Shropshire - Botanical Society of the British Isles

Frank Perring found it at White Mere (SJ4132)in 1975, where it has since been seen byWigginton (1979), Walker (1987-1992) andPerring again (1993). Walker added MartonPool, Chirbury (SJ2902) to the site list in 1988.In 1990 Pat Parker and Jane Ing found it inWalford Pool (SJ4320), where it hadapparently been introduced with other rarewater plants, and where it persisted until 1991.Callitriche hermaphroditica432109483722 3 4 5 6 7 8109872 3 4 5 6 7 8Campanula glomerata L.Clustered BellflowerNative. Extinct (1935).The only really reliable records of this speciesin Shropshire are from the Wenlock Edge,where it has been recorded by Williams atLutwyche (SO5594) in about 1800; by WilliamPenny Brookes at Hilltop (SO5696) and MuchWenlock (SO6299) in 1841; by Dickinson atLutwyche again in 1841; by Beckwith atPresthope (SO5897) in 1882 and again byGeorge Potts in 1903, 1925 and 1933. Thereare two records that do not fit: Mary McGheerecorded it on the banks of the River Corve atBromfield (SO4876) in 1841, and Ellen Lloydfound it in Coed-yr-Allt Wood (SJ2339) in1935. If those two records are correct, theywould probably have been of casuals or gardenescapes. The reasons for its decline inShropshire are not obvious.Campanula glomerataCampanula patula L.Spreading BellflowerNative. Scarce.The natural habitat of this plant is woodlandedge alongside rivers. It is also found onhedgebanks along quiet lanes. It is NationallyScarce and declining in Britain, with just 37dots in the New Atlas. In Britain it is almostentirely restricted to the catchment of the RiverSevern.It was once quite common in south Shropshire,along the valleys of the Severn, Clun, Corve,Teme and Onny, but it is now reduced to justfour sites, at Wentnor (SO39W, SylviaKingsbury, 1998), Llanfair Waterdine(SO2277, Dorothy Young, 2003), Pentre Hodre(SO3276, Clayfield & Whild, 2004) andBedstone (SO3775, Clayfield, 1998).Edward Williams, in about 1800, described itas common and recorded it on ditch-banksabout Berrington (SJ5206), Cound (SJ5505),Eaton Mascott (SJ5305), Montford (SJ4114)and Shipton (SO5691). Joseph Babingtonconsidered it to be very common aroundLudlow (SO5174) and at Caynham Camp(SO5473) in 1803.In Turner & Dillwyn’s Botanical Guide (1805)it is listed for Shelton bank (SJ4613), MontfordBridge bank (SJ4315), Pitchford (SJ5303),Condover (SJ4906), Leaton Shelf (SJ4718) andCaynham Camp again. Henry Bidwellcollected it at Rudge (SO8197) in 1825.Leighton (1841) gives many of the above, plusRare Plants of Shropshire 29