A 2009 plant-hunter's diary

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

These species are all sown for game cover and it can be very interesting looking through fields like this. I have never managed to find the Gold-of-pleasure though.

I remember reading in an old wild flower book that Gold-of-pleasure used to be grown as a crop and was a common casual, but according to The Flora of the Bristol Region there's only been one record in the area, of a single plant, in the past fifty or so years.

I suppose like a lot of these species, as cleaning processes in corn & in waste have improved, so the aliens have died out. A real shame - I'd love to be able to go back in time to the days vast arrays of casuals from all over the world turned up by woollen mills and on rubbish dumps

[davidbr]

Does anyone have any idea what this mallow could be? More a herb than a shrub, about 18 inches high, it was growing at the edge of the car park and seemed to have sprung up as a casual from soil used on the flowerbeds. I've not been able to find a match, so it's time to ask for help. Help

[Jonners]

The flower looks like some kind of Lavatera, but I'm no expert.

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Jonners

The flower looks like some kind of Lavatera, but I'm no expert.

It's certainly a Lavatera - the question is, which one?

I'm pretty sure it's Lavatera thuringiaca, a European species and one of the parents of the common Garden Tree-mallow L. x clementii. Presumably it was a soil impurity.

[davidbr]

A few interesting finds from yesterday;

This "pretty red buttercup" turned out to be an escaped clematis, growing on a roadside soil-heap just below Brean Down, Somerset. They're a confusing bunch, but so far I've ID'd it as Purple Clematis (Clematis viticella), probably of the cultivar "Rubra".

(Purple Clematis, C. viticella - I think...)

Just along the coast at Uphill, this colony of Fern-leaf Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina) seemed established and thriving on an old stone wall in the village. I couldn't find it growing in any of the neighbouring gardens, so exactly where it came from is a mystery.

(Fern-leaf Yarrow, Achillea filipendulina)

Back on my usual Bristol patch, our lone self-sown bush of Mrs Wilson's Barberry (Berberis wilsonae) is flowering well, pleasing after some council idiot gave it a severe hammering with hedge-clippers last year

(Mrs Wilson's Barberry, Berberis wilsoniae)

And, though it's a plant we don't get a lot of in this area, I think this is Hawkweed Oxtongue (Picris hieracioides)...



Input from anyone who's more familiar with the species would be very welcome

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

And, though it's a plant we don't get a lot of in this area, I think this is Hawkweed Oxtongue (Picris hieracioides)...



Input from anyone who's more familiar with the species would be very welcome

yes, you are right. I think you are probably right about the Clematis too

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

yes, you are right. I think you are probably right about the Clematis too

Thanks, Tiggrx

[davidbr]

Today was one of those days that shows why urban plant-hunting can be so exciting; out of nowhere, the construction of a new cyclepath and associated dumping of top-soil had caused a wonderful variety of aliens to spring into life! Several of which I'm still struggling to identify...

Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) & Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), a couple of dozen plants of each, made for a colourful sight, and the "cornfield experience" was completed by quite a few Corn Marigolds (Chrysanthemum segetum). Neither of which I ever expected to see in the heart of Bristol


Corncockle, Agrostemma githago)


(Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus)


(Corn Marigold, Chrysanthemum segetum)

Once I got my eye in, I managed to spot all sorts of things; one of the highlights being this plant of Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). That's a new species for me... and I soon found a second one, in the unlikely form of Marrow (Cucurbita pepo)


(Ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia)


(Marrow, Cucurbita pepo)

[davidbr]

This Pink-headed Knotweed (Persicaria capitata) was a surprise; as far as I know, this will be the first record for the county.


Pink-headed Knotweed, Persicaria capitata

Showing that perhaps the dirt had originally come from someone's garden, one plant each of Petunia (Petunia x hybrida) & Argentine Vervain (Verbena bonariensis) had sprung up.


Argentine Vervain, Verbena bonariensis


Petunia, Petunia x hybrida)

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) is pretty much ever-present in these sort of habitats, but Garden Tobacco Plant (Nicotiana x sanderae) was a bit more unusual and there were also three or four flowering Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum)


Pot Marigold, Calendula officinalis


Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica), only the second time I've ever seen it, is a very colourful flower; Common Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) isn't as pretty, but allowed me to improve the quality of photos I had on file of the species.


Niger, Guizotia abyssinica


Common Amaranth, Amaranthus retroflexus

Perennial Wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) was one of the commonest species (it's well established in many areas of the city, especially around the River Avon) and there were plenty of these cultivars of Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), with white centres to the petals.


Common Poppy, Papaver rhoeas


Perennial Wall-rocket, Diplotaxis tenuifolia

[davidbr]

These ones I've so far been unable to identify, and would appreciate any help people can offer

This Amaranthus sp, strongly tinged red, is definitely unlike anything I've seen before, so it'll be a new species for my list once I'm able to put a name ot it



On this one, I've absolutely no idea whatsoever



All in all, a very good day

The location's a bit hard to describe, but if anyone's in & around Bristol and would like to see these aliens, I'd be happy to take them to have a look. There's nothing incredibly rare, I suppose, but just the Corncockles and Cornflowers were well worth seeing

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

These ones I've so far been unable to identify, and would appreciate any help people can offer

This Amaranthus sp, strongly tinged red, is definitely unlike anything I've seen before, so it'll be a new species for my list once I'm able to put a name ot it

I will have a better look later but at first glance this is saying Chenopodium to me rather than Amaranthus

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I will have a better look later but at first glance this is saying Chenopodium to me rather than Amaranthus

Yes, I think I got a bit carried away with that one - it seems to be Many-seeded Goosefoot (Chenopodium polyspermum) which I have seen before, just never tinged so strikingly red. That's what totally confused me; I was convinced I was looking at an amaranth

The other mystery plant, I think it might be Marsh-elder (Iva xanthiifolia)? That's definitely a species I've never seen before, though, so I could use some help

[davidbr]

A couple more additions from yesterday & today, mostly casuals and all in and around Bristol;

Austrian Chamomile (Anthemis austriaca); supposedly a regular constituent of "wild flower" seed mixtures, I've been looking out for this plant for some time. This one sprung up on the edge of an allotment at Royate Hill, Fishponds.



Four-leaved Pink-sorrel (Oxalis tetraphylla); unfortunately not in flower, but the leaves are distinctive. A casual in a garden tub.



Leadwort (Ceratostigmum plumbaginoides); probably the most vivid blue flower I've ever seen, it'd only escaped from an adjoining garden onto an old stone wall.



Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus); another casual, three plants amongst other bird-seed aliens in the St Werburgh's area of town



I haven't yet re-sized the pictures, but this afternoon I also found Blue Eryngo (Eryngium planum) and Large-flowered Pink-sorrel (Oxalis debilis). Plus this knotweed, which I was wondering whether it could be Giant Knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis)? It's not a species I'm familiar with, though, so I could use some help with the ID

[davidbr]

Four more additions yesterday, plus a few more quality finds.

Early morning, my local patch of urban wasteland produced, on a dung-heap, some very healthy Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) plants. Years ago I tried to grow them without much success, despite a lot of loving care - makes you think, really


Pumpkin, Cicerbita maxima - Boiling Wells Lane, St. Werburgh's, Bristol

I found some that'd escaped from a garden the other day, but the Leadwort (Cerastostigma plumbaginoides) on old walls at Chew Stoke and Wells was far more convincingly naturalised. Apparently it's been known from Priest Row, near Wells Cathedral, for over twenty years.


Leadwort, Cerastostigma plumbaginoides - Chew Stoke, North Somerset


Leadwort, Cerastostigma plumbaginoides - Priest Row, Wells

The banks of Chew Valley Lake, where birds are fed, is a well-known site in the county for casuals. Today (although I had to climb over a fence to get decent photos) the star find was Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosum), which as far as I know hasn't ever been recorded in the county before.


Jerusalem Artichoke, Helianthus tuberosum - Heron's Green Bay, Chew Valley Lake, North Somerset

And not the most exciting of plants, but this bush of Garden Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia) growing out of a wall in the Somerset village of Nunney was still a new tick!


Garden Lavender, Lavandula x intermedia - Nunney, Somerset

Nearby at Mells Manor, I also managed to get some better photos of the population of Winter Savory (Satureja montana) naturalised here; established for over 100 years, this is probably the only current site in Britain for this shrubby Mediterranean herb. Well worth a look if you're in the area

Winter Savory, Satureja montana - Mells Manor, Mells, Somerset

[davidbr]

Back in Wells, the usual Trailing & Adria Bellflowers were common on the town's walls but, near the cathedral, this Italian Bellflower (Campanula fragilis) was a real surprise. Beautiful, too!


Italian Bellflower, Campanula fragilis - Chamberlain Street, Wells, Somerset

And, from the day before, the Blue Eryngo (Eryngium planum) plants I found growing out of a pavement crack in Bristol


Blue Eryngo, Eryngium planum - Fishponds, Bristol, 10th Sept. 2009

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

Back in Wells, the usual Trailing & Adria Bellflowers were common on the town's walls but, near the cathedral, this Italian Bellflower (Campanula fragilis) was a real surprise. Beautiful, too!


Italian Bellflower, Campanula fragilis - Chamberlain Street, Wells, Somerset

This looks more like Campanula carpatica to me

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

This looks more like Campanula carpatica to me

Yes, you're definitely right - whoops

Just as well I posted the photos on here before I thought about submitting the record

Thanks for the correction

[davidbr]

Some finds from a tour around Bristol city centre and the Avon Gorge today;

To start off, I couldn't resist taking some more photos of the Virgin's-bower (Clematis flammula) in scrub by the Industrial Museum; one of my favourite finds of the year.


(Virgin's-bower, Clematis flammula)

Along the River Avon, quite a few unusual trees/saplings had sprung up from bird-sown or discarded fruit. Two I'd already seen in flower back in the spring, but one was new...


(Almond, Prunus dulcis)


(Peach, Prunus persica)


(Siebold's Crab Apple, Malus sieboldii)

[davidbr]

Altogether during the tour, I encountered 10 species of cotoneaster; the common ones are Wall (C. horizontalis), Stern's (C. sternanus), Franchet's (C. franchetii), Himalayan (C. simonsii) & Waterer's (C. x watereri). Those five are widespread in the Bristol area.

Black-grape Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster ignotus) & Purple-flowered Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster atropurpureus) are a bit more unusual, though, and Entire-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster integrifolius) was also well naturalised...


(Purple-flowered Cotoneaster, C. atropurpureus)


(Black-grape Cotoneaster, C. ignotus)


(Diels' Cotoneaster, C. dielsanus)


(Himalayan Tree Cotoneaster, C. frigidus)

The Tree Privet (Ligustrum lucidum) bushes I found back in the spring were now in flower; probably, these are self-seeded from originally planted and abandoned specimens.


(Tree Privet, Ligustrum lucidum)

On a patch of recently-cleared bare soil by the river, I was able to take a few more photos of Medium-flowered Wintercress (Barbarea intermedia), still flowering well;


(Medium-flowered Wintercress, Barbarea intermedia)

[davidbr]

They seem to be everywhere at the moment, but the display of Common Sowbread (Cyclamen hederifolium) on the verges around Leigh Woods is really spectacular at the moment - worth the effort of the walk for that alone


(Common Sowbread, Cyclamen hederifolium)

By the Suspension Bridge, on the Leigh Woods side, this Hairy Bindweed (Calystegia pulchra) was scrambling over one of the planted flowerbeds.


(Hairy Bindweed, Calystegia pulchra)

This bush of Broad-leaved Cockspurthorn (Crataegus persimilis), on Durdham Down, was a new species for my list. Full of berries, too


(Broad-leaved Cockspurthorn, Crataegus persimilis)

And finally, Intermediate Evening-primrose (Oenothera x fallax), in Horfield Parish Churchyard (a Bristol suburb) was another new one (assuming I've ID'd it correctly...)


(Intermediate Evening-primrose, Oenothera x fallax)

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

And finally, Intermediate Evening-primrose (Oenothera x fallax), in Horfield Parish Churchyard (a Bristol suburb) was another new one (assuming I've ID'd it correctly...)


(Intermediate Evening-primrose, Oenothera x fallax)

I think you are wrong with this one. O. x fallax should have the stigma at the same level as the stamens, while in your plant it is a long way above them. I think you have O. glazioviana

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I think you are wrong with this one. O. x fallax should have the stigma at the same level as the stamens, while in your plant it is a long way above them. I think you have O. glazioviana

That's a shame - but thanks anyway, Tiggrx

I ought, really, to be familiar with O.glaziovana, it's such a common plant around here. I think I was just confused by the fact this one was half-dead

[davidbr]

Four more additions from my explorations this morning; all aliens, of course!



Spanish Stonecrop (Sedum hispanicum) - still just about in flower at Stapleton Churchyard, Fishponds, Bristol



Annual Pink-sorrel (Oxalis rosea); a flowerbed weed along Park Road, Fishponds. Yes, I admit I had to pick the flower in photo No.3; it was a cloudy day, and I couldn't get one open any other way





Hidcote St John's Wort (Hypericum "Hidcote") & Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa); growing out of brambles, these were either from dumped garden rubbish or perhaps relics of a long-ago planting.

[davidbr]

I was also falling over Amaranths, which I've still yet to sort out. The numbers indicate different plants, and it's a tough family to identify...

1:

2:

3:

4:

5:

If anyone fancies having a go at naming them, all suggestions will be gratefully received

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

Annual Pink-sorrel (Oxalis rosea); a flowerbed weed along Park Road, Fishponds. Yes, I admit I had to pick the flower in photo No.3; it was a cloudy day, and I couldn't get one open any other way

Sorry this is one of the various clones of Oxalis articulata.

Oxalis rosea is an upright annual plant with clusters of rose-pink flowers. Here are some pictures to compare.




The names O. articulata & O. rosea have been much misused in the past so it is common to find images of O. articulata online or in books labelled as O. rosea