1997 Lancashire 5 - 6 July Main Meeting
Seventeen members met on a sunny but cool Saturday at Ainsdale Lake car park. Our leader was Vera Gordon, past v.c. recorder for South Lancashire, who handed everyone a long list of plants we were expected to see over the weekend. We set off north onto Birkdale sandhills, soon encountering much Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea-buckthom) which according to Vera is rapidly covering large areas of the dunes, but is favoured by ornithologists as it attracts many birds in the autumn which enjoy the soft, juicy, orange berries on the female plants. A long walk took us eventually to a national rarity, a large stand of Juncus balticus x inflexus. At a small pond nearby Ranunculus lingua (Greater Speanwort), Baldellia ranunculoides (Lesser Water-plantain) and Dactylorhiz.a incarnata ssp. incamata (Early Marsh-orchid) were admired. Walking back along the road. Campanula rapunculoides (Creeping Bellflower) was spotted, and Vera pointed out the distinguishing features of Oenothera glazioviana (Large- flowered Evening-primrose), namely the minute petal notching and the stigma much longer than the stamens. The party then made for the Lido, seeing Oenothera fallax (Intermediate Evening-primrose) and the impressive Bromopsis inermis (Hungarian Brome) en route. Here we found lan Lawrence, missing all morning, having got his car parks mixed up, and had lunch.
Our next area was Ainsdale sandhills where among many striking plants in one large dune slack we found Pamassia palustris var. condensata (Grass-of-Pamassus) and Centaurium littorale (Seaside Centaury). This was a beautiful dark pink colour and much debate ensued as to whether some taller, paler plants nearby were the hybrid with C. erythraea, which has been recorded from here. It was only later in the afternoon when we saw some good specimens of the other parent that we agreed it probably was. The star find of this area however was some fine plants of Epipactis leptochila var. dunensis (Narrow-lipped Helleborine) on a dry bank.
We then went by car to Hillside and the northern end of Birkdale sandhills, detouring to see the delicate Corynephorus canescens (Grey Hair-grass) at the edge of the golf course. Vera showed us Juncus balticus (Baltic Rush) and an unusual orchid was determined by Rodney Burton as Dactylorhiz,a incarnata ssp. pulchella, looking dominant among the smaller, pinker ssp. incarnata. In a wet area fenced off for Natterjack toads to breed we saw Typha x glauca and the very rare Schoenoplectus pungens (Sharp Club-rush). Before returning to our cars, already tired after walking across sand all day, Vera led us up a very steep dune where, on the ridge, she showed us Ambrosia psilostachya (Perennial Ragweed) sadly not yet in flower.
On the Sunday we met at the River Alt visitor centre in Hightown. Having admired a stand of Euphorbia x pseudovirgata (Twiggy Spurge) and some Thalictrum flavum(Common Meadow-rue) nearby, we headed south over the dunes. A single plant of Verbascum phlomoides (Orange Mullein) was spotted near the yacht club and on a large open area we admired a fine display of Potentilla recta (Sulphur Cinquefoil), fittingly named with its pastel-yellow petals. There was also one Bee Orchid and a few Oenothera biennis (Common Evening-primrose). By popular demand Vera then led us on a long walk to see some garden escapes, including Veronica austriaca (Large Speedwell) and V. longifolia (Garden Speedwell). Walking back along the beach, part of which is an eroded landfill site with smooth house bricks instead of shingle, we saw some fine maritime plants including Crambe maritima (Sea-kale), Glaucium flavum (Yellow-poppy), Eryngium maritimum (Sea-holly) and Salsola kali (Prickly Saltwort). The highlight here however was a group of Angelica archangelica (Garden Angelica) standing proudly above the scrub behind the foreshore.
Leaving here we travelled by car to Formby dunes to see Lathyrus tuberosus(Tuberous Pea), Verbascum densiflorum (Dense-flowered Mullein) and the rare hybrid Stork's-bill, Erodium x anaristatum (E. lebelii x E. cicutarium). Another short car ride took us to our final site, the National Trust red squirrel reserve at Freshfields. Having refreshed ourselves with ice-creams it was pleasant in such warm weather to walk in the shade of the pines to see another uncommon orchid, Epipactis phyllanthes (Green-flowered Helleborine). Only a few of the many plants had open flowers but it was interesting to compare their drooping character with the more patent appearance of the similar E. leptochila var. dunensis. At this point there was a slight problem and our party somehow split into two groups. Despite wandering over the dunes for a long time we were never reunited and we made our separate ways home. I understand that some members did manage to stay together long enough to be shown Salix x doniana (S. repens x S. purpurea) and Monotropa hypopitys (Yellow Bird's-nest).
This was an excellent weekend with many exciting plants and our thanks must go to Vera for her organisation and patience throughout.
MIKE SHAW