Five weeks away in Africa and France and the inclement weather meant that North Hants botany took a back seat for much of the summer. A few trips out here and there did increase the list which now sits at 496 (41%).
Recent highlights were the Marsh Gentians (Gentiana pneumonanthe) at Bartley Heath and the Chiltern Gentian (Gentianella germanica) on a grass verge of the A34. Unfortunately the vast majority of these had finished flowering (14th September) so I'll visit the site again earlier next year. I was far too late to find the burnt orchids (Orchis ustulata) on Ladle Hill, but did find the clustered bellfower (Campanula glomerata) and the autumn gentian (Gentianella amarella). I was hoping to make it to 500 by the end of the year, but flowering is thinning out now so it will be back to hunting in February.
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| Gentiana pneumonanthe |
