n h i s b o o k , t h o u g h s o r n es o n r eo t ' t h e r n( e g t h c b r e a d t ho f t h e l a b e l l u ma n d
t h e c o l o u r o f t h e g y n o s t e g i u m )a r e n o t i n d i v i d u a l l yd i a g n o s t i c ,h e w a s c o n f r d e n tt h a t t h e p l a n t s r . v e r e
not O. u1'moninil, rvith which he is r.'eryflamiliar. He quoted tive continental ref-erencesto the same
phenomenon.adding that a plant sirnilar to ours rvith small yellow-edged flowers from northern Spain
had been named as O. suhtn.seclrferaHermosrlla & Sabandobut this wirs r,rnjr,rstifred
as rvell as a nortctl
rttulrrn lncidentally. Old Burghclere Quarn, is noted fbr the variation in its Fiv Orchids and I have
photographs of specimens from there u'ith abnornrall-vbroad labella (?tar .ttrhhrtnhr/cra Rupperl p
furrn )- r',ith r.vhitespeculaand with labella speckledrvith yellorv all over, as well as peloric specimens.
Fur-thermore,even my credulity (which extends to various adventive orchids rvritten off by' some
a u t h o r sa s d e l i b e r a t e l yi n t r o d u c e d )w o u l d b e o v e r - s t r e t c h e db y t h e a p p e a r a n c eo f a n e w B n t i s h s p c c i e s
r'vhich (in all cases surrounded by normal O. insecti.leru) cropped up singly in two rvooded sites in
Surrey (the other b)' A G. Hoare, r9^\r9lNcu'.i 75), singlv on chalk grasslandin Hampshire (S lVloorc.
8,\R1 Alel'.r76) and in very small numbers in a ntarsh in Anglesev (R H Roberts. B.\r91rVsv,.r74). rlhen
it is native to one small hot stony area near Aver-ron in sor:thernFrance
T h i s h a r e h a s r u n i t s d i s t a n c e .i A N 4 E N l E d . l
DEREK

-fL|RNER

E T T L I N G E R , R o y d e n C o t t a g e .C l i f t o n v i l l e ,D o r k i n g . S u r r e y ,R I J . I 2 J F

BIENNIALS OR PERENNIALS?
l\'ty f'aith in the written word of Floras used to be so great that it took me years to accept that they can
occasionallybe wrong, costing me hours of wasted fleld work.
Admiring the architecturally magnificent Angelicas (Angclica.l'/vc^i/rl,r) which regularly poked
through the lie.stucarubro (.RedFescue) on a nearby headlandin north Pembrokeshire,I once dug one
up fbr my garden where I only grow wildflowers All right, I know I shouldn't have, especially in a
National Park, but on this one occasion I sought to bypassthe slorv process ofgror.ving fiom seed,and
as my flora sardAngelica was a perennial, this approach seemedstraightfonvard. But hor.vmistaken I
lvas. fbr the large. chunky root simplv died.
Puzzled by this I visited the same headland several years in successionto observe rvhat actually
happened I even tied string around the dead florvering stems to confirm that eventually new leaves
would appear at their base the following summer, fbr t had noticed that in the oli'-seasondead tlowering stems and fresh basal leaves never occurred together. But all these stelns got blown out to sea by
ferocious winter gales as I should have expected. Yet year after year nerv plants emerged through the
thick mat of l'esluca rubra, which puzzled me.
I d i d e v e n t u a l l yi d e n t i l y ' s e e d l i n g s ' ,t h o u e h r a r e l v , f o r h e r e a n d t h e r e t h e t h i c k g r a s s c a r p e t w a s
b r e a c h e db y b a d g e r - d i g g i n g ,s h e e p - t u g g i n go r g a l e - k i l l i n g T h e n i t c l i c k e d ! A n g e l i c a i s n r o n o c a r p i c
Hence the new leaves which mysteriouslv appeared every year belonged to plants which had been
'adulthood'
s t r u g g l t n gt o r e a c h
f o r r n a n v y e a r s , t h e i r b e g i n n i n g sa s s e e d l i n g sh a v i n g o c c u r r e d y e a r s
previously fiom 'seed beds' no longer visible
'perennial',
ln one's mind the term
e v e nw h e n a p p l i e dt o h e r b a c e o u sp l a n t s ,m e a n st h a t t h e y s u r v r v e
m o r e o r l e s si n d e f i n i t e l y o n e i s r e l u c t a n tt o q u a l i f yt h e t e r n r

Notesand Articlcs

3.1

I subsequentlyconfirmed all this in a more typical Angelica habitat, a marsh, where the tap roots of
sturdl, seedlingspenetrated the black organic ear1hand their stenrsand cotyiedons benefited from latervinter gaps in the l''ilipentlulu ulmariu (Nleadowsweet) cover and not one dead flowering stem was
attachedto a live rclot.
A similar problem occurred in the case of Heracleum sphondylium (Corv Parsnip). My Flora said it
was a biennial. We all know that biennials exploit disturbance,e.9., Digitulis purpurarr (Foxglove) in
rvoods aller f'elling or thistles aller a larnrland operation, but local Heracleum normally grew aJong
establishedgrass verges with no sign of ground disturbance. Yet I had spent a year or so trying to
relate Herttcleur??'sappearanceto mole, badger or other disturbancesofthe ground cover in previous
years. This time the Flora was simply rvrong. it is not a biennial lt is a perennial, somelimes monocarp i c . s o m e t i r r r epso l y c a r p i c .
Hence alier lar too manl' years I have learnt nry lesson. Terms like biennial or perennial when
'a
large pinch ofsalt'. Even the biennialDigitttlr.scan take 3 years
applied to herbs should be taken with
to flower (see B,\r3l Nerr.r 73 iO and 74 20) and Pembrokeshrre'sabundant coaslal Dottcu.scru'ritt
lWild Carrot) is probably olien triennial, r.vhilethe rnagnificentLttvulera urhtrea (Tree Mallow'), so
determinedto die at the end ofits second summer, can no doubt be dissuadedby damage.
, rfed, SA62 5AX
G O R D O N K N I G H T . l 2 F f o r d d v F e l i n ,T r e f i n , H a v e r f b r d w e s t D

A HANDSOMEAND VIGOROUSHYBRID RAGWORT

E a r l y l a s t s u m m e r I o b s e r v e da s m a l l ' r v e e d ' w h i c h h a d e s t a b l i s h e di t s e l f b e s i d et h e ' r v h e e l y b i n ' i n m y
fiont garden. It had bright green, very pinnatisect leaves spirally arranged up the stem and at first I
thought rt was just an ordinary Ragwort (,lenecict.jocobuaa).However, as the weeks went by it contin'wheely'bin'.
a t r v h i c h p o i n t I l - e i tt h e t i n r e h a d c o n r e1 o
u e d t o e l o n g a t eu n t i l i t r e a c h e dt o t h e l i d o f t h e
measure rt as lt was most certarnly not a common Ragworl. By the time it had stopped growing, its
strong, lealy stem was a good I % metres tall and very erect. Soon after this it produced a corymbose
cluster of flower-heads, at first composed only of tubular florets, thus resembling a huge groundsel
piant. but later each ofthe conrposite heads developed a ring ofbright yellorv, ligLrlatefloret-sover a
period of several days. The end result u'as a very handsometlowering plant but one cluite unknor.vnto
me and impossibleto identifl, from any of my own Floras, so I called on the help of my good friend, Mr
Ronald Rutherfbrd of the Botanv Depafiment, University of Reading. After consulting Slace and al1era
cenain amount of head-scratching,Ronnie decided that it rvas a hlbrid between Senecio Jtrttthaeu
(Comnron Ragwortl and S. crLrcrarla (Silver Rauwor-t). He told me that Senecio has a tendency
towards promiscuitv and that he had noticed several similar hybrids in various other front gardens in
thlsarea
When it finally came into lruit in early August, each achenervas equipped with a fine pappus. I shall
be interestedto see what sort ofplants rvill appear next year. wrll the next generation revert to one or
other of the parents? will there be other hybrids of the same or of different kinds? Or will the seeds
p r o v e s t e r i l e ?I s h a l la r v a i tt h e s p r i n ga n d s u m m e ro f 1 9 9 8w i t h l r v e l ya n t i c i p a t i o n l
C A R O L J H O R A , 5 l E a s t e r nA v e n u e , R e a d i n g ,B e r k s R G I 5 S Q .

GR,I\SPINGTHE NETTLE - A .MACHO' PLIRSUIT IN BEDFORDSHIRE

Follorving the latest of a seriesof notes on [.lrlicd galaopstfilia i't RSRI Nervs76, this additional obserr a t i c l nr n a 1b, e o f i n t e r e s t .
On a Bedfbrdshire Natural History Society visit to wet broad-leavedwoodland and meadows beside
t h e f u v e r O u s e a t B r o m h a m M i l l B e d s ( T L l 0 1 3 . 5 0 8 , 6 J u l y 1 9 9 6 ) , a r a t h e r s o g g y a f t e r n o o nw a s ,

35

Notcs and Artrcles

n o n e t h e l e s se,n c h a n t i n -f9o r t h e u n u s u a l l yl u s h s i t u a t i o na n d t h e p e c u l i a rr a n g e o f n e t t l e f o r m s t h a t r v a s
present
I haven't seen a key that separates( I. gulet4tsifolicrlronr {l diotttt. bul at one point I found myscll'
being dared to handle nettles in a patch I was certain wouldn't sting me. To me thev scarcely looked
l i k e n e t t l e sa t a l l t h e y w e r e m o r e n a r r o w l y u p r i g h t .l e s sb r a n c h e d ,a n d h a d a s t e m b l o o m r e m i n i s c e not f
r a s p b e r r yc a n e s T i r e l o n g , n a r r o * , l e a v e s a l s o g a v e t h e p l a n t s s o n r e t h i n go f t h e a p p e a f a n s eo f H e n r p a g r i n r o n ya n d t h e w h o l e w e r e s o f t l ) ' d o w n y . T h e p l a n t s w o u l d n o t s t i n g r n e , e v e n o n t h e u p p e r l i p
w h i c h i s n o r m a l l y s e n s i t i v ee n o u g he l ' e n t o g e t a r e a c t i o nf r o m s o m e ' d e a d ' n e t t l e s .
'hunt
T h i s d i s c o v e n yl e d t o s o m e t h i n go f a m a s o c h i s t i c
t h e s t i n g i n gn e t t l e ' s e s s i o na n d , i n f a r ; t .r v e
tbund it diflcult to find anv nettles, of anv fbrm, in the area, in lvood or meadorv, which would give us
a good stingl
\ l l c u r i o s i t yt h u s s t u n g ( s o r r y ) , a n d s e n s i n ga p o t e n t i a l l yu s c f u l f l n d ( t o p r o p a g a t ea n d e n c o u r a e e
p e o p l e t o g r o w a s a p a i n l e s sv e r s i o n o f t h i s b u t t e r f l y f b o d p l a n t ) , t b r o u g h t h o n r e a n e t t l e t i o n r t h e
o r i g i n a l p a t c h t h a t h a d c a u g h t m y a t t e n t i o n .a n d p l a n t e di t i n r n 1 'g a r d e n ( d r y c l a y ) . I ) r s a p p o i n t i n g l ri.t
g r e w i n l o a c l u m p o f n e t t J e st h a t w a s i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b ltei o m t h e r e s t i n t h e g a r d e n .a n d j u s t a s s t i n g y
So I rronder harre olher grrlet4t.:i.lolruhunters tliecl gro."vin-uon their finds') ,6,\B/ ,Vcu..s76 alstr
i n c f u c l e da n o t e o n a d a p t a t r o n so f n e t t l e st o d r o u g h t . n i g h t g u l e o p . t r / o l t u b ea n a d z r p t i r et b r n r . o f s o m e
w e t s i t u a t i o n s t. h a t r e v e r t st o n o r m a l i n t h e d r y ? I n c o n s e q u e n c em
, i g h t n o t s o m e d e t e r n t i n a r i u r )psr ! ) \ e
a little Iash, (sorry)
S T E \ ' [ H A W K I N i S . 6 0 P e a r t r e eR o a d . S t o p s l e v .L u t o n . L L ] 2 8 B A

'lel

01582 -lll0c.S

CALCULATING CRID REFERENCES

I r v a s i n t e r e s t e dt o r e a d t h a t p l a s t i c q r i d s . l b r , e a s y n r a p r e f e r e n c ep l o t t i n g , a r e n o $ a v a i l a b l e N o t
k n o r v i n gt h r s I h a d n t a d em y o w n , b e c a u s eo n t h e 1 2 5 0 0 0 s e r i e sn r a p sa n 8 f i g u r e r e f g e t s v o u r i u h t o n
t o p o f t h e p l a n t ( t h o u g h I w o r r y t h a t , i f s u c h a c c u r a c yr v a sp u b l i s h e d .s c a r c ep l a n t sn r i g h t d i s a p p e a ra l l
t h e m o r e q u i c k l y ( t ) ) . M y a d d i t i o n a lr e f i n e m e n tw a s t o f i n d a s m a l l c h e a p c a l c u l a t o r( c r e d i t c a r d s i z e d
a n d s t i c k i t b e s i d em v g r i d , s o t h a t t h e f i g u r e sc o u l d b e s t o r e d o n t h e d i s p l a yw h i l s t l e a v i n gb o t h h a n c l s
t i e e t o h o l d t h e m a p a n d - u r i dt o g e t h e r .I w a s c o n g r a t u l a t i n gm y s e l f o n t h i s s o l u t i o n1 o t h e ' t h r e e h a n d
p r o b l e r r w h e n s o m e b o d ye l s et u r n e d u p w i t h a G P S . . .
O n l y t h e o n e g r i d i s n e c e s s a r y t b r L 5 0 , 0 0 0 n r a p ss u f h c i e n la c c u r a c yi s e a s yu s i n ga q u a r t e ro f t h i s
o n e N o w a l l I n e e d i s f b r t h e O . S . t o p u t t h e n u m b e r so n t h e g r i d l i n e sm o r c o f t e n a n d s t o p p u t t i n g n l l
t h e g o o d s i t e so n t h e e d g e so f t w o m a p s o r t h e c o r n e r so f f b u r l
W h a t I w o u l d r e a l l v l i k e r . v o u l db i - l u l l n a t i o n a l c o v e r a g er v i t h 1 . 2 5 0 0 0 ( o r a n g e ) m a p s l i k e t l r e
'Erplorer
2 ' o f t h e N o r t h C h i l t e r n s .T h i s i . sa s u p e r t b r n r a tl v h i c h c o n r b i n e st h e b e s t o f ' t h r e e ' P a t h f i n d e r s ' o n t o o n e s i d e o f a s h e e tt h e s a r n es i z e a s t h e I 5 0 0 0 0 s e r i e s .T h i s f o r m a t e l i m i n a t e sm u c h r r r f i r r i a t 'Pathfinder'
ing folding back and fbrth of tloppy
maps in the wind and rain, and would make an exqellent complementary series of orange 2L inch maps to go with the standard red I inch ones. Should
BSBI and others be Jobb-vingthe O S. for such a series'l
S T E V E H A W K I N S . 6 0 P e a r t r e eR o a d . S t o p s l e v .L u t o n . L U 2 8 8 A T e l 0 1 5 8 2 4 2 4 0 6 8

GAUDI]\I.,1 FRAGILIS - IS IT NATIVE?

Even'recent major flora calls (iaudirtru.lzrgrll.r (French Oat-grass) an introduction in the British Isles
(l:loro Europaea, Stace, CTW, Sell & Murrell). Apart fiom the tact that they all use much the same
wording, suggestingthey might have merely copied one another, our own experience ol(i..fragtli.: has
p e r s u a d e du s t h a t i t s s i a t u s a s a ' p r e s u m e di n t r o d u c t i o n ' n e e d st o b e c r i t i c a l l y r e a s s e s s e dC. e r t a i n l v ,

Notesand Arttcles

l6

fellow botanists usually/al'"vaystalk about finding it in high quality habitat (including several grassland
SSSIs and NNRs), where it looks to be very much pan of the natural vegetation
T h e r e w a s a m a j o r s u m m a r yo f i t s o c c u r r e n c ei n t h e B r i t i s h I s l e s i n W a t s o n i a 9 . 1 4 3 - 1 4 6 b y D a v i d
NlcClintock in 1972. but since then there has been little written about the plant other than two notes in
R S R IN e w si n 1 9 8 9a n d 1 9 9 0
Sirnon Leach, ofEnglish Nature's botanical service and I propose to collect all the data we can find
Would menrbersbe prepared to help, please.by supplying
and frtrpeto publish the results in trl"ol.sonia.
their records fbr each site. '"viththe ibliowing details
i
Grid ref-erenceancllocation, date, and finder.
'good
ii Associate speciesrNVC if they have this. lf not an indication of the type of habitat e.g.
'waste
in the
acquired
ground', etc. lfany quadrat data is available or could be
neutral meadow',
next year then that really would be a major help.
iii Their opinion of its British status.
Sll\1ON J LEACH & DAVID PEARMAN The Old Rectory, Frome St Quintin, Dorchester, Dorset,
DT2 OFIF

TERRESTRIAL FORM OF MYRIOPHYLLUM ALTERNI FLORAM

Botanical monitoring has been carried out during the last two years by English Nature on areaswhere
encroaching sallow scrub has been cleared adjacent to Little Sea, a freshwater lake in Studland Heath
National Nature Reserve, Dorset. During this monitonng the terrestrial form of M1'riophyllttm oltarni/ltn.unt (Nternate Water-nrilfbil) has been recorded in quadrats located in damp hollows near the
margins ofthe lake. The terrestrial form differs markedlv in appearancefrom the better-known aquatic
form, having shorter and tirmer shoots, shorter and narrower leaves, fbwer and wider leaf segments,
and the leaves are coloured grass-greencompared to the olive-green ofthe aquatic form. [n the plants
examinedthe leavesofboth terrestrial and aquatic fbrrns occurred in whorls ofthree.
Data from plants sampled in and near Little Sea, Dorset
(All data relate to mature leaves,and all measurementsare 1nmm)

N u n r b e ro f s e g m e n t si n l e a v e s
L e n g t ho f l e a v e s
Width of leaves
Width of leaf aris (near base of leaf)
Width of leaf segments

Terrestrial form
6-12
8- I 2
4-8
0 4-0 6
0 2-0 4

Aquatic form
12-16
I 8 - 3I
I 8-30
0 1-0 3
0 1-0 2

Associates of the terrestrial form near Little Sea include Agrostis canina, Carex nigra, Hydroccnyle
tulgurrs, Hypericum elotle.s.Molinia caenrlea, Polamogeton polygoniftlius and Sphagnum auriculctI un The largest patch covered an area of approximately I 9 r I 2 cm, and was located more than a metre
tionr the edge of the lake The aquatic form of M ulternillorum is abundant in the adjacentwaters of
the lake. and it appears likely that most examples ol the terrestrial form originate from vegetative
fragments of the aqr-ratictbrm left strandedby receding water levels. Waterfowl rnight also act as carriers of such fiagments
Both the native ltI.v'riophyllum spicatum (Spiked Water-milfoil) and N(. r'erticillatum (Whorled
Water-milfoil) may also occur as terrestrial forms if left stranded,as may the introduced M. aquaticum
(Parrot's-f'eather),(Preston & Croft 1991). A reduction in the number ofleafsegments in the terrestrial
form has also been recorded inM. verlicillalaz (Stace 1997).

37

Notes and Artlcles

References
Preston,C D & Croft, J.l\{ ( 1997) Atluttlrc l)lan\.s irr lJrilain antl Iralund. Harley Books. Colchester.
S t a c e . C A . ( 1 9 9 7 ) N e w l : k r a o / t h e R r i t i s h 1 s 1 c . r(.S e o o n d E d i t i o n ) . C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ,
Cambridge.
J O N . A T H A N C O X . E n g l i s hN a t u r e , S l e p eF a r m , A r n e , \ V a r e h a m ,D o r s e t , B H 2 O 5 B N

\1.1.riophyllumalternifTorum A Shoot ofterrestrial lorm (photocopy). B - Leafolterrestrial form

C - Leaf of aquatic form. Scalebars I cm (A), and 5 mm (B & C)

MEL.4]IIPYRUMIN HERB. A.J.E. SMITH AT NMW

The Melctmpyrum pralense specimensused by A.J.E. Smith for his postgraduate research at Oxlord
and the basis for his paper in Walsonio (Smith 1963) have been incorporated into the NMW herbarium
a t t h e N a t i o n a l M u s e u m a n d G a l l e r y o f W a l e s , C a r d i f f ( a c c e s s i o nn u m b e r N M W V 9 7 4 0 ) T h e r e a r e
45-l sheets of M protense collected tiom localities throushout Britain, often with a number of specim e n sf r o m e a c h s i t et o s h o w t h e l a r i a t i o n V i s i t o r s a r e r v e l c o m et o c o n s u l tt h e s o e c i n r c n s .
References
Srnith, A. J E. ( 196-f). \'ariation in Melampl'rum prdtense L. trlutsortiu5 336--.i67
T t M R I C H , I E S S C I A C A R E Y & T O N Y S M I T F I , D e p a r t m e n to f B i o d i v e r s i t ya n d S y s t e m a t i cB i o l o g y ,
N a t i o n a lN l u s e u ma n d G a l l e r vo f W a l e s .C a r d i f f C I r l 3 N P

Notes and Articles

38

MEGA SPREAD FOR MICRO PLANT?

ntoritima (Sea Pearlrvort) is not a plant with rnany friends. It is tiny. scruffy and not rare enough
Sittgrrru
t o a t t r a c tt h e ' t w i t c h e r s ' . I n v . c 8 1 , B e r w i c k s h i r e ,i t r v a s n o t r e c o r d e db e t w e e n 1 8 9 6 a n d 1 9 9 4 a l m o s t
c e r t a i n l y b e c a u s en o o n e I n o k e d O t h e r s h a v e d o n e r a t h e r b e t t e r H a l l i d a y ' s ' A l ' L r u o f ( ' u m h r i d
I 997. rnaps ?6 coastal tetrads lt has always been fbund by the sea.
, \ t r g i n on o r i l i m c r h a s n o w j o i n e d t h e a r m v o f p l a n t s c o l o n i s i n go u r s a l t e dr o a d v e r q e s .I n 1 9 9 6 I
l b u n d i t i n q u a n t i t ya t 3 5 0 r n o n S o u t r a H i l l i n r , . c . 8 l o n t h e , 4 ' 6 8 .I n 1 9 9 7 I f o u n d i t a l s o o n t h e A l i n
v c . 8 1 . w , e l li n l a n d . a n d i n t h e L o t h i a n sr n v . c 8 2 o n t h e A 6 8 . T h e h a b i t a l i s g r a v e l ,w i t h f i n e m a t e r i a l
amonsst it. often a rnetre or so back tiom the tarmac, further back than the Spcrguloria morrna and,
l)trt:tntcllitt tlis/orts zone This is much thc same habitat frequently colonised by its look-alike Saginu
(.//!'zrlr subsp er('.|d. so clon t ftrrget lour lens if you are planrringan outing.
Experience with other annuals colonisin_qroad verges suggeststhis plant will either be found to be
alreadlrvrdespread
t r n B r i t a i n ' s r o a d s o r r v i l l s o o n b e c o m es o . P l e a s e j o i nt h e s e a r c h b u t t a k e c a r e o n
t h o s ev e r g e s .t h i s o n e c a n n o tb e c l o n ef l o m t h e c o m f b r t o f a c a r a t 6 0 m p h .
l \ { l C H r \ E L B R A I I H W A l ' f E . C l a r i l a w .H a r . v i c kT. D 9 8 P T

N E W R O A D SA N D F L O W E R S
I woLrld like to add some conrnlents on the nerv roads and flowers subject raised by Derek Turner
L.ttlinlrer in B,\RI Aren,s76 Whilst rnotorr.vavsand other new roads can provide useful habrtats for
relatively nrobile plants such as Bee Orchid ()phry: apifr:ru), they undoubtedly also generate more
trafic This results in insreasedemissionsof carbon dioxide fiom car exhausts,contributing to global
warnting
The changesin weather patterns likely to be caused by emissionsof greenhousegasesthreaten to
e r a d i c a t es o n r e o l ' l h e p l a n t c o m m u n i t i e sm o s t h i g h l ) ,r , a l u e db y b o l a n i s t si n t h i s c o u n t n O u r a r c t i c alprnesand western Atlantic specieswill not unfortunately be able to flee along new motorways as the
p l a n e lh e a t su p . T h e r e w i l l b e n o r v h e r el o r t h e m t o e s c a p et o o .
, los GL7 IBQ
I A N F I T L I S T E R , 1 - 1P a r t r i d g eW a y , C i r e n c e s t e rG

BI'AUTIFUL KILLER
'lhis

w a s t h e t i t l e o f a l e a l l e t I p i c k e d u p o n a r e c e n t v i s i t 1 o s o u t h e r nO n t a r i o , C a n a d a .T h e k i l l e r i n
qr-restionis Purple Loosestrife (.l.1thrum.salicurru) which has invaded wetlands and is causinq serioLrs
concern among naturalists.anglersand hunters.
l.t,thrun was accidentaliy introduced into Nonh America from Europe in the 1800s and has since
spread across eastern Canada and also in British Columbia. In other areasit has escapedfrom gardens
I t i s r e p l a c i n gn a t i v ep l a n l sa n d d e s t r o v i n gt h e h a b i t a to f m u c h n a t i v er v e t l a n dw i l d l i f e .
The pub[c are urged to report and destrov the plant Control methods include hand pulling, cutting
a n d r r e e d k i l l e r . F o r s e v e r e i n t - e s t a t i o nbs i o l o g i c a l c o n t r o l i s b e i n g u s e d i n t h e l o r m o f t h e b e e t l e
(]ulerucella. a European predator which t'eedsonly on Lythrum.
The manv other introduced species do not seem to cause the same sort of concern, probably
becausetheir habitats are less lulnerable ln urban areas a large part ofthe flora is ofEuropean origin,
particularly notable is carror (Doucus caroto). which covers waste ground and roadsides much as
.1t t t hr i.sc;u.tsyI t'e.slrr.vdoe-shere.
R A [ ' H E L H E I \ { l \ , l l N G . T h e A r c h o r a g e . S o u t h W o o d c h e s t e r .S t r o u d .G l o s G L 5 5 E L

39

Notcs and Alticlcs

THE I}LACK POPLAR IN OLD ENGLISH POETR\

Oliver Rackham in exanrining the Anglo-Saxon Runic Poem (8.\81 New.s76.40) attempts to see what
the words themselvessay. However, when a word has more than one meaning, it is more reasonableto
'Bjrch
b e w i t h o u t b r a n c h ' d o e s n o t m a k e s e n s e ;a t r e e i n i t s n o r r l a l
a p p l y a m e a n i n gt h a t m a k e s s e n s e .
'Birch
is without flrrit', no doubt
slate is not without branches Dickens, and others. tlanslateas
b e c a u s et h i s i s t h e o n l y t r a n s l a t i o nt h a t p r o v i d e sa n ) ' s e n s et o t h e f l r s t h a l f - l i n eo f t h e p o e r n
T h e s e c o n dh a l f - l i n et l o e sn o t b e g i nw i t h t h e i n t e r j c c t i o n ' l o l ' ( O t r ' l a ' ) .t h i s d o e sn o t a p p e a ri n t h e
'theah
W h e n t r a n s l a t e dc o r r e c t l yt h e n e x t
o r i g i n a l p o e m . T h i s s e e m st o b e a n i n c o r r e c tt r a n s l a t j o no f
n v o h a l l l i n e s r e t e r b a c k l o . a n d c o n f i r m t h e w o r d ' f r u i t ' i n , t h e f i r s t h a l f ' - l i n eo f t h e p o e m . T h u s , r v e
'Ner,eftheless
w i t h o r : t o f l s p r i n g i t b e a r so n i y s h o o t s T h i s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e ' l a d e n w i t h l e a r , e s '
have.
a n d t h e g r e a t h e i g h t o f t h e t r e e , t w i c e m e n t i o n e di n t h e p o e m , s u g g e s t st h a t t h e d e s c r i p t i o ni s o f p o p l a r
r a t h e rt h a n b i r c h .
O l d E n g l i s h p o e t r y i s n o t a s c o n s t r a i n e db y a l l i t e r a t i o nt o t h e e x t e n t s u g g e s t e db v O l i v e r R a c k h a m .
A l l t h a t i s r e q u i r e d r n o r d e r t o r e m a i n u i t h i n t h e ' r u l e s i s t h a t o n e o f t h e s t r e s s e so f t h e f l r s t h a l f ' - l i n e
n l u s t a l l i t e l a t ex ' i t h t h e f i l s t s t r e s so f t h e s e c o n dh a l f ' - l i n el.t i s n o t a m a t t e r o f c r a m r l r n ga s m u c h a l l i t e r a t i o nl n t o t h e p o e m a s p o s s i b l e .
lrrespective of the supposed shortcomings of schoolteachers,the Old English vocabularies,roughly
'Birch'
r . r ft h e s a m ed a t e a s t h e p o e m , i n w h i c h
i s g l o s s e dw i t h ' P o p l a r ' , d o p r o v i d e a n e x p l a n a t i o na s t o
u , h y t h e v e r s e h e a d e d B i r c h ' i n t h e r u n i c p o e m r e a d s l i k e a d e s c n p t i o no f p o p l a r . I d o n o t t h i n k t h a t
t h e s eg l o s s e sd e n l o n s t r a t ea n i n a b i l i t yt o d i s t i n g r - r i sbhi r c h t i o m p o p l a r .b e a r i n gi n m i n d t h a t t h e A r g l o S a r o n su ' e r e c o u n t r y p e o p l ea n d e x p e r t c a r p e n t e r st h i s w o u l d b e n t o s t u n l i k e l y .I b e l i e v ei t h a s r n c l r et c r
do r.viththe fact that in Anglo-Saxon times and later the naming of plants was not an exact science Of
course i1 ',ve simpJy assLlmethat earlv writings are nonsense or erroneous then historical research
b e c o m e si n r p r r s s i b l e
ln mv eirrlier anic)e (I),\BI Aril'.r 73 28) t give reasonsfor believing that rhe tree described in the
A n g l o - S a x o nR u n i c P o e m i s B l a c k P o p l a r T h i s l a r g e n a t i v et r e e * o u l d h a v eb e e n k n o w n t o t h e A n g l o Saxons, and. in vierv ofits long associationwith folklore, rt would not be surprising to find it appearing
in a Runic Poem together with such trees as Oak, Ash and Yerv.
P E T E R t ' H O R N , 1 2 J o w i t t A i , e n L i eK
, e n r p s t o nB
, edlbrd l\{K42 8NW.

ORCHIDS. ANDREWS AND SLOANE

Although thele are large collections of Orchidaceae at The Natural History N4useum the nonE u r o p e a nh o l d i n g s ,w h i c h a r e c u r r e n t l yb e i n g d a t a b a s e da, m o u n t t o c . 3 4 , 0 0 0 s p e c i m e n s n o m e m b e r
o f t h e M u s e u m s t a f f h a s a s p e c i a l i s itn t e r e s ti n t h e f a m i l y C o n s e q u e n t l yt h e M u s e u n ri s a l w a y sp l e a s e d
to clrcourasecolleaguesfl'orn Kew and elser.vhere
to use the collections
f l L r N e v e rS a r a hT h o r n a s ' sa c c o u n to f o r c l i d s i n t h e h e r b a r i u mo l J o s e p h A n d r e w s ( B S B I N c v s 7 6
l 7 - 2 1 ) c o n t a i n sa n e r r o r w h i c h n e e d sc o r r e c t i n g .M s l h o m a s s t a t e st h a t t h e A n d r e r v sm a t e r i a li s i n c o r porated in the Sloane Herbarium, whereas, in fact, it is a separatecollection that has never formed part
o f S l o a n e ' sc o l l e c t i o n s T h e S l o a n eH e r b a r i u m a n d o t h e r S l o a n ec o l l e c t i o n s ,w e r e b e q u e a t h e dt o t h e
n a t i o n i n 1 7 5 i . t o f b r m t h e n u c l e u so f t h e B r i t i s h M u s e u m T h e H e r b a r i u m a n d o t h e r n a t u r a ih i s t o n "
o b j e c t s i n t h e S i o t r n ee o l l e c t i o n sr v e r e n r o v e d t c r t h e n e r v l y b u i l t N a t u r a l H i s t o n ' N { u s e u m , i n S o u t h
K e n s r n g t o n i. n 1 8 8 1 , a n d r e m a i nt h e r e . T h e S l o a n e H e r b a r i u mh a s a l w a y sr e m a i n e da s e p a r a t ec o l l e c tion, to r.vhichno additions have been nrade. Thus the Andrews collection. which came to the N4useum
i n 1 8 8 9 ,i s n o t p a r t o f t h e S l o a n eH e r b a r i u m .
P r e s u m a b l vt h e c o n t u s i o n i n t h e B . \ - B l N e w . r ' a r t i c l e r e s u l t s l i o m t h e l a c t t h a t t h e A n d r e u s
c o l l e c t i o n .l i k e t h e S I o a n eH e r b a r i L r mi,s i n b o o k f b r n r , a n d i s k e p t s e p a r a t el r o n r t h e N { u s e u m ' sm a i n
h e r b a r i u n rw
. h i c h c o n s r s t so f l o o s e s h e e t s a
, n d d e l ' e l o p e df i o m t h e c o l l e c t i o n so f S i r J o s e p hB a n k s T h e

Notesand Articles

l0

Museum has a number of such bound volumes, which include its oldest specimensthat are to be found
in a German volume compiled at the end of the sixteenthcentury.
T h e S I o a n eH e r b a r i u r r cr o n t a i n sn r a t e r i a fl r o m m a n v p a n s o f t h e w o r l d . i n c l u d i n gt h e B r i t i s h l s l e s .A
brief summary of the British material, by Phyllis Edwards then Botany Librarian at the Museum, is
g i v e ni n I ' r o c . B . S . BI 4 1 3 6 - l 4 l ( 1 9 6 1 )
ROY VICKERY, CLrratorof Flowering Plants, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD

N.,\TTiRALNTIRSEMAIDS
On the l,lth Septenrber 1997, I held a field meeting for the Devonshire Association Botanical Section
trn Roborough Down near Plymouth The aim was to advefiise a small population of Sorhus devonien) n d t h u s a s s i s ti n t h e l u t u r e s u r v i v a lo f t h e t r e e sw h i c h I c o n s i d e r e df r a g i l ef i o m v i g o r . r i . r( \ \ ' h i t e b e a n r a
trrrs competition vith Qucrcus xthttr (Oak). (-razlcgus monog)'ild (Hawthorn) and other common
tlees The mature Sr.rr']z.s
trees were often within snrall copses and looked overshadorvedand crowded
out bV the commoner species,often only a small section ofcanopy showing to the sun. In severalsituations a specimen of (-rolaegus mong)no grew intirnately entwined wilh a Sorbus tree, the trunks
t o u c l u n gM y i n c l i n a t i o n s h a d b e e n t h a t l m i g h t i n t e n , e n e o n t h e s i d e o f t h e r a r e r t r e e a n d r i n g t h e b a r k
would sun'ive more successfully.An easy u'ay to do this. I
of the commoner one so that the Jzz'r5a.r'
suggestedto some of the group, was to tie a piece of wire around the offender's trunk and let the
growth of the tree initiate its own strangulation.A discussionthen followed which produced from one
member ofthe part1,,a strikrng idea which had not oscurred to me and seemedto explain a few observ a t i o n st h a t h a d b e e n v o c a l i s e de a r l i e r .
Rr'rboroughDorvn is. like most of Dartmoor, notable fbr the excessivegrazing pressureproduced
b v t h e o v e r s t o c k i n go f s h e e pa n d p o s s i b l yp o n i e s .O n t h e D o w n . t h e s m a l l c o p s e so f w e i l g r o w n t r e e s
include Jrrrbrr.r,but the surrounding area noticeabl!'lacks any Sbrr5l.iseedlingsor saplings,even though
the abundanceoffnrit is quite astonishingin many years. This is even more remarkablewhen, according
t o l ' R . A B r i g g s i n f ' l o r a o / P l y n o r r l l ( 1 8 8 0 ) , t h e l r u i t s a r e q u i t e v i a b l e ,a s h e s t a t e so n p a g e 1 4 5 : ' I
hare fbund seedsvegetate rather readilv.' Presumablyfrxits that lall in the clear areasunder the mature
lrees are eaten bv sheep (thev are vcry paiatable,even to nran) and even ifthey survive and germinate,
t h e s a p l i n g ss o o n s u c c u m ba s u e l l
When &rrbl.r saplings are ttrund they are invariably in the centre of an impenetrable brake,
surrounded by a thorny delence of Crulaegu.s monogytlor Ulex europaea (Gorse) and Rubus sp.
(Bramble). The brake as a whole seems to mature as a unit, so that it is noticeable that the larger
saplingsare all rouuhly the same height. A member ofthe party describedthese brakes as nurseriesfor
the Ioung &;rlz.r. the defending plants keepin-qthe ponies and sheep at bay. As these brakes develop
Orer the years, the maturing trees outgrow the reach of the grazers. However, in the mature copsesthe
protective embrace of the nursemaid ('ralaegus about its charge, a JbrDrs, remains quite obvious. I
t h e r e f b r ed e c i d e dn o t t o s t r a n g l et h e n u r s e m a i d s l
T h a n k st o B i l l T u c k e r a n d M a r k P o o l f o r t h e i r o r i g i n a li d e a s .
R A Y G O I J L D , , 1 0F e r r e r sR o a d . S t B u d e a u x .P l y m o u t hP L 5 I T X

\ PENNINE'SALTMARSH' FLORA
l n S e p t e r n b e rI 9 q 4 , \ . \ ' h i l et r a v e l l i n go n t h e P e n r i t ht o , A l s t o n r o a d i n C u r n b e r l a n d( v . c . 7 O ) ,I s t o p p e da t
the Hartside Cat'e, the highest point at 575m. The small stone built cafe is on the site of an old mine
building with a large unsurfacedcar park. I hoped to add a number of ruderalsto this upland tetrad for
the Flora ofCumbna survev.

Notesand Articles
To my amazement I found .luttcus gerardil (Saltmarsh Rush) to be a dominant speciesover some
25 square metres within the fenced west facing bank belorv the viewpoint and car park overlookrng the
Eden Vallev. Plants were fruiting abundantly and vigorous in appearancebut more stunted and sparser
on the moist level area aboVethe bank where lvater. salinein winter tionr road surface treatment.cl-ains
fronr the car park. A few t'ertile plants of Pluntugtt ndrilimLt (Sea Plantainl were present on the ilat
trampled terrace below the viervpoint wall.
The site was visited several weeks later when (ilaux ntorilima (Sea-milkwort) was noted in the flat
run-off area below the car park. Sagina ruxlosa (Knotted Pearlworl) and a Euphrusia sp. (Eyebright)
were associates.Finding (jlaux nrurilima raised the suspicion that the simple erplanation ofintroduction by roiid traffic was probably erroneous.Indeed, the o*'ner ofthe site told me that the surroundinqs
o f t h e c a r p a r k a n d c a f e h a d b e e n l a n d s c a p e da b o u t l 0 \ , e a r sp r e v i o u s l yw i t h t u r f l r o m t h e S o l r v a r
coirst It appeared that the cr]ntractor had used turf with a large proportion of ./rrircl,r g!r'dtlrr with
o t h e r r n a r i t i m es p e c i e s .
A d n s k i r u n h a d b e e n m a d e a b o u t 5 0 m e t r e st o t h e e a s t o f t h e c a { ' eb u t a b a n d o n e ds o m e i O r e a r s
ago. This resulted in narrow vertical scarringsof the slope where the matting rl'as laid and unaflected
bv run-olffrom the car park. On these grazed and comparatively bare strips. stunted specimensofall
t h r e e o f t h e m a r i t i m e s p e c i e so c c u r r e d .T h e y a p p e a rt o h a v e c o l o n i s e dt h e s es i t e sf r o m s e e da n d i n d e e d
'1995
t - e n ief ( . i . n r u r i t i m u w a s s e e ni n
F l o w e r i n g P o t c t i l i l l l ru n s e r i r t t (t S i l r e r w e e d )a l s o o c c u r r e dh e r e
. { \ , i s i t t o t h e s i t e i n 1 9 9 7 s h o w e d t h e s t a t u so f a l l t h r e e s p e c i e st o b e u n c h : r n g e dr r ' i t h i nt h e f ' e n c e d
c a r p a r k a r e a H o w e v e r , s h e e pg r a z i n g m a d e r t i r n p o s s i b l et o t r n d l b r t i l e . / r l r c r r . g
r c n t r t l i r o u t s i d et h e
f'enceand Claux mctrilimo appearedto have gone. Pluttlcgo mariltmo was still present
T h e r e l a t i v el a c k o f c o m p e t i t i o n h e l p e db y t h e s a l i n ec o n d i t i o n so f t h e c a r p a r k h a s a l l o w e d a l l t h r e e
speoiesto suwive. Planlago noritimo is a well known maritime and montane species and would be
gerardii and Glaux ntdrilima are predomrnantly coastal speciesrn the
expected to survive buL .Jurtcrt.s
B r i t i s h l s l e s s o i t i s o f n o t e t h a t t h e y t o o a r e a b l e t o s u n , i v et h e h a r s hc o n d i t i o r r so f t h e N o r t h e r n P e n n i n e s a n d s e e n ra b l e t o r e p r o d u c e T h e m a i n t h r e a t t o s u n i v a l i s t h e i n t e n s i ' , es h e e pg r a z i n g I h o p e t o
n r o n i t , l rt h e s r t eo v e r t l r e c o n r i r r ryr e a r s
I s i s h t o t h a n k M r F S h e p h e r df o r d e t a i l so f t h e l { a r t s i d eC a l e s i t e .
R.W M CIORNER, Hawthorn Hill, 36 Wordsworth Street. Penrith, Cumbria CAI I 7QZ

XIESPILUS GERMANIC.4 IN ST]SSEX

By a coincidence, the day betbre BJB,/ News 75 u'ith Mr Kevin Pyne's interesting note on ll4e.sprlu.s
germarilccr(Medlar) arrrved, I had found a specimengrowing in a hedge in East Sussex.Since then I
have seen more. Two of these were definitely cultivated while at two of the sites the trees could have
b e e nn a t r v e .
One tree was at Slinfold, West Sussex, possibly the same one as that recorded by Wolley-Dod.
'Planted
at Slinfold.' (Wolley-Dod, 1937) This tree was obviousJy grafted as ('ratdegil.t nortog)no
(Hawthorn) shoots were sprouting from the base
,furother planted tree \\'as seen in a garden at Five Ashes, near N{avfield, East Sussex. Hawthorn
could be seen shooting fiom the stock and there were no medlar suckers. nor did it have thorns. l-he
owner told me that her father had grafted it onto hawthorn, probably in the late 1930s - early I 940s He
apparentlyused often to graft medlar scions onto young thorns, either digging up and transplantingthe
hawthorn or grafting onto a suitable seedling in situ. then when the graft had taken, moving it to a
s u i t a b l ep l a c e .l t i s p o s s i b l et h a t i f t h i s w a s a c o m m o n p r a c t i c e ,i t m i g h t w e l l b e t h e o r i g i n o f r n e d l a r si n
hedgerows - some might have been forgotten or left to prol'ide a convenient source of truit Seed
dispersalcould have been done by squirrels,which had been observed carrying offthe fruit, or badgers.
l v l e . t p i l u sw a s a l s o f b u n d i n h e d g e r o w sd u r i n g t h e s u m m e ro f 1 9 9 7 .O n e o f t h e s ew a s n e a r E t c h i n g ham in F. Sussexin a mixed, probably old, gappy hedge between a lane and a narrow strip ofwoodland

1a

Notes and Artrcles/ Mistletoe Survev

and arose from a stool. As there was some dead wood at the base. possibly the original had gone and
suckers had arisen fiorn the roots. This bush had thorns and had been trimmed quite hard with the rest
of the hedge. lt was about 0.5 km from each of two lhrms.
The second site was at Oxley's Green near Brightling, E. Sussex.There were two trees, about 3 m
apart and both abor.rt3 m high. They were growing in an untrimmed. mixed, old-looking hedge of much
the same height and flowering ivell. Again they had suckersand thorns and were growing quite close to
a farm. The hedge has since been trimmed to about 2 m in height
It is quite possible that further medlar plants exist hidden amongst the many old hedgesin this part
ofthe country
Reference
Wolley-Dod, A H ( I 93 7) The I. ktra of Sussex.Hamilton, Adams & Co.
R A C H E L N I C H O L S O N , S u m m e r h i l l ,F i v e A s h e s ,M a v f i e l d ,E S u s s e xT N 2 0 6 J G

MISTLETOE SURVEY
MISTLETOE SURVEY _ ANOTHER UPDATE
Analysis and mapping ofthe mistletoe data continues apace.The data entry is still incomplete,though it
won't be long now(!). Data validation is another matter
I am currently reviewing anomalies and
oddities in both the BSBI and Plantlife data and quite a few dots are moving around as a result
The maps shown here are still provisional. Ifyour dot(s) is still not on and you sent vour data in,
d o n ' 1 w o r r y , i t o r t h e y w i l l a p p e a re v e n t u a l l y l f y o u r d o t i s n ' t o n b e c a u s ey o u d i d n ' t s e n dv o u r c a r d i n
t h e r e ' ss t i l l a c h a n c et o i n c l u d ei t . .
The first map compares the two data-sets: BSBI and Plantlife. The ditlerences are surprisingly
numerous and I hope they will reduce as the data is finalised. lt is possible that some are computer
e r r o r s - s o m e o f m v s o f t w a r e h a s b e e n b e h a v i n g i n m y s t e r i o u s w aN
y se v e r t h e l e s s t h e m a p r s i n t r i g u i n g ,
especially in areas such as lvestern Berkshire where Plantlife data predonrinates This rnay genuinely
reflect more recording by the general public. Contrary to what I said in IISBI News 75 I now hope to
carry out a thorough comparison ofthe two data setswhen everything is finalised.
The other two maps show just Apple and Lime records respectively.The Apple map confirms thal
tree's dominance as a host and reflects the national distribution pattern. The Lime map also reflects the
national pattern but there are interesting differences to Apple, particularly in Surrel' and western
Berkshire (again rvhat is it about Berkshire?).In these areasLime tetrads appearto outnumber Apple.
That's all for norv. Usual apologies for delaysin data processingand incomplete maps. lt will all be
finishedsoon....
l'rn hoping to set up a web page disptaying some of the maps A link to this page will be available
from the BSBI web site
J O N A T H A N B R I G G S , M i s t l e t o e S u r v e v ,2 L e d g e m o o r ,W a t l e d g e ,N a i l s u o r t h , G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e
GL6 OAU

l\'listlctoeSuner

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\ ' l a p . I P r o v i s i o n a cl o m p a r i s o no f P l a n t l i f ea n d B S B I d a t a . S y m b o l si n d i c a t es i g h t i n g sw i t h i n a 2 ! 2
k i l o m e t r es q u a r e .! - B o t h ; o - P l a n t l i f ' eO
, - BSBI

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N 4 a p , 2 1 9 9 , 1 - 9 6P r o v i s r o n aIl \ l a p , s h o w i n gm i s t l e t o ed i s t r i b u t r o no n A p p l e . o s y m b o l si n d i c a t e
s i g h t i n g sw i t h i n a 2 r 2 k m s q u a r e

MrstleloeSun

/ Consen'ationNews

l
N l a p . 3 . 1 9 9 ' { - i ) 6P r o v i s i o n a M
l a p . s h o r v i n gm r s t l e t o ed i s t r i b u t i o no n L i m e . o
s i e h t i n - grsv i t h i na 2 ' 2 k m s q u a r e

s y m b o l si n d i c a t e

j:.:.i.:;:.1i"::::t:-1'.:t"r+:l,Xilti'l:i;;1j.':.lXXi:.f:l;".kftttj:itt;+i'*t{,
:t:::::::i::;::i:i:;;t

C ON S E R V A T ION
N E WS
NIILLENNITIM SEED BANK PROJECT
-l

h e l \ l i l l e n n i u r nS e e d B a n k P r o l e c t r e p o r l u l e n t i o n ss o m e o f t h e B S B I n r e m b e r sw h o h a v e i n 1 9 9 ?
c o l l e c t e ds e e d so 1 ' s n e c i ailn t e r e s tf o r t h e B a n k
L d t : u t L ' rcdr e l l c r r ( S m a l l e r T r e e - m a l l o w ) f i o m S c i l l y , b l , R o s e m a r y P a r s l o w , B S B I R e c o r d e r f ol rbv . c .
( ' t t t t ' x . fl u t , t t ( L a r g t - Y e l l o r v - s e d - r r fer)o m i t s o n l y B r i t i s h s i t e b y l a n T a y l o r , E n q l i s hN a t u r e w a r d e n a n d
n r e m b e ro f B S B I f l o n s e n ' a t r o nC o m m i t t e e .
l'oterttrlltt neumtuniutro (Spring Cinquefbil) from Midlothian by Phil Lusby, BSBL
.\iotrt:htr.:
yilu.strl,r (N,{arshSo*-thistle) by Peter Larvson. Suftblk Wildlife Trust and BSBL
( ) r ( h s u . t t u l . i l d( B L r r n tO r c h r d )l l o m E S u s s e xb y D a v i d L a n g . B S B I
( iulrturt puri.siu i.rt' (Wall Bedstraw) tl.trrn W Nort'trlk by Gillian & Ken Beckett, BSBI recorders tbr
vc 2!i
trlctrrrp.;i.t conthritu (Welsh Poppy) tiorn Brecknock by Ray Woods, Countryside Council for Wales
andBSBI
L r r l t r t . s p e r m u7n) u r l u r c o L d . ' n t l e r r n( P r - r r p lG
e r o n t w e l l )t i o m S o m e r s e tb y L i z N l c D o n n e l l( s e eb e l o w ) .
l f a n v r n c t n b e rw o u l d l i k e t o c o l l e c t s e e d f b r t h i s p r o j e c t p l e a s ec o n t a c t . M r s E . J . M c D o n n e l l .
D u n l r e o nC ' o t t a g e .( l o c k l a k e , W e d m o r e . S o m e r s e t .I - r z i s t h e B S B I c o - o r d i n a t o rf o r t h e M i l l e n n i u m
S e c dB a n k P r o j e c t
l \ { A R Y B R I G C S . 9 A r u n P r o s p e c t ,P u l b o r o u g h .W e s t S u s s e xR H 2 0 I A L

( trnse6
"1,un

*.tt t

4-t

CONSERVATION HEADLANDS FOR ARABLE WILD FLOWERS

With the kind co-operation of the owners of the Djtchley Estate, near Charlbury. west Oxfordshire, a
consen'ation headland for arable wiid flowers was set up on cultivated land that tbr the past forty or
flftv years has qrown a variety of crops (wheat, barley, oil-seed rape, flax. broad beans and peas) and
been treated in the conventional manner with chemical fertilisers. pesticidesand herbicides Known as
Broad Asserts. this large field was probably assarted in the fourteenth or fifteenth cenlury from
s u r r o u n d i n -w
q o o d l a n d k n o w n t o h a v e b e e n p a r t o f t h e a n c i e n tr o y a l h u n t i n g f o r e s t o f W y c h w o o d T h e
u n d e r l y i n gr o c k i s J u r a s s i cO o l i t i c l i m e s t o n e
ln the late summer of .1996 a strip measuringapproximately 365 t 4 m along the entire length of the
north side ofthe field was ploughed and levelled but not sown with rape seed and, later. not sprayed
w r t h h e r b i c i d e sT h e r e s u l t si n t h i s f i r s t s e a s o n( A p r i l O c t o b e r I 9 9 7 ) h a v e b e e n a s t o n i s h i n gS
. eventyn i n e s p e c i e s( i n t i o w e r o r i n a v e g e t a t i v es t a t e ) h a r , eb e e n r e c o r d e d R o u g h l y , h a l f o f t h e s e a r e p l a n t s
associatedwith arable land and halfwith the flora ofacljacent grasslandand woodland edge.
B r a c k e t e df i g u r e s i n t h e t b l l o w i n g s p e c i e sl i s t r e l e r e i t h e r t o l o w c o u n t s ( 1 - 1 0 p l a n t s )o r t o e x c e p t i o n a l l y l a r g e o r u n u s u a l n u m b e r s o f p l a n t s . O t h e r s a r e b r o a d l y c a t e g o r i s e da s O c c a s i o n a l( O c c ) ,
F r e t l u e n t( F r I o r A b u n d a n t ( A . )
At'thu.sttcynopium (Fr.)
Arkr,,lolli.saruensl.r(blue-)
f . l o w e r e df o n n ) ( 5 9 )
.lrttrum ntitttts (l)
('up.sella bttrsct-pctsloris )
( A i n o n e a r e ao n l v )
('efttsltum glomcratum (5)
('haru4ndittttt 7xtl1.,;permun (6)
('lemotis vitalhtt (5)
('orylus avellana ( I - seedling)
I)rpsttcu.sfillknttm
s s p , r ' 1 / v a r l r l(r- 3 )
!.ttphorbicr exigucr (Occ - Fr )
l'umariu offictrtulis (.4)
Garoniunt pusillum (.2)
Kttkxict eloline (Occ.)
ltntitrm olhun (4)
Ltrpsana comnunis (2')
Melilolus sp (2)
I'uytutter tluhium subsp. lecoqrt (2)
Per.sicorio maculosa (Occ.)
Planlago mojor
(A in a damp area)
!)olygonum rurivagtm (Occ.)
Ilumer ohtusifit/las (Occ.)
Sertecio vulgaris (.1)
.\ilr:rre noctrfloro (541)
lirtchu.; asper (Occ.)
Stellario nedia (5)
L'erhuscunt thapsus (.1)
I'i t tla ctrvensis (F r.\

Aloltecuru" myosuroide.s(.7)
Anthemis arven,sis(2)

Anugalli.t arven.\is(Fr.)
Aphane.surven.sis(2)

Ar.'trcrta serpt'llt./itlru(4)
('ortluus nulans (l)

Arriplex porulu (occ )

CenlLturt'u nigrct (2)

('haarnrhinum mnrus (.9)

Cir.tium oryen-se(Occ )
('ltrutpodium vulgare (l)

Chenopdium ctlbum (8)

('irsinnt wtgare (Occ )
Contnlvulu.sorvez.v.r'(Occ.)
Dactyli"s glomerota (2)
Ecluisetunt orvense
(10 in a damp area)
lallopttt cotrvolvultrs (Fr 1
(ierctnium dis.sectum(Fr.)
Hypericurn perforalum (2)
Locluca ,serriola (l)

Crepi.s copillaris (5)

Lpilohium tetragrnum (2)
EtrTthorhia helio.tcopru (4)
Galiunt ttparine (Fr )
Herqcl,:um spfutndyliun (2)
Kiclotia spuria (Fr )
Lantium umplexit:uule (Occ.)
Legousio hvhridu (14)
M),osoti:idrvenst.\(A. in one
area, Fr in olhers)
Pttpaver rhoett.s (Fr )
Picris echiode.s(l)
Poa onnua (Occ.)
I'rrotelluwlgLu'i-t (7)
Settecioerucilitlrus (l)
Sherardia arvensis (Fr )
Sinapis arvensi.s (A )
Sonchus olertrccn.s(Occ.)
'lity'tlium
sp. (.2)
Llerontctr arvensr.s(Occ.)

l,amium lturpureum (6)

Mcrtricario di.scoidea
(Fr. in a damp area)
Odontite.; yL'nru(Fr.)
Pctslinata .::ctliva(.1)
Plantago lancer.tlato (Occ.)
Polygonunr aviculare (Fr.)
flumer crtspu: (Occ)
Senecio.jacobaea(4)
Silene latt.fblia ssp. a/6a (Fr )
Sisymhriunt <tfficinali.s (5)
,\tuch1.'s.arvan.s.i.t
(18\
Valerianellq dentota (3)
Veronica persica (Fr.)

ConservationNeu,s

46

The biggest surprise was the abundance of Night-flowering Catchfly (Silene noctiflora). Most of the
541 plants were unusually tall and bushy, one was found to have 250 flowers and buds. lt was also
surprising to find 59 plants ofthe blue-flowered form ofthe Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arttensis).A
specimen of Cornfield Knotweed (Polygonum rurivagum) was confirmed by Dr John Akeroyd, who
wrote the account of this species for Scarce Plants in Britain (Ed. D.A. Pearman, C.D. Preston and
A. Stewart, JNCC, 1994). The Charlock (Sinapis arvensis) was either pulled by hand or topped offby
machinewhile still in flower, and thistles were beheaded.
This conservatronheadland will be ploughed and levelled in the late autumn 1997, then left unsown
and unsprayed It is hoped to continue this experiment for a few years.
A shor-terconservation headland elsewhereon the estate is being similarly managedwith a view to
increasing the present very small population of Red Hemp-nefile (Goleopsis angustifolia). Another
scarce arable wild flower. Corn Parsley (Petroselinum segetum), survives along the edges of a few
unmanagedarable borders.
JO DUNN, Flat 2, Sandford Mount, Charlbury, Oxford OX7 3TL

THE WILD BACK INTO WILDFLOWERS

PTJTTING
'Flora
I read the article
Locale Putting Wild Plants Back Where They Belong' (BSBI News 76. 42)
with interest and have since seen copies ofthe guidance notices referred to in it. I had hoped that our
wild flora was at last being taken seriously but it soon became clear that it is not. It is just a further
refinement ofwhat we have seen happen over the years. The underlying premise is still that introducing
plants is okay. The messagemust be that it is not. It should be a matter of absolute last resort and
essentiallyan admission offailure, that the surrounding environment is so devastatedthat it is impossible for a sufficient diversity (whatever that means)of wild propagulesto colonise.
The guidance notes are an improvement on anything I have seen so far but as they stand they are
yet another way for the planters and the habitat creators of the world to justify their activities. As
nature conservationistsour first concern I would hope is truly wild wildflowers. Wildflowers that do it
for themselves.The prevailing attitude seemsto be that sometime around 1963 trees and wildflowers
forgot how to reproduce sexually. Since then there's been no plant progeny. Except, of course, for
t h o s em i d w i f e d b y h u m a n i t y
Urban areas
I want to particularly focus on urban areas where for some reason the fact that they are urban is seen as
a reasonfor a laissezfaire approach. This is a general diseasein the conservationworld.
'Natural
regeneration is not normally a suitable approach for urban
To quote from the guidelines
schemesbecauseofthe time-scale needed.'Whoever wrote thrs has not the slightest understandingof
urban wildlile communities. The reality is the exact opposite of what is stated. This statementwould be
more appropriate to areas ofthe countryside where the agrrculturalindustry has totalled the landscape.
On urban sites natural regenerationis rapid There are hundredsof examplesin London, I focus on two
below
It is also asserted that it is okay, for educational reasons, to plant a mixture of native and alien
species.That really depends on whether children are to be taught about the real ecology, the really wild
wildlife ofwhere they live or whether they are to be taught about gardening.
Each urban area has a local alien flora that is an important part of its local distinctiveness.On many
'brown
field' sites), native species
srtes,particularly wastelands (or derelict land, or the more current
usually outnumber aliens, that said many ofthe native speciespresent are often'alien'to that locality
anyway.
These sites often support l5 or more species ofbutterfly and even speciesofbird on the red and
amber lists, for instance, black redstart and linnet. Floristically they can knock the speciesdiversity of

Consenation News

4't

chalk grasslandinto a cocked hat and as for the larmed landscapeit barely warrants comparison. Yet it
'brown
field' sites that organisationssuch as Council for the PreservationofRural England are
is these
suggestingshould be built on instead ofthe large areasofdegraded countrysideout there.
The guidelines do not make people face up to the real issuesof conservationwhich are the continual haemorrhageofthe wildlife resource and the lack ofmanagement ofthat resource.For some reason
habitat creation is seen as something positive for the environment. It actually soaks up enormous
resourcesthat would be far better used in other ways. One ofthe reasonsthat habitat creation and tree
planting are so sexy is that they are capital items and capital is far more readily availablethan revenue
which is what is needed.
Nature conservation is riddled with well meaning people wanting to save the planet who have not
the slightest idea about what they are doing. Their approach is essentiallyanti nature and particularly
anti local wildlife. They rarely find out about the nature ofthe existing local resource and how to work
with it. They act as if it is year zero fbr the bit of land they are focusing on and hardly ever considerthe
local context.
The non native element of our flora has a story to tell of our ecological imperialism whether for
reasons of trade, collecting or gardening and the hitch hikers picked up on the way. The landscapes
thev help mould are part ofthe human story ofthis country They are as much a part ofour culture as
country houses.music. art, meadows, hedgerows and heathland.
J'here are many other concerns about the guidance notes that have been produced. ls the NVC
really an appropriate tool to decide what to plant where? I don't think so. An experiencedlocal conservationrst is neededto advise on any such schemesthat arise,only they will know the local context.
Gargoyle Wharf
Gargoyle Wharf lies by the Thames at Wandsworth. I have a 1990 aerial photograph of the site at that
tirne There was a distillery and an oil storage depot on the site and practically no vegetation. In that
year the site was demolished and graded with crushed brick and concrete and in some areas chalk and
sand rvere spread. It was then left. This site was surveyed over the summer period ofthe year ofthe
painted lady, 1996. 3 l0 speciesofflowering plants and two pteridophltes were recorded. The site was
bulldozed so we will never know exactly how many speciesutilised it.
Nearly two thirds of the flora was of native origin, the remainder largely coming from Europe,
Norlh America and China. Over two thirds of the specieswere perennial.There were hundreds of trees
on the site of over 30 species. These included Hawthorn ((-rataegrs monogyna). Ash(Fraxinus excel.slr.rr),Silver Birch (Belulct pendala), HoIly (llex aqutftliun),
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthu.v altissina),
London Plane (.Plalanus , hispanica) and Manna Ash (Fraxinus ctrnus)- The most populous were
poplars, there was a riot (nightmare?) of hybrids on the site which were never determined.Buddle.ja
was the dominant shrub with 26 olher speciesoccurring. A handful ofbrambles, cotoneasters,Spanish
Broom (.Spartiumjunceum), Bladder-senna(.('ohtea arbnrescens),Shrubby Scorpion-vetch (Coronilla
vulentina), Japanese Quince (.Chaercmeles speciosa), Dog-rose (Rosa canina), Sweet-briar (Ro.la
ruhigino.so), Broom ((yll.su.r' scctpariu.s)and Gorse (Ulex europaeus) were among them.
This is just a taste ofthe extraordinary and diverse flora that had become establishedthere. I would
hope that sites like these would set some example to those that would softly inter the roots ofenslaved
plants but I somehow doubt it. Nature consen"ationis inlested with gardeners.
Deptford Creek
Deptford Creek is where the clear water of the River Ravensbournemeets the silt laden water of the
North Sea, where fresh water meets salt water. It debouches into the Thames at Greenwich and has
been a neglectedbackwater for decades.
There is a thin green line of flowering plants growing on the vertical walls of Deptford Creek. They
grow above the low high water mark on ledges and in crevices, cracks and crannies in and between
concrete, brick, steel and wood. There are over a hundred speciespresent, a mixture of wetland, dry

ConservationNews / Aliens

48

land, wall and wasteland species. Trees include Ash, Nder (Alnus glutinosa), Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), Hotm oak (Quercus ilex) and, would you Adam and Eve it, a wild Fig (Ficus caricd).
Garden Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is abundant as is Hemlock Water-dropwort (Oenanthe
crocata. Gypsy.wort (Lycopus europaeus), Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula), Remote Sedge
(C. remota), Water Figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), Celery-leaved Buttercup (llanunculus scelera'
tzs) and Reed Canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea) are among the wetland phalanx. Sea Beet (Bela
vulgaris) and Sea Aster (Aster lripolium) are the only representatives ofsalt marsh.
I won't go on about the remaining flora, the above is just to set the scene.Many of the walls that
support the community of plants present need to be repaired or replaced for flood defence purposes
over the next three years. The approach that is being adopted is firstly to move what can be moved and
then to install features such as ledges, crevices, cracks and crannies that will enable natural
regeneration.And as sure as eggs are things that come out ofthe rear end ofchickens that will happen.
The main focus is to hastenthe process.
Habitat creation is a non issue even in the wider Deptford area, which is a highly urbanisedpart of
an Inner London borough. Until the wildlife resource here is better protected, better understood, better
interpreted and better managed,which seemsas far offnow as it ever did, it won't be
Towards an introduction to the guidelines
Could I suggest the following set of questions that should be asked before any habitat creation is
considered.
'
It/hy do y<tu wanl tu dtt il l
Is what you are proposing an ego trip? Do you have sufficient knowledge about the local context,
local wildlife communities, to do a competentjob? Are you trying to recreate a notional past?
Wat wildlfe communilies exist on the site already'?
Have you had the site surveyed by a competent local field botanist, entomologist, etc.? Many
habitat creation schemeshave been done on sites with an existing wildlife interest and destroyed
.

'

that wildlife interest

Do you octually need to plant anythingl
ln most caseswildlife communities establishrapidly, yes, even on bare ground. The issueyou need
to focus on is the long term managementof the community/ies that become established.Have you
consideredthe impact of what you propose to plant on local wildlife communities?
Is whal you propose relevanl in the local conlexl?
Have you spoken to people with knowledge about the locality? For instancewould your resources
be better placed to reinforce knowledge of what the local wildlife resource is; manage a local
wildlife resource, campaign for those under threat, produce education materials for local people
and in particular local decision makers - there is too much of a focus on schools education, kids
will not be blind to the inherent hypocrisies ofwhat they are taught (assumingthat what they are
taught about their local wildlife communities is of a high enough quality - a big assumption) and
w h a t h a p p e n si n r e a l i t y .

NICK BERTRAND, Conservation Works, 44t New Cross Road, Deptford SE14 6TA

ALIENS
ALIEN RECORDS
Due to lack of space, I am afraid I have had to hold over severalpages of Alien Records until the nexl
issue.My apologies to all those who have sent in records.
EDITOR

49

Aliens

BLACK CHOKEBERRY
Recording for the Atlas 2000 can sometimes be rewarding! While walking along the north bank of the
Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Pennington Flash (v.c. 59) on the 28th August 1996, Audrey Locksley
and I were intrigued to see a small bushy shrub about a metre high. It was covered in shining black
purplish fruits standing in the middle of a bleak and boggy landscape.It must have been bird-sown in
this situation - one other plant was found about 100 m. away. Having checked in Stace I came to the
conclusion it might be Aronio melanocarpa (Michaux) Elliott. This indeed was confirmed by Eric
Clement, who pointed out it was only the third British record
Aronia belongs to the Rosaceae and is a genus close to .lorDzs, from which it differs in having
5 styles. It is a native of easternNorth America and has been grown in Britain for over two centuries.lt
must make an attractive garden shrub with its eye-catchingfruits and polished dark green leaves,which
turn a glorious colour in the autumn. The flowers in May are equally pleasing. However its suckering
habit - not apparent at the site - might put (choke!) the gardener off.
When visiting the area the following year we were dismayed to see a bulldozer and huge piles of
earth nearby. Miraculously the Aronia had survived. The land which was originally owned and tipped
on by the Coal Board was being drained. Let us hope that the Annia will not now succumb to drought.
As a sequel to this I should mention that I was in North Wales in September 1996 and by an odd
coincidence we were staying very near Llyn Hafod-y-llyn (Caerns.) where L melanocarpa was first
recorded. I was eager to find the original but after an extensivesearchwas disappointedto find no trace
of it. Yet there, growing by the Llyn, was a very similar shrub covered in black fruit. A sample was sent
to Eric Clement who identified it as L'ctcciniumcorymbo.wm L. (Blueberry). Had somebody lived there
u,ho had a taste for North American shrubsor was it a case of mistaken identity?
I am most grateful to Margaret Brown fbr her very clear drawing (see front cover) and to Eric
Cllementfor his prompt identifications.
References
Bean. W J ( 1950) Treesand Shmhs in the British Isle.c.Vol 1. 7th edition. London.
Clement, E J and Foster, M C (1994) Alien I'lants of the British Isles. BSBI London
Stace,C A (1991). New Florct of the IJriti.sh Isles Cambridge
M P G TOLFREE, 36 Finney Drive, Manchester,M21 9DS

THE GENUS FALCARIA _A REVIEW

l'ctlcarict vulgaris Bernh. is moderately well-known to British botanists. Although its natural range is
continental, where it is super-abundanton roadsidesin west-central France for instance,we do have a
scatteringof naturalisedcolonies in Britain. The location best known to me is on Cryers Hill, near High
Wycombe in v.c.24, where the colony extends over several hundred yards on the clay between the
cycle track and the carriageway, being notably absent from the chalk bank behind. In the years of
closely-shavenmunicipal verges the Falcoria was scarcelyvisible but as the mowing regime easedthe
extent of colonisation became apparent and in warm summers, starting in 1976, viable seed was
produced.
The ability to prosper when no flowers or lruit are achieved is due to the perennial network of
creeping rhizomes, a feature associated more readily with Aegopodium podagraria. There was a dense
circular colony (which could have been just one plant, I suppose) on an island of soil in the ballast of
the railway which ran along the western edge of StainesMoor, but this appearsto have been annihilated
by the M25

Aliens

Gongylosciacliunt.falcurioides del C. Hogg O 1997

Alrens

5l

I was recently told that Ii. vulgaris has been tbund to produce, under certain conditions, a scarce
chemical which hitherto has been industrially synthesisedat considerablecost. Whether we shall therefore find fields of Falcctrla alongsidethe rape, flax and lupins remainsto be seen.
So much for F. vulgari.t. There is, or was, another species F'alcaria falcarioides (Bornm. &
Wolf)) Wolff Odd name, this. on the daring assumption that any Falcartu will be falcaria-like. It is
known. but not well-known, liorn Turkey and Iranica As the lt. vulgaris seen in Turkey looks rather
unlike the plant in Western Europe, having shorter leaf--lobes.one's first thought is that this must be
F. /irlcn'rride.s Onlv when orre is conlionted with the real thing. and has finished thinking that it is a
speciesnew to science.does the textbook confusion give way to order .
'Glaucousbiennial,
a l t i t u d e3 8 0 m t o 1 2 5 0 m '
l . l r t r a o f T u r k e y I ! ' 4 2 8 s a y s .o f F . . f h l c a r i o t d t : : .
P l a n t s s e e n f l o w e r i n g i n O c t o b e r ' 9 7 w e r e g r e e n a n d p e r e n n i a l ,a n d w e r e p l e n t r f u li n s a l t m a r s hn e a r
Kcrvcegiz,Turkey C2 at about 20 m above sea level, in clumps of .lurtcus and lluhus The root-system
and branching ofthe plant are not mentioned in the ltlora.but both were profuse. The leaveswere very
feu. spathulate and simple. The most remarkable thing is that, although this plant has ovate or
sub-globosefruit, it has been in the samegenus as a planl - lt. vulgctris which has linear fruits.
ln Flora lronicu 162. 508. Prof. Rechinger rightly removes the speciesfrom Folcoria, and gives it
'Gongvlo'implies
the splendid name of (;ortrl,loscrutliun.falcarioides (Bornm. & Wolf1) Rech.fil.
balll i k e t b a t u r e sa n d I i n i t i a l l v a s s u m e dt h a t t h i s r e t ' e r r e dt o t h e f r u i t s , b u t t h e d e s c r i p t i o nb e g i n s ' R a d i x
napiformrs'. The creeping rhizomes of the plants at Koycegiz were functioning in the manner of
.41'gopoLitum
and did not suggest turnip-like tendencies However, I have to sa)' that some ofthe specinrens at E do show a modest thickening just below the junction with the stem. Presumablythe creeping
rhizomes were the basis of the former inciusion in Iictlcaria (The frequent generic suftix'sciadium' is
Greek ibr parasol/umbrella).
Because of the root-forn1 confusion, the rncorrect pairing of the two species in l.'alcaria, and
because Folcaria and Gongl'kt,sciodhtm wrongly remain adjacent in Flora lranittr, the identity of
(i. fttlcorictitle.scan be very dilllcult to ascertain when flrst rnet wrth. But as it rvas in flower in
r n i d - O c t o b e r ,t h e p r o b l e r n r n a v n o t b e f a c e d b y v i s i t i n g b o t a n i s t sv e r y o f t e n F o r a n y o n e w h o d o e s
encounter putative ()otrgtlosciadtur, I hope the accompanyingillustration rvill be useful.
I am grateful to N'fissJ NI. Lamond for confirming the determinationof (i. Jhlcarioides.
I\'IERVYN SOUTHAX'I, 12Fareham Road, Gosport PO15 OAG

.].{P,{NESE KNO'TWEED, INDIAN BALSA]\'I AND GIANT HOGWEED

I r e a d w i t h i n t e r e s tt h e l e t t e r s( 8 J 8 . 1N e w s ' 7 6 . 6 l - 6 3 ) l r o m M r C . J . B r u x n e r o f P r e s t o n ,M r P . J . P o p e
of Llanelli and Dr Oliver Gilbert of Sheffield, and I anr grateful to have their responsesto the report on
t h i s s u b j e c tp u b l i s h e di n B S B I N e w . s ' 1 5 . 5 1 - 5 4 I n s o f a r a s i n v a s i v ea l i e n p l a n t s d o , o r m a y , ' p o s e a
threat to our native flora', (rare, scarce or even common species), it is my understanding that the
Scrciety'sConserv'ationConrnrittee already has this matter under consideration (8,\81 Netus 72.44, &
7 3 i 6 - 3 7 ) , a s i t w o u l d b e e x p e c t e dt o d o
t h e U K i s a s i g n a t o r yt o t h e f u o 1 9 9 2 C o n v e n t i o no n
Bioloeical Diversity Members nrav learn more about the Convention fiom any County Council Local
A g e n d a 2 i c o n t a c t , a n d i n f l u e n c el o c a l p o l i c y a t t h e c o n s u l t a t i v ep h a s eo f t h e i r C o u n t y B i o d i v e r s i t y
A c t i o n P l a n( B A P ) .
I have been asked to substantiatesome ofthe tentative quantitative and other aspectsofthe report
in EJSBINews 75. 51-54, and members of the Societv may help with this by sending in any information
l h e y m a y h a v eo n l h e f o l l o w i n g .
'
a) records ofrecent (last 5-10 years) invasionsby these speciesofnew habitats- suburbanor rural
'

(particularly woodlands. but also of any non-industrialisedwetlands),

b ) o b s e r v a t i o n s / c a shei s t o r i e si n t h e i r l o c a l a r e a o f s i t e t o s i t e s p r e a do f t h e s e s p e c i e s a
, nd oftheir
NIE.{NS of soread.

52
.

Aliens
c) records ofthe rate(s) ofaerial growth ofstands site by site; for JapaneseKnotweed, particularly,
any information on the age of individual clone/stands,large (i.e. old) or even quite small, would be
invaluable.
d) details of decline, replacement, pathology or death of these species (particularly Japanese
Knotweed), policy and practice on control measuresifany.

JOHN R. CHARTER, Dunston Woodwatch, l6 Spring Wood Close, Dunston, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S4l 8BS Tel 01246 274349 after I I am. Fax 0l 14 2760159
+E-mail J.Charter@Sheffreld.ac.uk

INDIAN BALSAM AND SYCAMORE

As a manager of a local nature reserve, I would like to respond to C.J. Bruxner's article on lndian
Balsam (lmpaliens glandultfera) and Sycamore (Acer pseudctplatanus), and I have to admit that my
experienceof these two alienswithin the Upper Calder Valley of West Yorkshire is not as positive.
Whilst agreeingthat sycamore is a grand tree and has its uses when grown in the open, particularly
around our upland farms, as a constituent ofwoodland it quickly dominates a substantialarea with its
large leaves,vigorous growth and, particularly, its enormous branch structure.
Sycamore finds the damp Calder Valley cloughs much to its liking and is rampant there. The light
level is naturally low in these steep sided cloughs, but the extra shadecast by sycamorerobs them ofall
pieasantnessand makes for a much impoverished ground flora and shrub layer. It often grows where
Ash ([:raxinus excel.sior)would otherwise be and comes into leaf 4-6 weeks earlier. Tbis early leafing
gives it a competitive advantageand the resultant closure ofthe woodland canopy in early spring often
leads to bare soil beneath. When sycamore is thinned from our local woods, the transformation from
cave-like gloom is amazing.
I venture to suggest that we do not have to put up with speciespoor woods; let us get sycamore
under control and return to sylvan glades again, where oak, ash, birch, etc., are at least given a sporting
chancewith the resulting rich ground flora and shrub layer.
With lndian Balsam, I pulled up an acre of it just before it went to seed;two metre high stems even
under the shadeoftrees with totally bare soil beneath.
The following year, all manner of grasses were flowering and their roots were binding the soil
together. With the result that when it rained there was no longer any soil washed down into the
highway grates,blocking them up.
Maybe the Calder Valley is a special case,but . . .!
PHILIP MARSHALL, 54 Oak Avenue, Todmorden, Lancs. OLl4 5NT

HAS B/.SS11SCOPARIAREACHEDLONDON?
The late summerand autumnof 199'7hasproducedan evengreaterflush of the new roadsideweed
SummerCypress(Bassiascoparia)alongthe sideof the motorwaysin YorkshireandLincolnshire
than
occurredin 1996.This vigorousand conspicuous
speciesis now abundantin the saltburn zoneofthe
mainroadsaroundthe HumberEstuary(Kirby& Eades1997).
It hasspreadout into cracksin the tarmacofroads in the centreofHull, andis thinly spreadon a
few wastesitesin the docksof Hull andGoole,associated
(Setoriapumila),
with Yellow Bristle-grass

53

Ahens

Common Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus), |dilleI (l)anicttm miliaceum) and Cockspur (Echirutchloa crusgalli). These docks are presumablythe source ofthe original introductions
A drive dorvn south to Heathro*' airport on August lTth gave me a chance to look at roadside
plants whilst my rvrfe kindly did the driving. Bassia scoporia was abundant along the ,4'63,M62, Ml8
and N4180 A nerv hectad for me was Maltby, SE/5.9 Joining the A1(M), this speciescontinued on the
verges until the motorway finished at Bllth, SE/6.8 also a new hectad. Atriplex littoralis was abundant
here. but Bcsrra finished and I saw no more plants along the Al and Al(M) throughout the East
N,lidlands
Nearing the influence ofLondon, atjunction 8 near Stevenage.TLlz.2, I started to see a few plants
which looked like Bnr.sla scoparia They were about 30 cm tall, so only half grown, with the distinctive
pale green tone and conifer shape ofthis species.However, the car was travelling too fast for definite
identification Scattered specimens of what I believe to be Bassia .scopariLtwere seen at Welwyn
G a r d e n C i t v . T L / 2 . l a n d a l s o o n e p u t a t i v e p l a n t o n t h e M 2 5 t o t h e w e s t o f J u n clt,iW
o na t f o r d , h e c t a d
uncertain
These cannot be regarded as definite identifications.as I have found that at speedsofover 30 mph
smaller plants of this speciescannot be identified with certainty. However, I believe my identification to
be correct, and would ask motorway botanists to look out for this distinctive speciesin the London
area.
P e t e r C o o k ( 1 9 9 7 ) s a i d ' l h a v e n e v e r w i t n e s s e ds u c h a s u d d e n a p p e a r a n c eo f a p l a n t i n s u c h
q u a n t i t y .r v i t h s u c h a r a p i d r a t e o f s p r e a d ' a n d ' I c a n s e e n o r e a s o nw h y t h i s s p e c i e ss h o u l d n o t s p r e a d
further and become well established'. tf my identification is correct, then a rapid colonisation of the
London motorway network can be predicted.
References
sutparla) on Yorkshire roadsides. BSBI News 74'
Cook, Peter J (1997). Summer Cypress (.Bas.sict
48-49
Kirby, Paul R, & Eades, Ray ( I 997) Spread of Summer Cypress (Bas:siascoparia) along road verges
in North Lincolnshire RSBI News74 50

RAY EADES, 'The HaMhorns'lngs Lane,North Ferriby,EastYorkshire,HU14 3EL

EUPHORBIAROBBIAEALIVE AND WEI,L

(AT LEAST IN THE HOME COUNTIES!)
I support Eric Clement's sympathy (BSBI News 76. 58) lor the view thal E. robbiae is a distinct species
and that it is poorly known (at any rate in much ofthe British lsles).
However, in the area more or less corresponding rvith the London Natural History Society's
recording area (2O miles fiom St Paul's Cathedral) it seenrsto me not infrequent For W Kent (v c J6)
I give some further records of rnine which have occurred since the two locations I mentioned h BSRI
N e w s4 0 . 2 6 .
a) Extensive by footpath in alleyway, Sutton-at-Hone, TQ/5 6, 1990-95. until sprayed by the local
authority.
b) Seedlings on asphalt pavement, Eynsford, TQ/5 6, 216193(with seedlings of Lonicera nitida &
Rrunnera nucrophy I lct).
c) RoadsideN
, e w B a r n , T Q / 6 6 , 3 1 1 0 1 9 3o. f f a i r l y g o o d s t a t u s
d) Patchesonroadside,andwoodedbanks,HortonKirby,TQ/56,30/12/93&28/2195.
e) Weed ofgood status near villages like Farninghamand Hextable, 1991-95.
When I began to realise it was fairly frequent I gave up recording it, but Rodney Burton holds a number
ofrecords for other vice-countieswithin the LNHS area. from various contributors.

)4

Alrcns

I think that to the field botanist, E. rohhiue will always appear distinctive tionr yards away, rvith its
broader, dark-green. evergreenleavesand patch forming habit.
JOF{N R PALMER, l9 Water Mill Way, South Darenth. Danlbrd, Kenr DA4 !)BB

LUDWIGIA X JVTUELLERTIIHOTI.NEW TO BRITAIN

When a very rare native plant long known as being restricted to S. Hants and one that is ill adaptedto
dispersal (see E.J. Salisbury, IlLtt*tnia 9. 33-37 (1972)), suddenly appears in new localities lrom
widespreadplaces such as Surrey, E Sussex,Dorset (in 1996). S. Essex and S. Lancs (an older record,
tionr near Liverpool) one naturallv suspeclsthat some rnrpostor is involved.
OnoOct l99T.ElizabethNormanverykindlyvisitedtheSurreylocality-aroundpondonPutney
'Ludwigict
Heath (GR TQl23'7 733) where
palu.r/ris' is now abundant after beinq found by U. Sutcliffe
in 199-5 and sent me a voucher specimen (Herb. EJC) for reappraisal.It gro'rvs rvith the dreaded
('rassula helmsii as company.
The plant did, indeed, closely resemble vigorous L. palu.stris (Hampshire Purslane), but several
s u b t l ed i f f e r e n c e sl v e r e a p p a r e n to n c i o s e r i n s p e c t i o n .T h e + s e s s i l ef l o w e r s i n t h e l e a f a x i l s h a d i l - ) 4
minute (0.5 mm), + spathulatecrean petals; the ovarl was narrower, longer, uniformly pale green and
not swelling: the two bracteoles were longer (l-1.5 mm)" some nearly reaching a mid-ovary position,
tire leaves tended to be broadest nearer to the apex. True L. pela.ttris (L.) Elliott (L. repen,s
J.R. Forster) has no petals, the ovary soon srvellsinto a subrotund shaperevealing 4 dark green longitudinal rupture lines and the bracteolesare minule (up to 0.6 mrn).
This deviating taxon has long been knorvn (since 194-5?)arnongstaquaria enthusiastsas'L. muller/rr', but this name has unfortunately never been validly published. (Who was Mr Mullen?) lt is apparentlv unknown in the wild and might have arisenin cultivation It is always sterile and fronr its morphology presumablyequatesto the hybrid L. naluns r [.. ltalustrts.
L . n o t u n s E l l i o t t ( 2 . r e p e r t . sS w ( 1 7 9 7 ) , n o n J . R . F o r s t e r ( 1 7 7 1 ) ) h a s f u g a c i o u s y e l l o w p e t a l s ,
typically 3-5 mm long. and its longer fruiting capsuleslack greenishbands. It is a native from southern
USA to C. Mexico and the W. lndies. In the northern paft of its range it overlaps with native L. palus/rls. Confusingly, petal size may not be a good diagnostic charactersince in the Carolinasthe petals are
' a b s e n t '( o r
s a i dt o b e
h a d t h e v d r o p p e do f f e a r l y ? ) .
L. natun.; is not mentionedin Flrtra liuropaea 2. -108,but it has been recorded as a'neophyte' (the
ecologists' term for a recently introduced plant) in recent years from at least Germany, Austria and
S p a i n .T h e H a n o v e r r e c o r d o f 1 9 9 5 i s d e s c r i b e d i nI ' l o r . I l u n t l b r . 3 1 . 9 - 1 2 ( 1 9 9 7 ) , b u t t h e c o l o n y d i d
not persist The photograph therein shows petals, describedas yellow, but they appear to be less than 2
mm long and the leaveslack the obovate to oblanceolateshapeoftypical, pure l. natans I suspectthat
this pfant nright be another nothomorph of l. tLtlans x L. palustris.
Our Surrey record of l-. r mullertii is new to Britain: indeed it might even be the first published
record in the world for this plant in a natural habitat! Doubtlessly, other British records belong here eg BSBI Netvs 64 l3-14 describes the Luthrigia above Seaford (E Sussex) as a probable exotic
aquatic It is conceivable that all nraterial t'f 1,. nurcurs and L. pctlustri.r in rnodern commerce is, in
reality, this nameless,superior hybrid. Specimensare easiestto name when lresh and even then a x20
lens is pret-erablervhen searchinglor the petals that so quickly detach (open the florver budsl).
I predict that a very hard winter will eventually eliminate this and other colonies - but some enterprising shopkeeperwill probably reintroduce it so that a good stack offresh material is readily available
lor displal, and sale, one honest proprietor at Kingston-upon-Thames(Surrey), back in I 978, conlessed
this fact w'hen he generously gave me a piece of ? pure L. notans for my herbarium. I never expected,
then, that one day it would be ofconcern to British field botanrstsl
ERIC CLEMENT, 54 Anglesey Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hants POl2 2EH

A l i e n s/ N o t i c e s( B S B I )

5,5

SED(IM VILLOSUM var. GLABRATUM lN COUNTY CORK

A small colony of a crassulaceousplant vuasnoticed as one drove past a wet roadside runnel on a lesser
roaclto the north of Bandon (H4) during work preliminary to a scheduledmeeting of the Irish Regional
B r a n c h B S B I B a n d o n . 7 - 8 J u n e 1 9 9 7 ( l e a d e rM . J . P . S c a n n e l l ) O n a d a y o f t o r r e n t i a lr a i n t h e r u n n e l
u,as a small stream some yards from a residencewith a good garden. The plants in the stream derived
fiom the garden.
The specimencollected was identified later via 7he liuropean Gorden Flora (1 995) as Sedum villu
.r'rrrr[- (Hairy Stonecrop), native in Lancashire,Yorkshire, Perthshire,tbund also in W and C Europe
'glandular
hair)''.
e r t e n d i n gt o F i n l a n da n d N . I t a l y . I n t h i s w o r k t h e p l a n t r s d e s c r i b e da s
S. t,illosumisdescribedintheFlorooflhellritisltlsle.i(1987),'glandular-pubescent'withalternate [near-oblong leaves. not spurred, having 5-petalled pink-mauve, stalked flor.versborne in a lax
i n f l o r e s c e n c eT. h e B a n d o n p l a n t h o w e v e r w a s n o t i n a c c o r d w i t h t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n .i t w a s c o m p l e t e l l '
glabrous Surprisingly, fhe Europaan Oorden Flora includes varieties and subspeciesbut, in the sase of
the species concerned. there is no departure from the type descriptron ln I'loro lltrroptttttr | (1961)
'usually
-l6l (D A. Webb t'r ultu) all is explained,
g l a n d u l a r - p u b e s c e natl l o v e r ( b u t o c c a s i o n a l l v
glabrous in subarctic Europe, var glahralum Rostrup)'
R Ll. Praeger in'An account ofthe genus Sedum as fbund in cultivation' (J. Royal Hort. Soc. 46
'leaves
' (the
( 1 9 2 1 ) l - 3 1 4 ) . d e s c r i b e sS v i l l o s u m i n d e t a i l ,
l i n e - d r a w i n gb y E i l e e n
blunt, downy
'of
B a r n e ss h o w s a v e r v h a i n p l a n t ) . t h e v a r i s n o t n o t e d P r a e g e ra d d s .
n o h o r t i c u l t u r a li n t e r e s t 'a n d ,
'According
t o K e r n e r . t h e p l a n t i s a p a r t i a lc a r n l v o r e .c a p t u r i n gi n s e c t sb y m e a n so f g i a n d u l a r h a i r s '
I n R S I J IA r e v , .5r 8 ( l 9 9 l ) . l 4 - 1 5 , R . W . C o r n e r s t a t e s , t h e n a m e H a i r y S t o n e c r o pr s u s u a l l yg i v e n t o
Setlutn y'illoyrm as a direct translation from the Latin
I have never been impressed with its
hairiness'.The arrival on the scenethen ofthe Bandon plant satisfiesthe interest oftwo botanists.
I have not seen.\. yillosum var. glahrotum in cultivation in gardensabout Dublin.
N { . \ L r R A S C A N N E L L , R a g l a nR o a d . D u b l i n 4

d,!/\4

r\,

444!&/

lll(,,l/!r#u

?J

(B S B r)
N OT T C E S
ABSTRACTS OF POSTGRADUATE THESES
There is a feeling that a srgnificantamount ofresearch r.vork carried out by studentslollorvrng Masters
a n d D o c t o r a l p r o g r a m m e si s n e v e r p u b l i s h e d .R a t h e r t h a n a l l o w t h i s w o r k t o l i e o n l i b r a r y s h e l v e s
'8.\B-l
gathering dust we rvould like to promote this work by including abstractsfrom such theses in
Ah.strocts'.
Any student wishing to submit an abstract oftheir thesisfor publication should:
. a) note that the topic must fall within the broad lranrework adopted for Watsonia, this being 'on
British and lrish vascular plants. their taxonom),. biosystematrcs,ecology, distribution and conserv a t i o n a s w e l l a s t o p i c s o f a m o r e g e n e r a lo r h i s t o r i c a ln a t u r e ' ,a n d
.
b) send therr abstracts to. Dr Richard J Gornall, Department of Botany, University of Leicester,
Leioester,LEI 7RH
It nrust be emphasisedthat submissionof an abstractwill not guaranteepublication inAbstracts.
B R I A N S R U S H T O N , S c h o o lo f A p p l i e d B i o l o g i c a la n d C h e m i c a lS c i e n c e sU n i v e r s r t yo f U l s t e r ,
C o l e r a i n eN o r t h e r n l r e l a n d .B T 5 2 I S A

Notices(BSBI)

56

- A CORRECTION
MIMULUS:180YEARSOF CONFUSION
Table 3 in Alan Silverside's paper, Mimulus.180 years of confusion, pps. 59-64 in Perry, A R & Ellis,
k.G..|'he common ground of wild and cullivated plants. Inlroductions, invasions, control ctrul conservalir.ll. National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, 1994, was inadvertently omitted during the course of
editing. Many apologies to Alan. The Table in its entirety is reproduced below If anyone would like a
copy ofit for insertion in the paper pleasecontact me at the addressbelow.
Table I HYBRIDS OF TI{E

'MIM(/L(lS

L(lfE{/J'COMPLEX'

IN BzuTAIN

N.B . Crosses between the S American raxa (M. cupreus, M. nummularius and M. vcriegalu.r) are usually at least partially fertile; crosses between this species complex and the
N American M. gullalus are usually sterile.
M. , maculosus T. Moore (- M. cupreus x. nummularius)
First shown by W. Bull in 1863, now rarely cultivated. An establishedescapein three
a r e a si n S c o t l a n d
M. , smithii Paxt. (- M. nummularius x variegalus)
ln cultivation by 183.1,known as an escapeby ca. 1850 at Reay, Caithness.Now rarely
grown, but establishedin a number of localities in N. England and Scotland.
M. " hyhritlus hort. ex Sieb. & Voss (- M. cupreu.s x nLtmmularius x voriegatu.s)
Usually annual or short-lived, much grown as a bedding plant. A rare and transient
escape.
M. x burnetii S. Arnott (- M. cupreus x guficttus)
Origin uncertain, but in cultivation by the latter part oflast century and still frequently
'hose
in hose'
grown. Locally naturalisedin northern Britain and in the Faeroes.The
variant (var. duplex (Sieb & Voss) comb. ined.) also sometimesnaturalised,often in
ditches by old crofts in N. Scotland.
M. , robertsii Silverside (: M. gutlatus , nummulariu.s)
'A.T.
Johnson', of wild, Welsh origin. Widely
Commonly grown, often as the cultivar
naturalisedalong streams,especiallyin northern and western Britain where it is often
the commonest taxon, rare or under-recordedin lreland, not known elsewhere.
Probably first arose in the wild.
fu[. r polymoculas Silverside, ined. (: M. cupreus t gultatus '. nummulariu,s)
Occasionallycultivated, naturalisedin a few scatteredlocalities in Britain and the
Faeroes
M. , caledonicas Silverside, rned. (- M. gutlalus '. nummularius r variegahts)
Probably of wild origin (hybridisationof M. guttatuswithM. , smithii),but
occasionallygrown in Scottish gardensand naturalisedin scatteredlocalities in
Scotland and N. England.
ROY PERRY, BioSyB, Natronal Museum & Gallery of Wales, Cardifl, CFI 3NP

ABSTRACTS
2I _ A CORRECTION
Owing to an editorial error, the page number referencesto the'New' names in the Flora of the British
lsfes that are listed in Abslracl.s part 27, p 96 are incorrect For the correct page number reference
p l e a s ea d d t w o .
RICHARD GORNALL, Biology Dept , University of Leicester,Leicester,LEI 7RH BSBI

\ o t i c c s ( B S B I )/ N o t r c c s( N o n B S B I )

57

S P E C I E SI D E N T I F I C A T I O N T R A I N I N G
Thrs year has seen the formation of a very fruitful partnership between the BSBI, the University of
Birmingham and the Field Studies Council This has led to a series of courses held at Field Studies
Centres around the country, accredited by the University of Birmingham and acknowledged by the
BSBt as providing sound identificatiorrtraining in a whole range of plant uroups.
W h a t c o u r s e sa r e a v a i l a b l e ?
ln 1998 we are running a wide range of courses including weekends on Sedges, Crucifers. Yellor'",
Composites, Pondweeds, N4ale-ferns,Grasses, Buttercups and Geraniums (plus many other groups).
There are more general week-long courses on wild plant identification, fungi, bryophytes and aquatic
rnacrophytes There are also specialist courses on the use of Recorder, DMap and Biobase computer
programmes. plus a general course on biological recording techniques (how to record for Atlas
projects, use of referees. preserving specimens,etc.). The emphasiswithrn the courses ls on accurate
identification by use of keys, a combination of field and iab-based techniques, including microscopl'
where appropriate, and there is emphasison validaticrnofspecimens by recognisedreferees.
Who are the tutors?
The tutors are all recognised expens within their frelds and above all, they are good cotnmunicators.
'Iutors
f o r 1 9 9 8 i n c l u d eC h r i s P r e s t o n .N i g e l H o l m e s , J a m e sM e r r y w e a t h e r ,F r a n k l y nP e r r i n ga n d A i l s a
Burns
W h a t d o t h e c o u r s e sl e a d t o ?
All ofthe courses accredited by the University ofBirmingham can be studied for credit. this involves
carrying out between one and three short pieces ofassessedwork, usually involving informal identification tests, use ofkeys, writing up identificationjournals based on field notes, etc., and most, ifnot all,
of these can be completed within the duration of the course. The courses each carry a number of
c r e d i t s . u s u a l l y t e n c r e d i t s f b r a f i v e - d a v c o u r s e . I f v o u c o l l e c t a t o t a l o f 6 0 c r e d i t s .i n c l u d i n g t h e
b i o l o g i c a l r e c o r d i n g c o u r s e , t i r i s l e a d s t o a P o s t E x p e r i e n c eC e r t i f i c a t ei n B i o l o g i c a l R e c o r d i n ga n d
Species Identification, awarded by the University of Brrmingham School of Continuing Studies. You
can join the Certitjcate at any point the coursesrun from April to October each year
W h o a r e t h e c o u r s e sa i m e d a t ?
Professional ecologists and botanists who need to specialiseor update their field skills, and amateur
botanists who are involved in recording schemesand rvildlife surveys Horvever, it must be enrphasised
t h a t ( h e s ec o u r s e sa r e o p e n t o a n y o n e a n d t h a t c r e d i t i s n o t c o m p u l s o r l , a l t h o u g ha n u m b e r o l p ) a c e s
are reseled on each course fbr credit students. The courses are recognised by the Natural History
Museum as providrng suitabletraining fbr a range of IDQs (ldentiiication Qualifications).
How do I find out more?
A Certifrcate course brochure and further details are available from Sarah Whild (University of
B i r n r i n g h a m )o n 0 1 7 4 3 3 4 3 7 8 9 ( p h o n e & f a x ) A l l i n d r r , i d u a cl o u r s e sa r e l i s t e d i n t h e F i e l d S t u d i e s
b r o c h u r ea v a i l a b l ef i o n r t h e F i e l d S t u d i e sC o u n c i l ( 0 1 7 . 1 38 5 0 6 7 4 ) .
SARAH WHILD (Academic Adviser in Ecology), School of Continuing Studies, The University of
B i r m i n g h a m ,E d g b a s t o n ,B i r m i n g h a mB l 5 2 T T . E - m a i l C o n t i n u i n g - S t u d i e s @ h h a m . a c . u k
bq-..ttrt,,.,l!t..rtl/llv]t!ai..l,l!:1ql!!||.l!t,di4(l!?fu@

.sq@4t/\@

(NONBSBI)
NOTTCES
AND SUDDENLY IT'S SPRING!
'Actron

f o r B i o l o g v i n E d u c a t i o n ' h a s p r o p o s e da M e g a l a b e x p e r i m e n tf o r N a t i o n a l S c i e n c eW e e k i n
Nlarch to celebratethe arrival of spring as mea-suredb1,living thing-srn the environment and to compare
the results with earlier records and climatic data [t is hoped that the rnain participants will be young
p e o p l ea g e d 5 - 2 5 , t h e i r t e a c h e r sa n d p a r e n t s .

58

Notices (Non BSBI) / Future Conf'erenccs

and Svmoosia

The aim rvill be to record nationwide flowering period and leafemergence ofselected plant species,
emergenceof bulterflies and arrival of a mrgrant bird speciesand then to compare results with earlier
data frorn Marsham records 1736-1947, and other data held at lnstitute ofTerrestrial Ecology. Records
w i l l b e e x a m t n e di n r e l a t i o nt o d a t a o n g l o b a l a n d n a t i o n a lc l i n r a t ed a t a ; a p i c t u r e r v i l l b e b u i l t u p o f t e n
days' growth and activity in nature, and an attempt made to determine rvhat the results rndicate in the
context of' global warming.
P a r t i c i p a n t sw i l l a d o p t i - 3 l o c a l p l a n t so r a n i m a l si n t h e i r g a r d e n .b a c k y a r d .p l a y i n gf i e l d , r o a d s i d e ,
public w'oodland. wasteland, etc.. and record relevant numeric data over the ten days (flower heads in
bud. half open. fully' open. shrivelled, rvith ripening seeds). Standard recording sheets to be used
throughout (illustrated recognition guides for the plants and animalsare needed).
lf any one would Iike more infbrmation on the project, which at this stage is still 6n11,a proposal, or
w o u l d l i k e t o h e l p i n a n v w a v t h e y a r e a s k e dt o c o n t a c t .
. 4 G o n d a rG a r d e n sL, o n d o nN W 6 I H G T e l 0 l 7 l 8 1 3 3 6 5 2 .F a x 0 l 7 l
Mrs VIRGINIA PLJRCHON5
7 9 4 8 6 9 - 1E
. . - m a i l .a b e ( @ p u r c h ocno u k

IDENTIFIC]ATION
OF AQUATICN,TACROPHYTES
R i c h a r d L a n s d o w n w i l i b e l e a d i n ga c o u r s e i n t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o no f d i f l c u l t a n d c r i t i c a l a q u a t r cm a c r o phvtes, based on Anglesey fiom July 20-23, 1998 The course will cover BrttishCallitriche, f'otunoge/orr and Batrachian llcurunt:ulus.together rvith charophyes a.ndan introduction to the identification of
r i v e r i n e b r y o p h y t e s l t w i l l a l s o i n c l u d e a v i s i t t o L l y n l d w a l i n S n o w d o n i at o l o o k a t u p l a n d l a k e
specres.
F o r d e t a i l s , p l e a s ec o n t a c t :
Tll\l PANKHLTRST, 44 The Avenue, Leighton Bromswold. Huntingdon, Cambs PEl8 0SH
T e l , T a x 0 1 4 8 0 8 9 0 7 0 2 ,e - m a i l : 1 0 6 3l ' 1 . 1 0 3l @ c o m p u s e r v ec o n l

S A V E B R I T I S H S C I E N C ES O C ] I E T Y
Ifarry memberrvouldlike nroreinfornration
on the aboveSociety.rvhichwas launchedlO yearsago
andis now a leadinglobbyfbr sciencein the LIK, theyshouldcontact.
SBS,Box 24I, OxfordOXI 3QQ Tel 0186527340'7,
Fax 01865511370,email sbs@dial
pipexcom
't-;::#:#{;!1t:'*;:rjt}33*5"ffi.#tr!Fei\;
:F##&':.#
:

F'UTURECONFERENCES
AND SYMPOSIA
THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TI{E FLORAS OF SE ENGLAND AND
N FRANCE
l 6 l 9 J u l y1 9 9 8
T h e C e n t r e B o t a n i q u e N a t i o n a l d e B a i l l e u l , a b o u t l 0 m i l e s N o f L r l l e , i s o n e o f s i x R e g i o n a lC e n t r e s
covering the whole of France. CBNBL is responsible for mapping the flora of their region rvhich
extendsfrom the Belgian border westwards to the Cotentin Peninsulaand south to the Seine From the
d a t a g a t h e r e da n A t l a s ( i n c l u d i n gB e l g r u n r )i s a b o u t t o b e p u b l i s h e d T h e C e n t r ei s a l s o w o r k i n g o n t h e
preparation of Red Data Books for different delpartemenlsand has a very sophislicatedconrputerised
databasefor storing all the locality details. But the work does not end there. Autecological work is
being carried out on several endangeredspeciesincludrng Gentianella uligino.sctand Lipari.s loese/it.
the results of which could be relevant to conservation action in this country A trvo ha experimental
g a r d e nh a s f e c e n t l yb e e n o p e n e dw h e r e m a n y o f t h e j r t h r e a t e n e dt a r a a r e n o w i n c L r l t i v a t i o n .

F r r t r r r cC o r r l i r c n c e sr n d S r r n o o s i r

Rcqucsts

ln addition, this autumn, a new building has been opened which houses the unique hbrary ofbooks
and papers on phyosociology collected by Prof. Braun-Blanquet. The Centre's own library contains a
magnificent collection of Floras from all over the world (including most British local Floras) collected
bv Prof. Jehu, the Director
To draw the attention ofBSBl members to the richnessofthis researchcentre. now onlv 2% hours
by train fiom Waterloo, and to bring together people working on similar problems about the same
s p e c i e sw h i c h g r o w o n l y 2 l m i l e s a c r o s s t h e C h a n n e l . a m e e t i n g i s p l a n n e d f r o m T h u r s d a y 1 6 t o
S u n d a y l 9 J u l y 1 9 9 8w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g o u t l i n e p r o g r a m m e .
Thursday. Arrive mid-afternoon. Guided tour ofCentre - laboratories.gardens, database,library and
herbarium Evening talk about the Centre and the present role of the other five Conservatoires Botanique Natronaux in France.
Fridav
Conf-erencewhich will cover thenresof mutual interest with contributions lrom French and
English delegates Methodology of Atlas Preparation, Declining and Spreading Species,
itt stlu and cr.sllll Plant Consewation, Exchange of French and UK Botanical Data on the
In t e r n e t
Saturday Excursions to various habitats,especiallynear the Channel coast.
Sr-rnda.v Excursions to other habitats in the Lille/Bailleul area befbre early afternoon train back to
London
Accommodation will be in a comfortable hotel in Bailleul
We hope that as many as 35 delegatesfrom this cor-rntry,including speakers,will wish to participate
Those rvishing to attend the excursions only will be rvelcome lfyou are interested,pleaseregister your
i n t e r e s tt o e i t h e r
S T E P H E N J U R Y , D e p t o f B o t a n y , P l a n t S c i e n c eL a b o r a t o r y ,W h i t e k n i g h t s ,P O B o x 2 2 1 , R e a d i n g
R G 6 6 . \ 5 T e l 0 1 l 8 9 8 6 9 0 8 0 , F a x OI I 8 9 1 5 3 6 1 6 , E - m a i l s . l j u r y @ r e a d i n ga c u k
FRANKI-\'N PERRING, GreenAcre, Wood Lane, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 5TP Tel 01832
2 7 3 i 8 8 . A n s a p h o n e 0 1 8 3 2 2 7 4 8 9 2 ;F a x 0 1 8 3 2 2 7 4 5 6 8

THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF BRITISH WILDLIFE

MILTON KEYNES.21_26JULY
This first Festival is planned to be a three day event allowing the general public to meet, discover, and
learn about the numerous bodies involved in the study, conservation and recording of all aspects of
British wildlife
For further information contact.
GORDON J L. RAMEL, c/o J G E R, North Wyks, Devon EX20 2SB
T e l 0 1 8 3 7 8 2 5 5 8 ,F a x 0 1 8 3 7 8 2 1 3 9 ,e - m a i l G o r d o n R a m e l @ b b s racc u k ,
web site http //www. ex.ac.uV-gllramel/fbw I 998.html
r:*S

REQUESTS
PINK SPORTSON YARROW
I was in the Dicksons garden at Westerfield near Ipswich in August. ln the wilder back part was an
abundanceof Yarrow, Achillea mille/blium, with the normal whitish flowers. But on two of the plants
were side shoots with pink flowers. Surely this is unusual?A voucher is in the BM.
D A V I D M c C L I N T O C K . B r a c k e nH i l l . P l a t t . S e v e n o a k sK. e n t T N l 5 8 J H

Requests

60

TOOTHWORTMANAGEMENT
I managea small ancient wood which has a very respectablepopulation of Lalhraea squamaria (Toothwort) The site has considerableareas ofneglected hazel coppice and one ofthe managementaims rs 1o
reinstatecoppicing.
I have discussedthis with the local office ofEnglish Nature and they advised that:
. Coppicing rvork should be carried out in the autumn to avoid damageto the Toothwort as it would
be close to the surface and very susceptibleto physical damagelater in the winter.
. Toothwort may be preferentially parasitic on old coppice stools so some old stools be left
un-coppiced
.
Toothwort may disappearfrom newly coppiced areas due to increasedUV levels but remain underground and reappearonce the canopy closes over.
They also suggestedthat a request in BSRI News may elicit some useful information as little seemsto
be known about Toothwort with any degree ofcertainty.
I am not a botanist. nor a member of BSBI but I would be most grateful for any advice on hou'to
ensurethe continued sun'ival of our Toothwort population.
JOHN K CROSS, 62 Hulbert Road, Bedhampton, Havant, Hants PO9 3TG.

SPECIAL

REQUESTS

The lollowing requests for information, help, or advice, have been received recently by the editor. If
anv menrber is able to offer assistanceofany kind will they pleasecontact the enquirer, not the editorl
Miss K.M. Scott is studying a local nature reserve in Huddersfield and is interested,nt Chamerion
.utgustifoltum and L.piktbium hir.sulum. She asks for help with management,germination studies or
general inforrnation. Replies to Kim at. l8 Pinfold Lane, Mirfield, West Yorkshire WF14 9tIZ (01924
494900)
Miss Sian Aubry has a project looking at soil structure, and flora and t-aunadistribution in woodland,
bog and heathlands,focused on the New Forest in Hampshire (a tall order!) but any oft'ers of help
would be appreciatedby Sian at 22 Kings Road, ChandlersFord, Hampshire SO53 2EX.
Renata Platenberg is working on slow-worms and rvould like to compare their distribution patterns
with those of vegetation and soil types. If you would like to help Renata with her PhD, pleasewrite to
her at. Reptile Ecology Unit, Ecology ResearchGroup, Christ Church College, The Mount, Stodmarsh
R o a d , C a n t e b u r yC T 3 4 A Q T e l 0 1 2 2 7 ' 7 8 2 6 5 1, F a x . 0 1 2 2 1 7 8 6 5 0 1 ,e m a i l r j . p l a t e n b u r g @ c a b t . auck
Finally, Lord l,ucas of Crudwell writes that he was'distressed to see that the Collins guide that [he]
was brought up on is now (a) softback only and (b) split into two.' He wants a book for his grandchil'that
dren
they can carry rvith them and use to identily anl.thingthey are likely to meet and which will
last them through rain and mud fbr as many years as my Collins did.' Any suggestionsto Lord Lucas of
Crudwell, House of Lords, London SWIA OPW. He also asks if members would carQto lobby Collins
to restore the single hardback?
EDITOR

NEW WEB SITE

Visit the new site at wwrv.ec-uk.com and look up the new Directory rf Environmental Organisatiut.s
r2/tht ( lK in rvhich BSBI is listed
EDITOR

6l

Offers

OFFERS
WEST DOWN SEEDLIST, 1997
Small amounts of the following seeds are available FREE on receipt
s.a.e.I would like to thank all those who sent me seedslast year.
Atlonis aeslivalis
Galtonia candicatrs
(ieranium pralense
Agaslttche mexicana
()ilia capilala
Agrtt.stemma giIhctgo
A.juga chamaepilys
Gludio[us communis
(i lauc ium cornicu lalum
Allium nigrum
Hyac i n t ho i des non-.scr ip lo
A nogol I i s ctrve risl.i (blue)
Impaliens bal/burii
Avena slrtgosa
Rriza minor
Inula helenium
Knculict mctcetlonica
Rup I eur um rot und iftiium
('trmttssia le ichtl ini r
Lalhyrus krttfolius
('ompanu la alliarrfrilia
LaLhyrus sativus
(' umpattuI u pe rsic ifolict
Lavalerct orborea
('etiaurea cyattutLovalera lrimeslri.\
('ephularia gigunleu
Leottunts cardictcct
(' h en op ctdiu m cptinoct
Linaria ame/hystea
(' hr7'scrnthemum segelum
Linoria dalmatico
(' I i nopodiu m a"scendens
Lychni.s cholcedonica
('1.nogIo.ssumge rmani cum
Lychni.s coronctria
Malva alcecr
I )tcut/hus horbatus
Murrubium vulgore
l)icuthtts dclkttdes
Dierama pulcherrima
Nepeta cularia
I)igi\uIis Jerrugittea
Nicarulra physaktdcs
Digilcrlis lutea
N i cr.tt i anq lang.sdorJ i i
Dipsctcus.fullonum
Ni cctlictna .sylv esl r i s
Drucocephalumparvrflorum
Nigellctdamo.scena
liryngium gtgenleum
Nigella saliva
l:upfu r h ia p latyphy I I os
Kickxio elaline
liuphorhia serntlalct
l.arsetia clypeolotn
Francoa ramo,se
( i a I eop si s angu st i.fttli a
HLMPHRY

of small labelled packets and an

Oenothera m issouri e nsts
( )no bryc h i s vi c i i lb I i u
Onopordort acanlhtum
Papaver argemone
Papaver dubium
I)opcler hyhridum
Ranunctrlus linguct
Rarrunculus sardtrus
Roemerta hyhritla
Salvict glultno.sct
Salvia pralensis
Salvict reflexa
,\alvia sclarea
Salvia verlicillala
Setaria pumila
Silene armeria
Silene noc/i.flora
Silene pentlula
Silyhum marianum
Slctchysgermanrca
Telekictspeciosa
Thlospi ttlliaceum
7'hla.spiorvense
Verhascum nigrum
y'erbuscum phoetr i ceunt
V e r b e n ao f f i c i n o l i " s
Veronicct spicctlo
Vicia cracccr
Vicia sylvatica
Viola tricolor
Viola lricolor (Bowles Black)

BOWEN. West Down, West Street. Winterborne Kingston, Blandford, Dorset DTl l 9AT

SEEDSFROM WARE
Here is a small list of mostly British aliens which all matured well in my garden this year and whose
seedsI collected for BSBI enthusiasts.
All are free. but a stamped addressedenvelopewould be appreciated.
Aconilum napellu.s(Howsham woods, York
A rah i.sglabra (Waterford, Herts. )
Ridenspilo.sct(Wool alien, Beds )
(' henopodiunt berlandieri (Grain alien, Belgium)

A maran I hus vi r i d i.s (Jav a)

Bidens biptnnola (Wool alien, Beds.)
(- henop od iu m am hrcs i oi tle.s(Hackney, London)
(-.henopodium
follo.run (Wool alien)

62

Off'crs/ Book Notes

('henopodium strietum (Wool alien, Beds )

('on1zo hilbaoura (Southampton)

Cherutprxlium urbicum (Essex)

('ucubulus httcctfer (Hungary)
Dutura innoxitt (Cult )
L)atura querciJitlia (Cu|t.)
I)alura strdmonlrm (Wool alien, Beds.)
l)ip.sacus:t'ullortan(Birdseed alien)
I'.rotlium crittttum (Wool alien, Beds )
f'rodium cygnorum (Wool alien, Beds.)
litrphorbia segetalis (Tenerife)
Llihiscus trionum (Birdseed alien)
Ivtr xanrhitJblia (Birdseed alien)
Lepitlium den.siflorum (Hungary)
Lepidium pinnotifidum (Wool alien, Hants.)
Melikttus infeslus (Cult.)
tr4cum ulhanturrtrt:um (cult)
Phv.so.spermumcorrurbiense (Burnham Beeches)
f'oleilillu rupeslris (ex Wales)
Runex , lou.sleyi (Walthamstow, London)
Rumex ntorttimr.r (R. Lea, Ware)
,\igcsht,ckia.serrala(Wool alien)
(Bermondsey, London)
Soltrnum chcnrrytodroide.s
,\olununr ,stohrum (Sewage works, Herts )
^lriunum t,illosurtr( Servagervorks. Herts 1
(Spain)
lhap,izr r,r//r,,.icr
'/
tl rlt.: tuilostt (Birdseed alien)
,Yanthium.slrumurium (Birdseed alien)
P hylctlut'ttt /u terope ta la (Cult.)
GORDON HANSON, I Coltsfoot Road. Ware. Herts SGl2 7NW

BOOKSFOR SALE-I
John G Dony - Redftrdshire Plari Atlas (.1976) mint condition, complete with overlays, copy
s i g n e db y t h e a u t h o r . f 5 . 0 0
David A Stroud and others - Birtl.s, Bogs and Forestr.t,, the peatlund.s oJ'Coithnes.s and ,*ttherland.
N a t u r e C o n s e r v a n c y( 1 9 8 7 ) n e a r m i n t , t 2 . 0 0
P r i c et o i n c l u d ep o s t a g e

"""Ti3YlTl:i3ii""":'i:i",1li::3:.31:"1i:"3*::"?:
BOOKSFOR SALE-2
Stella Ross-Craig Drawings r.t/Rrilish Plants l-XIl

+ XVlll. Softbacks.Any reasonableoller to

CAROL BENNETT, The Haven, 25 Lambert Road, Sprowston, Norwich NT.7 8AA
T e l 0 1 6 0 34 0 8 4 6 7

Tse

BOOK NOTES
NEWSFROM OUNDLEBOOKS
A s m e m b e r sy o u s h o u l d n o w h a v e r e c e i v e dm y 2 l s t o a t a l o g u ei n c l u d i n g a l l B S B I p u b l i c a t i o n sa n d
manv local Floras written bl,members.
Since its preparation in the heat ofAugust a f-erverrors have been found ofwhich the saddestis that
the new edition of Chris Page's Ferns is f40 not f.28 95 ! Also Plant l/ariation & Evolution paperback
is L22.95 and Hrstortcal Ecology in the Briti.;h l-'lontis now 129.99.
lJriti.shPlnt ('omntunilies Vols. l-4 will be issued in paperback early in 1998 but Vol 5 will not be
p u b l i s h e du n t i l l a t e 1 9 9 9 1
Severalbooks are already out ofprint.
I'lora and l-auna of Exmoor National Park, Atla.s tf the Kent Fkra, Horu)book of Europeon Sphagw
and Itknering l)lants rl the World.
I{appify, however. those four invaluable 'Polunin' quides are back in print: [.lower.s of lturope f35
( h a r d b a c k ) ,] : h t v e r s o f H i m a l u y o I 1 8 . 9 5 , F l o w e r s o f S o u t h - w e s t E u r o p e I l 4 9 5 a n d l l t x c r s o f
(ireece und the llulkuns Il4 95 (all paperbacks)

63

Llotrk Notcs

D e r e k T u r n e r E t t l i n g e r ' se r u d i t en e w b o o k o n o r c h i d s( p . l l ) w a s . o f c o u r s e , p u b l i s h e di n 1 9 9 7 t h e r e
areno colour plates.
\ l . A . R C . A R E T P E R R I N G . G r e e n A c r e , W o o d L a n e , O u n d l e . P e t e r b o r o u g h P E S 5TTePl 0 1 8 3 2
2 7 - l - 1 8 8A. n s a p h o n eO l 8 l l 1 7 4 8 9 2 ,F a x 0 1 8 3 22 7 ' 1 5 6 8
/..'/,..,/-\./,..,,..-/"../,..,,^\-/..'/,..,/.\7,.\/,..,/..'/.\'/.\.7.\./wwv

s , 1 L U I N C A R N I A R T H E N S H I R E( V . C . 4 4 )
'.\a1lr (willows) ln Carmarthenshire a guide to identification' by Dr George Hutchin.\ paper entrtled
son crf the Dept of Botany, NaticrnalN4useurnof Wales, appearsin issue no. 2 of the I'lanelli Nulurul, e o r g e d e a l sw i t h t a x o n o l n va n d i d e n t i t : t : l J r r l l e t r t rA s a n i n t r t r d u c t i o nt o t h e s v s t e m a t i cd e s c r i p t i o n sG
l v i l l o w s . H e a l s o [ s t s , a n d g i v e si d e n t l o
f
$
o
r
l
d
d
i
s
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l l c a t i o n c l u e s t o . r i , i l l o u s p l a n t e d i n l a n d s c a p i n qs c h e m e si n t h e c o u n t y T h e p a p e r i s i l l u s t r a t e d$ i t h
p h o t o c o p r e so f l e a i . e sa n d c a t k i n s o 1 ' t h e v a r i o u s t a x a t a k e n f i o m s p e c i m e n si n N M W T h e y i n c l u d ea
' S. cttTtrert(5. t. cuprattlttl, a ta\Lln not dealt
tlsrrre oftlre recently confirmed record of.\irlrr durila
w i t h b y R D M e i k l c r n t h e B S B I W i l l o w sH a n d b o o k
(-'opiesol the Rullatin are now exhaustedbut photocopies of the article are availahlefrom the Hon
i a t u r a l i s t s ,3 O G l e v e r i n gS t r e e t ,L l a n e l l i ,C a r m a r t h e n s h i raet f l . 0 0 e a c hi n c l u s i v eo f
T r e a s u r e r ,L . l a n e l lN
postage
R I C H A R D P R Y C E . T r e r . ' e t h i nS. c h o o l R o a d , P w l l , L l a n e l l i ,D y f ' e d 'S A l 5 4 A L

BSBI HANDI}OOKS
No 7 Ro.rr.r'of ()rcut lJritoin antl Ireland b1-G.G. Graham & A. L. Primavesi( 1993)
A.l. Prirnavesrhas sent me the following amendmentsto this Handbook, man,vof them necessitatedby
Villars tor Il. gluuctr Pourret and 1lr;.rrrctle'r'lrrsubsp
t\\.o nornenelaturalchanges Rtt.tu.ferrrrgtttr'rr
g/crrca (N1'rnan.1
G.G Ciraham& Primavesi(see
lbr
1i.
crrc,.vla
subsp
D
H
Kent
Desp.)
\'().\(tgtaL(t
1N
I) H Kent (1996), /-r.v of t'u.\cttlLltl)lLltrt.:tl lhe Rritish lsles . . Stpplement 1 l4)
l)age 9.
PageI l.
Pagel.l,
Page18,
P a g e 18 .
P a g e2 1 .
P a g e2 l .
Page 23.
P a s e2 7 .
P a g e2 9 ,
P a g c3 7 ,

line 4 up
line I 5
line4.
line22
line25
Iine12.
Iine I 5
line I 5.
t a s tl i n e .
I i n e3 u p
line l.

P a g e3 7 .
P a e e1 7 .
P a g e3 7 .
Prge .15.
I)age.15.

l i n e2
line 9
l i n e sI l . 1 l
line25
l i n e s3 - 3 u p

P a g e, 1 7 , l i n e 2 7
P a g e4 8 ,
P a g e4 8 .

l i n e s2 , - i 6
line 7.

'sr-rbsp.
'subsp.
gltucct'
ruszlgrrtcrr'tbr
' s u b s p .t ' a v r g r u c z rf'o r ' s u b s p .g l u u c o ' .
'ofthe
'and
a l i e ns p e c i e s '
all' and
Insert but one' between
'Fig
2c' for'Fig 2b'
'
'(Fig
'(Fig
2c )'
2b) for
D e l e t e ' a si n F i g 6 b '
'base'
'(Fig
6c)' after
lnserr
'subsp vosugrac.r'for 'subsp
tral.7ilc.1'
'(g)
P y r i f o r n r . 'a f t e r ' ( { ) I l r c e o l a t e . ' .
lnsert
'(Fig
15b)'for'(Fig l3)'
'and
S t a f f o r d s h i r ea n d i n t o t h e W e l s h m o u n t a i n s 'a f t e r
Insert
'Peak
D i s t r i c ti n D e r b y s h r r e '
'elservhere'
foi'further south'.
'proceeds'
for'proceed'.
't
'glcnrcct'
.
osagittctt' for
'8 *.R.
'8 *
glurtco Pourret' .
R. /r'rrugincrr Villars' tbr
'
I - i b S u b s p .v o . \ ( r g u c o( N . D e s p ) D . H . K e n t ' t b r
'13b.
S u b s p .g / c i r c a ( N y m a n ) G . G . G r a h a m& P r r m a v e s i ' .
'8 *Il..ferrugingrr Villars (ll. gltwca Pourret, Il. ruhtiJblia. .
1' lor
'8 *R. gltnrcu
Pourret (./i. ruhrtlblia
)'
'1i. t
roth.r(llildiiDruce' in the lastcolumn.
Insert
'13b
N . D e s p . )D . H K e n t ' f o r
S u b s p .r , o . r r r g r a c( a
'lib
S u b s p .g / c r r r c t(rN y r n a n )G . G . G r a h a m& P r i m a v e s i ' .

Book Notes

o+

P a g e5 0 . l i n e 1 6
P a g e5 1 . l i n e 2
P a g e5 1 , l i n e s 8 . l 0
P a g e5 3 , l a s t h n e
P a g e8 0 , l i n e I
P a g e9 0 , l i n e 5
P a g e9 6 . l i n e I I
P a g e1 0 2 , l i n e s 9 , l ' 1 .
P a g e1 0 2 . l i n e sl 7 - 1 8
P a g e1 0 4 , l i n e sl , 1 9
P a g e1 0 4 . l i n e l 6
P a g e 1 0 . 1 .l i n e 2 0
Page106, line I
P a g e1 0 8 , l i n e 3 u P .
PageI 14. line 5
P a g e | 1 , 1 , l i n e s6 - 5 u P
PageI 17, line 7
PageI 19, line 8 uP
Page I b4, Iine 2
Page169. line 1
I ' a g e2 0 0 . l i n e 6
P a g e2 0 4 , h n e 7
P a g e2 0 , { , I i n e 2 5

P a g e2 0 4 , l i n e 7 u p
P a g e2 0 5 , l i n e I
P a g e2 0 5 . l t n e 3 .
P a g e2 0 5 , l i n e l 2
P a g e2 0 5 . l i n e l 4
P a g e2 0 5 , l r n e 1 5 .
P a g e2 0 5 , l i n e l 6
P a g e2 0 5 . l i n e l 9
P a g e3 0 5 . l i n e 2 2
P a g e2 0 6 , l i n e I I
[ ' a g e2 0 6 , l i n e l 2
P a g e2 0 6 , l i n e 2 I
P a g e2 0 6 , I i n e 7 u p
P a g e2 0 6 . l i n e 5 u P
P a g e2 0 7 . I i n e 9
P a g e2 0 7 , l i n e 2 |
P a g e2 0 7 . l i n e l 3 u P
P a g e2 0 7 , l i r r el 0 u p
P a g e2 0 7 , l i n e 6 u P

'tg'o
'Three
of them occur' fbr'they occur'
h . v b r i d sf' o r ' T r v o h v b r i d s ' .
'8.
g
l
a
u
c
a
'
.
R
.
R. ferruginea'for'8.
'R.
c a e s i as u b s p .v o s a g i a c a ' f b r ' R . c a e s i as u b s p .g l a u c a '
'13b.
'
R . c a e s i as u b s p g l a u c a '
1 3 b . R . c l e s i a s u b s p v o s a g i a c a 'f b r
'8.
Rosa ferruginea Villars'lor'8. Rosa glauca Pourret'
'l
5 4 x I l.8cm'tbr'1-l 8 x 1.5-4cm'
'subsp.g/aruca'
'subsp. vo.r'rrgrrlca'
tbr
'subsp.gluutti
'subsp. r'a.rcrgzrcci'
lbr
'13b.
R o s a c a e s i as u b s p .v o s a g i a c a( N D e s p ) D H K e n t ' f o r
'13b.
R o s a c a e s i as u b s p .g l : r u c a( N y n t a n )G . G G r a h a m& P r i m a v e s i ' '
' v o s a g i a c a f' o r ' g l a u c a ' .
'the previous hybrid'
'the
following hybrid' fbr
'subsp.gluucti .
'subsp lo.srtgrclccr'
lor
' v o s a g i a c a t' b r ' g l a u c a '
'subsp.glauctr'
'subsp. r,o.rnglzlczr'
fbr
I n s e r t ' g l a n d u l a r - 'b e t r v e e n ' i r r e g u l a r l ya' n d ' b i s e r r a t e '
'especiall.v chalk.' to tbllorv 'ln the South,'
on
lvlove
'subsp lo.sagracrl'for 'subsp.gluuctt'
'
'R.
'R.
a g r e s t i sD e s v
a g r e s t i sS a v i ' t b r
' v o s a g i a c a f' o r ' g l a u c a ' .
'R.
c a e s i as u b s p .v o s a g i a c a 1 3 b ' f o r ' R ' c a e s i as u b s p g l a u c a l 3 b ' '
l n s e r - t ' S T A C E ,C A 1 9 7 5 W h a t i s a h y b r i d ? I n S t a c e ,C A ( e d ) H y b r i d i '
zdiort cuttl rhe Floro ol lhe Rritish Isles.2 6 London
'll x
' N { a p1 2 , '
x
12' 12 ll'
before
lnsert
I n s e r t ' . c o m b . i l l e g i t . ' a f t e r ' P r i m a v e s i ' ,d e l e t e ' M a p 2 3 . ' ,
'=
l3b' lbr'13b'
'subsp. voszgra.a (N. Desp.) D.H. Kent
M a p2 3 , l 3 b '
Then insert
DeIete'canina t micranthu 12 x 19'.
'12 x
'Map
15'
20.' befbre
Insert
' N l a p9 , '
belore'5 x l8' l8 x 5'.
lnsert
l n s e r t ' M a p sl 7 & 1 8 , ' b e f o r e ' 1 2x 1 3 , 1 3 x 1 2 '
'12 \ 14, l4 x l2'.
'Nlap
19,' befbre
lnsert
'gullicu L '
8' before
lnserr'.fermginec Villars
'8'
'=
8' for
t n s e r t ' N { a p6 , ' b e t b r e ' 5 x l 2 ' 1 2 x 5 '
'5
'N4ap
7,' before x 16, 16 x 5'
lnsefi
'Map 20,'
Delete
.16 x 5' for': 5 x 16'.
'4
'Map
3,' befbre x l1' ll x 4'
Insert
'Map 8,' before'5 x 17, 17 x 5'.
lnsert
20,' before'12x 15, 15 x l2'.
Insert'N1ap
l n s e r t ' 1 \ 4 a2p8 , ' b e f b r e ' 1 6 x 1 7 , l 7 x l 6 '
'4 x 12.12 x 4' for'- 12 x 4, 4 \ 12'.
I n s e r t ' l \ 4 a p2 0 . ' b e f b r e ' 1 5 x l 2 '
'Map
20,'
Delete
'4
'Map
4,' before x 12' 12 x 4' .
Insert

required
F u r t h e ra m e n d m e n t st o t h e d i c h o t o m o u sk e v t o n a t i v e a n d a l i e ns p e c i e so n p p 5 0 - 5 2 a r e a l s o
the
key
within
the
sections
of
renumberins
The lbllowrng changesaroid a complete
3. Leaflets very large, usually 3 (rare alien)
3 . L e a f l e t ss m a l l e r ,5 o r n r o r e

2. R. setigera
4a

Book Notes

65

4 a S t v l e sp u b e s c e n (t r a r e a l i e n o r e s c a p e )
: l a S t v l e sg J a b r o u s

3. R. luciae
4b

: l b C l l i m b i n gp l a n t w i t h s t r o n g a r c h i n gs t e m s ,f l o w e r s a n d h i p s n u m e r o u s ,
i n c l u s t e r so f I 0 o r n r o r e ( r a r e a l i e n o r e s c a p e )
l. R. multiflora
. { b W e a k l v t r a i i i n g p i a n t . o r . i f c l i m b i n g ,w i t h e n d so f s t e n r sh a n g i n gd o u n r , , i i r d s ;
llo',r'ersand hips fer.l'together (comrnon except in the north)
4, R. an'ensis
( r l ' a l l e r . p r i c k l e sl e s sn u m e r o u sa n d m o r e r o b u s t , .
1 5 . S t e m sr v i t h n u m e r o u sm i r e d p r i c k l e sa n d a c i c l e s
I 5 A c r c l e sa b s e n t
I ( r a .P r i c k l e sg J a b r o u ss; e p a l ss h o r 1 ,c . 10 m m , t r i a n g u l a r .l o b e d , r e t l e x e da f i c r
f ) o w e n n q( r a r e a | e n o r e s c a p e )
I 6 a . A t l e a s ts o m e o f ' t h e l a r u e r p r i c k l e sp u b e s c e nat t b a s e ;s e p a l sl o n g a n d n a r r o w ,
2-.3 cnr. sinrple,erect or spreading-erectafter tlorverLng

I Oa

l1
10. R. gallica
l6b

I 6b I'lips large. 2 cm or more, depressed-globose,pedicels cuned after florvering.

s e p a l su s u a l l ye r e c t ( a l i e no r e s c a p e o
. ften planted)
6. R. rugosn
l 6 b H i p s s m a l l e r .2 c n r o r l e s s ,g l o b o s e ,p e d i c e l ss t r a i g h t .s e p a l su s u a l l y
'7
s p r c a d i n u - e r e c( ta l i e no r e s c a p e )
. R. 'Hollandica'
22

[ ) r i c k l e ss t r a i g h t .s t e n r ss t r a i g h t .l e a f l e t sd a r k < r e e n .s c p a l sr ] l o r eo r I e s ss i n r p l e ,
t l e s h vi r n d o f t e n r e d a t b a s e ,p e r s i s t e nut n t i l t h e h i p s r o t

17. R. nrollis

l t i s s t a t e do n p . 4 7 o f t h i s H a n d b o o k ( ' L i s t o f s p e c i e s a n d h y b r i d s n o t e d i n t h e t e x t ' ) t h a t t h e t ' e m a l e

p a r e n ti s l i s t e d t r r s t u ' h e n a h y b r i d f o r m u l a i s g i v e n i n t h e l i s t , b u t i t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n m a d e c l e a r t h a t
t h r s a p p l i e sa l s o i n t h e d e s c r i p t i v ep a r t o f t h e H a n d b o o k . F o r e x a r n p l e ,o n p 6 6 t h e d e s c r i p t i o no f
. l x l l r e l a t e st o p l a n t s r v h i c h h a r e s p e c i e s4 a s t h e 1 ' e n r a l p
e a r e n t , b u t o n p . 8 8 t h e d e s c r i p t i o no f
l l x , l r e l a t e s t o p l a n t s * h i c h h a v e s p e c i e s l l a s l h e t ' e n r a l e p a rTehnet t e r n r ' n o n - d i r e c t i o n a l r e c o r d s '
u s e d r n l i s t i n g t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f h y b r i d s b y v i c e - c o u n t i e sr e l e r s t o r e c o r d s i n w h i c h i t n ' a s n o t
determined rvhich parent was t'ernale The maps for hybnds contain all accurately deterrninedrecords
irrespectiveof rvhich specieswas the fernaleand which the male parent.
N o 9 l ) u t t t f u l i t . r r r . s(o) rf u t r ll J t i l u i r r r n ullr c l t t n t l b y A . A D u d n r a n & A . J R i c h a r d s ( 1 9 9 7 )
S i n c e t h e p u b l i e a t i o no f l b u r c o r r e c l r o n st o t h i s H a n d h o o k i n R . \ 1 l l N c x . r 7 6 . e r a m i n a t i o no f r e p r i n t s
t i o n r r e l e r a n tj o u r n a l s h e l d a t t h e C a n r b r i d g eL l n i i e r s i t i H e r b a r i u m h a s r e v e a l e de r r o r s i n t h e d a t e so f
r " a l i d p u b l i c a t i o n ( b u t n o t o f t h e a u t h o r s ) o f I b u r / , u - a - r o c i r r rs p e c i e s .I n p a r t i c u l a r ,a l t h o u g h M P
'[.
('hristianserrprovided the frrst Latin descriptionsof / . uatlttiseclun and
ucutifidum in 1936 (as also
'1
of . .suht.y-unolapisand T'. lurrttre). his brief Danish descriptions in C. Raunkiaer's (1934) l)unsk
Iiksktrrsiorr.r-ltlorur,
ed. 5. are valid becausethey were publishedbefore 1935 The fbllowing corrections
a r e t h e r e f i )er r e q u i r e d
I ) a g e2 [ )) , l r n e I
P a g e2 1 9 . l i n e I
P a g e2 2 1 . l i n e I
P a g e2 7 l . l i n e I

' M P C h r i s ti n R a u n k( l 9 . l J ) ' l o r ' M

P C h r i s t( l c ) 3 e ' ) '
lfbr 76 T. aequisectunr).
'Markl ( 1925)'for 'N4arkl(
1926)'(fbr 82cT. leptodon)
'Markl ( 1925)'for 'Nlarkl (
1926)'(for 84 T. lingulatum)
' M P t ' h r i s ti n R a u n k( 1 9 3 . + ) ' l b r ' M P
C h r i s t( 1 9 3 6 ) '
(fbr l03b T. acutifidunr)

N o a n r c n d n r e n ttso t h e r c t ' e r e n c eas r e r e q u i r e d ,s i n c e ( - R a u n k i a e r ' s( 1 9 3 , 1 )F J o r ai s a l r e a d yi n c l u d e d

( J 9 3 6 . 1a. n d t h e d a t e o f G M a r k l u n d ' s
t l i e r e .o t h e r s p e c i e sa r e c o r r e c t l va t t r i b u t e dt o l \ 4 P C h r i s t i a n s e n
p a p e r ' N v a l u n x u t : t i i s c o r r e c t l vg i v e n a s 1 9 2 5 ( t h e c l a t eo n t h e p a p e r i t s e l f a s o p p o s e dt o t h a t o n t h e
repnnt coVer).
P F I I L I P O S W A L D , E d i t o r o f B S I I I H a n d b o o k s ,3 i P a n t o nS t r e e t ,C a m b r i d . q e
CB2 IHL

Book Notes

oo

REVIEWS OF RECENT BSBI PUBI-ICATIONS

The Puhlications Committee recently agreed that lists of reviews of BSBI publications should be
published in r95r9.1
Neir.r. I should be grateful for details of any other reviews of these publications that
are known to members.
L Alien plunts o/ the llritish Isles by E.J. Clement & M.C. Foster (1994)
Berichtettler Rayeri,schenlJolunischeil Ge.sellschaft.6616l. S.355-356 (1996) bv W. Lippert
(in German)
lJotttntcal,lournol o/ thc Linnean Society,ll7 (3) 261 262 (1995) by D M Moore
Rotuniurl .lournal of Scttrlund.48 (2) 289-290 (1996) by Douglas R. McKean.
lJulletirrol lhelri:hlliogaopTaphttal Skriety.No l9(2).201 206 (i996)b_vE CharlesNelson
( ' a r u l o l l e o ,5 l ( l ) 2 7 4 2 7 5 ( \ 9 9 6 ) b y A l e s s a n d r oN a t a l i ( i n F r e n c h ) .
(ilasgow Noturalist.23 (1) 65 (1996) by P Macpherson
Gorterio,2l (ll2) 14 (1995) by R van der Meijden(briefnote in Dutch)
Kr.ypto Nev,s,No 46 12 8470 (1995) (brief note quoting from pp. vii viii).
Lrttdort Nuturull.s/.No 75 I l4 ( 1996) by Rodney Burton (ointly with 3).
'lirxon.45
(3) 590 (19q6) (briefnotice)
[ lrbun Noturc Maguztne. Autumn 1991 123 ( I 997) by Martrn Spray (ointly with 3)
t r l t r t . y t . t r r i u ,(2l )1 1 4 2 1 . 1 3( 1 9 9 6 ) b y R M B u r t o n
I I ' i l l l c n a r t u . 2 6 . 3 4 2 3 1 3 ( 1 9 9 6 )b v T h o n r a sR a u s ( i n G e r m a n ) .
2. Pondt'eeds of Greut Rritain arul lreland by C.D. Preston (1995)
A q u a l t c R o t a i l y , 5 4 3 4 7 3 4 8 ( 1 9 9 6 )b 1 ' R o b e r tR . H a y n e s
Archiv./ilr H.t,clrohiologit:.137(l) (1996) by ElisabethM Gross
lJer it h /t' dcr Boyer ischan Roktnischen ( )esellschaft. 66/67 . 5 . 38 3 ( 1996) by Th. Franke (in German).
lJotunicot .knrrnal of Scotland, 48 (2J 292 293 (1996) by P Lusby
llrirt.sh Lcological Society Bulletin,2'7 (2) 139 (1996).
lJullertn of"l he lrish Biogeographical ,9ocie;y\,
No l9 (2). 202-204 (1996) by David W. Nash
( ' o n d o l l c u . 5 2 ( l ) . 2 2 1 2 3 2 ( 1 9 9 ' 7 )b y A d 6 l a i d eL S t o r k ( i n F r e n c h )
litlinburgh .knrrnul ol Rotany.53 (2) 281 ( 1996) bv D R McKean
(ilasgov' Naturolist,23 (2). 65 (1997) by A. McG Stirling.
( i o r t e r i u . 2 2 ( l l 2 ) 5 3 ( 1 9 9 6 )b y R . v a n d e r M e i j d e n ( b r i e f n o t e i n D u t c h ) .
Irish Narurolist.s'.ktunrtr/,25 (7) 270 211 (1996) by Ralph S Forbes.
Kryltto n"ev.s,No. 49 6rt.77'72( 1996) (brief note listing contents).
L u t u k h t , 1 2 ( 2 ) 6 1 ( 1 9 9 6 ) b y M a r j a K o r s t i n e n( i n F i n n i s h )
Pre.slia,68 189-l9l (1996) by Z.Kap\an (in Czech)
W t r t x n i o . 2 l ( 2 ) 2 1 7 ( 1 9 9 6 )b y C D K C o o k
fi/crlords. 16 (21 251-252 (1996) by David F. Spencer
U'lltl I'kNer ,\'ftrgtrlirr' (Wild Florver Society). Spring 1996 40 ( )996) (brief note)
W i l l d e r u r t t u . 2 6 . 3 5 5 ( 1 9 9 6 ) b y T h o n r a sR a u s ( i n G e r m a n ) .
3. Alien grussesof the British Isles by T.B. Ryves, E.J, Clement & M.C. Foster (1996)
I l e r i c h r e d a r l l u l ' e r i . s c h e n R o t a n i s c h e n G e s e l l s c h a f t , 6 6 / 6 7 . S . 3 8 9 ( I 9 9 6 ) b y WL i p p e r t ( i n G e r m a n ) .
Olcts:gttrNaturalist.23 (21 64-65 (1997) by P. lvlacpherson.
('jortertu. 22 (5) 136 ( t 996) by R van der Meijden (brief note in Dutch).
[rish Naruralisl.s',Jrnrnal.25 (10) 390-391 (1997) by Sylvia Reynolds.
Lontknt Nuturctlls/, No 75 I l4 (1996) by Rodney Burton (iointly with l)
( Irhon Nu/urL:Muguztrtt,. Autumn 1997 )?3 ( | 997) by Martrn Spray
liointly with I ).

Book \otcs

'

61

Rcpons ol-Frcld Mcctrrrus

4. Dnndelions of Great llritain ond lrelarul by A.A. Dudman & A.J. Richards ( 1997)
Rriri,shEcologicol Sotterl, Bulletirt.28 (4) 289 ( 1997)
'Een
/rr1rl voor
Gtrteria, 23 (4): 115 (1997) by R. van der Merjden (brief note in Dutch, ending
Paardebloem-kenners').
I t r t t k t n N u l r t r t t l i . t l .N o 7 6 . 8 2 ( 1 9 9 7 ) b v R o d n e yB u r t o n .
P H I L I P O S W A L D . E d i t o r o f B S t l l H a n d b o o k s ,i 3 P a n t o nS t r e e t ,C a m b n d g eC B 2 I H L
qr

e.--qe4,..@l!]\j!/,@"
/-Fry*b+#rdF#'+i'\#>4-&4'e\d,t8&'!444.#4,n'4'N4r',@4+&&j

--ra;tu;+-\F

4&.

e.@

e.J+

n\&\

Fr4

n'r

d-r

r4 ftuFa+44

n@

,e!

d/

- 1996 & I997

R EP O R T SOF F IE L D N IE E T IN C S
RcportsofFicld Mectrngs(uith thc cxccptiontrfAtlas 2(l(10rcports\\ntten br J'rcvor Drncs)are cdrtedbr. and
should be scnt to: Dr Alan Sho*ler. l2 Wcdgrvood Dnvc. HughcndenValler'. Hrgh Wvcombc. Bucks.
501082.
l l P l . l ; l P A .T c l : 0 1 , 1 9 4
I 996
W I R R A [ - C O A S T . N , I E R S E Y S I D(Er ' c 5 8 ) 2 n dJ L I N E
A snrl)l parn ol five mct at the old lrghthouscreor Morcton and rralkcd west along part of the North Wirral
Coastreserrcto the sitc of ('olulu coronoptfitlta(Buttonrvccd).
thoughtto harc beenorrginalh plantcdbv tJrc
lightlrousekccpcrs A hlbrid *'illorr- probablr Solix ' stricans rvas fbund bv onc ofthc part\ Thrs area is
chlncrngall the trnrc.duc to the buildingof tltc ne*' seadclijnccuall and dtggingof scrapesto try to encolrngc
-clorers'such
as lrilitltum
t h c N a n e r ; a c k ' l o a d l n o n e o f t h e s e d n s c r a p e sl c f b u n da g o o d r a n g co f e a r l r
'1.
'1.
(Lcsscr
(Bird's-fbot
(Slcndcr
ftu(runthLtm
Trcfoil). T. duhtum
Trefoil). ornitlttt<tdtode.r
Clovcr)- strtutwn
(Knotted Cloter\. Ornillupus pcrpustllu.s(Brrd's-fbot) and other dune annuals such as Aphona: on,(nst.\
(ParsJer-piert).
Aira prat'tux (Earlr Harr-grass\.A. corynphl'llea(Sihcr Hair-grass)rnd Phleum orenonum
(Sarrd(iat's-tarl) Lelves of .S'azolltlvdlerunll (Brookrvced)rnd ,\'ngrr,rmnnnu (Sca Pcarl*ort) rverefbund.
Othcr notablc plants rn thc area includedftagallis rcntllo (Bog Pimpcmcl).Honcktnvu peplotdt.: \Scl.
(CvprcssSpurgc).lr. parolias (Sca Spurge)a1ll Jl,vy'ngunt
maritrnum (Sca,
Smdworl). Luphorbicrc1'parilsta.s
H o l l r)
r'c
\\Ic thcn dro\c to thc Wallesel Dunesfbr lunch rrherc\!c \\erc.ioinr:dbr GrahanrKar. the Chcshire,
(lslc of
rzonerrrr.r
recorder.and I uould Lkc to thanl hrrl for hrs help in thc aftemoon.( otnc!-amttncn:rssLrbsp.
N{anCabbagc)rvas.justcirminginto tlolver and l'rola cantrn (HcathDog-violet)was alsotbund.
Nlovrngon to the Rcd Rocksdunesat Ho\'l0ke.a rcsene of the ChcshireWildlifc Trust. lc crosscdthc golf
t'trbenata (\\tild Clan) and.Htlictolrichot pube:ten.t(Dottrl
ccrtrrscby thc public fooqrathand tbuud ^\'a1vla
Oat-grass).both very rare rn Chcshire Ornithogalumuntbellcttum(Star-of-Bethlehcm)
rvasrn fine tlo*cr thrs
' trctchyodon(Mackay'sHorsctail)is norv abundantand sprcadingacrossa dning nrarsharca
:ear. F.qut.;alum
as thc sca retrcats(duc to devclopmentof neu duncsand saltmarsh).lntroducedplants ale intcrestingon the
(Snon-rn-Sununc().l'upo\'(r
dLrncsirnd rnclude.D-rgrrrrr glttutu.: (SeasidcDaisl ). (-eru.;ltutrttontd?to.\'ttn?
qutnquelilra but with llLradlrcsi\c
orrLntalt (OrientalPoppr')and a \/irginia-crceper.
possrbly])arthenoci.:stt.t
discsin tho abscnceofa solid surfaceto climb on. Althoughtoo carlr'lor mostofthe saltnrarshllort ('rrchleont
anglrca (EnghshScun'rgrlss) rvas tn good florrer and thc remainsof last vcar's ('urtx ctttnsa (Long-bractcd
Scdgc).../alcrrr
m.tntunu.\(SeaRush) utd,7'rtglrrchtn
tt(tnttnun (Scl Arro*grlss) wcrc sccn.On the nar beck
(Bnr Parslcr)rvasibLrnd.
to thc carsa goodcolonr of Anthrr:cusccructtli.t
G K WATSON

r997
S T O C K B R I D G EN
. H A I \ { P S H I R E( r c l 2 ) 2 4 t h& 2 5 t hM A Y
particrpated
For rne.thc scasongot ofl'to a supcrbstirt \\ith this Atlas 2000 nrccting.T\\cnt\ t\\o nrcnrtrcrs
ovcr
tlic trio dals. and thesc rangedfronr rvell klo*l e\pefts to complctc bcginners.The setting could not bc better
Stockbridgeis a quiet rillage straddlingthe vallo,ofthc River Test. and thc conibinationofrvater-mcadols.
chalkgrassJand.
becchwoodlandand arablcfieldspromisedmanv rervardingspecies.We rverenot disappointedl
sere indccdrich. altltoughMar rras a bit cariy fbr manv aquatrcspecies.The timous
Thc watcr-mcadorvs
StockbndgeNorth Fcn lar mctcrstiom lvhcrcrve mcl. but *'c did not visit it becauscit's beenso rvell recordcd
rccenth.Nice finds includcdOenanlhcoquotilis(RiverWater-drop$ort)rn the fuvcr Anton (SU/3 4) andAztllct

68

Reportsof Field Meetings

liliculoide.t (Water Fem) in the River Test (SU/3.3 - a new hcctad record). This area is remarkable for thc
(V. anagallis-aqtntica x V. catenota) over eithcr ofit's parentsand is
dominanceof Veronrca x lcrckschewrtzrr
very distinctivconce1'ou'vesecnit (SU/3.4and SU/3.3).Rumexpulcher (FiddlcDock) was also found in rvaterrvith R. obtusifolitts(CommonDock. but it rvaslar too earl)'to
meadorvs(SU/3.1)alongrvith probableh,"-brids
determinethc hlbrid!) and also nice plants of Ophioglossumvulgare (Adder'srongue).
C h a l k g r a s s l a n d a n d r o a d s i d e v e r g e s p r o v c d v c r y p r o d u c t i v e . N o t a b l e s p c c i e s , a l l i n S U / 3 . 3 I, 'iantch| yl d- c d
nt.t ntssolta (Grass Vetchling). Cirsium eriophorum flVoolll Thistlc - rare in N. Hants), Filipendulo vulgaris
(Droprvort). Junrperu:;communis (Juniper-some largc plants next to a golf course)- Marrubium vulgare Q\thrte
Horclround). Ornithogalum angustilblium (Star of Bethlehern.sevcral localities), and a forest of about 200
pltnls of Orobanche elatrur (KnaprvecdBroomrapc) the latter anothcrspecialitl ofthc arca.
Woodland on thc clialk is alu'ar,s rich. and \\c were rervardcd rvith fine stands of Cephcrlanthera
tloma:ontum(White Hcllcborine.SU/,l.3).Neottia nidus-avl,r(Bird's-nestOrchid. SU/3.3) and,l'olvgtmatum
m u I tftl or u m ( S o l o m o n 'Ss e a l .S U / 3 . 3 ) .
N Hants rs a particularll, fine area fbr arablc rvccds.Trvo Scarcefumitorics rverefound Fumana parvi/orrr (FineJcavcdFumitory) and Fumaria densiflora (Dense-flou'eredFumitory) in the samehectad(SU/3.3).
(.henopodium/ictJbLtum(Fig-Ieat'ed
Gooscfoot.SU/3.3)rvasalso seen.and onegroup Nas treatedto a visitto a
(GroundPine).
knorr,nsitc lbr'l eucnum bolr,ls (CutJcavcdGcnnander.SU/3.4).althoughAjuga chamaeprrl*s
knou'nto grou'urth it. could not be found.
A great mectrng.then. with lots of good rccords lbr thc Atlas 2000. lots of intcrcstu'lgspcctesseen-and lots
'Ma1,fly'
on the banks ofthe Rrver Tcst - a stunningsetting for a pintl Man) tharrks
ofgood beer dosled in the
to all thosc that came.to Pcte Selbl for coJeadingtlie meetingand to the Hampshirc Flora Group for supporting
the mcetingso rvell
T. D. D1NES
NORFOLK BRECKLAND. THOMPSON CON{MON AND CRANWICH HEATH W NORIOLK (r'c 2lJ)
3 0 t hM A Y . I S t J L ] N E
Thc partl'of20 met on Friday evening.getting to knorv cach other over a buffet supperwhich rvas follorvcd by a
sho( talk on thc arca. and plans for the weekend.
On Saturda,v.the party visited ThompsonCommon. spendingall da-von this 150 ha reservebelongingto thc
Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is a maze of water filled hollorvs and pools formed in periglacial conditions(pingoes)
and scparatcdb_vrirns ofdry grassland-occasionallvalkalinc,but mosth,neutralto acid. Somearcashavc bccn
usedas mcadow-othersas rough grazing and lve met the Trust's hcrd of Shetlandponiesrvhich movcsaroundthc
site Other arcas havc bccome densel_vscrub covered and the rvarden. Bev Nichols, was able to explain the
presentpolicr ofclcarance as well as to preventus from getting lost in this very large and complex site. Someof
othcrs large
the deeperpingocs hcld s,ater crowfoots (Ranunculusaquotilis, R. peltatus and R. trtchophyl1r,1').
stands of Hottonta palustrts (Water Violet) and many wcrc ringcd lvith big tussocks of Carex elato (Ttftcd,
Sedge)rvhich largcll, replaces('arex paniculata (Greater Tussock-scdge)-as the main tussock-former.Cnrex
drtndra (Lcsser Tussock-sedge)and C. appropinquata (Flbrous Tussock-sedgc)rverealso seen*hile the merell,
danip hollorvs. and the u'ater tablc is at present very low, held pools of brilliant yellorv flowering Rorippa
amphtbta (Greater Yellorv-cress)and carpets of s'hitc Rnrippa microphyl1a (Watercress).Ranunculus lingua
(Grcatcr Spcarwort) was lrequent though not yet florvering and plants ofthc rvcftestarea rangedfrom Peuceda
num palustre (Milk Parslcy) and Cladrttm mariscu.\ (Saw Sedge) to Eriophorum angusti.folium (Comnon
Ciottongrass)
and a densecolon-voftqliretum telmateio(Grcat Horsetail),over a spring.Althoughfour species
of l)acrylorhrza were seen.their numbers were verv lolv. in marked contrast to their perfbmranceln molster
.r//lc1d(Narrow Small-rccd).just far cnougb
vears. Thc last pingo looked at closely held Calamagro.sli.t
advancedto be able to notethe rclativclcngthsoflcnmrasand hair-tufts.
Sundal rvas spent on Forest Enterpriseland, the moming on dry- acid soils at Santonrvherethe tracks lield
patchesof bright red Crassula rlllaea (Mossy Stonecrop)and manl spring cphcmcralsalrcadv bccomingshrivcllcd rn the drough| Mediccrgo minimo (Bur Medick). was alrcadv in fruit. but a fine stand of Arabis glabra
(Torver Mustard) rvasjust openrngits first florvers.A passingCream-spotTigcr-moth and ar obliging Common
Lizard rvhich remainedto bc photographcdrveredistractionsand a final crucifer-just shorvingflower. rvasalmost
certainll' Hrrschleldia incana (Hoan Mustard). but u'ill nccd to arvait fruiting for final confimation A brief
stop to admirc a supcrb florvering stand of Izlola //icol./r subsp.curti.sti (Sand Pansy) rvas made before moving
to a sccondsitc.
is far more calcareThc aftemoon was spent at Cranwich wherc thc ground. though strll vcry dry and sand,"-.
orrs.somcthingimrediatelv apparent from the largc purple patchesof A"'lragalus danicus (Purple Milk-vetch).
.\ilene conica (Sand Catchfly), had alreadl'shed its pctals rvhile Sr/eneoflle.r (SpanishCatchfly), rvas still barely
irr bud. butMer./lcago minimo. abundanthere , rvas in contrast in full flower. The last couplc of hours was spent

Rcportsof Field Meetinqs

69

rn tbrestridesrvlth patchesof Hernraria gllbra (GlabrousRupturcwort)encouraglllga succcsslon

of'prostrate
botaniststo study its florvers and a bonus in the shapeof a good colony of Hypochaens glabra (Smooth Cat'scar). its florvers alreadl, closedfbr the day'and anothcr planl of Arahts glabra. both neu' to the tctrad. Both these
plants werc grouing rn an area rvhich has bcenunder pine plantationsfor fillv vearsuntil its clearanccabout five
\crrs cgo and hare prcsurnab)rderivedfiom the seedbank Finallt a fine standofthe rare Phleumphltotde.;
(Purple-stcmCat s-tarl)rvasadmrrcdbeforcthe day ended.
The neekcnd rvas blesscdrvith perfect r.veatherand passcdfar too qurckly.
GILLIAN BECKETT
T H I R S K . N Y O R K S ( r , . c c6 5 & 6 2 ) l 2 r h & l 3 t h J L r N E
Thc markct tolrn offupon lormed thc base for this mcctrng.and l6 nrcnibersarrivcd to recordfor thc Atlas
2()0() Unfbrtunalelr. no onc told me it las actualh markatday. but it rvascnjovableto \\atch participrntsrrrrr c
rutl crrculatcthe nrlrkct squlre lookrngfbr sonrcrvherc
to park! Hos evcr.c\ cn onegot soilcdout eventuall\. alld
a uoodfi,'* dars recordrngs'as donc.
The arca aroundThirsk and Rrponlvas rnostlvlorvlandagriculturalhabitaton the vallcvsofthe rrrers Slvalc
and Ure. Aquatrc spccics rvere therefore i.vell representcd,and provided a few specialitrcssuch as Lysimachia
(Tuflcd Loosestrife.SE/4.It).Zanrthelliapalu.r/n.s(Homcd Pondweed,
th1.r.tiflorct
SE/4.8)was alsofound,along
(FlorveringRusl:. SE/4.8).Thc rhizomesofthrs plant
\vlth thc dlstinctivespiralJeavesof Buktmusutnbellcrlu.s
rrcrc coilectcdbr Chris Prcston.and havc the honourofbcrng the first Britrshnativeplant ofthis speciesto have
it s chromosomcs
counted(bv JohnBailevat Lciccster.and rt rvasfbundto be tnploid- 2n - 19. b) thc rlar')!
The nrccstfind ofthc meettng\\as undoubtedllHordel.vmus
europ.teusflVood BarLev).lound grorvrngon a
rvcll riooded.and prcsumablvancrcnt.hedgebank
bl Dorothv Brookmanand David Dupree.This rvasa ncll l 0
knr squarerccordfor this Scarcespecies(SE/4.7).
productirc Oxalt.tcnlt.t (Lcasl
Alicns nere \\ell rcprcsented
in the area.rvith churchvardsbeingparticulari_v..
Ycllow-sorrel)rras fbund, r.r'cllestablished.
in severallocalrties(SE/3.8and SE/4.8)and a fine doubleform of
('lrclidoniummdjus (GrcaterCelandine)was encountered
in the churchlardat Kirbl,Wrskc (SE/3.8).Aconitum
nolellu.\ (Monk's-hood)croppcdup on a rvoodedriver bauk. and llchni: c.)ronona (RoseCampion,SE/4.8).
Antrrrhrnum nnTor (Snapdragon.SE/3.lt) and Aubneta ,laltoidea (Aubrieta. SE/4 ll) turned up clservhere.
-Sercralh1'bridsRcre aiso notable .\'tulix. rttchurdtii (.\: (tnereo\,1. Luprtd) rvasrecordedfrom sc|eral localitrcs(both rn SEl{ tt). and (irrarega,i x mucfltcerpo(('. nonogyna ; ('. lutvrgata - Hvbrid Hauthonr) lras also
sccnin this hectad.
A final good f-rnd*'as spofted on a road verge liom thc car. Despitc the speed,I'd secnenoughto register
'stop
sontttlringodd. and thc familiar
and rcvorse'tactic bought us oppositea fine colonl' of Chtnopodrum
honui-hcnncu.t(Cood King Henn- SE/4.8).Not a partrcu)arhnre plant-but one of ntr lirvourites.and a nice
spccloson which to onda pleasantmectrng.N'lanr,thanks
to all thosethat attondcd.
T D DINES

S L E D ] \ { E R EE
. ;\STYORKS {r'c. 6]). I4th & I5thJLJNE
'fen
mcmbersattendcdthis mecting to rccord for the Atlas 20()0.There uere no post I 986 recordsfor thrs hectad
(SE/9 6). apart fiom somedewpondu'ork b-vDr Eric Chickcn (RSBI Neu,s72). Most of the land belongsto the
SlcdnereEstatcar)drve are gratcfulto Sir Tatton SykcsBart.. his agcntand his tenantI'amrcrsfor therrpemtissrclt'ts
ltnd asslstancc
The grandtotal tbr the dal rias 3Otrtara. Arablespeclcs\!cre contincdto gat*vavs and manurchcaps.latter
sttstatningFuruttnoparuiflora (Fine-leavcdFumiton) in onc localitv.a scarcespecicsand our best trnd in this
liabrtat.Thc rvallsand gardcnsof Sledmerewere also cxanrinedbut fbund to be virtualli, stcrilc!A singlespecintcn of Marrtrbium vulgare flVhitc Horehound)rvas recordcdas a'Garden lvccd'. Given that tbis is a rare
spccfcsur vc. 61. rvc rvondcrrvhetherit rcallr lvas a weed or not. Other highlights*crc Glycerta daclinato
(GlaucousS$'dct-grass)utd EleochansPulustri.\(ConmronSprke-msh)in a nearh' dry pond. ln such a dry
hcctadon the chalk u'olds.suchspeciesarc. indeed.hrghhghtsl
Wc liad accessto the oldest rvoodlandon the Sledmcrccstate.and searchcdin vain to updatc old recordsof
Acrcteaspicala (Banebcrry) and,Convallaria malalis (Ltl5,-of-the-vallcy) Helleborus ulrlrlr,r (Green Helleborc)
md f'htladelphu.\ coronariu.\ (Nlock-orange)r'crc located. but much of the woodland rvas very o\ergros'n.
Ll\ttra ovato (ComrnonTrvavblade)rvas tbund in an adjacenthedgebank.Vtul(l x \cahro (I:. ulorata t Il
/r/r1.r)was lbund on an abandoned
rarlrval track and someverv good chalk grasslandprovidcdhigh|ghtssuchas
Htltclolrichon pralense (Mcadorv Oat-grass). Thvmtrspulegroirlcs (Large Th_"-rne)
and sornc fine I'thpenduLa
valgarr.r(Drop*ort).

70

Reportsof Field Meetings

Roadsidehaloph-ltesalso provided some intcrcst- tyith Puccrnelha r/rstans(Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass)on a

tarm track andAtrtplex proslrala (Spear-leavedOrachc) on a road verge.The bcst f'rndsofthe meeting,however,
were by Mr Michael Brarthu,aite.On a visit to Kirby Grindallthe gyps)' race. he recordedCarex spicata (Splked
The latter is probabll'overlooked
Scdge)and Poa humrlrs(SpreadingMeadorv-grass).
bv rnany,and it providcd
our one and onlv Vice-count-vFirst for the meeting!
Despite nrany factors (draught. village cleming. season.lack of good habitats), we did very rvell. Thanks
must go to Mr Frank Kcnnington, without rvhom manv of us rvould havc flcd frorn a very large, unhappy bull
(Frank is a retired dairy famer and assuredus he rvouldn'tcharge!).We arc gratcful to Dr Cracklcs for advising
us on prime habitatsto visit and copiousnoteson rvhatto look for. to English Naturc for arrangingpcrmissionto
severalSSSI and especially'toPeterJ Cook for all the organisationand work that madc thc mectingsuch a
success.
T D. DINES
- UCKS(v c 2zl) 2lst JUNE
P R I N C E SR I S B O R O U G HB
It is suggestedthat report rvriters do not include too manl' dctarls on thc weather or the gastronomicdehghtsof
lunch so. I s'on't. except to sal that rve did have rain (too much of it fbr somepeople!)and that liquid refreshmentwas providedin the shelterofthe local ScoutHcadquartcrs.
I8 ofthe expected24 visitorsarrivedfor the moming sessionofcollcctingrecordsfor the Atlas 2000 projcct
Groups of 2-4 people were equippedrvith a record card and map and askedto vrsit just one tetrad. ln all. sevcn
nere vrsitedand -vieldedI 176records.Not all ofthcsc wcrc ncw. nccdlcssto say. but. asthe year Rookhrnted.
a
t'clv surpriscslvcrc discovered.
A roadsrdeleadrngto a farm had- unexpectedly,(-arex ucula (Slender Tufted-scdgc)and the same tetrad
produced, FestuLtliumloltaceum(Hvbrid Fescue).Rttmex, praten)'is(a hybrrd dock) and a row of PopuLus
nrgra subsp.hetulifolia (nativc Black Poplar). Another farm. in a nearbvtetrad, vielde,dCeratochloa catharttca
(Rescue Brome) and Phalari.v aquatrca (Bulbous Canary-grass).species I'd ncver seen before, let alone in
Buckinghamshire!Two small plants of Descurarnia sophia (Flixr.vccd)rvere found by fuchard Fitter and hc
fradn't seen it in Buckinghamshiresincc 1958. Also in his tetrad tvere Bromus racemosus (Smooth Brome).
( l,nogbssum ollicinale (Hound's-tongue)and Ro,ra mrcrantha (Small-florvcredSrveet-briar).Those of us rvho
staved near the to$,n rvere surprised Io see Scandix pecten-veneris (Shepherd's-needle)and Sorbus hybnda
(SwedishSeruice-tree)in gardenplots of an old fblk's home tnd Mimulus \ burnetti (Coppery Monkcl,flower)in
a gravel-coveredfront gardcn. Carex divttlscrsubsp. /eersrr (Gre1' Sedge)rvas rccordcd fiom trvo roadsides.'
l.e.stuloliumktltaceum was seena different tetrad fiom that mentioncdabovc as were two other hlbrids Shilr x
sericans (Broad-leavedOsier) andPopulus x canadensi.s(Italian Black-poplar).
Thc pride ofthe da1-'rvas to view' Cephalantherarubra (Rcd Helleborine).One lurther participantjoined us
for thrs having, unfortunatell'.had vehicletrouble in the rnorning.Holvever,thererverestill five ofour antrcipated
partl missing, I hopethel are not still looking lbr Princesfusborough! The chalk grasslandnear the orchid site is
good for Juntperus communts(Juniper) andArqbis hirsuta (Hairy Rock-cress)and othcr species.but u'e tbund
one large speclmenof Fagus sylvatica (Becch) to be most useful for shelterbcforc venturing to the helleborine.
Eight spikes rverc in f'lowcr in one patch and anotherone scparatcfiom the patch. Photographsrveretakcn and
duc homagepaid. but rvetarriedlittle
Thanks to Alan Shorvler(as coJcadcr) arranging the use ofthe scout hut for us, rve lvere able to sort out
somcofthe problem specimensbelore going our scparatcwavs. Mv thanksto all r.vhoattendedand producedlots
of neu' and useful records.
ROY MAYCOCK
C E R R I G Y D R U D I O NM
, E R I O N E T H ( v . c 4 8 ) . 2 l s t & 2 2 n dJ U N E
A foul momrng grcctcd the eight members that met to record boundary hectads between Menoncthshireand
Dcnbrghshrrefor the Atlas 2000. Despitethe conditions.horvcvcr,spirits rverehigh. we covereda Iot ofground,
and n'e found manv intcresting species.On the first da-v,we examinedthe mostly acid, upland pasturcsand
flushes around Cerngydrudion and Samau. The best find was undoubtedly T'eesdalianudicattlis (Shepherd's
Cress, SFV9.4)on a shad-vroadsideoutcrop by Geoff Battershall.Although not comrnonin Wales, this species
doeshave a strongholdin this area, but it's status as a native at some sites has been questioned.Another plant
frequent in this area is thc scarcc specresEuphrasra rostkoviano subsp. rostkoviana (an Eyebright), and this
distinctivetaxon lvas found on a roadsideverge(SFV9.4).
Several alien taxa s'ere also notablc. Several Spiraeas(Spiraea agg. - identit-vnot _"-etdetermined!)were
particularlvabundantin manr' of the hedgero*'s.and werc obviouslyspreadrngrapidly (SFV9.4and SFV9.3).
Setlumspurium (CaucasranStonccrop)rvas also recordedncar a chapcl (SFV9.4),and a fine clump of Aconitum

Rcportsof Field MeettnAs

7I

but. stncelt $as not

nuptllu.t (N'lonks-hood)rvas found in a wood (SI-V9.3).Thc clump rvasrvell estxbhshod.
rncreasing
or visibll reproducing,rt rvasrccordedrvith an S fbr Sunivrng. Thc sameapphedto a singleplant of
( i t ranrum x magnf cunt (PurpleCrane's-bill)foundon a roadside(SWg.3).
Much of tlre first dar u'as spenthunting for Dryopteri.r oreades(Mounlain Male-fcm) rvhrclris often found
at the basc of dr1-stoncrvalls itr this area. Probablcspecimcnsnere cvcntualll found (SWg.i) iuld latcr
confirmed by Arthur Chtter. Ceterttchol/icinarum (Rusty,back)rvasalso found on a mortaredn'all (SW9..{)
On the secondday. we hcadedsouth to the Llyn Cel,v-nrescruoir(a srteof riots during it-s constructronas an
cntrrevrllagehad to be droruned- thc \.vateris pipcdto Livcrpooland this causedobviousfiiction rvith thc local
populaticrn).
On its banls (SFt/84). *e fbund a singlesprkeol j'latanthtra hrJblta(LesserButtcrflr Orcbrd)in a
rrct t-lushalongwith Euphrasia.vcttttcaandFtttucct vtvrpura(VivrparousFescuo).the lattcr not that comnronin
Wales.Euphra.siarostkctvianasubsp.rostkoviand was agaln scenon a roadside.and. being arval'from thc coast.
('atayxlium rtgidum (Fem-grass)sas a surpriscfind.
Moving a*av from the rcsen'oir. Salrx , nultrnerut.\(5. durila x ,\. ctncrecr).Crepi: puludo.sa(Marsh
t t)c r a p p e a r s t o b c
H a r v k ' s - b c a r d ) a n d ( ' a r e x x l u l v a ( ( ' . v i r i d u l a ' ( ; . h o " ' t t t t n a ) r v c r e r e c o r d c d ( STFhVc 8l a. 4
- it is ven,drstinctiveonccsecn.(larex actuallr,became
qurtca tiature
ri'rdesprcad
and probabll under-recorded
ofthe dav. lvith l4 taxa beingrecordcd.The starsofthe shorvrverefbund m the blanketbog at.{renig (SH/tt3)
(Tall Bog-scdge)
rvasfound in ri'cthollous (rrrth/:rrc 1dl/drr (Cross-lcii\ed
rrherethc scarce('arer ntctgellaniccr
('urex aiorcrt(DroecrousScdge)las recordcdaround
(Bog Asphodci))ant'J
Hcatli)and ,\iarthectunto.s.;rfi'agunt
rtscdgc
Ar eryovableand productrvcrneeting.then.and Arthur Chatcr'soffersoltea and cakeat thc cnd ofeach da1
harc rreverbcenso rvclcorne!Man."thanksto all that came.
T D DINES
I S L E O F M L I L L . M I D - E B U D E S( V . C I. 0 3 ) 2 I S t _ 2 4 t hJ T I N E
Nrncrrcnrbcrsrnetfbr ibur dal's cxcellentbotanrsrng.
covcringsquarcsin the \\est. north c;rstand southrtcst of
thc island.Thc first dal sau, us on the west coast near Krlninianluth both thc cxposed.rockY coastand the
inlarrdhcathand bums beurgerplored.TreshnishPointr,reldcdVtctartrohus(lVood Bitter-vetch)andMecorutpsr.scumbnttr lVclsh Poppv) rvhilsl the bunrs near Ensay provcd rich in thcir lo*er rcacheslrth ll sprkesof
Hammarh;upaludosa(Bog Orchid)bcing refoundin this square.
A changcof sceneuas providcdon the sccondda1,*ficn the Rossof Mull *'as visited.Thc northemshorcs
ncar Kintra addeduseful recordsbut the more interestingareaswcrc south of the Bunessan- Fionnphortroad at
Pottie rvhereCladium moriscus (Great Saw-sedge\,Hypencum ekile.; (Marsh St Jolrn's-rvort),Nvmphoeoulbu
1\\'1ritc\\ratcr-lill) subsp.a/,)a and.f'otamogctoti/acen.r(ShrningPondricr:d)lverefound floatingaroundin thc
shallor lochs Southof Buncssanitsclf Loch Assapolwas drsappointing
but tlie coastalflushcs.rocksand sandr
patclrcsaround Carbh Eilcan rverc rvcll rvorth carcful inspcction.Good standsof ('arex lustocorpa(Slendcr
Scdgc)and H.vpertcumc'loclesrverefbund. lvith other specicsof note being ('atolxtdium morlnum (Sca Ferngrrss). liolr7z.r ietacea (Brislle ClLrb-nrsh).
[)nt,;era anglicu (Grex Sunden). Fastuca.filtJitrmr.r(Fine-leaved
a,ndOstnundarcgrrlis(Roval Fcm).
Shcep's-tcscue)
To cclcbrate St Columba's birthday and to updatethe rccords.we wcre on Iona on the third da1,.The part-v
split up and covered all the tetrads between thcnr. Hot-spots proved to bc Loch Staoineig in thc south and
Nunncn' ruins in thc east.Loch Staoineighas obviousll,beenmodifisdos a rescrvoirareaand is fencedolf. so
crcludirrggrazingand lessadventuroustounsts.but not lntrcpldbotanists:Lxtleptscarntta(SienderClub-rush).
Hypericuntelodes.Ophtogktssumvulgatum(Addcr's-tongue)
aqltoticLl(Watcr Whorl-grass).(-aler
. ('cilahro.;ct
'. lillvct.Aptum rnundalum(LesscrMarshu'ort).Arenario serpyllt/blia(ThlmcJeavedSandwoft)and('era.:tium
(Little Nlouse-ear)
.\L,mldeLandrum
ricre found xr thc lvetterarcasand on the tracksand raiscdcauservay
running
through the loch. Rccords rcconfirmedat the Nururery.includedAsplenum monnunt (Sea Splccn*ort), A. nttamuraria Q{all-rue). A. trichomane,r (Maidenhair Spleenriort), Cochleauo o/ficinalis (Common Scurv_r'grass).
Toadflax).Geraniumsanguineum(Bloodv Cranc's-bill)and (lmbtltcusrupe.sCymbalartamuralis (Lvy-lcaved
lns (Navehiort)
Thc final dav sa* sonreof the group aroundTobermon but thc bestfind *as al Glengonr of nrnesprkcsof
Onthanclt a/ba (Thlnre Broomrapc)and nelrbl Port Chill Bhraonarnuith a largepopulationof l/icio.tt'lyuttca
(Wood Vetch)
Altogetherlt was a lcn cnjolableand productivcmeetingaddinglnanvne\\ post I970 recordslor the island
Tlrcre are still manv areasto visit before 2000. so anr voluntccrsare uclcomc. The island is so varied in rts
and topographvthat an\thlng rnrghttum up:
cLrmatc
L\'NNE FARRELL

72

Reoonsof Field Mcctinss

R H I C O N I C H .W E S T S U T H E R L A N D( r . c 1 0 8 ) 2 8 t h , j O r hJ U N E
A satrsthctonhlargepartr of I li includingthc leadersPat and Ian Evans-nretat Rhiconichon Fridar c!'cnrngto
plan fbr the ncxt da\ . This rvas an Atlas nreetingbut rve were not primarilv concernedlvith 'polishing o1l" I 0 krn
squares.rlthcr concentrltlltgon somcimportanthabrtatsrequiringattenlionand srgnificantrecordsuhich ngcdcd
Lrpoattrrg.
Gordon Rothero led a partv of 9 up Mc-allHom on Saturdavin lvhat seemcdto those ofus on lorver ground
to bc reasonablcrvcathcr.It i-sa iong *alk in to this hill and r\c \\cre fortunatc to be able to field a large enough
partv to achicvca reasonablccoverageonccthere.The lreathcrdid not hold good-but their pcrsistence
acrossa
patchofdif'ficult groundin a spell ofdrn,ing rain rvasr*r,ardcdand thev fbund threespecicsnot recordedfrom
t h i s h i l l s r n c cf 9 - 5 7 ( a n d t h o r c f o r e l a n g u r s h i n g i n t h e l o r i c s t d a t e c l fa)sr as b
) :t t n r t r u t g r c a( R o c k W h i t l o u ' g r a s s ) .
.\trrtfi'u'gorrvalr.i (Alpine Sarifiage) tnd Prn gltuctt (GlaucousMeadorv-grass).
Thc'basicrocksalso produced
lltlts/tthun lotcltitts (Hollt.fbnl) and,\ori/rugaoppo.\'tttfu)liu
(purpleSartfragc)and tri,onrenrbers
ofthc paty.
dotcnrrtnedto tnake it to the sunimit. rvererelvardcdbv Loi,seleurtaprocumben.s(Tra:ilingAzalea) and ,\ibhatctia
p r()cut71
htns (Srbbaldir)
A sccondgroup set otT that dav for the Joln Rrdguar, Adventurc School at Ardmorc! Cornparedto Meall
Flom thrs lvas a phrsicalll undcnrandingexerciscbut necessirn'nonetheless
as Ardmorc hai the onlv flvc
hcctarcsofdcciduottsuoodland in thc entire l0 knr square.It proled to containa good l,arrctroftrec and shmb
spcciesand thc ground flora. althougli limited. includcd Dr.vopterr: expar,ra (Northenr Bucklcr-f-ern)and
l) aemttlo (Har-scentedBuckler-fcnr).The best record ofthe dav horvevcrttas Lqui.setumh.yemale(Rough
Horsctlrl)found rn a ston\ tlush belorvthc roadat Portle'orch1'right bcsrdethc ca. paik.
A lirrther partr successfulhlocatcdthc tNo sites for |lhynchospor-a
reportcdi1
/asca (BrorvnBeak-sedge)
I 9fi0 and \\cnt on to e\amrncsomcrccentll cnclosedlroodlandon the southsrdcof Loch Stack.
Thc hill oblectrvcon Sundar *as Foinavcn-uot renou'ncdfbr rts botanicalintcrcst.apart from the lrestem
cnd rvhercsomcgneisslightcnsthc unrelicrcdquartziteofthc remarndcr.Thc object:vesrrcrc to refind an old
rccord of (-or('x \oxutLlts(RussctSedge)and. \\lth Dr ('orner ls l rncntberofthe part1. to rcvlslt the site tbr
Iuzulct ctrcucttct
(Cuned Wood-rush)r.vhichhe had found in 1969.Both objcctivcsr.vereachieved.In addrtiona
-sccondsitc rra.slound tbr tlt I'u:ula. and Arahtl petraea OortlTern Rock-crcss)\\'as noted again on that hill
after 50 r'cars The *alk up lias dcscribedas a gcntlc stroll in the sunshine.the t-actthat the last part ofthe
dcscentuas achievedon a compassbearingis a tcstinronvto the ficllcnoss of the rveathcrin thc lorth-rvest
hrghlandsI
A group u'ho visitedthe limcstonelochsofCroispol and Borralieat Durncssfbund a good rangeofcalcicoles
includrng Pht''lltti.v.tcttlttpen<lrium(Hart's{onguc)- (ialnun .;tcrncri (Limcstone Bedstian). Cirex cgpllari.t
(Hair Sedge)and dcsiccatedbut recognisablc('. ntpestris (Rock Scdge) on one broken rock firce. 'bonsarrvoodlandsheltcredin the gnkes of some small patchesof limcstonepavenrent.Thc Potamogetonspp are
alreadv knorvn from thesclochs so no time was *'astcd flinging grapnelsand thc party retumed via Loch Lanlish
to updatca recordof .Juncushaltictt"-(Baltic Rush).
A third part) spenta profitablcdal in NC/3.3 rn thc ricinitv of Kinloch at thc hcadof Loch N,lore.This is a
sqttarefrom rvhich there are lblv reccnt records.Working through a varretv ofhabitats: tracksides Juncus/blio'rir'i (Lca1i' Rush)-aqr:atic Lsoale.v
lacu.vtns(Qurlhvort).gorgc ,gonrculucuropdetl(Sanrctc),plusAllrttn
rrr'rinztr (Ranrsons)-north-thcing crags - Oxyntt digtnt (Moutain Sorrel) and high lcvcl moorland Arctu,
:raph,vlosalpinus (Arctic Bearbern). thel' amasscda totrl ofovcr 200 spccresrvhich has made thc squarclook
nruchmorc respectable.
On thc last da-va small group l\'ent to FarardHcad wherethe rvalk in driving drizzle rvas somewhatcompcnsatedbr rccordirrgthe'goodics'ofthe area includingCorex moritima (Curved Scdge)ancJ
of coursePrimula
hrrrnrosc)
{ ( r , / / . i /( S c o n t s P
Thc rcst ofthe partv hcadcdfor SanduoodLoch and Bay rvherethcv drvidedrnto 4. One group did a useful
s u n e v r o u n d t h c c l i f f s a t t h e s o u t h - u s s t e m c u d o f t h , ' b fai rn d u r gC a r * c a p t l l t t r i . s( H a i r S e d g e ) i n i h e p r o c o s s . a
sccondpartY \lent acrossthc baY to thc north eastcm cnd $here lorv cliffs with somebrokenground are studded
rrith '\'llirte acarlrs (Nloss Carnpion) and,\oxrliago oppo:itifolio (Purple Saxifragc). Thc tro i.vhorecordedon
tltc shoresof SandrvoodLoch and the dune slacks at its no(hem end lbund rrnpreisivelvlarge stands of.luncus
holtictLs(Baltrc Rush) and sheetsofminusculc phnts of Botrychium lunaria (iftoonvort). The pair who elected
to do the ground at the heaclof thc loch (nrarked rather ominouslr,on the map as Lon Mor. thi Great N{orass)
rrrustbc congratulatetion rcfinding a 1948 rccord of (larex pantculata (GreaterTussock-Scdgc)
along rvith
( ' l r m o y c r( B o g S c d g e ) t n d ( ' l a s i o t o r p a ( S l e n d e r S e dTghec)g r o u n d t u m e d o u t t o b e a s e r i o u s l ! u , e t m i e a n d
rras reportedto bc morc suitcdto rccordingfiont a'Lilo' thanon footl
Thc help qivcnbr'landounersovcr acccssand car parkinglrls muchappreclated.
P A E\'.{NS

73

Reportsof FreldMeetings
KEt.SO. ROXBURGHSHIRE

(r c t{()) 3rd & 4th JULY

.A total ot'lt) nrurlbcrs partic)pated rn this ficld nrccting and sorne 1250 records uere rnade fronr 5 hcctads at the
castcm cnd of Roxburghshire Nlcmbcrs splrt up rnto groups and met up at thc cnd of thc dat to discuss their
recor0s
On thc first dax l)tunthus tlt'ltttides (Maidcn Prnk) \\os rdded to t\\o hcctads lrhrch ras an excellent start
l\ttcnlrllu urgenlco (Hoan Clinqrrefbil) ri'as an associate at one ofthc sitcs and has onlv t\\'o other crtant localitics in the licc-countt,. ('urcx murictrln stbsp lantpntcur2a (Pricklr Sedge) lvas comnon to all the srtes and uas
tvpical oftlresc dn sunnv habitats Whitton Loch producod l\tlamogcton pusrl/rr.r (Lcsscr Pondneed) but. alas- a
possrblc rrrc hrbrid ri'as latcr detcmrined :rs an odd fomr of I'oluntogclon cri.\pus (Curlcd Pondrveed). It *as
good to rctind Rl.,'smtt.tcompressus (Flat-scdge) last sccn on thc Kalc Watcr over 25 r'eers ago. in grcetcr
quantitv lt has onlv a handful of Bordcr records and is dccrcasrn[ .{ddcrs rrere a potcntial hazirrd hcre. :1 being
sccrl (r\er 25 rards of hillsidc Thc 1'armcr*'hon uc rnet latcr \\AS una\\'crc of thenr o:r hrs land Linton Loch uas
rrsrledbrlnotl)orgroup ltlrasnragnrliccnttussocksof(arcrpunicultla (GrertclTussock-scdgc)andncuto
thc \lcu-count\ tas thc hvbrrd ( ur(r I h()tnntnghaustLtnrr ( a hrbrid betneerr thc Grcatcr Tussock-sedgc and
Rcnrotc Scdgc) tbund bv Olga Stesan. llununculu: lin4tu lGretter Speanrort) atd lJcrula rrccld (Lcsscr
Wrtcr-parsnrp) rrcrc also secn hcrc ('unltn: rrutan.r (N'fusk Thrstle) md I,trbascutn nigrum (Dtk Mullcin)
occurrecl at the nearb\ fann of Bumfoot. On the Chcviot Bum- rvhich drarns the highost ground in the vicecourrtr. possible liqusetunt , rothtnalcri (a hvbrid bctnecn thc Ficld and Marsh Horsetail) rvas found but needs
cont-Lrrlratiorlas it rvould bc a nel ricc-courttr,record .\clirt tillolum (Bog Stonecrop) tras not uncommon rnd
.\ttrLlrtt.tLt{ronulnla (Mcador Sasitiagc) \\as sccn at the unustrallv high altitLrdcof 610 m.
O n f l r c t b l l o r r r n g d r r t h u g r o L r p ss c t o u t i u d r r e r c o r d r t i o n s . C a n c r F c i l o n t h c N o r l h u n r b c r l a n d b o r d e r u a s
rcnchcd alicr an cncrg\ sapping and 1lr-ridden clirnb up tlrc orcrgroun track through thc Srtka Spruce forest trl
Cartcr Quarn This old lrnrcstonc qulrn produccd J.i.sttru rnutu (Croatcr Tuatbladc) rrrth L. utrdula (Lesscr
'l
rrarbl;rdc) undcr ( allunu virl.grrri.r (Healhcr) ncarbr'. Ophtoglossum vulgatum (Addcr's-tongue) uas lbund
lorrcr drxn undcr bracken lherc ret anothcr but morc aggrcssive addcr alnrost bit one ofthe partr, I believe the
plmt arrd thc rcptrlc arcn't usuallr associatcdl. Basaltic outcrops supportcd good clumps of Huperzicr salago (Fir
Clubnross) ttilh l)r.t'opteri.; orcrrlt'.r (Mountain l\lalc-tlm) 6ttt ( r.tplrtgrummo Lrispd (Parslei Fern) was rarc
Thc partr crploring in thc sanre hcctad at Soutlidcan discolcrcd a species-ricli haugh lrv the Jed Watcr ( arcx
t t t t r t r f r t r t n t t ( L c s s c r P o n d - s c d g e ) .( ' p t t l l t . s c c n r ( P a l c S e d g c ) . ( p u n t c t t l a t a ( G r c a t e r T u s s o c k - s o d g c ) -( i n r l n
h t t t ' n t ! ' l t . t l l t n t ( N l c l a n c h o l r T h r s t l c ) . 1 ) . r r l - r y ' r t r h i z t t . f i r c / n (r C
t c t r n n r o nS p o f t e d - o r c h r d ) .( i c r u t t t u n t \ ' l v , t t l t c u n t
(\\'trod Ccrrnrunt). Prtttrt.; lrudtr.t (Brd, Chern) and ,\tlrr ptrlturcu ((Purplc Willtrr)\\ere
among somc oithe
nlr)r-cconsprcuous species prcscnt rn rrhlt rs becoming arr incrclstnglr rarc sight.
The surprisc ofthc rrccting lsaitcd thosc rrto rrsrtcd thc ltills and bums at tlrc southern crtrcrnitt'ofthc
67 (.oeloglossumviride(Frog
Kalc\\'aternhichhadnoprcviousrc.tl0rccordsasmostofthishcctadisinvc
Orchid) associatcd vtth Helianthtmum nummltlorium (Common Rock-rosc) a;nd Hthctotrichon pratense
(N'lcadou Oat-grass) rvas notovorthv on onc hrllside as thc orchid is virtualh extinct from this t1'pc ofhabitat in
thc vicc-countr'. l)crclylrtrhtza tn.dnldta subsp. tncarnotcr ( Earlv Marsh-orchid) sas fbund in flushes and *as
irrdrcatirc ot thc stronglr basic condrtions. It is most couunonlv fbund around thc tlushcd margins ofthe richer
Brrrdcr rnrrcs. I'.riophorum lolifttltttnt (BroadJcaved Cottongrass) rlas also present Thc gcologv of this part of
thc Krlc Watcr consists r.f nrorc pcmreable and basic scdinrcntan Silurian slrata cornpared rvith thc harder and
nrorc lcjd iuncous andcsitc rock lorrcr dorvn the valler lrrd it rs thrs dif}'erent geologr *hrch must account fbr the
flor rstrc richness
It had bccn a succcsstll meetrng and I *ould like to thank all thosc rho took part. I also thank Tro,or Dines
fbr hclp rlith the organisation and Chrrs Prcston fbr chccking the Potanrogctons.
R W I\{ C'ORNER

L O C ' Ht . E V E N .K I N R O S S( r c l l r ) - i t h J U L Y
T h c p u r p o s co 1 ' t h r sm c c t r n gu l - s l t o l b l d . t { l r c - - s u l r ct\h c l i l n d r r i l r da r e ao f t l r c N N R l a s tv i s i t e d2 2 \ o t r s a g o
arrrlto obtarnpost-l9tt6 Atlas rccordslbr the t\\'o rcluant sqrrarcsSo as to gct as rride covcragcas possiblo.thc
part\ of2() uas split into six groups.rrost ofrvhrch \\'erelransportcdbv trvo SNH boatsto variousparts ofthc
lochsid,'.this saveda considerablc
atnountof tinrc.and ri'asrepeatedin thc aftcmoon A rcconnaissance
a rvcck
carlierliad rndrcatcdthat a numberof arcasaroundthe loch had becomesubjcctto encroachnrcnt
by scruband
rank \egetation.not helpedbr,an unusuallvhrghwater level.Thus unfortunatelvsonreofthc sitesvisitedproved
to be drsappointinglldcvoidof sonreof thc hoped-forraritics- but this n'asconrpcnsatcd
for bv good rccording
lbr thc Atlas. rvhilesomeunLrsuall c. 85 specics\\crc secnincludingl.c:'tucdlroten: u (Nlcadou'Fescue)nor
tcrthe NNR. (.dr('x aquotilt.\(Wrtcr Scdgc)andPlalan/herahiloltu (LesscrBuftcrflr-orchrd)Thc trvo parties
c r p l o r r n gt l r c S E c o n r c rt r f t h e l o c h f h r c db c s r .P a r l d o r r c r l l r .o n c o f t h c b e s tl i r r s r n t h e r c r s l o c a t c dI n l h c
p L r b l r ca c c c s sa r e a o f F r n d l l r t ra n d r t t r s h c r c t h a t l l u c n h t r h r t r t n c a r n o l u( E o r l r M a r s h - o r c h i da)n d / - l '

1.1

Reportsof Field Meetings

y?rlr.r/.r lvere seen. along tvtlh I'arruts.sia patlu.\tris (Grass-of-Parnassus)-Eleocharis qutnqueflora

(LesserClubmoss)and various sedges.Nearbl. another
(Fcn-flowcrodSpike-rush).,\elogintlla .selogirutides
part) came across t\\o of the Loch's specralities:Hientchloe odorata (Holv-grass) and Juncus JihJbrmrs
(ThrcadJcar.cdRush) (a disturbrng feature rvas that the lattcr was not found in its three other localities)together
*rth sonlc othcr lcss comnlon species.Several rarities rverc not obscrvcd on thc day, and it rvas left to anothcr
visrt. on 22nd August rvhenthe water level rvas much lorver-to rcvcal such unusualplants as Raldellictranuncuaciculoris (NccdlcSpikc-msh),Lythrumportulo Qlater Purslanc)lorrle,i(LesserWater-plantain).Eleochctri.r
thcscthrce rn quantitv Limo:ella aqudtica (N{udrvoft)and that long-kno*'n Kinross spcciality, fon'ncrly"Ranunctrlu.srtpttrns. nou -1i ' Icvencnti.t(Loch L*'cn Spoanvort).lt rras cspccralllgratifvingto tjnd at lcast four
flounshingcoloniesof thc last.no\\ bcnefitrngfiom thc constmctlonof shcltcringgabionssomc1,carsago. Some
l()0 ta\a *ere recordedall told. a satrsfhctor]total. Espccralthanksarc duc to thc trvo SNH staff, Alan Lauder
and Paul Brooks.*ho mnmcd thc boats and $cre a great help- and also to thc RSPB Vane Famr Centrefor
f,cconnnodatlon
C;.BALLANT\'NE
R O M A N R I V E R & H A M F O R D W A T E R . N E S S E X( r c l e ) l l t h ' l 3 t h J U L Y
Wc rssurncdthat thc cursc of Esscr liad struck i.c. thc gcncralll hcld opinionthat thc count-vis a rvildlife-free
zone)then onlr five people.includingthc t*o leadcrs.tumed up for the Fridav introducton'talkon thc flora of
Esscx Ho*crer. ftars lcrc allalcd on a foggl Saturdal rnomingat Fridal Wood in the Roman fuver Vallel
gathercd for
rrhen
12
of
us
the
first
field
Roman Rivcr
session. The
is a large SSSI-ouned bl thc Ministry of Defcncc.on thc outskirtsof Colchcstcr.cncompassing
a mosaicof
habitatsfrorn grass hcath. scmb and ancrcntrvoodlandto fens and flood meadorvs.
Our first plant uas the rarest. two plants of Ftlago gal/rca (llarrowleaved Cudrveed)at onc of thc
re-establshcdsites. here in rts last native localitr. The dn platcau was full of niinr-dclights.including
Orntthopu.tpcrptstllu.s (Bird's-foot). Tn.fblium rrruense(Hare's-footClovcr) and ,\pergularia ruhro (Sand
Sprrrrer).Movrng dornriill. springlines-uhere the gravelsoverlavLondonClar,.supportcdRctnunculu.y
hederaccris(lrr-lcaved Cron'foot).uith just a few flouors still showrng.Alismctplanlago-aquotica(Water-plantain).
and scvcralnrshcs.includingthc hvbrid .luncusconglonarotus\ ,1. e-//usus.
Scramblingover thc scrub lverc
scveralbrambles(this site is rrotedfor its Raba,iflora). includinga largc-florvcrcd.
unamcd local endemic.
Br tracks in thc vallfl' bottom. LepiLliutnhetcroph.vllurn(Smith's Peppcnlort) was abundant.vith Potentillct
ctngliut (Trallirlg Tomrcntrl) and anothcr htbrid I'olcntilla reptons t P. erectcr-and,\'allr purpureo (Pwple
Wif lorr) rr':rsfound in tho osicr bed.Grorvingon the river bank- severalsplendrdspecimcnsof Dipsacu.;pibsu.r
(lalopteryx.splendens
(SmallTcasel)nere groling. at orlcofonh a handlll ollocal sitcs.the showl'danisclflrcs
and (' vrrga rverealsonoticeablehere.unusuallt*,ith both speciesfll'rngtogcther
Aftcr lunch lc hcadcdup into thc nood, rvherethe springshad .\'crrya.r
sylvatrcut'(WoodClub-rush).(larex
loevigot.t(Srnooth-stalkcd
Scdgc).C'. pseudocvperus(Hop Sedge)and a spreadingintroductionLysimachia
punctot.!(Dotted Loosestrif-c)A fct Whitc Admirals perfomrcdin the clearings.althoughPurple Hairstrcaks
ncrc tvpicallv rnorc clusivc. Dccpcr rnto thc site. a little Callunct vulgaris (Ling) had survived the managcment
onslaught. vitlt (jcrlium .\caotile (Heath Bedstral). shectsof Onaphalium uligino.sum(Marsh Cudtveed)and a
tur G s.t'/uatrcaz(Hcath Ciudrlccd).rcdiscovered
here in 1996. after an absenceofseveral dccades.A final
stroll tlrrough the flood nteadorvsproduced (lclahro.scraquotico (lVatcr Whorl-grass) and litmer mantimus
(Goldcn Dock). togcthcrurth numcrousdragonfliesand damselflies.follou,edb1,a long trek back to thc cars.
prckrngup,4grrnlonrcr
pft)c(ro (FragrantAgrimonr')trd ltfclamp)'rumprotctlsc(CommonCor.v-rvheat)
en routc.
Sundar consistedof a rvalk on thc salt marshcs.sand dunesand sea rvalls of Hamford Watcr. south of
'fhe
I)ovcrcourt
saltingsuere just turning purplc underdrrfts of Limontum vulgore (Conmon Scalavender).
'purc'
trpically sho*rng clonal vanation. although rrc could not be sure of anv
L. humile (Lax-florvered
,\pdrltnomdriltmd (SmallCord-gr:rss).
,\arcoutrniaperannis(PerennialGlassrvort).
Sca-lavcndcr).
Suoedovera
(Shnrbbr Scablitc)andInula crithmoide.s
(GoldenSamphire)were rlso locallv obvrous.the latter at its extreme
northcmlocalit) on the North Seacoast.
The fringing lou dunesprovrdeda ven dift-ercnthabitat.r.rith('akle marilimct(Sea Kalc). Sal.solakali
(PrrcklvSaltrvort)tnd Htltunthus rrnrrur (Sun1)orcr)on thc drrft linc. and (llaucium l/avam (YcllorvHomed(Sea Bindwced).Crithmum moritimum (Rock Samphirc)arldEr),ngtummarittpoppr). ('o1_i.rlcgiasrtldonello
nranr(Sca Hollr) tn flo*cr on thc main rrdge.A srnglcplant of b)rphorbiaparalios (Sca Spurge)rvasthe first
rccord liom thls sltc for rrroro tllan fir'e vears. Wherc thc sand grades rnto thc marsh, a large population of
Limttnium hincrvrt.:umsubsp.suronrcum(Rock Sealavcndcr)\!as prcsent,this beinga subspecies
cndemicto
north-eastEssex.brecdingRingcdPlovcrs(rvrthchicks)and Little Tems lvcrc alsosecn.
The seasalls and associatcd
dlkes rvcrcrich in inscctlife (Roesel'sBush-crickct,EmpcrorDragonfly,Essex
Skrppcr.fbr cxanrplc).and supponednumerouslocal and scarccplants.Hydrocotyle ranuncul.otde.s
(Large

Reportsof Field Mcctinss

Perutvrvort)and ('ntssula lelmsir (Ncrv Zcaland Prgml,rvccd)lvcrc prcscnt u'r small arcas- no doubt poised to
becomea problem-andAptum graveolens(Wild Cclcn') and Rolboschctenus
noritimus (SeaClub-rush)rverc
rndicativcofthc brackishnatureofthe rvatcrin the dr,kcs.A broodof Mutc Suans rvcrcnotcdto havea mlxture
'Polishof nomal and
clgnets The clal seau'allsucre dominatcdb', l'.lytrigiadtherica(SeaCouch).alongwlth
I'ucctntllttr rupesln.\ (Stiff Saltrnarsh-grass)Hordeum morinum (Sca Barle-v).Tri/bliun.squamosum(Sca
(Strawbern,Clover).Ilupleurumtenuis:imum(SlenderHare's-ear)andLathyntsnissolia
Cloter)- 7' ./iagi./erzrm
(Grass Vetchlrng).Onc rcccntll seededstretcliof rvall produccdApera spica-venll(Loose Silkv-bent)and a
singlesprkeof Parentucelliavlrco.ra(Yellos Bartsra).thc lattcr rvasundoubtedlr,
introducedrvith the seedrnixand is probablvthc llrst rccord from the countl. Our final spccialrtl-hcrc at onc of onll four broadlocationsin
Britain. rras Pettcedanumof/icinale (Hog's-fennel).just corninginto flou'cr and a fitting end to a nondcrful.
(10 species)and all sortsofothcr
dircrsc wcckcndofplants. buttcrflies(16 species).
dragonflicsand danrsclflies
n a t r r r adl c l i u h t s
T' GIBSON
D T E O S I T E .A B E R - P O R T H .C A R D S ( v c 4 6 ) l 2 t h J U L Y
Tnehe membersand fiicnds mct at thts Ministry of Dclenccsiteon a coastalhcadlandto recordin tlircc tctrads.
We lere guided by Jrn Alhrood. currcnt ch:rinnanof thc DTEO Clonscn'atron
Conlnittee uhich had been
t b u n d e da t t h e s i t c t n 1 9 8 1 .T h c c o a s t a fl r i n g eo f s o m e . l l h a * a s s c h c d u l eads a S S S I r n t h c f b l l o r v r n g
vear.
chrcflr tbr its cliff oak uoods- coastalheath and thc grasslandslhiclr arc arnongthc most calcareousin this
prcdominantlracidic countr'.The site rvas largeh arablc famrlanduntrl l917 lhen it rlas taken over bv thc
NIOD. and the heathand grasslandthat has dcrelopedsincethen has bccn rcgularlvmown. parts oncc a vear.
otherpartsmoreoften.and vcn occasionallvburntto controlscnrb.but not grazcd
Wc drd an anticlocku'iservalk- startrngthrough tall grasslandrvith abundantHelictotrichonpubescen.s
(Do\\rv Oat-grass)and Tir.rglart.flave.scens
(Yellow Oat-grass)and dorvnto thc scacliff"sat thc easttip of the
site. donrrnatcdb1 l'e.surtctruhra subsp..Juncea(Rcd Fcscuc)and a giant form of Corcx /aeca (Glaucous
Sedge) We rventdotrn thc lirnicular raihrar,into Cribach Bar and sa*'fruiting ltcrcr svlvatico(Wood Vetch)
stragglingo\er thc hoathcrs.and botanrsrng$as intcrruptedbr the spectaclcofthrcc Bottle-nosedDolphins
disportingthcmsclvcscloseinshore Recentlrdrsturbcdateason the clifTtop had llantLnculus
punlflont.: (Snalltlorrcrcd Buttercup).Anchusctoruensi.\(Bugloss)and other arablc sccds broughtup froni thc prc-1937seedbank.and furthcr *cst Jon Tumer found a slightlvflushcd.disturbedshalevarcav,ithAnagallis mrnrnn (Chaffrrccd) rnd l:uphorbia e,trgaa(Drrarf Spurge).the lattcr not sccnhere sincethe diggingof a trenchbroughtup
. . O . l 9 l l 2 . , \ a n c t u a r y9 : l l - 1 3 ) N e a r b v .S t e r , eC h a m b e r s
b u r r c ds e e do f 2 l a r a b l el c c d s i n 1 9 7 8( C h a t e r A
(Fcnugrcck).neu for the site.in anothershalevarea.
tbunda late-florverngl'rtfbltum ornilhopodiode.r
Bv a small artrficial poud rle sas a colonr of Rrncltvpoclnmpmnotum (Tor-grass).occurringrn natural
grasslandin Cardsonlt on thts hcadland.TIie lcadcrconfidcntlrdemonstrated
l.)loclea
nuttallti (Nuttall'sWatcrrrccd)trr tlrc pond.but rias luckilr correctcdbr Richrrd Pnce r'ho recogniscdit as in f-actLtrgarosiphonmulrtr
(Curlr Watcruccd) Ho*'oftcn is this mistakcrnade.I n'onder'lAftcr pceringover a clitTto scc a colonv of
.\rtrhtn ktrminalr.r(Wild Scrvrce-trce)
growing*tlh l)opulustremula(Aspcn)rvc cndedup at the rvcstcnd of the
lreadland.
lookingdorvntt l:rutnvmusturopaeu.\(Spnrdle)in the rvindblorvn
oak rvoodand sceingabundantl4o1a
lacrea(Pab,Dog-r'iolet),hvbridisinghcreuith V. rtwnrana (CionlnonDog-r'iolet).In all rvc addedten ncw taxa
to thc site list. bringingthc total to,ll4. and morc importantlvrveall leamtsomcncrvspecies
A . O .C H A T E R
H I - N G E R F O R DB
. E R K S H ] R E( r ' . C2. 2 ) . I 4 t h & I 5 t h J U L Y
Fourteenmembersattcndcdthis meetingto rccordrn somegloriouscountnsideilr the rvcstof Bcrkshirc In finc
\\oathor.\\'0 split lnto groupsand hcadcdoffto dilferentparts ofvarious hectads.mcctingagainat thc cnd ofthe
dav irt a rcn plcasantpub on Hungcrfordconmlonto discussour finds Four lrcctadsuere exanrincdur detail,
: r n dr r c t u r n c du p s e r c r a il n t c r c s t r nsgp e c i e s .
Habitats rvere quite diverse. Arable fields proved productivc for r.reeds,with Legtnsia hybrttla (Ycnus'slooking-glass).
l:)tphorbia ertgira (Drvarf Spurgc).and the scarccl.unaria panrJktra (FincJcavedFumitorl SLr/4.7)all bcing rccorded.Waste groundrvas.tlpicalll', rich in an alien and need flora. Good finds includcd
(irni.\t.t linclorio subspltnclortu (Dvcr'sGrccnwecd). Onoportlonaconthtum(CononThtstlc).Lchum vulgore
(Vipcr'sBugloss)and,(' annab i'".rctrva( Hcmp)
Chalk grassland\\as scarcciu the arca.most of it havrngbeenlost to agriculture.but thcrorverea fer.vgood
fiagmcnts 1'he spectacularscenen around CoornbcGibbit (an ancrcnthurgman'spost on the top of a chalk
escarpment)rvas good fbr thc basic do*nland spccics. including some large plants of (.'ampanulttglomerdto
(Clustcrcd Bcllflorver). Arutcamptis pyramdalrs (Pvramidal Orchid) and Gyntnadcnitt conopr'erl (Fragrant

Reportsof Field Meetinss

Orchid). Roadsidevergesalso oftcn supportedsimilar vegetatron,wilh Erigeron acer (Blue Flcabane).Orobanche mtnor (Common Broomrape) and,Orobonche t:latior (KnapweedBroomrape)being recorded,the latter often
in spectacularlarge colonies.
Woodlands also provrdcd a f'ew nice species A potential hybrid Dryopterl,i hy'brid was found in an acidic
noodland. wltlle Milrum ellusun (WoodMillet). (-ampanula trachelium (Nettle-iear.edBellflower) and f'ol1'gonolum multtfloru,,l (Solomon's-seal)rvereall rccordedfrom more baserich woodland.
There were tro particularir nice tinds. The first rvas a population of about 100 plants of Ornitlngalum
pyrenotcum (Spiked Star-of-Bethlehcm)in a hedgero*' (SU/3.6). Although it flowers earlv June. the infloresccnccsoftlris scarce speciesrvere iong orer. and r.leresotting abundantseed.The second find v'as Galeop.sts
angustr.lblto(Red Hemp-nettle)in a woodland clearing (SU/2.7). The woodland had only recently becn plantcd,
lhe arearas previousll'anarablefield and this is the moretJpicalhabitalolthis specicsThis find is particularly
nicc as it updatesthe prc-I 970 rccordin the ScarcePlantsProject.
A very cnjoyable and productive meeting. therefore. in a lovell area and rvith good rveatherthroughout.
Manl thanksto all thosethat participated!
T D DINES
I S L E O F -I S L A Y . S O U T H E B U D E S .( v . c 1 0 2 ) l g r h - 2 6 t hJ U L Y
Bet$cen5 and l2 mcrnbersspenta gloriousll sumv rveeksun-efi6g rarious habitatson Islat.in orderto gather
data for the Atlas 2000. Thc precedingweeks had bcen extremelvdry It is thereforeprobable that someplants
\vcre\:eI] small in size and likclv to hat'ebeenoverlooked.Similarlv sonrcspcciesmay no1haveflorvcredven,
p r o l i r s c li \n l ' ) e 7 .
On the first dar rve exploredthc northenrpan ofthe Oa- startingfrom Krntra Farm. Our destinationrvasa
narrorv gully in the clift's rvhererve found licia sll.vaticoflMood Vetch). Sanfraga aizoides ffellow Saxifragc),
'\edttm rttsea (Roseroot).Trifoltum mediun (Zigzag Clover). ,\choenusnigricans (Black Bog-rush) andHelictol r t c h o n p u b e s c e n s ( D o w n v O a t - g r aB
s se)t .a v u l g a n s s t b s p . n a r i t i m a( S e a B e e t ) r v a s f o u n d c l o s c t o t h e s h o r e . a
plant which had not beenrecordedon the Oa since 1845. and has only one other known station onlslatt. It)upatortum cannahutum(Hemp-agrimony)
rvasfbund on the next gully to the west.
The rvalk through stuntcd heather moorland revealedParnassio palu.\tris (Grass-of-Pamassus)and Plngrutcula ltnitantca (Pale Buttenvort) rn wet flushes rvhile the grasst' clffs bet*,eenthe sandv ba1'shad (larex ^
lirlva. ln a flush above tlo bavs were some plants of l/accinium oxycoLcus(Cranbcrry) rihich is krorvn from
u r t l r 2 o ( h c rl r c c t r d sr n r . c l U 2 .
On Sundav momlng we visited Killinallan dunes to look fbr Epipactis palustns (Marsh Helleborine)and
rcrc dclighted to find over 60 plants in lirll bloom, along rvith G.vmnatleniaconopsaa(Fragrant Orchid), one
plant ofrvhrch was a vcn' palc pink. Also found were Carex poniculata (GreaterTussock-sedge)and a finc stand
(Blunt-flou,eredRush). This latter speciesoccurs in severalareas of flushed vegetation
of.luntu: subnodulo.su.s
.lustabovethe shoreon lsla1,.
Gvmnctdenio u)nop.\to (Fragrant Orchid). Dactllorhiztt mauiata (Heath Spotted-orchir)).D. fuchsii
(Common Spotted-orchid).D. purpurella (Northem N'[arsh-orchid)and Ltstera ovala (Common T1rayblade)
*ere afl florvering tn a nearbv flush. Drier sandy areas vielded an extensivestandof Anacamptis pyrLlmidalis
(Plramidal Orchid) together wilh Coeloglossum viritle (Frog Orchid), but Gentianella amarella (Autumn
Ccntian). although presenl.was badly affectedby the drought. Besidea burn was a clump ofFeslrrca arundinacea (Tall Fcscue).In the aftcmoonric visitcd BallvgrantWoods and Loch u'hcrePotamogeton/acens(Shining
Pondrveed)
rvasfound in a ncrusite,only its sccondon Islay.
On Mondav u'c split tnto threegroups.One exploreda noodedgullv rvhichleadsdou'nto the sea beyond
Ardtalla on thc east coast b,qnselum sylvaticum flilood Horsetail)- Corylus avellana (Hazel), Ouercu.srobur
(PcdunculatcOtk), 'SorbutauLupo,nl (Rorran):nd Ortopteris hnthosperma(Lcmon-sccnted
Fern) were found
hcrc.
The morc athlettcof our partv climbedlslay's highesthill. Beim Bheigeir.491 nr, wherc the.tfoundHuptrzio selago (Fir Clubmoss).Diphasiostum alptnum (NllpineClubmoss),Empetrum nigrum (Crowberry). Vaccintum vtt.\'idaea (Cowbcrry) and Thaltclnrnt alpinum (Alpine N4oadon-rue).On the routc up thei also found
A:plenittm trtchomanes-ramo,vrn (Green Spleenrvort),Cystopteris./ragihs (Briftlc Bladder-fem) and Rubus
.\'0xLlti I ts (StoneBrantble)
A third group explored an area of lochs and outcropping limestonesouth olr Ball)'grant. Pleasingfinds were
Ltthelia dortmonna Ovatcr Lobclia) and Nymphan a/ba (Wlite WatcrJilv). The latter. although abundanlon
the Hebrideanislandsis rvorthl,ofmention as it looks particularly stnking when in bloom.
A firrtlrereveningtrip took us to Claddachon lhe southlvcstcoastofthe RhinnswhereEnngium moritimum
(Sca-hollv) and Calystegtct.soltlanella(Sca Bindrveed)rverc florvering profusely together.Lrgusrrcum.tcoilcum
(Scots Lovage). Polvgonum oxrspermum (Ra1"s Knotgrass)- (.'oronopus didl'rnyt (Lcsser Srvine-cress)a:rd

Rcponsol Field Mectings

'7'7

('orontpus squamatus (Srvine-cress)wcre also present.The latter, a ncw Islav record, rvas found on the stonv
gronnd adjacentto the wave generalor.Carex distan,r(Distant Sedge)was grorving on nearby'rocks.
On Tuesdav one group followed the Laggan River upstream and discovercdFesluca arundinacea (Tall
Fescuc)near the bridgc ofthe 88018 road. On the banksofthe Kilcnnan Rrver,just cast ofthe C road. thev
foutd Gcntianella campe"-tti.t(Field Gentian) and Coeloglossumvirttle (Frog Orchid). Trro kilomctres east of
thc C road. Asplentum trtchomanes-ramosan(Grccn Spleenrvort)lvas locatedln ir new hcctadwhcrc tt rvaswell
bclos its prn'iouslr knowr siteon Bcrru Bhergcir
(NlarshSt
A sccondgroup visitcd LagganPourtrvestof Borvmorcuherc thcv recordcdHt,pericunta/ozle.r
throughv.c 102althoughcuriouslvnot includedon the BSBI recordingcardsfor
Jolu's-rvort)(farrll rvlig5psgad
rvasnotcdon the cliffs.
Scotland)..\peraulanarupicolo (Rock Sca-spurrer')
\'enturedalong the cdgeof thc dunesat
ln thc evening\\'e werc caught in a thunderstormbut ncvertheless
Krlclrornanrvhcrcuc rvereres'arded$ith ancl\'plant fbr lshT - Euphorbiaparalia.s(SeaSpurge).On consulting the Atlas of Scarce Plurts we discoveredthat rve had cxtendcd its knolvn range b1' findrng rvhat is nolv its
mostnorthwcsterh,stationin thc Brittsh Isles.
Vetch)bl the bum and alongthe shore
Also prescnlat Kilchornanwas an alnrost\vhitc l4cld croc'ca(Tufi,ed,
ne tbund an impressive.Junctts*iIh decumbentrootingstems-probablvthe hybrid betu'ccn../zrcz,rttcutif'lorus
\\as sccnat rts onll kloln lslay'locationcloscto the
utd.l urticulattts Orutnt.srepens(ConmronRestharrorv)
paththich leadsto the shorc.
On Wedncsdavonc group *alked liom Ardbcg. up orcr rough uroorlandto Loch Uigeadail,uJrich was
bt, small-sharpstoncsrvith liftlc vegetatlonotherthan,luncusbulbo:us (BulbousRush)and Hapersurrourrdcd
zta stlago (Fir Clubmoss). The rvct land alongsidethc outflorv burn containedC'arexhosliono (Tannv Scdge).
lorrcr dorrn.the bum ran througha dccpgulll'full of C'oryh.ruvellana(Hazcl).,\orbus.tuLuparia(Rox'an)and
t.untt,'ra pentlrnvnum (Honeysuckle).trith lltlui.setum:.llv.lt.cum(Wood Horsctail)nearbl A rockl outcrop
closcto the ruincdcroft at SolamyieldedHymenoph\llumvrlsonn (\Vilson'sFilntr'-fem)whileMenlha , vtllosu
(Applc-mint)still sunivcd rn the tin1,ualledgarden.
Thc cnergcticeroup crplored the parth r.vooded
area uith some limestonecast of Loch Lossit *hcro ther
(Do*nv Currant).both in the rvoodhudand bv thc seashorc ('artx r.fillva utd Pes/uca
lbund Arbe: .\ptLLrtum
stgutltco(Giant Fcscue)wcre seenin rvoodlandabovc the cliff line uith l'. onrndinacea(Tall Fescue)at the
b rt v a t e r s a m c f o c a t i o n a n d a l s o i n a n i n l a n d w o o d . H y m e n o p h y l l u m v r l s( W
o ni li si o n ' s F r l m v - f e m ) r v a s f o u n d a
f-allneartire coast.
In thc evening*e visitcdlhe Ctrsinm dissectum(MeadorrThistle)sitc at Port Charlotteand a tem-richgulll'
t l n h c r d o \ \ J l h c c o : l s lo f t l r e R h r n n s
Thursdar'sr isit to Jura rvasan organisational
nightmaredueto thc brcakdo*trofthe ferry cnforcinga crossing in a f:shingboal onlv to find that thc regularbus sen,icchad alsobeencurtailed Holvcver.the variedhabltats
on and noar tlic north shore ofLoch na Mrle (CiorranBar) and thc hcadlandat Sron Gharbli lieldcd r9lrlerr.r
ttiportrta (Trifid Bur-marigold).Stellaria gruminea(LesserStitchrvorT).
Ronuntulussceleratus(CelenJeaved
urlsonrl (Wilson'sFrhnv-fem)and,Sedum
Buttercup).H),menophyllum
ro.sea(Roseroot)On the shorcitselfrvas
,ltrntz.tfbltosu.:(Leaf, Rush).the first recordlbr this taron in the vicc county.
On Fridal thc energctic group power rvalkcd up to Rubh a Mhail. Trvo sites for L'tcia ,ry/varlca(Wood
Vetch) and two sitcs for Equisetttm x rothmaleri (E. arven;e t [,. palustre) u'erc discovered:and,Carex laevigola (Snrooth-stalked
Sedgc)was seengrorvingbr thc banksofthe Margadalefur'cr. A sortreup BeinnTart a
Mhil on the Rhrnnsrevcalcdx pauclt\ ofrntcrcs-tingplantsand uas particularll heavl gorngthroughrory tall
(' oI lunu vuIgarts (Heathcr).
Thc sun still shoneon Saturda,"-.
our last day fbr recordtng.The high ground rvcst of Sanaigmoreproduccda
rccord for Leontodon hispidu.s (Rough Halvkbrt). an extrenrcl),rare plant on Islav. though apparentlv morc
nearDun nan Nighean.but no othcr major
:rbundantin the past. and ('arcx paniculdla \GrczrtetTussock-sedgc)
records On the coastline betrvccnSanaigmoreand thc southem cnd of the Ardrave dunss was a gullv with
Polypoclium inlerJectum (lntermediatePoll,pody). There is an apparcnt scarcitl of recent rccords of thc less
common speciesof Polypoelrtrm.i.e. P. interjectlrm(IntemrcdiatePolvpodl') and P. tanthricam (Southcm
Pollpodr) One explanationma1'be the palatabilityof all threespccieswhich could resultin the mombcrsof the
gcnusdecliningduringperiodsofincreasingshccpnumbersandgreatcrgrazingpressure.
On thc side of a further gulll' rvas a plant of Junipents commltnis (Junipcr)bearrnga great numbcr of female
c o n c s r r h i l c a n o t h c r g u l J l r v a s l i n c d w t l h 0 s m t nrdeog a l l . r ( R o l a l F c m )S m a l ld e p r e s s i o n s i n t h e p e a t n c a r L o c h
LaingcadarlBeagheld all threespcciesoFDro.stra.Thc upper\a,:'er(Sphagnun) ofthese dcpressions
had dried
out conrpletelvThis mcantthatthenomralpattcnrof distributionrvithll. intermedia(Oblong-leaved
Sunder.v)
in
the decperwatcr in the csntrc ofthe pool. D. longt.folra(Grcat Sunderv)on the pool margin and D. rotundiJblia
(Round-lealedSundeu) on thc adjacentnroorlanduas partrcularll easr to obsen'c.The surroundingpcat bog
hcld largc quantiticsol Rh1'ncho.spora
a/6o (White Beak-sedge).Around Ardnave Loch. Baldelha ranunculoide.s
(LcsserWater-plantain)rvas grazedright dorm rvith the florversat ground levcl. quite differcnt from the vigorous
plantsrn the outflorvditch

18

Reportsof Field Meetings

Overall. rt \vas a most enjolable and rervardingrveck.rvith trvo nes' speciesfor Islal'being discoveredand I
of its plant
would like to thank cvcnone lvho took part. Ho\rever.Islal still rcmainsvcn, patchv in the qualit,"rccordsand an\ asslstancclvith further recordrngfor the Atlas 2000 rvill be greatll apprcciated.At presentit is
planncdto organisea srrnilarrveekJongmeetingon Jura in Jul1 l999 (possiblvrentingJura Housewhich has
please
fbr l5). againto gatherinfonnationfor thc Atlas 2000. Ifanl'onc is seriouslyinterested
accommodatron
gct ln touch as bookrngsnccd to be madervcll in advance.
The orvncrs.trustees-factors and kccpcrs fbr thc Ardtalia. Dunlossit. lslal'urd Laggan Estatesare thanked
sinccrchfor grantingpermissionfbr accessto their lands.
R.GULLIVER
S E V E R NE S T U A R YA N D R E E N S .M O N N 4 O U T H S H I R(Er ' c 3 5 ) 2 6 t h - 2 7 t hJ U L Y
The onlt thrcc bookcdmembersniet the leaderat the M4 scn'iccstationnearerit 23a in rarnthat was to pcrsist
all dar'. All set off ul thc lcadcr's car to the first stop at BolvleazeReento scarchfor a fruiting stem on the earlv
T u f t c d S e d g eT
) houghthcrcis30mctresofitalongthebankhere,itoccursnorvhercclsc
t ) o r v c r i n g ( - u r e x e l u (t u
rn thc \'.c. On the opposite side of thc road a grapncl dragged out Ranuncttlus ctrcinalus (Fan-lcavcdWatercronfbot) utd ['otomogtton trichoide.s(Hairlikc Pondrvccd).thc formcr shorvingan occasionalflolver. 100 m
alorrgthc road nas a reenchokedwithHydrochari.t morsus-rande(Frogbit). On, and at GoldcliffPill a rvalk rvas
the follorvingDuckrveeds:
Lemnagrhba,L. mtnornccessanalong its castcnrbank. hrmediatell'.a reen-vielded
L rristLlcttand,\piroclelapolt rhtza y'utothcrhtd,Medicago arubrca (SpoftodMedick) bearingflou'crs and coilcd
and spinv f-mits On chmbingover the sea-lall a numberof saltmarshplarts werc lbund on the edgeof the pill.
-['lrcse
inc]udcd()ananthelachenaltt(Parslo'Watcrdroprvort).Tnfilrum./rog/errn (StrarvberryClover)and a
rrunrberof cormon haloph\tes.Nearcr thc raiscdbarrkBupleurun tenttissimum(SlcndcrHarc's-car)startedto
:rppcar and soon each had fbund therr ou,n plant. Closer to the mouth of the pill and near to the raised bank,
nurbcrs ol Althaea ofJictnohs (Marsh Mallorv) *ere found. Before hcading towards a largc plant with its top
(ScaClovcr)rvascxaminedbut onh fnlits could
branchcscuned to resemblelargehoms. Tri/blium.\qltdmosum
bc fbund. As the large plant uas approached.tho smokl r'cllol florvcrs and thc numcrous.tightll packed.flasklikc fiurts indicatedthat it \\as Hroscumu.snrgcr (Henb:rne).Manl smaller onesgrew nearbl'. A rvalk along the
top of thc sca-lall eastwardsmeantpassingthroughthousandsof SlenderHare's-earto u,herea barepatchr.vas
irccupredbr a small number of plants of I'ucctnelhorupestrts(Stiff Saltmarsh-grass),
the branchesof rvhich
ofplants of*'ell-troddenarcas.Thc stiffinf'lorcsccncc
separated
rt from other
spreadliorizontalll.characterrstic
similargrassesthat arc usuallyflattcncdduc to similarprcssures.
As the rain had not abatedafter lunch. rve made a quick stop at a reenby Salt-marshLane to drag out some
grecnen' containlng WollJia arrhiza (Rootlcss Ducklvccd). rvhich could be lclt as gritty particles rvhcn gcntly
Marshfield
rubbcdbctwccnfingcr and tliumb. The next stop rvasrvellto the west ofNervportat Broadwa),Reen.
10 seet\\'o large patchcsof Hydntcorl-le ranunculoide.s(Floating Pennr'uort)rvhich so far has cscapedthc attcntions of CCW. Thc rain eascda littlc fbr a long lvalk along Runrno.Grcat Wharf rvhichrcvcalcdthousandsof
llrtrtleum mLtrinum (Sea Barlcl). nant ('ardutts tenutflonrs (Slcndcr Thistlc). tlvo patchcs of I'crilis nodo.ya
(Knotted Hedge-parsley)
and a plant of Rumex cnstotus (Grcck Dock). During this rvalk Mrs P Millman
cnquired as to the identit_vof a patch of rather dricd up grass. A closcr look shorvcd it ro be Catapodium
milnnLtm(SeaFern-grass).
a nelvv.c. record.
The rain beganto intensifi again so rve rctumed to the servicestation and said our goodbycsas none ofthem
rntcndcdto returnon Sundat.
I rvas norr' f-acedivith a dilemma: as no-oneelsehad bookedfor the rveekendshould I visit the sen,icestation
on Sunday'nroming or not'1Tlie r.reatherrvas fine so I made thc trip to find tr.vomemberswaiting for me. Both
had sct offthc prcriousda1.the first on a bicl'clefiorn Bristoland the otherbv car from Barry and both had had
to tunl back becauscof problcms. so I dccidcdit uas onlv fair to givc thcm a guidedtour. This time the first stop
\vas a \\ct nreadolr witli a reen rvith a rich flora. the highlights of rvhich rvere a fine covcring of Frogbit and a
nrargin lined rvith a'arer pseudocyperu.s(C1"perusSedge) and llumex hydrolapathum (Qpa1 Water-dock).
Another dock. rvhich I first thought rvas Marsh Dock proved on closcr cxamination to be a form of Rumex
obtttsi.fithu.;(Broad-lcavcdDock). its tepals liaving longer teeth than usual. A ivet field tliat in thc scvcnticshad
nunrcrousplants ofCommon Moadorv-rucprovidcd not a srnglconc. though rvc did find (ialeopsts btJida (Brfid
Hcmp-ncttlc).Visits rveremade to reens.Goldcliff Pill and SaltmarshLane as per Saturda_"-.
but a site near
l\'liddlcRccn.Whitsonha,dLeptdrumlutrfohum(Dittander)coveringa patchofrvasteground.
As on thc previousda1. the leaderrvasthankedand all departedfor home.
T,G. EVANS

19

Rcpons ul'Field Mcetrngs

cAMEL.FORD. EAST CORNWALL

(r c 2) lst 3rd AUGUST

Thc dclugc and thc botanists arrn'cd at Camelford togcthcr. but dcspitc thc fornrcr. the laftcr rronl The number
attcndillg was evcntuallr to bc I q. sonrejust for a da1'. others fcrr thc wholc oftlris vcn' rret ucckcnd.
On Friday evening lvc wcrc ablc to meet in a vrllagc hall at St Tclth thanks to tlre krnd help of Maq and
Tonr .{tkinson Ovor tca,/cofJic rrc drscussed thc progranrrle ahead of us: to add to the number of specrcs
rccordcd fbr each ofthc fbur Bodrnrn Moor hcctads (no casl task) to updatc thc nroderatclr'-recentrecords and to
target spccics tliat hadn't bccn sccn for vears.
Sxturda) was ven successful One group searched Dllidstorv Moor and nearbv famrs. anothcr chosc thrcc
rlthcr undcr-recorded arcas on Bodnrin Moor - Buttcm Hill. Brar Dorvn and marshcs to the south-uest of
Borrrthrck rrhile thc thlrd \\cnt scarching for lost rccords. Tlre previouslv undcr-rccordcd Orcopttri: lintbosptrno lLenton-scentcd Fcnr) uas found bv scrcral strcar)s Rccords tbr l'ttphrasra unglrco. Ii ton/irtcr.
I ntttranthu tnd [i nttnort'stl (Erebrights) ucrc updirtcd. Montte fonlunu subsp tmprtntonl (Blinks) rras
rdcntrtlcd u'hile Ie.rllcrr ovlla subsp lllrllrlrr lShccp s-tlscLLc) a first for Easr C'onrrrall. nas noted in thrcc
tetrads rvithin the hectad SXll ,\ ('ullrtriche bnlict (PcdLrnculate Water-stan\ort). uhich rs proving morc
conlrorr on Bodmin Moor than xt first realised. \\'as sccn ln a ncrv site. The damp grassland br larious tracks
supportcd ('httmatmelum nohile (C.htmomile). but ('1,star1rr,., liagrln (Brittlc Bladdcr-fbm) could not be
rcfound at Slaughrerbridge. north ofClamelford. despite much scarching. This rvas one ofthe old rccords madc bl'
R W Drrrd.
Sundiir brought torrential rain- \ct ncu rccords continucd to bc madc. l)mtptcns
L(tthu:tdno (Narrc\\
B u c k l e r - f c m ) u a s r c f b u n d i n t \ \ o h e c t a d s .r h r l c l 6 n c r r s p e c i e sr r e r e a d d c d t o t h c t o t a l i b r S X / 2 7 O n c d e t e r nrrncd rlroup rralked thc rallcrs and roads south rrf Crnrcitbrd. findrng a nerr sitc f6y l)rytpttns
atmttl,t
(Har-scentcd Bucklcr-tern) lntl 2 sitcs lbr j'oo huntlrs (Sprcadrng Mcadorr-qrass) At the same tlrnc thc\
rncreascd the hoctad total b\' l9 species Drippnrg $'ct. thc\ souglit relllge in a church to rcdo their card for thc
oll\
Br -1 00 p m. on Sunda\ rle *erc making our wav to Boscastle to cclcbratc thc success ofour efforts uith a
Comish ('reani Tea. But thls \\'as not to be the cnd of thc ucckcnd On Mondar'. in still morc rain. a fcw of us
rrsttcd Doznran Pool to scc Isrnlt.s echrno,;pold (Spnng QLrillrvort)- this proving to be both abundant and in
uoodsporc LunchatthefamousJarlaicalnrruasfblloriedbrasun'cvofstroambanksrndbogsnearasrnal)
nroorlard rlflagc. Hcrc \\rs morc ('lnntcremclun robrle (Chrnromile). l)ro.seru rrtttuiltlrtlia (Round-learcd
Suncicrr) rn flouer and an urrr:sual llrn rrhosc nanrc rs not 1o he firuld either in Kent or Stlcc. but lt \\irs thore
rtnd rras another first fbr C'onr\\alll

R O S EJ . N l U R P F I Y
UI-LAPOOL. WESTER ROSS (r c l0-5) 2nd 6th AUGUST
Sct rn the spectacular sccncn of Wester Ross. this Atlas 2000 rnccting provcd to bc the most enjolable and
prodrrctrrt: of thc *holc vear for n':e.Week long rvall-to+vall sunshine contributed to thc high moral of thc groLrp.
l n d s c r r s i l e d o t o t a l o f l l h c c t a d s ( 1 0 k m s q u a r e s ) .T r v e n t r - s i x n r c m b c r s l o i n c d t h c n r e e t i r r gt h r o u g h t h e l c e k .
ancl rircsc c:rnrc ttorn tir lnd srdc Wc ncrc rcn fbnunatc tc, bc jorncd bt f livc Jennr fiom thc Natural Hlston
N I u s c L L t nr r. h o b o u g h t a L a n d r o r c r * i t h h i m : t h i s m e l n t s c c o u l d d o t * i c c a s n r L r c hr c c o r d r n ga s o t h c n i i s c * o u l d
h a r e b c c n p o s s r b l c .W e s ' e r e a l s o l o r n c d b t m c t n b c r s o f t h c L o c h B r o o m F i e l d C l u b . n h o \ \ c r c \ c n c n t l l l l s l r r s t l c
and hclpcd cnomouslv rrth therr ri'ealth of local kro*lcdgc.
On dar onc- *c dccrded to stlck close to Ullapool and aftcr introductions and initial splitting into groups. \\'c
hc:rdcd rrp torvards thc Rhrdorroch Forest. l'ith groups bcrng placcd along the rvat'. The lo*er groups. in NFVI.9.
cxanrrncd thc arca around Loch Achall. rcpofiing Nvmphata crlba subsp eccidtnluli.\ (\\rhite Watcr-lily). Ox,,-riu
r/l.q,trn (N'lountarn Sorrel) and tbur spccics of Luphrtt;tLt (ll. urcttcrt. fi. tonfuso. l.]. nemoroso and l-,
n t L n t n t l N \ H i g h c r u p t h e v a l l e r . r n N F V 2 . 9 . t h c a r c a l r o L r n d L o c h a n D a i m h u a s c x : r n t i l r c da n d p r o v c d t o b c
Inuch nrore spccics rich. (irtxl.tt'rt rLTurr.r (Crccping L:td\'s-trcsscs) rrls found in a sntrll patch ol pinc
roodl:rttd- nhilc .\Lr-rr/iag.rrrl:(,1(/c.\(Ycllo\\ Saxrfiagc). Ilht nchrnprtru a/br (\Vhite Bcak-scdgc). l,'icttt .t.t'!yatictt
(\\'trotl Vetch)- I:riophorum lLttilohum (BroadJeaved Cottongrass) and ]'ol)'podiiln x mantonrae (['. mterltttunt
I' tulgqre\ werc all reporled fionr various small gorgcs. A particularll nice base-rich outcrop r-lelded,4rp1(,
"
nilon vtride (Green Spleenrvort\- I'seudorchts albda (Snrall-nhite Orchid) and GallitLn horealc (Northcm
Bcdstraw). l'latonthera bi.lblto (Lcsser Butterflr-orchid)
rras found on tlic cdge of thc loch. and lJetula nana
(Drrarf'Brrch) utd Arctostaphtlrr; alpina (Mountain Bcarbern) ucre found on the open moorland. Although
surprrsed it thc spccics diversirr of this f-rrstdar. it rcallr scl thc sccnc fbr thc ulrole nrcetrng.
Drr trro *'as thc big dav for arctic alpinc spccics. ls thc lholc group launched an attrck on Beinn Dearg in
NH.'2fi \\csplitintot\\ogroups.onerpproachingthcnrountrlnllonrthcWcst.thcotlrcrsusingthcLandrorer
rrnd ctrtling rn tiom thc North-cxst ln all. IIJ Sclrcc spccics and I Rcd Data Book spccies rrcrc rccortlcd on thc
da\ ti(rnl onc square (is this a rccord'l) The West grorrp rrcre blessed $'ith a stcadv $alk-in to thc mountarn. and

t{()

Reportsof FrcldMcctings

a nealth of good speciesbcing fcrundright ncxt to the path. includingMinuortto sedoides(Cyphel),Carex

rrrxclr/rs(RussetSedge)and ,luncushiglumts (Two-florvercdRush) Tlie dripping ledgesof the valley'sides.
howcver, p roved most productive. with Saxtfruga nlvalr-r (Alpine Saxifrage).L)raba noruegrca (Rock Whitlorvgrass). Care.t atrata (Black Alpine-sedgc) and Poly.strchumlonchiris (Holly Fern) relishing the conditions.On
the othcr sideofthe mountain.morc scarccspccrcs\\erc recordcdfrom grassl'slopes(Jzncrs caslaneus(ChesISalix lopponum
nut Rush) andAlchamtllctvichurat) and rock ledges(/'rlr glaaca (GlaucousNleadorv-grrss)(Dor,n1 Willou) and Cerru;tiunturcttcum (Arctic Mousc-car))Thc highlighttbr them.however,\as Artemi.\td
ru,ruegicd(NonvegranWomrwood)on the sunrnritplatearrUntbnunatclvhonevcr.all goodthingsnrustcometo
an end.and rlhilst u'e *erc cnjolinu a beer back in Ullapool-they \\crc havurgan epic of ajoumcl' home(see
.\lntrt ('ul: ar StorurBhrurgh.B,\Rl Navt.v
77 \)')
Not \\anting to drop the paccofthe mccting.we dccrdedto tlcklc the Fannichs.to the Southof Llllapool.on
the thrrd day' Frornthe rlain road (A853). we headedup to Loch A'Mhadaidhand thcn split into thrcegroupsto
covertwo hcctads.Thc u,alk up. throughNH/2.7. rvasr*r'arding rvithoccasionalpatchcsofBclrla nana (Dwarf
B:rch) and Arctostaphv-lo.r
a/plna (lVlountainBear-berry)in tlte crposedmoorland.Unfbrtunatelr',t*o (rathcr
trttcr) menrbcrsrrho ot-tcredto prcsson to Loch Li to updatesonrcold recordsof Scarccspcciesu'creunableto
do so-but tltcr rvererorarded vtth Ltcopodiumonnolinltm(lntcrruptedClubnross)
lust abovethe Loch. Squarc
NFI/f 7 also prored productile. lrth nice populationsol' ,\ubularia aqualico (Arvhvod) rn Loch A'N{hadaidh.
('ur(x.\uruttli.\ (Russct Scdge)on darnp lcdgcs.and p)c:rtifultllbrrs chomaentorus(Cloudbern) in fruit to
provrdcrelicf in the vcn hot sunl
Br nolr rve nccdeda changeof scenen,.so rvc headedto thc co:rstWest of Ullapool on thc fburth da1. Wc
'I'richomones
.\'peciosum
bcgarirvith a verl enlol,abledivcrsion,Ieadbv Clive Jcmr\,,to scc the gametoplryte
of
(Krilamel Fcm) in a small cave (i c. a tight squcczein on vour stonrachl)rn Grlinard Bar (NGi9.9) We then
split into groupsto examrnethe rcst of the RubhaMor pcninsular,rvith its cliffs and nunrerouslochs.Findsof thc
dar includedAlugtrpvramrtlalis(PvrarnrdalBugle)on a cliflnear Opinan.('arcrrlimosa \BogSedge).Cladiun
murl.\cu.\(GreatFcn-sedge)
andDcschampsto.\etaceo(Bog Hair-grass)on moorland(all in NG/8.9).
The final dav sau a distinctspit in tactics.Two groupsheadcd1othe north of Ullapoolto recordthe coast.
gorges:urdrloorland of that arca. lhrle a rnorernasochtstic
group dccrdedto pop up An Tcallach The fomrer
groupshad agood da1. recordingAspleniumvtrtde(Grccr Spleen*ort).T'rolliuseuropoea.r
(Globc Florver)and
Cirsium helarophyllun (Mcltncholv Thistle) around Langwcll (NC/I.0), and Osmundorcgalr,r(Roval Fem),
('dlumagro:rrscpigelo.\(Wood Snrall-rccd)andMenthu pult:gium(Pennvroyal)near Achrltibuie(NC/0 0) Thc
latterspecics-a Vicc-countr,first. rlas urexplicablvgro* ing in a ler'-bl it's origrnsare a mvsten. The second
group attackcdAn Tcallachand hld a greatdav rn perfcctu,alkingconditions.Although*'c didn'tre-findan old
rccord for Saxi/ragu .despitosu (Tufted Saxifiago). rve did find extcnsive populations of Saxifroga nvularis
(HrghlandSarrfragc).l Rcd Data Book spccrcs.and also rccorded('erasttunrorcticum (Arctrc Mouse-ear).
l)robo noft(gtc.r (Rock Whitlongrass)and l)t:chanpsiu te.spito.ttr
subsp.rrlTrrrn(Alpinc Hair-grass)Excrtcnrent on thc dav rvas providcd by' one of thc group disappearingdorvn a rvot gully. follorled b1, thc sound of
extensiverock-fall.Althoughhe causedthc fall. he fortunately*asn't actualll part ofit!
A stunningmcctlngthen.wlth greatplants.greatwcatl)er.grcatcompanvand superbfbod and drinl I'd like
to thankall thosethat partrcipatcdfbr makrngthe rneetinga succcss.Clive Jenry tbrjoinrng us and providinghrs
c\pertise and the Landrover. and both Douglas Hendersonand Co[n Scoullcr fbr their hclp in arranging thc
nreetlng.
T D DINES
W I G A N F L A S H E Sa n dH I G H F I E L D M O S S ( v c 5 9 ) .g t h A U G U S T
Tnclle mcmbers.irtcludingthe lcader.met at thc Orrcll Water Park and amalgamatcd
into threecarsto lisit the
cornplexof flashes(natcrbodiesresultingfrom miningsubsidence)
in thc south-east
comer ofhectad SD/5.0and
a rclict primcvalmosslandhabitaton the westcmedgeof hcctadSJ/69.
The torvpathofthc Leigh brancli ofthe Lccds & Lrlcrpool canal rvindsthrougha whole seriesofflashes.
ellouing thc paft) accessto the edgcsofWestuood Flashand Pearson'sFlashand vicus acrossothcrs.principalh Scotsman'sFlash. This complcx of rrpen\\ater and marshl arcas hosts a lvidc rangeof aquaticsand
nrargrnals
set in a landscapchcalilv aflbctedbl,tippcd acidiccollien shalc.Pa(icularll'linc r.veredenseflorvcrfng standsof Eupaloriuntcannabrnum(HcnrpAgrimonl) studdeduith buttcrflies,also ofnotc rvcreblue-grey
clunrps of Typhu ,, qlouca (Htbrid Bulnrsh) tnd SthLttnoplectuslobtrnoemontani (Grey Club-rush). Thesc
rretlands gref,tlv diversifl this t1'prcallyacid rcgion rvith further diversitl found around the northenl banks of
WcstrvoodFlash rvhich arc grcatll affcctedb-vpfa (pulvcrisedfuel ash),tipped fiom the fomer Westwoodpowcr
slation.Oncs famouslocallv for Its vast seaofmarsh orchidsand hvbridstherehas beenstrongcolonrsatron
by
rrrllol scnrb. thinningout theseorchidsconsiderablr'.
Houever. in sonregladesand arourd the canopr cdgcs.
pallrrrrr (Marsh Hclleborine)*erc still florvenng:patchcsof lvrola rotuntlifitlia(RoundJeaved
rLnnl l:pipclctt.s
Wintergrccrr) *crc also cvidcnt Also scattcrcd \\'ere erect seed-headsol Monotropu hypoptt!'.\ (ycllo\\

Reportsof Field Meetings

rJl

Brrd's-nest). in places almost hidden by dense carpets of non-florvcring I',prpacttspoluslris which forms the
domrnantground-coverrn places. lt rs notable that these interestingspecicsarc not normallv found in the acrdic
hinrerlandbut on the calcareousdunesofthe Scfton coast about 30 km to thc wcst.
ln contrast to these heavily culturalll impactedvegetationcommunities,fbrmed in the last 100 or so \,ears,
tlre final area visited survives from thousandsof y'carsof Sphagnum growth and pcat accumulation. Lowland
pcat bog, knou.n localll as mossland.was once a major habitat type in South Lancashireu'ith huge areasnos
developedfor agriculture or subsumedby industrial dcvclopment.Highfield Moss is highly modified, Stephenson s Liverpoolto Manchesterraihvayline (1830)cutsit in trvo.it is partiallycut-overand dratnedbut still holds
The last localll'sun'ivtngplantof
oflorvland pcatbog and has SSSIdesignation.
a suiteofspecresrcpresentative
l"ucciniumoxvcoccos(Cranberry')rvasrc-foundalongrvith otlier speciesnativeto the Lancashtrcplatn but non
rare. Happily. onc ofthe speclesto sun,ivc local cxtlnctlonrs Genticltcrpneumonanthe(Marsh Gentian),lvith
over a lrundrcd bluc trumpets found fanfaring from thc dcnscMoltnta caeruleo (Purple Moor-grass).so typical
ofdryrng mossland.both northand southofthc railrval'linc.
P S GATELEY (leadcr)
PORTHMADOG. CAERNARFONSHIRE (V.C .I9). 9th IOthAUGUST
Sir rncmbcrsattcndcdthe nreeting.whrch*as farourcd bl hot and dry rvcather.The main oblectlvasto recordin
hcctadSIJ/4 3 for thc Atlas 2000 Project.
Nlost ofthe Saturdar rvas takcn up rvith recordingin the sand dune systemof Morfa Blchan. ln front ofthe
irrrmaturcduncs nearestthe sea were tlpical forcshorcplants such as (-ahle mailttmo (Sea Rocket),Salsola kali
(Prickly Saltrvort) and various spccicsof ,,1lr7lex, sfiich were not mature enoughto positivelf idcntifl. Further
inland rvere Euphorbia paraltas (Sea Spurge). Calystegia soldanella (Sea Bindweed), Ilosa prmprnelltfoho
(Brrmet Rose) and Ononis repens (Common Restharrorv).Also presents'ere two speciesof Evcning Primrosc.
nantcl-x
OeruttheracamhriccrandOenotheraglazioviana.Thcrc *as the faint possibilitl of hlbrids but this rvas
not confimrcd.What rcallr,impressed
us werethe magnificentstands.ovcr fifty ofthcm- ofthc nationallrscarcc
plutt. .luncusaczlr.r (SharpRush).rvith its needle-sharp
stiff lcavcs.
Unfortunatcll there ucre no genuinedune-slacksbut further rnlandthe tcrraul bccamcvcn marshr'.thc
(Sharp-flor.r'ered
Rush). rvhich tendedto crorvd out lolver-growing
donrinantplant bcing.htncus ctcuti-litlia.r
The most spectacuHorrever.thcrervcrcmagnificcntdisplaysof111ftrumsaltcarn (PurpleLoosestrife).
specres.
lar pfarrt in the marsh was Rlner hydrolapathum (Watcr Dock), a rarc plant in North Wales. Thcre rvcrc half a
dozenor so ofthcm in a ditch.projectingabovethe restofthe \cgctrtion
The latter part of the dav rvas spcnt around Borth-1,-gcstlooking at waste ground and salt marsh. Typical
plants of the latter habitat rvcrc scen.including(ilaur marittmo (Sea-milkwort).Aster lripolium (Sea Aster).
('ochlearia angltco (English Scunlgrass) and Carex extensa(Lottg-bractcd Scdgc). On thc q'astc ground rvc
fotnd Geraniumpu.sillum(Small-flolvcrcdCranc-s-bill).Artemisittahsinthium(Womlr'ood), Ltnaria repen.t
(PafcToadflax)tnd ('helidoniumma1u.s
(GreatcrCclandrnc).
The Sundal moming was spentexploring a marsh. occup-v-ing
thc sitc of thc non dricd up Llyn Ystumllyn. lt
marilimu.\(SeaClub-rush).Lychni.t./kts\\as not as interestingas rve had hoped.but u'e did seeBolboschoenus
cacalr(RaggedRobin) and f'otenttllapolustn.r(Marsh Cinquefoil).
'piccc
Wc lcft thc
dc rcsistancc'to thc final aftcnroon,rvhichrvasspenton thc Glasll'n Marshcs.an SSSL
Thcscaro cntirch man-madcand are on land rcclaimcdfrom thc sca in lll05. rvhcnWrlliarn Maddocksbuilt the
cob across the Glaslr,n Estuary. The main interest in the site was the presenceof trvo red-dataplants, namel,y.'
llleochurtsparuula (Dwarf Spike-rush)andLtmoselltraustrahs(WelshMudlvo(). both of ri'hichwere secn.A
dozcnor so clunrpsof thc Lleochans rverelound in thc mud in a conrcrcloseto the river Apparentlythc populations van tremendouslv fiom 1,earto vcar and thc habitat rs not entircll safc for thc plant. The Limosella
ctustrnlt.t
\\as prcscntin largcnumbcrsand ovcr a rvidcarca.It mal,bc the onl) cxtantsitc in Britain now.
In all 12 nervllectadrecordsrvcrcmadcand ovcr 30 oost 1987rccordsrvcrcnotcd.
G. BATTERSFIALL
l 5 t h W E L S H A G M a n d F I E L D M E E T I N G S .M O N S ( r ' c 3 5 ) 2 9 t hA U G U S T - | s t S E P T E M B E R
Twent*fbur membersarrivedfbr Fridal drnncrand cvcningfield meeting Mr T.G. Evanspolntedout the large
colonv of Pcla.rrte.\
laponlcu.\(Giant Butterbur)on the edgeof the BerthinBrook just outsidethe gatesof the
G*ent Tertiary College. Usk. u'hcrc the meetingrvas being held. Tu'o alien grassesu,ereobservedoutsidea largc
rvheeledrefuse vehicle. Thel' were Setaria vindis (Green Bristle-grass)and llchrnochkn crusgalli (Cockspur).
that arc oftcn secn wherc bird seedis used. ln this casc a look inside the vehicle revealedcleaningsfrom bird
houses-the obvioussource.A shorti.valktowardsthe River Usk broughtthc part),to a uecdy field. wheremany

l(?

Reportsof Field Meetincs

plants of Srnctpisalba (White Mustard) rvere grorving. Arthur Chater was able to demonstratethe drft'erence
bct\\ecn two speciesof lvild oats The border of this field nith thc nvcr rvas lined lvith a rorv of Heracleum
(Giant Hogweed)that improsscdmant' in thc partl wrth therr sizc. Anothcr large plant lvas
munte.qozztonum
Alru\tlt .qtgutllt'd(Black Bent).rvhrchcould be confuscdtvitltA. .;tolonilbrathoughthe fbrmcr lacksstolons.its
plnicjc branchesrenrainpalclrtafter flo$cring and rt hasa tnnrcatehgule.Ar alienPoplarplantationon thc nYer
banli crcrtcd rntcrcstas did l\'pulu.t tnchocarpa(Wcstcm Balsanr-poplar)
plantcdncarthe prcnicsitc. In fading
lrght./']/L/1.\
httracrotdes(Ha*kl'ecd Oxtongue)rvasnotedon the roadsidebcfbrereturnto the college.
On Saturdarmomtng the field trip startedat Pen-flbrd-goch
KccpcrsPondat 475 m. A shortrvalk pastthe
pond led thc part] to Prvll Du. a disused limestone quarry above rvhich rvere ()alluna vulgaris (Hcather).
Iimpatrum nigrum (Crowbern') and,htncus squarroslts (Hcath Rush) and in the quarry.Campanulatrochelium
(Nettle-leavcd
Bellflolcr). AquilcBto valgarls (Columbine)and llrizo media (QuakingGrass).In v.c 3-5therc
:rreonlr thrce silesfor (jvmruttarPiun roberlionun (LinresloneFem).hereit grerr anrongrocksc. rl m abore the
path end r fitrrd rras brouubtdorrn so that memberscould look lt the grccnishpctiolcand the nrinutcglandson
tltc Lttttlcrstde
of the leaf thrt drstinguishrt fiorn Oak Fcrn Paul Dav tbund Aspluiunt y//lcrr (Greeu
Splccrrrrort).
a lre\\ tetradrccord.groling in the rocksat boot level.Hrerqtntn pellucidum(a haskuccd). uell
pf,st its bcst.grel abovohcad lerel fuflher alongthc track Tso Whitebcamsrrcrc cxamincd.one sas.\'orbr.r
un{ltut antdthc othcr S. porngenttlitrmls.thoughoneof the v.c. 42 fomis ofthe species.Aftcr lunchat the pond
car park. JLrlranWoodmandcmonstrated
the sterileht'brrdmsh Junuts , dilJilsusgrowingbct*een its parents
'I cllit.;us(Soft-rush)anrl.l inlltxut (Hard Rush) It nas Jargerthan both parents.its colour uas intenrediate
and its prth rras slightlr intcrruptcdbut nowhercnearas nrrrch;ts ut,1.inflexu.t.A short dnve took us to 0 path
thxt lcd to irlotltcr limestonequarn .lustto the $I)st of Pull Du Tho path lcd past a colont of ('herut1441711ry
l)t)t11t.\
hrtlt tLu.\(Good-Kirtg-llcnn')to Irunicrousbtrt scaftcrcd(lantitrntlla tnure llct subsp.cunttrtlla(Autunur
Ccntrrn) l.rtd('tr:ium rrczrrlt,(Drrarf Thistle).I:uphru;ta con-htstr
andE. mttrantha (Elcbrights)uere frequent
rrrronqtlrc short gritss and in a \\ct area the leader$'as able to sho$ nrcmbcrsthc fruits of Hldrocon,lt wlgaris
(N4arsliPennwort). hiding arrongstthc foliagc. On the rvav back to the collegea quick stop tvas ntadcnear
Cocd-r-prtorto lind ('ircaea r inlermeclia(Intermediate
Enchanter's-nightshadc)
bt,a small brook. The short
inflorcsccncc
las fomiing poor fnrit rvhicht'as not devcloprngand most had fallen off. Pink stolonsnere ven
ntttchtn cr tdencc-as xas the leaf nrargins'ith pointcdlccth. andthe petioleshad hairson one sideonl1.Onl1,,
thc
Coflfn)on nar(Dl ('

liltitl,t4,t

\\f,S t\r(S(t)l t)CtIb\

Sundar's fiold lrip startcd:rt SeltrrershLrnc Grepnrls draggedout dLrckrrccds

so thil Wol/lio ctrrht:o
(RootlcssDuckrvccd)could be curnined. On the cdgcgrerr a Bur-marrgoldstrch causedsonrediscussionbut
GracrrrcK:trc referredto Staceslrich shorvedit tobc liden.;./ronrlosa(Beggar'sTicks). Thc sccondstop.to
rralk along the east sidc ofGoldclifFPill. rvasgreetedbv distantrumbling and a discussionas to the cause.A
reenproducedthc DuckwccdsLemnogibbo. L. minor- L. trt.sulcct
utd Sptrodelnpolyrhiza- anda greenpatchof
Azolltt./ilituloicle.r(Water Fern) amongthe duckwccds.On thc bat* a large standof Arcttum lappa (Greater
Burdock)fcced acrossto an evcn largerone of ,9tachy's
palustri.\(Marsh Woundsort). Into a ficld and ghere a
short tinreago t)rereuas a largc palch of Medicago orahicLt(SpottedMedick) the cattlc had trantpledthe area
and onlv thc learcsofonc plant could bc lbund.At this point the causeofthc drstantmnrblingsbecameclearbv
an almiqhtr crashof thundcrn hich beganr pvrotcchnicdisplar. rvhichu'ill long remainin the nremon .
On clinrbrngover the earthenbankon to thc saltmarshbr the sideofthe pill it rvasobviousthat thc shccpand
cf,ttlebet\\denthcm had catcnor trantplcdthc plantsso ncrtherofthc clovcrs77rlittiun.fragiJ-erunor T. sqt amoirtm could be fourd. A rcntnantof Oenanthelachcnalii (SaltmarshWatcr-dropr\ort)rvasall that remarnedofa
colont of'thc prcvious week.Ruplcurum tcnuts.\tmtlm(SlendcrHarc's-ear)had somehorvescapedbut rvas in
dccrcascdltumbers.Mauv conrnronhalophrtcswcrc obscn,edbut more uncxpcctcdrvas thc largc plant of
H-\'rrcamu;irr,qcr(Henbane).still \\'ith somc florvcrsthoughmostlf in fnrit. ovcr 30 morc u,crescattcredclose
br A rralk cast\\ardsalongthe top ofthe sea-rvallrcvcalcd1000smorc SlenderHare's-oarand undcr1 stile an
unusurllvcrectplirntof Ptrccrntlltorupeslri.\(StifFSaltmarsh-grass)
had sun,iveddue to thc shclteroffered.The
skrcsnttrsthare shedall tlie rain thcv could hold bccauscdunng lunch it stoppedand it rvasdecidedto continuc
utth thc tnceting Thc rain nrust harc affectcdthe reen north ofGoldclifffbr thc lcadcrfailed to tind thc red
patchcs01'WaterFcnt prcviouslr scen.thoughgreencltrmpsrvcrcvisrblc A brrcf stop to the SW of l,lanrvern
S t c c l r r o r k s * l s n t t d e t o s e e a \ \ ' a s t c a r c a ol af n d c o v e r e d r v i tLhe p i d t u m l u t r f b h u m
(Dittandcr).Therainhadalso
atTcctcdttrrr rccnsnonnallr covercdsith flor.reringHltlrothons nlorsu.\',tdnac
(Frogbit)onl1,onc or t\\o tattv
flou'ersrcntrtned 30 m of Carex c'lotc(TuftedSedge)nextrcccivcdattcntionbccauscof rts scarcitl. Oppositc,a
rccn \\irs draggcdto producehalf-decavedbits of Ranunculu.sctrctnotus (Fanlealed Water-crorvfoot)and
l)t)tLtilt<'lttt)n
lrichotdes(HairirkePondriccd)and sorne(-eratophyllumtltnttrsun (Rigid Homrrort). Unlikethc
tirst picccto be hauledout near SaltmarshLanervhrchbranchedonceonlv. this branchedtlvice.Thc sevcnthstop
rtrrollcd anothcrrvalk from the llorth end o1'Minnctts Lanccastlvardsalonga fbrcsttrack throughI *ood over
lintcstoneThc hrghlghtsofthis uood lrcro the largenunrbcrofplants of Litho.spermum
ollicrnale(Grornrvell)
in
floncr. thoughsomcshinv riltite seedswere visible on last r,carsplants.('alamagrostiseptgeJos(Wood Smallrocd)lincd thc track tn severalpiacesand hundredsof AutumnCentiansbordcrcdthe track rvhcrcthe vesctation

Reports of Freld Meetings

83

was tltin Columbinc. \\'arfarinq Trcc. Conrmon Spottcd-orchids and Plouqhman's-spikcnard ucrc among the
mlnV other plants gro*lng thcrc. Onc f[lrl stop rras rnade ne:rr thc Brock$ells Fam] to scek out l//trrn
oltrocetrn (Ficld Garhc) \\ rth its bulbils and lintp. withcrcd llo*crs.

lgi*:_
\ YORKSHIRE WEEKENII. MID-\\'EST YORKSHIRE (r c 6.1) 3Oth I lst AUGUST
'l-hc
flrst dar of thc *cckcnd \\'as spcnt lt Bnrrihlm Park near Wcthcrbr Thc formal gardcns and parkland
crcatcd In the I lJth ccntun as a mlulatur0 cop) of Vcrsalllcs do not pcrhaps suggcst f,n arca of anr grcat botanical rntcrcst but t\\o n'ralor rock trpes. Millstonc Crit and l\'lasnesian l-rnrcstonc. outcrop in thc Park rcsulting rn
c o n s r d c r a b l cf l o r i s t r c d i r ' o r s i t t
F o t t t r e c n n t c t l b e r s n l c t f b r t h i s p r i v a t c \ l s l t c a l l l n i l I n r t i a l l \ a t t h c b o * l i n g g r c c n . ( l o . ^ c i n s p c c t i o no i t l i c
secnriltglr rttttraculate turt rcvcalcd that grass rras bV rto rncans the donilnaut specics Thc crceping stcrns o1'
Antt.qullt.: ttncllo (Bog Pinrpcnrcl) tcrc initiallv a puzzlc in such an unusual habitat. Sprkcs of Oanttantllt
umurtllu (,\utunrn Gcntran) \\'erc also a rran'cl in the $aY that tho) mrnagcd to floucr bclo$ thc rcach of thc
nrorrers Also thriling in llris hostrlc cn\ rronmcnt u,as a lrrge colonr of ,\1truntfu: .yrrclrr (Auturnn l-ad1 stresscs). rccordcd hcre br F...\. Lccs or'cr r brrndred \cars f,go (Lccs. F A liloru rtl W'att )ltrkshtre Lecds
i t i l i l i ) L i n t b r t u n a t c l \ m o s t o f t h c s p i k c s r r c r e d e h c h c d f r o n r t h c i r r o o t s a n d l a i d o n t h c s L r r t i i c cb u t t h c c c r l o n v
does secin to sun irc thrs rcgular nro*'ing rcginte
Prourcssing from the fonnal gardens iuto the woodlartd ridcs so'eral specirncns of thc rarc Gnophalttrm
(Hcath C'tLdueed)rlere fbund- also a patch of tho hrbrrd Polenttllu , nxlu itt tllc ntorc acidrc soils
.\t.r'l\tutiLt!tlt
S p c c t n r c t r so f A c t n i l t r t t t n L t l ) ( ' l l u r( M o n k - s J r o o d ) a 1 d i t s c 6 u s i l A c o n t l u m v u l p a r r l ( W o l f s - b r n e ) r r e r c l o c a t e i i
gro\\il)rr ofr otrrlrosttcs:dcs ol onc ol 1he rtries. A contrirstiD! ctlcarcous llurr rncludcd Htltnntht,munt nilmntt
lilir1rl, ((onlr1ron Rock-rose). /'.ptpr'rctt.titt'llt'hrtrtnt' (Brrrad-lcarcd Hclleborrnc) and ('t,lr'ltrctun uittitnndl(
(l\{cado* Satflon). OPltto!lo.t.:utn t'ttlg,rttrn (Addcr's-tonguc) \\as an unc\pectcd bonus fitlnd \\hilst nt6\'lllc
asldc stra\ \egetrtion to photograph thc lattOr. Thc danrpcr rides and marsh\ zoncs supportcd large populations
of ('tlamosrosti.: eptgc.los (Wood Small-reed). ser,eral spccics of rush (.irirc:r.r spp.)- L'irtlu Tzllrr.rrrrs(Marsh
V i o l e t ) a n d L v c h n i s f l o s - t u c t r l r ( R a g g e dR o b i n ) .
On Sunrlav moming l.l nrembers and a gucst rrct bcsrde thc Leeds and Lircrpool canal at.A,pperler Bndgc
lnd nlikcd aiong thc to\rpath rs lar as thc trp at Esholt s*raqc lrorks lherc Yorkshrrc Watcr dunip grarcl froirr
the strdct drarns of Bradtbrd
.\crgttrunusdgilltlolt.t (Arrorlhcad). irt floucr and rn ttuit. sas rirtulllr ubrqurtousalong thc canal lld
.\ltut5tnitrnt (m(Lrum (Unbranchcd Brrr-rccd)- Potuntogtt()ti n'ldrr.r (Broadlca\cd Pond\\eed) utd I' ptrloltuttt.t
(Pcrtbliatc f'ondriccd) lcrc plcntrhrl
T h c f i r s t p l a n t t o l r o u s c t e r o n o m i c i D t a r c s t\ \ a s l ' . p i l o h i t r r t /t 1 r r r ' / / / /(rl ) r l c \ \ , l l l o s h e r b ) r r h t c h * a s g r o u i r r g o r r
e a c h s r d c o f a l o c k . H a v r n g d c a l t r l ' i r h t h l t . t h c l c a d c r b r a r c l r l a u u c h e dr n t o a n c r p o s i t i o n o f t h c t i r l e r p o i n t s o f
narrorr-lclrcd pondrrecds and trred to dcrilonstratc those of I'rttunutgelrtn trttlktitle.y (Harrlrkc Pondrvecd).$tich
Irad prcriouslr been detennincd lrth thc ard ofa nrrcroscope aird \\'as dul\ rctunrcd to the canal l'he plant \\ith
crcatest acsthctic appeal sls Rulomus umht'llaht.s (Flos,ering-msh) but rt rvas on tlie f-ar. soutli- srde of the canal
ttt I c. 6l I It took an cntomologist (uho norr Jrasa standing rrrvitation to rc\ rstt thc vlcc-count\ ). to spot (irrer .
lt.tctrdrtrxtlluri'. gro$inl appropriatelY bet$ce-n its parcnts ('rtrr\ retilold (Rcrlotc Sedge) and (' o/rabnc (False
Fox-scd-r:e) This is onlv thu sccond vlce-count\ rccord. thc tirsc dating fiom l950. A puzzlc plant gron'ing on a
stunrp rt thc edge ofthc canal. thought at the time to bc. possrblr. ,\pt:rgultt rruen.irs (Corn SpurrerJ. rvas not
thtt spccrcs sincc thc undcrsidc of thc lcaf rras not lirrol'ed
l'he best contcndcr appoars to bc a vcn, lush fomr
of .\'rigrnrrrrTrclalrr(Annual Pearlsor1).
The tip produccd a nrr\turc of plants resulting fronr kitchcn \\'astc and ol'spccics. tvhich arc also seen rn thc
'shodd"'
irclds. prcsunrlbh conring dirccl)r irto thc drains fronr the rvool \\astc at thc mills. Thc tomatocs. \\ater
ttrclons artd uurro\\s rrcre all unrtpc. Thc upsidc-do\\n tlorrcrs of Trtli'lttttn rt.\uptnLttutl rrcrc gircn I highcr
rirting tlrrn thosc of 7 lrt.qtf<:run (Strarvbern Clotcr). l'.nrclttrntchiilm. ('urthumu: tinctt)ntt\ (SafTlorlcr) end
.\t'tarru pttmilu (1'cllou Bristlc-grass) appcalcd too. and Rrrrr.vca Trrrcerr(Chinesc Mustard) \\AS nc\\ to ntost of
us. Tltc rain held offuntrl ull preriorrs unknorrn plauts had bcen idcntitred and then soaked us as \\e trokkcd thc 2
knr back to thc clrs
We arc r:ratcfirl to Nlr & N'[rs Ccorgc Lane-For frrr thcir krnd penlission to visit Bramhanr Park and to
Georgc Paltievnran- \\'aslc \later Opcraticlns N'l.lnagcret Yorkshire Watcr. rrlro gare Lrspcnnissron to r.isit the
tip rt Esholt.

PH\'LABBOTT&] TAYI,OR

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HOLIDAY IN IRELAND
If you are thrnking about a relaxing holiday, with great food, friendly people and nragnificent scenery
c o r n et o C o u n t y D o n e g a l O n t h e 2 5 t h a n d 2 6 t h J u l y 1 9 9 8 ,D r T o n r C u r t i s w i l l b e ) e a d i n gF i e ) dT r i p s t o
the Slievetooey and BIue Stack Mountarns. Meeting in the Diamond, Ardara outside The Nesbitt Arms
Hotel (G/735 907) on Saturday 25th July at I1.00 a m and at the Highlands Hotel, Main Street,
C l e n t i e s( G / 8 2 0 9 4 3 ) o n S u n d a y2 6 t h J u l y a l s o a t I I 0 0 a . m
lfyou are on holiday in the area and can stay tbr a while the Field N'leetingmay be extended for a
lerv days before or after the weekend. As this area is very popular and this is a peak holiday trme, early
booking of accornmodation is advised. A contribution towards some travelling expenses may be
available
F o r t u r t h e r d e t a i l s( s a . e a p p r e c i a t e dc) o n t a c t :
AIAN HILL, 2 Woodgrange, Holy"wood, Co Down. Northern lreland BT18 OPQ (01232 124144)
't-4'+\

Jv4G',4-@+/a1./'.:..r/.,.'rr,!,,r,r('q,!,,.,i'n\,,",,!,.'.r!..,@

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PRIT.IULA F.ARINOSA AND ITCflIlIS ALPINA IN BRITAIN AND 6LAND,
SWEDEN
R e p o r t o f a r e s e a r c hf i e l d v i s i t t o O l a n d , S w e d e n .J u n e2 2

July 6 )997

This visit. partly funded by the BSBI Bequest Fund. had two aims. Firstlv for Elizabeth Arnold (University of Newcastle) to investigate the occurrence of the stemlessform of Bird's-eye Primrose (Primula
furinostr tar ocaulr.s.Ahlq.), and secondly for Beverley Arnold (University of Stirling) to make seed
and soil colLectiorrstirr a studv on soil speciticity of the Alpine Catchfly (Lychnrs ul1tina L.).
Two weeks werc spent on the island of Oland, at the Ecological ResearchStation of the University
o f U p p s a l a n e a r S k o g s b y .T h e i s l a n di s s i t u a t e di n t h e B a l t i c s e a .o f f t h e s o u t h e a s tc o a s t o f S r v e d e n .I t
i s a b o u t 1 2 0 k m l o n g a n d b e t w e e n 8 - 1 5 k n r r v i d e , a n d i s c o n n e c t e dt o t h e m a i n l a n db y a s p e c t a c u l a r
I 2 km bridge The geology of the area is complex, but there are areasof limestone pavement known as

Stop Prcss

85

Alvar. In the south of the island, this unique habitat covers much of the land area (The great Alvar or
Stora Alvaret) and is a large expanse of limestone pavement A first glance gives an impression of a
'wasteland'.
vast unifbrm area ofgrassland and scrub, which has been describedas a
Closer obsenatron
grikes,
reveals dif}'erentvegetation growing in the
on the thin mineral soi1,on almost bare rock, and in
areas where ,ulacial deposits provide a deeper substratum. The main settlemenls on this part of the
island are close to the coast where cultivation of the land was possible,and the.{lvar was traditionally
used for grazing animals. More recently the number ofgrazing animals has declined, and few sheepand
h e r d s o 1 ' c a t t l ea r e n o w s e e n .T h e w o o d e n w i n d m i l l s a r e a d i s t i n c t i v ef e a t u r e o f t h e i s l a n d .O r i g i n a l l v
each f-armdid its own milling Although the mills are no longer in use, they are a spectacularreminder
of past traditions, and testament to the lact the island is extremely windswept. On the open Alvar in
p a n i c u l a r .t h e g r o u n d i s v e r y e x p o s e da n d m a n v l o w g r o r v i n gp l a n t st h a t o c c u r o n l v i n a l p i n eh a b i t a t si n
the rest of Europe survive here. The island has a lascinating flora with elements tiom the Arctic, north
rest Europe and southern Europe occurring at the edge oftheir range here. Grazing has been reduced
in nrodern times. and many areas are returninq to forest. Shrub covered areas are dominated by l)otant t lltt .fi'trtttt tsu and ,luniperus utmmun is. On this visit, three Setlunr specieswere observed in abundance
on the Alvar, S. ttcre, S. reflentm atrd S. alhum, also the last few flowers of Helianthemum
o.,ld,tcliLutn,the enrblem of the island were seen. Manv different orchid species rvere also obsened,
rncluding swathes of Orchis mililart.y even on roadside verges Also trvo speciesof Butterfly-orchids
(Pluttrnthero chbrantho and I). biJblia), Musk Orchid, (Herminium monorchis). Fly Orchid (Ophry.s
rrr,st'c
liferu), Fra-qrant Orchrd ((l_ynzrodenio conopscrr) and NIarsh-orchids (I)oc:lylorhizo moytlis.
l) jtt(:enutl).
Bird's-eye Primrose (Primula.farinosal
Tfrere are manv populationsof ftrrntula.farinostt on the rsland. Seven were studied Population
estimatesand morphological measurementsof plants were taken, and where possrblesome seed was
collected. The populations studied included trvo in the marshland areas ofthe N'tidlandforest which is
t h e d o m i n a n tv e g e t a t i o ni n t l r e c e n t r a ls e c t i o no f t h e i s l a n d .O n e p o p u l a t i o no n t h e e a s tc o a s tw h e r e t h e
land slopes rnto the Baltic sea was illso looked at, and the rernaining four were close to lakes on the
Alvar plateau itself ln the N{idland forest areas,plants were for.rndin similar marshy habitatsto those I
h a r e o b s e n e d i n B r i t a i n . T h e p o p u l a t i o n so n t h e A l v a r e x i s t e di n m u c h d r i e r h a b i t a t s w
, i t h r , e r ys h a l i o w
soil and sometimesgrowing directly on the rock.
EA's Ph D. researchproject, involves investigating the stemlessform ofthis speciesthat occurs in
L l p p e r T e e ' s d a l eE. n g l a n d T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e v i s i t w a s t o c o m p a r et h e S w e d i s ha n d B r i t r s h s t e m l e s s
fbrms From this investigation, it appearsthat, unlike Teesdaleplants, the so-called 'stenlless' form on
Oland does have a stem, although very short, and these plants also had lengthened pedicels compared
'normal''
urth the
f b r m T h e p l a n t sw e r e i n s e e dw h e n v i s i t e d .s t - irt i s p o s s i b l et h a t t h e p e d i c e J e
s longate
'stemless'
'stemless'
in lruit. and that plants in florver originally have a
appearance.The
form was
lound as a small percentage of each population, in contrast to the Teesdale situation, where there is a
s i n g l ep o p u l a t i o nr v i t h s t e m l e s sp l a n t s ,r v h e r et h e s t e m l e s sf o r m d o m i n a t e s l.t i s p r o b a b l et h a t t h e O l a n d
fbrm is under dillerent genetic contlol from that found in Teesdale, and may er,en be an environmentallt indr.rcedphenotypic eflect. Further investigations will be made using plants grown from seed
c o l l e c t e dd u r i n g t h i s r i s i t
Af pine Crtchfly (Lychnis alpina L.)
The aim of the trip with referencelo Lychnis alpinawas to carry out a comparison between two diflerent populations: i) a Scottish population on N{eikle Kilrannoch, A-ngus, where L. alpino grows at
around 810 m on ultramaflc soil and ii) populations on Oland that grow atjust above sea level on
liinestone. The ultirnate goal was to compare morphological differencesbetween the two populations
arrd also the germination and subsequentseedlinggrorvth ofseed collected from the wild. The seedrvill
be germrnatedon the soil collected in Sweden and Scotland to investigatespecificity ofplants to their
n a t i v es o i l t y p e
In Britain, 1,. ctlpina no\\,grorvs at only two confirmed -sites,both of which can be described as
remote. The visit to Oland provided a unique opportunity to look at L. ulpino in a different habitat. In
the nofthern Scandinaviannrountains,this speciesis nrore abundant than in the [,rK. It is quite rare on

StopPress
the mainland of southern Srvedenwhere it occurs at sites near the south west coast w4rerethe bedrock
is acidic but a covering of shell deposits gives calcareousconditions at rooting depth (pers. comm.).
The Alvar habitat for this plant is unusual and qr-ritespecific. Alvar plants include Juniper (Juniperus
connntni.s). Shrubby cinquefbil (Polentillu .frullco,rzr),Chives (Allium .schoernpra.wm)and Swallowworl (I:tntetortcum htntntlinarld) grow. The plants were fbund on areas of the Alvar where the soil is
sliuhtly dssp.. due to glacial deposits, and was almost always found on anthills, both current and
'microhabitat'
was rectrgnised,it became relatively easy to locate three
abarrdoned Once the L1,t:htti.;
difi-erentpopulations liom rvhich to collect data. The easy accessibilityof the Alvar and the profusion
o f t l o r v e r s o f m a n y d i f f e r e n ts p e c i e sm a k e i t a n e x c i t i n gp l a c et o v i s i t
lmrnediately fblloriing the trip to Sweden, the Scottish population rvas revisited, and difl-erencesin
rnorphology were obserr,'edFlower colour *,as markedly diflerent ln Srvedenthe flower is a pale pink,
i n S c o t l a n d .a d e e p p i n k I ' h e S c o t t i s h p l a n t s s t a n d o u t a g a i n s tt h e h i l l s i d eg i v i n g v i b r a n t f l a s h e so f
colour From analysis of nrorphological data, plants from Sweden had significantly longer stalks and
nrrrre flowers per florvering head and seeds per fnriting head. In both countries the plants occur in
detlned areas. but with a grcater density at the high altitude Scottish site. N{easurementsofflower
diameler indicate no signiticant dift'erences.Overall the results show significant differences in the
n r o r p h o l o g yo f t h e p o p u l a t i o n so n O l a n d a n d M e i k l e K i l r a n n o c h .
Over the next vear I rvili further analysethe data collected and using soil and seed samplescollected
(rn the tnp consider qLlestionsof soil specifrcitv Wild collected seed fror.n the two countries will be
g e r m i n a t e da n d g r o w n o n t h r e e s o i l t y p e s , c o l l e c t e d i n S w e d e n a n d S c o t l a n d , a n d a s t a n d a r d i s e d
c t r n t r o l W e r g h t so f p l a n t sw i l l t h e n b e u s e dt o c o n l p i r r eg r o r v t h i n t h e n a t i v e ! e r s u s n o n n a t i v e s o i l . T h e
rvork carried out on Oland and subsequentexperimentationwill be used to form my final year honours
p r o i e c ta t S t i r l i n g U n i v e r s r t v
S p e c i a lt h a n k s a r e g i v e n t o t h e B S B I , t h e A l p i n e G a r d e n S o c i e t y a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w c a s t l e
lor ii:nding the visit, and also 1o Johan Ehrlen fiom Uppsala university, Honor Prentice lrom Lund, and
ee l p .
e v e n o D e a t t h e E c o l o e i c a lF i e l d S t a t i o nl o r t h e i r i n v a l u a b J h
. ervcastle-upon-Tyne
E L t Z A t s E T H A R N O L D . D e p t A E S , R i d l e l ' B u i l d i n g . U n i r . e r s i t yo f N e r v c a s t l eN
NEl 7RL]
B F . \ ' h R L E Y A R N O L D . 4 5 B a r n h i l lD r i v e . T u l l i b o d y .C l a c k m a n n a n s h i rAel l o a

A FLORAL

BAPTIST

I rvish to draw attention to a nrajor inaccuracyconcernin-[the name of St John's-rvort. The usual explanation given for the origin of this name is that the plant flowers around St John's Day, June 24th
F l o w e v e r .J u n e 2 4 t h i s t h e c o m m e m o r a t i o no l t h e b i r t h o f S t J o h n t h e B a p t i s t , r v h o i s n e v e r k n o r v n
s r m o l va s S t J o h n
S t J o h n ( n o t t h e B a p t i s t ) w a s o n e o f t h e t w e l v e d i s c i p l e sa n d t h e a u t h o r o f t h e f o u r t h g o s p e l ,a n d h e
i s c o r n m e m o r a t e do n D e c e m b e r2 7 t h .
Speciesof the genusH.vpericuz should therefore properly be called St John the Baptist's Wort [or
i n B S B l - s p e a kS t J o h n - t h e - B a p t i s t ' s - w o r tS
. o m e h o w .I d o n ' t t h i n k i t w i l l c a l c h o n . E d . ]
( ) W F . N L E T G H W I L L I A I \ l S ( R e v ) , 3 0 9 A C h u r c h [ { o a d . F r y e r n i n g ,B a s i l d o n .E s s e xS S l 4 2 N E
or c-nrail:bsbihgsialaol.conr
Thc EdirorGrlr nn ElLrscan bc contactedbr phoncor t'ar on 01222-496012
All text and illustrationsappearingin BSBI Nervsand its Supplementsare copvright and no reproduction
in any form may be made without written permissionfronr ihe Editor.
Ofltrs and specialtcnns applr. only to membcrsofthe Societvand copicsare not availableon an cxchangcbasis
BSBI Nervs(ISSN 0309-930X)is publishcdbl the BotanicalSocietvofthe British lsles.
shouldbc addrcsscd
to: The Hon. GencralSccrcEnquiriesconccmingthc Societl's activitrcsand rnenrbcrship
l i s t o n N l u s e u m . C r o m r vR
e lol a d . L o n d o n S W 7 5 B D .
t f , n . c / o D c p t o f [ ] o t a n t . T h e N a t u r aH
T e l :0 l 7 l 9 3 t tl J 7 0 l
, reforest,
C a m e r ar e a d y c o p y p r o d u c e db y G w y n n E l l i s a n d p r i n l e d b y J . & P . D a v i s o n , 3J a m e sP l a c e T
Pontypridd, lVlid Clamorgan CF37 2BT (Tel. 014.13-400585)

('ontrnts

81

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r'.)r)I)rndclronsoi Crert llrrtriii rnJ Lchnll br A A Dudrlan& A J Rjchrrd5-(1991)
I(c!lc\\'s ol rceent iSSBl pubLcatrons
Alienplarrsol thcBritishlslesbr,IJ Clcmcnt&Ni C Fosteril994)
..
i)ondweeds ol (lrcat Britain atd lreland br C I) t)rcskn ( I 995)
'l
Alicn grasscs oi the llritish lslcs br
B i{\ves }r J Clemcnt & M.C Foster ( 1996)
I)andelionsol(lrcatIlntair,rn(jlrcl.rrJh\AADudmdn^.A.l ltichards(I997) ..
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lhrrsli. N Yorks (\ cc 65 & 62) 12th& I lth iuilc
S l c c h r c r c I l Y o r k s . ( \ ' c . 6 1] l ' 1 1 ] &
r l SthJunc
l'nllcs l{lsborough. l]ucks (v c 2.1) 2lst June
( ' c r r l ! \ d n r d ! . n r . ] r i c r i o n c f h( v . c . 1 S ) f l s t & 2 2 r c l . l u l c
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ll.hrconrcli W Suthcrland (v c. l0!1) 2sth-loth.lutrc
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l-och Leven. Krfoss (\'c 85) 5th .luh
ilonanl{iver&}lrrnlirdWater. Nllssex(r'c lr) llth
lithJul\
l)l-lloslte. Aber-l)orlh Cardstr c .lbl l2th Jul\
l i u n g c r l i r r JB c r \ s h r r c q v e l l r l . l ( h & l 5 t i r . i u i \
l : [ c o l l s l a r . S L b u d e s -( v c 1 0 ] r l l ) t l r 2 6 t h J u l v
: ( \ c n . I J . , , , n i r r . Lr lc c r r j .V o r u r , ,r r t h i l r r r cr , . l i ' 2 u l l t 2 - t l l J l l l \
Carrellbrd- il Com$all (v c 2) lst,-lrd August
i lllapool, Wcstcr l{oss (v c I t)5) 2nd 6th August
\\iean llashes urd 1lighlicld Moss 1v.c. 59) 9th Aueust
l ' o r l h l n a d o g .C r e D l r r l b n s h r r ei \ ! J 9 ) r ) t h l o l h A u g u s l
lithWelshA(;N{nnd!reldNleerrnlrs Mons Ic
- ' ] j l .l 9 1 1 t A u g u s r l s t S c p t e r n h c r
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CONTENTS
AI)MTNIS]'RA-IION
Clotmcil nominations
Dcadlue lor next lssue
LM}'ORTANT NOTICES
Prcsidcrt's Counent
Co ordlnator
S r t c t r t t l j ra t ' J k c i c " t . h C u m r i t t c e
Atlas and other reoordlng nattcrs
I l r c I t , ' r ' lr d n J B d ( l r , l l i J l \ o ' r l , r
I)IA]iY
fil)f lORLAI. & NO'fhS
Congratuiatlons
L olilnlscritrl0lls
Obltuan notc
Wcngcn uPdatc
S*'edish spring salads
I ailpiece
Back nurnbcrs ol llS8,l News
Metnbcrs on the box'
And linalh
A'fl.AS 2000
i'rogress RePofl
.llre
f ruils of Our l-abours
l'reld Mectrngs
Conlercnoes and WorkshoPs
winler Help
l inalll
Piant status nomen0lature and Atlas 2000
L\tra Atlas 201)0 rccording ol Mountaul Piants
S CORNt,I{
CO-0RDNA]'OR
Introduotloll
NBN
llolanical Records
Lomputcrs
Ald llnalN
IIJ]COIiDI]RS AND ITI]COI{I )INC
Vtcc-countv llare and l'hreatened Plant l{cglsters
Design ol'rccord cards
Creaimg lour own lield recording oards ' '
NOTHS AND ARTICI,]]S
geletlc I
Variatr on iri Ra6ls c(lttnahtdes ai(l Rubus ratltla ' envlroilnental or
flotanl tn litsature-g
Rare inil scarce platrts docurnentation in ! c. 63 (South-West Yorkshirc)
A question oi prtorities
f'oitail Barlel: a prcdilection lbr roundabouts)
Conl*all (vc I)
Anc*'lvlocaied siie lbrlrrcaragalsutW
Marsh-orchld controvers\
/
Small or the Large argunenl
A replv to M N Jenllnson
Ycllot-idged flv orchid llo*'ers - finale
Blennials ot I'erennials'l
A liaudsomc and vigorous hYbnd ragwort
Grirsprng the nettle - a macho pursuit ln Bedlbrdshire
Ciulcu)atinggrid rcl'erences
()atdinio.l|agiLis
ls lt natl\'l
I cnestrlal lonn al i\I!-nophvIlltnt alterni.flonrn
Ile lampvntnt ul I lerb A J t:. Snith at NMW
Mega spread lbr nlcro Piant/
New roads and llotels
Bcautil'ul killer
'I
'
he Black Poplar ut old English poelry
t \ t h t d s . A n J r c r r sn t r JS l o a t r r
Natural nursemalds
A l'ernine Saltnarsh llora
lllespilus gemdnicd ln Susse\
N{IS II,E IOI] StJi{\.F]Y
,fuio1licr uPdate
CONShll.VAllON NEWS
Millcruriuni Seed Bank Prqect
'
Cotservation hcadlands tbr arable rvild llo$crs
Putttrig thc $ild birck uito wildflouers
Continued on instdc back cover

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