Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

104Rosa tomentosa. Harsh downy-rose.This species, our only member of the downy-rose group, has large, pointed, quite hairy [eaves I• • which look grey in colour, but no significant glands except on the peduncles. It is usually a• hedgerow species which can grow to 4 metres, but also grows in scrub and on woodlandedges, It occurs widely in southern Britain and is locally common on the chalk.Rare but quite characteristic of hedges around the edges of the Flora area, especially onthe north-east side of the Forest. One plant outside garden, Priory Road (421.3481; west ofPrickets Hatch (442.2701; at least four sites around Quabrook and Parrock Lane (44.341; Iwest end of Cackle Street (45.26); a few bushes in lane north of Hart's Farm (459.3351;somewhere near Newnham (49.28); one plant in hedge by junction at Hoadley's Farm!(507.325). Not yet refound in tetrad 42U where it was recorded in Hall (1980).It occurs mainly in southern Britain but reaching Scotland, widespread in Europe except the far north, Caucasus and IAsia Minor.Rosa rubiginosa. Sweet~briar.One bush on east verge of A26 near Pound gate (486.285), 1994, TR et al. It was mown flat iin autumn 1995, but will probably re~grow.The sweet~briar group (R. rubiginosa and R. micranthal are distinguished by the apple~scented, long~stalked glands on the leaves, and they can sometimes be found by smell fromacross the road! R. rubiginosa is distinguished from R. micrantha by the hairy styles, and they,also differ in habit, sepal and pedicel characters.This rose is most characteristic of chalk soils in southern Britain (it grows on clays atPoundgate), but also occurs in hedges and on suitable soils elsewhere north to Scotland.Widespread in Europe south of the Baltic, and also found in western Asia.Rosa micrantha. Small~flowered sweet~briar.Nutley, N. J. Treutler (Wolley-Dod 1937).• Scattered around, usually as single bushes, but rarely recorded from hedges. Northverge west of Wych Cross Place (418.319), TR, 1995; one bush at entrance to Birches onRidge Road (445.329), 1995, PW, one by pond and one on road to cricket ground nearby;hedge, Quabrook (444.343), 1995, TR; one on wood edge at Newbridge (459.326), 1995,PW (another in hedge to east, not very glandular and possibly hybrid but hips trimmed off,1995, TR); bank opposite Fairwarp turning (465.264), 1995, TR; Ridge Road west ofAshdown Park Hotel (426.324), 1995 TR & PW; one just inside entrance to Crows (or Doves)Nest (474.283), 1994, Flora meeting; one enormous bush c. 5 metres tall on track oppositeForest Lodge Farm (497.327), 1987-1995, PW; one near Fisher's Gate (493.336), 1987-1995, PW; one on roadside nearSt John's Church (502.320), 1995, TR;Plants tend to have small leaves with many glands, strongly curved prickles, and glabrous styles. It seems mostfrequent in the eastern half of the Forest for no reason obvious as yet. It is commonest on chalky soils in southern Britain,but is scattered through the Weald. Widespread in south, central and western Europe.*Prunus persica. Peach.One small shrub in bramble bush at Churl wood car park (416.310), 1993, Flora meeting,presumably resulting from a stone discarded after a picnic.Occasionally recorded in Britain elsewhere as a throw~out. It probably originally camefrom China.*Prunus cerasifera. Cherry plum.,--,--===----,--, Smockfarthing area (39.32), 1995, AK; one shrub in hedge on Parrock Lane (446.343), 1995,TR & PA; one small tree in hedge opposite entrance to Boringwheel Mill Farm (456.264),• 1995, TR & PA; Friar's Gate 149.33), 1995, SR.The first species to flower in spring (excepting the flowering cherries in gardens), whichis the easiest time to find it, but a search of roadside hedges in March 1995 failed to revealany more. Non~flowering specimens in shade could also occur. No fruit was seen in 1995; itapparently fruits rarely and rather sparingly in Britain.Mainly planted in hedges but also spread by birds, and increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Recorded occasionally in West Sussex, probably under-recorded in EastSussex, and widespread in Britain. Native in south-east Europe and south~west Asia.