Coatham Dunes (VC62)

A work trip gave me the opportunity to explore the large sand dune system at Coatham, part of Teesmouth & Cleveland Coast SSSI. It is a fascinating site where open mosaic habitats (developed over historic deposits of lime rich slag from the former steel works) and garden escapes blur into a full succession of dune habitats, from grey dunes on the landward side to a strandline community at the top of the beach.

Plants that caught my eye, and sometimes my nose, included:

The famed (see British and Irish Botany) plant of Hart's Pennyroyal (Mentha cervina) at the edge of a pond, one of just a handful of known locations in Britain. Unfortunately it was not in flower at the time of my visit.

The margins of the pond supported good numbers of Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa), always a nice plant to find. These plants were prostrate and therefore probably var. moniliformis. A trip later in the year would likely confirm, as the large buds forming now should start to drop off to give rise to new plants.

Within the pond was a large population of Horned-pondweed (Zannichellia palustris). These plants had fruit on obvious stalks (1.5mm long, clearly apparent with the naked eye) from a common peduncle and are therefore, based on Stace 4, subsp. pedicellatus.

Everywhere within the dunes and on the slag deposits was the dinky coastal form of Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum subsp. maritimum), always a treat to catch in full bloom.

Perhaps one of the most exciting specialities of this dune system is Purple Milk-vetch (Astragalus danicus), a species holding its own further north but increasingly rare and patchily distributed in England.

Equally exciting for me was this curiously short, multi-stemmed (branching from base) and broad-leaved centaury. This meets published descriptions for the very poorly recorded and known sand dune form of Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea var. fasciculare). Thanks to Tim Rich for confirming my identification from photos. See the BSBI Handbook and an earlier analysis of variation in Common Centaury in Watsonia for further information. The pale flesh-pink flowers may or may not be relevant, depending on what other recorder's find in the field.

Another nice coastal plant is the dwarf dune form of Lesser Meadow-rue (Thalictrum minus subsp. arenarium). Some would have you believe this isn't a genuine entity. Bluntly, I don't believe them. Having previously seen its enormous rhizome system exposed by the wind; this is clearly a dune specialist and an important sand binding species at that. It would be interesting to know what the genetic evidence says about the validity of this species.

My dabbling in hawkweeds continued with a chance to examine the known population of Uig Hawkweed (Hieracium uiginskyense), present in huge numbers in the dunes.

Several of the dune slacks were fragrant with the scent of carnations, traceable to plants of Marsh Fragrant-orchid (Gymnadenia densiflora). This species packs a real punch.

Equally fragrant and stunning was this escaped Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum var. periclymenum 'Serotina') at the roadside.

To end with another garden plant. I am going to stick my neck out and say this is the hybrid lilac (Syringa x hyacinthiflora), although I would have been happier if I saw it in flower.  Long cultivated, I suspect this hybrid is overlooked elsewhere. This bush was notable for its more shrubby form and stubby heart shaped leaves.

Sunday Surprises

My best find of this weekend was strictly speaking a Saturday Surprise, but the iPhone was rubbish at taking pictures so I had to go back again today. I found a nice stand of Bithynian Vetch (Vicia bithynica) in flower at the edge of St Aidan's not far from Caroline Bridge. Unfortunately it was in VC63, but you can't have everything! This is the first time I have seen this species in this area since 2012, and then I only got to see it in fruit. I am surprised that it flowers so early, its almost over for the year.

Just as interesting really, and definitely found today, was Wall Bedstraw (Galium parisiense) elsewhere in St Aidan's (VC63). I had hoped this would turn up eventually as conditions look great for it. It is a species that seems to be on the increase with records elsewhere in West Yorkshire in recent years, as well as a stronghold in the Scunthorpe area. No photo though, as yet to flower.

Down by the river near Lowther Lake (VC64) I came across a large and distinctive hogweed with hairy petioles. This is the hybrid between the native plant (Heracleum sphondylium) and Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum sens. lat.). Satisfyingly intermediate. As can be seen, I struggled to get the leaf in frame due to its size (that and restricted scope for movement given care was needed not to tangle with any of the surrounding Giant Hogweed).

Heading on to The Lines in Great Preston (VC64), I found a large sprawl of Himalayan Clematis (Clematis montana).  I was surprised later to discover that this was the first VC record.

Elsewhere in the village the pavement cracks were full of the diminutive variety of Fringed Pearlwort (Sagina filicaulis var. minor). This is proving widespread, and extending the season for this species in my eyes. As stated in a previous post, this is a species I more typically expect in summer when it is apparent as a more robust form.

Ending what proved a productive walk was a bush of Large-sepalled Hawthorn (Crataegus rhipidophylla) near Fleakingley Bridge (VC64) that I had not noticed previously. Not as common as its hybrid, but still widespread in the local area. An odd flower (out of 10's checked) had 2 stigmas rather than just one, but apparently this is not unknown for this species so I had to rapidly discount any thoughts this might be the hybrid with Midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata).

A Magnificence of Mulleins (VC31)

Sarah Lambert has recently provided an exciting list of plants found on the old Conington dump (no public access), which she has been studying for a number of years. This really is a botanical hotspot and supports a variety of species more typical of the chalk, no doubt arriving with imported substrate. This includes Wild Candytuft (Iberis amara), Wall Bedstraw (Galium parisiense) and an exciting number of Mulleins (Verbascum species). Many of the latter are known no where else in the county.

See Sarah's blog for an account in her own words and from which I have borrowed a photo (below) of Hoary Mullein (Verbascum pulverulentum).

Flamborough Head (VC61)

Yet again I have escaped my VC for a long overdue trip to the seaside and it turned out to be a great day with brilliant sunshine and much of interest.

North Landing, Flamborough Head

Stottle Bank Nook, Flamborough Head

All along the cliff tops were the mats of the coastal form of Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum subsp. maritimum). Distinctive with its short height, contracted internodes and condensed panicle. The flowers are also a different shade of yellow to those of the common inland subspecies (subsp. verum), more straw yellow than buttercup yellow.

In rough grass and brambles at North Landing was this garden escape - Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus).

Another daisy, this time the native Sea Mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum subsp. maritimum), was abundant on cliff edges and faces, as well as down by the beach at North Landing. 

Where arable farmland abuts the cliffs of Cradle Head there was a new plant for me - Hairy Buttercup (Ranunculus sardous) in its hundreds.

Even the thistles proved interesting with two distinct dwarf forms of coastal habitats. Its hard to judge if they are environmentally induced or if they are genetically distinct, but they were very uniform along kilometres of cliff edge. Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense var. maritimum) has single stems to knee height, highly convoluted leaves, and very a condensed inflorescence. While Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare var. litorale), second photo with the coastal glaucous form of Red Fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. juncea) was even smaller (see the Ribwort Plantain for scale) with a dense unbranched inflorescence.

Finally, lets end with a complete freak. This plant of Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata subsp. radicata) had all the ligulate flowers replaced with elongated tubular flowers, giving it a very striking look.

Wall Bedstraw - 1st for Yorkshire

Today threw a complete curve ball, where I was expecting one thing but found something completely different. Work took me to Kirkshaw Lane, Ferrybridge (VC63) to look at a pond (no water and lost to swamp) but my eye was draw to a little bedstraw growing on a vegetated track nearby. My mind quickly ran through the usual options and discounted them all, leaving only one unexpected option to which it ran down quite nicely in the keys - Wall Bedstraw (Galium parisiense).

This is an uncommon species nationally, particularly this far north, and the BSBI database does not appear to hold any other records for Yorkshire.

Important Botanical Site Found in Peterborough

Sarah Lambert has sent news of a botanical hotspot associated with the site of the former Peterborough East Railway Station, New Fletton (VC31). For the full details see Sarah's Blog.

The two most exciting finds are the Red Data List Wall Bedstraw (Galium parisiense), only the second site in the county, and the very rare casual Southern Beard-grass (Polypogon maritimus), the first record for Huntingdonshire. See below for photos of both taken from Sarah's blog.