A second British site for Crepis praemorsa (Leafless Hawk’s-beard) Gary Lawrence & Jeremy Roberts 6
Cystopteris pseudoregia Rivas-Mart., a fern hitherto overlooked in Britain David Tennant 9
Surveying Yarrow Broomrape (Orobanche purpurea) in Norfolk Mike Crewe 10
Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid) in rich fen on Hoy, Orkney (v.c. 111) John Crossley 17
Is the archaeobotanical record a fit tool for assessing conservation priorities: Hodgson et al. (2004) revisited John Hodgson, Mark McKerracher, Helena Hamerow, Mike Charles & Amy Bogaard 19
Atlas 2020 and orchid population decline, and increase, at all scales David Trudgill 24
Ivy identification: Hedera helix, H. hibernica and H. ‘Hibernica’ Michael Wilcox 28
Triple hybridity in Rumex: a spontaneous occurrence in West Kent (v.c. 16) involving Rumex × lousleyi Geoffrey Kitchener 33
A ‘fern-tastic’ road cutting on Lewis Paul A. Smith 37
ADVENTIVES & ALIENS
Adventives & Aliens News 33
Compiled by Matthew Berry 39
Myriophyllum rubricaule Valk. & Duist. – first record for v.c. 5 and possibly UK Graham Lavender 51
Orobanche alba (Thyme Broomrape) on Thymus vulgaris (Garden Thyme) in Caernarvonshire
(v.c. 49): a first record for Wales Mike Fay, Chris Thorogood, Fred Rumsey, Mark Chase & Maarten Christenhusz 53
Ruta chalepensis – new to Britain and Ireland? Matthew Berry 55
A possible vegetative difference for Garden Peony
News, events and updates on the work of the BSBI; including: details of forthcoming conferences and meetings; members’ data access; Priority Plants on Welsh SSSIs; calls for botanical tutors and Vice-county Recorders; panel of VCRs; contents of British & Irish Botany 6:1; changes in Stace’s New Flora reprint; future BSBI Mint workshop.
Cover photo: Luzula pallescens (Fen Woodrush), Woodwalton Fen, Huntingdonshire (v.c. 31) by Pete Stroh (see Country Roundups p. 64).
Contributions for future issues should be sent to the Editor, John Norton (bsbinews@bsbi.org)
As my presidency draws to an end, I’m conscious of, and grateful for, the great honour, especially as my term encompassed the Plant Atlas 2020 launch, but also the privilege of attending the committees and encountering the BSBI in action.
Based as I am on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, joining meetings via Zoom was a blessing. However, this year involved much travel, as I tried to attend as much as I could in person, while still resolving not to fly. The Guernsey ASM was a particular challenge for many, being a long way for anyone from remoter regions. But running it in every region of these islands is so beneficial: for the locals to highlight the Society’s importance to their communities, to support their recording and for the rest of us to visit new habitats; we learn about local conservation, meet local members and see new species. The Anacamptis laxiflora (Loose-flowered Orchid) in Guernsey was a highlight, and a huge thanks to the Société Guernesiaise for such a generous warm welcome in hosting the meeting.
Resolving not to fly was certainly a challenge in attending the XX International Botanical Congress in Madrid. A six-yearly worldwide congress, this was an opportunity to showcase the BSBI Plant Atlas 2020 on a poster, and the two actual volumes, displayed on our table, generated much interest. We also met with the coordinator of the International Relations Working Group of the Spanish Botanical Society (SEBOT; sebot.org) to strengthen links with other
EDITORIAL
There are no fewer than 14 notes and articles contributed by members in this issue, several of which cover identification and recording-related subjects which I hope will be of wide interest. I’m particularly keen to try out the new BSBI Recording App (see opposite) which I think will be a gamechanger not only for the serious field botanist but for everyone who enjoys plant recording, even on a casual basis. Although I prefer to use a notebook in the field, the app will allow me to enter records on a computer at home and these will go straight into the
botanical societies. We agreed to explore a joint field meeting in 2026, in the UK, Ireland or Spain. Watch for more news on this!
The BSBI Strategic Plan 2024–27 is an impressive document. The core values: supporting a diverse community of botanists; providing top quality data to address key environmental issues and raising the profile of wild plants are exemplary. Stating this clearly is important with the current enthusiasm for ‘citizen science’. What we do well is our mutual respect and sharing of information, especially in the field, but our records are made and/or validated by highly skilled botanists, professional in the broad sense. The data are second to none. While we must be open to new ways of involving the public and finding new members, the core dataset should always be professionally monitored and managed, or it will lose its key scientific value.
Now I am delighted to welcome Paul Ashton, Professor of Botany at Edge Hill University, to take over as President in November. I wish him the very best in his term and with his plans for the Society. I hope that he, too, will find it possible to attend meetings in all the regions, and will find them as beneficial and enjoyable as I did.
BSBI Database. Now that things have slowed down after Plant Atlas 2020 it is a good time to get in touch with your Vice-county Recorder if you think you could help out with surveys in your home (or another) vicecounty or better still assist with vice-county admin duties. See the important notice on p. 59 which gives a list of vacancies and other opportunities across the 113 British and 40 Irish vice-counties.
John Norton john.norton@bsbi.org
The new BSBI Recording App
SARAH WOODS
Following two years of development and testing by BSBI staff and recorders, the BSBI is happy to announce the availability of a new recording application that allows for easier submission of botanical records to the BSBI’s central database (the Distribution Database or ‘DDb’). The app is available to BSBI recorders and members – see the end of this article for details on how to access it. So far over 210 individuals have used the app, sending over 100,000 records. About 12% of records submitted so far this year came via this route.
The app allows for the rapid entry of records on a smartphone or tablet in the field, with locations being recorded automatically and accurately using the device’s inbuilt GPS. Records can also be input or amended on a desktop computer at home. The app is mobile-friendly, and we will be making it freely available for Android and iOS from Google Play and the Apple App Store (we will notify all members when they can download it).
The app can be used for ‘square-bashing’ at monad or tetrad level or for recording site lists, as
well as for one-off (casual) records. If you have yet to take a look at it, we would encourage you to do so. You will also find support, an FAQ and options for providing feedback via the links below.
One of the benefits of using the app is its location capabilities. With the GPS enabled, it will automatically detect your location including the grid square you are in and provide audio warnings when you leave the square. In this mode the app will also create a new ‘survey’ when you enter a different square. If you re-enter a previous monad then the survey should switch back automatically. When used in the field, if the GPS is active, most records will be assigned a GPS location automatically (provided that the survey uses the current date). A GPS fix is assigned when a record is added and if a photograph is taken. The given GPS-derived grid reference can be manually overridden. If no location fix is possible then occurrences default to the survey grid square.
An additional benefit of the app is the ability to submit photographs alongside records which should make verification of records much more
straightforward. Various additional information can be added to each record from standard lists of fields such as the status (e.g. whether introduced intentionally or accidentally), the number of individuals and abundance, growth stage and habitat as well as more general comments. You can also add null records by choosing ‘absent’ from the abundance field menu. Context help screens provide easily accessible information to assist with using the app.
The data that you submit via the app will synchronise automatically between devices that you
are logged in to (e.g. between PC web browser and mobile use of the app), meaning that you can record in the field and then review and edit your records once you are home, as well as adding additional records as necessary, including null records. If using the app without a network connection, you will need to be sure to open it again once you have internet access. That should trigger a data sync automatically (but it won’t happen until the app is opened).
Initially, records from the app go into a separate workspace in the DDb, where they will await validation by the Vice-county Recorder, who has
The app start-up screen.
A new blank survey before any data has been added.
An example of a plant record entry.
the option to accept them and transfer them into the main workspace in the DDb or to query them with the recorder. VCRs therefore remain in control of data flow via the app, which will be important once more users start to use it. We hope that the Recording App will reduce the administrative workload of VCRs and records will arrive complete and in a standard format rather than on paper where they have to be checked and digitised.
Example of on-screen help.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to everyone who has helped with the testing of the app, and in funding its development.
Further information
To access the app on a desktop computer or mobile go to: recording.bsbi.app. Please note that use of the application requires a DDb login. If you are not registered to access the DDb, please do this first by visiting database.bsbi.org/membersaccess.php
For support and documentation go to: docs.bsbi. org/recording-app. More information on managing data from the Recording App is available at docs. bsbi.org/ddb/adding-data/recording-app. If you have any questions not covered by the support and documentation, please contact ddbsupport@ bsbi.org in the first instance.
Sarah Woods
Fundraising and Engagement Manager sarah.woods@bsbi.org
A second British site for Crepis praemorsa (Leafless Hawk’sbeard)
GARY LAWRENCE & JEREMY ROBERTS
Serendipity is often invoked in the field of botany as some explanation for an unexpected find. There was more than a whiff of this on 18 June 2024 as, prostrate on the damp ground at Tarn Moor, Cumbria, GL attempted to capture images of Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass). Just before him, and at eye-level, was a composite with a tall erect leafless scape and some yellow capitula in a compact head.
On regaining the vertical, four stems were soon found, two fruiting with silvery-white pappus –certainly this was no Hieracium with buff pappus. There were scattered loose rosettes over an area of a few square metres, and little else to go on. If not Hieracium the plants did look temptingly Crepislike… but which?
By coincidence GL had in recent days been reading up about the Cumbrian speciality Crepis praemorsa (Leafless Hawk’s-beard), and it could scarcely be doubted that this plant matched that rather nicely – or perhaps disconcertingly: this would be only the second location in UK of a plant largely absent from all of western Europe!
After sharing several images with (VCRs) Mike Porter and Jeremy Roberts, it was clear that this find should be followed up expeditiously. Three days later GL, MP and JR convened in the nearest parking spot and went to seek the plant. The plants proved to be remarkably well-camouflaged in this landscape and despite grid reference and GPS, there was considerable delay – indeed anxiety – before
the colony was relocated and identity confirmed. (There is that familiar experience where vertical plant-stems are easier to spot when looked across at, rather than down upon.)
Twelve stems were eventually located, in all stages from flowering to fruiting to bitten-off, the tallest to 25–30 cm, typically with four or five capitula arising close to the apex on short peduncles with linear-lanceolate bracts. Stems were leafless, sparsely hairy, more densely towards the base. Involucral bracts were in two rows in usual Crepis-fashion, and very sparsely hairy on the midribs only. Basal rosettes carried few leaves (1–4) of a plain ‘boatshape’, some rather concave, again in boat-fashion, with a distinctly broad base and faint reticulate veining, unlobed but the margin undulate with a few blunt teeth, more pronounced in the lower half. Overall colour was rather pale green, tending to yellowish or ‘sunburned’ purple in patches, with a pale and distinctly broad midrib. There was a dense indumentum of short hispid hairs above and especially below.
Rosettes were scattered over a discrete area of approximately two by nine metres, and in the time available no further patches were located – although given our difficulty even in refinding the one patch there may well be more to be found in the general area.
Crepis praemorsa (Leafless Hawk’s-beard), in species rich mire at Tarn Moor, Cumbria (v.c. 69). Gary Lawrence
A second British site for Crepis praemorsa (Leafless Hawk’s-beard)
The site is towards the margin of one of the many ‘swales’ of intermittent seepage down from the limestones above, famed for their spectacular displays of Primula farinosa (Bird’s-eye Primrose) in season. As over extensive areas in the Sunbiggin Tarn & Moors SSSI the vegetation at the site and nearby alters markedly over short distances, from close approaches to National Vegetation Classification M10, ‘Carex dioica–Pinguicula vulgaris mire’ and its ‘Briza–Primula farinosa sub-community’ (Rodwell, 1991), to the influence of heath on the nearby glacial drift.
No fewer than forty-one species were recorded as associates within the small patch occupied by Crepis praemorsa. The following selection, whilst pruned of some more ubiquitous entries, stands as a microcosm of the exceptional mosaic of habitats present at Tarn Moor:
Avenula pratensis (Meadow Oat-grass)
Briza media (Quaking-grass)
Carex hostiana (Tawny Sedge)
Carex pulicaris (Flea Sedge)
Danthonia decumbens (Heath-grass)
Galium boreale (Northern Bedstraw)
Galium verum (Lady’s Bedstraw)
Gymnadenia borealis (Heath Fragrant-orchid)
Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass)
Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy)
Linum catharticum (Fairy Flax)
Nardus stricta (Mat-grass)
Neottia ovata (Common Twayblade)
Orchis mascula (Early-purple Orchid)
Pilosella officinarum (Mouse-ear-hawkweed)
Plantago media (Hoary Plantain)
Poterium sanguisorba (Salad Burnet)
Primula farinosa (Bird’s-eye Primrose)
Primula veris (Cowslip)
Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup)
Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet)
Sesleria caerulea (Blue Moor-grass)
Succisa pratensis (Devil’s-bit Scabious)
Viola hirta (Hairy Violet)
In comparison with Crepis praemorsa at its original site near Orton, a few kilometres to the west, the smaller size and relative lack of vigour of the newly-
found plants were most noticeable. This may be explicable partly by the exposure of the two sites – the valley situation of the Orton site is effectively well sheltered whilst the moor site is very much more exposed and open ‘to all the winds that blow’, despite the similar altitudes, 250–270 metres a.s.l. The new site is also strikingly different in its flushing and persistent moisture levels.
Flowering stem showing arrangement of capitula on short peduncles with a few lanceolate bracts on the leafless scape. Gary Lawrence
Basal leaves of a non-flowering plant. Jeremy Roberts
The Orton plants were first recognised for what they were in 1988 by Dr Geoffrey Halliday (Halliday, 1997) on a limited stretch of well-drained stream bank in a hay meadow. Here, the Crepis persists in a very varied community from a short sward with Galium boreale (Northern Bedstraw) and Salix repens (Creeping Willow) to tall herb vegetation including Centaurea nigra (Common Knapweed), Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Crane’s-bill), Serratula tinctoria (Saw-wort) and Trollius europaeus (Globeflower).
The finest plants on this bank stand proud: stems to 65 cm (Halliday, 1997) or even 75 cm (Stroh, 2017) and with up to sixteen capitula, and leaves to 20 cm (Stroh, 2017). (GL and JR visited this site later the same day, and found the Crepis to be mostly overflower, and as usual with stems strikingly stout and tall with many capitula per inflorescence.)
Later surveys (Roberts, 2009) at Orton revealed many more plants in two intermittently-grazed pastures on calcareous glacial drift for a further 400 metres upstream, both close to the watercourse and on slightly raised ground and hummocks above seepage areas several metres from the stream. There were approximately 1750 rosettes, but in any year few flowering stems.
In the pastures, the thinner soils and intermittent grazing ensure that the plants do not attain the vigour, nor tendency to throw up flowering stems, as do those on the ‘bank’ site. On the shallowest and most sun-exposed soils leaves are only to c. 5 cm, much as at the Tarn Moor site. Vegetation is diverse short calcareous grassland, the Crepis avoiding the wetter ground and growing in places with other such short-turf rarities as Carex ornithopoda (Bird’sfoot Sedge) and Polygala amarella (Dwarf Milkwort).
Achenes at the original site appear to be infertile (Halliday, 1997) and from the short experience of a single season, the same may be true at the new site. However, GL took a small sample of fruiting capitula home from Tarn Moor for investigation. The achenes looked unpromisingly hollow, but, after rehydration of a proportion, when the outer coat was removed a dicot body with an apparent epicotyl was visible. Further experimentation may resolve whether there is some fertility.
Seed fertility prompts speculation over the status and origins of the ‘new’ colony at Tarn Moor, and what relation there might be between the two sites. ‘Native’ status for the original site had been at first doubted (see, e.g. Stace, 1991) but the revelation of the extent of the distribution – concomitant with its rhizomatous growth – and the evident lack of seedset suggested long occupation of the site. Thus, the plant could be added to the suite of highly localised relicts here such as Bartsia alpina (Alpine Bartsia), Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides (Narrow-leaved Marshorchid), the Polygala amarella already mentioned, and some others.
At the new site, given the restriction as so far known to a single smallish patch, it would be difficult to discount deliberate introduction, most obviously from the Orton site. Simon Webb (Natural England, Cumbria Team) is unaware of any authorised introduction (pers. comm.). The possibility of unauthorised introduction from any source would be difficult to dismiss entirely. An accidental introduction from Orton seems profoundly unlikely, given the (evident) failure of seed-set in the Orton plants and lack of other propagules for transport.
It would be an interesting exercise to match DNA from the two sites. Given the rhizomatous mode of spread and lack of seed-set (at least in current times) it may be that each site consists of single clones, and DNA might establish if the two sites are in fact genetically identical.
If the plant has existed at Tarn Moor ‘throughout history’, its success at hiding until now might seem puzzling. It becomes less so when one considers how the plants at the new site hardly proclaimed themselves, flowering relatively early in the season and having capitula readily dismissed as ‘some composite or other’. Once matured – and much like the similarly elusive Crepis mollis (Northern Hawk’sbeard) – the stems soon blacken and effectively and rapidly disappear from the landscape, to leave basal leaves not strikingly different from the surrounding plants to observers unaware of the species. Furthermore, as Tarn Moor was previously much more heavily grazed, until the year 2000 (P. Bullard, pers. comm.), flowering stems may have been in
Cystopteris pseudoregia Rivas-Mart., a fern hitherto overlooked in Britain
short supply. A final consideration: as an absentee from all earlier standard guides and floras, the species has simply not been ‘on the radar’ for observers until recent times.
If there is more of this elusive plant ‘out there’ on the moors, then with growing familiarity with its appearance in flower and in leaf, its habitats and habits, chances of discovery must grow.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Peter Bullard, Mike Porter and Simon Webb for their comments and suggestions.
References
Halliday, G. 1997. A Flora of Cumbria. Centre for North-West Regional Studies, University of Lancaster. Lancaster.
Roberts, F.J. 2009. Crepis praemorsa (L.) F. Walther at Orton in 2009. Unpublished Report to Natural England. Porter, M.S., Roberts, F.J. & Wigginton, M. Crepis praemorsa. In: Wigginton, M. (ed.). 1999. British Red Data Books 1: Vascular Plants. JNCC. Peterborough. Rodwell, J.S. (ed). 1991. British Plant Communities, Vol. 2: Mires and Heaths. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. Stace, C.A. 1991. New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Stroh, P.A. 2017. Crepis praemorsa (L.) Walther. Species Account. BSBI: bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/ Crepis_praemorsa_species_account.pdf
Gary Lawrence g.lawrence.tiscali@gmail.com
Jeremy Roberts
f.j.roberts@icloud.com
Cystopteris pseudoregia Rivas-Mart., a fern hitherto overlooked in Britain
DAVID TENNANT
Afern
that occurs in northern Scotland was described earlier as ‘Cystopteris alpina variant’ (Tennant, 2023). Since that article was published work carried out on this Scottish fern in the Czech Republic, using flow cytometry at the end of 2023, found that it was octoploid (8n), a ploidy level hitherto unknown for Cystopteris in Britain. Cystopteris alpina has usually been found to be hexaploid (6n); the findings therefore suggest that these Scottish ferns are unlikely to be a variant of C. alpina.
The Scottish ferns, however, do match another fern that occurs in Europe in their gross morphology, which is also known to be octoploid. As a consequence, these Scottish ferns have now been redetermined as the octoploid C. pseudoregia Rivas-Mart.
C. pseudoregia is new to the British Isles. British examples previously had been found to match a fern discovered in England prior to 1778 (Tennant 2022: 230), which was named by W. J. Hooker as C. alpina, after its original discovery. C. pseudoregia is a rare fern in Britain, presently only known in northern Scotland and possibly one locality in North Wales.
The true C. alpina sensu stricto (Tennant 2023, Figure 2 left) is currently therefore not known in Scotland or in Wales and probably extinct in its former English locality. British examples of C. pseudoregia were illustrated by Tennant (2023: Figures 4 and 5) (as C. alpina variant).
The presently known British records of C. pseudoregia are: West Ross (v.c. 105), NG96 and NG19; West Sutherland (v.c. 108), NC 22; Hoy, Orkney (v.c. 111), HY 20; Skye (v.c. 104), NG 52 (unconfirmed).
References
Tennant, D. J. 2022. The present status of Cystopteris alpina in the British Isles. Pteridologist 7 (4): 229 – 233. Tennant, D. 2023. Cystopteris alpina in Britain. BSBI News 154: 8–9.
Surveying Yarrow Broomrape (Orobanche purpurea) in Norfolk
MIKE CREWE
YarrowBroomrape (Orobanche purpurea Jacq.1) is an obligate holoparasite2 of Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) occurring throughout much of the Western Palearctic region, from the Canary Islands to the Caucasus (Tutin et al., 1973) and eastwards to the western Himalayan region (POWO, 2024). Despite this wide distribution, it appears to be relatively uncommon throughout its range, which seems to be at odds with the fact that its host is an abundant species. In the UK small populations occasionally appear at seemingly random locations and are largely considered to have been accidentally introduced. Such populations are often short-lived, but can occasionally be more permanent, such as in Cumbria (Stroh et al., 2023; Preston et al.; 2002).
Colony of Yarrow Broomrape (Orobanche purpurea) in cliff-top grassland, Sidestrand, Norfolk (v.c. 27), June, 2024. All photographs by the author.
Rumsey & Jury (1991) also give a useful overview of these occurrences and discuss the possibility of misidentifications for some reports.
Populations considered to be native occur quite widely in the Channel Islands (v.c. 113), on the Isle of Wight (v.c. 10) (mostly on the east coast) and in East Norfolk (v.c. 27). Presumed native, remnant populations are also known from Dorset (v.c. 9), North Hampshire (v.c. 12), East Kent (v.c. 15), West Suffolk (v.c. 26), Pembrokeshire (v.c. 45) and North Lincolnshire (v.c. 54).
1 Some recent publications follow Soják (1972) in placing Yarrow Broomrape in the genus Phelipanche. Species in this genus are recognised as different from Orobanche in having mostly purplish flowers and stems and having two bracteoles (as well as the usual bracts) at the base of each flower.
2 A holoparasite is a fully parasitic species that has no chlorophyll in any of its parts and therefore needs to obtain sugars and important minerals from other species, typically by tapping into their vascular system. An obligate holoparasite is one which has no choice but to pursue this lifestyle.
From the known distribution in mainland Britain, it is clear that effectively sustainable populations occur only on the Isle of Wight and in Norfolk and this review looks at the initiation of a project to survey and monitor the species in the latter county.
In north-east Norfolk, the main population is scattered from Sheringham to Bacton with nonpersistent occurrences occasionally reported from elsewhere (Beckett & Bull, 1999). The main
population occurs along a straight line distance of around 20 km and is tied closely to cliff-edge grassland habitats. This is a very small range, with much of the area consisting of unsuitable habitat, either due to urban development or fragmentation and loss of habitat caused by arable agricultural use. But by far the biggest threat to this cliff-top population comes from coastal erosion, with the entire range of the population being situated on light soils of glacial till. Such soils are non-stratified and tend to be friable, making them readily susceptible to landslip and slumping, caused by the subsurface movement of groundwater (Bridges, 1998). Away from the immediate coast but still in the main population area, plants have been noted from Mundesley and Southrepps on grassy railway embankments or roadside verges, while the first Norfolk record came from Northrepps in 1779 (Petch & Swann, 1968).
Yarrow Broomrape was formerly classified as nationally rare (Wigginton, 1999) and is currently listed as Vulnerable on the British and English vascular plant Red Data lists (Cheffings & Farrell, 2005; Stroh et al. 2014). The species was reported on in a collection of accounts of species considered to have special significance in Norfolk (Crewe, 2020). Despite its apparent scarcity, it appears to have been little studied and literature searches offer scant information on its ecology. Indeed, information on
Side view of a flower and over-wintering seedhead showing structural parts that can be used for identification. Surveying Yarrow Broomrape (Orobanche purpurea) in Norfolk
Typical flower showing three-lobed lower lip to corolla and two-lobed, white stigma inside. Sidestrand, 18 June 2018.
Left to right: emerging flower spike, Sidestrand, 27 May 2018; well developed flower spikes, Sidestrand 18 June 2018; flower spike lacking colour pigment, West Runton 24 June 2024.
the ecology of Orobanche as a whole is difficult to find, except for species that are considered pests of agricultural or horticultural crops. With this in mind, members of the Norfolk Flora Group decided to initiate a preliminary survey of the main population area in the summer of 2023. The rest of this paper largely discusses the methodology and early results of this survey, followed by some broader discussion on questions raised during and after the fieldwork stage.
2023 survey methodology
The area to be surveyed was determined through a combination of published data and incidental observations from local naturalists. More recent records were determined through distribution maps in county and national floras (Becket & Bull, 1999; Stroh et al., 2023) with all falling within four 10 km squares of the Ordnance Survey National Grid. The recorded range of the plants from past records was divided by civil parishes into three areas. The first area included coastal sections of Sheringham and Runton (including both East and West Runton); the second area included coastal sections of Cromer, Sidestrand and Trimingham and the third consisted of coastal areas of Mundesley and Bacton, plus two inland sites in Gimingham and Southrepps.
These areas were assigned to three groups of local botanists with field experience of the species. More precise locational data were obtained from the BSBI’s Distribution Database (DDb). These records were clustered in an attempt to define discreet populations that could be identified and monitored in successive years.
A simple ‘presence/absence’ approach with a count of visible flower spikes was used and searches were concentrated in and immediately around the grid references of past records. Field visits were made during the expected flowering period of early June to early August. Broomrapes are obligate root parasites of a host species and, as such, have no presence above ground other than their flower spikes. Thus, the exact number of individual plants was almost impossible to determine without being highly intrusive, so a simple count of individual flower spikes was used as a measure of the population. Data from fieldwork were collated either on a shared, online spreadsheet, or by means of written, observational notes that included date of visit, grid reference (to at least eight figures) and flower spike count. Observers generally also commented on the observed site conditions with regard to suitability for the target species.
Surveying Yarrow Broomrape (Orobanche purpurea) in Norfolk
2023 survey results
Results from locations where Yarrow Broomrape had been previously recorded were mixed. Some survey sites produced no flower spikes at all but, conversely, surveying more broadly produced counts in new areas, away from the immediate vicinity of known sites. Results for the four 10 km squares surveyed are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Totals of flower spikes of Yarrow Broomrape found in each of four 10 km squares in north-east Norfolk in 2023.
present, but sometimes included encroachment by Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), Common Nettle ( Urtica dioica ) and other rank species. In a few cases, some sites couldn’t be visited due to access restrictions and this most notably included a site where European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) were breeding!
Discussion
The initial intent of the survey was to carry out simple counts of flower spikes at known locations, but this proved more difficult than expected for a variety of reasons. Many of the previous records stored in databases were not precise enough to identify exact locations, often having been recorded only to the monad (1 km square) level, while even six-figure grid references for known populations proved difficult to relocate on the ground. After all the fieldwork data had been collated, it was quickly apparent that any attempt to equate counts from 2023 with records from previous years in order to ascertain trends would be problematic and could lead to incorrect conclusions being drawn. It seemed far simpler to arrive at an overall count of spikes for broader areas in the hope that these could be monitored and compared in later years.
During the field survey stage, quite a a number of sites that were known to have previously supported plants proved to be unsuitable for the species. In most cases, this was due to a change in vegetation, with the vegetation typically becoming more rank and thus unsuitable for the host species, which prefers more open areas of shorter plant growth. Often, unsuitability was a result simply of longer grass being
In researching background data ahead of starting fieldwork, it quickly became apparent that information on the ecology of broomrapes is scant and not easy to find. Most information that does exist, comes from crop research establishments, on species that are considered to be crop pests. Both Bean Broomrape ( Orobanche crenata ) and Hemp Broomrape (O. ramosa) have been considered as actual or potential crop pests in East Anglia in the past (Sanford, 1992), but neither appear to be established in the UK currently, with Hemp Broomrape considered extinct and Bean Broomrape surviving in small quantity at scattered sites on native members of the pea family (Fabaceae) in south-east England. For botanists rather than agronomists, probably the best overview currently available on the ecology of broomrapes in general is provided by Thorogood & Rumsey (2021).
The ecology of Yarrow Broomrape in particular is even less well understood. The species is variously considered to be annual (Thorogood & Rumsey, 2021) or perennial (Sell & Murrell, 2009); it has a perennial host and some larger clusters of flower spikes may suggest that plants are capable of perennating if the opportunity arises. Broomrapes are often considered to be monocarpic (flowering once and dying after setting seed), so plants that fail to flower in their first year may survive below ground until at least the following year; this could offer the opportunity to develop a larger subterranean growth which could, in turn, provide the energy for more flower spikes. Certainly, the Norfolk colonies typically consist of a range of spikes of varying size and number, the smallest being a single spike bearing just two or three flowers, the largest being dense groupings of tall spikes with up to 20 or so flowers per spike. Are
clusters of spikes in very close proximity a product of perennating plants, the result of a particularly strong annual plant, or the result of several seeds germinating very close together?
Broomrape flowers are visited by insects, but the non-scented species (including Yarrow Broomrape) are often considered to be self-pollinating (Clapham et al., 1962). However, in a small experimental population established in the author’s garden, only three of 20 flower spikes in 2023 developed into seedheads, which would seem a low ratio if the species were self-pollinating. Such a low seed set would seem more typical of an insect-pollinated species, in a year when insect numbers continued a downward trend (Rumohr et al., 2023). Fertilised plants produce large volumes of very small seed in much the same way as orchids and the seed is wind-dispersed. It would follow that wind dispersal of seed is more effective in areas of short vegetation that allows for free airflow as opposed to areas of ranker vegetation. Small seed and a wind dispersal mechanism suggests that plants could be dispersed widely and this may be a contributing factor in the apparent ephemeral nature of some of the colonies. Conversely, any flower spike finding itself in more rank vegetation may simply drop its seeds close by, perhaps resulting in close germination of several new plants in close proximity the following year; or, potentially, failure of recruitment in generally unsuitable conditions.
A number of the UK’s broomrape species seem to have strongholds at the coast and it has been suggested that this may be because seed benefits from the soil disturbance of eroding cliffs, which helps to bring the seed into contact with the roots of potential host species (Thorogood & Rumsey, 2021). However, at least for Norfolk’s Yarrow Broomrape population this is not the case, because the plants largely populate the stable grassland atop the cliffs and not the eroding face. Research into a group of plant hormones known as strigolactones reveals that they are an important part of the complex life cycle of broomrapes (e.g. Bouwmeester et al., 2007; Smith, 2014). Strigolactones are emitted by plant roots for a variety of hormonal reasons associated with plant
growth. One such purpose is to attract mycorrhizal fungi, which are known to grow in association with the presence of strigolactones and these fungi are utilised by the plant to help obtain important minerals. It has been demonstrated that broomrape seeds germinate in the presence of strigolactones emitted by plant roots and use the presence of these hormones to detect the presence of potential host species. Since strigolactones are produced in greater quantity by plants that are short of essential minerals, it is quite possible that broomrapes more readily find their hosts when the hosts are growing in difficult conditions, such as those found in ‘edge’ habitats like clifftops and roadside verges, where drying out due to land topography or the presence of high salt content in the air is a common threat.
The future
From the results of the 2023 survey, it is clear that a longer-term dataset is required before much can be determined about the Norfolk population of Yarrow Broomrape. Early survey walks produced startlingly few flower spikes; for example, at Sidestrand, where over 200 spikes had been counted in 2021, just a single spike was found in 2023. Conversely, the largest 2023 population of some 150 spikes was found in an area of Runton that had not been known for holding a large population before. Some sites received more than one visit during the course of the flowering season and this often produced very different results. The seasonality of broomrape flowering certainly seems to vary to a greater or lesser degree annually and single visits in any one year may not provide useful data, either in the short term or the long term.
This demonstrates that a full survey needs to cover suitable habitat throughout the entire range of a known population (and perhaps a little beyond) and not simply consist of re-visits to discrete locations where the species has been seen before. Survey visits should also span the full date range of typical flowering seasons – from early June to early August.
Developing a greater understanding of the ecology of Yarrow Broomrape is paramount in helping to prevent the disappearance of the Surveying Yarrow Broomrape
species, by providing background information for a structured management plan. As habitat is progressively lost due to costal erosion, it would be beneficial if at least some nearby land were managed in a way that would allow the broomrape to persist. In general, this may simply be a matter of maintaining areas of relatively short grassland that would encourage a good population of Yarrow, the host plant. But it may well be preferable to gain a better understanding of why Yarrow Broomrape is not far more common, since Yarrow probably occurs in all but the most heavily weed-killed of lawns and recreation areas, but the broomrape does not. The wind dispersal mechanism of the seeds means that suitable habitat maintained nearby could be utilised by the plant in an ad hoc way, moving around – quite literally – as the wind takes it. In a number of locations where the species has been recorded in the past but no longer persists due to habitat change, a simple clearance of rank vegetation may well provide suitable conditions for Yarrow Broomrape to return. At this point, it may also be worth noting the current remarkable crash in the local European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population, which has declined over 90% in just a few years and has certainly had an effect on plant growth in areas where rabbits had previously been common; this is particularly the case at Sheringham and Sidestrand/Trimingham, where rabbit warrens had existed in the less perpendicular or relatively more stable sections of coastal cliffs but are now completely gone.
There is a certain amount of anecdotal information that offers insights into the plight of the Norfolk population. The general public tend to be largely unaware of broomrapes and, when informed of the plants’ parasitic nature, typically form a dislike of them for their ‘sinister’ behaviour. Odd individuals of the less colourful species (both Tall Broomrape, O. elatior and Common Broomrape, O. minor grow within the range of the Norfolk population of Yarrow Broomrape) are easily overlooked, but a colony of purple broomrapes can be eye-catching and they are sometimes even mistaken for orchids, in which case they are left
alone or even admired! Unfortunately, examples of ill-will towards the plants and examples of bad luck have often resulted in colonies disappearing. A large colony of plants disappeared completely after a fairly casual management regime was changed for a more regular cutting of the grass. Rumours abound that this was a deliberate effort to eradicate what was perceived as a troublesome weed, as well as to ‘tidy up’ what had been perceived as unkempt. In another case, a large colony was eradicated not long after its discovery when a new village hall was constructed on the site. A third site lost its colony due to perhaps a lack of connectivity between various groups and concerned parties; in this case, a ‘Miyawaki Forest’ was planted in Cromer on what had been a good colony of Yarrow Broomrape. In what might seem an uncharitable comment, the majority of the planted trees died quite quickly (perhaps due to the exposure to wind and salt spray from the sea at the site) and Yarrow began to recolonise the bark-
Flower spikes damaged at the top by mowing during the flowering period.
mulched area. Perhaps the continuing presence of Yarrow and a continued demise of the trees will allow the broomrape to return. In another Miyawaki project at Sidestrand, the chosen plot fortuitously just missed the broomrape habitat, but has resulted in a loss of suitable habitat for the broomrapes to spread into as the population loses out to cliff erosion.
One would like to think that a Red Data species could be deserving of better treatment. However, tides do turn and local environmental groups, such as Cromer Green Spaces are, at the time of writing, showing much interest in assisting Yarrow Broomrape. In addition, a small group of interested parties, including local naturalists, parish representatives and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust are in discussions to develop a management plan and potential reintroduction by seed of Yarrow Broomrape to a site at Mundesley where a very small, remnant population persists. Perhaps ‘guiding’ the plant towards sites belonging to sympathetic landowners is the best way to ensure that the species persists and a downward trend is reversed.
Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks are extended to those who took part in field surveys and to local naturalists and other interested parties who provided observations or constructive comment. These included: Andrew Chamberlin, Mary Ghullam, David Harper, Bob Leaney, Paul Lee, Rob Lee, Mike Padfield, Jo Parmenter and Suki Pryce. Thanks to Trevor Williams, whose initial correspondence was the catalyst for the survey and to Jo Parmenter for commenting on a first draft of this paper.
References
Beckett, G. & Bull, A. 1999. A Flora of Norfolk. Privately published.
Bouwmeester, H.J., Roux, C., Lopez-Raez, J.A. & Bécard, G. 2007. Rhizopshere communication of plants, parasitic plants and AM fungi. Trends in Plant Science 12: 224–230. Bridges, E., 1998. Classic Landforms of the North Norfolk Coast. The Geographical Association, Sheffield. Cheffings, C.M. & Farrell, L. (eds), Dines, T.D., Jones, R.A., Leach, S.J., McKean, D.R., Pearman, D.A., Preston, C.D.,
Rumsey, F.J. & Taylor, I. 2005. The vascular plant Red Data List for Great Britain. Species Status 7: 1–116. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. & Warburg, E.F. 1962. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Crewe, M. 2020. Yarrow Broomrape, in: Norfolk’s Wonderful 150. Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society.
POWO 2024. Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online at: powo. science.kew.org
Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. & Dines, T.D. (eds) 2002. New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Rumohr, Q., Baden, C.U., Bergtold, M., Marx, M.T., Oellers, J., Schade, M., et al. 2023. Drivers and pressures behind insect decline in Central and Western Europe based on long-term monitoring data. PLoS ONE 18(8): e0289565. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289565
Rumsey, J. & Jury, S.L., 1991. An account of Orobanche L. in Britain and Ireland. Watsonia 18: 257–295.
Sanford, M. 1992. The genus Orobanche in Suffolk, a review of past records and taxonomy. Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society 28: 34–43.
Sell, P.D. & Murrell, G. 2009. Flora of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 3: Mimosaceae–Lentibulariaceae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Smith, S.M. 2014. Q&A: What are strigolactones and why are they important to plants and soil microbes? BMC Biology 12: 19. biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/12/19
Soják, J. 1972. In Časopis Národního Musea. Oddíl přírodovědný 140 (3-4): 130. Prague.
Stroh, P.A., Leach, S.J., August, T.A., Walker, K.J., Pearman, D.A., Rumsey, F.J., Harrower, C.A., Fay, M.F., Martin, J.P., Pankhurst, T., Preston, C.D. & Taylor, I. (2014). A Vascular Plant Red List for England. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Bristol.
Stroh, P.A., Walker, K.J., Humphrey, T.A., Pescott, O.L. & Burkmar, R.J. (eds) 2023. Plant Atlas 2020: Mapping Changes in the Distribution of the British and Irish Flora. Princeton University Press. plantatlas2020.org
Thorogood, C.J. & Rumsey, F.J. 2021. Broomrapes of Britain & Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 22. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Durham.
Wigginton, M.J., 1999. British Red Data Book. 1. Vascular Plants (3rd edn). Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
Mike D. Crewe mikedcrewe@gmail.com
Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid) in rich fen on Hoy, Orkney (v.c. 111)
Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid) in rich fen on Hoy, Orkney (v.c. 111)
JOHN CROSSLEY
Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid) is known in Britain and Ireland as an inhabitant of acidic mires, where it usually emerges from a carpet of Sphagnum moss. It is often found on the edge of a runnel through peat, though there is some variation in habitat. A full account of the species is given in the ‘Biological Flora’ series (Tatarenko et al., 2022), where it is noted that in other parts of its wide geographical range the species is not limited to acidic conditions; the substrate may be neutral or even alkaline. To date in our area there seems to be only one record of it growing in more alkaline conditions, on the Isle of Rum in ‘ultrabasic flush below Loch Coire nan Grunnd’ (Eggeling, 1965), but with no further detail given. It has not been seen there since (Pearman et al., 2008 and pers. comm). However, there is a site in Orkney where H. paludosa has been recorded which I knew to be a rich fen, so I visited it with fellow BSBI member Brian Ribbands in August 2023, hoping to find it and gather information on habitat and accompanying species. We were successful on both counts.
Near the southern end of the island of Hoy, about 4 kilometres up the Burn of Ore from its outlet to the sea lies a small valley fen named Black Pows (ND2693). (‘Pow’ is Scots for ‘pool’). It is a rich and varied fen copiously fed by groundwater and set among low, peat-covered hills. Features and plant communities present include swamp, pools, runnels, bryophyte-dominated flushes and small ‘islands’ dominated by Calluna vulgaris (Heather). Carex rostrata (Bottle Sedge) and Menyanthes trifoliata (Bogbean) are especially common and there are stands of Juncus acutiflorus (Sharp-flowered Rush) and Carex lasiocarpa (Slender-sedge). Carex limosa (Bog-sedge) is locally abundant. Dactylorhiza incarnata (Early Marsh-orchid) was recorded earlier in the year. Sphagnum moss is confined to the edges
of small, drier ‘islands’ within the fen and of the surrounding heathland.
We had two eight-figure grid references, recorded by Eric Meek in 2004. At the first we drew a blank, then searched more widely along the edges of runnels laced through peat with a cover of dry Calluna heath. The runnels held M. trifoliata, C. rostrata and patches of C. limosa and were edged with Sphagna: perfect habitat, we thought. This too was unsuccessful but at the second reference we immediately came on a cluster of three flowering shoots and a pair of leaves without a flower, growing in a water track carpeted with a short ‘lawn’ of vascular plants, mainly C. limosa, with bryophytes not prominent. We recorded 13 species of vascular plants, in addition to H. paludosa, and three bryophytes within 50 cm
Leaves of Hammarbya paludosa (Bog Orchid), Black Pows, Hoy, Orkney (v.c. 111). These show the bulbils formed on the leaf margins, which are dispersed by water. John Crossley
paludosa (Bog Orchid) in rich fen on Hoy, Orkney (v.c. 111)
of the orchids (Table 1).We did not record cover values except that C. limosa occupied more than 50% of the sample area.
A short distance away we found another single H. paludosa in flower. We did not comprehensively record companion species but noted some Schoenus nigricans (Black Bog-rush) and an abundance of the moss Scorpidium scorpioides. Clearly, neither of these sites was acidic. The first we identified superficially as a neutral flush, with a range of species indicating both acidic conditions (but not the most marked, e.g. Sphagnum mosses with rushes and Carex echinata [Starsedge]) and basic conditions, and others with broader tolerances. The second seemed more markedly basic. However, with the aim of bringing more precision to this account, especially with regard to soil reaction (pH), I provide a table showing some Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs) for plant attributes for the vascular plants (Hill et al., 2004) and bryophytes (Hill et al., 2007) recorded (Table 1).
EIV R (reaction) is measured on a scale of 1–9, 1 being an indicator of extreme acidity, never found on weakly acid or basic soils, 9 an indicator of basic reaction, always found on calcareous or other highpH soils. 13 of the 17 species listed in Table 1 have
values in the range 4–6, and the mean for all 17 is 4.8 (5.3 without H. paludosa). The value 5 is defined as an ‘indicator of moderately acidic soils, only occasionally found on very acidic or on neutral to basic soils’ (Hill et al., 2004). (Molinia caerulea though given an EIV of 3 has a wide tolerance to soil reaction [Grime et al., 1988] so its EIV is likely to be too low to apply in all circumstances.) The most obvious outliers are H. paludosa and Carex lepidocarpa, value 2 for the former being strongly acidic and value 8 for the latter strongly basic.
This finding of 5 or thereabouts on the R scale is slightly surprising, as I would expect it to have been higher, but it and the mix of species with divergent values are broadly consistent with our initial impression of a neutral flush. Also, EIVs are generalisations applying to a wide geographical area in which preferences can vary, so some divergences from values are possible when sampling individual sites. At the second site, R values for Scorpidium scorpioides and Schoenus nigricans, of 6 and 7 respectively, indicate weakly acidic to weakly basic conditions, broadly consistent with a basic flush.
EIV moisture is measured on a scale of 1–12. The consistently high values in this respect confirm
Table 1. Plant list for the first Hammarbya paludosa site at Black Pows, with Ellenberg indicator values for reaction, moisture and nitrogen. Species arranged in alphabetical order.
Hammarbya
Is the archaeobotanical record a fit tool for assessing conservation priorities: Hodgson et al. (2004) revisited
the preference of H. paludosa for very wet sites, the only outlier in this respect being the unreliable Euphrasia aggregate. Likewise, the nitrogen value, on a scale of 1–9, is consistently very low, confirming a preference for infertile soils. I have not included the other EIVs, for salt or light, because there is nothing to be learned from them in this case.
The foregoing analysis indicates that H. paludosa in Britain is not restricted to the strongly acidic soils indicated by its EIV value of 2. It would be worth investigating sites elsewhere to see if accompanying species indicate the same. However, its occurrence in an ‘ultrabasic flush’ as described on the Isle of Rum seems unlikely. It appears that the phrase was used imprecisely, for vascular plants with R values mainly of 8 and 9 would be expected in such a flush: none with a value of 9 have been recorded on Rum and of the 8s only Carex lepidocarpa seems likely. The site may well have been similar to those on Hoy.
Acknowledgements
I would like thank Chris Preston for commenting on the draft of article.
References
Eggeling, W J. 1964. Check List of the Plants of Rhum, Inner Hebrides (V.-C. 104, North Ebudes). Part 1. Stoneworts, Ferns and Flowering Plants. The Nature Conservancy, Edinburgh.
Grime, J.P., Hodgson, J.G. & Hunt, R. 1988. Comparative Plant Ecology: a Functional Approach to Common British Species Unwin Hyman, London.
Hill, M.O., Preston, C.D. & Roy, D.B. 2004. PLANTATT Attributes of British and Irish Plants: Status, Size, Life History, Geography and Habitats. Biological Records Centre, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Hill, M.O., Preston, C.D., Bosanquet, S.D.S. & Roy, D.B. 2007. BRYOATT Attributes of British and Irish Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts. NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Countryside Council for Wales.
Pearman, D.A., Preston, C.D., Rothero, G.P. & Walker, K.J. 2008. The Flora of Rum: An Atlantic Island Reserve. Selfpublished.
Tatarenko, I., Zhmylev, P., Voronina, E. & Longrigg. S. 2022. Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Hammarbya paludosa Journal of Ecology, Biological Flora no. 298. Available at: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/13652745.13840
John Crossley
Vice-county Recorder for Orkney (v.c. 111) flawsjohn@gmail.com
Is the archaeobotanical record a fit tool for assessing conservation priorities: Hodgson et al. (2004) revisited
JOHN HODGSON, MARK MCKERRACHER, HELENA HAMEROW, MIKE CHARLES & AMY BOGAARD
TA question unanswered 20 years ago
This classification of the historical status of species by reference to the palynological, archaeobotanical and historical records was a major achievement, designed rightly to revolutionise how we interpret
he archaeobotanical record provides the best available information on the historical composition of the British flora and its description within the landmark publication of Preston et al. (2004) has been a ‘game changer’. Species were classified into three categories: native, archaeophytes (early human introductions, naturalised from the Neolithic era up to about ad1500) and neophytes (more recent introductions, post 1500). In the process, many familiar British species were reclassified. A new age in interpreting the British flora had arrived.
Is the archaeobotanical record a fit tool for assessing conservation priorities: Hodgson et al. (2004) revisited
the history of the British flora. Nevertheless, and this is where opinions differ, is this combined dataset sufficiently complete to fully separate ‘conservationworthy’ taxa from those of ‘lesser concern’? JNCC considered that the archaeobotanical dataset was sufficiently complete. Threatened native species and archaeophytes were worthy of statutory protection: neophytes were not (Cheffings, 2004a). Because of perceived bias in the archaeobotanical record relating to (1) mode of arrival, (2) quality of preservation, (3) accuracy of identification and (4) geographical coverage, we disagreed with this simplistic treatment (Hodgson et al., 2004):
‘Given the various limitations of the palynological, archaeobotanical and historical records outlined above and of the ecological information available, we would argue that conservation bodies should be prepared to consider any rare and/or declining species as a candidate for conservation provided that it is long established in Great Britain … We regard the protection of the natural and semi-natural habitats and their constituent species as the key issue. Wouldn’t it be better simply to protect all rare and declining species of these habitats? Such a view, incidentally, is very much in line with the more inclusive approach adopted in A Nature Conservation Review (Ratcliffe, 1977) and earlier editions of the Red Data Book (Perring & Farrell, 1977; 1983)’.
In a brief reply, that failed to address most of the issues that we had raised, Cheffings (2004b) expressed her confidence in the status quo. Our chance of moderating a brave but imperfect attempt to incorporate new scientific thinking into conservation policy was lost. There was one small consolation. JH received a long hand-written letter of support from Oliver Rackham.
The archaeobotanical record 20 years on In a keynote lecture at the International Work Group for Palaeoethnobotany (IWGP) Conference in České Budějovice, in June 2022, Peter Poschlod reviewed recent advances in our understanding of the archaeobotanical record. Using evidence from genetic markers, Peter argued that the spread of pastoral agriculture across Europe has facilitated the spread of many grassland species to new areas. These species had previously been treated as
native throughout their full European range. Peter concluded that ‘semi-natural’ grassland was best treated as an historically novel alien-rich habitat, the consequence of the expansion of pastoral agriculture from the Neolithic onwards. Similarly, Sheehy Skeffington & Scott (2023) have suggested that rare ‘native’ Irish heathers should be reclassified as archaeophytes. Our perception of the history of the British flora is changing. Rather than being a tablet of stone providing a fixed, accurate record, the archaeobotanical record increasingly resembles a ‘whodunnit’ with the last page torn out.
A post-mortem of the 2004 ‘debate’
Importantly, JH’s two co-authors in Hodgson et al. (2004) were professional archaeobotanists. Indeed, Professor Glynis Jones remains a major force in European archaeobotany. In her long and distinguished career, she has routinely (a) used palynological, archaeobotanical and historical records, (b) contributed to these data repositories and (c) undertaken studies of the current flora to interpret the past more fully. Similarly, Dr Palmer continues to be influential as director of the Centre for British Research in the Levant in Amman, Jordan. Why did our four pages of ‘expert’ comment fail to impress?
We suspect that the implementation of the new JNCC methodology was never validated by rigorous expert archaeobotanical analysis, ‘a lack of due diligence?’. Were JNCC so enthused by the option of using ‘objective’ historical criteria to order conservation priorities that they neglected to read the small print? In our view the small print was, and remains, that the archaeobotanical record is based on a relatively small number of samples and that identification is often difficult. As a result, the absence of a species from the record will sometimes indicate under-sampling and/or identification issues rather than a genuine absence.
Importantly, JNCC is a trusted source and its conservation protocols derived from archaeobotany have become entrenched within all levels of British conservation. Has that trust been misplaced? In 2004 a polite attempt, using ‘expert witnesses’, failed
to influence. Perhaps a more robust restatement, substantiated by data, will be more successful.
Road-testing the archaeobotanical record
In 2004, we could only exchange opinions with JNCC. However, archaeobotanical recording has carried on apace, and the compilation of extensive palaeoenvironmental datasets is now being undertaken. For example, data from 4000 archaeobotanical samples from around 300 sites have been assembled for the ERC-funded Feeding Anglo-Saxon England research project (FeedSax; 2017–2022), based in the School of Archaeology at the University of Oxford, whose focus was the bioarchaeological evidence for medieval farming regimes (McKerracher et al., 2022; Hamerow, in press). Data collection focused primarily on assemblages dated between the seventh and thirteenth centuries, with only a few earlier and later samples. These data relate to an historical period where, by definition, only native species and archaeophytes were present. Fortuitously, the combined FeedSax dataset is now freely available via the Archaeology Data Service (McKerracher et al., 2023) and the results of our analysis of FeedSax data (Table 1) re-emphasise many of our concerns about using the archaeobotanical record uncritically to define conservation objectives. Of the 259 sources consulted by FeedSax, a clear majority (178) postdate this 2004 study, spanning 2005–2023. Mark McKerracher, who compiled the database, provides for each species an assessment of the quality of the FeedSax data from a purely archaeobotanical perspective. Further details of sites and origins can be obtained from the FeedSax database (McKerracher et al., 2023).
For two species, Lolium multiflorum and Melampyrum arvense , the evidence appears sufficiently strong to merit changing designation from neophyte to archaeophyte. Interestingly, the ‘anomalous’ statutory protection afforded M. arvense, currently classified as a neophyte, was invoked when the protection of the natural and semi-natural habitats and their constituent species was the key issue. With
the FeedSax data now available, it now arguably also qualifies under the new rules (Cheffings, 2004a), as an archaeophyte.
Several potential archaeophytes in Table 1ii remain too poorly represented for their archaeobotanical status to be assessed with any confidence. Many of these species are represented at only a single site, sometimes by just a single charred seed, such that only one taxonomic misidentification (or chance intrusion of modern material) could have created a spurious medieval occurrence. Many of these occurrences have also been qualified ‘cf.’ by the archaeobotanist, indicating their own uncertainty with the identification. However, perhaps if additional post-2004 sources of archaeobotanical data are consulted, some might be reclassified as archaeophytes.
Less common species within ‘taxonomically difficult’ groups are less likely to be classified as archaeophytes. For example, Avena sterilis (classified in Preston et al. 2004 as a neophyte) was not generally separated from the commoner A. fatua (archaeophyte) in the FeedSax dataset, since the archaeobotanical criteria for separation are seldom applicable to charred remains. Equally, FeedSax adds nothing to the debate over the status of less common fumitories, such as Fumaria reuteri, another species now classified as neophyte but afforded statutory protection. Fumitories are notoriously difficult to separate, and the only Fumaria named to species in FeedSax is F. officinalis
The archaeobotanical record cannot always differentiate between cultivated and ‘wild’ occurrences. Not all ‘apparent’ archaeophytes (e.g. Lolium multiflorum) were necessarily naturalised members of the British flora.
If the archaeobotanical record, bolstered by well intentioned expert intuition, is to be used to drive conservation policy, we would advise JNCC to conduct a review of all recent archaeobotanical data sources, ideally with archaeobotanical experts, and to keep this ever-growing body of evidence under continuing review. We argue that Melampyrum arvense, most recently classified as a neophyte and with statutory protection on a technicality, may Is the archaeobotanical record a fit tool for
Table 1. Apparent anomalies in the archaeobotanical record: a list of species recorded as both neophytes in Preston et al. (2004) and as possible archaeophytes in the FeedSax database (McKerracher et al., 2023), whose records do not extend beyond the medieval period.
Species Comments on quality of data
(i) Perhaps genuine records: reclassify as archaeophyte?
Lolium multiflorum
Melampyrum arvense
Single site, nine seeds all qualified ‘cf.’, but from a very experienced analyst who provides identification notes for this.
(ii) More data required – possible taxonomic error and/or one record only
Amaranthus sp. Only a single charred seed from a single site.
Bromus arvensis
Cerastium tomentosum
Chaerophyllum aureum
Several occurrences at two sites, almost all qualified ‘cf.’. At one site, all are dated ‘14th/15th century’. At the other site, with far fewer seeds, they are c. 10th century but all qualified as ‘cf.’ – and L. temulentum is much more abundant in that assemblage, so it is possible they are misidentified L. temulentum
Avena sterilis Not a strictly positive ID: only ever occurs within broader identification ‘Avena fatua/sterilis’, i.e. essentially a Latin gloss for ‘wild-type’ oat.
In only two samples from a single site, both qualified ‘cf.’ – my own ID, from the first assemblage I ever analysed, so it’s quite possible that I made a mistake.
Only a single waterlogged seed from a single site, as part of broader identification
‘Cerastium tomentosum/Cerastium fontanum’. C. fontanum is relatively frequent in medieval assemblages, and more likely here.
Unquantified presence from a single site, qualified as ‘cf.’
Cota tinctoria Only a single charred seed from a single site.
Euphrasia stricta Only a single charred seed from a single site, and qualified as ‘cf.’ – listed beside ‘Odontites/Euphrasia’ so not necessarily a spelling mistake for Euphorbia. But Odontites/ Euphrasia is very common in medieval assemblages, and it is exceptionally difficult to differentiate Euphrasia species on the basis of their charred seeds
Galium spurium Usually only occurs as part of a broader ID, e.g. ‘Galium aparine/spurium’; since G. aparine is very common by itself in medieval samples, the inclusion here of G. spurium cannot be treated as a strictly positive ID in most cases. Besides these overtly ambiguous cases, there is just one site with one charred G. spurium seed, plus one cf. G. spurium seed, in a well. Impatiens parviflora Only a single waterlogged seed from a single site.
Lolium rigidum Single charred seed from a single site, as part of broader ID: ‘Lolium perenne/rigidum’; since L. perenne is relatively common in medieval samples, it is the more plausible identification here.
Melissa officinalis Single waterlogged, unquantified presence at a single site, qualified ‘cf.’
Oxalis corniculata Single unquantified presence at a single site, as part of the overtly ambiguous identification ‘Oxalis corniculata/O. dillenii/O. stricta’.
The small print
Archaeobotanical ‘presence’ must be treated critically and sensitively for many reasons. These include:
Geographical scope. While FeedSax relates to the whole of England, the majority of data available derive from central and southern England, due to a variety of biases in preservation and discovery. For these regions the dataset may be considered representative but cannot be considered in any sense complete.
Ecological scope. The great majority of records refer to charred cereal remains and accompanying charred seeds. There is a consequent bias toward arable weeds.
Dating. Some samples were directly radiocarbon dated, but most dates derive from associated pottery. As a result, the presence of a species in an archaeobotanical assemblage may sometimes represent the intrusion of later plant matter rather than a genuine historical occurrence of known date.
Taxonomy. The identification of archaeobotanical material requires a high level of skill. Nevertheless, naming is frequently imprecise with a ‘cf’ routinely inserted before the specific epithet. Moreover, some identifications remain ‘debatable’. Problem areas include (a) the state of preservation of plant material and (b) the taxonomic experience of the recorder.
(a) Most records in FeedSax refer to charred seeds. Unfortunately, as photographically illustrated in Cappers & Neef (2021), many diagnostic features are lost after charring and the archaeobotanical criteria routinely used to separate closely related species are often not applicable to charred remains.
(b) Sixty four archaeobotanists contributed data to FeedSax. Some were very experienced: others less so. Is
Is the archaeobotanical record a fit tool for assessing conservation priorities: Hodgson et al. (2004) revisited
in fact be an archaeophyte. How many other archaeophytes qualifying for statutory protection have fallen through the safety net and are still classified as neophytes? The search should go on.
References
Cheffings, C. 2004a. New plant status lists for Great Britain. BSBI News 95: 36–43.
Cheffings, C. 2004b. Response to Hodgson, Jones and Palmer (2004). BSBI News 97: 43.
Hamerow, H. et al., in press. Feeding Medieval England. A Long ‘Agricultural Revolution’, Oxford University Press.
Hodgson, J., Jones, G. & Palmer C. 2004. Are some species missing from the new plant status lists for Great Britain? BSBI News 97: 39–43.
McKerracher, M. & Hamerow H. (eds) 2022. New Perspectives on the Medieval ‘Agricultural Revolution’, Liverpool University Press.
McKerracher, M. et al. (12 authors) 2023. Digital Archive for Feeding Anglo-Saxon England (FeedSax): The Bioarchaeology of an Agricultural Revolution, 2017–2022 [data-set]. Archaeology Data Service, York [distributor]; doi.org/10.5284/1057492
Perring, F.H. & Farrell, L. 1977. British Red Data Books: 1 Vascular Plants. Society for the Promotion of Nature Conservation, Lincoln.
Perring, F.H. & Farrell, L. 1983. British Red Data Books: 1 Vascular Plants (2nd edn). Society for the Promotion of Nature Conservation, Lincoln.
Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. & Hall, A.R. 2004. Archaeophytes in Britain. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 145: 257–294.
Ratcliffe, D.A., ed. 1977. A Nature Conservation Review . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Sheehy Skeffington, M. & Scott, N. 2023. Were the five rare heathers of the west of Ireland introduced through human activity? An ecological, genetic, biogeographical and historical assessment. British & Irish Botany 5: 221–251.
John Hodgson
Station House, Leadmill, Hathersage, Hope Valley, S32 1BA.
j.hodgson@sheffield.ac.uk
Mark McKerracher
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.
Helena Hamerow, Mike Charles, Amy Bogaard
School of Archaeology, University of Oxford.
A postscript
Another comment on the current classificatory system. Neophytes, the result of 600 years of colonisation, are now the largest category in the British flora. Some have a long and interesting history. For example, the now rare abortifacient, Aristolochia clematis, persists primarily adjacent to monasteries and nunneries, a moral to us all! Equally, Rumex alpinus, formerly used to wrap butter, still grows next to upland farms but seldom elsewhere. It is a botanical reminder of the ‘age of the vasculum’, before the advent of plastic bags. At the other end of the spectrum, the unfortunate recent tradition, by some, of littering the British countryside with bottles, cans and packaging has a botanical equivalent. Many recent neophytes owe their establishment to similarly irresponsible horticulture-related activities. Is it now time for some formal subdivision of the historically and ecologically diverse neophytes? What do other members think?
J.H.
Atlas 2020 and orchid population decline, and increase, at all scales
Atlas 2020 and orchid population decline, and increase, at all scales
DAVID TRUDGILL
There are two questions that are of central importance when considering what is happening to our flora during a time of climate change. These are (1) what is happening to species distributions, and (2) what is happening to population numbers. Plant Atlas 2020 (Stroh et al., 2023) provides detailed and comprehensive information on the first question, but not the second. Rather, it provides information on ‘time trends in species distributions’, and these are then interpreted in relation to whether a species is declining or increasing at the hectad scale.
‘Atlas 2020’ uses data from the BSBI database (DDb). The data in the DDb can be presented and analysed on a range of spatial scales ranging from hectads (an area of 10 × 10 km) to the individual records. Atlas 2020 is based on the presence (i.e. recorded) or absence (i.e. not recorded) of a species in a hectad. I used (e.g. Trudgill, 2023) presence or absence in a tetrad (2 × 2 km). Neither they, nor I, referred to the individual records in the DDb. Consequently, on both these scales a positive record could represent just a single plant present for only one year, or many plants covering a large area and present throughout the whole of the recording period.
There are now more than 50 million individual records in the DDb that have been collected and submitted by the Vice-county Recorders and others. These records are problematic to directly analyse and interpret as they were collected in different ways, and often there is no indication of the population size. A further difficulty when analysing the data in the DDb is that different regions and times cannot be directly compared as there are differences in the intensity of recording. For England, during the 13-year time period from 1987 to 1999 a total of 7,228,000 individual records for all plant taxa were added to the DDb whereas a total of 12,245,000
records were added in the 10 years between 2010 and 2019, i.e. a 69% increase. For Britain as a whole, the number added for the same periods were 9,538,000 and 17,004,000 (a 78% increase).
The focus of this article is on changes in species occurrence between the periods 1987–99 and 2010–19. To enable the data for different regions and time periods to be compared, and to establish ‘trends’, the authors of Atlas 2020 firstly used the ‘Frescalo’ model to try to negate the effect of differences in recording intensity. This involved adjusting for differences in ‘effort’ by relating the frequency of occurrence of each species to that of a pool of locally common ‘benchmark’ species. They then randomly sampled the resulting data using a ‘Monte Carlo’ procedure to produce 100 linear regressions and, from the slopes of these, determined the extent to which each species was increasing, stable, or declining.
Impact of the spatial scale on Atlas 2020 data analysis
Atlas 2020 was based on hectads to allow for comparisons with earlier, mostly hectad-based records. Braithwaite (2024) suggested that Atlas 2020 would have been more sensitive to changes in species abundance if it had been based on tetrads rather than hectads. But, when he tested this suggestion, he unexpectedly found little difference between tetrads and hectads. However, the data Braithwaite used had been modified using the Frescalo model. I tested his suggestion using data that had not been modified. Surprisingly, when I compared differences in the occurrence of six relatively uncommon orchid species I also found little difference between hectads and tetrads (Table 1a). However, when the same comparison was made for six relatively common species there was a marked tendency for the changes
in species occurrence between 1987–99 and 2010–19 to be greater for tetrads (Table 1b). I am unsure why there should be this apparent difference between uncommon and common species of orchids. Could it reflect a higher level of efficiency of detection and recording of the uncommon species?
I widened my study by including a further twelve well recognized species of orchids. Again I determined the numbers of hectad and tetrad records in 1987–99 and 2010–19 and calculated the ratios as in Table 1. I then plotted the difference in these ratios (i.e. tetrad ratio minus hectad ratio) against the numbers of hectad records in 1987–99 for all 24 species (Figure 1). This showed that the difference between the ratios increased as the numbers of records in 1987–99 increased. A linear regression accounted for about one-third of the variation and was highly significant (P <0.004). This was especially so for Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helleborine), Dactylorhiza purpurella (Northern Marshorchid) and D. maculata (Heath Spotted-orchid) but much less so for D. fuchsii (Common Spotted-orchid), Orchis mascula (Early-purple Orchid) and Neottia ovata (Common Twayblade).
Effect
of species abundance
Hodgson (2003) suggested that species abundance relative to the scale being used was an important factor when assessing population change. Table 2 provides support for this common sense suggestion. It provides a breakdown of the data in the DDb for the same six species of relatively uncommon orchids at the scale of tetrads and of individual records. For all six species the tetrads from which a species was lost (i.e. positive in 1987–99 but not in 2010–19) consistently had fewer records (overall mean of 3.5 records/tetrad) compared with those where it had persisted and was recorded in both periods (overall mean 8.7). This difference was consistent whether a species was increasing or declining. Between 1987–99 and 2010–19 two of these species – Himantoglossum hircinum (Lizard Orchid) and Cephalanthera longifolia (Narrow-leaved Helleborine) – were assessed in Atlas 2020 as increasing (98% and 60% respectively of the Monte Carlo regressions were increasing), two – Orchis purpurea (Lady Orchid) and Ophrys sphegodes (Early Spider-orchid) – were assessed as stable, and two – Neotinea ustulata (Burnt Orchid) and Epipactis
Table 1. A comparison of records in the BSBI database (DDb) for hectads and tetrads in 1987–99 and 2020–19 for (a) six uncommon orchid species and (b) six relatively common species. Numbers in brackets are 2010–19 records expressed as a ratio of those in 1987–99.
(b) Common species Anacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid)
fuchsii (Common Spotted-orchid)
D. maculata (Heath Spotted-orchid)
D. praetermissa (Southern Marsh-orchid)
(2.04)
(1.43) D. purpurella (Northern Marsh-orchid)
(1.14)
(2.33) Orchis mascula (Early-purple Orchid)
Number of hectad records 1987–99
Figure 1. Difference between tetrads and hectads in the ratio of the numbers of records in 1987–99 compared with 2010–19 plotted against numbers of hectad records in 1987-99. Results are for 24 species of orchids.
Table 2. (a) Numbers of tetrads in the DDb positive for six species of orchids in 1987–99 and in 2010–19, (b) the numbers of tetrads common to both periods, (c) the mean number of records in 1987–99 for those tetrads common to both periods (i.e. ‘persisted’), and (d) the mean numbers of records in 1987–99 for those tetrads where a species was recorded in 1987–99 but not in 2010–19 (i.e. ‘lost’).
Species (a) No. of tetrads (b) No. of tetrads common to both periods (% 1987–99) (c)
atrorubens (Dark-red Helleborine) – as declining (both by 97%). Persistence (i.e. tetrads positive in both 1987–99 and 2010–19) ranged from as high as 69% for O. purpurea to as low as 35% for N. ustulata
Use of individual records
In this next part I examine apparent changes in the abundance of Himantoglossum hircinum in the DDb Atlas 2020 and orchid population decline, and increase,
on different spatial scales. In Atlas 2020 it was assessed as increasing in 98% of the Monte Carlo assessments. However, it had persisted poorly with just fourteen of 57 tetrads positive in both 2010–19 and 1987–99 (Table 2). From anecdotal reports there is little doubt that H. hircinum is spreading to new areas. The numbers of tetrads and hectads where it was recorded increased between 1987–99 and
Atlas 2020 and orchid population decline, and increase, at all scales
Table 3. A comparison between 1987–99 and 2010–19 in the data available in the DDb for Himantoglossum hircinum (Lizard Orchid) in England. Included for comparison is the increase in the total numbers of records for all taxa in England.
(a) Hectad data Numbers
Mean numbers of records per hectad
x0.83 Number of hectads with single record 1/22 20/43 x9.30
(b) Tetrad data
Numbers of tetrads
x1.73
Mean number of records per tetrad 2.67 1.65 x0.62
Number of tetrads with single record 4/33 27/57 x3.91
Number records added for all taxa in England* 7,228,000 12,245,000 x1.69
2010–19 (Tables 2 & 3), but an examination of the numbers of individual records associated with each hectad showed that much of this increase was due to the addition of hectads with just a single record (Table 3). Twenty of 43 hectads had just a single record for H. hircinum in 2010–19 compared with just one of 22 in 1987–99. The tetrad data was similar – only four of 33 tetrads in 1987–99 were positive for just a single record (only one of which persisted) compared with 27 of 57 in 2010–19. Consequently, 26 of the 43 new tetrads (57−14 = 43) added to the DDb were positive for just a single, probably transient record, perhaps for just a single plant.
Final comments
Two complex statistical processes were required to try to interpret the information in the BSBI database on trends and changes in plant species occurrence and distributions. Whilst the hectad data on which Atlas 2020 is based is satisfactory for analysing national and regional changes in distribution, as the authors of Plant Atlas 2020 recognised (see Chapter 6), it cannot be used to reveal changes at the population level. As indicated above for Himantoglossum hircinum, changes at the hectad and tetrad scale may not always provide a guide to changes in population numbers. Additionally, even at the level of the individual records there will be uncertainties regarding population trends because
there is often a lack of information on the numbers of plants per record, or for how long populations persisted. Perhaps it is time to repeat the detailed ‘Local Change’ project (Brathwaite et al., 2006), with appropriate modifications to assess populations, that quantified changes in the British flora between 1987 and 2004?
Acknowledgements
Andy Amphlett for compiling numbers of records for all taxa and data handling. Mark Phillips for statistical tests, and Oli Pescott for helpful comments.
References
Braithwaite, M.E. 2024. Species population decline at tetrad and hectad scales. BSBI News 155: 7–10.
Braithwaite, M.E., Ellis, R.W. & Preston, C.D. 2006. Change in the British Flora 1987–2004. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London. Hodgson, J. 2003. Change the change index. BSBI News 93: 44–48.
Stroh, P.A., Walker, K.J., Humphrey, T.A., Pescott, O.L. & Burkmar, R.J. (eds) 2023. Plant Atlas 2020: Mapping Changes in the Distribution of the British and Irish Flora. Princeton University Press. plantatlas2020.org
Trudgill, D. 2023. Changes in orchid numbers in England since 1950. Journal of the Hardy Orchid Society 20 (1): 28–35.
David Trudgill
The Steading, Newmill, Blairgowrie, PH10 6SG davetrudgill@googlemail.com
Ivy identification: Hedera helix, H. hibernica and H. ‘Hibernica’
Ivy identification: Hedera helix, H. hibernica and H. ‘Hibernica’
MICHAEL WILCOX
The three main commoner ivies in Britain comprise three taxa, Hedera helix (Common Ivy), H. hibernica (Atlantic Ivy) and its cultivar H. hibernica ‘Hibernica’ (Irish Ivy). The main differences between the two species and the cultivar is the hair type, particularly on vegetative shoots (see Rutherford, 2023) and their young leaves, though it is less clear how to separate the wild H. hibernica from some forms of its cultivar ‘Hibernica’. While it is also complicated by a large array of cultivars in each taxon, an unusual form has been found within H. hibernica ‘Hibernica’ and though very similar, it seems to have some discernible differences (and therefore may have a different origin). Some plants are very difficult to identify and might benefit from further study.
In H. helix the hairs on the vegetative shoots (Figure 1a, b) and the underside of their leaves have arms that project from most of the surface. In H. hibernica (a mainly western species, see Stace 2019) the hairs on these parts, have arms that more or less lie flat to the surface, though some on the leaf-veins may stick out. The cultivar (referred to as ‘Hibernica’ in short form here) is similar in hair type to the wild H. hibernica (Figure 1c, d) but is often a robust looking plant, with large (± coriaceous) vegetative leaves that are slightly to more obviously cupped. It often sits on top of walls and other substrates but will climb onto nearby vegetation, with some going high into the trees (see below). Some H. helix do seem to have underlying hairs that appear flat to the surface (Figure 1a) so it can be tricky with
Figure 1. Hairs on vegetative shoots and young leaves; (a, b) Hedera helix, hairs normally project outwards, giving a fuzzy look (b), but note the hairs on the right in (a) look nearly flat; (c, d) H. hibernica ‘Hibernica’ shoot and young leaf underside with relatively flat hairs (similar in H. hibernica – also see Rutherford, 2023).
some shoots to tell species apart, so it is best to check several young vegetative shoots.
In terms of the vegetative shoots, they often tend to be strongly suckering on the walls and other substrates in H. helix. I am not too sure about H. hibernica in relation to suckering but is likely to be similar. Plants with pedate (or digitate-like) leaves on young shoots which are usually highly suckering should imply they are H. helix in an early growth stage (sometimes called var. or f. pedata). In the cultivar ‘Hibernica’ these leading vegetative shoots are less strongly suckering, i.e. they tend to project loosely from the walls. These medium to robust shoots tend to be free-standing, but with the flat hairs they look like they are dusted in white spots or dashes to the naked eye, with barely any hairs projecting from the surface (see ‘Hibernica’ shoot, Figure 1c).
Generally, I found there was no difference in the shape and form of the mature flower buds in H. helix, H. hibernica and the majority of the cultivar ‘Hibernica’; see Figure 2.
The other thing all three have in common is that they have good fertile pollen. An example of good pollen is given in Figure 3 (from H. helix, but is similar in H. hibernica and ‘Hibernica’). The pollen grains appear segmented (a bit like a Sea Urchin) and the roundish pores can be seen on the surface.
However, over a number of years I have noticed another form which appears to be within the cultivar H. ‘Hibernica’. This still has the robust, free-standing leading vegetative shoots with the flat
3. Hedera helix: typical pollen grains of a fertile plant showing the grooves (pale lines) and the roundish pores (cell structure) on the surface.
hairs (Figure 1c), but the flower buds appear to be a different shape and form compared to the three discussed so far (Figure 4a, b). I have provided a stylised drawing highlighting the difference between this unusual taxon and the others (Figure 4c). The mature flower buds (not young or open) in this plant have a base that is about as long as the sepals. In the other three, they have a short base, in which the sepals take up the majority of the whole flower bud (Figure 2). In addition, the pollen is often darkened and misshapen, and the segments and pores cannot be distinguished (Figure 5).
This form of ‘Hibernica’ could be just the cultivar, and the misshapen pollen and relative infertility could be due to inbreeding (Hugh McAllister, pers.
Figure 2. Mature flower buds; (a) H. helix; (b) H. hibernica from Cornwall (courtesy of Ian Bennallick); (c) H. hibernica ‘Hibernica’.
Figure
H. hibernica and the cultivar are also like this.
Ivy identification: Hedera helix, H. hibernica and H. ‘Hibernica’
Figure 4. Mature flower buds of an unusual H. ‘Hibernica’; (a) from Bradford (SE1937, v.c. 63) – note it has lost many of the white hairs but is often like (b); (b) from Clachan, Isle of Raasay (NG54993638, v.c. 104) (courtesy of Stephen Bungard); (c) stylised illustration to highlight the different types of mature flower bud: left – deep-based flower buds where sepals are about equal to the base (have poor pollen, see Figure 5); right – typical flower buds for those in Figure 2, with short base and sepals taking up most of the flower bud (have fertile pollen, see Figure 3).
comm.), but it doesn’t explain the quite differently shaped flower buds. They do produce fruits but many do not mature, and up to 90% can be virtually sterile (which may be common in ivies as a whole and could be related to climate, i.e. less fruit in colder areas; Hugh McAllister, pers. comm.). Some produce fruit in the same area so it is unclear if that is the case. It seems unlikely to be a hybrid with H. helix as the flower buds of H. helix are the same in H. hibernica, as well as in ‘Hibernica’ and cultivars*. In combination, while being like the cultivar H. ‘Hibernica’, could it be of hybrid origin with an as yet unknown species that has or had similar deep-based flower buds? This taxon requires more study and records for it need to be collected. I would be interested to see images of mature flower buds (like those shown in Figure 4a, b), and/or short lengths of vegetative shoots. The mature flower buds could be sent in the post (as shown in the images); the inflorescence leaves are not needed.
*In relation to H. hibernica vs H. hibernica ‘Hibernica’, the former is mainly western and often coastal and is said to climb well like H. helix. The
Figure 5. Poorly formed, relatively infertile pollen from a form of Hedera hibernica ‘Hibernica’ with deep-based flower buds.
‘Hibernica’ is said to be a poor climber. However, some plants climb the trees 20–30(40) feet near my home in Bradford and elsewhere (e.g. Cornwall, David Pearman, pers. comm). One such case is masses of an ‘hibernica’ type plant in the long-gone estate woodland, off Clara Drive at Greengates, Bradford. Here the plants have a carpet of relatively large, broadly lobed-leaves (Figure 6a), with
Ivy identification: Hedera helix, H. hibernica and H. ‘Hibernica’
occasional small mounds of adult inflorescences, but many of the adult phase stems climb high up into the trees. Figure 6b shows H. helix ground cover leaves nearby. Not being western and with the relatively large leaves these are still thought to be the cultivar H. ‘Hibernica’. Often occurring on walls, the cultivar (and H. helix), tend not to climb as they have nowhere to climb up; perhaps given the chance many would. These climbing plants here have the short-based flower buds, but it is still thought to be a form of Irish Ivy (Hugh McAllister, pers. comm.). Thus, the difference between the wild plant and the cultivar is perhaps difficult to ascertain and needs further characters to separate them other than geography, as there are records for H. hibernica (Atlantic Ivy) outside the western range!
Some plants are very problematic and may just be cultivars or growth forms of one or the other
location.
species. One near my home on a mortared brick wall has darker green leaves with whiter veins, and deep lobes. It tends to look like H. helix in this respect (Figure 7a). However, the shoots have more emerald green barely lobed leaves and flat hairs (Figure 7b). It is unclear what this is as it has not reached a flowering stage (it is about 2 m from the ground to the end shoots on the wall top). Especially with the flat hairs on the vegetative shoot, it is most likely a form of the cultivar
green leaves with whiter veins and deep lobes; (a) general view of leaves; (b) vegetative leading shoot with more emerald-green leaves and shoot with flat hairs. This shows the importance of looking at the hair type on young shoots and leaves.
Figure 6. Ground cover leaves; (a) H. hibernica or H. ‘Hibernica’, old estate woodland, Greengates, Bradford; (b) Hedera helix from a nearby
H. hibernica ‘Hibernica’.
Figure 7. Presumed Hedera hibernica cv. ‘Hibernica’ with darker
Ivy identification: Hedera helix, H. hibernica and H. ‘Hibernica’
Figure 8. Ivy fruits; (a) from a putative hybrid, (b) the same in situ, showing two reasonably developed fruits and most others partially or not developed – all fruits are ‘pear-shaped’; (c) typical fruits seen in H. helix and H. hibernica/‘Hibernica’.
Even if the taxon with the deep-based flower buds and the poor pollen is a form of ‘Hibernica’, it is recognisable and separable (based on the characters given), from the array of H. helix, H. hibernica and H. hibernica ‘Hibernica’ (see Marshal & McAllister 2017) and in theory could be named. Further studies looking at the ivies, species and variation in Britain might reveal more about it but it would require a detailed study including genome and specific molecular studies.
The hybrid between H. helix and H. hibernica (or with the cultivar ‘Hibernica’) has not been detected as yet in Britain, though it is known in America (see McAllister & Marshall, 2017). An unusual one in Bradford may be this hybrid or an oddity but would at least require a chromosome count. The hair type, while mainly the H. helix type, has some evidence of flatter, brushed down hairs in parts. The pollen appears to be fertile, but like the odd ‘Hibernica’ above it has similar mature flower buds (more or less equal base to sepal ratio) as shown in Figure 4a, b. The fruits vary in development, but sometimes a good number are produced. Many vary in development in the same inflorescence, but they are always an odd shape compared to normal plants per se (Figure 8). Those of the putative hybrid are mostly ‘pear-shaped’ (Figure 8a, b) and in various stages of development, as opposed to the subglobose fruits in the others (Figure 8c). Thus it requires further study that the amateur cannot provide.
The other taxon (Figure 4a, 4b) with oddly shaped flower buds has mostly sterile heads but the few produced when fruiting are like those in (c) here.
To that end, ivies may benefit from a study in Britain, which should include the rarer H. helix subsp. poetarum (often named Orange-berried Ivy or Poet’s Ivy). This is treated as a form rather than a subspecies in McAllister & Marshall (2017), H. helix f. poetarum, which from my own observations appears to have some differences other than the colour of the berries; could it be crossed with H. helix (or others) to see what it produces?
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Hugh McAllister, Alison Rutherford, Stephen Bungard, Joanna Walmisley, Ian Bennallick and David Pearman.
References
McAllister, H. & Marshall, R. 2017. Hedera The Complete Guide RHS Horticultural monograph, Royal Horticultural Society, Peterborough. Rich, T.C.G. & Jermy, C. 1998. Plant Crib 1988. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London. Rutherford, A. 2023. Ivy confusions? BSBI News 152: 28–30. Stace, C.A. 2019. New Flora of the British Isles (4th edn). C & M Floristics, Middlewood Green, Suffolk.
Ivy identification: Hedera helix, H. hibernica and H. ‘Hibernica’
Triple hybridity in Rumex: a spontaneous occurrence in West Kent (v.c. 16) involving Rumex × lousleyi
GEOFFREY KITCHENER
In June 2024, while strimming in a wooded area of my garden in Halstead, I came across a couple of very tall docks which looked ‘different’. As Rumex co-referee, I’m well acquainted with the usual species and hybrids, but these plants were not such as I had come across before.
At first sight, they resembled giant Rumex sanguineus (Wood Dock), four times the usual height, but the lower leaves had indications of the ‘leatheriness’ that characterises Rumex cristatus (Greek Dock). The tepals were developing poorly, which suggested hybrid sterility, but the position was more complicated than a straight cross between those species. The underside of the leaf showed on main veins and midrib the infrequent presence of some papillae, which is not to be expected with R. sanguineus or R. cristatus. Such papillae may be seen in, e.g., Rumex pulcher (Fiddle Dock), Rumex obtusifolius (Broad-leaved Dock) and, to a lesser degree, Rumex maritimus (Golden Dock); and this character is diluted when seen in hybrids of those species with non-papillate taxa.
An explanation offered itself in that some 20–30 years ago I had grown various hybrid docks sourced from material found in the wild, including Rumex × lousleyi (R. cristatus × obtusifolius), now represented here by progeny following occasional reproduction from seed. It would have been possible for pollen from these plants to have been recently transported by wind through a conifer screen and then into a wooded area 30 m away, where R. sanguineus was frequent and presumably acted as the female parent to produce the triple hybrid plants found.
A more detailed description of the hybrid plants is given below. There were two adjoining plants, one with one stem 2 m high, the other with three stems, 1.88 m, 1.98 m and 2.03 m high; lower leaves somewhat leathery, less apparent in upper leaves, bearing somewhat undulate margins,
and infrequent small papillae on underside of leaf midrib; inflorescence lax (much more like R. sanguineus than the congested inflorescence of R. cristatus); in flowering state in mid-June with no perianths matured (whereas R. × lousleyi and R. sanguineus fruiting-perianths were then fully
Rumex triple hybrid plant in situ, Halstead, Kent (v.c. 16). Geoffrey Kitchener
formed), but by mid-July perianths were dropping undeveloped. Figure 1 shows perianths ranging in size and shape, on the right being a typical perianth, lingulate (inherited from R. sanguineus) with a hint of teeth to the tepals (from R. × lousleyi). The perianth depicted in the centre, which represents a small minority in the inflorescence as a whole, manifests something of the suborbicular tepal with distinct teeth and reticulate veining which derives from R. × lousleyi and in particular its R. cristatus parent, although only one fifth its size. The perianth on the left is exceptional, less than 1% showing this level of development approaching R. × lousleyi and R. cristatus (albeit only half their size), and including a fully developed tubercle; the nutlet enclosed by the perianth-segments, however, did not appear to have developed to a viable state. The plants as a whole were apparently fully female-sterile.
Triple hybridisation generally
The species in Rumex subgenus Rumex hybridise freely via wind pollination, and triple hybridisation has been induced experimentally as well as being inferred from wild finds, in spite of the difficulties of finding a hybrid combination in which distinct parental characteristics are capable of being distinguished when binary hybrids themselves show
a wide range of morphological variation (Kitchener & Holyoak, 2015). Morphological characters have been used in identification, molecular studies so far having been used only in relation to binary hybrids, e.g. Ruhsam et al. (2014) for Rumex × platyphyllus, the cross between R. aquaticus (Scottish Dock) and R. obtusifolius, in Scotland; Takahashi & Hanyu (2015) as regards Rumex × hybridus, the cross between R. longifolius (Northern Dock) and R. obtusifolius, in Japan; and Bhandari & Park (2022) in relation to Rumex × pratensis, the cross between R. crispus (Curled Dock) and R. obtusifolius, in Korea.
Obviously, it would be optimistic to infer triple hybridisation unless there is a binary hybrid population present already. In Britain, this will almost always be the case in relation to a population of Rumex × pratensis, which is a common, widespread and fairly fertile cross and which may often be found in numbers together. In northern Britain where Rumex × hybridus and Rumex × propinquus (R. crispus × longifolius) behave similarly to R. × pratensis, they may assume a similar role in triple hybridisation. However, the presence there of R. × pratensis as well means that the latter may still provide triple hybrid parentage and I have seen persuasive (R. × pratensis) × R. longifolius gathered by Mike Wilcox and Jesse Tregale at Bradford (v.c. 63) in July 2016.
Figure 1. Variation in tepal shape of triple hybrid. Scale bar = 1 mm. Triple hybridity in Rumex
Triple hybridity in Rumex
Triple hybridisation in the British Isles involving Rumex × pratensis
With R. × pratensis most frequently providing half of a triple hybrid parentage, the other half is potentially any other species within subgenus Rumex, but these are the ones of which I am aware:
• Rumex conglomeratus. I have seen persuasive triple hybrid material from two locations near St. Aidan’s (v.c. 64) gathered by Mike Wilcox and Barry Tregale in July 2016; a further record was made in this area in 2017.
• Rumex cristatus. I have seen material gathered by Mike Wilcox at Woodlesford, Leeds (v.c. 63) in August 2017 which appeared to be the cross with R. × pratensis, the panicle being more ragged, and the tepals more variable, than the binary cross R. × lousleyi
• Rumex patientia (Patience Dock). This is mentioned in Kitchener & Holyoak (2015), a find at Denton (v.c. 16) with all three parents and their three binary hybrids present as well.
• Rumex rupestris (Shore Dock) David Holyoak (Holyoak, 2000) noted at Penhale Camp (v.c. 1) the existence of R. rupestris hybrids, for which the other parent may have been R. × pratensis, which was well represented in the locality.
• Rumex sanguineus. I have seen the cross with R. × pratensis in a large population of the latter at St. Lawrence Field, Ventnor (v.c. 10) in June 2024 with somewhat lingulate tepals influenced by R. sanguineus and crisped leaves with midrib papillae from R. × pratensis. I have also found two plants near Colliers Green (v.c. 16) at the end of July 2019 in the presence of R. × pratensis, together with R. sanguineus and R. obtusifolius (on that occasion R. crispus was not seen, but had contributed leaf crisping to both binary and triple hybrids); they were highly infertile and possessed lingulate tepals with small teeth (Kitchener, 2020). In addition, I have found a plant between Hawkhurst and Sandhurst Cross (v.c. 15) in September 2017, where the only accompanying docks were R. sanguineus and R. × pratensis; again, it was highly sterile with leaf crisping and midrib papillae, the tepals somewhat lingulate but without teeth (these do not always seem to come through in crosses) (Kitchener, 2018).
Triple hybridisation in mainland Europe
Crosses involving three species have been recorded on a number of occasions in mainland Europe.
Rumex triple hybrid, Halstead, Kent; (a) inflorescence whorls; (b) triple hybrid leaf underside, with papillae on midrib and veins; (c) comparison of perianths of parental taxa, R. × lousleyi (left), R. sanguineus (right).
Haussknecht (1885) refers to Rumex aquaticus × crispus × obtusifolius and to Rumex aquaticus × conglomeratus × obtusifolius. These two taxa are illustrated by Beck (1909), as well as R. conglomeratus × hydrolapathum × obtusifolius. Some early triple hybrid records need to be discounted, as they appear to include R. palustris (Marsh Dock), which was supposed to be a hybrid between R. conglomeratus and R. maritimus
Recognition
Recognising hybrid docks generally starts with finding a plant with irregular perianth growth, many perianths dropping prematurely, leaving the inflorescence with a ragged appearance, often flushed red. ‘Hybrid vigour’ is not a useful concept here; it is often the scruffiest, weakest-looking plants that are hybrids. These characters are generally only found in part so far as concerns R. × pratensis, because its relatively high fertility is shown by more complete perianth maturation. This cross is generally best picked out by its leaves being intermediate between the wide flat leaves of R. obtusifolius and the narrow crisped ones of R. crispus, well shown by the illustrations in Green (2006). Recognising triple hybrids starts with recognition of the taxa comprised in a population of docks so as to include identification of binary hybrids, and then requires analysis of any unusual, apparently hybrid plant so as to identify the presence of characters which in combination should not be found in a species or binary hybrid.
Conclusion
Other than in the present case (and a specimen of R. conglomeratus × R. sanguineus var. sanguineus × R. sanguineus var. viridis displayed at the BSBI Annual Exhibition Meeting in 2009), I am unaware of any British record of a Rumex triple hybrid which does not include R. × pratensis, so that the present occurrence of R. sanguineus × ( R. × lousleyi ) is exceptional in this respect. Although R. × lousleyi is stated in Stace (2019) to be an endemic, this is not the case: it has been claimed for Bulgaria (Raycheva, 2009). Nevertheless, despite the increasing spread
of R. cristatus outside its native range in the Balkans and Turkey, hybridisation with R. obtusifolius is not being reported commensurately, so it is likely that the v.c. 16 plants of R. sanguineus × (R. × lousleyi) are unique.
References
Bhandari, G.S. & Park, C.W. 2022. Molecular evidence for natural hybridization between Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius (Polygonaceae) in Korea. Scientific Reports 12: 5423. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09292-9
Beck von Mannagetta & Lerchenau, G. 1909. Rumex. In: Reichenbach, H.G.L. & Reichenbach, H.G. f. (eds.) Icones Florae Germanicae et Helveticae Vol. 24. Friedrich von Zezschwitz, Leipzig & Gera.
Green, P.R. 2006. Searching for R. × pratensis in Co. Wexford. BSBI News 102: 30.
Haussknecht, C. 1885. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der einheimischen Rumices. Botanischer Verein für Gesamtthüringen (Originalmitteilungen) . Mitteilungen der Geographischen Gesellschaft (für Thüringen) zu Jena: zugleich organ des botanischen vereins für Gesamtthürigen. 3: 56–79.
Holyoak, D.T. 2000. Hybridisation between Rumex rupestris Le Gall (Polygonaceae) and other docks, Watsonia 23: 83–92.
Kitchener, G.D. 2018. Kent Botany 2017 bsbi.org/kent/kent-v-cc15-16-newsletters. Also published in The Bulletin of the Kent Field Club 63: 60–104.
Kitchener, G.D. 2020. Kent Botany 2019. bsbi.org/kent/kent-v-cc15-16-newsletters. Also published in The Bulletin of the Kent Field Club 65: 53–102.
Kitchener, G.D. & Holyoak, D.T. 2015. Rumex L. In: Stace, C.A., Preston, C.D. & Pearman, D.A. (eds.) Hybrid Flora of the British Isles. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Bristol.
Raycheva, T.G. 2009. Natural hybrids of Rumex subgenus Rumex (Polygonaceae) in Bulgaria. In: Ivanova, D. (ed), Plant, fungal and habitat diversity investigation and conservation. Proceedings of IV Balkan Botanical Congress, Sofia, 20–26 June 2006. Institute of Botany, Sofia. 239-244.
Ruhsam, M., Jacobs, T., Watson, K. & Hollingsworth, P.M. 2014. Is hybridisation a threat to Rumex aquaticus in Britain? Plant Ecology & Diversity 8: 465–474.
Stace, C.A. 2019. New Flora of the British Isles (4th edn). C & M Floristics, Middlewood Green, Suffolk.
Takahashi, K. & Hanyu, M. 2015. Hybridization between alien species Rumex obtusifolius and closely related native vulnerable species R. longifolius in a mountain tourist destination. Scientific Reports 5: 13898. doi.org/10.1038/ srep13898
Geoffrey Kitchener geoffreykitchener@yahoo.com
A ‘fern-tastic’ road cutting on Lewis
PAUL A. SMITH
In the Outer Hebrides (v.c. 110), recording is continuing towards a tetrad flora, and in early July 2024 I was joined by Jim McIntosh and Geoffrey Hall to tackle some tetrads on Lewis to the south of Great Bernera. We successfully tackled several, including some moorland-only tetrads which are relatively species-poor but still have interesting plants, and some tetrads with roadsides and sometimes also with habitation that are more species-rich. On the last day of systematic recording (4 July 2024) the forecast was not great so we chose NB12Y, a tetrad with a road – in fact an old single-track road now used mostly for parking and access to the moorland, and a new two-lane road built around 2010.
True to the forecast the weather soon descended from ‘damp’ to ‘horrible’, one of those days of strong winds and driving rain which we euphemistically call ‘the full Hebridean experience’. But the plants were still there, and the first hint of pteridological interest came when Jim discovered a patch of Ophioglossum (Adder’s-tongue) growing next to one of the drainage gullies of the new road, almost at the westerly boundary of the tetrad. It looked like O. vulgatum, but this is not always a good guide relative to DNA, so the exact ID awaits confirmation. We then walked back along the roadsides through a series of cuttings where the new road had been constructed.
Before long there was Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Oak Fern) on the rocks of the cutting; this is a rare fern in v.c. 110, until recently with records from only six tetrads in the hills of Uig and South Uist. But it was found on a road cutting in south-east Lewis in 2023, the first find in a modified habitat. The new find was therefore not completely without precedent, but it appeared sporadically along approximately a kilometre of roadside, making it a large population by local standards.
No sooner had we admired the Gymnocarpium than there was a plant of Cryptogramma crispa (Parsley
Cryptogramma crispa (Parsley Fern) at the road cutting, Druim Mor, Lewis (v.c. 110). Paul Smith
Fern), already with nice fertile fronds. Cryptogramma is barely commoner than Gymnocarpium in the vicecounty – in eight tetrads, mainly in North Harris with old records from South Harris and South Uist, and always in natural habitats at high altitudes. So this was quite unexpected. And a scant few metres further on there was Dryopteris oreades (Mountain Male-fern) – a bit more widespread, but still an interesting find on a relatively recent rock exposure.
To complete the unusual species there was a large patch of Diphasiastrum alpinum (Alpine Clubmoss) (otherwise scarce, in 15 tetrads scattered in Harris and Lewis). This part of Lewis has some metabasic outcrops, and it looks as if these cuttings were through some of these, rather than the otherwise ubiquitous gneiss. This was borne out by the other ferns present – in particular Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart’s-tongue) and Phegopteris connectilis (Beech Fern) are indicative of some bases in the substrate. The list was rounded out by many commoner species
– Asplenium adiantum-nigrum (Black Spleenwort), A. trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort), Dryopteris aemula (Hay-scented Buckler-fern), D. affinis (Goldenscaled Male-fern), D. dilatata (Broad Buckler-fern), D. filix-mas (Male-fern), Athyrium filix-femina (Ladyfern) and Huperzia selago (Fir Clubmoss).
The substrate is probably part of the reason why there are so many interesting species, but how did they get here? None of Cryptogramma, Dryopteris oreades, Diphasiastrum alpinum or Gymnocarpium dryopteris is known any nearer than 10 km from this site, so
the spore rain for recruitment cannot be particularly large, and the time since the road was constructed is not more than 15 years, so they have all established quite quickly. Probably the real reasons will never be deciphered; but it made a wet day unexpectedly interesting!
Paul A. Smith
Recorder for Outer Hebrides (v.c. 110) pas.vc110@gmail.com
Geoffrey Hall in driving rain with Diphasiastrum alpinum (Alpine Clubmoss), Druim Mor, Lewis. Paul Smith
Iampleased to be able to report that I am routinely receiving far more records these days and from a much wider spread of vice-counties/regions, all of which means there is something of a backlog, which in turn means I cannot always include interesting records as quickly as I would like – a vastly preferable situation to the old one of sometimes not having enough – but they will work through in time. As always, thanks to all contributors and readers for their generous support.
V.c. 4 (N. Devon)
Mitella ovalis (Bishop’s Cap). Hartland (SS23472274), 14/4/2023, R.I. Kirby (conf. M. Berry): more than 50 plants along c. 5 m of a roadside bank outside ornamental gardens at Docton Mill. The first v.c. 4 record. A hairy, N. American perennial (Saxifragaceae) to c. 35 cm, with leaves all or very nearly all basal and tiny greenish-yellow flowers in racemes c. 15 cm long. Nine species of Mitella (including M. ovalis) are keyed out in detail in the eFlora of North America. There are additional records in the DDb for v.cc. 2 (2022), 64 (2018), 67 (2012, the first), 68 (2012), 104 (2017) and 105 (2017). Adventives & Aliens News 17, v.c. 64. Stace (2019): 143.
Egeria densa (Large-flowered Waterweed). Westacott (SS58583288), 19/2/2024, R.I. Kirby (conf. R. Lansdown): c. 1 m × 1.5 m patch in old, rivulet-fed, roadside trough. The means of its arrival in the trough is not known. New to v.c. 4. A dioecious (male only in Britain and Ireland) submerged aquatic perennial (Hydrocharitaceae) with whorled narrowly oblong-linear leaves and axillary, pedicellate flowers with three white petals much longer than the sepals;
the latter supposed only to be produced in ‘warmed’ waters, though on rare occasions in some southern English counties the warmth of the sun might be sufficient. In Poland & Clement (2020) there are a host of vegetative characters for distinguishing it from other closely related aquatic species. Richard Lansdown provided an additional one useful for separating it, in particular, from tropical forms of Hydrilla verticillata (Esthwaite Waterweed), which
Egeria densa, Westacott, North Devon (v.c. 4). Bob Kirby
could also occur as an aquarists’ throwout: the presence of (sometimes hard to find) circular translucent scales in the leaf axils (vs translucent scales fringed with brown digitate processes in H. verticillata). The presence of these scales was confirmed in Bob Kirby’s material. A native of S. America and known in Britain since 1953 (v.c. 59). There are post-2000 records in the DDb for v.cc. 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 11, 17, 21, 23, 35, 38, 40, 41, 49, 55, 59, 61, 68, 80 and H38. Adventives & Aliens News 11, v.c. 10. Stace (2019): 882.
Phyllostachys aurea (André) Rivière & C. Rivière (Fishpole Bamboo). Tiverton (SS96781356), 11/10/2023, R.I. Kirby (conf. M. Bell): small clump on a road verge, spreading from garden. New to v.c. 4. An evergreen bamboo from China potentially forming clumps of up to 8 m tall and 4 m across, the individual canes c. 20–30 mm across, usually starting bright green and weathering to a yellowish colour, the lanceolate leaves tending to a yellowish or golden green colour. The enlarged swellings below the nodes are an important character for identifying this species and are always present to some degree, along with the nodes themselves being distorted or
inclined (not always evident). The closer spacing of the basal nodes of the culms is seen in other species and is not a reliable identifying character (Bob Kirby, pers. comm., from Mike Bell’s letter of confirmation).
V.c. 5 (S. Somerset)
Myriophyllum rubricaule Valk. & Duist. (Red-stemmed Parrot’s-feather). Minehead (SS96274699), 6/1/2024, G. Lavender (conf. J. Van Vulkenburg/ comm. Pete Stroh): a 5 m × 4 m patch in pond, North Hill. At this stage it was thought to be M. aquaticum (Parrot’s-feather) but by May, when it covered the entire pond (c. 10 m × 7 m), it had clearly developed red stems and pink flowers. Graham Lavender also recorded it from another pond nearby (27/5/2024, SS96284698), where it made a c. 5 m × 6 m patch. These are apparently the first records for Britain and Ireland ( see article p. 51 ). An emergent or submerged subaquatic perennial (Haloragaceae) used as an effective oxygenator of ornamental ponds etc; described as a new species in 2022, it is either known only in cultivation or else has a very limited native distribution in S. America. It is legally available as a garden plant in this country unlike M. aquaticum and M. heterophyllum (Variableleaved Water-milfoil), both of which it is illegal to sell. It might appear commercially as Myriophyllum ‘Red Stem’ (and variations) and also incorrectly as M. brasiliense, a synonym of the banned M. aquaticum The red stems allow it to be separated from the very similar M. aquaticum, although may not develop until later in the season. It also has solitary pink-tinged flowers in the axils of the emergent leaves (vs four to six white flowers in a whorl); NB only female plants of both species known in cultivation.
V.c. 6 (N. Somerset)
Erodium trifolium Cav. (Heron’s Bill). Glastonbury (ST49783881), 2/3/2024, J. Woodman (det. & comm. H.J. Crouch/conf. A.C. Leslie): one large plant in flower against a house wall in a lane off St. Benedict’s Close. A second plant was found at a later date in the street in front of the house (H.J. Crouch, 9/4/2024). New to v.c. 6. A hairy
Phyllostachys aurea, Tiverton (v.c. 4). Bob Kirby
biennial or perennial herb (Geraniaceae) from northern Africa that has sessile glands in the apical pits of the mericarps, shallowly three-lobed leaves and whitish flowers (c. 2 cm across), the upper two petals with clusters of reddish spots at the bases of the blades. It is a readily self-sowing garden plant and as if to emphasise the fact, another self-sown individual at the base of a wall in a friend’s garden was also identified as this species by Helena Crouch. Adventives & Aliens News 18, v.c. 14.
Erodium trifolium, Glastonbury, North Somerset (v.c. 6). Helena Crouch
V.c. 9 (Dorset)
Calceolaria chelidonioides (Annual Slipperwort). Brownsea Island (SZ02128760), 22/6/2024, D. Leadbetter (det. M. Berry): at least five plants coming up through paving on patio in Rose Cottage
Calceolaria chelidonioides, Brownsea Island, Dorset (v.c. 9). David Leadbetter
garden. The last v.c. 9 record in the DDb is for the 1987–1999 date class. A branched, glandular hairy annual (Calceolariaceae) with pinnate leaves and two-lipped yellow flowers with distinctive slipperlike lower lip. C. integrifolia and C. biflora Lam., both from Chile and both recorded in the past as garden escapes, are perennials with simple leaves. As well as being an escape from gardens, this native of central and S. America has also been known from birdseed and wool. Clement et al. (2005), p. 244. Stace (2019): 617.
V.c. 10 (Isle of Wight)
Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague ex Britton & P. Wilson (Slender Celery). Brighstone (SZ429826), 7/2023, P.D. Stanley: several plants on a patio, perhaps naturalising. The second v.c. 10 record. An erect glabrous annual (Apiaceae) to c. 30 cm (usually much smaller in this country) with lax, terminal and leaf-opposed umbels, c. 1.5–2.5 cm across (the partial umbels 5- to 25-flowered). The tiny flowers (with non-radiating petals) are followed by more or less globose, ridged and somewhat laterally compressed fruits, 1.5–2 × 1–2 mm. The stem leaves are 3- to 4-pinnatisect, the segments filiform. It is a native of tropical America and a cosmopolitan weedy species. It was previously known as Apium leptophyllum Adventives & Aliens News 6, v.c. 14.
V.c.
11 (S. Hants)
Bupleurum fruticosum (Shrubby Hare’s-ear). Bournemouth (SZ0890), 2/7/2024, D. Leadbetter: one bush on West Cliffs (SZ08579066) and a second in scrub near Beacon Road car park (SZ08559070).
A glabrous evergreen shrub (Apiaceae) to c. 2.5 m, a native of southern Europe and north-western Africa and a garden plant in Britain and Ireland. The thick, shiny, alternate leaves are oblong-oblanceolate and c. 4–9 cm × 1–2 cm. The yellow flowers are in compound umbels, c. 7–10 cm across, and the five or six deflexed bracts have usually been shed by the time of fruiting. It was seen self-sown in Anglesey Road, Gosport (also v.c. 11) in 2024 (E.J. Clement, pers. comm.). Clement et al. (2005), p. 202. Stace (2019): 851.
Bupleurum fruticosum, Bournemouth, South Hampshire (v.c. 11). David Leadbetter
V.c. 12 (N. Hants)
Amaranthus blitoides (Prostrate Pigweed). Cow Down (SU37984347), 22/9/2023, T. Norton (comm. A.R.G. Mundell): three plants seen in flower in field corner; also seen at this site by same recorder in 2022. New tetrad record, fourth for the hectad and fifth for v.c. 12 as a whole (none in DDb for v.c. 12 for before 2015), but probably only three sites involved. A more or less prostrate annual (Amaranthaceae) consisting of several glabrous stems; a native of N. America and introduced into Britain and Ireland with wool, bird-seed, carrot seed, oil-seed and cotton (Clement & Foster, 1994). The inflorescences are axillary, the flowers of four or five unequal tepals and the fruits dehiscent. The leaves are obovate-elliptic to spathulate, 1–4 × 0.4–1.5 cm, undulate, have distinct narrow whitish margins and are sometimes marked with white chevrons. Adventives & Aliens News 15, v.c. 12. Stace (2019): 530. Astrantia major (Astrantia). Noar Hill (SU74273187), 2/9/2023, N. Johnson & R. Webb (comm. A.R.G. Mundell): several plants in an area recently cleared of scrub. A native of mainland Europe and a garden escape in Britain and Ireland. A glabrous,
little branched perennial (Apiaceae) to c. 100 cm. The simple convex umbels are 1.5–5 cm across and surrounded by 12–20 conspicuous, lanceolate bracteoles. The latter are whitish, green- or pinktinged, and with obvious cross-veins. The individual flowers are tiny and carried on distinct wiry pedicels. The long-petiolate basal leaves are circular in outline and deeply cut into three, five or seven sharply toothed segments. Five subspecies are recognised, two of which have been recorded ‘wild’ in Britain and Ireland, the majority of records perhaps being referable to subsp. carinthiaca A. maxima might also occur. It has ternate, finely serrate basal leaves (also long-petiolate) and fewer (9–12), larger (1–3 cm vs 1–2 cm) bracteoles with obscure cross-veins. Stace (2019): 848.
V.c. 14 (E. Sussex)
Sedum sexangulare (Tasteless Stonecrop). Meads/ Eastbourne (TV59189783), 24/6/2024, M. Berry: thoroughly established over steep chalk grass bank, growing with such native calcicoles as Hippocrepis comosa (Horseshoe Vetch), Rochester Close. Perhaps the only Sussex site where it could be said to be naturalised. A succulent perennial (Crassulaceae) from mainland Europe, very like S. acre (Biting Stonecrop) but with tasteless, spreading, cylindrical leaves arranged on the stems in obvious spiral rows (vs peppery to taste, ovoid and imbricate). BSBI News 129, pp. 59–60. Stace (2019): 148.
Scrophularia peregrina (Nettle-leaved Figwort). Eastbourne (TV59659961), 5/5/2024, M. Berry (conf. E.J. Clement): two plants at wall base, Parsonage Road. The first Sussex record since c. 1937. A subglabrous Mediterranean annual (Scrophulariaceae) to c. 60 cm. The pedicels are glandular hairy, the ovate cordate leaves irregularly toothed (to entire) and the calyx lobes acute and without a scarious margin. It is established in v.c. 2 and there are also records in the DDb for v.cc. 1 (2024, 2018), 3 (2019), 10 (2021, Ventnor Botanic Garden), 23 (2023) and 34 (2022). There is a 1992 record for v.c. H21 as a weed at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, where it persisted for a couple of years, Reynolds (2002). Stace (2019): 643.
Scabiosa ochroleuca L. (Yellow Scabious). Hastings Old Town (TQ82420955), 1/1/2024, J. Clark & J. Rose (conf. M. Berry): one flowering plant growing at the base of the outer wall of a house adjacent to footpath, Exmouth Place. Found on a New Year Plant Hunt. New to v.c. 14 and Sussex as a whole. Adventives & Aliens News 23, v.c. 9.
V.c. 15 (E. Kent)
Silene colorata Poir. (Mediterranean Catchfly). Walmer (TR37934944), 30//5/2023, S. Buckingham, A. Gay & S. Coates: a number of plants on vegetated shingle, a presumed escape from cultivation. A hairy, spring-germinating Mediterranean annual (Caryophyllaceae) to c. 20 cm that has pink or white flowers, c. 1–2 cm across, in loose clusters of 1–4 per branch; the cylindrical, ten-veined calyx is 10–13 mm long and with blunt teeth, becoming clavate in fruit; the capsule is 7–9 mm long, the carpophore 5–7 mm long. It is quite like S. pendula (Nodding Catchfly) but in S. colorata the calyx is uniformly crisped hairy (vs glabrous except for patent glandtipped hairs along the veins), the fruiting pedicels are more or less erect (vs patent to reflexed), the petals are more deeply notched – to halfway or more, and the dark brown reniform seeds have a reticulate sculpturing with two narrow undulate dorsal wings (vs unwinged and tuberculate). The first v.c. 15 and Kent record. In the DDb there are records for v.c. 5, where it was known from sand dunes at Dunster Beach and Minehead Warren (2000–2004); and v.c. 18, along A roads in Thurrock (2017). It was also reported for v.c. 9 in 2002. BSBI News 91, pp. 51–52; BSBI News 92, pp. 48–49. Kent Botany 2023, p. 19.
Salvia guaranitica A. St.-Hil. ex Benth. (Anisescented Sage). Fordwich (TR18035988), 22/10/2023, A. Lockton, S. Aslett & J. Mobarak: in a hedge by a footpath along the River Stour and not having the appearance of a garden-related planting. The first record for v.c. 15 and for Kent as a whole. A S. American subshrub (Lamiaceae) to c. 1.8 m with a running rootstock, ovate leaves (c. 4 cm × 3 cm) that smell of aniseed when crushed and large (c. 4 cm long), dark blue corollas. The latter have a relatively long fluted tube and a straight upper lip (rather than
strongly curved as in S. pratensis), the lower lip held almost at a right angle to it. The calyces are black (or green turning black); the bracts are vestigial. Despite being popular in gardens the only record in the DDb is for a probable planting. Adventives & Aliens News 1, v.c. 17. Kent Botany 2023, p. 19.
V.c.
17 (Surrey)
Dysphania pumilio (Clammy Goosefoot). Esher (TQ1366), 25/7/2024, K. Newbert & A. Bell (comm. K. Newbert): two plants on edge of seasonally wet area in horse-grazed field on a fairly sandy substrate,
Lamium bifidum Cirillo (Bifid Dead-nettle). Ipswich (TM16704393), 3/3/2024, S. Clarkson & A. Kell (conf. M. Sanford/comm. A. Kell): several plants behind The Last Anchor restaurant, Ipswich Wet Dock; mistaken for a nettle and pulled up by 7/3/2024. It was found during a Wild Flower Society spring flower hunt. A hairy erect annual (Lamiaceae) to 30 cm, native to southern Europe (including the former Yugoslavia) and northern Africa. The white corollas are 20–25 mm long and
Lamium bifidum, Ipswich, East Suffolk (v.c. 25). Ken Southall with Gnaphalium uliginosum (Marsh Cudweed) as a nearby associate; found during a quadrat survey. The first v.c. 17 record since 1945. Adventives & Aliens News 28, v.c. 10. Stace (2019): 521.
have a slender straight tube that is 3–4 the length of the calyx. The lower lip is red-spotted and the upper lip is bifid (not the lower as I stated in The Wild Flower Magazine No: 528, p. 45). The leaves have a narrow silver stripe down the middle and are deeply incised, very like those of L. hybridum (Cutleaved Dead-nettle) in fact. I haven’t been able to track down any other post-1930 records for Britain and Ireland.
V.c. 28 (W. Norfolk)
Vinca difformis ‘Jenny Pym’ (Intermediate Periwinkle). Stonebridge (TL92679090), 24/2/2024, Norfolk Flora Group (det. T. Doncaster/comm. Suki Pryce): a c. 5 m × 4 m patch amid scrub, in part of Symphoricarpos × chenaultii (Chenault’s Coralberry), in a field edge opposite gardens where it was also growing. This cultivar has corolla lobes somewhat darker than is the norm for the species, leaving conspicuous white centres. Adventives & Aliens News 31, v.c. 4.
V.c. 35 (Mons)
Avena barbata (Slender Oat). Newport (ST3489/ ST3589), 5/7/2024, J. Poland: seen along M4 on way to attend Welsh AGM. New to v.c. 35. See v.c. H12.
V.c. 37 (Worcs)
Symphytum asperum (Rough Comfrey). Croome (SO88774545), 18/5/2024, A. Amphlett & E.C. Amphlett: on west side of minor road from SO88774545 to SO88774549, some plants becoming overgrown by adjacent woody shrubs. It has been known here since 1974. Making comparisons with his own observations of variable S. × uplandicum (Russian Comfrey) sharpened Andy Amphlett’s sense of the important characters. As well as the obvious sky blue colour of the open flowers, which he has seen replicated or nearly replicated in plants of the hybrid, he was also struck by the less obvious – the somewhat rounded/blunt apices of the calyx teeth (vs usually acute in S. × uplandicum); the truncate to cordate bases of the stem leaves; the invariable lack of even the ‘hint’ of a wing on the stems; the mostly curved stem hairs with swollen bases imparting the
roughness that gives this comfrey both its English and scientific names (vs the mixed hair types of S. × uplandicum). Stace (2019): 590.
V.c. 47 (Monts)
Acaena ovalifolia (Two-spined Acaena). Ceinws (SH799076), 28/1/2024, G. Foulkes & P. Foulkes: on west side of plantation track, Ffridd Cae’rfelin; north-west of Cemmaes (SH8007), 28/1/2024, G. Foulkes & P. Foulkes: intermittent along south side of plantation track, Talcen yr Allt. Already known in SH8108, SH8207 and SH8310, where the first v.c. 47 records were made in 2023 by J. Handley. Adventives & Aliens News 29, v.c. 94.
V.c. 48 (Merioneth)
Cotula sessilis (Jo-jo-weed). Bennar (SH573227), 3/2024, P.D. Stanley: one plant on pitch in a camping
field. The first v.c. 48 record. A sparsely hairy S. American annual (Asteraceae) that has prostrate stems up to 4 cm long and flat, opposite, two-pinnate leaves with acute linear lobes; the solitary, sessile capitula are 4–10 mm across, have ovate phyllaries and are strongly spiny in fruit. It was formerly in the genus Soliva when several segregates were recognised based on differences in achene morphology. A wool and granite alien in the past, it is increasingly being found in gravel and mown/trampled turf in a variety of habitats, e.g. car parks, sports fields and camping sites. It has also been recorded new to v.cc. 9 and 50 in 2024. Stace (2019): 799.
V.c. 57 (Derbys)
Macleaya × kewensis (Hybrid Plume-poppy). Renishaw (SK44027848), 5/2024, M. Lacey: four or five immature plants on track that runs alongside lake, where puddles filled with aggregate. No mature plants found nearby. New to v.c. 57. A rhizomatous, glaucous, subglabrous, garden perennial (Papaveraceae) with orange latex. The petiolate cordate leaves are deeply pinnately to palmately lobed. The inflorescence is a terminal panicle, the flowers tiny, congested, apetalous
Symphytum asperum, Croome, Worcestershire (v.c. 37). Andy Amphlett
and with 12–18 stamens. It is the sterile artificial cross of the east Asian M. cordata and M. microcarpa. Clement et al. (2005), p. 21. Stace (2019): 97.
Libertia formosa (Chilean-iris). Barrow Hill (SK42597529), 1/6/2024, B. Gough (det. C. Smith/ comm. Alan Willmot): four clumps under some shrubs on restored rubbish dump, Staveley Tip. A densely tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial (Iridaceae) with sword-like leaves to c. 1.2 m. A native of Chile, it has white flowers in an unbranched terminal inflorescence comprising six free petaloid tepals, the inner three (12–18 mm) twice as long as the outer three. The pedicels are typically hidden by the bracts. The
robust habit and large flowers of the Barrow Hill plant indicate L. formosa over L. elegans, although some of the pedicels apparently exceed the bracts. Some authorities would probably refer such plants to Libertia chilensis Formosa Group (Mike Crewe, pers. comm.). Adventives & Aliens News 3, v.c. 14. Clement et al. (2005), p. 434. Stace (2019): 927.
V.c. 59 (S. Lancs)
Acorus gramineus (Slender Sweet-flag). Ainsdale-onSea (SD30121286), 18/5/2024, P.H. Smith: a c. 1 m × 1 m patch of a variegated form in shallow water at edge of Sands Lake. The sixth v.c. 59 record, the first being in 2009 and the next most recent in 2022 (Phil Smith, pers. comm.). A rhizomatous perennial herb (Acoraceae) that is found in shallow water and/or at the edges of ponds and lakes in its native eastern Asia, and is otherwise grown as an ornamental emergent aquatic and even a well-watered house plant. The evergreen iris-like leaves have a sweet, citrusy smell when crushed and lack a distinct ‘midvein’. The tiny yellow flowers are condensed into a more or less upright spadix, 5–10 cm × 0.3–0.5 cm. The leaves of the better-known A. calamus (Sweetflag) die off in the autumn, are a brighter green, have a distinct off-centre ‘mid-vein’ and are both longer (50–120 cm vs 5–45 cm) and wider (10–25 mm vs 2–8 mm). Adventives & Aliens News 21, v.c. 16. Stace (2019): 872.
Acorus gramineus, Ainsdale-on-Sea, South Lancashire (v.c. 59). Philip Smith
Libertia formosa, Barrow Hill, Derbyshire (v.c. 57). Claire Smith
Triteleia laxa (Triplet Lily). Ainsdale Sand Dunes (SD29871317), 28/8/2018, P.H. Smith: two flowering plants on recently formed embryo dunes/strandline on a ‘Green Beach’ feature north of Ainsdale-on-Sea. It has been seen most years since and was showing signs of slow spread by July 2024. There have been two other v.c. 59 records of this garden escape/throw-out, both from 2004 and both in Merseyside – for near St. Helens and at Crosby Coastal Park. It is still present at the second of these locations on semi-fixed dunes 20 years later (Phil Smith, pers. comm.). A N. American perennial (Amaryllidaceae) to 75 cm, with linear leaves (c. 30 cm × 10 mm) all basal and umbels of blue flowers, the tepals (18–45 mm long) fused in lower half and much exceeding the stamens. It differs from Agapanthus in its rootstock being a corm (vs rhizome), the umbels having an involucre of two or more persistent bracts (vs deciduous bracts) and in its distinctly stalked ovary (vs sessile ovary). BSBI News 97, pp. 47–48. BSBI News 102, p. 49. Stace (2019): 949.
V.c. 64 (M.W. Yorks)
Chenopodium giganteum (Tree Spinach). Burn (SE60632915), 24/6/2023, D. Broughton: in a carrot crop. The first v.c. 64 record. An erect annual (Amaranthaceae) to 2 m, the stem branched above and with ovate-trullate to ovate-triangular, irregularly toothed but more or less unlobed leaves, which when young are strongly red-coloured. It is a native of northern India and has been known as a wool, bird-seed and probably also soyabean casual. In addition it is grown as a vegetable and even as an ornamental garden plant. Adventives & Aliens News 12, v.c. 12. Stace (2019): 518. Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan). Skipton (SD97815150), 9/9/2023, D. Broughton: rough ground by canal. The first v.c. 64 record. A N. American annual to short-lived perennial (Asteraceae) grown as a garden plant, with the conical receptacle characteristic of the genus. It has alternate, bristly, oblong-lanceolate leaves, entire to remotely toothed. The solitary capitula are held on long stalks and can be up to c. 10 cm across in
selected forms, the ligules yellow or orange and the disc flowers brownish-purple. It has also been known as a wool casual, Clement & Foster (1994). Stace (2019): 814.
Coreopsis tinctoria (Golden Tickseed). Kirkstall (SE25973558), 24/8/2023, D. Broughton: colony on eroded bank of River Aire. The first v.c. 64 record. Adventives & Aliens News 32, v.c. 27. Stace (2019): 819.
V.c. 78 (Peebless)
Lathyrus tuberosus (Tuberous Pea). Cardrona (NT30743836), 15/9/2023, L. Gaskell: in flower by Tweed cycleway, probably from wild flower mix. There are no other v.c. 78 records in the DDb and very few post-2000 for Scotland as a whole. A glabrous, clambering, tuberous perennial (Fabaceae) from Eurasia, it has angled, unwinged stems, leaves of one pair of broadly elliptic leaflets, branched tendrils and 2–7 crimson flowers (c. 15 mm long) in long-stalked axillary clusters. A sometimes persistent introduction, e.g. in the Fyfield area (v.c. 19) since at least 1859, and also a rare casual in waste places. It is a grain (particularly chicken food) and birdseed alien and has probably also been cultivated (for the edible tubers and sweet-scented flowers). Stace (2019): 173.
V.c. 83 (Midlothian)
Cardamine occulta Hornem. (Cryptic Bitter-cress). Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (NT247755), 6/3/2024, R. Milne (comm. Sue Jury): c. 30 plants in run-off gutters and ground around greenhouses. New to v.c. 83. Adventives & Aliens News 31, v.c. 35. Sisymbrium irio (London-rocket). Edinburgh (NT27027482), 24/5/2024, H. Kinnin (det. T.C.G. Rich/comm. Sue Jury): 16 flowering and fruiting plants on roadside, Sunnyside off Easter Road. Although this is the only v.c. 83 record currently in the DDb, specimens from Leith Docks dating back to 1895 were located in the herbarium at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (Sue Jury, pers. comm.). A branched upright annual (Brassicaceae) to c. 60 cm. A native of Eurasia and northern Africa, it has pale yellow petals less than 5 mm long and
anthers less than 1 mm long. The leaves are all pinnately lobed, the terminal lobe shorter than in S. orientale (Eastern Rocket). The stems are glabrous or short appressed hairy below. The fruiting pedicels are obviously narrower than the width of the mature siliquae (2–6 cm long), the uppermost of which overtop the flowers. Outside the London area it is a rather uncommon casual of various types of waste ground. It was also one of the more frequent wool aliens. Stace (2019): 445.
V.c. 86 (Stirlings)
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus (Yellow Day-lily). Campsie Fells (NS643833), 17/6/2024, P. Sansum: one clump on verge of Crow Road. This is the second v.c. 86 record, the first from 2022. There are c. 24 records for Scotland as a whole in the DDb. A densely tufted, shortly rhizomatous, herbaceous neophyte (Asphodelaceae) from eastern Asia, found surviving as an outcast from gardens and perhaps also selfsown. Distinguished from H. fulva (Orange Daylily) by the shorter, narrower leaves and the smaller,
yellow, sweet-scented flowers in a usually fewerflowered inflorescence. Less commonly recorded in southern England than H. fulva. Stace (2019): 939.
V.c.
87 (W. Perth)
Rubus laciniatus (Cut-leaved Blackberry). Near Callander (NN62250703), 13/7/2024, L. Hawkins (comm. Jane Jones): seven plants found during forestry work, Coilhallan Wood. The second v.c. 87 record, the first from 1995 was found 25 miles away in an urban situation near Alloa. A Bramble microspecies with distinctive, dissected leaflets, of unknown origin, widely bird-dispersed from gardens (and latterly from ‘wild’ sites) where cultivated for its fruits. Clement et al. (2005), p. 152. Stace (2019): 267.
V.c. 95 (Moray)
Geranium dalmaticum (Dalmatian Crane’s-bill). Grantown-on-Spey (NJ03172790), 25/7/2024, A. Amphlett (conf. H.J. Crouch): one large and six smaller clumps on the outside of the wall of a garden
Rubus laciniatus, Coilhallan Wood, West Perthshire (v.c. 87). Nichola Melville
where it was growing; present here for several years. New to v.c. 95. A native perennial herb (Geraniaceae) of the west Balkans and a garden/rockery plant in Britain and Ireland. It is, crudely speaking, like a smaller, more compact G. macrorrhizum (Rock Crane’s-bill). The leaves of G. dalmaticum are smaller (up to 4 cm wide vs greater than 4 cm), more deeply divided (virtually to base vs four-fifths to base or less) into fewer lobes (5 vs 7) and odourless (vs strongly scented). The leaves of the seed-sterile hybrid, G. × cantabrigiense, are intermediate for all these characters. Stace (2019): 371.
dalmaticum, Grantown-on-Spey, Moray (v.c. 95). Andy Amphlett
V.c. 96 (Easterness)
Cardamine pentaphyllos (L.) Crantz (Five-leaflet Bittercress). Newtonmore (NN716993), 4/4/2024, S. Thomas (conf. M.J. Crawley/comm. A. Amphlett): one clump on waste ground, probably a garden throwout. A subglabrous perennial (Brassicaceae) with a scaly, underground rhizome, pinkish-violet flowers c. 3–5 cm across, and palmate leaves of three to five irregularly toothed leaflets. A native of western and central Europe and a garden plant in Britain and Ireland. A mountain species that should do better in a cooler climate. Adventives & Aliens News 30, v.c. 11.
Allium paradoxum var. normale Stearn (Few-flowered Garlic). Rait Castle (NH889529), 7/5/2024, A. Amphlett (conf. P.R. Green): clump in patch of waste ground between garden and farm buildings. This is the form of A. paradoxum that has inflorescences lacking bulbils. It is very rarely seen outside cultivation and for the obvious reason is much less invasive than the form with bulbils. It looks like a rather feeble A. triquetrum but its tepals lack the bold green median vein of that species. New to Scotland. There are records for v.cc. 17 and 63 in the DDb. Andy Amphlett suggests it is perhaps overlooked or not differentiated because recorders are unaware of the varietal name.
V.c. 104 (N. Ebudes)
Nymphoides peltata (Fringed Water-lily). Skye (NG58052040), 26/7/2024, S.J. Bungard: in an artificial pond stocked with Nymphaea alba (White Water-lily), Torrin; not deliberately introduced. The first v.c. 104 record. A stoloniferous aquatic
Cardamine pentaphyllos, Newtonmore, Easterness (v.c. 96). Sue Thomas
Geranium
perennial (Menyanthaceae) with floating, peltate, cordate leaves and yellow corollas (c. 4 cm across) with fringed lobes. The more or less orbicular leaves (5–12 cm across) have distinctive purple tubercles on the lower surfaces. A native species of mainland Europe (and supposed rare British native), with both pin and thrum morphs, that is widely naturalised in rivers and ponds in Britain and Ireland. Stace (2019): 714.
Nymphoides peltata, Torrin, North Ebudes (v.c. 104). Stephen Bungard
Elodea nuttallii (Nuttall’s Waterweed). Skye (NG58052040), 26/7/2024, S.J. Bungard: in artificial pond, Torrin; thought to have been introduced years earlier but now well-established. The first v.c. 104 record. A submerged aquatic perennial neophyte (Hydrocharitaceae) from N. America, its upper leaves three- to four-whorled like E. canadensis but narrow linear, acute, strongly recurved and twisted (vs oblong-linear, obtuse, barely recurved and not twisted). Clement et al. (2005), p. 365. Stace (2019): 882.
V.c. H6 (Co Waterford)
Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. (California Bay). Briska Upper (S329042), 7/2/2024, P.R. Green: one 0.5 m seedling at base of church wall; large parent tree in churchyard produced a lot of berries (Paul Green, pers. comm.). The first record for Ireland and for UK of a self-sown specimen. An evergreen tree (Lauraceae) to 45 m, a native of the western US and sometimes planted in parks,
gardens etc. In many ways very like the dioecious Laurus nobilis (Bay) but with narrower leaves that have a more pungent smell when crushed. As the generic name indicates, the flowers are also in small, stalked umbels or pseudoumbels (vs solitary or a few in a cluster in Laurus) and each flower is functionally bisexual (vs functionally unisexual). It was longpersistent as a garden relic at the former Warley Place gardens (v.c. 18), Clement & Foster (1994).
V.c. H12 (Co Wexford)
Avena barbata (Slender Oat). Rosslare Harbour (T13691223), 18/7/2024, P.R. Green: many plants along fence by path leading to railway station. The first record for Ireland. Adventives & Aliens News 24, v.c. 15; Adventives & Aliens News 30, v.cc. 11 and 24.
References
Clement, E.J. & Foster, M.C. 1994. Alien Plants of the British Isles. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.
Clement, E.J., Smith, D.P.J. & Thirlwell, I.R. 2005. Illustrations of Alien Plants of the British Isles. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.
Poland, J. & Clement, E.J. 2020. The Vegetative Key to the British Flora (2nd edn). John Poland, Southampton.
Reynolds, S.C.P. 2002. A catalogue of alien plants in Ireland. National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.
Stace, C.A. 2019. New Flora of the British Isles (4th edn). C & M Floristics, Middlewood Green, Suffolk.
Umbellularia californica, Briska Upper, County Waterford (v.c. H6). Paul Green
Myriophyllum rubricaule Valk. & Duist. – first record for v.c. 5 and possibly UK
GRAHAM LAVENDER
In the last issue of BSBI News1, Michael Wilcox highlighted a recent paper by Van Valkenburg et al.2 describing a new species, Myriophyllum rubricaule which could have been mistaken in the UK for M. aquaticum (Parrot’s-feather). I had recorded M. aquaticum in my local area in January 2024 and returned to the locality as a result of Michael’s article to find that they were now flowering and indeed had red stems. I cannot remember if the plants had red stems in the depths of winter but the pink flowers in May were noticeably different to the usual white of M. aquaticum. A photograph was sent to Michael who then forwarded it to Van Valkenburg who confirmed it as M. rubricaule
The site of the M. rubricaule is in a small pond fed by a stream rising on North Hill, Minehead with a public footpath passing within a few metres of the pond, which in turn is just inside the boundary of
Myriophyllum rubricaule, North Hill, Minehead, May 2024. Graham Lavender
Exmoor National Park. The pond itself is in a field grazed by alpacas and sheep and is predominantly populated by Lemna minor (Common Duckweed), Nymphea alba (White Water-lily), Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris), Heliosciadium nodiflorum (Fool’s-watercress) and Glyceria declinata (Small Sweet-grass). Talking to the owners of the land and pond they speculated that what they had believed to be Parrot’sfeather, and had been trying to eradicate without success, might have been the result of someone from nearby Minehead emptying an aquarium contents into the pond.
The aquarium speculation is interesting as Valkenburg in his article pointed out that Myriophyllum ‘Brasiliensis’ is advertised in the horticultural trade
ADVENTIVES & ALIENS: Myriophyllum rubricaule Valk. & Duist. – first record for v.c. 5
of Myriophyllum rubricaule with pink flowers.
View of the pond with extensive patches of Myriophyllum rubricaule. Graham Lavender
where it appears to be an attempt to circumvent European Union regulations3 and similar legislation in the UK4 on the keeping and sale of invasive alien species on which M. aquaticum is listed. The choice of the name Myriophyllum ‘Brasiliensis’ does seem unfortunate as Myriophyllum brasiliense Cambess. is an accepted name5 although now recognised as a synonym of Myriophyllum aquaticum as published by Verdcourt in 19736. It is unclear how many of the adverts online for Myriophyllum ‘Brasiliensis’ are in fact M. aquaticum and how many M. rubricaule. It is noted that The RHS Plant Finder7 clearly marks M. aquaticum as prohibited and lists no suppliers but has no entry for Myriophyllum ‘Brasiliensis’.
M. rubricaule has now been added to the BSBI’s Distribution Database, so in due course it will be possible to determine if it is very localised or more widely spread in the UK. Specimens of the v.c. 5 M. rubricaule are being prepared for accession to the local Taunton Herbarium (TTN).
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Lady Rosemary FitzGerald for help, advice and proof-reading. Also thanks to Mike Wilcox for his foresight in alerting botanists to a new species that might well be overlooked.
References
1. Wilcox, M. 2024. BSBI News 156: 65.
2. Van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H., Duistermaat, L.H., Boer, E. & Raaymakers, T.M. 2022. Myriophyllum rubricaule sp. nov., a M. aquaticum look-alike only known in cultivation. European Journal of Taxonomy 828: 1–15. doi.org/10.5852/ ejt.2022.828.1847
3. Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament
4. The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019
5. POWO 2024. Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online at: powo.science.kew.org [retrieved 02/06/2024]
6. Verdcourt, B. 1973. Kew Bulletin 28: 36.
7. RHS Plant Finder 2023, ed. Janet Cubey, RHS, London.
Graham Lavender
grahamlavender@hotmail.com
Stems
Graham Lavender
Orobanche
alba
(Thyme Broomrape) on Thymus vulgaris (Garden Thyme) in Caernarvonshire (v.c. 49):
a first record for Wales
MIKE FAY, CHRIS THOROGOOD, FRED RUMSEY, MARK CHASE & MAARTEN CHRISTENHUSZ
Here we report the first sighting of Orobanche alba Stephan ex Willd. in Wales. In 2022, we (MFF, MWC and MJMC) planted Thymus vulgaris L. (bought at a local garden centre) in our herb garden in v.c. 49 (Trefor, Gwynedd). In June 2024, we were surprised to find four shoots of a reddish broomrape emerging in this plant.
Given the colour and host plant, our putative identification was O. alba (Thyme Broomrape), and this was confirmed based on the cylindricalcampanulate corolla with dark glands, reddish stigma and the faint clove-like scent, following discussions with CJT and FJR. According to the account for this species in the BSBI online Plant Atlas 2020 (Foley & Rumsey, 2020) and BSBI Handbook No. 22 (Thorogood & Rumsey, 2021), this species has not previously been recorded in Wales, although it occurs elsewhere in western Britain and Ireland.
Orobanche alba is a monocarpic biennial or perennial. It occurs on a wider range of Lamiaceae in other parts of its range (Thorogood & Rumsey, 2021). It is a European Temperate element of the British and Irish flora, and its range extends to North Africa and the Himalayas (POWO, 2024). It mostly grows on base-rich rocky coastal slopes, but it is also found locally on vegetated scree below limestone outcrops in northern England (Foley & Rumsey, 2020; Thorogood & Rumsey, 2021). In Britain, this plant is almost always strongly redtinted [O. alba forma rubra (Sm.) Beck, originally described as O. rubra Sm.] and it occurs on Thymus drucei (Wild Thyme) in rocky habitats, especially sea cliffs (Thorogood & Rumsey, 2021).
Elsewhere in Britain, there have been three discoveries of O. alba in gardens since the 1970s.
In 1977 it was found in a garden in Lower Clent, Worcestershire (v.c. 37). It was thought that it must have arrived with its host, plants of which had been transplanted from the Burren (Co. Clare) some years previously, a known hotspot for this species (Maskew,
Orobanche alba (Thyme Broomrape) growing on planted Thymus vulgaris (Garden Thyme), Trefor, Caernarvonshire (v.c. 49). Mike Fay
2014). The following year (1978), several plants were found on Thymus sp. in a garden in West Porlock, South Somerset, v.c. 5. The owner considered it likely to have been introduced with its host and noted that the broomrapes were of the native red-flowered type. The only other confirmed garden occurrence known to the authors was of two plants in a garden in Sutton Abinger, Surrey, v.c. 17 in 1991.
The species is more variable (often pale-coloured) on the continent, but plants at the north-western extreme of its range are more-or-less uniformly intensely red-coloured. The form reported here from v.c. 49 matches these intensely coloured plants native to Britain and Ireland; given the cultivated source of the host plant, this makes the provenance of the parasite mysterious. It is possibly the product of wind-swept seed from somewhere in the native range of O. alba (imported material would likely be paler in colour). Orobanche plants of unknown (but presumably wind-dispersed) origin do occur from time to time, e.g. a transient occurrence of the South European O. gracilis was reported from the Wiltshire/Hampshire border in 2015 (Thorogood & Rumsey, 2021). Introduction via the purchased plant of T. vulgaris is also a possibility.
Thymus drucei is a common plant in the same area as this new record for O. alba, and a potential concern is that O. alba might ‘jump over the garden wall’ (e.g. see Jones, Toth & Dehnen-Schmutz, 2024, and references therein) and infect the native thyme populations (notwithstanding the presumed native origin of the O. alba – see above). We discussed this with the Vice-county Recorder, and her advice was that its origin should be noted so that future botanists would be aware of the source if this transpires (Wendy McCarthy, pers. comm.). In addition, we note that the parasite would have little impact on the thyme, and O. alba has no history of invasiveness; therefore, at the current time, we consider it an unusual, and perhaps casual, curiosity.
Acknowledgements
We thank Wendy McCarthy for useful discussions and advice.
References
Foley, M.J.Y. & Rumsey, F.J. 2020. Orobanche alba Stephan ex Willd. In: Stroh, P.A., Walker, K.J., Humphrey, T.A., Pescott, O.L. & Burkmar, R.J. (eds) 2023. Plant Atlas 2020: Mapping Changes in the Distribution of the British and Irish Flora. Princeton University Press. plantatlas2020.org/ atlas/2cd4p9h.921 [retrieved 29/06/2024]
Jones, T., Toth, L. & Dehnen-Schmutz, K. 2024. Using Plant Alert as part of a gardener engagement project in North West Wales. BSBI News 156: 56-58.
Maskew, R. 2014. The Flora of Worcestershire. Self-published. Tenbury Wells. POWO 2024. Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online at: powo. science.kew.org [retrieved 29/06/2024]
Thorogood, C.J. & Rumsey, F.J. 2021. Broomrapes of Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 22. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Durham.
Michael F. Fay
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB
M.Fay@kew.org
Christopher J. Thorogood, Fred J. Rumsey, Mark W. Chase, Maarten J.M. Christenhusz
Orobanche alba (Thyme Broomrape) – close-up of inflorescence. Maarten Christenhusz
ADVENTIVES & ALIENS: Ruta chalepensis – new to Britain and Ireland?
Ruta chalepensis – new to Britain and Ireland?
MATTHEW BERRY
Ruta graveolens L. (Rue) is a shrubby evergreen perennial (Rutaceae) of Mediterranean origin. It has distinctive strong-smelling, deeply pinnately divided, glaucous leaves and loose terminal clusters of yellow, four- to five-petalled, buttercup-like flowers. The flowers are followed by four- to fivelobed capsules. It is grown primarily as a foliage plant and has quite a number of records to its credit as a garden escape, particularly at the bases of or growing out of walls, the closest urban/suburban equivalent of its natural rupestral habitats. There are c. 130 records shown in the DDb, mainly concentrated or even confined to English vice-counties. For example there are currently three records for v.c. 13 and seven for v.c. 14 alone.
On 23 June 2024 I found a flowering Ruta selfsown at the foot of a garden wall in Eversfield Road, Eastbourne (TV6085899618) and a non-flowering one at TV6084099629. Being careful not to poison myself (is its toxicity overstated?) I broke off some pieces which I examined at home with the aid of a standard European reference, Polunin (1969) (rather old but still very good), and to my surprise found my plant was a much better match for another Mediterranean species, Ruta chalepensis L. (Fringed Rue). It also bore an excellent likeness to the plants shown in photos of this species displayed on the Acta Plantarum website ( www.actaplantarum.org ). The identity of the Eversfield Road Ruta was later confirmed as R. chalepensis by Eric Clement. Ruta montana (L.) L. (Mountain Rue), distinguished from R. graveolens by the linear-lanceolate leaf
segments (vs obovate-spathulate), is listed in Clement & Foster (1994), while R. chalepensis is not. Nor are there any records in the DDb. Has it been recorded in Britain or Ireland before? R. chalepensis is distinguished from both species by its conspicuously fringed petals (marginal thread-like extensions about as long as the petals are wide) (vs entire to slightly toothed petal margins). In addition the lobes of the capsules have very pointed tips in this species (vs blunt in R. graveolens). The leaves are very similar to those of R. graveolens so it would be difficult to separate them vegetatively. Self-sown plants involving this genus might often be without flowers. It should not be assumed straight away that all such plants are R. graveolens, although this is still probably the one most commonly grown and found as an escape. Acta Plantarum mentions another species with fringed petals, Ruta angustifolia Pers. (Narrow-leaved Rue) from the western and central Mediterranean, but in that case the ‘fringe’ is even longer and the bracts, peduncles and sepals are pubescent (vs glabrous).
References
Clement, E.J. & Foster, M.C. 1994. Alien Plants of the British Isles. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London. Polunin, O. 1969. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, London.
ADVENTIVES & ALIENS: A possible vegetative difference for Garden Peony and Chinese Peony
A possible vegetative difference for Garden Peony and Chinese Peony
MICHAEL WILCOX
When flowering, Garden Peony (Paeonia officinalis) can be told from Chinese Peony (P. lactiflora) due to the latter having branched inflorescences. Peony (P. mascula) can usually be ruled out on account of its rarity (Stace, 2019). In Poland & Clement (2020) only the vegetative characters of P. mascula are given, so there is no comparison but it suggests veining like P. officinalis (see below).
Paeonia lactiflora has a taller, more slender look and the round flowerheads, before opening, are relatively small, and usually this species has a branched inflorescence. P. officinalis has very large, rounded, single flowerheads. The latter also has very broad leaflets and while P. lactiflora has narrow more slender leaflets in general, without knowing or seeing both it is not a useful character.
Based on material seen so far, it appears that P. lactiflora has quite different veining to P. officinalis (and P. mascula?) (Figure 1). This could provide a useful character for plants at the vegetative stage, but requires more work. P. lactiflora can also have much more purple-tinged leaves than P. officinalis.
It is likely that some P. lactiflora is overlooked or recorded as P. officinalis, especially if vegetative –check the leaf veining in vegetative plants that you can’t go back to. An image of a plant determined as P. mascula sent to me from Somerset (Maperton Ridge, ST6626) courtesy of Helena Crouch, appears to have the same veining as P. officinalis, as I can just about see the veining in that image, so it would need the other characters to separate it from P. officinalis.
References
Poland, J. & Clement, E.J. 2020. The Vegetative Key to the British Flora (2nd edn). John Poland, Southampton. Stace, C.A. 2019. New Flora of the British Isles (4th edn). C & M Floristics, Middlewood Green, Suffolk.
Figure 1. Leaves showing vein pattern of (a) Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese Peony) (garden throw-out, Bradford SE13, taken in to cultivation); (b) Paeonia officinalis (Garden Peony) (also a throw-out survivor in SE13, and still there in 2024). Michael Wilcox
NOTICES
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
The BSBI Annual General Meeting 2024 will take place at 7.15 pm on Thursday 21 November 2024 as an electronic meeting. The AGM will be preceded by introductory talks starting at 6.15 pm. A registration link will be made available on the BSBI website for members who wish to attend
This invitation to attend the 2024 BSBI Annual General Meeting (AGM) is included inside this issue of BSBI News and posted on the BSBI website.
The final agenda and all supporting papers will be available on the BSBI website, which will be updated as the AGM approaches.
The agenda includes Election of Trustees. Any member interested in becoming a BSBI Trustee can find more information on the BSBI website (bsbi.org/ bsbi-trustees).
If you wish to submit a resolution or to vote by proxy please submit a request by email to the Company Secretary by midday Thursday 7 November 2024
Barry O’Kane Honorary General Secretary hongensec@bsbi.org
Address for correspondence: c/o Julia Hanmer, BSBI, 65 Sotheby Road, London N5 2UP
BRITISH AND IRISH BOTANICAL CONFERENCE 2024
This year’s British & Irish Botanical Conference (the event formerly known as the BSBI Annual Exhibition Meeting) will be held on Saturday 23 November at the Natural History Museum, London. The draft programme includes talks on a theme of urban botany from BSBI trustee Trevor Dines and from Stephanie Holt (Natural History Museum). Incoming President Paul Ashton will talk about BSBI’s training offer; Stuart Desjardins will tell us how herbaria can help us address issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss; and Sandy Knapp (Natural History Museum) will talk about ‘Why Botany? Why Now?’ There will also be flash talks from early-career researchers, behind-the-scenes tours of the world famous Sloane Herbarium, and –a new feature at the Conference – we are planning some workshops and demonstrations around herbarium specimens.
The draft programme and details of how to book for the event – whether you wish to offer an exhibit or you just want to come along and enjoy the day’s proceedings – can be found on the BSBI website: bsbi.org/british-irish-botanical-conference. The Conference is free to attend and to exhibit (although donations are always welcome) but please do book in advance. We no longer provide a printed flyer or booking form for this event – very few people have used the form in recent years so we do not feel that the expense is justified. We are, however, very keen that members without internet access should be able to attend, so please contact Sarah Woods on +44 (0) 7570 254619 or at 23 Bank Parade, Otley, LS21 3DY, UK, to book or reserve an exhibitor space. We plan to record the talks and share them via our YouTube channel for anyone who can’t make it along on the day.
Louise Marsh BSBI
Communications Officer louise.marsh@bsbi.org
OTHER CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS 2024
Scottish Botanists’ Conference
The 2024 Scottish Botanists’ Conference will be held at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on Saturday 2 November – all are welcome. Look out for more information and updates on booking on the webpage: bsbi.org/scottish-annual-meeting. If you or your organisation are interested in displaying a poster or similar exhibit, please contact the Scotland Officer (matt.harding@bsbi.org).
Irish Autumn Meeting
Bookings are now open for the 2024 Irish Autumn Meeting and AGM, which this year will be held in Northern Ireland, at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, near Craigavon, Co Armagh, on Saturday 12 October. As usual this promises to be a fantastic day: a great chance to meet with other botanists, with a brilliant line-up of speakers on the general theme of ‘Lough Neagh and the Northeast of Ireland’. See the webpage for further information including the programme of talks: bsbi.org/irishautumn-meeting-agm. Thanks to a collaboration with CEDaR, who has generously provided funding for the event, there will also be an exhibition space
where speakers and representatives from other environmental organisations working across the region will be showcasing some of the exciting projects and initiatives happening in the area. If you would be interested in displaying a poster or similar exhibit in this space, on any botany-related topic you think might be of interest, please contact the Ireland Officer (bridget.keehan@bsbi.org). As usual, the event is free of charge, but don’t forget to book online, as places are limited.
Louise Marsh
NEW WALES OFFICER (PRIORITY PLANTS PROJECT)
Welcome to Alastair Hotchkiss, who joined BSBI from Natural Resources Wales in June, to coordinate our new Priority Plants on SSSIs in Wales project (see his project update below). Alastair is an experienced ecologist who lives in Montgomeryshire, Mid-Wales. He has worked on protected sites in Powys for NRW, and as a specialist adviser for the Woodland Trust across the UK.
Julia Hanmer Chief Executive julia.hanmer@bsbi.org
MEMBERS’ DATA ACCESS
We are pleased to remind members that they are now able to apply for access to the BSBI’s central database of plant distribution records known as the Distribution Database (or DDb).
The BSBI is committed to increasing access to the information it holds for the benefit of its members and for plants. By providing greater access to these data, we hope to encourage more recording amongst members and increase the conservation, research and educational activities. We’ve been encouraged to see real diversity amongst those members registering for access, giving the breadth of interest we hoped to see.
If you have not yet applied for member access to the DDb, please visit database.bsbi.org/ membersaccess.php, where you will need to enter an email address, postcode and/or membership number.
If you do not have an email address, but do have access to a computer, please write to the Membership Secretary and we will support you in gaining access. Once you have applied for access, your request will be checked and approved, after
which you will be notified and signposted to resources on using the DDb.
Sarah Woods
BSBI Fundraising and Engagement Manager sarah.woods@bsbi.org
NEW YEAR PLANT HUNT
BSBI’s fourteenth New Year Plant Hunt will run from Sunday 29 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025. Last year’s Hunt saw 3,336 participants (a record number) who submitted 22,212 records, noting 629 taxa in bloom. The spotter sheets and guidance notes we launched last year proved so popular that we are expanding them this year. Register for the New Year Plant Hunt now and you’ll see the new spotter sheets and guidance notes when they are hot off the press.
Group hunts proved really popular last year, and they are a great way for beginner botanists to get involved, so we’d love to see even more of them this year. If you feel able to host a group hunt – or if you’d like to hear how we can help you with organization and promotion – please get in touch.
The data collected by our New Year Plant Hunters are helping us understand how our plants are responding to a changing climate, and the Hunt is a fun way for plant-lovers to get out recording in midwinter. So please save the dates, register to take part and keep an eye on our webpage for further info over the coming months: bsbi.org/new-yearplant-hunt
Louise Marsh
PRIORITY PLANTS ON WELSH SSSIs
We are now up and running with our 2-year project on Priority Plants on SSSIs in Wales, funded by the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund. There are more than 1,000 SSSIs in Wales, covering about 12% of the country’s surface area, with around 650 plant ‘features’ – basically, those plants that are considered to be a reason for the site’s protection and special status.
The project is mainly focused on the 170-ish plant features that appear to have no recent (past 20 years) records on the BSBI’s DDb within those SSSIs – some haven’t been recorded for much longer, and some with no localised records at all within SSSI boundaries (e.g. hectad records only).
The logical start has been some investigative work to truth-check the list. Conversations with botanical recorders and Natural Resources Wales’ staff have revealed that there have been some recent
observations of plant features, but they haven’t made it onto the DDb. So I’ve been mobilising these records where they exist – helping to reveal the priorities to re-survey next year.
The summer was already underway by the time I joined the role, but I’ve been out to a number of sites to pilot the approach, and so that some sites and features have been surveyed this year. I plan to do a longer piece for the next BSBI News, so I will report on some of the successful refinds, as well as the null results.
This autumn and winter will be an opportunity to plan a full 2025 season of surveying – I’ve been in touch with all Vice-county Recorders in Wales, and I’d be pleased to hear from anyone who might be up for getting involved with surveys. Do get in touch –There might be something on the list that could be covered by you next year.
Alastair Hotchkiss
Wales Officer (Priority Plants Project) alastair.hotchkiss@bsbi.org
BOTANICAL TUTORS WANTED
Could you be an Identiplant Tutor?
Identiplant is a tutor supported online plant ID course for beginners in serious botany run by BSBI. Last year we had a record number of students apply but only had capacity to give places to 65% of the applicants. We are keen to recruit a good number of new tutors for 2025 to support keen beginner botanists.
If you are an experienced field botanist with good local knowledge and are interested in developing the botanical skills of relative beginners, please consider becoming an Identiplant Tutor. In return you will receive a fee for each student tutored, full directions on course delivery and mentorship from the experienced tutor team.
BSBI will be hosting an online information evening on 15 October at 7 pm. Please email identiplant@ bsbi.org to find out more.
Are you a botanist with excellent botanical skills?
BSBI is looking for experienced field botanists at or above Level 5 on the botanical skills ladder to help run FISC assessments in 2025 as FISC Assessors. We have been expanding FISC provision across England over the last two years, with 31 FISCs being run in 2024. We hope to expand further into all regions, but also into Scotland and Wales next year. We have partnered with the Field Studies Council, Natural England, universities, Wildlife Trusts and a number
of consultancies to help deliver FISCs, but capacity is limited by the availability of FISC Assessors. Through providing an independent and rigorous assessment of the field skills of fellow botanists, FISC Assessors are highly valued and are paid well for their time.
If you are interested in joining the FISC team to help deliver FISCs, please email fisc@bsbi.org to find out more.
Chantal Helm
BSBI Training Coordinator (FISC and Identiplant) chantal.helm@bsbi.org
BE A PART OF THE SOCIETY’S FUTURE: VICE-COUNTY RECORDER OPPORTUNITIES
Our network of more than 200 Vice-county Recorders (VCRs) and VCR teams, covering the whole of Britain and Ireland, are the backbone of the Society and an enduring source of pride.
For biological recording purposes, Britain and Ireland are divided into a series of stable and unchanging vice-counties as defined by H.C. Watson in 1852. A map of vice-counties can be accessed at bsbi.org/local-botany
A VCR or VCR team member holds a voluntary post with BSBI and is responsible for a wide range of activities within one or more vice-counties. This is often but not always the vice-county in which a person lives. Responsibilities within a vice-county include collecting and maintaining records of vascular plants and charophytes, assisting other Society members with identification or information requests and often running a programme of local recording meetings. These responsibilities can be undertaken by an individual VCR or shared across a VCR team.
As part of the ongoing efforts to support and enhance the VCR network, the BSBI Country Support Team has been in contact with existing VCRs and VCR teams. This has been undertaken with the aim of identifying opportunities for members to get involved as either joint-VCRs, iRecord verifiers, or other roles within teams across Britain and Ireland.
An increasing number of VCRs are choosing to move towards a team approach in order to balance workloads and ensure the smooth transition of knowledge and responsibilities during succession. VCR teams also offer opportunities for members to make a valuable contribution to botanical recording in their local area.
Becoming part of a VCR team doesn’t necessarily require a high level of botanical knowledge, though
enthusiasm, time, and a willingness to learn are essential. Organising, or writing up reports of local meetings or helping with social media could be the ideal way for a keen beginner to start to get more involved with local BSBI activity and improve their botanical knowledge along the way.
VCR team member roles can be flexible, depending on the needs of the VCR and the skills of those interested in getting involved. Some common team roles include:
• Joint-VCR: someone to take on an equal share of the responsibilities alongside the existing VCR. Often also a successor for when an existing VCR decides to step down.
• Events organiser: a team member responsible for organising the county recording group’s programme of local (or national) field meetings, outreach events, training workshops, etc.
• Successor: a trainee vice-county team member or members who will eventually take over all or part of the VCR role.
• iRecord verifier: a team member or members who are responsible for verifying data submitted through iRecord and/or iNaturalist. Given that iRecord data verification is a relatively recent and increasing addition to the workload of VCRs, this is an area where many VCRs might benefit from assistance.
In response to our call-out the following existing VCRs and VCR teams have indicated that they are interested in potentially recruiting new team members:
England
V.c. 4 North Devon: Robert Kirby – looking for any team members
V.c. 6 North Somerset: Helena Crouch – looking for an iRecord verifier
V.c. 9 Dorset: Robin Walls – looking for a joint-VCR
V.c. 12 North Hampshire: Tony Mundell – looking for an iRecord verifier
V.c. 24: Buckinghamshire: vacant – looking for a VCR
V.c. 36 Herefordshire: Stuart Hedley – looking for a meeting organiser
V.c. 54 North Lincolnshire: James Harding-Morris –looking for any team members
V.c. 61 South East Yorkshire: Rohan Lewis – looking for a joint-VCR
Wales
V.c. 42 Breconshire: John Crellin and Mike Porter –looking for a joint-VCR
V.c. 46 Cardiganshire: Steve Chambers – looking for a joint-VCR (preferably with some tech skills)
V.c. 47 Montgomeryshire: Kate Thorne and Fiona Gomersall – looking for an iRecord verifier
V.c. 50 Denbighshire: Delyth Williams – looking for any team members
Scotland
V.c. 84 West Lothian: Jay MacKinnon – looking for an events organiser
V.c. 85 Fifeshire: Sandy Edwards – looking for a joint-VCR, particularly to assist with events and local botany activities, ideally in the west of the v.c.
V.c. 86 Stirlingshire: Phil Sansum and Matt Harding –looking for an events organiser to help support local botany activities
V.c. 87 West Perthshire: Jane Jones and Liz Lavery –looking for a successor
V.c. 89 East Perthshire: Martin Robinson – looking for a successor
V.c. 98 Argyllshire: Gordon Rothero – looking for a successor
V.c. 101 Kintyre: Dave and Pat Batty – looking for a successor
V.c. 103 Mid Ebudes: Lynne Farrell – looking for a successor and joint-VCR to focus on data management, and an iRecord verifier to augment the team
V.c. 104 North Ebudes: Stephen Bungard and Joanna Walmisley – looking for a joint-VCR to augment the team; needs to be familiar with the flora of north-west Scotland
Ireland
V.c. H8 Co Limerick: Oliver Lynch Milner – looking for assistant or team members
V.c.H13 Carlow: Lisa Dowling – looking for a jointVCR
V.c. H33 Co Fermanagh: Robert Northridge –looking for an assistant (exact role to depend on skills)
V.c. H35 West Donegal: Ralph Sheppard – looking for an assistant/possible successor
V.c. H36 Co Tyrone: Ian McNeill – looking for an assistant/administrative support/possible successor
V.c. H37 Co Armagh: John Faulkner – will be looking for an assistant/trainee VCR from next year
Get in touch
If you think you might be able to help out and become a team member then please get in contact with the relevant Country Officer (details below and on inside front cover). Please note that there may be multiple people interested in a specific role and that any appointment is at the discretion of the existing VCR and must be ratified by the BSBI Science & Data Committee.
In addition to the roles listed above there are lots of vice-counties that currently don’t have an iRecord verifier. An iRecord verifier does not necessarily need to be an expert botanist. Someone who can verify records of common species and highlight unusual records to the VCR could be perfect for the role. If this is something that you might be interested in for a vice-county not listed above then please get in touch with the relevant VCR to see if they might appreciate some assistance.
England: Sam Thomas sam.thomas@bsbi.org
Ireland: Bridget Keehan bridget.keehan@bsbi.org
Scotland: Matt Harding matt.harding@bsbi.org
Wales: James Harding-Morris james.hardingmorris@bsbi.org
Sam Thomas BSBI England Officer sam.thomas@bsbi.org
PANEL OF VCRs
In England, Anna Dudley and April Webb have been appointed as VCRs for Warwickshire (v.c. 38), succeeding John and Monika Walton, who were in post since 2010. John and Monika were, and continue to be, extremely active in the vice-county, and greatly assisted with galvanising the efforts of local botanists and achieving excellent levels of coverage for the recent atlas whilst also finding the time to publish an excellent Rare Plant Register (RPR) in 2018. In Cheshire (v.c. 58), Graham Kay has been succeeded by Laura Bointon as VCR. Graham was VCR for the vice-county since 1989, and his newsletters (many available on the BSBI website) offer a glimpse of the enormous effort and contribution that he made to the conservation and discovery of the flora of Cheshire, as does the RPR he published in 2015, packed full of valuable personal observations. His dedication to fieldwork over two atlases was exemplary, and we thank Graham, John and Monika for all their contributions to the BSBI.
In Scotland, there is a new joint VCR for Kirkcudbrightshire (v.c. 73), with Jan Davidson joining the team to support David Hawker and Sarah White, focusing on data management. And in Ireland, Sinéad Garry is now joint VCR for West Mayo (H27), assisting the VCR Eoin McGreal.
Finally, a correction to the Yearbook. The evergreen Ann Sankey, who was VCR for Surrey (v.c. 17) from 2002 to 2022, has been afforded Emeritus Recorder status for her outstanding contribution when in post. Our apologies to Ann for not sharing this news in the Yearbook.
BRITISH & IRISH BOTANY 6:1
The first issue of the 2024 volume of British & Irish Botany, BSBI’s Open Access, online scientific journal, was published in June, under the editorship of Dr Stuart Desjardins. You can view or download the papers free of charge, as well as previous issues and guidelines for submissions, from the B&IB website: britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bib You can also email or phone us on 07725 862957 to discuss a proposal.
Stuart Desjardins & Louise Marsh bib@bsbi.org
British & Irish Botany Vol. 6 No. 1 (2024)
A new species of Aria (Rosaceae) from the Wye Valley, Wales – D. Green Tree and scrub species of the Treeline Ecotone in the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland – Andy Amphlett Names and descriptions of two hybrid scurvygrasses (Cochlearia; Brassicaceae) – Timothy C.G. Rich Hieracium gothicum (Asteraceae): a forgotten species – J. Bevan
Validation of the binomials Hieracium aristidens, Hieracium kintyricum and Hieracium sowadeense (Asteraceae) – Timothy C.G. Rich, John Crossley
The site of the Westminster Physic Garden – F. Horsman
NEW FLORA OF THE BRITISH ISLES: Fourth edition 2019, third reprint 2024
Athird reprinting of the above was published in June 2024. Although I had decided in 2021 that there would be no alterations in any future printings, I have in fact introduced a small number in this 2024 version. They are mostly minor corrections, but I also thought it advisable to incorporate two features present in Concise Flora of the British Isles, 2022. The changes are summarised below. I have resolved that there will be no further changes, however important any future discoveries might be.
Addendum on page 1140. A note and illustration of the West Indian fern Stenogrammitis myosuroides, discovered in South Kerry in 2021. Added to index. A note ‘see also p. 1140’ added to Key D, couplet 4, page 3.
Splitting of the family 137 Adoxaceae into 137.1 Adoxaceae (Adoxa), 137.2 Sambucaceae (Sambucus) and 137.3 Viburnaceae (Viburnum) on pp. 822–825. As defined in the molecular classification APG4, worldwide the Adoxaceae (now altered to Viburnaceae) contains only Sambucus, Viburnum,
Adoxa and the Asian Sinadoxa. The split advocated here is fully compliant with the ‘rules’ of APG4 and has the great advantage of establishing recognisable families. Changes are effected in the text, family synopsis, index and family keys (the three genera were already keyed out separately). Running headers changed on pages 823 & 824.
Page 196. Ulex × breoganii should belong to U. gallii × U. minor, not U. europaeus × U. gallii Index also altered accordingly.
Page 538. Rarity designations of Montia fontana subspecies altered in descending order to: blank, R, RR, blank.
Page 726. Distribution of Carlina vulgaris: for ‘only coastal’ read ‘nearly all coastal’.
Page 878. Distribution of Sagittaria subulata. For ‘W Sutherland in 2006’ read ‘W Sutherland record was error’. Add E in margin.
Page 899. Key to Gagea, first couplet, second lead: add ‘, or greenish’.
Page 900. Gagea lutea description: tepals yellow to greenish.
Page 1045. Brachypodium Other spp.: authority for B. hybridum should be ‘Catalán, Joch. Müll., Hasterok & G. Jenkins’. Index altered accordingly.
Page 1082. Key to Alopecurus, second couplet, second lead: for ‘<1/4’ read ‘<1/3’.
Page 1090. B. hordeaceus ssp. molliformis. For awn ‘thickened to c. 0.2 mm wide at base’ read ‘only c. 0.1 mm wide at base’.
Clive Stace cstace@btinternet.com
JEFF DAVISON – BSBI PRINTER
For almost 40 years, observant members may have noticed the imprint ‘printed by J. & P. Davison’ on a vast array of BSBI journals, handbooks, leaflets and mailing inserts. Since 1986 Jeff Davison (ably assisted by his father John, mother Betty and wife Hildegard) has been the go-to printer for most BSBI publications and leaflets, apart from Watsonia and New Journal of Botany
I first met Jeff in 1986 when I became editor of BSBI News. I needed to find a local printer; J. & P. Davison was recommended and what a lucky choice that was. Not only did he print 93 issues of BSBI News, but all or most of the inserts that were posted with them. He has also printed many BSBI Handbooks, all issues to date of the BSBI Yearbook, and many issues of the Annual Review.
Apart from the quality of his work, his great strength was his flexibility; give him a two day deadline to produce 2500 copies of a 4-page leaflet and it would be delivered promptly; much of this in a time predating the digital age of emails and the internet, when by post or in person was the only delivery option!
In January 2024, Jeff decided that it was time for him to retire. The upsurge in digital printing and the increasing need for full-colour publications meant that he was no longer able to compete with the ‘big boys’. His last two printing jobs for BSBI were the BSBI Yearbook 2024 and the Index to BSBI News 141–150.
I think it’s time for all of us to raise a glass and offer our heartfelt thanks to Jeff for all that he has done for the BSBI over four decades and to wish him a long and happy retirement.
Gwynn
Ellis
Membership Secretary gwynn.ellis@bsbi.org
SENDING PLANT SPECIMENS FROM BRITAIN TO (REPUBLIC OF) IRELAND POST-BREXIT
Earlier in the year I posted a small packet of pressed specimens to a referee in Cardiff and declared them to be of no commercial value. The referee promptly determined them and attempted to return them by Royal Mail. After three weeks they bounced back (from Dublin) for an unspecified reason. I provided him with the relevant EU Customs Tariff (TARIC) code for the contents and he re-posted them to me with the same result. After extensive enquiries, I elucidated from the Irish Post Office and Revenue Commissioners that a declared value of £0.00 was unacceptable but officials were unwilling to elaborate. The extremely obliging referee put a value of £1.00 on the contents and on the third attempt I received my determined specimens!
The EU regulation is that gifts from non-EU countries with a total value of up to €45 are VAT free. Items that are not gifts are subject to VAT at standard rate on value plus postage/carriage costs. Therefore if any member is sending plant specimens or other materials to Ireland, it is suggested to enter a nominal value on the form and appropriately declare the contents as a gift.
David Nash
35 Nutley Park, Dublin D04 W2N2
COUNTRY ROUNDUPS: England
FUTURE BSBI MINT WORKSHOP
This is to notify all BSBI members that I intend to organise a workshop focused on the genus Mentha, expected to take place end of August/ early September 2025, part of the BSBI meeting programme. The aim will be to bring together botanists interested in furthering our knowledge of Mentha diversity and distribution in Britain and Ireland. Mentha was the focus of much interest to British and Irish botanists during the twentieth century with a wealth of detailed publications, followed by Ray Harley’s authoritative work (e.g. Harley & Brighton, 1977). In recent floras and atlases (e.g. Stroh et al., 2023; Stace et al., 2015), there is the indication that the diversity and abundance of rarer taxa is declining or being under-recorded. However, there may be some recording barriers, as highlighted recently in BSBI News (Leaney, 2023). My preliminary objectives for the workshop are as follows but I would welcome additional ideas from prospective workshop participants as well:
• Share expertise in morphological identification using my (modest) collection of living and herbarium specimens, as well as any specimen that participants can bring.
• Identify gaps in our identification and distribution knowledge of native, hybrid and alien taxa, and any steps to address them.
• Initiate an informal Mentha network for BSBI members.
I am keen to reach out to anyone interested in the workshop either as participant or organiser, in order to identify best location, date, format and focus.
References
Harley, R.M. & Brighton, C.A. 1977. Chromosome numbers in the genus Mentha L. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 74: 71–96. doi. org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1977.tb01168.x
Leaney, B. 2023. Problems with identification in Mentha BSBI News 153: 9–16.
Stace, C.A., Preston, D.C. & Pearman, D.A. 2015. Hybrid Flora of the British Isles. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Bristol.
Stroh, P.A., Walker, K.J., Humphrey, T.A., Pescott, O.L. & Burkmar, R.J. (eds) 2023. Plant Atlas 2020: Mapping Changes in the Distribution of the British and Irish Flora. Princeton University Press. plantatlas2020.org
Ambroise Baker ambroise.baker@gmail.com
COUNTRY ROUNDUPS
Compiled by Pete Stroh peter.stroh@bsbi.org
ENGLAND
There is a lot to catch up on since the last Roundup in January, starting with a remarkable find in Cumbria. On 18 June, in the limestone hills surrounding Sunbiggin Tarn, Westmorland (v.c. 69), Gary Lawrence came across some plants in flower he could not satisfactorily identify. They were clearly in the Crepis/ Hieracium group, but not quite right for any he knew, having what looked like two rows of nonglandular phyllaries, yet leafless stems. As luck would have it, Gary had read only the week before
of the existence of a national rarity, Crepis praemorsa (Leafless Hawk’s-beard), ‘somewhere in Cumbria near Orton’, so he took photos of the plants in situ and emailed them to Mike Porter and Jeremy Roberts. After visiting the location they confirmed the plants as C. praemorsa, with a few in flower and also healthy numbers of non-flowering rosettes over a good area. The new location is some distance from the known population, and only the second site in Britain and Ireland. For more details see the article on p. 6 Spring proved to be one of the wettest (and dullest) on record,
but seemed to result in what we might call, with many caveats, a ‘good’ year for some perennial species. For example, the nationally scarce Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasqueflower) performed well at many of its remaining strongholds. Monitoring at Barnsley Warren SSSI in Gloucestershire showed a doubling in the number of flowering plants compared with 2023. At its two main Bedfordshire (v.c. 30) sites, Knocking Hoe NNR and Barton Hills NNR, individual plants usually produce only two or three flowers, with many nonflowering plants also present, but this spring there seemed to be
Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasqueflower) and Gentianella amarella subsp. anglica (Early Gentian), Knocking Hoe (v.c. 30). Pete Stroh
far greater numbers of ‘flowerers’, many having upwards of six blooms. It’s tempting to speculate that such visually impressive displays might reflect (or result in) an expansion of populations within suitable areas; certainly, it should lead to a marked increase in seed production. Establishment of new plants from seed is rarely observed in Pasqueflowers, so the presence of numerous seedlings at both extant Bedfordshire sites this spring was noteworthy. Lizzie Cooke of Plantlife has also recorded regeneration this year within previously sown experimental plots in Bedfordshire and in the Cotswolds.
Remaining at Knocking Hoe, whilst undertaking a regular butterfly transect the keen-eyed Graham Bellamy spotted a tiny plant, no more than a few centimetres in height and dwarfed
by a flowering Pasqueflower. It was later confirmed by Tim Rich as Gentianella amarella subsp. anglica (Early Gentian), last seen in the county, at the same site, in 1954 and considered by Boon & Outen (2011), not unreasonably, to be extinct in Bedfordshire. Not content with one outstanding find, in early May, and on the same south-facing slope as the gentian, Graham found a flowering individual of Neotinea ustulata (Burnt Orchid), some distance away from the main population. The NNR, known for numerous national rarities, has been meticulously botanised over the years and so it’s highly likely that this new location represents a successful natural colonisation event. It would be remiss not to mention the consistently excellent grazing management overseen by the current Natural England site manager, Holly Bilcock, and her predecessors, in maintaining the floristic diversity of such a stunning site.
Another aspect of the floriferous spring was the abundance of Lathraea squamaria (Toothwort). It’s not immediately clear why there has been an apparent increase in numbers, but it is suspected that this, too, may be connected with the weather conditions, rather than a measure of unusually enthusiastic recording. It seems to have been a similar story with Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder’s-tongue), Gagea lutea (Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem) Melampyrum pratense (Common Cow-wheat) and doubtless many other species. But ‘good years’ are not always quite as they seem. For example, social media sites in late spring were full of photos of Anacamptis morio (Green-winged Orchid), with many commenting that they had never seen such magnificent displays. Yet evidence from monitoring of Green-winged
Orchids within a fixed plot in Huntingdonshire, which has tracked the fate of flowering and vegetative individuals for nearly 50 years, indicates that 2024 has in fact been a comparatively poor year for flowering, at least at this location. Long-term monitoring can be invaluable when it comes to attempting to answer complex ecological questions. We already have the excellent NPMS, but perhaps we might also explore the potential to monitor a network of sites focusing on a suite of species likely to be sensitive to shifts in weather and climate?
One of our more enigmatic species, and certainly one of our rarest, Luzula pallescens (Fen Woodrush), is known from just two locations in England, at Holme Fen NNR and Woodwalton Fen NNR, both in Huntingdonshire (v.c. 31). Despite careful searching, it has not been found at the latter site since 2011, and there are only a handful of confirmed records this century from the former, the last of these being in 2018, when three fruiting plants were discovered by Fred Rumsey. Surveying Holme Fen this year to collect updated information for the forthcoming revision of the GB Red List, I failed to find Fred’s plants, the location now dominated by Cladium mariscus (Great Fen-sedge). After a rather frustrating day of searching the reserve, I stepped off the centre of the main path on the way back to my car for one last effort and almost immediately stumbled upon a single plant of the woodrush, complete with 11 flowering spikes (see front cover). The find was pure luck, and offers some hope that it may be lurking elsewhere, although no more plants were found on subsequent visits to both reserves. The ecological requirements of Fen Woodrush at its English locations are poorly understood, although
occasional ground disturbance seems to be necessary, bringing buried seeds to the surface and creating open areas free of competition. Just how many viable seeds remain in the seed bank, and where they might be hiding is, of course, unknown, so perhaps we might just have to accept that Fen Woodrush is genuinely a very rare species in England, and trust that ride management might lead to the germination of more plants in the future.
In West Suffolk (v.c. 26), the nationally scarce Oenanthe silaifolia (Narrow-leaved Waterdropwort) has been found by Sam Morgan at Shalford Meadows. This species was thought to be extinct in the county (Sanford & Fisk, 2010), with a last record in 1974 from the same location. Sam has been keeping an eye out for the dropwort at this site, so it’s excellent to hear that his perseverance has paid off. Some species are relatively widespread in England, but with large gaps in their lowland distribution, often due to the destruction or neglect of previously suitable habitat. One such plant is Pedicularis sylvatica (Lousewort), so it was good to hear from Mark Spencer, who reports that on a joint London Natural History Society/ BSBI excursion to Ruislip Woods NNR in Middlesex (v.c. 21) they refound the species after a 25year interlude, in an area that was cleared of willow scrub in 2023. It is pleasing to note, too, that Diphasiastrum alpinum (Alpine Clubmoss), a species mainly associated with upland areas of northern Britain, and with its main stronghold in Scotland, has been found recently by Steve Blacksmith near Upper Walshaw Dean Reservoir above Hebden Bridge in South-west Yorkshire. Close to its southern limit in England, there is only one other
record of it from this vice-county in the past 80 years.
There have been a number of new discoveries in South Northumberland (v.c. 67), the star finds being perhaps one of the largest populations of Vaccinium uliginosum (Bog Bilberry) in England, the first confirmed vice-county record for Oenanthe lachenalii (Parsley Water-dropwort), and locations for Berula erecta (Lesser Water-parsnip) and Baldellia ranunculoides (Lesser Waterplantain), both previously considered long extinct in v.c. 67.
The Berula, found by James Cotton, was growing along a short stretch of the Seaton Burn, north of Newcastle, whilst the Baldellia was spotted by Mima Cattan in a recently dug farm pond. The last record for Baldellia was in a coastal pond 50 years ago.
July was a productive month in East Norfolk (v.c. 27). On the 10th, Lythrum hyssopifolia (Grasspoly) was found by the landowner in a disused part of a quarry at Earsham. It proved to be present in reasonable quantity and it makes the planned control of the Crassula helmsii (New Zealand Pigmyweed) that occurs in the area a bit of a
COUNTRY ROUNDUPS: England
conundrum. In the same area there was also plenty of Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal), but possibly subspecies erecta rather than procumbens. On the 15th, Polygonum oxyspermum subsp. raii (Ray’s Knotgrass) was found on the strand line of Great Yarmouth beach. It’s been seen just over the border in v.c. 28 at Blakeney point, most recently in 2013, but the last record from Yarmouth seems to be by Rev. E.F. Linton, most likely between 1879 and 1889 when he was a rector in the vice-county.
Channel Island records are included in the England Roundup, and although I’m sure there will be full details about the Annual Summer Meeting at Guernsey (v.c. 113) elsewhere, it’s worth mentioning a couple of the star finds reported by Helen Litchfield. Erodium lebelii (Sticky Stork’sbill) was refound at Jerbourg by Paul Green and Tim Rich, having been considered extinct for many years, and Carex hostiana (Tawny Sedge), a first for the island, was confirmed in orchid fields at Les Vicheries.
There is a new vice-county record for North-east Yorkshire (v.c. 62), with a single plant of Fumaria densiflora (Dense-
Vaccinium uliginosum (Bog Bilberry), v.c. 67, being photographed by Bill Burlton. John Richards
Lythrum hyssopifolia (Grass-poly), Earsham (v.c. 27). Meg Miller
flowered Fumitory) found by Melanie Earle (confirmed by Tim Rich) near Hutton Buscel on the south side of the North York Moors. Not to be outdone, South-west Yorkshire (v.c. 63) has a new species to add to their list, with Cowbane (Cicuta virosa) found on the Broughton Estate near Skipton. The Estate has been ‘rewilded’ in recent years, and there are strong suspicions that it was introduced by ecologists who have an office on the estate’s business park. Still, the plants seem to be flourishing. South Somerset (v.c. 5) also has a new species, Lemna valdiviana (Valdivia Duckweed), with its typical ‘butterfly’ frond groups spotted by Bob and Stephanie Kirby on a waterway on the Steart Marsh Wildfowl and Wetland Trust reserve.
Potamogeton obtusifolius (Bluntleaved Pondweed), P. trichoides (Hairlike Pondweed) and, rather inevitably, Crassula helmsii. Long traffic jams on the M5 presented South Somerset (v.c. 6) botanists with good opportunities to map the spread of Hordeum marinum (Sea Barley). It is now present in 16 monads stretching intermittently from the Devon border in the south-west to the Bridgwater junction (junction 24) in the north. Simon Leach reports that some of the colonies are huge!
On the Isle of Wight (v.c. 10), Nick Aston has found a population of over 100 plants of Valerianella eriocarpa (Hairy-fruited Cornsalad) from an inland sandy field at Alverstone, known to be good for arable plants. All previous records for the island have been from scattered lower chalk outcrops, which was assumed to be its native habitat, and so it was a surprise to find it in such different conditions. Steve Woodward reports that, in more typical habitat, fruiting plants of the uncommon V. dentata (Narrow-fruited Cornsalad), were identified by Leicestershire (v.c. 55) botanists in a field corner, near to Exton.
most important mountain plants, Carex atrata (Black Alpine-sedge), have happily been assuaged thanks to one of the younger, fitter members of the local Flora Group, Ruari Mostyn, who refound a healthy population at one of its traditional sites high on Nethermost Pike.
Last but certainly not least, just after submitting what I thought was the final version of this Roundup I was told of the spectacular discovery by Richard Bate of one flowering plant of Epipogium aphyllum (Ghost Orchid) at a woodland in southern England, a find that most botanists can only dream of. Congratulations to Richard for his perseverance in tracking down such an elusive species, last seen in England in 2009, and prior to that, 1987.
References
Boon, C.R. & Outen, A.R. 2011. Flora of Bedfordshire Bedfordshire Natural History Society.
Sanford, M. & Fisk, R. 2010. A Flora of Suffolk. D.K. & M.N. Sanford, Ipswich.
Pete Stroh
In Dorset, Bryan Edwards has discovered a new population of the nationally scarce Pilularia globulifera (Pillwort) at a restored quarry east of Dorchester, and on a subsequent visit to the site Robin Walls also found
Turning back to Cumbria, Jeremy Roberts spotted Callitriche palustris (Narrow-fruited Waterstarwort) at Tarn Sike, only the second confirmed record for England, and Rob Dixon has discovered a Whorled Caraway (Trocdaris verticillata) in a small mire in Far Easdale in the Lakes. This is perhaps the fifth record for Cumbria, all other records coming from before 1974 (the start of the survey for Geoffrey Halliday’s Flora of Cumbria). Intriguingly, though very rare in Cumbria, T. verticillata is widespread in Dumfries and Galloway, a few miles away across the other side of the Solway. Concerns about the absence of records for one of Cumbria’s
BSBI Scientific Officer
Epipogium aphyllum (Ghost Orchid). Richard Bate
Cicuta virosa (Cowbane), Skipton (v.c. 63). David Cockburn
COUNTRY ROUNDUPS: Wales
WALES
2024 has seen a myriad of excellent finds in Wales. Anglesey (v.c. 52) highlights included the rediscovery of a population of Juncus capitatus (Dwarf Rush) on the west coast and a first record of Poa infirma (Early Meadow-grass), found by Paul Stanley at a campsite near Trearddur. Paul also found this grass in abundance at camp sites in Barmouth and Bennar, Merionethshire (v.c. 48), and at Abererch, Caernarvonshire (v.c. 49) and also Poa bulbosa (Bulbous Meadow-grass) near the harbour at Pwllheli. Both grasses are new to v.c. 49. Delyth Williams also reported P. infirma in Denbighshire (v.c. 50) as a first county record.
In June, Alastair Hotchkiss was helping NRW staff with mapping Rubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry) on the Berwyns. Most of the Berwyn range is SSSI and is a huge area, some of it in Denbighshire, some in Montgomeryshire (v.c. 47) and some of it in Merionethshire. Flowering of the species was limited but a mix of male and female plants was seen, some with berries forming. During the visit there was also an opportunity to record plenty of patches of the lovely Andromeda polifolia (Bog Rosemary) along the way, and the odd spike of Neottia cordata (Lesser Twayblade).
In Caernarvonshire, Mike Howe refound Carex magellanica (Tall Bog-sedge) from the Migneint, last seen here in 2004, with good numbers of Carex pauciflora (Few-flowered Sedge) nearby. And there was an unexpected first county and Welsh record for a single spike of Orobanche alba (Thyme Broomrape), found by Mike Fay on a Garden Thyme bush in his Trefor garden,
confirmed by Chris Thorogood (see article, p. 53). It’s funny how often nice species are found when botanists are taking a break, and nice to hear that sitting on a bank one lunch time, it became apparent that Wendy McCarthy and companions were surrounded by dozens of tiny plants of Lysimachia minima (Chaffweed), last recorded in the hectad (SH33) almost forty years ago.
In Merionethshire, Gill and Peter Foulkes found a new location for Asplenium septentrionale (Forked spleenwort) on the southern slopes of Rhobell Fawr, and also Crassula tillaea (Mossy stonecrop) at Fairbourne Spit. This tiny red annual was previously rare in Wales although records are slowly increasing. In May, Matt Sutton was mossing about on the north side of Cadair Idris when he noted a dozen plants of Thalictrum alpinum (Alpine Meadow-rue). This species was last seen by Peter Benoit in 1987, and previously only had a hectadprecision record associated with the find.
For over a century since it was first found by Prof J.H. Salter in 1903, Saxifraga hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage) has been known from just a single spot in Cardiganshire (v.c. 46), on the west-facing side of Graig Las above the south-east side of Llyn Llygad Rheidol below Pumlumon Fawr. In recent years the plants there have prospered, increasing in both number and extent, but without showing any inclination to disperse onto the mountain beyond. Braving low cloud and rain to explore the upperparts of the north-facing cwm above the south-side of the lake, Annette Williamson and Justin Lyons discovered, right on cue just as the sun came out and the clouds lifted, an enormous new population comprising impressive flowering mounds covering several square metres. If not establishing from new seed dispersed from the Graig Las plants, then S. hypnoides is perhaps expanding from an historical hidden refuge in response to improvements in grazing management and
Saxifraga hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage), Pumlumon Fawr (v.c. 46).
Annette Williamson/Justin Lyons.
specifically the exclusion of sheep from the summit of Pumlumon. Salix herbacea (Dwarf Willow), mainly a denizen of Scottish mountains, can also now be found on the summit area of Pumlumon and there is a large flowering population of Carex bigelowii (Stiff Sedge) which had not been seen by botanists for generations. At Aberhafesp, during the first Montgomeryshire (v.c. 47) Field Group outing in April, hundreds of Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Wild Daffodil) were recorded under a stand of Quercus robur in pasture. Kate Thorne and Fiona Gomersall went to refind species at Moel y Golfa in May, recording several healthy patches of Hieracium lasiophyllum (Stiffhaired Hawkweed) on rocks, as well as refinds for Helianthemum nummularium (Common Rockrose), Teesdalia nudicaulis (Shepherd’s Cress) and Rosa micrantha (Small-flowered Sweetbriar). Alastair Hotchkiss visited Llanymynech and Llynclys Hills SSSI in early July on the border with Shropshire with the aim of refinding Hypericum montanum (Pale St John’s Wort). Although unsuccessful, as he was on his way back to the car, he sat down on a dry slab of limestone with a lovely view across the Severn floodplain and realised there was a patch of Trifolium scabrum (Rough Clover) all around him. This is new to the SSSI and only the second v.c. 47 record, with the last record from 1978 at a site now considered lost.
Alastair also managed an escorted visit to the ‘out of bounds firing range’ part of Radnor Forest called Harley Dingle, with the aim, successfully, of re-recording patches of Saxifraga hypnoides, Sedum forsterianum (Rock Stonecrop) and Rubus saxatilis (Stone Bramble). They also found Asplenium septentrionale (Forked
Spleenwort), a new site and only the second record for Radnorshire (v.c. 43), and Rosa spinosissima (Burnet Rose) which is rare in the vice-county.
One of the most noteworthy records of recent months in Carmarthenshire (v.c. 44) is the discovery by Matt Sutton of Equisetum × font-queri (E. telmateia × E. palustre) (Great Horsetail × Marsh Horsetail), found growing in dunes at the MOD Establishment at Laugharne-Pendine Burrows. Matt suspected it was this hybrid and his photos of the general morphology of the plant and the stem cross-section were sufficient for Fred Rumsey to confirm the identification. This is the first record for v.c. 44 and perhaps only the second for Wales. Barry Stewart has found a new site for Filago germanica (Common Cudweed), growing in abundance over a part of the overburden mound at an opencast site near Llandybie. This species is far from common in Carmarthenshire where the dozen-or-so previously recorded sites are on weathered rock, gravel derived from clinker or metalliferous slag, a cobblesurfaced courtyard or stabilised river shingle.
In Breconshire (v.c. 42), John Crellin reported that recently his botany group had found Plantago coronopus (Buck’shorn Plantain) in a couple of new places including at 500 m by one of the highest roads in Wales, extending the altitudinal distribution described in Stace. The main event, though, has been the full confirmation of Circaea alpina (Alpine Sow-thistle) at a completely new site on Tarren yr Esgob, right on our border. Sam Thomas, who first discovered the population, led the group to the plants, confirming the difficulty of access and that the
population was more extensive and robust than first thought. It is near one of the well-recorded Sorbus stenophylla (Llanthony whitebeam) trees but far enough above on difficult terrain to easily be overlooked.
From Glamorgan (v.c. 41), David Barden reported that it had been a good season for plants on brownfield land and colliery spoil. In June, Barry Stewart found a large population of the alien sedge Carex buchananii (Silver-spiked Sedge), only the second record for Wales, west of the new Swansea Bay Campus. Also in the first half of 2024, new hectad records were made for Monotropa hypopitys (Yellow Bird’s-nest) at Aberdare, Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine) and Epilobium lanceolatum (Spear-leaved Willowherb) at Cwm Tips, and Moenchia erecta (Upright Chickweed) and Galium parisiense (Wall Bedstraw) – both in vast quantity – on colliery spoil at Gilfach Goch. Most recently, a BSBI excursion to Margam Mine uncovered a 70-strong population of Epipactis phyllanthes (Greenflowered Helleborine), at only its fourth site in the vice-county. Julian Woodman had found a small colony of five plants here on 4 July when doing a recce for the Welsh AGM field visit but didn’t explore further as he needed to get a bit more of an idea for a route. Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine) was also found on the later visit.
In Monmouthshire (v.c. 35) Elsa Wood and Steph Tyler found a single plant of Rorippa islandica (Northern Yellow-cress) at a coal tip near Bedwas, new to the vicecounty, and the Monmouthshire Botany Group found Carex digitata (Fingered Sedge) in Coppice Mawr Wood west of Chepstow – the first record outside the Wye Valley in the
COUNTRY ROUNDUPS: Wales / Scotland
Epipactis phyllanthes (Greenflowered Helleborine), Margam Mine (v.c. 41). David Barden
vice-county. Lowri Watkins found Astragalus glycyphyllos (Wild Liquorice) at Rogiet Poorland, only the second extant record of the species in the vice-county. Finally, following permission to visit a small wetland not far from Cwm Coed y Cerrig, Elsa and Steph were very pleasantly surprised to find a floating Sphagnum carpet with many tussocks of Eriophorum vaginatum (Hare’s-ear Cotton Grass) under a light Betula pubescens (Downy Birch) canopy; this quaking bog habitat is very rare in lowland Monmouthshire; there was deeper water with Menyanthes trifoliata (Bogbean) and other interesting species and an open marsh adjacent to fields.
Steph Tyler Joint VCR Monmouthshire
SCOTLAND
It has been an excellent year for exciting finds and refinds across Scotland, with far more fantastic discoveries than I have space to showcase here! Things kicked off in January with a record turnout for the New Year Plant Hunt (NYPH), with 178 surveys carried out across the country. Highlights included Valerianella carinata (Keel-fruited Cornsalad) flowering at its only Dumfriesshire (v.c. 72) site, Dumfries Station – the most northerly flowering location on the 2024 NYPH by far, and Fumaria purpurea (Purple Ramping-fumitory) flowering at Southerness in Kirkcudbrightshire (v.c. 73), found by the respective local botany groups.
Another early season find was Saxifraga tridactylites (Rueleaved Saxifrage) growing on a mossy pavement in Thornhill, West Perthshire (v.c. 87) – the first vice-county record since the 1800s. This species appears to be on the increase across much
of Scotland; it was also added to the Kirkcudbrightshire flora this year, found at Kippford by the local botany group, and Sandy Edwards reported that in Fifeshire (v.c. 85) it has now spread along pavements, walls and the harbour in St Andrews, from just a few plants in 2023. Also from Fifeshire, a new Gagea lutea (Yellow Starof-Bethlehem) site was found at Fordell Woods near Dalgety Bay by Robert Wills; this is now the only vice-county site as one near Logie has not been refound since 1984.
New sites for Apium graveolens (Wild Celery) and Carex punctata (Dotted Sedge) on the Kirkcudbrightshire coastline were significant, with Apium graveolens found at Torr Point (over 20 plants) by Lee Paton and at Gillfoot (around 30 plants) by Sarah White, and 19 fruiting clumps of Carex punctata found at Barlocco Bay by the local botany group. Also of note was Ranunculus baudotii (Brackish Water-crowfoot) at Mersehead, the first record for this site for over 30 years. Away from the coast, the discovery of Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage) on the Merrick by Sarah White and Jim McCleary was the first vice-county record since 1998, of particular significance as this is the most southerly station for this species in Britain.
Heading west into Wigtownshire (v.c. 74), I carried out a survey of Ononis reclinata (Small Restharrow) at its only Scottish site, Port Kemin on the Mull of Galloway, supported by Michael Jeeves and Jim McCleary. This nationally rare plant had not been visited since 2004, and the access gully has since become impassable due to scrub encroachment. An abseil approach was required to access the site safely, and with just 16 plants found (in two subpopulations of eight plants each),
this species may be one of the rarest in Scotland, and seemingly under threat from the developing scrub. In contrast, a three-day survey of the nationally rare Silene viscaria (Sticky Catchfly) on Dumyat in the Ochil Hills (v.c. 87) organised by Lindsay Mackinlay and the Future Forest Company counted around 10,000 flowering stems, up from around 3,000 in 2013, representing at least a fifth of the known British population. This survey brought together a range of partner organisations including BSBI, and many of the volunteer surveyors were enrolled on the BSBI’s Identiplant distance learning plant identification course in Scotland – a great opportunity to put their budding botanical skills to use for plant conservation!
From Roxburghshire (v.c. 80), the discovery of Equisetum hyemale (Rough Horsetail) by Chris Gray at a third extant location for the vicecounty last year was significant, with a small population found in a basic flush system on Berry Fell Hill, Shankend. Rod Corner and Luke Gaskell revisited the site this
June and found a suite of nice associates including Eriophorum latifolium (Broad-leaved Cottongrass). In neighbouring Berwickshire (v.c. 81), Robin Cowe found Calystegia soldanella (Sea Bindweed) in the dunes at Pease Bay, a first for the vice-county and helping fill a gap between longestablished populations in North Northumberland (v.c. 68) and East Lothian (v.c. 82), where it is a rare plant.
In Midlothian (v.c. 83), highlights included a second site for Hypopitys monotropa (Yellow Bird’s-nest), with three spikes found by I.D. Edwards in birchwood under Salix caprea (Goat Willow) near Millbank House, by Old Emily Pit. This is of particular significance as the only other vice-county site at Monktonhall is now under development and the plant’s future there uncertain. Second vice-county sites for Peucedanum ostruthium (Masterwort) and Vicia orobus (Wood Bitter-vetch) were also discovered, by Sue Jury and Douglas McKean and by Sue respectively.
monotropa (Yellow
Peucedanum ostruthium (Masterwort), v.c. 83. Sue Jury
Moving north, in upper Deeside, whilst checking access routes for a peatland restoration scheme Simon Thomas made a fantastic discovery of 126 flowering spikes of Saxifraga hirculus (Marsh Saxifrage) in a 30 m stretch of basic flush at 880 m altitude – both an altitudinal record for this nationally rare species and a first South Aberdeenshire (v.c. 92) record since 1979! Another major find was the discovery by Andy Amphlett of a Vulpia fasciculata
Hypopitys
Bird’s-nest), v.c. 83. Sue Jury
Lychnis viscaria (Sticky Catchfly) being admired by Lewis Donaghy from NTS (left) with Identiplant students and TCV Scotland staff. Matt Harding
COUNTRY ROUNDUPS: Scotland / Ireland
Saxifraga hirculus (Marsh Saxifrage), v.c. 92. Sam Thomas
Vulpia fasciculata (Dune Fescue), Easterness (v.c. 96). Andy Amphlett
(Dune Fescue) population in Nairn Dunes, Easterness (v.c. 96), numbering in the 10,000s of plants and just the second modern site for this nationally scarce plant in Scotland (the other being at Findhorn, further east along the
Moray coast in v.c. 95). Other significant records for Easterness included the first Gymnadenia densiflora (Marsh Fragrant-orchid) for the vice-county at Laiken Glen, found by Andy and Genevieve Tompkins.
The ‘Hawkweed Hunt’ in Argyllshire (v.c. 98) this July, organised by Tim Rich, managed to refind the endemic Hieracium basicrinum (Fionn Glenn Hawkweed) with its distinctive, purple-spotted leaves, last seen by John Raven in 1953. Whilst the main team hunted the high crags of Fionn Ghleann itself, Jamie Warren and his dog Tilly found themselves separated from the group and took a chance on the nearby Coire Leacach, unerringly homing in on a population of 42 plants! Another impressive refind came from Kincardineshire (v.c. 91), where David Elston refound Astragalus glycyphyllos (Wild Liquorice) at Thornyhive Bay near Dunnottar, last recorded there in 1889. This is the second recent site for a small population of this species in Kincardineshire, north of its stronghold at St Cyrus.
Moving across to the west coast, several excellent records were made on Arran in the Clyde Islands (v.c. 100). Sarah Cowan and Chris Miles discovered a new colony of Trichomanes speciosum (Killarney Fern) sporophyte, growing near to an existing site on coastal cliffs. New, extensive and thriving colonies of Circaea alpina (Alpine Enchanter’s-nightshade) were discovered by the same pair along the north coast from Lochranza to Fairy Dell, with a refind from Lochranza itself and another new site inland at Glen Rosa. Arran seems to suit this shy and shade-loving nationally scarce plant. At the south end of Arran, 300+ spikes of Platanthera chlorantha (Greater Butterflyorchid) were counted in an ancient
hay meadow, which has not been ploughed for around 60 years and is thankfully to be preserved as such by the new owners. Finally, Rubus vestitus was found on Arran near Cnoc na Dail, Lamlash, by Sarah and Angus Hannah (Scottish Bramble referee) – the first record for the vice-county since the 1950s when it was recorded on an Angus Hannah batology visit!
Apologies to all whose finds did not make it into this roundup stay tuned for the next issue of BSBI News!
Matt Harding BSBI Scotland Officer
IRELAND
At the time of writing, we are still rather waiting for the summer to happen, having been in the grip of a northerly airflow which has brought chilly, although comparatively dry, weather to all parts of the country. This followed a mild, damp spring in which everything seemed to emerge and flower at once! Nonetheless, there has been plenty to see and our County Recorders, and others,
have made many new finds, along with happy rediscoveries of longunrecorded species.
For example, in May, in County Louth (v.c. H31), Ciarán Flynn recorded Trifolium ornithopodioides (Bird’s-foot Clover) on Clogherhead, seemingly the only record of it in the county since it was first discovered (growing with T. striatum, Rough Clover) by John Ball in 1837. This is principally a coastal species in Ireland, occurring on sandy heaths and gravelly places in the south and east of the country, and Ciarán’s Louth find appears to represent the most northerly Irish record this century.
Another historic rediscovery in Leinster: in Co Kilkenny (v.c. H11), Roger Goodwillie reports that in July, Helen Lawless found Lycopodium clavatum (Stag’s-horn Clubmoss) near the summit of Brandon Hill. This is a very exciting find, as it was last recorded here by Praeger in 1914, and as such has not been seen at the site for 110 years, despite being searched for. Roger explains that this species is likely to survive wildfires as an underground prothallus, but the plant can take 15 years to appear above the surface, which may help to explain its long apparent absence from the area.
In mid-May, Fiona MacGowan and Mark McCorry led a field meeting to Abbeyleix Estate Woods, in Co Laois (v.c. H14). Described as the oldest and largest remnant of lowland oak woods in the country, the site supports many impressive veteran trees including what is thought to be Ireland’s oldest oak, reputed to be 800 years old. Hollow at the base, the tree was large enough to allow any botanists brave enough to stand inside! The day was a great success, with a spectacular
display of Hyacinthoides nonscripta (Bluebell) and a wide array of other species including Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder’stongue). Mark and Fiona also had a very successful Slieve Blooms visit to Upper Glenbarrow, where Fiona recorded Oreopteris limbosperma (Lemon-scented Fern), known from only two sites in Laois/Offaly (v.c. H14/H18) and not recorded in the Slieve Blooms for 20 years; Mark also found Pyrola rotundifolia (Round-leaved Wintergreen), only the second known record from Co Laois. They also recorded several other scarce species, including Festuca altissima (Wood Fescue) and Carex laevigata (Smooth-stalked Sedge).
There have been a couple of exciting finds this year from Co. Carlow (v.c. H13). Lots of Vaccinium vitis-idaea (Cowberry) was found by Brian Dunne at Mount Leinster in the Blackstairs Mountains, growing plentifully in and around a peat hagg. This is the first record for the county since H.C. Hart saw it on the Carlow side of the mountain range in 1884. In July, Paul Green recorded Potamogeton friesii (Flat-stalked Pondweed) growing abundantly in the Barrow Canal at Tinnahinch. This represents the first record for Carlow since Nick Stewart found it in the same canal in 1994.
In Co Wexford (v.c. H12), Paul Green reports the wonderful news that Matthiola sinuata (Sea Stock), which was washed away by a winter storm from Ireland’s only remaining site at Morriscastle, has re-established a short distance to the north, with one large flowering plant and five small non-flowering plants being found in July by Nick Aston and Carol Hawkins on an open dune cliff at Ballinoulart. Also in Co. Wexford, in May, Fran Sinclair discovered a new
Lycopodium clavatum (Stag’shorn Clubmoss), Brandon Hill (v.c. H11). Helen Lawless
An 800-year old oak at Abbeyleix Woods (v.c. H14). Mark McCorry
COUNTRY ROUNDUPS: Ireland
Matthiola sinuata (Sea Stock), Morriscastle (v.c. H12). Nick Aston
site for the rare clover, Trifolium glomeratum (Clustered Clover), which was growing abundantly along the verge of Strand Road at Rosslare; while in July, Paul Green found the hybrid St John’s-wort Hypericum × desetangsii (H. maculatum × perforatum) along a forest road at Ballybaun, only the fifth Wexford record for this taxon.
Over in the west of the country, Eoin McGreal and new joint VCR Sinéad Garry have made a number of interesting finds in West Mayo (v.c. H27), including the rediscovery of Lycopodiella inundata (Marsh Clubmoss) on the Corraun Peninsula after a gap of over 60 years, as well as second vice-county records for both Carex riparia (Greater Pond-sedge) and Ranunculus peltatus (Pond Water-crowfoot) at Belderg and Aghagower respectively.
In Co. Roscommon (v.c. H25) Paul Green and Ross Macklin found Veronica scutellata var. villosa (a hairy form of Marsh Speedwell), scattered along the receding margins of three small turloughs at Lysterfield. This variety, with stems densely covered in long hairs, has very few records in Ireland and is a new county record. In the same area, they found lots of Bromus racemosus (Smooth Brome) in a hay meadow lying between two of the turloughs. This annual grass of unimproved hay- and watermeadows is native but rare in Ireland and is also a new county record.
The province of Munster has also had its share of botanical good fortune. While out on a walk Edwina Cole spotted Parapholis strigosa (Sea Hard-grass) along the roadside beside the estuary in Jamesbrook, East Ferry, which turned out to be a new vice-county record for East Cork (v.c. H5). She had gone out to clear her head after sitting at her laptop all morning and, having walked that road many times in all seasons, wasn’t expecting to find something new!
In West Cork (v.c. H3), Ranunculus tripartitus (Threelobed Crowfoot) was refound in April (after a 17-year gap) at its only known Irish site, during a Targeted Aquatic Plant Project survey. A recent TAPP meeting at Ballybunion, Co. Kerry revealed three new pondweeds for the hectad lurking in a drain behind the seawall: Potamogeton natans (Broad-leaved Pondweed), Zannichellia palustris (Horned Pondweed) and Stuckenia pectinata (Fennel Pondweed). Nearby, Trifolium fragiferum (Strawberry Clover) and Apium graveolens (Wild Celery) were also found, both first hectad records since the 1962 Atlas.
Oliver Lynch had a great start to his first full year as Co Limerick (v.c. H8) VCR, finding Trichomanes speciosum (Killarney fern) still going at Carrigeenamronety on January 4th! His highlights of the summer include Groenlandia densa (Opposite-leaved Pondweed), Schoenoplectus triqueter (Triangular Club-rush) and Scirpus sylvaticus (Wood Club-rush), found at the River Maigue, Adare during one of the Aquatic Plant Project workshops led by Nick Stewart. In the Knockderc area, Olly was also delighted to find some extra locations for Sambucus ebulus (Dwarf Elder), and a new site for Adiantum capillus-veneris (Maidenhair Fern) in Limerick city by King John’s Castle – although it is likely to be naturalised here.
On 4 May the Co Waterford (v.c. H6) VCRs took a group of enthusiastic botanists to Tramore sand dunes. Asparagus prostratus (Wild Asparagus), already known from two sites in the dunes, was a delight to see, and a third location found during the day was an unexpected extra treat! VCR Andrew Malcolm reports that the colony of Neottia cordata (Lesser
Veronica scutellata var. villosa, Lysterfield (v.c. H25). Paul Green
Twayblade) discovered a few years ago in a spruce plantation just outside Lismore town has continued to expand its range: his estimate of 1,000 spikes was probably a conservative one. Looking northwards to Ulster, on 20 June a group of botanists led by Paul Green and Oisín Duffy went botanising in East Donegal (v.c. H34). They were surveying in the Brown Hall area when Robert Northridge came across a clump of Thalictrum minus (Lesser Meadow-rue) at the base of a stunted hazel bush on some limestone pavement. At the time, no one realised the significance of the find, but a subsequent check revealed that this species was last seen in this hectad by H.C. Hart in 1886! Moreover, there is only one
other record for the species in the vice-county, when it was found in 2018 at Culdaff by John Faulkner and Robert Northridge.
One of the species featured in the Irish Summary Report for Atlas 2020, due to its decline, is Trisetum flavescens (Yellow Oat-grass). As this is the final year of recording for his forthcoming Flora, John Faulkner arranged an informal series of local botanical outings within Co Armagh (v.c. H37), mainly to look for ‘missing’ records and to assess critical populations. On one of these trips, with some difficulty, they combed the steep overgrown grassy slopes of Milford Nature Reserve, looking for and counting orchids. Fortuitously, one astute member of the group remembered there were old records for Yellow Oatgrass at Milford, and spotted a few struggling heads of it among the dense tangle of False Oatgrass.
In June, in Co. Cavan (v.c. H30), Robert and Hannah Northridge found about 20 plants of Carlina vulgaris (Carline Thistle) at Manragh, just east of the Cavan Burren. This is only the second Cavan site, and represents the most northerly inland location in Ireland. At the same site, they collected some specimens of a Euphrasia (Eyebright) which they sent to the BSBI referee Chris Metherell. His determination of E. confusa x scottica appears to be the first record of this hybrid from Ireland.
And finally, a refind of something that was completely unknown until its first discovery in Ireland, and until now has not been recorded in the country since. The Hybrid Flora of Britain and Ireland describes how, back in 1984, in Co. Cavan, an unusuallooking horsetail was collected by A.J. Willmot from a roadside
bank near the Black River north of Dowra, where it was described as ‘locally abundant, growing with E. arvense and E. palustre among tall herbs and bushes’. Willmot’s find turned out to be new to science, and is now known as Equisetum × willmotii (Willmot’s Horsetail), a cross between E. fluviatile (Water Horsetail) and E. telmateia (Great Horsetail). Observing that there were no subsequent Irish records for this hybrid, Robert and Hannah Northridge wondered if the hybrid was still present in County Cavan, and in early August decided to investigate. They found the Equisetum scattered – sometimes abundantly – over about 400 metres of roadside, and further searches revealed the hybrid in two adjacent monads, again along roadsides. It was growing vigorously, and it seems a mystery why a hybrid of two such common species could be such a rarity. Is this something that might be waiting to be discovered in other parts of Ireland? Or is it just that the Cavan site provides just the right combination of conditions that allowed the hybrid to establish? We don’t know – but maybe we will see it reported on in a future edition of Ireland Country Roundup – watch this space!
References
Ball, J. 1838. III. Botanical notes of a tour in Ireland, with notices of some new British plants. Annals of natural history 2: 28–36. Page, C.N. 1995. Equisetum × willmotii C. N. Page – a new hybrid horsetail from Co. Cavan, Ireland. Glasra 2: 135–138.
Bridget Keehan
BSBI
Ireland Officer
Neottia cordata, Lismore (v.c. H6). Andrew Malcolm
British & Irish Wild Flowers and Plants, A Pocket Guide
Rachel Hamilton, Chris Gibson & Robert Still
Princeton University Press, Oxford, 2024. Pp. 320, with numerous coloured photos and drawings; pbk £12.99. ISBN 9780691245409
British & Irish Wild Flowers and Plants, the latest in the well-known visually-appealing WILDGuides series, is an ambitious attempt at a lightweight (500 g) B6 field guide going beyond picture matching and avoiding dichotomous keys, but still organised by plant family. The lead author has ‘spent a lifetime teaching botany at every level’ and the book is clearly compiled by someone intimate with the sort of things beginners find challenging.
This field guide does not claim to be comprehensive, but there is no mention of how the species were selected, how many taxa
the book covers, or the taxonomy and nomenclature followed. A selection of grasses, sedges, rushes and ferns is included. Each species entry has an extremely brief description, and a (tiny) distribution map constructed from data provided by BSBI. There are a few odd choices for a guide aiming at beginners, e.g. why attempt some Alchemillas when perhaps the key thing a beginner needs to do is distinguish A. mollis from native taxa?
So what does this book offer, beyond portability? A strength is the introductory section on botany covering essential information usually omitted from field guides. Core botanical terminology is introduced pictorially with a series of labelled photographs. This terminology would be easier to refind, however, set out as an illustrated glossary. A brief sample of the species accounts suggests they are accurate, and there are some handy compare-andcontrast tables and illustrations of key diagnostic characters rarely found in other guidebooks, e.g. the apical tooth on a leaflet distinguishing Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) from Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis). I tried identifying Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). After a satisfying branching flow-diagram, you picture-match the plant to a gallery of photographic images. There is immediately a challenge: the photos of an umbel compared to a Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) inflorescence do not depict the key difference, i.e. how
the ‘spokes’ join the stem. The photographs do not show the key information required. Assuming I knew that my plant was not valerian, I reached the carrot family quickly, but got confused about how the keys work within a plant family. A coloured banner grouped species as ‘erect and at least shortly hairy’ versus ‘erect and hairless’; the first group with cow parsley distinguished by flowering time from Rough Chervil (Chaerophyllum temulum), and Upright Hedge-parsley (Torilis japonica) – but what about Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)? I did not understand how the coloured banners operate to key out the plants, and this is not explained in the introduction.
So the upshot is that users will likely picture-match extensively, in which case the key issues become the tiny illustrations and scant descriptions. These are not accessible for anyone with a visual impairment or, in my case, bifocal glasses! It is frustrating that portability was prioritised over clarity, for this could be an excellent publication if the illustrations were bigger and the descriptions longer!
In conclusion, I would not want a beginner solely to use this book but it should be useful in combination with a more comprehensive guide with a botanical glossary using line illustrations. I am left wondering whether the publishers could produce a phone app with larger photographs and text; that would,
of course, instantly render the whole publication pocket-sized without compromising on weight or clarity.
Clare O’Reilly-Coleman
Nouvelle Flore de la Belgique, du G.-D. de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des Régions Voisines, Seventh Edition
Filip Verloove & Fabienne van Rossum
National Botanical Garden, Meise, 2024. Pp. ci + 1002, with numerous line drawings; hbk, €55. ISBN 9789072619051
With the appearance of the seventh French edition of Nouvelle Flore de la Belgique we have at last reached the happy situation where the British Isles and all our closest Atlantic neighbours (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal) are served by a modern Flora arranged according to the molecular system. The first edition of the ‘NF’ appeared in 1973, and was followed in 1983 by a version in Dutch as is appropriate for this bilingual nation. In the present case the Dutch version (4th Edition, 2023) actually preceded the 7th French one. The authors of this latest volume are among the leading Belgian plant taxonomists, working at the National Botanic Garden in Meise.
The format of the Flora follows the same pattern as in previous editions; the review of the fourth edition (1992) in Watsonia 20: 77–78 (1994) removes the need to describe it again here. It is, however, perhaps worth mentioning that the Flora covers not only Belgium and Luxemburg, but also small neighbouring parts of the Netherlands, Germany and France, attempting to define a logical phytogeographical area. One of the most informative and fascinating exercises involving study of a foreign Flora is the comparison with the species in our flora and with the treatments preferred in the two territories; surprises are not rare. For example, the NF area holds three native Digitalis, four Thesium, five Gagea and four Coronilla, yet Scilla verna, S. autumnalis and Astragalus danicus are absent, and only six native Alchemilla, six Fumaria, two Erica and seven Sorbus are present. Three of the non-British genera found just across the Channel (Vincetoxicum, Globularia and Anthericum) are all represented, as expected. The authors struggled with the large apomictic genera, including 122 species in Rubus but only 9 in Hieracium; 41 Rosa taxa are keyed, 21 of which are hybrids. In my opinion such divergence of treatment between regions is welcome, as it promotes study and discussion (and therefore learning) and belies the claim by some modern taxonomists that there is only one correct system.
Although, at first glance, the changes widely accepted by those following the molecular evidence are adopted, on inspection there are several exceptions. On the one hand, for example, Potentilla is divided into five genera, Chenopodium into six, Cyanus is separated from Centaurea, and Lavatera and
part of Althaea are amalgamated with Malva, while on the other Pisum, Lens, Myosoton and Radiola are kept as separate genera, and Roemeria argemone and R. hispida are retained in Papaver. I did, however, find it surprising, in view of our present knowledge, that Malus sylvestris and M. domestica are reduced to subspecies (the former was not involved in the evolution of the latter), that Asparagus officinalis and A. prostratus are treated as subspecies, and that Alliaria is retained among the siliquate crucifers rather than being placed with the garlic-smelling siliculate genera. My only serious criticism of this excellent book is that the placement of Lolium within the triticoid grasses rather than with the festucoids must surely be ill-advised.
The seventh edition represents a thorough updating of its predecessors, not only in adopting the molecular classification but in keeping abreast with new taxonomic discoveries and in adding numerous extra alien species. The latter have been the subject of detailed study by the first named author, whose valuable Manual of the Alien Plants of Belgium can be consulted at alienplantsbelgium. myspecies.info. The Flora sits worthily alongside those of the Netherlands and France, and should be obtained by any British or Irish botanists intending to visit the area or who wish to understand the relationship between our Floras. Moreover, useful data can be found concerning species only recently recorded in Britain, such as Vulpia membranacea. Inside its rather austere cover this latest Belgian Flora reveals much interesting and useful information.
Clive Stace
London’s Street Trees, A Field Guide to the Urban Forest, Third Edition
Paul Wood Safe Haven Books, London, 2024. Pp. 240, with numerous coloured photos; pbk, £16.99.
ISBN 9781838405182
The first edition of London’s Street Trees appeared in 2017, now enlarged and updated in this third edition. Its pages provide evidence of much research and foot-slogging to produce an attractive and authoritative guide to London’s trees. Since the range of species involved probably covers virtually anything found on Britain’s streets, it will be of almost equal use to anyone living elsewhere within our shores.
There is generally a 2-page spread for each genus, illustrated
by excellent photographs and with interesting and well-chosen text. At the species level the detail of treatment varies; for example, there is only one spread for each of Populus and Pinus, but four for Acer and for Prunus. Such subjective but surely acceptable choices result in some very rare species (e.g. Lemon, of which there appears to be only one known specimen) being given a whole spread while other much commoner species (e.g. Quercus cerris and Tilia platyphyllos) are barely mentioned. Some unfamiliar genera, such as Acca (Pineapple Guava), Tetradium (Bee-Bee Tree), and Toona (Flamingo Chinese Cedar) are given welcome coverage. Although the English names are given greater prominence, the trees are treated in alphabetical order of the genus name, certainly a sensible decision as many of the English names are obscure or even ridiculous (Toona is not a conifer), and some I suspect are coined anew.
The generic accounts are frequently interrupted by spreads on related topics, such as Do different boroughs have different trees? or How much is a London
street tree worth? or The future of London’s planes. These all carry fascinating facts and opinions. In some of these articles street tree genera are mentioned (e.g. Cedrus, Hoheria and Diospyros) that are not treated elsewhere in the book, so it is not quite true that every genus is covered, but anyone will do well to discover any of the missing ones. I counted 63 genera that are covered by 2-page spreads, and the author thinks there might be over 500 species within them.
At the end of the book is an article discussing what new trees might be introduced in the future, and six London walks are described. Each of these is accompanied by a street plan of the itinerary, on which are marked the precise positions of the interesting trees mentioned. What better way is there to learn one’s trees? By repeating the walks one can learn, for example, how to recognise each species without leaves or flowers, or what its fruits look like. I strongly recommend this book to beginners and experts alike.
Clive Stace
OBITUARY NOTES
Since we compiled the last Obituary Notes, news has reached us of the death of the following members or former members. We send our sympathy to their families and friends.
Dr R.J. Abbott of St Andrews, a member for 22 years.
Dr R.B. Gibbons of Wimborne, a member for 36 years.
Dr M. Gibby of Edinburgh, a member for 24 years.
Mr J.J. Ison of Exeter, a member for 46 years, former VCR for N. Devon and sometime member of the Records (then Science and Data) Committee with responsibility for the Referees’ panel.
Miss E.H. Jackson of Musselburgh, a member for 45 years and former VCR for East Lothian.
Dr E.C. Nelson of Spalding, referee for some ericaceous genera.
LETTERS
CHRIS PAGE
Iwelcomed Martin Gardner’s generous appreciation of Chris Page (Obituaries, BSBI News 155). Martin recognised that Chris would be best remembered by BSBI members for his lifetime work on ferns, but he particularly wanted to also highlight Chris’s significant contribution to the study of the world’s conifers, which is Martin’s own expertise. As one of the many people who Chris inspired, I wonder if I could elaborate a little on his inspirational role in the study of ferns.
Martin mentioned Chris’s first major work, The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland (1982; second edition 1997), which I still regard as one of the best guides to the British fern flora, although inevitably it is now out of date. Chris’s approach of using the ecology of the species as an important aspect of their identification, in the detailed ‘Field Notes’
Dr P.I. Payne of Bury St Edmunds, a member for 28 years.
Mr R.G. Payne of Westcliffe-on-Sea, a member for 29 years.
Mr D.T. Price of Monmouth, a member for 61 years.
Mr B.G. Tattersall of Twickenham, a member for 47 years.
Mr P. Waterton of Great Ayton, a member for 14 years.
Chris D. Preston, Obituaries Editor cdpr@ceh.ac.uk assisted by the Membership Secretary, Gwynn Ellis Date of compilation 23 August 2024.
section he included on each species, was innovative, hugely informative, and is something to which other floras should aspire. For example, my copy opened arbitrarily at the field notes for Dryopteris expansa (Northern Buckler-fern), which ends:
‘In mountain habitats, the emergent tips of its fronds seem very often to be taken by grazing Red Deer, although they appear not the be touched by Mountain Hares, around the entrances to the burrows of which it sometimes establishes.’
Although ‘burrows’ is perhaps not quite the right term for the forms in which the hares conceal themselves, that still speaks a lot to the time Chris spent in the field, rather than the herbarium, studying the plants that were his passion. It places ferns much more intimately into the ecology of the landscapes in which they grow and encourages all naturalists to pay more heed to the role of ferns.
Martin’s final paragraph highlights Chris’s ‘unprecedented enthusiasm and a generous approach to sharing his knowledge’. One example of that was the ferns course which Chris ran for several years in the late-lamented Kindrogan Field Centre in Perthshire. I was lucky enough to join that course in 1977 and was totally inspired by his insights into ferns. For a while I regarded ferns as my specialist interest, until someone messed with the taxonomy of the Dryopteris genus, and I lost heart because I could no longer identify even the commonest ferns with any certainty.
A cousin of mine had a remote cottage on the north-west shore of the Isle of Arran near the Cock of Arran, a reported site for Trichomanes speciosum (Killarney Fern). In August 1978, I arranged a trip there for a small group that had been on the 1977 fern course, and Chris generously agreed to join and lead us. We had a glorious time exploring and adding to our knowledge of ferns, although, despite forensic searching, we failed to find Trichomanes in a very dry summer (I believe it was subsequently refound there).
I was lucky in 1988 to attend a small launch event for Chris’s wonderful Ferns book in the New Naturalist series, and I remember him then lamenting that severely arthritic hands made field work on ferns much more difficult. It eventually turned out that he was one of the first people in the UK recognised
to be suffering from Lyme Disease, which had been first diagnosed in the US in 1975. The ticks that spread the disease are, of course, frequent in the damp, ferny places that Chris habitually frequented – indeed one features on p. 355 of The Ferns of Britain and Ireland – but the delay in recognition and treatment meant that the disease had become so advanced in him that it was untreatable.
On the Kindrogan fern course, I remember discussing with Chris the extraordinary ubiquity of Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken), recorded on all six continents with a substantive flora. The story that best sums up his enthusiasm and enquiring mind is how, on a long train journey several years later from Perth to Inverness (when most of us would be halfasleep), he noticed some odd-looking Pteridium ferns beside the track, north of Aviemore. He returned to inspect them and eventually concluded that they were a new and quite distinctive, frost-hardy species which he named P. pinetorum (Pinewood Bracken). I remain surprised that he didn’t pull the emergency cord when he spotted them, to stop the train so that he could go back and check their identity!
Michael Scott
Cana, North Strome, Lochcarron, Ross-shire, IV54 8YJ
michael@mmscott.co.uk
Chris Page photographing Woodsia alpina, during the Kindrogan field course in 1977. Michael Scott
FRUSTRATING FLOWERS AND PUZZLING PLANTS
Iwas saddened to read Tim Rich’s rather carping review of John Warren’s Frustrating Flowers and Puzzling Plants in the April issue of BSBI News (full disclosure: I wrote the foreword to the book). He concludes his review by saying ‘Believe me, it is much easier to identify plants by learning to use the appropriate terminology in standard texts with their full plant line drawings, colour photographs, detailed precise botanical descriptions, keys and glossaries – just like those the BSBI and others have been publishing for years – than to use this book’. I am sure that statement is true for him and for many experienced botanists, but it is certainly not true for many others who find the strict botanical approach offputting and often impenetrable. I would be surprised if I were the only reasonably experienced botanist who has given up in despair when attempting to use a classical dichotomous key. Rich has three ‘frustrations’ with the book, the first of which is about the – to me – very helpful background information that the book gives to show why a particular group can be challenging for identification. Much of his concern focuses on apomictic groups, especially and unsurprisingly Sorbus, guaranteed to baffle amateurs and not an area where it is easy to get two botanists to agree. He also complains that the book does not use exact botanical terminology; indeed, doing so is a sure way to leave many less knowledgeable enthusiasts struggling.
His third frustration is with ‘the numerous errors throughout, too many to document’. For example, he states that ‘in the tall yellow crucifer tabular key, 11 out of 19 species are wrongly scored for the hairy leaf character’. He does not say which ones are wrong and my attempt to compare the descriptions in the book with Rich’s own Crucifer Handbook (Rich 1991) was hampered by the fact that this authoritative source does not explicitly describe that character. For example, Warren says that Descurainia sophia is hairless; Stella Ross-Craig (1949) depicts it as almost hairless, with just a few sparse and short hairs on
the base of the rhachis of the illustrated lower leaf. The Handbook states that it is ‘densely to sparsely covered with … hairs, at least below …’, while in the Introduction we are told that the ‘description of pubescence relates to the stem and leaves only’. Does that mean the leaves are hairy? Just the lower leaves? Which parts? I am unconvinced that the plant enthusiasts at whom Warren’s book is aimed would find it easy to know the hairiness of the leaves of D. sophia by reading that.
We need to encourage people to take up the study of plants and I know from much experience of leading amateur groups that the BSBI Handbooks and similar volumes – that as Rich states are the most authoritative guides – simply do not work for many people. I of course agree with him that the serious and experienced botanist needs those works, but Warren’s book is also a serious contribution to the popular botanical literature. If it contains errors, by all means highlight them and ensure that they are corrected but please do not suggest, as the review seems to do, that the approach he has taken is wrong. When my father and David McClintock published their ground-breaking Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers in 1956, they were roundly criticised by professional botanists for grouping the illustrations by flower colour and not in systematic order. Those views did not affect that book’s success and value, and I hope that Tim Rich’s review will equally have no impact on John Warren’s.
References
McClintock, D & Fitter, R.S.R. 1956. Collins Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers. Collins, London.
Rich, T.C.G. 1991. Crucifers of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No 6. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.
Ross-Craig, S. 1949. Drawing of British Plants, Part 3, Cruciferae. G. Bell and Sons Ltd, London
