Persicaria minor (Hudson) Opiz (Polygonum minus Hudson) Conservation status: C First record: Ray, 1660 Persicaria pusilla repens Small creeping Arsmart. Ray,1660,116–117; Ray,1670:238–9. Martyn,1727,15. 29 2 plants on debris cleared from ditch, with P. hydropiper, 288.988, AC Leslie, 9.8.1980, conf. DA Webb. 36 A few clumps, with P. mite and P. hydropiper var densiflora, just W of High Causeway Bridge, Swavesey, 366.698, JO Mountford, 2.9.1990; G Crompton & JO Mountford, 9.9.1990, conf. JR Akeroyd, CGE. Mare Fen, 366.699, JCA Rathmell, 23.8.1995, [R]. 37 Specimen from river bank at Over, 1975, det. P. minus by DA Webb in 1978, GMS Easy, PVT, [Easy still thinks that it is P. mite]. 46 At the end of Water–Beach load, next to the Town, in the water. Ray,1660,116–117(93). Persicaria pusilla repens Waterbeach JM.ann. [Persicaria pusilla...] Small Arsmart. August. Th.M.ann.Meth.15. Water Beach Th.M.ann.Meth.–Index Loc.(f.)5. Water–Beach. Martyn,1763,Herbat.XII. Polygonum minus Small creeping narrow–leaved Persicaria. Waterbeach. Relhan,1785;1802;1820. At the end of Waterbeach Lode, next to the town; Ray. Bab.1860,205 & Bab.MS.Fl.653. 47 Ditches near Bedford River, near Sutton, Cambs, CE Moss, 26.8.1911, det. DA Webb, CGE. P. minus Now known only from the Old Bedford River. Evans,1911,237. 48 '...Welch's Dam for some years past, is it the long lost Polygonum minus, or only a small state of P. mite ? The small, smooth nuts the stalkless leaves seem to indicate P. minus. It does not grow on 'gravelly' soil, but gravel and sand loving plants are commonly spread on the black soil of the fens.' A Fryer, 27.11.1882, letter to CC Babington, attached to specimen, det. P. minus, DA Webb, CGE. 'This plant not recorded from County since the time of Ray, grows in the Washes, along the drift–way at the base of the Barrier Bank from the toll–house at Welches Dam to the Manea Engine. I have not found it growing in water by the side of ditches & in damp places where the water has stagnated.' A. Fryer, J.Bot. 1884,28. Wash side of the Barrier Bank in wet places, AF.ann. From the Toll to Welney, AF.Flora. 2 plants on wet peat spoil, wash by parish boundary, 400 metres SSE of Welches Dam, 472.855, JO Mountford, 5.8.1988. 58 Margin of pool, Pymore railway viaduct, 500.886, CJ Cadbury, 15.9.1973. 59 Welney Washes, 516.919, FH Perring, 5.9.1959, CGE. [not found]. c.40 plants, Bottom of Motts Legg, Ouse Washes, 522.924, T Strudwick (RSPB), 16.8.1993, det. G.Crompton; det. SM Walters & DA Webb, Feb.1994, CGE.
