2000 West Sussex 26 - 27 August Main Meeting
Twenty members gathered at the pre-arranged meeting place, a car park just below the Iron Age fort ofCissbury Ring at Findon, West Sussex. Unfortunately, the weather was less than summery, in fact, it was persistent rain. We first set off along the path to the fort. One side of the path consisted of scrub and small trees, the other a recently harvested field. Here we saw a good variety of cornfield weeds, among them Anthemis cotula (Stinking Chamomile), Kickxia elatine (Sharp-leaved Fluellen) and Euphorbia exigua (Dwarf Spurge). Also along the field margin were several plants of Verbena officinalis (Vervain) and Senecio erucifolius (Hoary Ragwort). Further up the path was a splendid specimen of Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) showing a good number of shiny black berries, and several bushes of Euonymus europaeus (Spindle). At the top of the path we came to an area of chalk grassland, some closely cropped, some much longer, giving Scabiosa columbaria (Small Scabious), Centaurium erythraea (Common Centaury), Briza media (Quaking-grass) and Phleum bertolonii (Smaller Cat's-tail).
Upon entering the fort, we were shown a smallish patch of Eyebnght which had been identified as Euphrasia nemorosa x pseudokerneri by the BSBI Euphrasia referee, Dr Alan Silverside. The banks of the outer ditch of the fort yielded Inula conyzae (Ploughman's-spikenard), Leontodon hispidus (Rough Hawkbit), Asperula cynanchica (Squinancywort), Hippocrepis comosa (Horseshoe Vetch), Clinopodium vulgare (Wild Basil) and another Euphrasia. This time the flowers were very tiny, the whole plant being no more than three cm at the most. This, too, had been seen by the referee and he had identified it as Euphrasia confusa. A little further on we passed an area of woodland near to which there was a small patch of Erica cinerea (Bell Heather): our leader had explained previously that there was evidence of leaching in this area. This was confirmed when we later found Veronica officinalis (Heath Speedwell).
Cissbury Ring, in good weather, is an excellent location for butterflies. Despite the rain we did see a roosting Common Blue, a Gatekeeper and a Meadow Brown.
At this point we returned to the cars for a well-earned lunch and dry-oft. After lunch we drove to Shoreham by Sea and took a path along the tidal river bank to an area of tidal salt marsh. This had both the rayless form and the rayed form of Aster tripolium (Sea Aster). We also found Puccinellia maritima (Common Saltmarsh-grass), Atriplex portulacoides (Sea-purslane), Spartina anglica (Common Cord-grass) and two Glassworts, Salicornia ramosissima (Purple Glasswort) and S. europaea (Common Glasswort). Along the path we came across a good patch of Seriphidium maritimum (Sea Wormwood) growing with Plantago maritima (Sea Plantain), and in adjacent grass a few plants of Petroselinum segetum (Corn Parsley), Spergularia marina (Lesser Sea-spurrey) and Torilis nodosa (Knotted Hedge-parsley), demonstrating its hedgehog-like fruits. Many birds, including Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Redshank were busy on the tidal mud and shingle. In the salt marsh on the north side of the river we found Limonium vulgare (Common Sea-lavender). Our route back to the car park took us through an area of derelict riverside land with Hirschfeldia incana (Hoary Mustard), Consolida ajacis (Larkspur) and Conyza canadensis (Canadian Fleabane).
We then moved on to an area of relic dune on the Shoreham beach spit where we were lucky enough to find Petrorhagia nanteuilii (Childing Pink) still in flower, together with Atriplex littoralis (Grass-leaved Orache), Honckenya peploides (Sea Sandwort) and two Elytrigias, E. juncea (Sand Couch) and E. atherica (Sea Couch). Our final location of the day was a lay-by on the A283 just north of the Old Seeding cement works where we were shown a large colony of - Senecio inaequidens (Narrow-leaved Ragwort). At this point we departed, some to see other plants, some to hot showers or baths, and some in search of food. At least the weather had been drier in the afternoon.
Sunday dawned much brighter and warmer when we reassembled at the entrance to Amberley Wild Brooks. It was agreed that we would walk along the central public footpath to the farthest point before commencing serious botanising. The first plant we saw was Leersia oryzoides (Cut-grass). This species is now much reduced in its distribution, with Sussex being its strongest principal stronghold. The same can be said for another rare plant we saw, Potamogeton acutifolius (Sharp-leaved Pondweed). Other species seen included Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (Frogbit), Sagittaria sagittifolia (Arrowhead), Potamogeton trichoides (Hairlike Pondweed), Carex pseudocyperus (Cyperus Sedge), C. acuta (Slender Tufted-sedge) and two Elodeas, E. canadensis (Canadian Waterweed) and E. nuttallii (Nuttall's Waterweed). Retracing our steps, we came to a sluice which we crossed, following the edge of the dyke to the main River Arun. Along this ditch were both Bidens tripartita (Trifid Bur-marigold) and B. cernua (Nodding Bur-marigold), together with Oenanthe aquatica (Fine-leaved Water-dropwort) Galium palustre ssp. elongatum (Upright Marsh Bedstraw) and the hybrid Schoenoplectus x kuekenthalianus (S. triqueter x S. tabemaemontani). Following the river a short distance produced a single specimen of Slum latifolium (Greater Water Parsnip) and an adjacent ditch afforded good close views of Stellaria palustris (Marsh Stitchwort). Unlike the previous morning, the sun brought out several butterflies, including Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and at least eight Clouded Yellows. After lunch we made a short diversion to see a single plant of Lonicera xylosteum (Fly Honeysuckle) at Amberley Mount, one of the few localities where it is considered native. Finally, we visited the basin of the Chichester Canal. The main purpose of this choice of location was to search for Elodea callitrichoides (South American Waterweed). Unfortunately, the only submerged plant located was Callitriche hamulata (Intermediate Water- starwort).
It was agreed that everyone had had an enjoyable weekend.
PAUL HARMES