Bristol Rock-cress

[davidbr]

To pass the time I was doing a bit of online research into locating the Bristol Rock-cress (Arabis scabra) next Spring, and was very surprised to find that the BSBI have three locations indicated in the south-west (Somerset coast, from the looks of things?) plus nine more from the 1970's/80's scattered across Scotland!

Now, I'd always assumed (and all the books I've ever seen have said so, including Stace) that this plant is a speciality of the Avon Gorge in Bristol and, in the UK, occurs nowhere else. So - who's right? Does anyone know if A.scabra really has spread (or contracted, in the case of those old Scottish records) or is this an indication that the BSBI ought to be taken with a massive pinch of salt?

It's made me question exactly how reliable their maps really are - I'd taken them as the botanical equivalent of gospel, based on scientifically-proven occurrences, but is it just a case of if you phone/e-mail them and tell them a particular plant's growing in your back yard, they believe you?

[thunder]

If you look at the New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora you will see only four squares - one native, three introduced, all in the south west. The latest NBN map shows those and an extra one in Wales from CCW.

I suspect the Scottish ones are the result of a glitch - but email them and ask for clarification! These things happen - best not to assume too much until you find out the real facts.

The BSBI certainly don't just take any old record from anyone, anywhere.

But a warning to all - don't rely too much on the web!

henrya