Camb. Flora Part I: Lythrum hyssopifolia

Part I

Lythrum hyssopifolia L.
Conservation status: VU, >3
First record: Ray, 1660
'John Ray knew this species as Gratiola angustifolia, and in the Catalogus (1660) described it as '... in many places about Cambridge'. By 1860 it was rare and sporadic in Cambridgeshire, as correspondence between Darwin and Babington reveals. Its decline, which continued into the present century, is clearly to be associated with agricultural change. In 1958, it was re-discovered by G Crompton, and its population size in the years since that time has been at least roughly recorded.' SM Walters CNHS Conversazione Exhibit., n.d.
A letter from Charles Darwin to Babington, asking for seed of 'the rare Lythrum hyssopifolia.' This request for seed–which Babington was apparently able to supply from the University Botanic Garden–was followed by a request for flowering material in May 1864. Babington promises (May 18th 1864) to 'look for flower in the Botanic Garden and adds 'I do not know where to get a wild specimen with the least certainty' (This statement is very interesting; it suggests that even in Babington's time, Lythrum hyssopifolia was a rare plant, uncertain in its appearance). Darwin acknowledges Babington's help with material of this species in 'Different Forms of Flowers' published in 1877, in which he states that Lythrum hyssopifolia, in spite of the claims of previous workers, appears to him to be homostylous and self-fertile.' SM Walters CNHS Conversazione Exhibit., n.d.
A Taylor, Thermokarst depressions in southern Cambridgeshire. Quaternary Newsletter, Nov. 1978, No 26, 1-2.
--------------------------------
Gratiola angustifolia, Grass poley G.581. Gratiola angustifolia minor P.220.... and in many places in Cambridgeshire. Merrett,1667,59.
Gratiola angustifolia Small Hedge-Hyssop. Ray,1670:157.
Salicaria Hyssopi folio Martyn,1727,98.
Smith, Eng.Bot. records specimens of L.H. collected by Abbot on 8 July and by Hemsted on 28 July 1795, found in flats and bottoms where the water had stagnated in Feby. last. Garry,1903,71.
One of our rarer English plants, for which we are obliged to the Rev. Mr. Abbot of Bedford and the Rev. Mr. Hemsted of Newmarket. It grows in pits and ditches which are partly dried up, or in places where water has stagnated during winter. Smith,Eng.Bot. (1796) 5:292.
In litt. to Darwin re seeds of Lythr hys- I do not know where to get a wild specimen with the least certainty; but it is the same as wild in the Gardens.18.5.1864. Bab.Mem.359.
Is probably extinct in all recorded localities in Districts 1 & 4. West,1898,252.
36
Madingley; J Martyn. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
Madingley, J Martyn. Bab.1860..
Not in Martyn,1727.
44
See end of file for all records in TL44.
45
Salicaria Hyssopi folio, latiore. Grass Poly. Small Hedge-Hyssop. In places where the water have stood during winter, in many places about Cambridge; Martyn,1732,2:226.
Cherry-Hinton. In and about the Moor. Martyn,1763,Herbat.VIII.
Cher: Hint: Moor Fisher ann. Berkenhout,99.
Lythrum hyssopifolium Hyssop-leaved Loosestrife. Hinton Moor. Relhan,1785.
Gathered at Hinton near Cambridge, Sept. 1797, (Rev. C Davey) IPS.
Hinton Relhan,1802.
Hinton Moor; J Martyn. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
Cambridgeshire. Hooker sp. [in Hb Watson] NBG,1835,146.
Cambridge, Dr Stokes, Hb JA Power, 8.1825, RTE.
Cambridge, JS Henslow, 6.8.1828, CGE. BATHG.
Cambridgeshire Prof Henslow 19.8.1828, NTM.
Cambridge, Hb Mrs Casborne, CGE.
Cambridge–Rare, J.C., n.d., SWN.
Botanic Garden, 16.9.1901, A Hosking, CGE.
---------------------
Near the Brick-kilns in the Road to Chesterton. Relhan,1802;1820.
Near the Brick-kilns in the Road to Chesterton. Henslow ann. l:189.
At back of first Windmill, Chesterton Road, Camb. W.L.P.G., 1.8.1827, SWN.
Nr the Windmills Chesterton, 1.8.1827, SWN.
Near the Brick-Kilns on the road to Chesterton; H. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
On the comon opposite to Chesterton, CC Babington, 18.10.1836, CGE.
Walked to Baitsbite and gathered ...Lythrum hyssopifolia,...18.10.1836, Bab.Mem.49.
Chesterton, Hb JA Power, 19.10.1836, RTE.
Stourbridge Fair Green. Bab.ann.Relhan,189.
Stourbridge Fair Green. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
Stourbridge Fair Green, by footpath to Ditton. Bab.1860,80.
By the Histon road, and near Cambridge Castle; J Carter. Bab.1860,80.
46
Gratiola angustifolia Small hedge-Hyssope. In the cornfields and shadowy lanes about Hogington and Histon, as also in many places about Cambridge. Ray,1660,71(72).
Abundant between Oakington and Histon; Ray. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
Salicaria minor Histon JM.ann.
Histon Th.M.ann.Meth.-Index Loc.10.
Histon. In the way from Cambridge. Martyn,1763,Herbat.III.
Histon Fisher ann. Berkenhout,99.
Lythrum hyssopifolium Hyssop-leaved Loosestrife. Histon. Relhan,1785.
In the Ditches on the Right Hand Side of the Road to Histon, near the first Pond. Relhan,1802;1820.
Relhan in his Flora... mentions the Lythrum hyssopifolia as growing in ditches by the side of the road leading from Cambridge to Histon, near the first Pond. Though he has thus accurately pointed out the station for it, I cannot discover that any Botanist has been able to find it there, since his time. This morning Prof. Henslow and myself went to the spot & had a fruitless search for an hour or more. Jenyns,JNH,26.8.1824.
Near Histon, WLP Garnons, 8.1827, CGE.
Histon road and near Cambridge Castle; Mr Carter. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
By the Histon road, and near Cambridge Castle; J Carter. Bab.1860,80.
Hogington JM.ann.
Salicaria minor Hoginton Th.M.ann.Meth.-Index Loc.10.
Hogington. Martyn,1763,Herbat.III.
Hoginton Fisher ann. Berkenhout,99.
Oakington. Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
48
Witcham, W M., AF.cat.; AF.ann. In wet furrows, W Marshall, Sept. 1831, AF.Flora.
55
Teversham Moor Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
Teversham Moor; Relh. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
57
Border of Grunty Fen, n.c., 7.1833, ex Hb CM Lehmann, CGE.
Stretham, H Baber, 9.1837, E.
Ely, border of Grunty Fen, W Marshall, 7.1833, CGE.
Ely!; W.Marshall. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260 & Bab.1860,80.
66
Near Newmarket. Rev. J Hemsted. Bot.Guide,1805,54. [This locality is not mentioned in Relhan,1802 or 1820.]
Newmarket, Spec. in Hb Winch, LINN. Evans,1911,210.
Near Newmarket, n.c., 1853, SWN.
In damp spot to S. of Round Plantation in Chippenham Avenue, CC Babington, 2.8.1853, CGE.
Damp spot by Chippenham Avenue. Bab.MS.Fl.1.260.
Chippenham, HH Nicholson, 7.1940, CGE.
Banks of shallow trench in last field but one before gates of Chippenham Park on W of Avenue, 13.7.1940, Dr Mills, EF Warburg, DH Valentine, CGE; and WH Mills ann.
Wet arable land in cultivation W. of Avenue running S. from Chippenham Park & about 3/4m W of Sounds Farm; Mills ann.
Quite plentiful, (1940), still there in quantity, EF Warburg, 1941.
Chippenham, JE Raven & D McClintock–the latter has Raven's colour photo, f. JE Raven, 25.6.1975.
In a damp depression in an arable field, Snailwell, MS Campbell with H Gilbert Carter, T Tutin & EF Warburg, 23.9.1941, CGE. ditto, 'This prostrate form occurs when the plant extends to the drier part of the field.' [See BEC 1942]
'Wed. 8 Oct. 1941. Off to Chippenham Park with my wife and Canon Raven to see L. hyssopifolia. It was casually rediscovered in Ray's old locality by a woman who sent it to the Botany School for naming. The way we reached it was via Newmarket and Snailwell,re the village and we stopped just after the second drove on the right opposite a wood on the right, about a mile from the fork. About a 100 yards beyond the wood to the SE across a belt of trees to a slight depression in a cultivated field with thousands of plants of this scarce annual. They must have been in flower for some months as fruits were all the way up the stem from the roots. The stems were up to 18 ins high or so and occasionally branching from up the stems. But there was still plenty of flower on every plant.' We were staying with Charles at Christ's. Next morning at breakfast was a framed painting of the plant, it used to be on a mantlepiece here until John said it was fading. I disremember where I moved it to. There never was a photo. At that time somehow I had petrol and Charles had not!' David McClintock in litt. 30.8.2001.
In 5 large and small depressions in 2 arable fields divided by a belt of trees, and on either side of the track leading to the S Gate in Chippenham Park Wall (S of Coachroad Plantation). Site A: 6635.6775, c. 50 plants in a moderately sized depression right beside hedge which had standing water (and a pair of mallard) on 27 May. Plants mostly along hedgeside which had escaped spraying. Site C. 6620.6746, over 1,000 plants in a moderatley sized, shallow depression just to the west of the track and NW of field border. SiteD: c. 6610.6745, 1,000s of plants in a large shallow depression (the largest in the field), with almost a carpet of Lythrum. Site E: c. 6605.6755, 10 –20 plants in a very small area of almost bare ground, any depression hardly evident but must have been winter wet. Site G: c. 6595.6735, 100s of plants in a large very shallow depression about half of which has large colony of Sonchus arvensis. Lythrum scattered through Sonchus and barer areas to NW but absent from the southern end. Associated species lists and sketch plan, AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 26.8.2001. [There were also 4 sites, B, F, H & I which had no Lythrum plants.]
Sites A, C, D and G photographed. All the sites except A were in wheat fields which had been ploughed: A & B were in a field which had been harvested. Bryophytes collected in Sites A & D (det. CD Preston 3.9.2001) Site A: Barbula unguiculata, Bryum argenteum, B. klinggraeffii c. tubers, B. rubens c. tubers, Riccia glauca; Site D: Barbula unguiculata, Dicranella varia, Phascum floerkeanum c. fr., Pohlia carnea, Pottia davalliana c. fr., Riccia glauca. G Crompton with NP Millar, 31.8.2001.
41
Found in my Peppermint Plantation. July 20. 1821. Skrim.MS.

LYTHRUM in TL 44

NB: Grid refs are correct up to 7.8.1995, G Crompton.
Not found in various sites, incl. Fowlmere X Roads, which also had not flooded in winter of 1985/1986, G Crompton; CD Preston.
See also: 'The Habitat of Lythrum hyssopifolia L. in Cambridgeshire, Its Only Surviving English Locality.' CD Preston, & HLK Whitehouse, (1986), Biol. Cons. 35:41–62.
'Survey of Grass-poly Lythrum hyssopifolia at Whittlesford and Thriplow Hummocky Fields SSSI and other nearby sites in south Cambridgeshire, 1998.' Report to English Nature, Mike Pollard, 1998.
The winter of 2000–2001 was exceptionally wet with more than 12 inches of rain in September, October, November (more than half the average annual rainfall). Subsequent falls of rain in January – April were very slow to clear from the already sodden ground. G Crompton.
Hollows without Lythrum: Foxton, hollow crossed by public footpath, c. 125m ESE of Foxton station, GPS 41014.48717, bryophytes listed, CD Preston, 28.7.2001.
Foxton: N side of Foxton–Fowlmere boundary stream c. 75m SSE of public footpath, GPS 41803.46659, angiosperms and bryophytes listed, CD Preston, 28.7.2001.

Lythrum hyssopifolia Sites in Cambridgeshire since 1958

C.No. = Site Number in Schedule of Nationally Rare Species in Cambridgeshire
L.No. = Lythrum hyssopifolia site number in order of discovery

ALL THE SITES ARE HOLLOWS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. In date order

C.No.	L.No.	Name of Site	Parish	Grid Ref	First Recorder	Date
C.4	1	N. of Quave; deep ruts	Whittlesford	448.479	G. Crompton	5.10.1958
C.4	2	Blacklands	Whittlesford	447485	DE Coombe	28.10.1958
C.2	3A	Fowlmere X-roads south	Thriplow	426.462	Mark Hill ?	1968
C.3	4A	Maynards Field	Whittlesford	448.489	Martin Rand	6.1969
C.3	4B	Maynards Field, edges	Whittlesford	447.488-	WH Butcher	4.7.1975
C.3	4C, 4D, 4E	"west"	Whittlesford	448.488	WH Butcher	4.7.1975
C.2	3B	Fowlmere X-roads, south	Thriplow	426.462	G. Crompton	9.6.1975
C.2	3C	Fowlmere X-roads, north	Thriplow	427.464	G. Crompton	26.8.1975
C.65	5A	Newton Road near M.11	Whittlesford	455.487	AC Leslie	26.9.1978
C.65	5B	Newton Road near M.11	Whittlesford	455.487	G. Crompton	26.9.1978
C.63	6A	M.11 fence	Whittlesford	456.489	AC Leslie	26.9.1978
C.63	6B	M.11 fence	Whittlesford	455.489	AC Leslie	26.9.1978
C.64	7	opp. New Farm	Whittlesford	452.490	AC Leslie	26.9.1978
C.66	8	Chapel Rd	Fowlmere	415.467	AC Leslie	27.9.1978
C.63	6B	M.11 field	Whittlesford	455.490	Q. Cronk CD Preston	25.8.1979
C.69	9A	South of New Farm	Whittlesford	452.487	CD Preston	1.9.1979
C.69	9B	SE of New Farm	Whittlesford	453.488	CD Preston	1.9.1979
C.68	10A	North of Blacklands	Whittlesford	448.487	CD Preston	1.9.1979
C.70	11A	Fowlmere field	Thriplow	425.457	CD Preston	2.9.1979
C.70	11B	Fowlmere field	Thriplow	425.457	CD Preston	2.9.1979
C.70	11C	Fowlmere field	Thriplow	425.456	CD Preston	2.9.1979
C.70	11D	Fowlmere field	Thriplow	427.456	CD Preston	2.9.1979
C.70	11E	Fowlmere field, ruts	Thriplow	427.456	CD Preston	2.9.1979
C.68	10B	NNE of Blacklands	Whittlesford	447.487	J. Birks CD Preston HLK Whitehouse	12.9.1979
C.71	12A	Woodam's Field	Lt Shelford	462.496	(Q. Cronk
C..71	12B	Woodam's Field,	Lt Shelford	462.496	(CD Preston (HLK Whitehouse
C.71	12C	Woodam's Field	Lt Shelford	462.496	(15.9.1979
C.73	13A	Camps Park	Newton	446.488	CD Preston	19.8.1980
C.73	13B	Camps Park	Newton	446.486	CD Preston	19.8.1980
C.73	13C	S. of Camps Park, hollow	Newton	446.485	CD Preston	19.8.1980
C.73	13E	S.Camps Park, hollow	Thriplow	446.484	CD Preston	19.8.1980
C.73	13D	Camps Park	Newton	446.487	CD Preston HLK Whitehouse	31.8.1980
C.72	14	opp. Ley Grove Cottages	Lt Shelford	461.498	R. Payne	16.9.1980
	15A	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	411.459	JCA Rathmell	13.7.1994
	15B	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	411.460	G.Crompton	17.7.1994
	15C	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	410.459	G.Crompton	17.7.1994
	16Ai	NE of RSPB car park ruts	Fowlmere	409.458	G.Crompton	25.7.1994
	16B	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	410.460	Z. Hradilek CD Preston HLK Whitehouse	4.8.1994
	16C	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	413.462	Z. Hradilek CD Preston HLK Whitehouse	4.8.1994
	17A	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	414.461	Z. Hradilek CD Preston HLK Whitehouse	4.8.1994
	16Aii	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	409.459	G.Crompton	7.1995
	17B	NE of RSPB car park	Fowlmere	414.460	D. Conway CM Duckett HLK Whitehouse	30.7.1995
	11F	Fowlmere field, ruts	Thriplow	429.455	M Pollard	25.7.1998
	11G	Fowlmere field, ruts	Thriplow	429.455	M Pollard	25.7.1998
	11H	Fowlmere field, ruts	Thriplow	426.458	M Pollard	25.7.1998
	11K	Fowlmere field, hollow	Thriplow	4258.4557	CD Preston RD Porley	5.8.2001
	11J	Fowlmere field, hollow	Thriplow	425.456	NP Millar	17.9.2001
	12D	Woodam's Field	Lt Shelford	4609.4968	NP Millar	17.9.2001
	18A	Chuck-a-bush	Whittlesford	473.472	A Arbon	6.10.2001
	18B	Chuck-a-bush	Whittlesford	473.472	A Arbon	6.10.2001
	18C	Chuck-a-bush	Whittlesford	473.472	A Arbon	6.10.2001

44
FOWLMERE
L.3A: Fowlmere Cross Roads– (C.2) 426.463
[pond/hollow filled with Chara vulgaris, (sketch shows position of site to be same as L.3A), G Crompton, Aug.1958.]
Found by Mark Hill and shown to JE Raven, 1968.
'Pond was fuller and was about twenty five yards in diameter and a foot deep.... there were Black-headed and Common Gulls, Lapwing and Snipe resting and feeding at the ponds and moving from one to another'. MG & SM Walters, 8.3.1969. [see below].
(Fairy Shrimp site visited 6.10.1968–1971, and published. by MG Walters, Nat. in Cambs, (1972)15:35-39.
'Found Lythrum in great quantity. It occurs over almost the whole of the saucer marked out by Tripleurospermum flowers and from the length of some of the spikes has evidently been in flower for some time. I spent some time photographing the plant ...', JE Lousley in litt., 4.9.1971.
Not seen by JE Raven, 1972–1974.
Site visit with Dr Forbes & Mr Backshall (AWA), site is a pingo according to evidence in nearby sewer trench; AWA agree to move proposed pipeline to skirt the Lythrum hollow, G Crompton, 8.1973.
Dry–2nd year cropped with maize, possibly 1 seedling and patches of Mentha, Sonchus & Polygonum, G Crompton, 20.9.1974.
Maize not yet harvested, G Crompton, 12.1974.
Filled with water, Fairy Shrimp abundant, possibly 1 seedling, MG & SM Walters, 1.1975.
Deep water, large and small birds abundant, maize stalks and algae, Colour slide, G Crompton, 27.2.1975.
Lythrum seedlings and young plants frequent on shady NW edge very near hedge, and rare on bare muddy edges elsewhere, pond well filled with water, maize stalks remaining, cf photos & Site 2, G Crompton, 9.6.1975.
Lythrum less forward than in Whittlesford, good plants beginning to flower near hedge, Polygonum amph in flower, seedlings continuing to germinate around edges. No water. G Crompton, (Col. slide of dry pond with old stalks of maize), 1.7.1975.
No Lythrum. Barley crop, no water in hollow (drought severe), R Payne & G Crompton, (Col. slide), 12.4.1976.
Water filled since January (fide HD Walston); still c.half full, surrounds very muddy, field recently drilled, G Crompton, 16.3.1977.
First seedlings seen, pond has started drying out, M Walters, 4.1977.
Very many seedlings on damp, cracked mud, pond now dried out, pond area reduced by 10 yards ploughing parallel to hedge, G Crompton, (Col.print & Col. slide), 27.5.1977.
Thousands of seedlings, and some large plants in flower, very small seedlings only in ploughed strip along hedge, species similar to Site 3, ('Riccia on moist areas, Alope myo, Juncu buf, Matri ino, Menth arv, Polyg amp, abundant on arable margin Specu hyb & Kickx spu) crop, Sugar beet, SM Walters, G Crompton, 26.7.1977.
Lythrum abundant, flowers ± dominant in centre, associated species
Aethu cyn, Agrop rep, Agros gig, Agros sto, Alope myo, Anaga arv, Capse bur, Ceras vul, Cirsi vul, Juncu buf, Menth arv, Plant maj, Polygo amp, Polyg avi, Polyg per, Triplo mar subsp. inod. freq., Mustard, G Crompton (Col. print), DA Wells, C Shaw, 4.10.1977.
Col. print to show water level after 2" rain on 6 May, G Crompton, 11 May, 1978.
Large, spreading plants on bare earth, and upright plants amongst other vegetation, PF Yeo. (Col. slide), 3.9.1978.
Thriplow, 426.463, JP Huntley, NVC survey, 14.10.1978, [R].
c.3 doz. plants 2-3 cms tall and seedlings, barley crop, pond dry, small (c.10 x15 m), none in centre–bare except for Riccia sp., small frog in barley, G Crompton, 11.6.1980.
Ploughed–this hollow even drier than in Site 2, Col print looking NE, G Crompton, 8.4.1981.
Barley very green with small patch of open water with yellow barley round edge of it, (no water in Site 2), after 'wettest' April & May ! G Crompton, Col. print looking N-NE, G Crompton, 23.5.1983.
Winter corn, no water, large new tree freshly planted on verge (SW edge of 'pond'), Col. print looking North, G Crompton, 14.2.1984.
(426.462), Wheat not yet harvested, the whole crop blackened and the ears empty or the grain rotting. The crop was continuous through this hollow but small Lythrum plants (most of them not yet flowering) grew in tractor tracks through the hollow, (associated species list), CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
No plants found in hollow in wheat field (not yet harvested); wheat continuous throughout hollow, windblown in centre but no sign of flooding and no species of weedy vegetation seen, JO Mountford, CD Preston & J Woodman, 4.8.1990.
Fowlmere, pond A, only 1 plant in hollow but c.40 in tractor tracks through crop, Des Callaghan, 20.7.1993.
>1000 plants, 426.463, A Arbon, 23.7.1994, [R].
Dry, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
30 plants, in damp hollow 20m x 20m with only patchy crop growth of field beans, M Pollard, 18.7.1998.
L.3A: GPS 42636.46315. Much of hollow ± bare except for a bleached mass of dried up charophyte (?Tolypella) in fruit and some dead stubble. The only living plants were odd seedlings of Lythrum and species such as Persicaria maculata, Plantago major, Polygonum aviculare and Sonchus sp. By contrast to ± bare hollow (which presumably flooded too deep & too long to develop vegetation this year) ruts alongside the hedge at N side of hollow had 100s of scattered plants of Lythrum – almost all of them on the top of the ruts rather than along the lower part. Other species here: Alope myo, Epilo tet, Equis arv, Juncu buf, Persi mac, Plant maj subsp. int, Rumex cri, Triplo ino, Typha lat (2 shoots in rut), Riccia cavernosa, R. glauca, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.3B: FOWLMERE CROSS ROADS (C2) About 15 yards NE of L.3A. 426.463
c.100–200 seedlings and small plants, colonizing bare, heavily cracked, chalky mud around edge of recent flooded hollow 15 x 15 yds, Pop. map, & Col. slides: close-ups of Lythrum on bare mud, 1 very large plant, one with Juncu buf & Tussi far, and looking E and ENE from Site 1, G Crompton, 9.6.1975.
Lythrum abundant, with Polyg amp (not fl.), Col. slides, G Crompton, 1.7.1975.
No Lythrum seen, very wet mud, cultivated but not drilled, red roots of ?Polyg amp lying on surface, germination of seedlings including Brassicas? G Crompton, 16.3.1977.
No seedlings, ploughed, not sown, dry, G Crompton, 27.5.1977.
Lythrum absent, vegetation dense, mostly grasses, (no winter flooding), G Crompton, DA Wells & C Shaw, 4.10.1977.
Barley, G Crompton, 11.6.1980.
Dry, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
L.3B: No plants (site 25m x 25m poorly defined, only discovered 7.9.1998) but a few plants were found elsewhere in the field, M Pollard, 18.7.1998.
L.3B: GPS 42664.462. Like 3A, this area is also ± bare (but lacks any bleached charophyte). There are some totally desiccated & dead plants of Lythrum scattered here, plus a few Lythrum seedlings. Other plants: Persi amp. Persi mac, Sonchus sp. Physcomitrella patens, Riccia cavernosa, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.3C: FOWLMERE CROSS ROADS (C2) 427.465
Lythrum fairly abundant round edges, rare on ± bare centre of hollow, c.32 x 27 yds, north-west corner of field, shallow hollow with dead maize stalks from 1974 crop, field crop–barley, in stubble, Pop. map & assoc. species list, G Crompton, R Mellors, Col. slides with Triple mar abundant, G Crompton, 26.8.1975.
Hollow ploughed, rest of field unploughed including 4 yds of hollow and rim still in stubble with Lythrum seed heads, G Crompton, 25.10.1975.
Water in hollow, recently drilled, c.10 gulls on water, G Crompton, 16.3.1977.
Lythrum abundant, flowering, associated species as for Site I, same date, except Polygo amp absent, Col. print, G Crompton, DA Wells, C Shaw, 4.10.1977.
A few flowering plants on 'raised' ground and thousands of large seedlings in 27 x 41 yards with Riccia on moist areas, Polygonum amp, Menth arv, Alope myo, Matri ino, Juncus buf abundant. Specul hyb & Kickx spu on arable margin, SM Walters, & G Crompton, 26.7.1977.
Col. print looking towards Thriplow Church, G Crompton, 11.5.1978.
(427.465) Again, [see L.3A] the blackened crop formed a continuous stand through the hollow except for 2 machinery tracks passing through it. Lythrum grew along the side of these tracks, (associated species list), CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987. [G Crompton photo, 1987].
No L.h., JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
290 plants, complex series of shallow hollows, 23m x 12m, 15m x 12m, 10m x 3m, M Pollard, 18.7.1998.
L.3C: GPS 42753.46504 (but must extend into 427465). The main area here was also ± bare. There are scattered dead plants of Lythrum and a few scattered, living seedlings. Also: Menth arv, Persi mac, Sonch sp. seedlings, Riccia cavernosa. As in 3A, the higher ground towards the hedge had more Lythrum. Here there were 100s of scattered flowering plants with Aethu cyn subsp. agrestis, Alope myo, Anaga arv, Capse bur, Cheno alb, Epilo cil, Epilo par, Juncu buf, Menth arv, Persi mac, Plant maj subsp. int, Polyg avi, Senec vul, Taraxacum sp., Tripl ino, Brachythecium rutabulum, Dicranella schreberana, Dicranella staphylina, Phascum cuspidatum, Physcomitrella patens, Pottia truncata c. fr.
Northern half of field with hollows 3A–C was an unharvested wheat crop - very weedy and ± abandoned. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
Interpretation of 3A–C: presumably only the upper edges of 3A & 3C, near the hedge, dried out early enough to develop a normal hollow vegetation. I assume that lower areas remained flooded and then dried out too rapidly in summer to develop more than a few Lythrum plants, which then shrivelled up in 6 ± rainless weeks this summer. Seedlings of Sonchus sp. etc. will have emerged after recent rainfall. CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.8: FOWLMERE CHAPEL ROAD, hollow (C.66?) 415.467
Frequent, wet hollow in arable field, Fowlmere, AC Leslie, 27.9.1978.
Not visited as the hollow had been reported as being infilled. M Pollard,1998.
415.467, 'Hollow' (which was filled or partially filled when it was still arable) is now horse pasture– apparently unsuitable but not examined closely. CD Preston, 28.7.2001.
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L.11 FOWLMERE FIELD, THRIPLOW
This field had been harvested, leaving stubble. The low-lying areas had been flooded in winter, and appeared to have been sprayed with herbicide recently. As on Pollard's 1998 map, there was still a strip of set-aside grassland in the NW part of the field, the edge of which bissected hollow A. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
L.11 Wheat field, crop harvested and ground harrowed. All Lythrum plants seen in the cultivated part of this field were dead remnants lying on the soil surface; the only living plants were those found in the set-aside into which hollow 11F extends (q.v.). A number of distinct hollows, not marked on the sketch map, were seen in the southern half of this field; none of these were searched for Lythrum. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
L.11A: FOWLMERE FIELD, THRIPLOW, hollow (C.70) 425.457
CD Preston, 2.9.1979.
L.11: 42-.45-. Ploughed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
L.11A: half arable, half set–aside, no Lythrum plants, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.11A: GPS 42559.45763. This hollow had been flooded and was now sprayed; half had been treated as arable, and half was set-aside grassland. There was much bare ground in the arable half. Lythrum was frequent in the centre of the hollow. – 100s of large plants which were scattered but not dense. As has been apparent in previous years, it does not seem especially susceptible to herbicides although some plants had been killed and even these may have set some seed before dying. Other species: Alope myo, Anaga arv, Elytr rep, Epilo hir, Epilo par, Epilo tet, Equisetum sp. – 1 gametophyte appearing as a hepatic-like 'fuzz' with a single tiny stem emerging from a perianth-like sheath, Eupho exi, Eupho hel, Kickx ela, Kickx spu, Persi lap, Salic cin – seedlings, Typha lat (1 plant), Bryum kli c. tubers, Bryum rub c. tubers. Dicra sch, Funar hyg c. fr. immature, Phasc cus, Physc pat c. fr., Pohli car, Pottia dav c. fr. mature, Riccia glauca & R. subbifurca locally frequent, Riccia cavernosa rare. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
11A: The western half of this hollow is occupied by dense set-aside grassland and was not searched for Lythrum. The arable half shows as a slightly damp depression with a few more weed remnants than are present in the nearby parts of the field. Remains of one Lythrum plant found. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.11B: FOWLMERE FIELD, THRIPLOW, hollow (C.70) 425.457
CD Preston, 2.9.1979.
L.11: 42-.45-. Ploughed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
L.11B: set-aside, no Lythrum plants, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.11B: GPS 42553.45721. This hollow is entirely in the set-aside grassland area and had flooded in winter. Mentha arv in wheel ruts. No Lythrum seen. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
11B The majority of this hollow is dominated by dense set-aside grassland; in the middle is a small, recently damp patch with Mentha arvensis, Persicaria maculosa and Epilobium hirsutum.
No Lythrum seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.11C: FOWLMERE FIELD, THRIPLOW, hollow (C.70) 425.456
CD Preston, 2.9.1979.
L.11: 42-.45-. Ploughed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
L.11C: 27 plants, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.11C: I did not take Pollard's map into the field, and interpreted the hollow differently to him. I treated the hollows he labels as 11C and 11D? as one, 11C, as they ± ran into each other. I treated as a seperate hollow the one shown on his map W. of D? (see annotated copy of his map). I did not look at the hollows shown on his map east of D?, or F and G.
L.11C: GPS 42605.45660, (425.456 doubtless covers some of the area). This hollow lies E of the grass set-aside strip. Lythrum was scattered in some areas abundant in others, but the area had been sprayed and the Lythrum plants were showing some effects of this. There was much Elytrigia repens in this area, but it did not form a continuous cover. Assoc. species: Aethua cynapium subsp. agrestis, Anaga arv, Epilo hir, Epilo par, Eupho exi, Fallo con, Juncu buf abundant, Kickx ela, Kickx spu, Persi lap frequent, Senec vul, Triple ino, Barbula unguiculata Bryum kli (fem. & ab. tubers), Dicra sch, Physco pat, Pohli car, Pottia davalliana c. fr. – recently dehisced mature but unndehisced and very immature capsules all present, Riccia cavernosa c. fr. (voucher coll.), Riccia gla & Riccia sub locally abundant. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
11C A large hollow, not particularly well defined by its topography but made conspicuous at this stage in the cultivation process by the circling turns made by the tractor in order to subdue the vegetation and return it to the ground. Frequent remains of Lythrum and Juncus bufonius found across entire hollow, in fact over an area about 75m long across its longest axis. 50-100 Lythrum remains seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.11D: FOWLMERE FIELD, THRIPLOW, hollow &ruts (C.70) 427.456
CD Preston, 2.9.1979.
L.11: 42-.45-. Ploughed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
Hollow not identified, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
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L.11K – west of C (see explanation above)
GPS 42587.45572. A scattered population of (between 10 and 100) Lythrum plants, which like other weeds here had been sprayed. The other species included: Aethu cyn subsp. agrestis, Elytr rep, Epilo hir, Juncu buf, Kickx spu, Persi lap, Salix seedlings, Bryum kli c. tubers, Bryum rub c. tubers, Dicra sch, Phasc cus, Pottia dav c. fr., Riccia cav & R. glauca.
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L.11E (C.70) 427.456
Fowlmere Field, ruts, CD Preston, 2.9.1979.
Hollow not identified, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
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L.11 L.D–E:For the purpose of this survey I have numbered this line of hollows DE1 to DE4 west to east. None of these hollows appeared damp and from a distance their vegetation (or its remnants) seemed much the same as the surrounding field.
D–E1: No Lythrum seen, NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
D–E2: Occasional Juncus bufonius and Lythrum remains. 10-15 Lythrum remains seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
D–E3: Occasional Juncus bufonius and Lythrum remains. 20-25 Lythrum remains seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
D–E4: Occasional Juncus bufonius and Lythrum remains. 5-10 Lythrum remains seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
To the east of hollow 11D–E4 is a further area with a few plants of Lythrum and Juncus bufonius. 5-10 Lythrum remains seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.11F FOWLMERE FIELD THRIPLOW, hollow & ruts 429.455
5 plants, depression, 50 x 50m, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
11F: This hollow does not appear damp and from a distance its vegetation (or its remnants) seems much the same as the surrounding field. Remains of 5-10 Lythrum found. This hollow extends to SSE into the field to south of the 'bare strip' marked on the [Pollard] sketch map. This southern field and the 'bare strip' are both in set-aside although the 'bare strip' is more established and more densely vegetated (has probably not been cultivated for a few years). No Lythrum was seen in the 'bare strip'. The vegetation in the set-aside field is more open and has evidently received some cultivation this year. Lythrum is locally frequent within the hollow extension. Estimated number of Lythrum c. 100+ plants. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.11G FOWLMERE FIELD THRIPLOW, hollow & ruts 429.455
1 plant, depression, 50 x 50m, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
11G: This hollow does not appear damp and from a distance its vegetation (or its remnants) seems much the same as the surrounding field. Remains of 5-10 Lythrum found. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.11H FOWLMERE FIELD THRIPLOW, hollow & ruts 426.458
3 plants, depression, 80 x 30m, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.11H: GPS 42636.45848. I had not previously seen Lythrum here, but the hollow is clearly Pollard's 11H. It is in a depression half way along the N side of the field. The area appears to have been flooded in winter, but judging by the stubble the crop was fairly weak & thin but not completely killed. Judging by very fine fruiting Riccia glauca & R. subbifurca, the bryophytes had been growing through the summer.15–20 large, branched, ± prostate Lythrum plants, in fruit. Affected to some extent by herbicide spray. Assoc. species: Anaga arv, Capse bur, Cheno alb, Cirsi vul, Epilo hir, Epilo par, Eupho hel, Fallo con, Juncu buf s.s., Kickx ela, Kickx spu, Persi lap, Polyg avi, Solan nig, Bryum kli male. & ab. tubers, Bryum violaceum c. tubers, Dicra sch, Dicra sta c. tubers, Phascum cus, Potti dav c. fr, Riccia cavernosa rare–occasional, Riccia glauca and R. subbifurca very locally frequent. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
Riccia glauca & R. subbifurca v. fine, well grown plants which were clearly distinct in field (vouchers coll. & checked microscopically for both species). R. subbifurca was a neater plant with narrow thallus segments perhaps forming more perfect circular plants, distinctly tinged with purple on the margins (& in section with more vertical sides) whereas R. glauca was more yellow-green & slightly paler (not bluish green), less neat, broader thallus segments (with much shallower sides in section) and no purple tinge. The two species grew together with no apparent differences in micro-habitat, The morphological differences are just those HLKW & I noted when we first had R. subbifurca identified from material collected at Lythrum sites in 1979 (incl. sites 11B and 11C). CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
11H: Barely discernible as a slight depression, not obviously damp, no excessive weed growth in comparison to remainder of field but slightly more green and grassy in parts. No Lythrum seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.11J: extra Lythrum locations:
At the eastern margin of the set-aside grassland area, midway between 11B and 11C, scattered remains of Juncus bufonius and Lythrum were found; 5-10 Lythrum remains seen. This location was not obviously a hollow although the soil did appear to be a little damper than in the surrounding parts of the field.
When walking between the hollows in the D & E series occasional remains of Lythrum were found in parts of the field not marked on the sketch map as hollows: these may have been growing approximately where found or they could have been dragged from nearby hollows by the cultivation process. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.15: FOWLMERE, FIELD
This field had not been sown and harvested this year; could it be set-aside? It was still unploughed on 10.12.1994. Phascum cuspidatum and P. floerkeanum seen in this field away from the Lythrum sites. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
L.15: set-aside since 1994 and no longer suitable for Lythrum, no plants, M Pollard, 28.7.1998.
This field has not been cultivated recently (perhaps last ploughed in autumn of 1994 and is now dominated by grasses along with some flowering perennials (e.g. Pulicaria dysenterica). Although the vegetation is now unsuitable for Lythrum I did find two plants in an undisturbed but probably long-flooded part of 15B. CD Preston, 28.7.2001.
L.15A: FOWLMERE 4110.4597.
First record: JCA Rathmell, 13.7.1994.
Juncus bufonius abundant. Other species present included Agrostis stolonifera, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Centaurium pulchellum, Mentha arvensis, Pulicaria dysenterica (frequent), Typha latifolia.
Bryophytes: Barbula unguiculata, Ceratodon purpureus, Dicranella varia, Funaria hygrometrica, Pohlia carnea, Pottia truncata, Riccia glauca. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
50-100, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
None found, JCA Rathmell, in litt. 13.7.2001.
L.15A: GPS 41107.45970. Completely overgrown by following species: Agros sto (freq.–ab), Alism pla-aqu, Calam epi (1 large stand), Cirsi arv, Carex dis (large clump), Carex fla, Carex otr, Dactylorhiza sp., Elytr rep, Equis pal (freq.), Holcu lan (freq.), Juncus buf (rare), Juncu inf, Medic lup, Menth aqu, Oenan lac, Pulic dys (freq.–ab.), Ranun rep, Salix small plants, Schoe tab (1 small clump), Brachythecium rutabulum. Near Phragmites in SW corner of field: Eleocharis palustris, Juncus articulatus, Typha latifolia. CD Preston, 28.7.2001.
L.15B: FOWLMERE 411.460.
First record: G Crompton, 17.7.1994.
500+500+20 plants, JCA Rathmell, 19.7.1994, [R].
L. hyssopifolia abundant, with young plants in the centre of the hollow still flowering. Other species present included Alopecurus myosuroides, Epilobium hirsutum, Equisetum arvense, Glyceria cf fluitans, Gnaphalium uliginosum, Juncus bufonius (abundant with L. hyssopifolia round edge), Mentha arvensis, Odontites verna, Persicaria lapathifolia, Plantago major subsp.intermedia, Ranunculus repens, Rumex crispus, Sonchus arvensis, Tripleurospermum inodorum and Veronica anagallis-aquatica (with galled fruits).
Bryophytes: Bryum argenteum, Bryum klinggraeffii, Dicranella varia, Leptobryum pyriforme, Physcomitrella patens, Pottia starkeana subsp. minutula, P. truncata, Riccia cavernosa, R. glauca, R. subbifurca.
On 10.8.1994 the flowers of Lythrum had closed by 7 p.m. On 10.12.1994 the Lythrum plants had finished flowering and had dead fruiting stems, but they were sending out new shoots from the base and appeared to be perennating. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
50-100, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
None found, JCA Rathmell, in litt. 13.7.2001.
L.15B: GPS 41129.46028. This hollow is marked by a large stand of Phragmites australis in the centre and another near edge, with scattered Salix cinerea & S. viminalis which are larger than those elsewhere in the field (to 1.5(–2m), scattered clumps of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, stand of Calamagrostis epigejos, abundant Elytrigia repens and other species including Eleocharis palustris, Juncus inflexus, Pulicaria dysenterica and Typha latifolia. Rather surprisingly 1 plant of Lythrum in immature fruit and 1 vegetative plant grew in open vegetation (obviously subject to v. prolonged flooding) in centre of hollow, with Equis arv, Elytr rep, (occ. shoot), Phrag aus (occ. shoot) and frequent seedlings (Cirsium sp., Ranunculus sp. & others not identified). Agros sto grew nearby. This area was S of Phragmites stand in centre of hollow, about 1m S of its S edge. This vegetation was apparently kept open by flooding but not physically disturbed. CD Preston, 28.7.2001.
L.15C: FOWLMERE 410.459.
First record: G Crompton, 17.7.1994.
Lythrum hyssopifolia scattered amongst Alopecurus myosuroides, Epilobium hirsutum, Juncus bufonius, Mentha arvensis, Plantago major subsp. intermedia, Persicaria lapathifolia, P. maculata and Samolus valerandi.
Bryophytes: Barbula convoluta var. commutata, B. convoluta var. convoluta, B. unguiculata, Bryum argenteum, B. cf klinggraeffi, Dicranella schreberana, Leptobryum pyriforme, Physcomitrella patens, Pottia cf davalliana, P. cf truncata, Riccia cavernosa, R. glauca, R. subbifurca. All three Riccia species grew together.
A frog was seen in this hollow on 10.8.1994. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
10-20, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
200 rather tall plants (c. 10 inches) in the SE corner in little ditches around some prominent Typha and roughly 40 paces from the (now overgrown and rather hazardous) footbridge– a patch of only about 9 x 9 feet, JCA Rathmell, in litt. 13.7.2001.
L.15C: GPS 41082.46000 (clearly 410.459 is OK for some of hollow). Essentially similar to 15A, with clumps of Carex dis, Juncu inf, Juncu sub, (1 seen) and Schoe tab (2). Other species here incl. Carex otr, Equis arv, Holcu lan, Mentha cf arvensis (in bud), Ranun rep (fragment), Rumex cri and Salix saplings. CD Preston, 28.7.2001.
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L.16. Fowlmere, Field 16.
This field was probably harvested between 25.7.1994 and 4.8.1994, and had been ploughed and resown before 10.12.1994. One plant of Carex distans seen in this field by CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, and Oenanthe lachenalii found by JCA Rathmell, 13.7.1994, confirmed by J Bevan, G Crompton & DA Wells.
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L.16A Fowlmere 409.458.& 409.459
First record: G Crompton, 25.7.1994 (ruts) and 7.1995 (hollow)
13 L. hyssopifolia plants counted, many of them large and branched from the base, most of them past flowering but a few flowers left. They grew amongst dense Juncus bufonius in ruts at the edge of a strip dominated by Alopecurus myosuroides at the edge of a barley field. Other plants: Anagallis arvensis, Cirsium arvense, Elyrtigia repens, Epilobium hirsutum (frequent), Kickxia elatine, K. spuria, Mentha arvensis, Myosotis arvensis, Persicaria maculata (frequent), Plantago major subsp. intermedia (frequent), Polygonum aviculare, Ranunculus repens, R. sceleratus, Rumex crispus, Salix seedlings and Tripleurospermum inodorum.
Bryophytes: only a few scraps on the bare soil. Species listed: Barbula unguiculata, Bryum klinggraeffii, Dicranella schreberana, D. varia, Phascum cuspidatum, Pohlia carnea, Pottia davalliana. The leaf margins of both L. hyssopifolia and Polygonum aviculare were severely eaten into along the margins (we have seen this predation before, especially on the Polygonum). CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
G Crompton & DA Wells, & U3A group, 7.8.1995, [R].
3 plants but possibly a few more under dense crop, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
200+ small, non-fl. plants in 1st field, (arable) peas, nr RSPB car park, CJ Cadbury, c.24.7.00.
L.16A: The S edge of this field (16A) had been flooded in places from the point where it leaves the car park (GPS 40801.45832) to the hedge running NW–SE (GPS 41034.45999).
The main hollow approx. half way along the field edge (GPS 40942.45939) had a very dry surface, with frequent young Persi mac and two small plants of Lythrum. Other species in this area: Anaga arv, Cirsi arv, Equis arv, Juncu buf s.s. (occ.), Plant maj subsp. intermedia, Polyg avi, Bryum arg, Bryum kli c. tubers, Dicra sch, Phascum cus, Pottia sp., Riccia cavernosa (small, sparsely distributed).
Away from this ± bare hollow there were large areas at a slightly higher level in the field completely dominated by Alopecurus myosuroides (some now fallen over) and smaller barer areas. Bryophytes were more luxouriant in slightly shaded places where the crop had been thinned rather than on v. exposed surface of the hollow. Species seen elsewhere in this area: Aethu cyn subsp. agrestis, Alope myo, Anaga arv, Capse bur, Cirsi arv, Chaen min, Coron squ, Elytr rep, Equis arv, Galium apa (v. dwarf agrestis ecotype), Juncu buf, Kickx ela, Kickx spu, Lamiu pur, Myoso arv, Epilo par, Epilo tet, Papav rho, Persi mac, Plant maj subsp. int, Poa ann, Polyg avi, Pulic dys, Senec eru, Senec vul, Sonch arv, Veron arv, Veron per, Viola arv. Legousia hybrida in unflooded area N of the NW corner of the hedge, 410.460. Bryophytes coll. at E end of 16A, 410.459: Bryum arg, Bryum rub, Dicra var, Pohlia car, Pottia dav c. fr. CD Preston, 28.7.2001; M Gurney, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.16B Fowlmere 410.460
First record: CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 4.8.1994.
L. hyssopifolia was locally frequent in an area at the edge of the barley field, in a strip that had been ploughed but not sown. This area must have been flooded, and there was much bare ground. Counted 175 plants, many of them large and richly branched at the base. Associated species: Aethusa cynapium, Anagallis arvensis, Artemisia vulgaris, Avena sp. (scattered), Bidens tripartita, Chaenorrhinum minus, Cirsium arvense, Equisetum arvense, Euphorbia exigua, Fallopia convolvulus, Juncus bufonius (frequent), Kickxia elatine, Persicaria maculata, Plantago major subsp.intermedia, Poa annua, Senecio vulgaris, Tripleurospermum inodoratum, Veronica persica. Bryophytes: Bryum argenteum noted in field, no bryophytes collected. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
1000 plants, – up to 100 plants per metre of tractor rut, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
273 fl. plants in ruts adjacent to left side of 2nd field, CJ Cadbury, c.24.7.2000.
L.16B: GPS 41086.46116. A well defined hollow in a wheat field (unharvested), measuring c. 25m x 10m, with deep tramlines throught the long axis. The green weeds in the bottom contrasted with the crop in classic Lythrum–hollow manner (but unlike some other hollows this year, such as 3A–B), Lythrum abundant throughout. The petals were fallen or shrivelled in afternoon of v. hot 27.7.01, but on morning of 5.8.01 flowers were open & were being visited by numerous hoverflies (2 species of hoverflies, one of them Erisyrphus balteatus – fide M Gurney). The other frequent species were Juncu buf s.s., Plant maj subsp. int, Persi mac & Persi lap. At the edge of the hollow the Juncus bufonius was larger than in the centre (as often happens), & Tripl ino was frequent. Even at the edge, there was very little wheat. Bryophytes were v. thinly spread in the centre of the hollow, but much more luxuriant around the shade edges. Other species recorded here : (x = found at edges) Aethu cyn subsp. agrestis, Agrost sto x, Alope myo x, Anaga arv x, Cirsi arv, Epilo par, Epilo tet, Equis arv, Eupho exi x, Fallo con x, Myoso arv x, Poa ann, Pulic dys, Senec vul, Sonch arv x, Tripl ino, Bryum arg, Bryum kli c. tubers, Bryum vio c. tubers, Dicra sch, Dicra var, Pohlia car, Riccia cavernosa & R. glauca small plants, infrequent. CD Preston, 28.7.2001; M Gurney, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.16C: FOWLMERE 413.462.
First record: CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 4.8.1994.
Twenty L. hyssopifolia plants in a rather limited area, which was not in the centre of the hollow. Again, no crop had been sown here. Other species: Anagallis arvensis, Alopecurus myosuroides, Avena sp., Chaenorrhinum minus, Cirsium arvense, Kickxia elatine, Persicaria maculata, Plantago major subsp. intermedia, Polygonum aviculare, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Veronica persica.
Bryophytes: Bryum argenteum, B. klinggraeffii, B. ruderale, Dicranella varia, Leptobryum pyriforme, Phascum cuspidatum. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
30 plants in tractor rut, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
L.16C: GPS 41299.46270 (clearly extends to 413.462). Lythrum was abundant in an area 20m x 4m, and was most conspicuous because of the presence of frequent flowering Tripleurospermum inodorum & also had scattered Alopecurus myosuroides (A. myosuroides was abundant in the surrounding area and the wheat was killed throughout this wider area).
Scattered Lythrum plants also grew 6m W of the hollow, and between ruts, growing with stunted wheat.
Other species seen here (h = hollow, r = ruts).
Alope myo h, r, Anaga arv h, r, Capse bur h, Chaen min h, r, Cheno alb r, Cirsi arv h, Epilo par h, r, Juncu buf h, r, Kickx ela h, Persi mac h (rare), Plant maj subsp. int h, r, Poa ann h, r, Polyg avi s.s. h (rare), Pulic dys h, Sinap arv r, Triplo ino h, r, Veron per r. Bryophytes were only sampled from the hollow: Bryum arg, Bryum kli c. tubers, Bryum vio c. tubers, Dicra sta c. tubers, Pohlia car. CD Preston, 28.7.2001; M Gurney, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.17 FOWLMERE, SITE 17
This was another field which may have been set-aside, although it had been ploughed and sown by 10.12.1994. In August there was much suitable L. hyssopifolia habitat, but we only found a few plants after a long search. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
Set-aside since 1994 and no longer suitable for Lythrum. No plants, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
L.17: This field is set-aside like L.15, and is dominated by grasses (Arrhenatherum frequent, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne), with much Pulicaria dysenterica in flower and some Senecio jacobaea, Mentha arvensis, Salix cinerea saplings and much scattered Epilobium parviflorum. M Gurney, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
L.17A: FOWLMERE 414.461
First record: Z.Hradilek, CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 1994.
Five fruiting L. hyssopifolia plants at the top of a very deep rut, with Alopecurus myosuroides, Juncus bufonius, Mentha arvensis, Persicaria lapathifolia, P. maculata, Bryum argenteum and Riccia subbifurca. Riccia cavernosa and R. glauca grew in the rut. Other bryophytes seen in this field: Barbula convoluta, B. unguiculata, Bryum klinggraeffi, B. rubens, Dicranella schreberana, D. staphylina, Ephemerum recurvifolium (growing with Riccia glauca), Leptobryum pyriforme, Phascum cuspidatum, P. floerkeanum, Physcomitrella patens (with Alopecurus myosuroides, Mentha arvensis, Riccia glauca, R. cavernosa and Pottia davalliana), Pohlia carnea, Pottia davalliana. CD Preston, HLK Whitehouse et al, Aug. & Dec. 1994.
Shallow and poorly defined therefore not measured. No plants, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
L17A: This was a rut which cannot be relocated accurately now – it may be in an area which is now a sea of Elytrigia repens at GPS 41310.46148 but this is far from certain. M Gurney, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.17B: FOWLMERE A LITTLE SW OF 17A 414.460
Small hollow with deep ruts at edge of field by large old Salix.
First Record: Declan Conway, CM Duckett & HLK Whitehouse, 30.7.1995.
40m x 30m adjacent to field margin, No plants, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
L.17B: GPS 41386.46106 (S ruts), 41393.46110 (N rut). This is the area mapped as 17B in Pollard's report (his 40m x 30m hollow) and it fits the description in GC's website 'edge of field by large old Salix.' (a Salix alba in hedgeline along S boundary of field). It is a low, winter-flooded area at S [SE] edge of field, lying from the old Salix westwards [NW].
Lythrum found in two pairs of wheel ruts. The southerly ruts running through the hollow, had 5 plants in each rut of the pair, growing on compressed, ± bare, formerly heavily flooded soil with Agros sto, Epilo sp., Juncu art, Juncu buf s.s., Plant maj subsp. int, Pulic dys (seedlings), Samol val, Riccia cavernosa (frequent at base of rut) c. fr. The area through which the ruts run was dominated by Ranunculus repens, with Epilobium parviflora, Plantago major subsp. intermedia, Persicaria amphibia and Samolus valerandi.
There was a single Lythrum plant in one rut of a pair 15 paces N of the ruts described above, growing with: Agros sto, Juncu buf s.s., Plant maj subsp. int, Physcomitrella patens c. fr. (immature), Riccia glauca (1 rosette), Riccia cavernosa c. fr. M Gurney, RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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WHITTLESFORD
L.1: Whittlesford N. of Quave, deep ruts. (South edge of Blacklands (L.2) G Crompton) (C4) [446.482 or 448.479]
Brook side N. of Stanmore Hall, Whittlesford, '45-48-', G Crompton, 5.10.1958. In water (at edge of cornfield) with Sparganium, Polygonum per, Chara, Veron cat, V. ana-aqu, G Crompton, 5.10.1958, field note book.
...a considerable colony...growing in standing water at the edge of a wheatfield in Whittlesford, ...There were c.30 plants in an area of about 10 x 4 yards, many of them 18"–24" tall. Mrs Crompton's locality is on the flooded meander of a stream which is now canalised... A few weeks later Dr DE Coombe found another, and larger colony in the same field a few hundred yards from the first locality. [see L.2 below].Proc.BSBI, 1959, 3(3):286-287.
Wet corner of arable field, Whittlesford parish, FH Perring, SM Walters, 10.10.1958, CGE.
Found by Mrs G Crompton, In wet cornfield near Thriplow, JE Lousley, 9.11.1958, RNG.
In wet cornfield near Thriplow, Mrs G Crompton, 9.11.1958, K.
Still flourishing, but only a few very large plants, water very muddy, G Crompton, 21.12.1958.
No Lythrum seen, but Chara, G Crompton, 23.3.1959.
Lythrum persisting from last year, small pieces + woody from which new leaves and branches are shooting, hollow dry, G Crompton, 16.5.1959.
In full flower with Samolus, no water, 4.7.1959, (Exc. with Herts NHS).
Damp hollow in the corner of a cornfield, Newton, Cambs, CC Townsend, 4.7.1959, K.
Ploughed up, G Crompton, 6.9.1959.
? seedlings present, water in plough furrows (not sown), G Crompton, 4.4.1960.
Lythrum c.6" high, hollow dry and overgrown with Lythrum area very well defined by absence of Odontites verna which surrounds it, Plant lan, Juncus buf, Polyg per, Equis pal, Veron ana, Alope myo, Medic sp., Potentilla ans, Epilo hir, G Crompton, 5.7.1960.
Tall plants, flowering, but being swamped by Veronica ana-aqu, G Crompton, 13.7.1961.
None found, very overgrown, G Crompton, 20.9.1961.
Deep ploughed–4-5" water with Veronica catenata(?), G Crompton, 13.8.1961.
No sign of Lythrum, dry and overgrown, G Crompton, 9.9.1962.
'Nothing left' (of Lythrum site), mustard crop nearby, G Crompton, 11.8.1963.
No sign of Lythrum site, ploughed up and field edge overgrown, G Crompton, 1975. (G Crompton field notebooks, 1958-1975).
No plants, hollow poorly defined, M Pollard, 10.8.1998.
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L.2A: A hollow southwest of and near 2B, overgrown with Salix etc and no Lythrum, G Crompton, 1958.
20 plants, 447.485, A Arbon, 4.9.1994, [R].
Nearby of hollow L.2A, 500+ plants, in stony area, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.2A: Stony area beside wet uncultivated hollow. Almost covered by perennial weeds. No Lythrum seen. But there were a few hundred plants on bare areas to the S of the still very wet, thickly vegetated hollow i.e. on the southern rim. This hollow now has Juncus inflexus, J. articulatus, J. subnodulosus & Equisetum palustre. Mr Maynard says there is a drain running from it to the Brook but it must be blocked.... His father knew "orchids" (?Dactylorhiza) in this area in the past. Mr Maynard also said most of the hollows had been full of water and full for longer than he could remember. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.2B: WHITTLESFORD BLACKLANDS (C.4) 447.485
28.10.1958 & 1.11.1958: In 15 m. x 15 m. of damp hollow with ridge and furrow still evident, in field of mustard, soil very moist but no standing water, assoc. species list, DE Coombe in Proc.BSBI 3:286 (1959) Aethu cyn, Ceras vul, Equis pal, Medic lup, Ranun rep, Sinap alb, Filag spa, Alope myo, Chaen min, Juncu buf, Menth arv, Resed lutea, Sonch arv, Anaga arv, Cirsi arv, Kickxia, Poa tri, Rumex cri, Sonch. asp, Arena lep, Epilo adn, Eupho exi, Polyg mit, Salix cin, Veron arv, Atrip pat, Epilo hir, Lythr sal, Poten ans, Senec vul, Viola arv, 28.10.1958. 'In abandoned arable edge of field in Thriplow, [error for Whittlesford], 447.485', DE Coombe, SM Walters, 28.10.1958, CGE.
Riccia cavernosa (formerly thought to be R. crystallina (true R. crystallina is confined to the Isles of Scilly) & R. glauca growing with Lythrum; site is just north of a large pond, G Crompton, 20.12.1958.
Lythrum very noticeable by its red stems and nearly entirely under shallow water. Where the Lythrum grows there is very little grass or any other plants, but the patch is surrounded by Juncus bufonius (dead), Filago (spa?) still very noticeable but Polygonum also dead, G Crompton, 21.12.1958.
Abundant in reduced winter form in the shallow water. Riccias also present and Dicranella varia in fruit abundant on the chalk clods. Juncus bufonius all dead but seedlings sprouting out of the ovary. Wild duck and fem. Salix purpurea near, G Crompton, 23.3.1959.
Lythrum area dry (pond to north still wet), Lythrum abundant–creeping mats of last year's shoots, branches very red, lvs grey-green, in spite of dryness, Riccias still present, G Crompton, 16.5.1959.
In full flower (excursion), no water in any hollows or pond, G Crompton, 4.7.1959.
Ploughed up, large pond dry and at Little Nine Wells the water-level has dropped 1-2 feet, (species in now dry, large pond nearby: Juncus sub, Lythr sal, J. ? artic, Solan dul, Epilo hir, Polyg per, Poten ans, Equis pal, and large area of non–fl. Polyg amp & mats of non-fl. Ranun tri) G Crompton, 6.9.1959.
Filago specimens collected for Tutin from stubble in ex Lythrum field, G Crompton, 13.9.1959.
(?) Thousands of seedlings, in damp hollow, no water, G Crompton,4.4.1960.
8 small plants only seen, rough and dry, area loosely overgrown with Polygonum per, Medic lup, Epilo adn, Eupho exi, Myoso arv, Senec vul, Acino arv, Aphan arv, Poten ans, Cirsi arv, Arena lep, Sonchus sp., Veron arv. Nearby: Litho arv, Polyg lap & Aethu cyn (very small), G Crompton, 5.7.1960.
Lythrum with Polgonum per, P. lap, P. nod, P. avi, P. con, P. amp, Kickxia ela, K. spu, G Crompton with Miss Haynes & Sir Jim Holland, 28.7.1960.
No Lythrum seen, recently ploughed, no water in nearby pond, G Crompton, 13.7.1961.
Has been ploughed again, Peewits nest in the making beside small wet hollow in middle of site, nearby pond with 4" water with a few S. caprea in NE corner and 2 prs duck, G Crompton, 13.8.1961.
None found, mustard crop, G Crompton, 20.9.1961.
Abundant, short Lythrum flowering plants; slight hollow quite dry, very sick–red-looking, growing with Polygonum per, Anaga arv, Arena lep, Menth arv, Medic lup, Aethu cyn, Plant maj, Eupho exi, Poten ans, Prune vul, Kickx ela, Ranun acr, Polyg avi, Juncu art. Nearby: Polyg rur, Silene noc (fls open 10.30 am), and in stubble, Specu hyb, G Crompton, 6.9.1962.
Put in 4 stakes with Baker–Lythrum area c.12 sq yds, G Crompton, 9.9.1962.
1 good large plant in flower, pH 9 (B.D.H. Barium Sulphate Soil Testing Outfit) and small ones, recently ploughed, stakes gone (Mustard crop to south), G Crompton, 11.8.1963.
Ploughed up, G Crompton, 25.9.1964.
Large area of dominant Lythrum 'more abundant than ever ... dominant in a large depression in a cornfield', Trust Field Meeting, 2.7.1966, Nat. in Cambs (1967)10: 19. B/W photo with Riccia glauca & R. cavernosa, G Crompton, 2.7.1966. (G Crompton field notebooks, 1958-1965).
In cavo udo in segete, Blacklands, Whittlesford, c.448.489, G Crompton, 29.8.1966, CGE. LIV.
50-100 plants in Mustard crop (for ploughing in). Lythrum occurs in c.70 sq.yds, with Riccia species, Cirsium arvense, Poten ans, Equis arvense, 1 seedling collected for Bot. Garden, Pop. map, G Crompton, 20.9.1974.
1 plant, 447.485, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.2B: Not investigated. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.10A: WHITTLESFORD NORTH OF BLACKLANDS, hollow (C.68) 448.487
CD Preston, 1.9.1979.
(448.487), Fairly young Lythrum grew along two tractor tracks through the crop (now stubble). Mr Maynard promised to leave sites unploughed for a few weeks.This would allow other botanists to see them and give the Lythrum the opportunity to set further seed. (associated species list). CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
No plants, M Pollard, 10.8.1998.
L.10A: (large hollow furthest from Hoffer Brook) Thousands of Lythrum plants again chiefly in a broad band around the edge of the hollow but some scattered all over. This hollow seemed to have escaped spraying and had a wide range of associated plants including Samolus again. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.10B: WHITTLESFORD NNE OF BLACKLANDS, hollow (C.68) 447.487
J Birks, CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 12.9.1979.
(447.487), Lythrum was frequent in the deeper parts of the hollow, especially along two tractor tracks where it grew with Riccia cavernosa and R. glauca. It did not, however, form a continuous sward. Water was standing in ruts in the stubble. (associated species list). Mr Maynard promised to leave sites 10B...unploughed for a few weeks.This would allow other botanists to see them and give the Lythrum the opportunity to set further seed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
No plants, M Pollard, 10.8.1998.
L.10B: (hollow nearest the Hoffer Brook) Probably thousands of plants of Lythrum but most have been sprayed when the rape crop was harvested. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.4A: WHITTLESFORD MAYNARD'S FIELD (near Newton) (C3) 448.489
Locally abundant in damp hollow in field, M Rand, 6.1969 (found by accident, incidentally the track leading down to this site had Filago spathulata, M Rand in postcard 13.3.1975).
Locally abundant in damp hollow with J. bufonius, ME Smith & M Rand, 7.1969.
There were c.200 plants, associated with Agrostis sp, Juncus inflexus(?), Tripleurospermum. The crop was wheat. I went there 2.8.1969, I have two photographs [Col. slides] of it taken then. [sent 15.9.1975], The area was ± dry, RJ Pankhurst in litt 8.1.1974.
JR Pankhurst, c.1972; One plant early, none later, JR Pankhurst & JE Raven, 1973.
Seedlings with some Riccia present, rape crop has been sprayed with Gramoxone beginnning and end of August, G Crompton, 20.9.1974.
9 plants seen, G Crompton, 20.10.1974.
Plants and well grown seedlings plus patches of new very small seedlings. Site shown to Mr Maynard, who will spray around the site only, with Dalapon shortly, 9 seedlings collected for Bot. Garden, G Crompton,30.10.1974.
Col. slide, hollow with Lythrum, G Crompton with KV Cramp, 1.7.1975.
Thousands of plants in 35m square area plus isolated plants on south and on west boundary of field, Pop. map & CS of zones C, D, & E on west side of hollow, and looking east towards fence, WH Butcher, 4.7.1975.
Lythrum hollow green, with abundant Lythrum flowering plants, ripe seed collected, rape crop had been harvested and haulms being burnt in lines. Lythrum hyssopifolia plants in fruit and very brown, on western boundary near very large pond, CS Lythrum in green hollow and on edges of rape field after harvest and stubble burning, G Crompton, 26.8.1975.
(448.489) A few old and many younger Lythrum plants grew in the wheat stubble. (associated species list). Mr Maynard promised to leave sites 4A...un-ploughed for a few weeks.This would allow other botanists to see them and give the Lythrum the opportunity to set further seed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
>10,000 plants, 448.489, A Arbon, 29.6.1994, [R].
500-1000 plants, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.4A: (hollow in field to W of New Farm) Game crop now only coming to NW end of hollow. Hundreds of plants of Lythrum scattered over much of the hollow. Samolus valerandi scattered over the site in small quantity. set-aside field. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.4A/1: A hollow west of 4A, by the side of the stream, is overgrown. Mr Maynard offered to plough it & plant a mustard crop, in the hope that Lythrum would reappear in the hollow from dormant seed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
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L.4B: WHITTLESFORD MAYNARD'S FIELD EDGES (C.3) 447.488–448.488
Pop. map (see above L.4A), WH Butcher, 4.7.1975.
50-100 adjacent to field margin, M Pollard, 25.7.1998.
L.4B: (hollow nearer the Hoffer Brook) Completely overgrown with perennial plants including a vast mat of Glyceria notata (not fluitans). No Lythrum seen. Had not been cultivated this year. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.7 WHITTLESFORD opposite New Farm, hollow (C.64) 452.490
Abundant in wet hollow in arable field opposite New Farm, AC Leslie, with G Crompton, 26.9.1978.
452.490, [None of these sites could be visited as] the wheat had not yet been harvested. The wheat appeared to be continuous through the L.7 hollow although beaten down in the centre by rain. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
Ploughed. CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 11.10.1987.
No Lythrum, but Polygonum persicaria dominant and around the edges there were scattered plants of Gnaphalium uliginosum. G. Crompton, 1990.
(fenced) Photographs, Lythrum in flower, 4.8.1991 and c.250 plants within a diamond- shaped area of numbered fence posts, ('recording square'), and 2 small patches on north side, Gnaph uli still present, Pop. map, Ashley Arbon,1.9.1991.
(square fenced) horse-grazed field opp. New Farm, c.50 plants – a poor population in an area which is not suitable now. Des Callaghan, 20.7.1993.
Not searched, overgrown, dry. JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
50-100 plants mainly in wheel ruts in the hollow, fence now runs across hollow, M Pollard, 28.7.1998.
No longer fenced, f. D. Radley, July 2000.
L.7: (huge circular hollow, bisected by fence, opposite New Farm) Thousands of Lythrum plants all around the edge of the hollow in a very broad band. None in centre as has only recently dried out. Grass field but hollow very wet until quite recently. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.6A: WHITTLESFORD M.11 fence & hollow (Newton Rd ) (C.63) 455.489, 456.489
4 plants under new M.11 fence, (was part of wet hollow), north of Newton-Whittlesford road, AC Leslie, with G Crompton, 26.9.1978.
(455.489, 456.489), None of these sites could be visited as the wheat had not yet been harvested. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987. The fields [L.6A & L.6B], had been harvested but the stubble was unploughed. We could not find any Lythrum in these hollows. There was a fine population of Riccia glauca in L6a, much of it submerged under shallow water standing in the hollow. Other species seen in this field included Aethusa cynapium, Anagallis arvensis, Euphorbia exigua, Kickxia elatine, K. spuria, Mentha arvensis, Plantago major subspecies. intermedia, Polygonum convolvulus and P. persicaria in the various hollows and Chenopodium album, Cirsium arvense, Senecio vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis and Viola arvensis as additional species seen on the higher ground. CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 11.10.1987.
A few plants in centre of hollow, only c.4-8 cm high, very inconspicuous, in rape stubble, soil surface very dry, [with simple, erect stems; some had shrivelled at the flowering stage, others were fruiting but shrivelled. The hollow did not have a noticeably different vegetation to the rest of the field, but it was greener, with more weeds, than the surrounding stubble. In the hollow were Anaga arv, Aethu cyn subsp. agr, Kickx ela, K. spu, Planta maj subsp. int, Polygonum avic (but no P. per).) JO Mountford, CD Preston & J Woodman, 4.8.1990.
Not searched, unpromising. JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
No plants, habitat unsuitable, recently converted to horse pasture, M Pollard, 10.8.1998.
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L.6B WHITTLESFORD M.11, field & hollow 455.490
Q Cronk & CD Preston, 25.8.1978. 455.490,
None of these sites could be visited as the wheat had not yet been harvested, CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987. see L.6A above, CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 11.10.1987.
No plants, habitat unsuitable, recently converted to horse pasture, M Pollard, 10.8.1998.
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L.5A: WHITTLESFORD M.11 'SLIP ROAD' [near bridge over M.11] (C.65) 455.487
c.1000 plants in what was part of a wet hollow, now disturbed ground of new slip-road near Stanmoor Hall, AC Leslie & DR Donald, 19.9.1978, and AC Leslie with G Crompton, 26.9.1978.
A few fruiting plants in hollow, 456.486, JR Akeroyd & CD Preston, 25.8.1986.
L.5A: disturbed ground of new slip road, long since overgrown with perennial species. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
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L.5B: WHITTLESFORD M.11 SLIP ROAD, hollow (C.65) 455.487
Lythrum abundant, Col. print, CD Preston, 25.8.1978. G Crompton, 26.9.1978. (456.486) Ploughed. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
This hollow had already been resown and the arable crop was already visible. The lower part of the hollow was flooded. CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 11.10.1987.
> 10,000 plants, hollow in arable field, Des Callaghan, 20.7.1993.
c.30,000 plants but many did not mature, A Arbon, 29.6.1994, [R].
500+, difficult to pick out from surrounding Polygonum aviculare and P. persicaria, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
50-100 plants growing in one pair of tram lines, M Pollard, 26.8.1998.
Abundant, three-quarters of hollow is completely carpeted in it, I would very roughly guess about 10,000 plants. JCA Rathmell, in litt. 13.7.2001.
L.5B: GPS 45589.48693, (this does not mean that 'traditional' grid ref. of 455.487 is wrong, as this is only 7m from this grid ref–so hollow must extend to 455.487). Hollow very clearly delimited as a green island in an unharvested wheat crop, and extends up to fence along slip road. Thousands of relatively small, not very branched plants occuring throughout the hollow but particularly in upper half (almost solid pure stands on S side of hollow). Small size and fact that mainly past flowering means that it was not especially conspicuous. Plants larger at edges of hollow than in centre. Assoc. species: Planta maj subsp. int (abundant throughout hollow), Persi mac (abundant but inconspicuous as not yet in full flower), Polyg avi (frequent), Triplo ino (scattered but not flowering in centre of hollow; frequent to abundant and in full flower around edges). Alope myop (rare), Cheno alb, Equis arv, Juncu buf (rare!), Kickx ela, Kickx spu, Persi amp. Persi lap (rare), Rumex cri (rare), Sonch asp (rare). Bryophytes absent from most of hollow, a few scraps collected from upper (S) edge included: Bryum argenteum Bryum klinggraeffii (plants young but tubers abundant), Dicranella staphylina, Dicranella varia, Phascum cuspidatum, Pottia sp. RD Porley & CD Preston, 5.8.2001.
(Hollow right beside Newton Road before it goes over the M.11) Thousands of plants of Lythrum, especially towards the SW rim of the hollow, also extending along the fence side in the stubble to NW & SE of the hollow for a short distance. Much more sparse near the centre which is dominated by Persicaria maculosa. Crop was wheat. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.9A: WHITTLESFORD SOUTH OF NEW FARM, hollow (C.69)452.487
CD Preston, 1.9.1979.
5 plants, M Pollard, 28.7.1998.
L.9A: and other hollows in that field still under standing corn so not investigated. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.9B 453.488, [L9A or L9B ?]
This hollow had been sown to rape this year, and was now harvested. Water was standing in ruts in the hollow. There was much Polygonum persicaria in the hollow, with P. aviculare, P. lapathifolium, Juncus bufonius, Plantago major and Tripleurospermum inodorum–the conditions thus appeared suitable for Lythrum but we could not find any. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
L.9A or B ? 453.488
This was also ploughed and sown, with the young crop visible. However flowering Polygonum persicaria was still visible–conditions had obviously been too damp to 'clean up' the hollow and it was now flooded. CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 11.10.1987.
The junction of the unharvested rape field and an unharvested bean field west of 9.A: 451.488, had a rich weed flora. The site is on a higher part of the field than the Lythrum site and the soil is rather sandy. It is within the SSSI boundary. Species list made. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
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L.9
Not searched, very overgrown and dry. JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
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L.9B: WHITTLESFORD SE OF NEW FARM, hollow (C.69) 453.488
CD Preston, 1.9.1979.
50 plants, 453.488, A Arbon, 29.6.1994, [R].
200± all in one set of tramlines, M Pollard, 26.8.1998.
L.9B: (hollow beside Newton Road NW of Site 5). Thousands of plants of Lythrum, scattered generally over the hollow, in the centre as well as around the rim, often best on ridges rather than in furrows so in places there are concentric bands of Lythrum plants. Crop was wheat. AC Leslie & JL Sharman, 18.8.2001.
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L.18 CHUCK-A-BUSH FARM WHITTLESFORD, hollows 473.472
Ashley Arbon, 5.10.2001.
Large arable field by A.505 stretching from farm north along the west side of FP.
Bryophytes collected in 18A or 18C: Barbula unguiculata, Bryum klinggraeffii c. tubers, Bryum violaceum c. tubers, Dicranella varia, Phascum cuspidatum c. fr., Phascum floerkeanum c. fr., Pottia davalliana c.fr., G Crompton et al, det. CD Preston, 7.10.2001.
L.18A Large hollow 32 x 33m (c. 130m from Farm) mostly dominated with c. 20.000 Lythrum plants, some still in flower but with a patch of Persicaria maculosa in the centre. Barley stubble (only a third of the usual yield) with a good weed flora including Anaga arv, Eupho exi, Kickxia spuria, K. elatine, Persica mac, Plant maj subsp int, Polyga avi, Triple ino, etc. Juncus buf v. rare on northern edge.
L.18B adjacent to A but hardly a hollow and with two good tractor ruts (without Lythrum), c.15 x 33m with about 200 scattered Lythrum plants and weed flora similar to above and 1 plant Silene noctiflora and c. 50 Plant maj subsp maj.
L.18C Small hollow, 18 x 16m about 72m from farm and 58m from A. c.200 Lythrum plants and weed flora similar to above but only 1 Plant maj subp major.
No liverworts were found and despite there being quite a lot of bare soil, very few bryophytes present. G Crompton, Pop. map & CPs, A Arbon & NP Millar, 7.10.2001.
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NEWTON
L.13 Wheat field, harvested but no further cultivation. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
L.13A Newton CAMPS PARK, hollow (C.73) 446.488
CD Preston, 19.8.1980. No L.h., JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
No plants, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
13A: Slight hollow, no evidence of winter wet conditions or excessive weed growth. Crop appeared as well grown as in remainder of field. No Lythrum seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.13B: Newton CAMPS PARK, hollow (C.73) 446.486
CD Preston, 19.8.1980.
No L.h., dry, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
No plants, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
13B: Small hollow densely filled with weeds, Persicaria maculosa (a-d) over most of the hollow. Other species include Chaenorhinum minus (r), Fallopia convolvulus (o), Polygonum aviculare (f-a), Persicaria lapathifolia (o), Pulicaria dysenterica (r), Stellaria media (f), Tripleurospermum inodorum (f). Lythrum locally abundant around western side of hollow where competition from Persicaria less intense. Estimated number of Lythrum c. 500 plants. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.13C: Newton S OF CAMPS PARK, hollow (C.73) 446.485
CD Preston, 19.8.1980.
A shallow hollow c.30 x 35 yds, close to edge of bean field, Newton nr Thriplow boundary, the Lythrum at a distance looking like heather, it's so prolific, 445.485, JCA Rathmell, 22.7.1994.
c.1000, overtopped by Tripleurospermum. JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
2 plants, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
13C: A conspicuous patch of pink when seen from a distance this hollow proved to be largely dominated by Persicaria maculosa although the 'tail' running to southeast was rather more species diverse. Polygonum aviculare (f-a), Tripleurospermum inodorum (f), Epilobium hirsutum (o), Pulicaria dysenterica (r), Conyza canadensis (r), Stellaria media (f), Plantago major (f), Viola arvensis (o), Kickxia spuria (o), Anagallis arvensis (r), Chaenorhinum minus (o), Silene latifolia (r), Papaver rhoeas (o). Lythrum locally abundant around margin of hollow and within the main area of the hollow where the Persicaria is not too dense. Estimated number of Lythrum c.1000 plants. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.13D: Newton CAMPS PARK hollow (C.73) 446.487
CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 31.8.1980.
No L.h., JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
No plants, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
13D: Small weedy and grassy hollow with Solanum nigrum (o), Plantago major (f), Aethusa cynapium (o), Persicaria maculosa (f-a), Polygonum aviculare (f-a), Fallopia convolvulus (o), Cirsium vulgare (r), Persicaria lapathifolia (o), Alopecurus myosuroides (f), Chaenorhinum minus (r). No Lythrum seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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THRIPLOW
L.13E: Thriplow S. of CAMPS PARK, hollow (C.73) 446.484
CD Preston, 19.8.1980.
c.1000, overtopped by Tripleurospermum. JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
c.80–100, M Pollard, 15.8.1998.
13E: This hollow now stands within a small area of set-aside in the corner of this field, the area being c.87m SW-NE and c.53m NW-SE. The hollow itself appears dominated by Persicaria maculosa but, in contrast to hollow 13A, the growth here is not nearly so robust or dense. Species recorded from the set-aside area include Plantago major (f), Polygonum aviculare (f), Sonchus arvensis (o), Cirsium arvense (o), Senecio vulgaris (o), Tripleurospermum inodorum (f), Kickxia spuria (o), Euphorbia exigua (o-lf), Chaenorhinum minus (o-lf), Arenaria serpyllifolia ssp. leptoclados (o-lf), Fallopia convolvulus (o), Epilobium hirsutum (lf), Papaver rhoeas (o), Silene latifolia (o), Persicaria maculosa (o), Anagallis arvensis (o), Taraxacum officinale agg. (o), Alopecurus myosuroides (f-la), Odontites vernus (r), Pulicaria dysenterica (r), Picris echioides (r). Lythrum is frequent to locally abundant in the hollow and spreading out into the nearer parts of the set-aside. Estimated number of plants in excess of 5000. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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LITTLE SHELFORD WOODAM'S FIELD, hollow (C.71) 462.497
L.12A,B,C: Q Cronk, CD Preston & HLK Whitehouse, 15.9.1979.
Not searched, unpromising, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
L.12A & B: no Lythrum plants, M Pollard, 26.8.1998.
L.12 Wheat field, crop harvested and ground harrowed. All the Lythrum plants seen in this field were dead remnants lying on the soil surface. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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12A: No hollow could be discerned in the field in the location shown on the sketch map. No evidence of dampness or excessive weed growth. No Lythrum seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
12B: A very small hollow, damp and rather weed infested; Persicaria maculosa (lf), Plantago major (o). No Juncus bufonius seen. No Lythrum seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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12C: c.50 plants, M Pollard, 26.8.1998.
12C: Position of hollow marked by conspicuous amounts of weed remnants lying on the surface of the soil and darkness of damp soil. Juncus bufonius occasional to very locally frequent. Other weed remains were largely Persicaria maculosa and Rumex sp. No Lythrum seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
The unlettered hollow shown on the sketch map slightly to southwest of hollow 12C could not be discerned in the field. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
L.12D: extra hollow 4609.4968 (could this be hollow 12A?)
Whilst looking for hollow 12A a further hollow was seen to southwest close to the northwestern boundary of the field. The northwestern edge of the hollow is c.25m from the hedge and the hollow is c.200m from the roadside hedgerow. The hollow measures c.13m WSW to ENE and c. 16m NNW to SSE. No Juncus bufonius seen, Persicaria maculosa (o). 20-25 Lythrum remains seen. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.
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L.14: Little Shelford OPPOSITE LEY GROVE COTTAGES (C.72) .461.498
R Payne, 16.9.1980.
37 plants, A Arbon, 29.6.1994, [R].
(461.497-8) No Lythrum seen although Polygonum amphibium and Riccia glauca grew in the hollow in the centre of the field (461.498) and Riccia cavernosa and R. glauca in a hollow towards the S side (461.497). Aethusa cynapium subsp. agrestis occurred in the stubble near the latter. CD Preston & SJ Lambert, 2.9.1987.
Not searched, unpromising, JCA Rathmell, 25.7.1995.
Not searched as owner not found. M Pollard, 1998.
L.14 Wheat field, harvested but no further cultivation. Large, deep, very obvious hollow with abundant weed growth. Persicaria maculosa (a), Alopecurus myosuroides (lf), Tripleurospermum inodorum (f), Plantago major (f), Juncus bufonius (r), Rumex crispus (lf). 3 plants of Lythrum seen in northern part of hollow. NP Millar, 17.9.2001.