BSBINews - BSBI Archive - Botanical Society of the British Isles

Field meeting reports: 2009 - East Norfolk and East Suffolk (v.c.c. 25, 27) 47
East Norfolk and East Suffolk (v.c.c. 25,27), 6 th June
A full complement of 15 members met at
Wortham Ling, an area of sandy heathland in
v.c.25, for this grass identification day.
Anisantha, Bromus, Festuca and Vulpia were
the main focus of attention, and the leader
began by explaining the structure of the grass
plant by using locally gathered material of
Anisantha diandra (Great Brome) andA. sterilis
(Barren Brome), which he distributed
among members of the group. In addition
specimens of A. madritensis (Compact
Brome) and A. tectorum (Drooping Brome)
collected during May in Spain were passed
round for comparison. Heavy rabbit grazing
and lack of rain had reduced the Ling to near
desert so the stay there was brief, talcing in a
Bromus population conforming to Stace's
description of B. xpseudothominei (Lesser
Soft-brome ), where it is known to have
persisted for over 50 years , and a roadside
colony of Vulpia ciliata ssp. ambigua
(Bearded Fescue). The latter was augmented
by plants of V. myuros (Rat's-tail Fescue)
collected the previous day in Lowestoft and
one of V fasciculata (Dune Fescue) brought to
the meeting from Southwold by Graham Peck.
Curiously we were unable to find any
V. bromoides (Squirrel-tail Fescue)! In
passing we noted dwarfed plants of Aira
caryophyllea (Silver Hair-grass) and
A. praecox (Early Hair-grass), as well as
Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass),
whose panicles were in various stages of
development.
The party then moved to Shelfanger Town
Meadows (v.c.27), unimproved damp grassland
bisected by a stream. The area was
dominated by flowering Ranunculus acris
(Meadow Buttercup), presenting a 'sea of
yellow' in which were found Bromus commutatus
(var. commutatus and var. pubens Wats.)
(Meadow Brome) as well as B. racemosus
ARTHUR COPPING
(Smooth Brome). The latter proved quite
elusive, and was very short, with the panicles
bearing few spikelets, possibly a consequence
of the drying out of the site. In one place
B. commutatus and B. hordeaceus ssp. hordeceus
(Soft-brome) were growing intermingled
, obligingly revealing their differences. To
complete the Bromus picture, the leader
passed round a cultivated plant of B. lepidus
(Slender Soft-brome), which seems now to be
very rare in the wild. Festuca pratensis
(Meadow Fescue), F. arundinacea (Tall
Fescue) and xFestulolium loliaceum (Hybrid
Fescue) completed the targeted Shelfanger
taxa. After lunch we moved to Knettishall
Country Park in West Suffolk (v.c.26), an
extensive heath on the border of Breckland.
There waves of Deschampsia flexuosa (Wavy
Hair-grass) greeted us, but amongst it grew
Festuca ovina (Sheep's fescue) and
F. filiformis (Fine - leaved Sheep's-fescue).
At this point cultivated material of F. longifolia
(Blue Fescue), sourced in Guernsey and the
Suffolk Breckland, as well as F. brevipila
(Hard Fescue), originally from Felixstowe,
were circulated for comparison, together with
F. heterophylla (Various-leaved Fescue), to
contrast with the F. rubra (Red Fescue) we
had seen at intervals during the day. We then
moved west in the country park, where the soil
was more basic, and saw Helictotrichon
pubescens (Downy Oat-grass) and H. pratense
(Meadow Oat-grass) growing together. In
conclusion, before dispersing and as a relief
from agrostology, we admired a patch of
Astragalus danicus (Purple Milk-vetch)
dotted among the short turf. The society
wishes to thank Mr WJ.Butler of Shelfanger
Hall for granting access to Shelfanger Town
Meadows and permitting us to park cars at the
Hall.