Shropshire - Botanical Society of the British Isles

Ruckley (SJ7706) and Edwin Lees described itas occurring along rides in the Wyre Forest(SO77), although he doesn’t specifically saythat it was in Shropshire. A certain G.W.Turner is reputed to have recorded it nearLudlow (SO5175) in 1890, but we do not haveany details. Finally, in 1891, J.D. LaTouchefound it in a wood near Craven Arms(SO4382).43210987Cephalanthera longifolia2 3 4 5 6 7 8Cerastium diffusum Pers.Sea Mouse-earNeophyte. Rare.Although it is quite common around the coast,this species rarely occurs inland. It grows ondry, sandy soils and is sometimes found as acasual along railway lines and road sides. InShropshire it was first recorded by BryanFowler in the goods yard at Albrighton railwaystation (SJ8204) in 1976. Doris Pugh and PeterBenoit found it on Llanymynech Hill (SJ2622)in 1977 (although this site is also claimed forMontgomeryshire). In 1991 Trueman found itin the quarries on Titterstone Clee (SO5975 &SO6076), where it has subsequently been seenby Whild (1996) and Thorne (1999). MarkLawley found it growing as a casual in Ludlowcattle market (SO5174) in 1999.Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All.ChamomileArchaeophyte. Extinct (1961).The old records of this species in Shropshiresuggest that it was a plant of roadsides andcommons, which would make it anarchaeophyte. Edward Williams found it inabout 1800 at Bayston Hill (SJ4808), BictonHeath (SJ4513), by the finger post on CoundMoor (SJ5502), and by the side of the roadbetween Lydbury and Bishop’s Castle(SO3486). Leighton (1841) did not record it atall, but he reports that George Jordenconsidered it to be common at Oreton or, morelikely perhaps, at Oreton Common.Intriguingly, Jorden did not mention this in hisown list for the area in 1856. In 1894 RichardBenson recorded it at Pulverbatch (SJ4202) andW.H. Painter found it at Kemberton (SJ7304).The only other record for the county was in1961, when Edward Rutter saw it by the CoundBrook at Boreton (SJ5106).It seems most likely that this plant would havebeen introduced into the county alongroadsides, where it thrived in winter-wet,muddy conditions, but was never really suitedto the climate. The improvement of roadsurfaces and the development of motor carsvirtually eliminated this habitat a century ago.Significantly, perhaps, there has been anincrease in its range northwards in recent years,according to the New Atlas, which could be aresponse to climate change. The native range ofChamomile is around the Mediterranean,although it is sometimes considered native inparts of the south and west of Britain andIreland.Chenopodium ficifolium Sm.Fig-leaved GoosefootArchaeophyte. Scarce.This is an arable weed that is reasonablycommon in the south-east of Britain and hasbeen expanding its range in recent decades. InShropshire it was recorded by EdwardWilliams as ‘common on dunghills and amongpotatoes’ in 1800. There are then no goodrecords for it until 1995, when Julie Clarke andAudrey Franks found it on a roadside verge atWoore (SJ7342). It has since been recorded byRob Stokes at Stockton (SJ7716, 1996),Albrighton (SJ8203, 1997), Shrewsbury(SJ4915, 2000) and Madeley (SJ7004, 2000).Geoffrey Kitchener found it at Eaton ManorRare Plants of Shropshire 39