Latest under lockdown

Latest sightings

I have been getting a steady stream of messages over the last few weeks as SBRS members continue to find interesting plants, even if that is just while on a fairly local walk. Having our compass somewhat reduced means that we can look closely at what we might otherwise have come to take for granted or think we have recorded thoroughly enough already. Inevitably, there is normally something of interest that appears once you start looking.

Near Hastings, a couple of weeks ago Ellen sent some pictures showing that Old Roar Ghyll has well and truly woken up:

Picture of Luzula sylvatica (Great Wood-rush)
Luzula sylvatica (Great Wood-rush)
Picture of Lathraea squamaria (Toothwort)
Lathraea squamaria (Toothwort)

Jacqui has been walking at East Chiltington and a Water-crowfoot caught her eye: “It had only capillary leaves, a hairy receptacle, petals more than 6 mm, and a circular nectar pit”. Richard Lansdowne, the national recorder, has confirmed it as Ranunculus aquatilis (Common Water-crowfoot). Though it might be common nationally, that is certainly not the case in Sussex, and is marked as “extinct?” in East Sussex in The Flora. Happily, that is no longer the case!

Picture of Ranunculus aquatilis (Common Water-crowfoot)
Ranunculus aquatilis (Common Water-crowfoot)
Picture of Ranunculus aquatilis (Common Water-crowfoot)
Ranunculus aquatilis (Common Water-crowfoot)

Down in Brighton, Ady has found a very splendid fumitory. She notes that “It is growing on the allotment of some friends of mine at the Tenantry Down allotment site on Race Hill, and seems to be Fumaria capreolata ssp capreolata forma speciosa, because the petals are turning bright red after pollination. R.J. Murphy in Fumitories of Britain and Ireland (BSBI handbook no 12) mentions this form as being recorded from the Channel Islands and as occurring sporadically around the Mediterranean. Stace doesn’t mention it as a separate form though.”

Picture of Fumaria capreolata ssp capreolata forma speciosa
Fumaria capreolata ssp capreolata forma speciosa

Finally, Peter mailed to highlight his record of Moenchia erecta (Upright Chickweed), which he found recently on Selmeston cricket field. He adds that “because of the lockdown the cricket field has been left unmown so far this year. The field is long established and Moenchia may well have been there for a good many years.” This is scarce in Sussex, and could well turn up on other recreation grounds.

Picture of Moenchia erecta (Upright Chickweed)
Moenchia erecta (Upright Chickweed)

Do let us know if you come across anything new or unusual while you are out walking in your local area. It is great to see that our botanising can continue, even if in a more constrained manner.

One thought on “Latest under lockdown

  • Hello, I recently moved into Sussex (Nuthurst), and as a long time but inactive BSBI member, I’d be interested in joining the group after the lockdown! I have been surveying our property; we are lucky enough to own a small piece of beautiful woodland with plentiful bluebells and anemones and other ancient woodland indicators, including to my delight 3 service trees. I have counted 117 species of plants so far, but I’d almost missed the most surprising: near the house amongst paving and gravel there is a group of what I’d thought were small Geranium robertianum, but now in flower they appear to me to be Geranium purpureum, however unlikely that sounds. The flowers are the correct size and shape as per the BSBI crib, and the pollen is pale yellow. There is no ripe fruit as yet, so I can’t yet absolutely confirm, but this is not a species I am familiar with. I’d be very happy to send some pictures for another opinion, as if true, even if they are certainly casuals, from the account and records in Flora of Sussex I think it’d be of note.

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