Black-fruited Hawthorns

I have blogged previously about some of the more unusual hawthorns gradually filling up our countryside, and I always like to keep my eyes open at this time of year for anything that might be different. Some recent finds are still defeating a name.

Last Sunday I was caught a little by surprise when I looked up into a hedgerow near Skelton Lake (VC64) and saw a lot of large black fruit dangling down. These were very succulent, with red-tinged flesh under the skin. Further examination revealed 3 pyrenes per fruit. So instantly my brain was thinking, and regardless of the common name, Five-seeded Hawthorn (Crataegus pentagyna). This species has 3 to 5 pyrenes. This identification was later confirmed at home using a combination of Sell & Murrell and the monograph by Christensen. If I'm honest the latter seems to be a little more user-friendly, and perhaps more representative of the variation present in this genus of notoriously variable species. But both are useful, and its nice to be able to compare and contrast.

Further on I found another bush with comparable fruit but very different foliage. I initially thought it was a hybrid, but it just seems to be a variant of the species (most hawthorn species being highly variable).

Chenopodium rubrum var. pseudobotryoides

It really has been an exceptional year for investigating the drawdown zones of my local lakes (Skelton and St Aidan's, VC64) in south Leeds. Even now, at mid-September, they have been continuing to throw interest with the best numbers for several years of Golden Dock (Rumex maritimus) and Nodding Bur-marigold (Bidens cernua).

The latest surprise, as of last weekend, was the abundance of the dwarf decumbent form of Red Goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum var. pseudobotryoides) at St Aidan's. September really is its season. I've blogged about this plant before when I found it at Eccup Reservoir, and this is the first time I have seen it since then. I believe this may be its first appearance at St Aidan's, certainly I have not noticed it in previous years.

While the evidence is slim there does seem be some indication that this variety has a genetic basis, and that it is not just a response to environment and season. Certainly it is hard to believe it could suddenly turn into the typical plant. I think points in its favour are that when it occurs it does so with great uniformity and often in its 100's, and it coexists with late germinating plants of the typical form which are very small but otherwise perfectly typical.

The stem is characteristically a vivid red, but the leaves are not always this yellow, I think these plants have either been hit by recent cool nights or are running to seed. Given it leaves it so late into the season to appear, it probably lives fast and dies young.

Finally, I can't really mention Golden Dock without including a photograph. So ...

Curiosities Part II

Mike Wilcox and Jesse Tregale were botanising at Swinsty Resevoir this weekend and came across this oddball. A completely glabrous Marsh Cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum). Jesse subsequently tracked down the name var. glabrum in Wolley-Dod's1970 Flora of Sussex. Probably more a chance mutation than a true variety, but a fine plant nonetheless and it will be interesting to see if it breeds true and persists over-coming years.

Spotted Spurge New for VC31

Its good to have some news from Huntingdonshire. Alan Leslie sends details of Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata) found growing in the corner of the car park at Waresley garden centre in the far south of the county. This is a species that seems to be on the spread, particularly in urban habitats. One to look out for over coming years.

The following photograph, showing the plant in typical habitat, is by Stefan Lefnaer as published on Wikimedia Commons.

The Draw of Drawdown

Mike Wilcox sent me interesting news this week that left with me with mixed feelings. He had popped over to Skelton Lake, part of my local patch, and found Mudwort (Limosella aquatica) - a cracking find and the first for the Aire Valley (at least in living memory if not all time). I was pleased because I had been expecting and hoping that this species would turn up, tempered by annoyance that if my weekend walk had taken a slightly different route then I would have got it first!

So naturally I went for a look this weekend and to take a few pictures. In so doing, I was able to extend it even further into the VC64 part of the lake.

Mudwort habitat

This really has been an exceptional year at this site, with water levels dropping consistently over the summer. In recent years rain in summer has re-filled the lake, putting an end to the drawdown season before it had fully got going. The Mudwort has joined the other recent cracking finds of Grass-poly (Lythrum hyssopifolium) and Golden Dock (Rumex maritimus).

A range of other species were putting on a good show. Including this really robust Persicaria. I really wanted this to be something different, it is so striking with its spotted robust stem, distinct nodes, multiple stems arising straight from the root stock and decumbent at the base, and sub-glabrous leaves. But I had to face facts, it was just a form of "Pink" Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolium subsp. lapathifolium - in my view the circumscription of this in Flora Nordica seems more usable than the more recent one in Sell & Murrell, which under-describes the diversity of the two subspecies). Normally a plant this distinct and forming a distinct population would merit a name (of whatever rank), but the trouble with the Persicaria's is that they are autogamous, throwing up new variants which then breed true. Perhaps if its more widespread ... let me know if you've seen it elsewhere.

It was also nice to see the "Intermediate" Plantain (Plantago major subsp. intermedia), making its 2018 appearance on the strandline.

Unexpected, and again first seen by Mike, was this sunflower (Helianthus annuus).

All this, without mentioning the knotgrasses. That's a subject for another day, but as a taster, Polygonum microspermum. A delightfully dinky species with blue-tinged foliage and tiny flowers. Seems quite a reasonable split to me, especially when seen growing in the 100's.

Spatterdock

The Spatterdock (Nuphar advena) at the pond on the edge of Oulton Park (VC63), seems to have enjoyed the heat this year. I don't think I have ever seen it quite so luxuriant. Not a common plant but worth looking out for elsewhere, along with other aquatics as they start to come into their own.

  

Sinacalia tangutica

After some time out there is a lot of news to catch-up on, so I'm going to try and post a few snippets over coming days as time allows.

First up was this intriguing find from Town Beck in Addingham. It had me stumped, but the final verdict was Chinese Ragwort (Sinacalia tangutica), thanks to Clive Stace via Mike Wilcox. A new one on me. I found 3 plants scattered mid-channel. Mike Wilcox went for a look and found a few more heading upstream, and also some larger clumps further downstream towards Low Mill Village. Somewhere upstream there must be a garden with the parent plant.