1998 Somerset 2 August One Day Meeting
On Sunday 2 August I led a party of approximately 25 botanists on a hot sunny day around Berrow Dunes and golf course to explore the rich flora. The area is exceptionally good for Evening-primroses. Oenothera cambrica (Small-flowered Evening-primrose), 0.stricta (Fragrant Evening-primrose), 0. glazioviana (Large- flowered Evening-primrose) and 0. biennis (Common Evening-primrose) were seen with the main key features being pointed out. There was an abundance of Vulpia fusciculata (Dune Fescue) and Festuca rubra (Red Fescue) and one plant of the hybrid between the two x Festulpia hubbardii was seen, though somewhat past its best. Having seen it earlier in the year the parentage could be readily identified.
The main aim of the day was to see Juncus subulatus (Somerset Rush) which by chance only grows a few yards in from the edge of the large reedbed, but on the golf course side. Unable to get permission to walk along the edge of the golf course, I managed to cut a path through the reedbed which made it somewhat easier for the party, especially as there were several inches of water to wade in. The salt marsh produced Juncus maritimus (Sea Rush), J. acutus (Sharp Rush), Carex extensa (Long-bracted Sedge) and three spikes of Hordeum marinum (Sea Barley). On the drier areas nearby, Centaurium pulchellum and C. erythraea (Lesser and Common Centaury) were seen. Back on the golf course a couple of patches of Crocosmia paniculata (Aunt-Eliza) was a delightful sight and in a marshy area nearby Carex divisa (Divided Sedge) was seen in its only Somerset site. In another marshy area just the other side of a patch of Sea Buckthorn was the very rare Scirpoides holoschoenus (Round-headed Club-rush) in perfect condition. To finish the morning off a couple of hybrid docks were pointed out, Rumex x abortivus (R. conglomeratus x R. obtusifolius) and R. x pratensis (R. crispus x R. obtusifolius).
After lunch the group met at Ford Common to have a look at the aquatic plants of several rhynes. Various Potamogeton species (Pondweeds) and other waterweeds were seen, as well as a single specimen of Azolla filiculoides (Water Fern) and five Duckweeds, Lemna minor (Common Duckweed), L. minuta (Lesser Duckweed), L. trisulca (Ivy-leaved Duckweed), Spirodela polyrhiza (Greater Duckweed) and the minute Wolffia arrhiza (Rootless Duckweed) which is more like a green piece of grit. On the banks of the rhynes several plants of Petroselinum segetum (Corn Parsley) were seen nicely in flower and fruit.
Stop three was back on the dunes, this time to see a wonderful display of a garden plant that has become well established, Gaillardia x grandiflora (Blanket- flower), as well as Hirschfeldia incana (Hoary Mustard) and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Perennial Wall-rocket). The final stop of the day was a visit to Brean Down. Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) and Orobanche hederae (Ivy Broomrape) were well past their best. Erodium maritimum (Sea Stork's-bill) was sort of flowering but Helianthemum apenninum (White Rock-rose) and Hypericum montanum (Pale St John's-wort) each still had a couple of flowers left. Lots of leaves of Carex humilis(Dwarf Sedge) were seen and several good specimens of Koeleria vallesiana (Somerset Hair-grass) were found. To finish the day, a few plants of Marrubium vulgare (White Horehound) were spotted still in flower.
IAN GREEN