Rare Plant Register for Huntingdonshire - Botanical Society of the ...

Myriophyllum verticillatum L.
Whorled Water-milfoil
National Status: Vulnerable County Status: Scarce (5 sites, 5 tetrads)
Site Grid Reference Last Record
Hemingford Grey, gravel pits TL3068 2008 (LF)
Middle Farm TL21828511 2010 (MiB)
Sawtry Fen TL19608358 2011 (DB)
Turf Fen TL3282 (tetrad) 2001 (DWr)
Woodwalton Fen, Great Raveley Drain TL234848 2008 (DB)
This submerged aquatic perennial occurs in ponds, lakes, ditches, and fenland drains and
dykes with base-rich water. It occurs in water moderately-rich in nutrients and can tolerate
turbidity. Given this, it has been buffered to some degree against the ongoing decline in the
quality of our freshwaters. That said, it is only so tolerant and has declined as a result of
poorer water quality and poor habitat management, whether that be over-deepening and
canalisation of watercourses or the loss of open water to emergent species and swamp
(Stewart et al. 1994).
Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich.
Bird’s-nest Orchid
National Status: Near Threatened County Status: Rare (1 site, 1 tetrad)
Site Grid Reference Last Record
Waresley Wood SSSI TL262547 2007 (PW)
This saprophytic species is a rare component of the flora of some of our ancient woods. It is
also known from Monks Wood, where it was last recorded in the 1980’s.
Nepeta cataria L.
Cat-mint
National Status: Vulnerable County Status: Rare (1 site, 1 tetrad)
Site Grid Reference Last Record
Conington, by the railway TL201936 2009 (SL)
Rediscovered in 2009 not far from where it was last recorded in 1948. It was locally frequent
on sparsely vegetated, free-draining railway ballast in association with a range of other
interesting flora typical of more calcareous substrates.
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