1998 Thorpeness Suffolk 6th June One Day Meeting
After one of the most discouraging of forecasts, with a single black cloud centred over Thorpeness on the BBC's weather map, six intrepid botanists met in the car park at Thorpeness on 6 June to be welcomed by a somewhat windy day with occasional bursts of sunshine. Thus encouraged, we made a 'bottoms up' survey of the grassy areas around the car park and along the coast (no need for any other signs to direct late comers to our group) and were rewarded with eight clovers, including Trifolium glomeratum (Clustered Clover), T. ornithopodioides (Fenugreek Clover), T. scabrum (Rough Clover), T. striatum (Knotted Clover), T. subterraneum(Subterranean Clover) and T. suffocatum (Suffocated Clover), and four medicks including Medicago minima (Bur Medick) and M. polymorpha (Toothed Medick). Grasses found included Catapodium rigidum (Fern Grass), Koeleria cristata (Crested Hair-grass), Phleum arenarium (Sand Cat's-tail), swollen bulbils of Poa bulbosa(Bulbous Meadow-grass) and Vulpia fasciculata (Dune Fescue). Other interesting plants in this sandy area along the coast included Crassula tillaea (Mossy Stonecrop), Erodium lebelii (Sticky Stork's-bill), Leontodon saxatilis (Lesser Hawkbit), Lepidium heterophyllum (Smith's Pepperwort), a very fine specimen of Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid), Sanguisorba minor ssp. muricata (Fodder Bumet), Silene conica (Sand Catchfly) and a form of Sonchus oleraceus (Smooth Sow-thistle) with blue tinges on the buds and outer ligulate flowers, to which we could find no reference in the floras. Nearer the sea was abundant Eryngium maritimum (Sea Holly), Glaucium flavum(Yellow Homed Poppy) and Lathyrus japonicus (Sea Pea) with occasional large plants of Cakile maritima (Sea Kale). In a marshy area some 200 metres from the shore we found Ophioglossum vulgatum (Common Adder's-tongue) and Dactylorhiza praetermissa (Southern Marsh Orchid). A very well satisfied party dispersed for much needed cups of tea.
F. LUPTON