A 2009 plant-hunter's diary

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by pammosley

So many plants David My aim was to find, photograph & LEARN 200 this year (first year) I`m up to 198, with everyone`s help of corse
Well done, there`s still time

Oh, I don't think I'll make 1400 now; we're already in the start of October, the season's just gone too quickly Still, there's always next year

That's the beauty of plant photography, you can take your time about naming them and the chance is always there to go back and have another think; I'm certainly not good enough to identify everything I see & photograph immediately, even some quite common species, but with a decent photo it doesn't really matter as long as I get there eventually. Some of the ones I've added over the last week or so date back to early June, when I was in Norfolk

[davidbr]

One more addition today; the first new species I've found in October, and quite an attractive one, too

Himalayan Knotweed (Persicaria wallichii) seems well established in the Avon Gorge, along the riverside towpath in Bristol; I didn't notice it last season, but by the looks of things it must have been there for some time.



I also managed to photograph another pretty Persicaria, albeit one I've seen several times before; Pink-headed Knotweed (Persicaria capitata) must be an increasing alien, because it seems to be turning up all over the place. These plants were growing out of concrete cracks on Cumberland Road, next to the River Avon in central Bristol; the other plant in the photo is Procumbent Yellow-sorrel (Oxalis corniculata)



Then, there was this intriguing creeper. It's obviously a type of Parthenocissus, one of the virginia-creepers, but it looks like an cross between Boston-ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) & Virginia-creeper (P. quinquefolia). I can't find any reference to hybrids on the Net, though does anyone know if they've ever been recorded? Both parents grow in the general vicinity.



Definitely very interesting

[davidbr]

With the season almost at an end now, and high winds & rain battering us this morning in Bristol, I thought I'd cheer myself up by having a look back at some of the highlights of 2009 Even though it doesn't look like I'll meet my original target, I've still seen some 600 new species between mid-February & now, so I suppose it hasn't been a bad season

They're not necessarily in any firm order, although generally it runs from earliest to most recent...


Green Snowdrop (Galanthus ikariae); Frenchay Churchyard, Bristol, 22nd February


Yellow Crocus (Crocus x stellaris); Oldbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, February 18th


Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis); Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, February 22nd


Spring Crocus (Crocus vernus); Frenchay Churchyard, Bristol, February 22nd


Wilson's Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida); Edford Woods, Somerset, April 2nd


Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa forbesii); Frenchay Churchyard, Bristol, 21st March


Turkish Squill (Scilla bithynica); Leigh Woods, Bristol, 18th April


Bristol Rock-cress (Arabis scabra); Avon Gorge, Bristol, 19th March


Garden Arabis (Arabis caucasica); Mells, Somerset, 20th March


Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica); Mells, Somerset, 20th March

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr;546229
Then, there was this intriguing creeper. It's obviously a type of [i

Parthenocissus[/i], one of the virginia-creepers, but it looks like an cross between Boston-ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) & Virginia-creeper (P. quinquefolia). I can't find any reference to hybrids on the Net, though does anyone know if they've ever been recorded? Both parents grow in the general vicinity.



Definitely very interesting

Out of interest why is it not Boston-ivy?

[davidbr]

Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum); Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol, 1st April


Purple Rock-cress (Aubretia deltoidea); Mells, Somerset, 20th March


Lenten-rose (Helleborus orientalis); Leigh Woods, Bristol, 19th March


Peach (Prunus persica); New Avon Cut, Bristol City Centre, 30th March


Giant Snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii); Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, 22nd February


Golden Crocus (Crocus chrysanthus); Clifton Downs, Bristol, 4th March


Corsican Hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius); Horfield, Bristol, 19th March


Early Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus); Frenchay Churchyard, Bristol, 22nd February

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Out of interest why is it not Boston-ivy?

I've certainly never seen Boston-ivy with divided leaves like this plant has, and I can't find any variants of it that show them.

[davidbr]

Perennial Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens); Avon Gorge, Bristol, 25th March


Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias); Sand Point, Somerset, April 3rd


Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum); Brean, Somerset, April 20th


Few-flowered Garlic (Allium paradoxum); Almondsbury, Bristol, April 14th


Yellow Anemone (Anemone ranunculoides); Great Coxwell, Oxfordshire, 2nd April


Scarlet Anemone (Anemone x fulgens); Great Coxwell, Oxfordshire, 2nd April


Box-leaved Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata); Filton, Bristol, April 7th


Cretan Tulip (Tulipa saxatalis); Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, April 20th


Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria); Avon Gorge, Bristol, 19th March


Spring Starflower (Ipheion uniflorum); Sand Bay, Somerset, 2nd April


Alpine Wallflower (Erysimum helveticum); Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, 14th April


Balkan Anemone (Anemone blanda); Mells Manor, Somerset, 12th April


Blue Anemone (Anemone apennina); Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, 10th April


Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, April 5th


Spring Sowbread (Cyclamen repandum); Sand Point, Somerset, 2nd April


Purple Crab Apple (Malus x purpurea); Highbridge Railway Station, Somerset, 20th April


Snake's-head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris); Highbridge Railway Station, Somerset, 20th April


Indian-rhubarb (Darmera peltata); Wells, Somerset, 24th April

[pammosley]

Some lovely looking plants & lovely photos here David. the anenomees in the last lot are wonderful. Inspiration for me for next year

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by pammosley

Some lovely looking plants & lovely photos here David. the anenomees in the last lot are wonderful. Inspiration for me for next year

Most of them should be in the same places next year; the anemones certainly, Yellow & Scarlet Anemone have been known from Great Coxwell churchyard for many years apparently. It's just a matter of going at the right time, when I went in early April it was a bit early for the peak show of Scarlet Anemones and only half a dozen or so flowers were out. The Yellows bloom a couple of weeks earlier, though, so late March/early April sees them at their best.

Balkan Anemone seems to be increasing in the countryside so probably won't be too hard to find; the population at Mells Manor, south Somerset, is really spectacular, though, and well worth making a special effort to see. There's also Siberian Squill, two species of Grape-hyacinth, a lovely show of Purple Rock-cress & Garden Arabis on walls in the village, and the walls of the Manor are also the only UK site for Winter Savory, a Mediterranean shrub.

[davidbr]

Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris); Martin Down, Hampshire, April 24th


Water Avens (Geum rivale); Hale Park, New Forest, April 27th


Highclere Holly (Ilex x altaclerensis); Picket Post, New Forest, 24th April


Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus); Lyndhurst, Hampshire, 25th April


Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron luteum); Avon Tyrrell, New Forest, 24th April


Prickly Heath (Gaultheria mucronata); Avon Tyrrell, New Forest, 24th April


Siebold's Crab Apple (Malus sieboldii); banks of River Avon, Bristol City Centre, 22nd April


Atlas Poppy (Papaver atlanticum); Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, April 23rd


Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata); Beaulieu Road Station, New Forest, April 26th


Changing Forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor); Holmsley, New Forest, April 26th


Tree Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum); Avon Tyrrell, New Forest, 24th April


Dwarf Cherry (Prunus cerasus); Martin, Hampshire, 24th April


Catawba Rhododendron(Rhododendron catawbiense); Avon Tyrrell, New Forest, 24th April


Heath Dog-violet (Viola canina); Holmsley, New Forest, 25th April


Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica); Keyhaven, Hampshire, 27th April


Pyrenean Scurvygrass (Cochlearia pyrenaica); Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, April 28th


Spring Cinquefoil (Potentilla tabernaemontani); Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, April 28th


Narrow-leaved Lungwort (Pulmonaria angustifolia); Holmsley, New Forest, April 25th


Hampshire-purslane(Ludwigia palustris); Brockenhurst South Weir, New Forest, April 26th

[davidbr]

Mountain Fetter-bush (Pieris floribunda); Avon Tyrrell, New Forest, 24th April


Neapolitan Garlic (Allium neapolitanum); Eastville, Bristol, 7th May


Garden Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa); St Werburgh's, Bristol, 20th May


Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys spegodes); Durlston Country Park, Dorset, 10th May


Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum); Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, May 23rd


Red Horse-chestnut (Aesculus x carnea); Great Elm, Somerset, 2nd May


Purple Gromwell (Lithospermum purpureocaeruleum); Cheddar Wood, Somerset, May 7th


Spanish Gorse (Genista hispanica); Martin, Hampshire, 24th April


Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum); New Avon Cut, Bristol city centre, 9th May


Yellow-flowered Strawberry (Duchesnea indica); Biddisham churchyard, Somerset, 9th May


Fringecups (Tellima grandiflora); Leigh Woods, Bristol, 9th May


Early Gentian (Gentianella anglica); Durlston Country Park, Dorset, 10th May


Bladdernut (Staphylea pinnata); Great Elm, Somerset, 2nd May


Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, 18th May


Robin's-plantain (Erigeron philadelphicus); Leigh Woods, Bristol, 18th May


Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, 18th May


Hairy Garlic (Allium subhirsutum); Filton, Bristol, 17th May


Noisette Rose (Rosa noisettiana); Strawberry Line, Cheddar, Somerset, 9th May


Honewort (Trinia glauca); Sand Point, 15th May


Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii); Clevedon, Somerset, 13th May

[davidbr]

Garden Mossy-saxifrage (Saxifraga x arendsii); Priddy, Somerset, May 24th


Eastern Gladiolus (Gladiolus communis); Sand Bay, Somerset, May 30th


Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, May 28th


Broad-leaved Onion (Allium nigrum); Chapel Allerton, Somerset, May 7th


California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica); Sand Bay, Somerset, May 30th

Entire-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster integrifolius); Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, May 30th


Star-of-Persia (Allium christophii); Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, May 30th

Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa); Ash Priors, Somerset, June 1st


Siberian Stonecrop (Sedum hybridum); Horfield, Bristol, May 31st


Pencilled Cranesbill (Geranium versicolor); Sand Point, Somerset, May 30th


Hairy Canary-clover (Doryncium hirsutum); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, May 28th


Red-hot-poker (Kniphofia uvaria); Sand Bay, Somerset, May 30th


Procumbent Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster prostratus); West Harptree, Somerset, May 29th


Spring Sandwort (Minuartia verna); Priddy Mineries, Somerset, May 23rd


Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda); Bruton, Somerset, May 31st


Mallow-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides); Watchet, Somerset, June 1st


Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica); Ash Priors, Somerset, June 1st


Pale Pink-sorrel (Oxalis incarnata); Bruton, Somerset, May 31st


Olympic St John's Wort (Hypericum olympicum); Fitzhead, Somerset, 1st June

[davidbr]

New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii); West Quantoxhead, Somerset, 4th June


Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum); Staple Plain, Somerset, 4th June


Munich Cranesbill (Geranium x monacense); Treborough, Somerset, 3rd June


Hairy Vetchling (Lathyrus hirsutus); Watchet, Somerset, 1st June


Kangting Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster pseudoambiguus); Culbone churchyard, Somerset, 2nd June


Bulbous Comfrey (Symphytum bulbosum); Aisholt, Somerset, 5th June


Hedgerow Geranium (Geranium asphodeloides); Aisholt, Somerset, 5th June


Trumpets (Sarracenia flava); Westhay, Somerset Levels, 5th June


Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron luteum); Dulverton, Somerset, 3rd June


Toothed Medick (Medicago polymorpha); Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, 10th June


Altar-lily (Zantedeschia aethopica); Bossington, Somerset, 2nd June


Strawberry-tree (Arbutus unedo); Culbone, Somerset, 2nd June


Virginian Rose (Rosa virginiana); Dunster Beach, Somerset, 3rd June


Fragrant Evening-primrose (Oenothera stricta); Dunster Beach, Somerset, 3rd June


Escallonia (Escallonia macrantha); Porlock Weir, Somerset, 2nd June


Hybrid Rock-rose (Helianthemum x sulphureum); Purn Hill, Somerset, 10th June


Least Yellow-sorrel (Oxalis exilis); Enmore churchyard, Somerset, 5th June


Przewalski's Leopard-plant (Ligularia przewalksii); Aisholt, Somerset, 5th June


Perfoliate Honeysuckle (Lonicera capreolata); Dulverton, Somerset, 3rd June


Red False Buck's-beard (Astilbe x arendsii); Dulverton, Somerset, 3rd June

[davidbr]

Candelabra Primrose (Primula pulverulenta); Martham Broad, Norfolk, 16th June


Spanish Catchfly (Silene otites); Cranwich Camp, Norfolk, 15th June


Brazilian Giant-rhubarb (Gunnera manicata); Upton Fen, Norfolk, 16th June


Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa); How Hill, Norfolk, 16th June


Giant Scabious (Cephalaria gigantea); Hockwold-cum-Wilton, Suffolk, 13th June


Damask Rose (Rosa damascena); Booton Common, Norfolk, 19th June


Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos); Dersingham Bog, Norfolk, 20th June


Buttonweed (Cotula coronopifolia); Hickling Broad, Norfolk, 18th June


Climbing Corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata); Hickling Broad, Norfolk, 18th June


Twin-flowered Everlasting-pea (Lathyrus grandiflorus); Roydon Common, Norfolk, 19th June


Flixweed (Descurainia sophia); Hockwold-cum-Wilton, Suffolk, 15th June


Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum); Ted Ellis NR, Wheatfen, Norfolk, 17th June


Water-violet (Hottonia palustris); Thompson Common, Norfolk, 15th June


Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii); Upton Fen, Norfolk, 16th June


Asian Firethorn (Pyracantha rogersiana); How Hill, Norfolk, 17th June


Trailing Snapdragon (Asarina procumbens); Cawston, Norfolk, 19th June


Martagon Lily (Lilium martagon); Booton, Norfolk, 19th June


Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia); Hickling, Norfolk, 18th June


Marsh Pea (Lathyrus palustris); Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk, 17th June

[TheSeagull]

Lovely thread! I have never went plant hunting but have seen some things like Black Bog-rush and Devil's bit scabious so I might try next year.

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by davidbr

I've certainly never seen Boston-ivy with divided leaves like this plant has, and I can't find any variants of it that show them.

I agree that I have never seen it with divided leaves but most descriptions I can find say that it has leaves with 3 lobes or divided into 3 leaflets.

I imagine a three-lobed specimen of Boston-ivy would look fairly like your plant.

Am getting very jealous looking at the pictures of your finds of the year

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I agree that I have never seen it with divided leaves but most descriptions I can find say that it has leaves with 3 lobes or divided into 3 leaflets.

I imagine a three-lobed specimen of Boston-ivy would look fairly like your plant.

Am getting very jealous looking at the pictures of your finds of the year

That makes sense - far more likely than that I've discovered a previously unknown hybrid, anyway I didn't know about the variability in the leaves, but all the research I've done hasn't turned up any reference to hybridisation between any of the Parthenocissus species and they're grown so often together in gardens, I guess if it was possible it'd have occurred somewhere before by now.

The only other thing I can think of is that perhaps they vary according to habitat? I'm used to seeing Boston-ivy as a climber on walls, but this plant was sprawling presumably self-seeded through bushes on a traffic island.

And those ones are just the highlights - I'm sure you've got just as many, if not more, that would make me jealous

[davidbr]

Jerusalem-sage (Phlomis fruticosa); Snettisham Beach, Norfolk, Jue 20th


Pale Yellow-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium striatum); Snettisham Beach, Norfolk, June 20th


Orange Mullein (Verbascum phlomoides); Holme Dunes, Norfolk, June 20th


Hoary Mullein (Verbascum pulverulentum); Snettisham Beach, Norfolk, 20th June


Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum); Hunstanton, Norfolk, June 22nd


Alternate-leaved Butterfly-bush (Buddleja alterniifolia); Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, 23rd June


Annual Toadlfax (Linaria maroccana); A149 verge at Heacham, Norfolk, June 22nd


Thick-leaved Stonecrop (Sedum dasyphyllum); Terrington St Clement churchyard, Norfolk, 23rd June


Sea-holly (Eryngium maritimum); Heacham, Norfolk, 22nd June


Spanish-dagger (Yucca gloriosa); Snettisham Beach, Norfolk, 20th June


Red Rose of Lancaster (Rosa gallica); Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, 22nd June


Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor); Narborough Railway Line, Norfolk, 21st June


Yellow Horned-poppy (Glaucium flavum); Dunster Beach, Somerset, 3rd June


Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia); Holt Lowes, Norfolk, 24th June


Larkspur (Consolida ajacis); Burnham Market, Norfolk, 23rd June


Memorial Rose (Rosa luciae); Roydon Common, Norfolk, June 22nd


Hairy Mock-orange (Philadelphus x virginalis); Roydon Common, Norfolk, June 22nd


Early Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata); Holme Dunes, Norfolk, June 20th


Early Marsh/Common Spotted Orchid hybrid (Dactylorhiza x kerneriorum); Holme Dunes, Norfolk, June 20th


Garden Candytuft (Iberis umbellata); Snettisham Beach, Norfolk, June 20th

[davidbr]

Greater Sea-kale (Crambe cordifolia); Cley NWT, Norfolk, June 25th


Maltese-cross (Lychnis chalcedonica); Sheringham, Norfolk, June 25th


Lesser Butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia); Beeston Common, Norfolk, June 25th


Yarrow Broomrape (Orobanche purpurea); Sheringham, Norfolk, June 25th


Oblong-leaved Sundew (Drosera intermedia); Beeston Common, Norfolk, June 25th


Pirri-pirri-bur (Acaena novae-zelandiae); Kelling Heath, Norfolk, June 25th


Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine); Leigh Woods, Avon Gorge, Bristol, August 12th


Somerset Skullcap (Scutellaria altissima); Great Elm, Somerset, August 9th


Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris); Beeston Common, Norfolk, June 25th


Sorbaria (Sorbaria sorbiifolia); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, July 3rd


Slender Bedstraw (Galium pumilum); Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, July 1st


Great Sundew (Drosera anglica); Beeston Common, Norfolk, June 25th


Tree Lupin (Lupinus arboreus); Sheringham, Norfolk, June 25th


Cheddar Pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus); Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, July 1st


Confused Bridewort (Spiraea x pseudosalicifolia); Little Snoring, Norfolk, June 28th


Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys); Sand Point, Somerset, July 10th


Cut-leaved Self-heal (Prunella laciniata); Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, July 1st

[davidbr]

Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria); Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, June 27th


Common Sowbread (Cyclamen hederifolium); Mells Manor, Somerset, September 11th


Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica); Wells, Somerset, September 11th


Early Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea); Eastville, Bristol, September 9th


Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus); Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, September 11th


Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa); Filton, Bristol, August 12th


Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima); Eastville, Bristol, September 11th


Rosy Evening-primrose (Oenothera rosea); Leigh Woods, Bristol, August 12th


Corncockle (Agrostemma githago); Horfield, Bristol, September 8th


Giant Knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis); Frenchay, Bristol, September 10th


Winter Savory (Satureja montana); Mells Manor, Somerset, September 11th


Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale); Tucking Mill, Bristol, August 30th


Marrow (Cucurbita pepo); Horfield, Bristol, September 8th


Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea (Lathyrus sylvestris); Shapwick Heath, Somerset, August 26th


Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus x laetiflorus); St Werburgh's, Bristol, September 17th


Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis); Uphill, Somerset, August 25th

[davidbr]

Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella); Brean Down, Somerset, August 25th


Virgin's-bower (Clematis flammula); Waterfront, Bristol City Centre, August 12th


Garden Radish (Raphanus sativus); Tucking Mill, Bristol, August 30th


White Melilot (Melilotus albus); Tucking Mill, Bristol, August 30th


Niger (Guizotia abyssinica); Horfield, Bristol, September 8th


Manyflower Marsh-pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata); Ashley Down, Bristol, September 20th


Pink-headed Knotweed (Persicaria capitata); Horfield, Bristol, September 12th


Stinking Tutsan (Hypericum hircinum); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, September 26th


Prince's-feather (Amaranthus hypochondriacus); Ashley Down, Bristol, September 20th


Twinspur (Diascea barbarae); Abbey Wood Station, Filton, September 26th


Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus); Horfield, Bristol, September 14th


Argentinian Vervain (Verbena bonariensis); Eastville, Bristol, September 19th

[davidbr]

I'd thought this season was over, but even on November 17th there seem to be a few plants in flower!



The small clump of Late Michaelmas-daisy (Aster x versicolor) at Abbey Wood Station, Filton, are now in full flower - last year, they lasted into early December



I've no idea what this very attractive toadflax is, growing at the side of a lane just behind the station. It'll need a bit more research



This stork's-bill was a real surprise, by one of the entrances at Frenchay Hospital to make an out-patients appointment a bit more pleasant So far, I've not been able to narrow it down any further