London Meeting June 30th to 2nd July 2006

Carpinus betulus Carpinus betulus(Hornbeam)

Alnus cordata Alnus cordata(Italian Alder)

Berteroa incana Berteroa incana (Hoary Alison)

Bunias orientalis Bunias orientalis (Warty Cabbage)

Robinia pseudoacacia Robinia pseudoacacia(False Acacia)

Medicago falcata Medicago falcata(Sickle Medick)

Securigera varia Securigera varia (Crown Vetch)

Lepidum draba Lepidum draba (Hoary Cress)

1st July : Mudchute Park

Continuing our tour of this public space we found even more interesting plants most of which were non natives of course - but this is what London meetings are famous for.

A Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam) in full fruit hung over the path and the light yellow-green leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia (False Acacia) were obvious although no flowers could be seen at this time of year.

Much nearer was an Alnus cordata (Italian Alder) on which we could clearly see the cordate leaves and with female cones much larger than the more familiar Alnus glutinosa (Alder).

We almost passed by a yellow pea plant which on examinant ion turned out to be Medicago falcata (Sickle Medick) growing not very far from the distinctive pinky-purple blooms of Securigera varia ( Crown Vetch).

A couple of special plants were shown to us next. The first Berteroa incana (Hoary Alison) we would definitely have missed without our trusty leader Ron. The plant was hidden in the grass and the small white flower heads do not have leaves which can be easily seen in the vegetation.

The second was Bunias orientalis (Warty Cabbage) which apart from its large leaves looks much like any other yellow crucifer but close-to you can see warts of the fruits which presumably give the plant its name.

Finally just before taking lunch in the shade of some trees on what was becoming a very hot day indeed, we were shown a diminutive white crucifer by the edge of the path. This was the rarer sub species of Lepidum draba (Hoary Cress) the common form of which is seen by roadside throughout the country in late Spring. This ssp chalapense has brighter green leaves and although there were none to be seen on these particular plants, the shape of the fruits distinguishes this rarer casual from the common sub species.