London Meeting June 30th to 2nd July 2006
Campanula persicifolia(Peach-leaved Bellflower)
Crataegus persimilis(Broad-leaved Cockspurthorn)
Veronica longifolia (Garden Speedwell)
Oenothera glazioviana (Large-flowered Evening-primrose)
Oenanthe pimpinelloides(Corky-fruited Water-dropwort)
Potentilla intermedia(Russian Cinquefoil)
Cotoneaster atropurpureus (Purple-flowered Cotoneaster)
Tragopogon pratensis (Goat's-beard)
2nd July : South London Nature reserve
In the grassland there were were quite a few plants of Campanula persicifolia (Peach-leaved Bellflower) in full flower. We had seen this at St Ann's Church at Kew but here in grassland it seemed to be a genuinely naturalised plant rather than an escape which may or may not survive a few years.
Also a plant which quite a few of number form the South of England thought nothing about but which is scarcely seen in the north was the umbellifer Oenanthe piminelloides (Corky-fruited Water-dropwort) and near it but not in flower a small plant with vicious looking spines. We determined this later to be Crataegus persimilis (Broad-leaved Cockspurthorn) which had been on our list of plants to see at this site.
A walk along the edge of the reserve past scrub and very chalky looking clearings eventually led to a patch where Potentilla intermedia (Russian Cinquefoil) was in flower. Nearby were some handsome spikes of Veronica longifolia (Garden speedwell) and prostrate over a rocky bank Cotoneaster atropurpureus (Purple-flowered Cotoneaster) which didn't have any flowers. As a delightful ending to the trip Phil Budd spied a large clump of Anthyllis vulneraria (Kidney vetch) on which various insects flitted including a butterfly I hadn't seen before: Cupido minimus (Small Blue).
This was the end of our our London meeting and we thanked Ron for his patience and determination in taking us to so many different sites with such interesting plants. London may be known to many as a place with the bustle of a large City but this meeting has provided a new perspective on "The Smoke" as a haven for wildlife.
Back to Sutton station and a quick look round the car park showed quite a few flowers, photographs of which I'd taken in the morning including Tragopogon pratensis (Goat's-beard or Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon) and several plants of Oenothera glazioviana ( Large-flowered Evening-primrose).