Marsh Helleborine

A visit to Mapledurwell Fen last week during another respite from the rain was made in the hope of finding the marsh helleborine.  The fen is managed by the Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust and is wet at the moment which the plants seemed to appreciate.  Among the profusion of other orchids were the helleborines, which were really nice to see.  Also seen for the first time were the bog pimpernel (Anagallis tenella), the large bird's food trefoil (Lotus pedicularis) and Hoary Wllowherb (Epilobium parviflorum) among others.  The marsh valerians were present but had gone to seed so I'll pop in earlier next year.  The main treat however was the Epipactis palustris.

Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine)

Loddon flood plain between Old Basing and Basingstoke

As we had 24 hours without rain for the first time for a long period, I briefly visited the Loddon flood plain again and was amazed at the height and density of vegetation that had grown since my last visit.  Clearly it had benefitted from the recent rainy season.  Identified my first Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadania conopsea) with specimens on the edge of the flood plain and at the entrance to the Lime Pits car park.  Lovely deep pink flowers living up to their name with a sweet fragrance.  Conspicuous on the damp areas by the river were several valerians (Valeriana officinalis).  Not really time for a good hunt around as the light was fading.

Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadania conopsea)

A visit to Greywell Fen brings the total to 400

A visit to Greywell Fen this evening (when it was quiet as the England game was on) was very productive, bringing my total species to over 400.  The aim was to photograph the Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) which was difficult as the nearest ones were in very boggy soil and had to be taken using the telephoto.  The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust who manage the site had done some woodland clearance to extend the area of fen.  This coupled with the long spell of wet weather made the whole area very wet with much more open water than would be normal at this time of year.  Both species of watercress were there along with Viola arvensis.  One lovely moment was seeing a barn owl hunting along the bank of the Whitewater River, in the evening sunshine. 

Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin) at Greywell

Slender Bedstraw at Porton Down

The Slender Bedstraw (Galium pumilum) was probably the rarest plant nationally speaking that we saw on the visit.  It looks little different from other white bedstraws, but the tooth structure of the leaf is different, being toothed only towards the tapering base, and these teeth curving towards the base of the leaf.  It has recently turned up at a second chalk downland site in North Hampshire.  My illustration shows the UK distribution and two of my photos one of the leaf and the other of the plant at Porton Down. 

I was again surprised this morning at what one can find within walking distance of one's house.  On the verge of a residential street in Basingstoke I found a spike of the Lesser Broomrape (Orobanche minor) and the Ratstail Fescue (Vulpia myuros) both of which were new species to me.

                                              Orobanche minor (Lesser Broomrape)

Total species 1202
Found and photographed 385 (32%) - just 16 more species to one third

Porton Down visit

Nearly two weeks ago now I attended a visit with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's botany group to Porton Down, at which I learnt so much and was introduced to some plant species that I'd never seen before.  Because the site has been owned by the Ministry of Defence for so long, the habitats are undeveloped.  I had never experienced such an unbroken expanse of chalk grassland, so rich in species.  Still over a week later I am still processing what I saw and adding to the list.  A few of the rare species were quite inconspicuous - I'll mention them another time. 

My list of orchids seen stood at one before the visit so the highlight of the visit was seeing the Lady Orchid, (Orchis purpurea) at its only site in Hampshire.    I will illustrate here the lovely Lady Orchid and the parasitic Bird's Nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) which grows under the shade of beech.  The other orchid in full flower was the White Helleborine, but at least another four species were in leaf or bud. 

 Orchis purpurea (Lady Orchid)                       Neottia nidus-avis (Bird's Nest Orchid)

First Orchid

Very excited today to find the first orchid of the year which is probably the earliest one would expect to find.  The Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) was flowering at the edge of woodland near Herriard taking over from the fading bluebells.  They were fairly close to a badger sett and several had been knocked over by their bumbling.  The smell of the flowers is described in my book as being like tom cats.  As most cats are spayed these days, this is a rarely experienced scent.  I could only describe it as a cross between mild urine and musk, which I suppose is the smell of tom cats.

Orchis mascula - the Early Purple Orchid

Alongside the pathway from the Viables Craft Centre to Loggon Road, Basingstoke were several flowering Sanguisorba minor subspecies muricata - the Fodder Burnett.  The female flowers were fully open at the tops of the heads but only a few male had opened around the base of the heads.

Photomicrograph of female flower of Sanguisorba minor muricata showing the twinned stigmas and styles looking like two red fountains

Total species 1202
Found and photographed 342 (28.5%)

Up Nately - last day for coat and hat?

Monday evening and a trip to Up Nately to stroll along the canal.  Discovered a calcareous flush near the old brickworks with three species of sedge in flower, Carex flacca, C. acutiflorus and C. disticha.  This last one is common in such habitats but was new to me.  Alongside the canal were Carex sylvatica, C. remota and C. pendula.  So much vegetation seems poised to flower and with the first significantly warm day today means it is just coming up to the busy time.  I'm gradually getting the grass species sorted one by one.  I last tried this twenty years ago but this was before scanners and digital photography so a lot was done just by memory.  This time it is very different, with the ability to keep on coming back to the images you've seen.

Carex disticha

Total species 1202
Found and photographed 338 (28.1%)