WFS Meeting Arnside and Silverdale April 15th 2006
Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved Toadflax - white form)
Daphne laureola (Spurge Laurel)
Saxifraga cymbalaria (Celandine Saxifrage)
Lathraea squamaria(Toothwort)
Daphne mezereum (Mezereon)
Leucojum aestivum ssp pulchellum (Summer Snowflake)
Descent of the Knott and on to Silverdale
From the top of the hill we quickly descended to a lane where nestling in the deep shade Julie pointed out Daphne laureola (Spurge Laurel). We were heading back to the cars for a short journey to Silverdale but first there were a few other plants to see. The white form of Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved Toadflax) was an unusual plant but were were disappointed when we arrived at a reliable site for Lathraea squamaria (Toothwort) as the gardeners and tidiers had been in attendance and removed this parasitic plant from its home under a tree.
You need to be lucky as well as observant when botanising and no sooner had we commiserated with Julie over the loss of the Toothwort than someone found another patch. There were several spikes of this plant which attaches itself to the roots of shrubs like Hazel and, being totally dependent on the host for nutrients, doesn't need any light for sugar synthesis and can grown happily in deep shade.
From here we made our way in shared cars to Silverdale where some took a look at the site of Eranthis hyemalis (Winter aconite). Even with this late Spring it was asking too much for there to be a remaining flower on this earliest of early Spring flowers and sure enough the plants were covered only in erect green fruits with no sign of even a dead flower.
From here we were taken to a dark lane where we saw Saxifraga cymbalaria (Celandine Saxifrage). This narrow lane was just wide enough for two slim people to pass with apologies and was not ideal for a meeting of the WFS several of whom had cameras and needed space to crouch and snap. After much queuing and failing to take a decent photo everyone was satisfied they had seen this small plant with its tiny flowers.
We also visited Silverdale Cove where many years ago I had found Ribes uva-crispa (Gooseberry) in flower on top of a wall facing the sea. It was still there and flowering too. A little way along a cliff path Julie pointed out Helleborus viridis (Green Hellebore) which had become inaccessible on the other side of a newly repaired wall. Julie also pointed out a developing spike of Atropa belladonna (Deadly nightshade) which would almost certainly be removed by some safety conscious passer-by when it flowered and fruited. A quick trip into Eve's Wood revealed Daphne mezereum (Mezereon) a shrub which rarely grows more than a few feet high and is easily missed in shade.
After showing us Carex digitata (Fingered Sedge) our last stop was not far from the site where the Cypripdium calceolus (Lady's-slipper orchid) will flower in summer. Through a fence in what look like a long abandoned garden, some Leucojum aestivum ssp pulchellum (Summer Snowflake) was in flower.
Bearing in mind the cold dull Spring and how much things had been late starting this was a hugely successful day meeting and our thanks go to Julie Clarke for organising it in such a beautiful part of the country.
Peter Llewellyn May 2006