2005 Benfleet Essex 26th June One Day Meeting
Overcast skies and cooler temperatures were welcomed by the nine members led by Stephen Clarkson who assembled at Benfleet Station after the blistering temperatures of the first week of Wimbledon. Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle) was quickly identified, appearing naturalised growing along the car park fence. Driving a few miles to Fobbing we set off along the seawall - a borrow dyke - although the sea was not visible being at least half a mile away. The target species here was Lactuca saligna (least lettuce) of which we identified 29 plants, some looking very robust with woody bases, but a figure nevertheless significantly fewer than counts taken in 1991 when over a hundred specimens were present. Also seen were stands of Hordeum marinum (sea barley) growing alongside H. secalinum (meadow barley) for comparison. Torilis nodosa (knotted hedge parsley) was found along the top of the wall with Bolboschoenus maritimus (sea clubrush) in the dyke.
Thereafter to Canvey Island which took us to Rapistrum rugosum (bastard cabbage) with its characteristic pods, and where Ranunculus sardous (hairy buttercup) was also identified with its tubercles on the riper achenes.
Returning to Benfleet, the edge of the playing fields yielded Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (watercress), Chenopodium ficifolium (fig-leaved goosefoot), Lactuca virosa (greater lettuce) - a contrast from the morning's Lactuca, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) and Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan giant bramble) which all unfortunately appeared to have shaded out the site where Lathyrus tuberosus (Fyfield pea) had previously been seen.
The meeting ended on a high note at a sloping grassy area overlooking Canvey Island where we found Tordylium maximum (hartwort) in abundance with Lathyrus hirsutus (hairy vetchling) and Dianthus armeria (Deptford pink). Much photography ensued giving general satisfaction. Careful preparation had preceded the meeting with historical notes on the rarer species. Thank you Steve!
RICHARD ROGERS