1995 The Lizard, Cornwall 3rd and 4th June Main Meeting
On Saturday morning 3 June, 26 members met their leader, Rose Murphy, on Lizard Green. After finding Trifolium ornithopodioides and Herniaria ciliolata on bare patches near the car-park area, we set off down the lane to Caerthillian Cove passing Fumaria occidentalis Mentha spicata, A!lium triquetrum. Gladiolus communis ssp. byzantinus, Ranunculus sardous and Carex muricata ssp. lamprocarpa. From the end of the lane we walked along the southern flank of the valley noting Bromus hordeaceus ssp. ferronii growing on a low wall. This route took us to the southern side of a spur of land noted for its rare clovers. The turf here was extremely thin and dry as a result of the recent hot weather, but we were able to find a few plants of Trifolium bocconei, T. striatum, and T. strictum as well as numbers of T. scabrum.
After lunch in Lizard village, we drove to Kynance and then set off northwards across the heath to a small serpentine knoll for Cytisus scoparius ssp. maritimus. Geranium sanguineum and Minuartia verna. On the heath we saw Viola lactea and V. lactea x riviniana. By the stream at Kynance Gate were Eleocharis quinqueflora, Cladium mariscus, Juncus inflexus and Osmunda regalis. Nearby, another south- facing slope carried Allium sclioenoprasum, Cicendia filiformis, Juncus capitatus, Orobanche alba and Radiola linoides.
We then made our way towards the cliffs just north of Kynance Cove to a muddy track where we were shown Ranunculus tripartitus. On reaching the cliffs we descended a little way to see Genista pilosa. Asparagus officinalis ssp. prostratus and a number of different forms of Asplenium adiantum-nigrum all influenced by the mineral content of the serpentine. A few enthusiasts broke the journey back to the Lizard village with a short walk to see Trifolium occidentale on the coast and Hypochaeris maculata on another serpentine outcrop.
The next morning was bright and sunny as we made our way to Lizard Point, first to see Disphyma crassifoliiim and then to walk along the coastal path towards the lighthouse. A little promontory yielded Lotus hispidus, Trifolium arvense and T. subterraneum. T. incarnatum ssp. molinerii was seen by a few on a really steep slope below the foghorn lighthouse, together with the best colonies of T. striatum. The latter part of the morning was spent walking down the lane to Church Cove. Roadside finds were Briza maxima and Acanthus mollis. Landewednack church porch still carries Adiantum capillus-veneris and Asplenium marinum, despite having been repointed. Near the cove we were shown Vicia lutea and, on the way back, Vicia bithynica. Lunch was had in a lay-by at Traboe Cross and then we visited a site for Juncus pygmaeus which, quite unexpectedly, was in flower early this year.
The final location for the weekend was Coverack. Here we walked along the coastal path to see Melittis melissophyllum in full flower, one plant of Pinguicula lusitanica in a damp ditch and Carex punctata in flushes on low coastal cliffs.
I am sure all those at the meeting will wish to join me in thanking Rose Murphy for a very enjoyable weekend during which we saw many of the special plants of this unique area.
ROY HILTON