2004 Thamesmead 21st August One Day Meeting
Nine members joined the leader John O'Reilly for a look at the flora of brownfield sites along the side of the River Thames together with associated wasteland areas. Our first plant of interest Senecio inaequidens (narrow-leaved ragwort) on the road verge was a good start and was to be a frequent species throughout the day. We continued on through a housing estate to the river where Rumex cristatus (Greek dock), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), Melilotus indica (small melilot) and Conyza sumatrensis (Guernsey fleabane) were the most interesting out of a varied list of waste ground species.
Further along we entered an area known as Tripcock Park site of the old Woolwich Arsenal now bulldozed flat but containing a very good flora. Three Conyza species bilbaoana, sumatrensis and canadensis occur and provided us with the chance to distinguish between them. Cyperus eragrostis (pale galingale), Polypogon monspeliensis (annual beard-grass), Lotus glaber (narrow-leaved bird's- foot-trefoil), Datura stramonium (thorn-apple), Solanum nigrum (black nightshade) and Malva neglecta (dwarf mallow) added further interest in this area that would certainly repay further study. Continuing our walk towards Cross Ness produced many other interesting species with a flowering spike of Verbascum lychnitis (white mullein), three plants of Echinops sphaerocephalus (glandular globe-thistle), a spreading plant of Citrullus lanatus (water melon) and the full flowering plants of Mirabilis jalaba (marvel of Peru) with both yellow and red flowers on the same plant proved a fitting end to the river walk.
Turning for home, more records were entered on to site cards as we slowly made our way back along the top of the London Sewer after a long but enjoyable day. Our thanks go to John and Clare for yet another well-organised and educational field trip.
PETER FOLLETT