west of parish

I has a quick look at the west end of the parish. Here the meadows which lie to the south of the town run into an area of mixed meadow, scrub and woodland. Among the 21 species recorded are two new to the area - there is a small area of regenerating silver birch (Betula pendula), and a single plant of pheasantberry (Leycesteria formosa). There is also a cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) with no nearby plantings, and the first record of mouseear hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum) for the parish.

catch up

Last Friday I walked along a section of canal. There are plants of fine-leaved water dropwort (Oenanthe aquaticus) scattered along a length of the canal bank.

I also looked out for sedges growing along the canal banks. In addition to previously identified false fox sedge (Carex otrubae) there is a second, less robust, species, with yellowish tinged foliage, which I have not yet been able to identify.

On Saturday evening I had a walk along, among other places, the old railway line to the north west of town. New species encountered there are grass vetchling (Lathyrus aphaca) and yellow bartsia (Parentucellia viscosa). The former was also seen earlier on Saturday evening along the path on the other side of the operating railway line through the town, but not identified until Sunday.

Today I took a circuit around the north of the extended area. New species are corn spurrey (Spergula arvensis), another spurrey (Spergularia sp.), a crowfoot (Ranunculus sp.), common marsh bedstraw (Galium palustre), water figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), and intermediate-flowered winter cress (Barbarea intermedia).

Corn spurrey was recorded at two localities. One was along a farm track cum public footpath.

I haven't been able to identify the 2nd spurrey to species. The inland location would suggest sand spurry (Spergularia rubra), but the particular site was a roadside edge in a location similar to that colonised by Danish scurvy grass (Cochlearia danica), so one of the maritime species, especially lesser sea-spurrey (Spergularia marina) would also be possible.

The crowfoot had only capillary leaves, even though it was growing on wet ground rather than submerged (presumably the pond margins have receded since the spring). I am reluctant to draw any conclusions as to the specific identity of the plants from this, as elsewhere I have seen a considerable colony of common water-crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) with only rare laminar leaves.

The remaining plants were recorded along the far canal towpath.

Today I also recorded new sites for a number of plants previously recorded from only a single site, including three sites for tufted forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa) and two for large birds foot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)

cranesbills

Today I came across a couple of cranesbill which are not among the use suspects (pyrenaicum, molle (and pusillum), lucidum, robertianum, pratense, phaeum, dissectum, sanguineum and endressii. Neither were flowering, but I suspect that they are rock cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum) and wood cranesbill (Geranium sylvaticum).

pellitory-of-the-wall

Last year I overlooked a plant growing in roadside walls on the high street as a cultivated labiate. I've now realised that it's growing wild - it's spread over walls over a considerable length of the street - and that it is pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria judaica).

[It's seeing small nettle (Urtica urens) recently that nudged me into recognising the infloresences as being those of an urticaceous plant.)

Further along the street I encounted a couple of plants of dwarf mallow (Malva neglecta), which is my first record for the Florula Prima area.

More plants

This afternoon I had a look at the low hill that occupies the south west extremity of parish A.

On the way there, in a corner of a field in the meadows I noticed a small colony of narrow-leaved bitter cress (Cardamine impatiens).

Within the target site I noted over 50 species, including smooth tare (Vicia tetrasperma) and woodrush (Luzula sp.) (not Luzula sylvatica, but perhaps Luzula pilosa), and also the first record of wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) for parish A. There are additionally a variety of trefoils, clovers and composites to identify.

Coming back through the town centre I found that a plant of peach-leaved bellflower (Campanula persicifolia) has seeded itself into the middle of a shrub planting.

At two locations I saw plants of pearlwort (Sagina sp.) that weren't procumbent pearlwort (Sagina procumbens).

buckwheat

A buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) has appeared on the allotment site. (Last year the same species was seen about 100 yards away, among a green manure mixture, thought it could have been introduced with manure.)

more catch up

When I ran across wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) this year I overlooked that I hadn't recorded it last year, and hadn't yet added it to the running list. (Wood sorrel is more common in regions east of the area.)

today's tally

I've identified a sedge growing in the canal banks as false fox sedge (Carex otrubae).

I've confirmed a suspected occurrence of small-flowered cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) in an area of disturbed ground (where a hedgerow was grubbed out last year) on the approach ramp to a bridge over the canal.

In addition to the wheat mentioned earlier, barley (Hordeum sp.) is also growing in the verge of the road over to the next town to the east.

catch up

On the 18th of April I encountered a privet (Ligustrum vulgare) in a canal-side hedge.

On the second of May I visited the nearest National Trust property. Among the plants growing there (near the moat) was mourning widow (Geranium phaeum).

Last year I didn't record wood forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) as a wasn't sure that it was wild. This year I've noticed it in a wider variety of location and have concluded it's as least as wild/naturalised as, say, corn poppy.

Last year, surprisingly I didn't encounter any plants of corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas, although there are usually some around. This year there are some present in the housing estate - of a form with black spots at the base of the petals.

today's observations

I walked over to the supermarket today, via the largest local area of woodland.

A patch of previously wet ground just before the woodland has been drained, and its speciality plants (celery-leaved buttercup and creeping yellow-cress) are no longer present.

At the edge of the woodland is a hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), but this may be planted. Most of the other plants seen are either widespread, or were seen last year, but a plant of bog stitchwort (Stellaria uliginosa) was seen.

In a cul-de-sac off the ribbon development at the far side of the woods a clump of white stonecrop (Sedum album) was seen. At the northern end of this ribbon development locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is regenerating in a road-side bank.

On my way home I saw an unidentified aquatic plant (possibly flowering rush) in the side of the canal, and possible bog stitchwort (Stellaria uliginosa) and least cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) on the bank leading up to the canal bridge.

Wheat (Triticum sp.) is growing in the verge of the main road (which is not too surprising as wheat was grown in the field on the opposite side of the road last year), and also in a housing estate.

more novelties

Om Tuesday I visited the local garden open to visitors (stately home). By the lake common sedge (Carex nigra) is growing. Several grassy parts of the garden have heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile). There are several plants of field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) in the walled garden.

I came back along the further canal towpath, where I encountered a plant of marsh ragwort (Senecio palustris).

On Wednesday evening I had a look at a public open space lying between the river and the canal. Along the canal towpath on the way there I found yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) growing. A Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is growing in wet ground near the river. A sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) is present at the far end of the area. Other plants present include 3 types of willow (Salix spp.), a clump of black poplars (Populus sp.), regenerating sweet chestnuts (Castanea sativa) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), and several other plants new to the parish.

Yellow cordydalis (Corydalis lutea) is naturalised in a wall in the village on the other bank of the canal.

Atlas poppy

Atlas poppy (Papaver atlanticum) is naturalised in a couple of localities, one in the centre of town (parish A), and the other near the major road crossroads at the western end of parish L.

dogwood

The wild growing dogwood I observed down the road last year is now flowering, so I may be able to use the fruit to identify the species later this year.

I also encountered this evening another wild growing dogwood (this time in parish O).

small nettle

I've been wondering for some time why I hadn't seen a small nettle (Urtica urens) anywhere. I've finally encountered one - growing in a pavement crack outside the pub at the end of the street.

Iris

I has a first look at some of the higher ground south and west of the meadows on the south side of town, and encountered a single plant of a purple-flowered iris.

willows

On Saturday evening I took the field edition of Clapham, Tutin and Warburg with me, and went to look at the willows on a couple of nearby sites - the old railway line running behind my house, and the meadows on the south side of town.

There appear to be five types of willow growing along the old railway line. There is sufficient variation among the leaves of sallows that I suspect that there are two species present, probably Salix caprea and Salix cinerea. The other types appear to be almond-leaved willow (Salix triandra), osier (Salix viminalis and one which keys out as a sallow-oiser hybrid (the oiser-like habit supports this indentification).

The meadows had a single isolated tree of crack willow (Salix fragilis) (I encountered a second one elsewhere on the meadows today) and a population of what appear to be sallows, but with prominently red twigs.

For the time being I am adding crack willow to the list, and holding fire on the others pending further study.

I was aware of the presence of aspen (Populus tremula) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) growing at the northern end of the old railway line, but had discounted them as possibly being planted. While checking out the willows I encountered both these species growing in convincingly wild situations. While blackthorn is common in hedges in the area, this is the first I've seen that I've been confident wasn't planted. I also found, as another new species, broad-leaved whitebeam (Sorbus latifolia agg.)

new locality

On Saturday I had a look at a new locality - the hill at the southern extremity of parish A. Most of the accessible parts of this locality are a tree-lined sunken lane with patches of adjoining woodland, but there is also a public footpath that runs along the foot of the hill (there is a distinct break of slope here).

Plants recorded are ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), burdock (Arctium sp.), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), mouseear (Cerastium sp.), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), hazel (Corylus avellana), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), hemp-nettle (Galeopsis sp.), cleavers (Galium aparine), cut-leaved cranesbill (Geranium dissectum), herb robert (Geranium robertianum), wood avens (Geum urbanum), ivy (Hedera helix), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), blubell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), holly (Ilex aquifolium), Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), nipplewort (Lapsana communis), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis), Myosotis sylvatica (forget-me-not), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), silverweed (Potentilla anserina), lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), common oak (Quercus robur), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris), lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), redcurrant (Ribes rubrum), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), elder (Sambucus nigra), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), chickweed (Stellaria media agg.), red clover (Trifolium pratense), elm (Ulmus sp.), nettle (Urtica dioica) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys).

This includes the first record of lungwort in the area, and the first record of regenerating, rather than planted, sweet chestnut.

star-of-Bethlehem

Having checked my books I find that the different species of Ornithogalum are distinctive in flower, and that the species seen in three different locations (parishes A and L) is the common star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum angustifolium).

yellow sorrel

Last year an Oxalis colonised a pot in my garden. I suspected at the time it was procumbent yellow sorrel (Oxalis corniculata), but didn't record it as it was not flowering, and I couldn't be sure that it wasn't least yellow sorrel (Oxalis exilis). It is now flowering, and confirmed as the former species.

field speedwells

Last year, while I suspected that more than one species of field speedwell was present, I didn't familiarise myself with the genus Veronica early enough to confirm this.

This year I have found that two species of field speedwell are present on the allotment site - one with small flowers (green field speedwell - Veronica agrestis) and one with larger flowers (common field speedwell - Veronica persica).

old railway line redux

Yesterday I had photographed the flowers of what I thought was a chickweed with a few to confirming that is was Stellaria media and not one of the other two species. However, on examining the photograph I discovered that it was not a chickweed - the petals were entire, rather than bilobed.

Therefore I had another look along the old railway line today, to identify this plant, which turns out to be three-veined sandwort (Moehringia trinervis), which is my first record of this species. (I may have been overlooking it as chickweed.)

I also took a note at the plants growing on the site. Identified plants were Norway maple (Acer platanoides), bugle (Ajuga reptans), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), daisy (Bellis perennis), rosebay willow herb (Chamaelirion angustifolium), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), pink purslane (Claytonia siberica), a cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), broom (Cytisus scoparius), great willow herb (Epilobium hirsutum) and a second species of willow herb, ash (Fraxinus excelsior), cleavers (Galium aparine), dove's foot cranesbill (Geranium molle), herb robert (Geranium robertianum), wood avens (Geum urbanum), ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), ivy (Hedera helix), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), holly (Ilex aquifolium), bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis), three-veined sandwort (Moehringia trinervis), forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), great plantain (Plantago major), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), a cherry (Prunus sp.), common oak (Quercus robur), meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris), lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), celery-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus scleratus), flowering currant (Ribes sanguineus), rose (Rosa sp.), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) and at least one other species of dock, at least 4 species of willow (Salix sp.), elder (Sambucus nigra), figwort (Scrophularia nodosa), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), red campion (Silene dioica), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), chickweed (Stellaria media), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), a clover (Trifolium sp.), nettle (Urtica dioica), brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia), wood speedwell (Veronica montana), guelder rose (Viburnum opalus), common vetch (Vicia sativa), bush vetch (Vicia sepium) and an unidentified umbellifer.

I overlooked the redcurrent (Ribes rubrum) seen yesterday, and alder (Alnus glutinosa) and honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) are also known to be present on the site.

Cotoneaster had not yet been added to the Florula list, but it is not new, at least two types having appeared spontaneously in my garden. The one here probably seeded itself from the neighbouring pub garden, as is the case for the flowering currant.

The occurrence of wood speedwell is the first record of the species in parish A.

cornsalad

I've been puzzling, for some weeks, over a plant growing at the foot of a garden wall on the road into town. I've finally managed to identify it as cornsalad (Valerianella sp.). Apparently I need to look at the fruits to identify the species, so I'll have to wait a little longer.

old railway line

I walked the length of the old railway line that runs along the back of my house this morning. I didn't record all species growing, but only those less widely present in the area. The species recorded were bugle (Ajuga reptans), wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), broom (Cytisus scoparius), bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), common forget-me-net (Myosotis sylvatica), common oak (Quercus robur), redcurrant (Ribes rubrum), greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), chickweed (Stellaria media), brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), guelder rose (Viburnum opalus), bush vetch (Vicia sepium) and dog violet (Viola riviniana agg.)

None of these are new to the area, but some are new records for the site.

Adding the species that I recorded on this site in the blog last year this gives a total of 19 species for this site. However this is not a complete list; I didn't record many species which are present here and more widely within the area.

However redcurrant is new to parish A - the locality identified last year was in parish L.

Cardamine flexuosa

Wavy bitter-cress (Cardamine flexuosa) is not easy to distinguish from hairy bitter cress (Cardamine hirsuta), but is generally larger, and found in wet locations.

By photographing possible specimens it is possible to distinguish the two species by means of counting the number of stamens (6 vs 4). The result is that in addition to the locality in parish A recorded last year, I have recorded plants on either side of the stream dividing parish L (Thursday) from parish O (today).

Arum

While crossing the woods to the east of the town I came across a substantial population of Arum, which I somehow overlooked last year. As they're not flowering I can't tell whether they represent Arum maculatum or Arum italicum.

Like the other locality, recorded last year, this is in parish L.

reorganising

This year I am going to extend the area covered to a larger group of parishes this side of the county boundary, and maintain separate parish lists.

Parish A is the parish in which I live, and which was fully included in the previous area.

Parish L is the lies to the east, and partly to the north. About 80% was included in the previous area.

Parish O, parish M, parish Y and parish C lie succesively north of parish L. A small sliver of parish O (south of the canal was included in the previous area).

To the west and north west lie parishes R, H, G and T, small parts of which were included in the previous area.

The new parishes will not be covered in the same detail as parishes A and L; of the new parishes parish O will receive the best coverage.

Disentangling 2008 records to parish level may not be completely achievable; one problem is that the landfill site to the northwest of the town, which is a major source of rarities, lies across a parish boundary, and the lie of the boundary is difficult to follow on the ground - it follows the former course of a stream before it was diverted by the landfill.

Lamium species

Walking into town this morning I came across a dead-nettle growing at the edge of a pavement, which wasn't one of the usual species found (Lamium album, Lamium maculatum, Lamium purpureum). I think that it's henbit dead-nettle (Lamium amplexicaule), but will check when it's flowering (it's currently in bud).

spotted dead nettle

Yesterday, I took advantage of the usually muddy fields being frozen, to take the path across the fields to the corner of the canal, on my way over to the next town. Where the path meets the canal there is a patch of spotted dead nettle (Lamium maculatum. (There was even a flower present.)