The plants keep on giving


Today, I didn't intend to spend any time looking at plants along the edges of fields, but ultimately I couldn't resist it. Walking along the footpath that snakes around the large field between Holly Lane East and Park Downs, at the meeting point of several footpaths, the crops had not taken, so I got down on my knees and searched the stunted flora. Sharp-leaved Fluellen was not uncommon and several plants of Small Toadflax also caught my eye. A nice start! Next up was Perrotts Farm and the field directly north of Ruffett Wood (called Pipit Meadow by the birding fraternity) which was exhibiting a bare strip at its north-western end - I needed no encouragement to check it! This too was of interest, with more Sharp-leaved Fluellen being found, but also a great deal of Dwarf Spurge (above) - this surprised me as I have not seen this species at this locality before - John Peacock will know of its historical status on the farm.


I was quite close to Fames Rough and felt it would be rude not to go and pay my respects to the Cut-leaved Germander (above). At least 76 plants were counted, many of them in flower. I just casually swept along the ploughed strip, so that figure is undoubtably on the low side. I could find no Ground Pine.

Comments

Derek Faulkner said…
Absolutely well done, you are to wildflowers what Marc Heath is to odonata and a great example of what local patch watching can achieve if you can get past the birdwatching and twitching bit. Keep it coming.
22 July 2015 at 16:51
Steve Gale said…
Thank you Derek, kind words indeed.
22 July 2015 at 17:14
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