Quote:
Originally Posted by lizard orchid  Dear Ian ,
Here are some records of Henbane worth checking from the Sussex Rare Plant Register for you. Seen in 1997 up to 2000 but could still be there. Good Luck!
Seaford Head Very edge of cliff where disturbed by rabbits TV 507 973
Near Camber Castle Trackside TV 922 185 and Waste Tip at TV 921 176
Brian Laney Botanist Northants |
Thank you for sharing this information. I must say though that one of the (only) two places i have seen Henbane growing happens to be just outside seaford at a place called "High & Over" were they have the big horse carved out of the hillside, there are hundereds of henbane plants growing here. Camber castle if memory serves me rightly is near Rye. Rye harbour is the only other place that i have located henbane growing wild. Both of these locations are in East sussex - i would like to find it in hampshire (south).
I got in contact with the Sussex Biodiversity record Centre who then provided me with a complete list of all records of henbane in sussex, there is two that have caught my attention. The first and most impressive is a record of "100's" growing in East Marden (happens to be about 5 miles from hant's/ sussex's border), the other is a record of it near littlehampton. Though the Marden record is 5 years old and henbane is normaly biannual the fact that there were 100's tells me that there is potential for it to be a common plant in the area also with it been so close to the border there is a chance it might be found in hampshire.
Sadly though it appears that henbane is extinct in the south of hampshire - though seeds can remain dormant for decades or even centuries in some conditions and then just germinate as soon as the ground is disturbed.. so it would be foolish to say its extinct for good.
