Myrica gale L. Conservation status: C First record: Turner, 1548 Myrtus...in english a myrtle tree,...growe in great plentie in Italy...Some abuse a litle shrub called Gal in englishe, which groweth in fennes and waterish mores for myrto, but they are far deceyued. Turner,1548,196-197. Of the Fen shrub or bush called Gall. There is a short bush that groweth in the Fenne which is called in Dutch in Netherland Gagel, in Cambridgeshire Gall,...Turner,1564,750; ...of sweete Willow, or Gaule: Gaule, sweete Willow or Dutch Myrtle tree.... This Gaule groweth plentifully in sundry places of England, as in the Ile of Elie, and in the Fennie countries thereabouts, whereof there is such store in that country, that they make fagots of it and sheaves, which they call Gaule sheaves, to burne and heate their ovens... Gerard,1597,1228;1633 & 1636,1414. Myrtus brabantica G.1414. Corbyn,1656. Elaeagnus Cordi Sweet Willow, Gaul, Dutch Myrtle. In the fens in the Isle of Ely in many places abundantly. Ray,1660,47-48(61). Elaeagnus Cordi Sweet Willow, Gaule, Dutch Myrtle. In palustribus putridis, as in the Fens in the Isle of Ely, &c. Ray,1670:97. Gale frutex odoratus Septentrionalium, Elaeagnus. Gaule, Sweet Willow, Dutch Myrtle. In palustribus, as in the Fens in the Isle of Ely; Ray,1690,230; Ray,1696,313; Ray,1724,443. Ely JM.ann. Martyn,1727,115. Gale...Gaule, Sweet-Willow, Dutch Myrtle. In the fens of the isle of Ely; Martyn,1732,1:270. Ely Th.M.ann.Meth.-Index Loc.6. Isle of Ely. Martyn,1763,Herbat.XII. Myrica gale Sweet Gale, Goule, Willow, or Dutch Myrtle. Isle of Ely. Relhan,1785; [Goule & Willow omitted] Isle of Ely. Ray. Relhan,1802; Isle of Ely. Relhan,1820. 49 Fire Lots at Chatteris, almost extinct in 1876, A Fryer. Bab.ann. AF.cat. ...and know of only one patch, AF.ann. Myric gal Wimblington-in-the-Firelots, 1884, Fryer! Bennett,1899,245 & J.Bot.1903. Fire Lots, Wimblington, A Fryer, 20.6.1886 (or 1888), OXF. 1 male plant up to 1895 at Wimblington Fire Lots, AF.MS. 57 Crosby specimen sent to Bot. gard. Camb.1894, AH ann.Bab. Wicken Fen, A.W.,1900, ann.Wallis. Wicken Fen, A Hosking, 6.1901, OXF. Wicken Fen, male & Fem. A Hosking, 1901. Wicken Fen; both male & female plants in good quantity at thenoth-east side, 1894–1901.Hosking,1903. Wicken Fen, FA Bellamy, 20.8.1904, OXF. Wicken Fen, A Malins Smith, before 1905. ...it still grows in two spots in Wicken Fen,...Evans,1911,214. In quantity at a new station in Wicken fen, AH Evans, 1912; Evans,1913,232. Wicken Fen, A Shrubbs, 7.1916, CGE. Wicken Fen, male & fem. 1927, Blades ann. Wicken Fen, DH Valentine, 1939. Wicken Fen, H Gilbert-Carter, 25.7.1941, CGE. Wicken Fen, in a small patch at the S end of the main drove, on the W side.[1952]. DE Coombe, Card index. West end of Sedge Fen Drove, Wicken Fen, 553.705, PD Sell 61/742, 3.10.1961, CGE. Wicken Fen, 3 big patches, SM Walters, 1977. Wicken Fen, 549.702, JCA Rathmell, 27.5.1994, [R]. 58 [see also records for 'Isle of Ely' & 'Ely' above] North Fen, Ely, until recently; W Marshall. Bab.1860,217.
