Its no more than a chance mutation in populations of f. perennis that bulks up through vegetative spread, but its intriguing nonetheless and a reminder of how good plants are at breaking the rules on what they are meant to look like.
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Discoid Daisies
I have been aware of the form of Daisy without ligulate flowers (Bellis perennis f. disciformis) for a number of years but have not been lucky enough to see it. I finally came across this curiosity a couple of weeks ago at Acaster Selby (VC64).
Its no more than a chance mutation in populations of f. perennis that bulks up through vegetative spread, but its intriguing nonetheless and a reminder of how good plants are at breaking the rules on what they are meant to look like.
Its no more than a chance mutation in populations of f. perennis that bulks up through vegetative spread, but its intriguing nonetheless and a reminder of how good plants are at breaking the rules on what they are meant to look like.
Saturday, 30 July 2016
Eureka Moment with Burdocks
I have made various post on burdocks over the last couple years. A tricky group where the discriminating characters are limited and the literature repeats the same unclear information over and over again. I also think it not unfair to say that there have been many decades of misunderstanding, uncritical recording (Arctium minus agg.) and likely widespread misidentification (NB. I don't claim to have all the answers here or to never have been part of the problem). What was needed was clear photographs, a good understanding of local populations and how they vary locally and nationally, and most of all I needed to find Wood Burdock (Arctium nemorosum). I was starting to believe the latter was mythical, until an opportune trip to Swaledale (VC65) this week, where it is frequent. However, something was still not sitting right in my head, but finally 9 pm last night it finally clicked into place and I provide my view on the situation below in the hope that it helps others. I apologise in advance for the dry text upfront, but lots of photos follow below.
In the following account I will use Arctium pubens for brevity and clarity, not A. minus subsp. pubens. I think really we should all be treating this plant as a species for recording purposes, lets call it 'Confused Burdock' for want of a common name. I'm not suggesting there are not challenges here (more later), and this species is a PhD study in itself BUT lumping with Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus) is not helpful and is a major part of the problem. My rationale is:
1) Arctium pubens is probably the most common species over much of England and perhaps the UK as a whole, but too much data is being lost under the agg.
2) Lets be honest it (with notable exceptions, see photos) looks reasonably distinct, and to treat it as a form of Lesser Burdock for recording purposes is unhelpful and potentially dangerous (in the same way, for example, that it is untenable not to segregate the native and non-native forms of Lamiastrum when recording - think of the implications for nature conservation and scientific understanding). I suspect that Wood Burdock may be over-recorded because many botanists find but are unaware of Arctium pubens and how much it typically differs from Lesser Burdock. They can also quite clearly see it is not good Lesser Burdock, so 2 + 2 = 5 it must be Wood Burdock. Lumping with Lesser Burdock implies a level of similarity that usually is not there in practice.
3) All botanists are more than capable of, and should be, recording burdock taxa to species level when in flower - don't let the variability of Arctium pubens deter you. I hope this account helps with this, most species are readily picked out at distance (from a car even) once known (but in some cases an ID may need refining to Arctium pubens on close examination). If you don't record to species then I see little value in recording the aggregate, its just perpetuating the historic problem and taking us further from a solution.
4) I really don't understand why Arctium pubens is considered closer to Lesser Burdock than it is to any of the other species, nor how it has derived certain traits (particularly the often exaggerated pubescence) from its putative parents.
Before getting to the photos, it's worth giving quick consideration to the one character that can be quickly used to split Arctium pubens from Lesser and Wood Burdocks. The former has peduncles greater than 8mm, the latter two have peduncles up to 8mm with capitula more usually +/- sessile. This comes back to my point about the poor quality of published descriptions. This trait relates to the distal part (upper part away from the middle) of the branch, but what is meant by distal is never defined i.e. is it immediately just above the mid-point or if not how far up? At a certain point down the branch the peduncles start 'trying' to be branches (you can't have both sessile capitula AND a raceme in Lesser and Wood Burdock without allowing for non-sessile stalked capitula) and clearly if you measure these you will quickly go wrong. For the last few years I have been concentrating on the top 15 cm or so of the branch, and this works well for all species except Wood Burdock. My eureka moment was realising distal would be better phrased as the terminal part of the branch. It may be that distal in Lesser Burdock and Wood Burdock are not quite the same thing, this may sound like a fudge to suit me but I feel that this comes back to age old problem of writing keys to separate taxa. Quite often it is very difficult to explain how taxa reliably differ in a key, but the human eye can tell the difference at a glance. This is the case here and the photos below will show this. Wood Burdock in particularly is a completely different beast from Lesser Burdock and Arctium pubens.
So lets start with Wood Burdock, as its a plant yet to feature on the blog, and then work through the spectrum from sessile species to the corymbose pedunculate Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa).
Wood Burdock (Arctium nemorosum)
Sell & Murrell are probably right to rename this Northern Burdock, records from the south need revisiting. As I have noted previously, I have searched in vain for this species in my Yorkshire VC, and have only found Arctium pubens. Note the relatively large capitula and the terminal clusters of sessile capitula at the tips of the main and side branches. This is the key jizz of this species. The Swaledale (you will also find Arctium pubens in Swaledale) plants are all uniformly short and I wonder if this is typical of the species, if so this is also useful jizz. Unfortunately I did not photograph the plant as a whole, this would have been helpful as it would have shown how the morphology of each branch contributes to the look of the plant as a whole.
Note also how quickly long peduncles start to appear below the terminal cluster - so the ambiguity in use of the word 'distal' is not helpful. This species seems a bit of a scruff-bag - the ugly duckling of the group.
Final bit of advice - don't trust Google!
Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus)
This is the plant of the south of Great Britain, see Sell & Murrell for their detailed views on distribution. Capitula are +/- sessile but in a different way to Wood Burdock, with the terminal capitula usually solitary (but not necessarily remote).
'Confused Burdock' (Arctium pubens)
This is were the fun begins and this species needs urgent genetic study to determine its origins, relationships, and whether it hides a 'real' species within a hybrid swarm. Also research based around whether any of the various geographic variants merit description at the rank of variety or forma. There are distinct forms that are consistent over large areas, indicating that they are capable of breeding true and maintaining themselves. There is variation in capitula size, branching pattern (corymbose to racemose), degree of pubescence, and degree of browny-red pigmentation. Its often simpler to start with 'have I got Arctium pubens, if not why not, therefore it must be species X?'. This is best achieved by looking at the peduncles.
Woolly Burdock (Arctium tomentosum)
The holy grail species! Inflorescence approaching corymbose. Completely unmistakable, based on my two encounters with this rare plant, with the combination of brilliant white woolly capitula and rich purple flowers. There are supposedly less hairy variants in Europe - hmmm, I can't comment but if Continental botanists face the same problems as UK botanists then perhaps this statement is best treated as equivocal. Don't believe the key in Sell & Murrell - a case of over-emphasising one trait that is not reliable - the inner involucral bracts can be hooked. Trust your eyes instead.
Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa)
If this species is rare in your area and you are not familiar with it be careful, some forms of Arctium pubens have inflorescences and capitula redolent of this species. That said it is unlikely to cause problems. Large plants with a corymbose inflorescence and green glabrous or very sparsely pubescent capitula. Note the solid petiole is only of use for separating from Lesser and Wood Burdocks. It is not reliable for Arctium pubens.
In the following account I will use Arctium pubens for brevity and clarity, not A. minus subsp. pubens. I think really we should all be treating this plant as a species for recording purposes, lets call it 'Confused Burdock' for want of a common name. I'm not suggesting there are not challenges here (more later), and this species is a PhD study in itself BUT lumping with Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus) is not helpful and is a major part of the problem. My rationale is:
1) Arctium pubens is probably the most common species over much of England and perhaps the UK as a whole, but too much data is being lost under the agg.
2) Lets be honest it (with notable exceptions, see photos) looks reasonably distinct, and to treat it as a form of Lesser Burdock for recording purposes is unhelpful and potentially dangerous (in the same way, for example, that it is untenable not to segregate the native and non-native forms of Lamiastrum when recording - think of the implications for nature conservation and scientific understanding). I suspect that Wood Burdock may be over-recorded because many botanists find but are unaware of Arctium pubens and how much it typically differs from Lesser Burdock. They can also quite clearly see it is not good Lesser Burdock, so 2 + 2 = 5 it must be Wood Burdock. Lumping with Lesser Burdock implies a level of similarity that usually is not there in practice.
3) All botanists are more than capable of, and should be, recording burdock taxa to species level when in flower - don't let the variability of Arctium pubens deter you. I hope this account helps with this, most species are readily picked out at distance (from a car even) once known (but in some cases an ID may need refining to Arctium pubens on close examination). If you don't record to species then I see little value in recording the aggregate, its just perpetuating the historic problem and taking us further from a solution.
4) I really don't understand why Arctium pubens is considered closer to Lesser Burdock than it is to any of the other species, nor how it has derived certain traits (particularly the often exaggerated pubescence) from its putative parents.
Before getting to the photos, it's worth giving quick consideration to the one character that can be quickly used to split Arctium pubens from Lesser and Wood Burdocks. The former has peduncles greater than 8mm, the latter two have peduncles up to 8mm with capitula more usually +/- sessile. This comes back to my point about the poor quality of published descriptions. This trait relates to the distal part (upper part away from the middle) of the branch, but what is meant by distal is never defined i.e. is it immediately just above the mid-point or if not how far up? At a certain point down the branch the peduncles start 'trying' to be branches (you can't have both sessile capitula AND a raceme in Lesser and Wood Burdock without allowing for non-sessile stalked capitula) and clearly if you measure these you will quickly go wrong. For the last few years I have been concentrating on the top 15 cm or so of the branch, and this works well for all species except Wood Burdock. My eureka moment was realising distal would be better phrased as the terminal part of the branch. It may be that distal in Lesser Burdock and Wood Burdock are not quite the same thing, this may sound like a fudge to suit me but I feel that this comes back to age old problem of writing keys to separate taxa. Quite often it is very difficult to explain how taxa reliably differ in a key, but the human eye can tell the difference at a glance. This is the case here and the photos below will show this. Wood Burdock in particularly is a completely different beast from Lesser Burdock and Arctium pubens.
So lets start with Wood Burdock, as its a plant yet to feature on the blog, and then work through the spectrum from sessile species to the corymbose pedunculate Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa).
Wood Burdock (Arctium nemorosum)
Sell & Murrell are probably right to rename this Northern Burdock, records from the south need revisiting. As I have noted previously, I have searched in vain for this species in my Yorkshire VC, and have only found Arctium pubens. Note the relatively large capitula and the terminal clusters of sessile capitula at the tips of the main and side branches. This is the key jizz of this species. The Swaledale (you will also find Arctium pubens in Swaledale) plants are all uniformly short and I wonder if this is typical of the species, if so this is also useful jizz. Unfortunately I did not photograph the plant as a whole, this would have been helpful as it would have shown how the morphology of each branch contributes to the look of the plant as a whole.
Note also how quickly long peduncles start to appear below the terminal cluster - so the ambiguity in use of the word 'distal' is not helpful. This species seems a bit of a scruff-bag - the ugly duckling of the group.
Final bit of advice - don't trust Google!
Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus)
This is the plant of the south of Great Britain, see Sell & Murrell for their detailed views on distribution. Capitula are +/- sessile but in a different way to Wood Burdock, with the terminal capitula usually solitary (but not necessarily remote).
Warren Hill (VC31) - capitula much smaller than Wood Burdock and a taller more refined plant as a whole, note the obviously exserted flowers
Warren Hill (VC31)
Below is the Yorkshire form which is tenable for inclusion in this species if we accept my terminal/very distal rather than distal hypothesis. To me it would seem to sit better here than as a Arctium pubens, something that has been giving myself and Mike Wilcox much to contemplate recently. I may be wrong, but having seen it again today it is not too divergent and therefore I don't feel it too controversial to include it here. My only concern is that it is less inclined to form colonies and only occurs as an odd plant here and there in a landscape otherwise populated by Arctium pubens. It seems fully fertile though.
Jinny Moor Lane, Leventhorpe (VC64) - tolerable 'northern' Lesser Burdock, this plant had the exserted flowers but they are not well captured in this photo
Little Preston (VC64) - full seed head from a 'northern' Lesser Burdock
This is were the fun begins and this species needs urgent genetic study to determine its origins, relationships, and whether it hides a 'real' species within a hybrid swarm. Also research based around whether any of the various geographic variants merit description at the rank of variety or forma. There are distinct forms that are consistent over large areas, indicating that they are capable of breeding true and maintaining themselves. There is variation in capitula size, branching pattern (corymbose to racemose), degree of pubescence, and degree of browny-red pigmentation. Its often simpler to start with 'have I got Arctium pubens, if not why not, therefore it must be species X?'. This is best achieved by looking at the peduncles.
Thorp Arch (VC64) - large heads and very pubescent, subcorymbose to corymbose
Oulton (VC63) - very similar to above but many kilometres away, green stems will be a shade effect, subcorymbose
Ledsham Banks (VC64) - racemose form, approaching nemorosum/minus in character but plants when seen as a whole are nothing like those species
Fleet Lane, Woodlesford (VC63) - the common brown-flowered racemose form, note how it might be confused with Wood Burdock but the longer peduncles are there (slightly clearer in the next photo) and the capitula are less agglomerated
Fleet Lane, Woodlesford (VC63)
Swillingon (VC64) - 'pseudo-lappa' form
And the problem forms .....
Occasionally atypical forms are found e.g. with very small capitula. Current concepts mean you either treat as a Lesser x Greater Burdock hybrid (Arctium x nothum) on equivocal grounds, or you lump in Arctium pubens on the basis that this is of the same hybrid origin and segregation and recombination may occur throwing surprises.
Neither is a satisfactory answer, the following plant is from ancient woodland (also with Arctium pubens but no other taxa). Lesser Burdock is very rare in VC64 and the location is outside the local range of Greater Burdock, also rare, so this plant has clearly not been derived in situ as a hybrid from these parents. It is possible that Lesser Burdock occurred historically, so if not Arctium pubens sens. str. can we contemplate a hybrid origin through a cross with the latter? A problem for another day.
Hayton Wood (VC64) - small flowered 'pseudo-minus' form, note long peduncles so not Lesser Burdock. Lesser Burdock is very rare in VC64 (and some records need revisiting)
The holy grail species! Inflorescence approaching corymbose. Completely unmistakable, based on my two encounters with this rare plant, with the combination of brilliant white woolly capitula and rich purple flowers. There are supposedly less hairy variants in Europe - hmmm, I can't comment but if Continental botanists face the same problems as UK botanists then perhaps this statement is best treated as equivocal. Don't believe the key in Sell & Murrell - a case of over-emphasising one trait that is not reliable - the inner involucral bracts can be hooked. Trust your eyes instead.
Castle Hills (VC64) - what a beauty!
Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa)
If this species is rare in your area and you are not familiar with it be careful, some forms of Arctium pubens have inflorescences and capitula redolent of this species. That said it is unlikely to cause problems. Large plants with a corymbose inflorescence and green glabrous or very sparsely pubescent capitula. Note the solid petiole is only of use for separating from Lesser and Wood Burdocks. It is not reliable for Arctium pubens.
Appleton Roebuck (VC64)
Appleton Roebuck (VC64) - note diffuse corymbose inflorescence
Appleton Roebuck (VC64)
Sunday, 24 July 2016
Carthusian Pink Still Going Strong in VC31
Carthusian Pink (Dianthus carthusianorum) has been known for nearly 15 years at Crown Lakes Country Park, Farcet. It was originally introduced here with wildflower seed sown during establishment of the Country Park in 1997 on land associated with a former brick works. Barry Dickerson recently refound this species at its only site in the county, and sent some photos.
Saturday, 23 July 2016
Its Burdock Season
The burdocks are back in bloom and its time to pick up where I left off last year. Hopefully, Wood Burdock (Arctium nemorosum) won't elude me much longer.
That said there is no doubt in my mind that Arctium pubens (please someone give it a common name) is very under-recorded and Wood Burdock and Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus sens. str.) are probably massively over-recorded. I find the former to be the most common Burdock in both VC31 and 64. More records please.
That said there is no doubt in my mind that Arctium pubens (please someone give it a common name) is very under-recorded and Wood Burdock and Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus sens. str.) are probably massively over-recorded. I find the former to be the most common Burdock in both VC31 and 64. More records please.
Arctium pubens
Thoughts on Viburnum trilobum
Volume 4 of Sell & Murrell introduced British botanists to American Guelder-rose (Viburnum trilobum). Setting aside whether or not it should be a subspecies of Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus) or a species in its own right, what is it? I've been pondering this for a few years. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a distinct form being mass-planted in our countryside, and this matches the 'long terminal lobe and sharp teeth' description given by Sell and Murrell. But where are the 'stalked glands' on the petiole? To my eyes the glands look no more or less stalked that our native species.
After finding this species again recently, I thought I would see what my Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs had to say on the matter. They also mention the glands but in an entirely different context, and perhaps this will stand closer scrutiny. The wording here is 'the petiole is only shallowly grooved and bears small glands. The petioles of Viburnum opulus are broadly grooved and bear large disc-like glands'.
I have no idea how our plants compare with the wild American plant. Do we have the pure form, or have our stocks been muddied in cultivation through contamination by Guelder-rose, and potentially Asian Guelder-rose (Viburnum sargentii) also? Given the mess of hawthorns appearing in the countryside, I suspect this is highly likely. It still merits recording though, even if we end up with a different solution from the one we started with.
After finding this species again recently, I thought I would see what my Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs had to say on the matter. They also mention the glands but in an entirely different context, and perhaps this will stand closer scrutiny. The wording here is 'the petiole is only shallowly grooved and bears small glands. The petioles of Viburnum opulus are broadly grooved and bear large disc-like glands'.
I have no idea how our plants compare with the wild American plant. Do we have the pure form, or have our stocks been muddied in cultivation through contamination by Guelder-rose, and potentially Asian Guelder-rose (Viburnum sargentii) also? Given the mess of hawthorns appearing in the countryside, I suspect this is highly likely. It still merits recording though, even if we end up with a different solution from the one we started with.
Tuesday, 19 July 2016
Flamborough Head (VC61)
Yet again I have escaped my VC for a long overdue trip to the seaside and it turned out to be a great day with brilliant sunshine and much of interest.
All along the cliff tops were the mats of the coastal form of Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum subsp. maritimum). Distinctive with its short height, contracted internodes and condensed panicle. The flowers are also a different shade of yellow to those of the common inland subspecies (subsp. verum), more straw yellow than buttercup yellow.
In rough grass and brambles at North Landing was this garden escape - Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus).
North Landing, Flamborough Head
Stottle Bank Nook, Flamborough Head
All along the cliff tops were the mats of the coastal form of Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum subsp. maritimum). Distinctive with its short height, contracted internodes and condensed panicle. The flowers are also a different shade of yellow to those of the common inland subspecies (subsp. verum), more straw yellow than buttercup yellow.
In rough grass and brambles at North Landing was this garden escape - Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus).
Another daisy, this time the native Sea Mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum subsp. maritimum), was abundant on cliff edges and faces, as well as down by the beach at North Landing.
Where arable farmland abuts the cliffs of Cradle Head there was a new plant for me - Hairy Buttercup (Ranunculus sardous) in its hundreds.
Even the thistles proved interesting with two distinct dwarf forms of coastal habitats. Its hard to judge if they are environmentally induced or if they are genetically distinct, but they were very uniform along kilometres of cliff edge. Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense var. maritimum) has single stems to knee height, highly convoluted leaves, and very a condensed inflorescence. While Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare var. litorale), second photo with the coastal glaucous form of Red Fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. juncea) was even smaller (see the Ribwort Plantain for scale) with a dense unbranched inflorescence.
Finally, lets end with a complete freak. This plant of Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata subsp. radicata) had all the ligulate flowers replaced with elongated tubular flowers, giving it a very striking look.
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Pirri-pirri-burr at Skipwith Common (VC61)
After a solid morning recording along the canal in Selby (VC64) I thought I deserved a bit of a break from my VC so headed over the border to Skipwith Common. This is a site I have been meaning to visit for a long time but have never quite made it.
It proved an interesting site if hard work for the botanist, while the habitats are of high quality they are not the most species-rich of British habitats. This non-native caught my eye growing in abundance along Sandy Lane, it has been recorded for the site before but apparently not from this tetrad. I had to be careful not get the burrs caught in my clothing as it would not be good to assist its spread elsewhere.
It proved an interesting site if hard work for the botanist, while the habitats are of high quality they are not the most species-rich of British habitats. This non-native caught my eye growing in abundance along Sandy Lane, it has been recorded for the site before but apparently not from this tetrad. I had to be careful not get the burrs caught in my clothing as it would not be good to assist its spread elsewhere.
Pirri-pirri-burr (Acaena novae-zelandiae)
Thursday, 14 July 2016
Wall Bedstraw - 1st for Yorkshire
Today threw a complete curve ball, where I was expecting one thing but found something completely different. Work took me to Kirkshaw Lane, Ferrybridge (VC63) to look at a pond (no water and lost to swamp) but my eye was draw to a little bedstraw growing on a vegetated track nearby. My mind quickly ran through the usual options and discounted them all, leaving only one unexpected option to which it ran down quite nicely in the keys - Wall Bedstraw (Galium parisiense).
This is an uncommon species nationally, particularly this far north, and the BSBI database does not appear to hold any other records for Yorkshire.
This is an uncommon species nationally, particularly this far north, and the BSBI database does not appear to hold any other records for Yorkshire.
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Water Bent in Leeds (VC64)
My lunch time walk along the north bank of the River Aire behind Concordia Street (upstream of Leeds Bridge) threw up several plants of Water Bent (Polypogon viridis) in the brickwork of the footpath immediately above the river. This seems to be only the second record for the county, and the first since my original find in Yeadon in 2010.
It must be more widespread in Leeds so I would be pleased to hear of other locations. It has the jizz of creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera) but the foliage is more stiffly erect, and the panicles are stockier and have a greenish tinge. It can also be found in full bloom in the depths of winter where there is a little heat radiating from buildings, so that is often a good time of year to spot it.
More images can be found here on the British Wildlflowers website.
It must be more widespread in Leeds so I would be pleased to hear of other locations. It has the jizz of creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera) but the foliage is more stiffly erect, and the panicles are stockier and have a greenish tinge. It can also be found in full bloom in the depths of winter where there is a little heat radiating from buildings, so that is often a good time of year to spot it.
Typical habit and habitat, photo by Ambroise Baker as posted on his blog
More images can be found here on the British Wildlflowers website.
Saturday, 9 July 2016
Day Trip to Lincolnshire
Today allowed a rare trip out of both the office and my home patch, with a trip to survey arable habitats near Scunthorpe. On paper the site did not look too promising and could easily have been a herbicide blasted monoculture (and to be fair much of it was), but first impressions can be deceiving and it soon threw up a range of species of interest. A few highlights below.
Corncockle (Agrostemma githago), surely not native but trying its best to give that impression.
The distinctive pods of Corncockle
A fine plant of Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Peony-flowered Opium Poppy (Paeoniflorum Group)
Rye Brome (Bromus secalinus) by the hundred in a wheat crop, not quite as far to seed as this photo by Kurt Stuber (Wikimedia Commons)
Young Giant Goosefoot (Chenopodium giganteum)?, while fat hen (Chenopodium album) can have the same pinky-purple staining these plants did not look quite right in leave shape and texture.
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