Sunday Surprises

My best find of this weekend was strictly speaking a Saturday Surprise, but the iPhone was rubbish at taking pictures so I had to go back again today. I found a nice stand of Bithynian Vetch (Vicia bithynica) in flower at the edge of St Aidan's not far from Caroline Bridge. Unfortunately it was in VC63, but you can't have everything! This is the first time I have seen this species in this area since 2012, and then I only got to see it in fruit. I am surprised that it flowers so early, its almost over for the year.

Just as interesting really, and definitely found today, was Wall Bedstraw (Galium parisiense) elsewhere in St Aidan's (VC63). I had hoped this would turn up eventually as conditions look great for it. It is a species that seems to be on the increase with records elsewhere in West Yorkshire in recent years, as well as a stronghold in the Scunthorpe area. No photo though, as yet to flower.

Down by the river near Lowther Lake (VC64) I came across a large and distinctive hogweed with hairy petioles. This is the hybrid between the native plant (Heracleum sphondylium) and Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum sens. lat.). Satisfyingly intermediate. As can be seen, I struggled to get the leaf in frame due to its size (that and restricted scope for movement given care was needed not to tangle with any of the surrounding Giant Hogweed).

Heading on to The Lines in Great Preston (VC64), I found a large sprawl of Himalayan Clematis (Clematis montana).  I was surprised later to discover that this was the first VC record.

Elsewhere in the village the pavement cracks were full of the diminutive variety of Fringed Pearlwort (Sagina filicaulis var. minor). This is proving widespread, and extending the season for this species in my eyes. As stated in a previous post, this is a species I more typically expect in summer when it is apparent as a more robust form.

Ending what proved a productive walk was a bush of Large-sepalled Hawthorn (Crataegus rhipidophylla) near Fleakingley Bridge (VC64) that I had not noticed previously. Not as common as its hybrid, but still widespread in the local area. An odd flower (out of 10's checked) had 2 stigmas rather than just one, but apparently this is not unknown for this species so I had to rapidly discount any thoughts this might be the hybrid with Midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata).

Patch Botanising

May is such a beautiful month that it seems criminal to waste a sunny day and not get out to enjoy the vibrancy of spring. So with no specific plans in mind I decided to take one of my usual routes round the village to St Aidan's and back.

There was nothing ground-breaking but it is great to see the grasslands and lake margins at St Aidan's coming into peak growth. Another two to three weeks and it will be a carpet of flowers.

However, it was good to find some of the nominate variety of Crack Willow (Salix x fragilis nothovar. fragilis). Its a great time to be looking for the varieties as trees are in catkin and the leaves are mature enough to avoid potential confusion with White Willow (Salix alba). Nothovar. fragilis seems very under-recorded, no doubt in part because when it is not in catkin it is the most nondescript of the nothovars, making it hard to have confidence in the ID. In the case of the local trees they are male, so can only be this nothovar. The only other similar male form (nothovar. furcata) has forked catkins.

The margins of the lakes and meadows have been sown with a variety of supposedly native species, but prevailing as non-native fodder forms. In peak bloom at the moment is Fodder Salad-burnet (Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearica). A relatively tall form, with large flower heads longer than wide. I found it a challenge to get a decent photo, being left with just a couple out of 20 plus attempts.

The bicolour flowers of Common Vetch (Vicia sativa subsp. segetalis) were also much in evidence.

Elsewhere the two mature trees of a robust cultivar of Bird Cherry (Prunus padus 'Watereri') - relicts from a former colliery planting - were flowering well. I find it hard to believe this is not of hybrid origin. I am not the first to think this but I can find no evidence that this has ever been tested.  It was once a popular plant for landscaping schemes, but in recent years the wild type has become the prevailing form planted. Not surprising given that the latter is a much more charming tree in comparison with this rather ungainly cultivar. Note the large leaves and long racemes (pencil in the photo is 15cm long).

A surprising plant this far down the Aire valley and out in the open on a ditch bank was a large clump of Greater Wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica). As this site is important flood storage in winter, I can only assume that it arrived with flood water.

On the way back home a garden throw-out by the marina gave me a new patch record, and the first hectad record in the DDB since before 1993. Round-leaved Mint (aka Pineapple Mint) was found under trees in its variegated form (Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata').

Photo by KENPEI (Wikimedia Commons)

Recent News - Huntingdonshire

Brian Davis has been to Kimbolton Airfield and refound the Nationally Scarce Slender Tare (Vicia parviflora) after a 20 year gap of records from the relevant tetrad. This species should be kept at the back of ones mind at this time of year when botanising on the clays across the centre of the county, particularly if there is lots of Smooth Tare (Vivia tetrasperma). It often grows with and is disguised by this latter species.

Brian sent the following compare and contrast image which, while I'm sure he won't mind me saying isn't a classically great photo, does show the characteristics of the species (albeit with no mature seed pods to show >4 seeds per pod in parviflora) much better than the multitude of photos viewable via Google.

Slender Tare (left) versus Smooth Tare (right)

Brian also refound Sulphur Clover (Trifolium ochroleucon), another notable, albeit much diminished in recent years, species of the Huntingdonshire clays.

Photo as published on Wikimedia Commons by Bernd Haynold

Meanwhile, Barry Dickerson has been to a favourite spot on his local patch - the area known as railway meadow. This site continues to develop botanical interest and the orchids are thriving this year.

Barry reports 13 Common Spotted-orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), 72 Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera), 135 Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis) and a single Southern-orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa). A photo of a fine stand of Pyramidals was sent by Barry and is presented below.

Finally, Jane Croft has followed up my tip-off on the presence of Thick-leaved Stonecrop (Sedum dasyphyllum) at Buckden Towers, and immediately returned news of its presence in the Knot Garden. I have seen this species previously on the old wall by the main gate and on the ground by the church. This is the only known site in the county and it was first reported here in 1762. Jane sends this photo.

The tenure of the stonecrop has been nearly as long as that of the magnificent London Plane (Platanus x hispanica) in the grounds. These enormous trees are likely to be the oldest in the country and deserve to be better known. More information is available here.

Recent Highlights from Huntingdonshire

A few recent records sent in by others. Barry Dickerson has found a new site for Adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) at St Neots, where 31 plants were seen in grassland by the railway. Barry provided the following photo.

Barry also reports and sends pictures of a white-flowered Common Vetch (Vicia sativa) seen at Hampton Newt Reserve. White-flowered plants turn up occasionally and sometimes form small colonies, where they can cause initial confusion.

Peter Walker has been busy in the south of the county. Unfortunately I cannot disclose locations, as this is a requirement of his access permission, but he reports a new location for Soft Shield-fern (Polystichum setiferum), as well as 100's of Herb-Paris (Paris quadrifolia). The latter updates a location for this county rarity where it was last reported in 1978, so an excellent find.

 Photo by BerndH as published on Wikimedia Commons