2001 Kent 8- 10 June Main Meeting
Early birds foregathered on Friday evening to explore the pools and roadside by some flooded gravel pits at Snodland. Identification of grasses was soon in progress. Bromus hordeaceus (Soft Brome) was much in evidence, but Geoffrey Kitchener, our leader, pointed out a smaller companion. By measurement of the lemmas, this was determined as Bromus x pseudothominei (Lesser Soft Brome). An interesting find was x Festulolium loliaceum the hybrid between Meadow Fescue and Rye Grass, which can be looked for where the two grow together. Being by the water meant there were many willows and their hybrids to stimulate discussion as a distraction from my favourite Hottonia palustris ("Water Violet).
Saturday saw us on the chalk at Mill Wood. We saw many plants typical of this habitat. Orchis purpurea (Lady Orchid) Helleborus foetidus (Stinking Hellebore) and Daphne laureola (Spurge Laurel) to name but a few. There was much alien invasion in the form of Cotoneaster, Berberis and Pyracantha species, probably bird sown and colonising after the great storms of the late 1980s. Prize of the day was a specimen of Althaea hirsuta (Rough Marsh Mallow), known in the area since around 1790. We repaired to the Medway Valley Leisure Park for lunch. Among the McDonalds and the nightspots was a view of the river and a great swathe of Bolboschoenus maritimus (Sea Clubrush) prominent over other saltmarsh plants. A bank of yellow crucifers held our concentration and among them was that South African interloper the composite Senecio inaequidens (Narrow-leaved Ragwort). This plant has been gradually adjusting its cycle from southern hemisphere to northern as it makes its successful way across Europe - coming shortly to waste places near you. Our last stop took us to a recently disused chalkpit 'twixt Cuxton and Strood. Again there was the mix between native and alien colonisers. Six types of Cotoneaster grew among the many orchids. Everyone was delighted to see good colonies of Orchis apifera (Bee Orchid) but the search was on for much smaller treasures. Vulpia unilateralis(Mat-grass Fescue) is a very slender little annual grass with a one-sided, spike- like raceme. It colonises dry, thin, disturbed soils and while it can grow up to 30 cms ours was nearer to five. It was found right on the edge of a very long drop into the quarry floor, an exciting end to a grand day.
Derek and Lorna Holland prospected Sunday's excursion and we began at West Mailing. Chaenorhinum origanifolium (Mailing Toadflax) has been known on the walls of the Abbey since the 1880s, but it was easier to examine and photograph in Frog Lane opposite. Further along the road, where it goes under the A26, was the location for Rumex x pratensis a hybrid dock, and a most peculiar colony of Tree Lupins. White and purple forms were there with the usual yellow as well as bi-coloured representatives; most intriguing. Eventually we moved on to Teston picnic site where the river had taken part in the winter's excesses, flooding our car park to a depth of two metres. Here we found Puccinellia distans (Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass) growing on the side of the A20. At this site we could compare Equisetum fluviatile (Water Horsetail) with E. telmateia (Great Horsetail) and differentiate Glyceriafluitans (Floating Sweet-grass) from G. notata (Plicate Sweet-grass) by the branching of the panicles and by measurement of the lemmas and anthers. Afterwards we moved to Ditton Quarry, a more settled site than yesterday's. Chalk grass species were evident; Festuca brevipila (Hard Fescue) was growing with F. rubra ssp. megastachys (Red Fescue) while Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail) was everywhere. On the side of the quarry was a lone Verbascum lychnitis (White Mullein) where Lorna assured us that they were prolific last year. Best find was a burgeoning colony of Filago vulgaris, the far from common Common Cudweed.
Finally we called at Queensdown Warren. Reputedly given by Henry II to Queen Eleanor, this area was worked as a commercial rabbit warren from early Plantagenet days. It is a wonderful place for orchids and today we saw a fine array of Gymnadenia conopsea (Fragrant Orchid) all across the slope, with occasional Aceras anthropophorum (Man Orchid). There was much Cynoglossum officinale (Houndstongue) over the site and two small colonies of Salvia pratensis (Meadow Clary) to examine. This last visit was a truly grand climax to a wonderful weekend's botany.
BILL and CAROL HAWKINS