Thursday 18 June 2009
sun spurge
I've got round to identifying a spurge photographed on the 8th of June. It turns out to be sun spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia), and my first record of that species within the area.
Wednesday 17 June 2009
trailing tormentil
I passed a specimen of the other common procumbent Potentilla, i.e. trailing tormentil (Potentilla anglica), yesterday, so it can be added to the running list along with creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans).
Monday 15 June 2009
creeping cinquefoil
This evening I passed a clump of creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) just over the border into the Florula Urbana area. To my surprise it hasn't already been incorporated into the running list.
Monday 8 June 2009
today's tally
I've confirmed a previously suspected occurrence of yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) in the park to the east of the town.
One instance of winter cress has been identified as Barbarea vulgaris.
Crack willow (Salix fragilis) is among the willow species present in the area. There are also sallows (Salix caprea agg.), and several other types.
One instance of winter cress has been identified as Barbarea vulgaris.
Crack willow (Salix fragilis) is among the willow species present in the area. There are also sallows (Salix caprea agg.), and several other types.
Friday 5 June 2009
town centre
While visiting the library and supermarket today I took the opportunity to record plants present in the town centre.
Just two days after first observing small nettle (Urtica urens) in the Florula Prima area, I found another one here. Another new plant is lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis).
Having made a start on identifying willows I note that sallow (Salix caprea agg.) is present.
A yellow-flowered crucifer that I saw last year, but was unable to identify, is still present. It appears to be tall rocket (Sisymbrium altissimum) - the fruits are too long for any other plausible match, and are held at the right angle, but the upper leaves are unlobed and narrowly lanceolate, rather than with narrow lobes.
The path connecting Tesco with the main row of shops is planted with various shrubs, which includes sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), which appears to be regenerating. (I'll wait until I'm sure that it's seeding rather than suckering before adding it to the list.) A couple of plants of love-in-a-mist (Nigella sp.) is also growing here.
I came back along the canal, where I passed a meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense).
Just two days after first observing small nettle (Urtica urens) in the Florula Prima area, I found another one here. Another new plant is lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis).
Having made a start on identifying willows I note that sallow (Salix caprea agg.) is present.
A yellow-flowered crucifer that I saw last year, but was unable to identify, is still present. It appears to be tall rocket (Sisymbrium altissimum) - the fruits are too long for any other plausible match, and are held at the right angle, but the upper leaves are unlobed and narrowly lanceolate, rather than with narrow lobes.
The path connecting Tesco with the main row of shops is planted with various shrubs, which includes sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), which appears to be regenerating. (I'll wait until I'm sure that it's seeding rather than suckering before adding it to the list.) A couple of plants of love-in-a-mist (Nigella sp.) is also growing here.
I came back along the canal, where I passed a meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense).
Saturday 30 May 2009
remnant woodland
I had a look round an area of remnant woodland which has survived urbanisation because it is on land to steep to be built on. A large number of tree species are regenerating here - the following were observed.
field maple (Acer campestre), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), birch (Betula sp.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash (Fraxinus excelsion), holly (Ilex aquifolium), oak (Quercus robur), elder (Sambucus nigra), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia, larged leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) and elm (Ulmus sp.)
The ground flora is dominated by bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), but a variety of other plants occur, especially towards the edges of the area. These are cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), a bitter-cress (Cardamine sp.), rose-bay willow-herb (Chamaelirion angustifolium), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), broad-leaved willow-herb (Epilobium montanum), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), cleavers (Galium aparine), woodruff (Galium odoratum), wood avens (Geum urbanum), ivy (Hedera helix), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), privet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata), honesty (Lunaria annua), Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis), lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum), a rose (Rosa sp.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolium), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.) nettle (Urtica dioica), ivy leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) and dog violet (Viola riviniana agg.)
This adds columbine, privet honeysuckle, honesty, rhododendron, large-leaved lime and elm to the overall list.
There are also specimens of a heath (Erica sp.), Wilson's honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida), flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) and more specimens of privet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata).
field maple (Acer campestre), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), birch (Betula sp.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash (Fraxinus excelsion), holly (Ilex aquifolium), oak (Quercus robur), elder (Sambucus nigra), whitebeam (Sorbus aria), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia, larged leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) and elm (Ulmus sp.)
The ground flora is dominated by bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), but a variety of other plants occur, especially towards the edges of the area. These are cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), a bitter-cress (Cardamine sp.), rose-bay willow-herb (Chamaelirion angustifolium), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), broad-leaved willow-herb (Epilobium montanum), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), cleavers (Galium aparine), woodruff (Galium odoratum), wood avens (Geum urbanum), ivy (Hedera helix), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), privet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata), honesty (Lunaria annua), Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis), lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum), a rose (Rosa sp.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolium), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.) nettle (Urtica dioica), ivy leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) and dog violet (Viola riviniana agg.)
This adds columbine, privet honeysuckle, honesty, rhododendron, large-leaved lime and elm to the overall list.
There are also specimens of a heath (Erica sp.), Wilson's honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida), flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) and more specimens of privet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata).
Friday 29 May 2009
Wednesday 27 May 2009
novelties
While returning some books to the library I encountered a number of species of plants which I hadn't previously recorded in this area.
* On the bank overlooking the canal, at the edge of the station carpark, are a few plants of meadow foam (Limnanthes douglasii).
* Near the library, in a pavement, are a pearlwort (Sagina procumbens), and, in a wall, an ivy-leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis).
* By the path between ASDA and Tesco is an opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).
There is also a pepperwort (Lepidium sp.) in ASDA's carpark; this appears to be the same one as I've seen elsewhere, but as it is more accessible I may be able to identify it to species. By the aforementioned path there was also a small-flowered pansy, which is presumably field pansy (Viola arvensis).
* On the bank overlooking the canal, at the edge of the station carpark, are a few plants of meadow foam (Limnanthes douglasii).
* Near the library, in a pavement, are a pearlwort (Sagina procumbens), and, in a wall, an ivy-leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis).
* By the path between ASDA and Tesco is an opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).
There is also a pepperwort (Lepidium sp.) in ASDA's carpark; this appears to be the same one as I've seen elsewhere, but as it is more accessible I may be able to identify it to species. By the aforementioned path there was also a small-flowered pansy, which is presumably field pansy (Viola arvensis).
Sunday 17 May 2009
Nature Reserve
On Thursday I walked over to the Nature Reserve at the southern edge of the area.
I additionally noted plants on the way there and the way back.
I set out along the old railway line at the back of my house. The other end of that is at the parish boundary where the Florula area starts. From there I followed a country lane to the next village, where I recorded 32 species, and 6 plants only identified to genus. These include as new records for the Florula area honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), and yew (Taxus baccata). The first was probably just overlooked last year, and the second would have been out of flower before I started recording plants last year - I did know of another locality from previous years. Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) is also present; this wasn't added to the list last year as I wasn't sure that I had any wild occurrences, but I have concluded from this years observations that it's widely established in the wild. There was also a poplar (Populus sp.) which may be grey poplar (Populus canescens).
In the village 21 species were recorded, including as new trailing snapdragon (Asarina procumbens) and flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum). (At least the former was seen in previous years, but they were left due to the question as to whether they were wild.)
In the retail and industrial estate at the far end of the village over 30 species were recorded, including Swedish service tree (Sorbus hybrida), also seen last year. Wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri) provides a new record.
To reach the nature reserve from here requires crossing a couple of fields. The second field had two species of mouseear (Cerastium spp.) present, which allowed one to be identified as sticky mouseear (Cerastium glomeratum), which is a new record.
The nature reserve itself had over 40 species recorded, including 6 new to the Florula area - wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), wavy bitter cress (Cardamine flexuosa), opposite-leaved golden saxifrage (Chyrsoplenium oppositifolium, yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis) and wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosa). These will have be overlooked last year due to the late start in recording plants. There is also a 2nd species of oak present in addition to common oak (Quercus robur).
Hairy bitter cress (Cardamine hirsuta) is also probably present in the Florula area, but with the difficulty of distinguishing it from wavy bitter cress it has not be positively identified as present.
After wandering around the nature reserve I set off for the supermarket, which took me through the woods surrounding the fishing ponds on the west side of the town. This adds pink purslane (Claytonia siberica) and Solomon's seal (Polygonatum sp.). There is also a Cardamine, which looks similar florally to lady's smock (Cardamine pratensis), but which has more robust foliage with a purple cast.
I additionally noted plants on the way there and the way back.
I set out along the old railway line at the back of my house. The other end of that is at the parish boundary where the Florula area starts. From there I followed a country lane to the next village, where I recorded 32 species, and 6 plants only identified to genus. These include as new records for the Florula area honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), and yew (Taxus baccata). The first was probably just overlooked last year, and the second would have been out of flower before I started recording plants last year - I did know of another locality from previous years. Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) is also present; this wasn't added to the list last year as I wasn't sure that I had any wild occurrences, but I have concluded from this years observations that it's widely established in the wild. There was also a poplar (Populus sp.) which may be grey poplar (Populus canescens).
In the village 21 species were recorded, including as new trailing snapdragon (Asarina procumbens) and flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum). (At least the former was seen in previous years, but they were left due to the question as to whether they were wild.)
In the retail and industrial estate at the far end of the village over 30 species were recorded, including Swedish service tree (Sorbus hybrida), also seen last year. Wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri) provides a new record.
To reach the nature reserve from here requires crossing a couple of fields. The second field had two species of mouseear (Cerastium spp.) present, which allowed one to be identified as sticky mouseear (Cerastium glomeratum), which is a new record.
The nature reserve itself had over 40 species recorded, including 6 new to the Florula area - wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), wavy bitter cress (Cardamine flexuosa), opposite-leaved golden saxifrage (Chyrsoplenium oppositifolium, yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis) and wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosa). These will have be overlooked last year due to the late start in recording plants. There is also a 2nd species of oak present in addition to common oak (Quercus robur).
Hairy bitter cress (Cardamine hirsuta) is also probably present in the Florula area, but with the difficulty of distinguishing it from wavy bitter cress it has not be positively identified as present.
After wandering around the nature reserve I set off for the supermarket, which took me through the woods surrounding the fishing ponds on the west side of the town. This adds pink purslane (Claytonia siberica) and Solomon's seal (Polygonatum sp.). There is also a Cardamine, which looks similar florally to lady's smock (Cardamine pratensis), but which has more robust foliage with a purple cast.
Wednesday 13 May 2009
canal sides
There are two canals in the area, which meet within the area. I walked along sections of both yesterday.
Alongside the loop of one canal near where it joins the other I recorded ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), a burdock (Arctium sp.), a winter cress (Barbarea sp.), a bindweed (Calystegia sp.), large bitter cress (Cardamine amara), lady's smock (Cardamine pratense), rose-bay willow-herb (Chamaerion angustifolium), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), great willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), meadow sweet (Filependulina ulmaria), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), cleavers (Galium aparine), herb robert (Geranium robertianum), a pepperwort (Lepididum sp.), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), Rosa multiflora, Rubus cockburniana, bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), elder (Sambucus nigra, a possible figwort (Scrophularia sp.), a comfrey (Symphytum sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), nettle (Urtica dioica), germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), common vetch (Vicia sativa) and bush vetch (Vicia sepium).
Both the pepperwort and winter cress have been noted before, but not recorded due to not having been identified. I still don't have a complete identification, but suspect them to be hoary pepperwort (Lepidium draba) and (common) winter cress (Barbarea vulgaris). The presence of Rosa multiflora was previously known, but it hasn't been added to the list, as it may be cultivated. The same holds for the newly noted cherry laurel, which however looks as if it has spontaneously seeded from a nearby hedge.
Alongside the other canal I recorded field maple (Acer campestre), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), alder (Alnus glutinosa), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), a burdock (Arctium sp.), daisy (Bellis perennis), lady's smock (Cardamine pratense), rose-bay willow-herb (Chamaerion angustifolium), a cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), great willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), meadow sweet (Filependulina ulmaria), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), cleavers (Galium aparine), herb robert (Geranium robertianum), ivy (Hedera helix), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), holly (Ilex aquifolium), white dead nettle (Lamium album), ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), water cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquatica agg.), a rose (Rosa sp.), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), elder (Sambucus nigra, common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), red campion (Silene dioica), a sow thistle (Sonchus sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), nettle (Urtica dioica) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), and on the return leg yarrow (Achillea millefolium), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), water cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquatica agg.), elder (Sambucus nigra), figwort (Scrophularia) sp.), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), bittersweet (Solandum dulcamara), smooth sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys).
I appear to have overlooked recording alder last year. The figwort was also noticed last year, but also appears not to have been recorded. The cotoneaster is a new observation. Forget-me-not wasn't recorded last year because partly because I started the records too late, and partly because I was considering whether it was wild or cultivated.
The ivy is a large-leaved form distinct from the small-leaved form found elsewhere, especially in rural areas, and may be an escaped cultivar.
Alongside the loop of one canal near where it joins the other I recorded ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), a burdock (Arctium sp.), a winter cress (Barbarea sp.), a bindweed (Calystegia sp.), large bitter cress (Cardamine amara), lady's smock (Cardamine pratense), rose-bay willow-herb (Chamaerion angustifolium), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), great willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), meadow sweet (Filependulina ulmaria), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), cleavers (Galium aparine), herb robert (Geranium robertianum), a pepperwort (Lepididum sp.), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), Rosa multiflora, Rubus cockburniana, bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), elder (Sambucus nigra, a possible figwort (Scrophularia sp.), a comfrey (Symphytum sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), nettle (Urtica dioica), germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), common vetch (Vicia sativa) and bush vetch (Vicia sepium).
Both the pepperwort and winter cress have been noted before, but not recorded due to not having been identified. I still don't have a complete identification, but suspect them to be hoary pepperwort (Lepidium draba) and (common) winter cress (Barbarea vulgaris). The presence of Rosa multiflora was previously known, but it hasn't been added to the list, as it may be cultivated. The same holds for the newly noted cherry laurel, which however looks as if it has spontaneously seeded from a nearby hedge.
Alongside the other canal I recorded field maple (Acer campestre), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), alder (Alnus glutinosa), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), a burdock (Arctium sp.), daisy (Bellis perennis), lady's smock (Cardamine pratense), rose-bay willow-herb (Chamaerion angustifolium), a cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), great willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), meadow sweet (Filependulina ulmaria), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), cleavers (Galium aparine), herb robert (Geranium robertianum), ivy (Hedera helix), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), holly (Ilex aquifolium), white dead nettle (Lamium album), ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), water cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquatica agg.), a rose (Rosa sp.), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), elder (Sambucus nigra, common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), red campion (Silene dioica), a sow thistle (Sonchus sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), nettle (Urtica dioica) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), and on the return leg yarrow (Achillea millefolium), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), water cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquatica agg.), elder (Sambucus nigra), figwort (Scrophularia) sp.), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), bittersweet (Solandum dulcamara), smooth sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys).
I appear to have overlooked recording alder last year. The figwort was also noticed last year, but also appears not to have been recorded. The cotoneaster is a new observation. Forget-me-not wasn't recorded last year because partly because I started the records too late, and partly because I was considering whether it was wild or cultivated.
The ivy is a large-leaved form distinct from the small-leaved form found elsewhere, especially in rural areas, and may be an escaped cultivar.
Saturday 9 May 2009
A few more plants
Yesterday I crossed the Florula Urbana area twice on the way to and from the city centre.
Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), which wasn't recorded last year because I didn't start recording plants in the area until later in the year, was seen in a few localities.
A little over the border into the area were some plants of wall speedwell (Veronica arvensis).
I used a public footpath that I hadn't used for a few years. This had a colony of woodruff (Galium odoratum) alongside it, and also a few scattered plants of ramsoms (Allium ursinum).
I came back through the woods on the east side of the park lying to the south of the region. This had a colony of bugle (Ajuga reptans). There was also a colony of a speedwell, that I think was wood speedwell (Veronica montana), which I will verify later.
Finally, on the edge of the northern section of the park (seen from the adjoining road) was a specimen of fly honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum).
Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), which wasn't recorded last year because I didn't start recording plants in the area until later in the year, was seen in a few localities.
A little over the border into the area were some plants of wall speedwell (Veronica arvensis).
I used a public footpath that I hadn't used for a few years. This had a colony of woodruff (Galium odoratum) alongside it, and also a few scattered plants of ramsoms (Allium ursinum).
I came back through the woods on the east side of the park lying to the south of the region. This had a colony of bugle (Ajuga reptans). There was also a colony of a speedwell, that I think was wood speedwell (Veronica montana), which I will verify later.
Finally, on the edge of the northern section of the park (seen from the adjoining road) was a specimen of fly honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum).
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