Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

105Prunus spinosa. Blackthorn, Winter picks.This is usually a plant of fairly rich soils, so it tends to occur in road verges and richerwoodland edges as shown in the map. Sometimes it is also planted as part of hedges but lessso in this area than elsewhere in Sussex. 1995 was a very good year for fruit, and in theautumn the purple sloes contrasted beautifully with the yellowing leaves.Ubiquitous in Sussex and Britain, and widespread in Europe south of the Baltic and foundin Iran.Prunus domestica. Wild plum.Six tetrad records from the north and south~west sides of the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it most commonly in the north, but it is also scattered elsewhere andoften planted in hedges. Most records refer to isolated trees, often near habitation. Althoughoften flowering at the same time as blackthorn, it tends to have larger flowers and forms ataller tree so can be picked out in flower from a distance.Three subspecies are often recognised but tend to intergrade, and we have notsystematically distinguished them. Subsp. domestica is the garden plum, which probablyaccounts for some of our records nearer habitation. Subsp. insititia is the bullace or damson,and seems to be quite frequent. Damsons were locally prolific in 1995 (many got frosted in1994) and when stewed with lots of sugar were heavenly. Subsp. italica is the greengage and has not been recorded.Widespread in Britain, and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widely naturalized in Europe.Prunus avium. Wild cherry, Gean, MerrYMtree.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).We have recorded it widely, often in open woodland where the suckers form little grovesand may flower profusely even when only a couple of metres high. The large white flowerscontrast with the pale first green leaves and are a merry sight in the sunlight in April. Cherriesseem to be rarely produced, or maybe the birds get there first.No cherry orchards are currently known in the area, though the Old Cherry Orchard is alocal name from south of Forest Row. They have been planted recently along the lane toBlack Hill 1476.3081, and another mature row along the boundary bank near Bank Cottage1434.338) may have been planted.Wild cherry trees are relatively short-lived and are regularly noticed blown over, but are survived by the suckers.Common and widespread in the Weald. Widespread in Britain and in Europe south of the Baltic but rare in theMediterranean region. Also in western Asia and the North African mountains. Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996), possibly due to planting.* Prunus serotina. Rum cherry.Chelwood, one tree by footpath 100 metres from houses 1416.2931. 1995, AK; Isle ofThorns, in several places and possibly the source of the other plants 141.30, 42.30), 1995,Flora meeting; woodland edge 100 metres west of Wych Cross 1418.3191. 1994, TR; vergewest of Chelwood Beacon 1423.2941. 1993, TR; heath)and south-east of Wych Cross1422.3111. 1994, DK.Quite w.idely established around Chelwood Gate as an escape from cultivation and alsospreading aggressively on heathland elsewhere in southern Britain. These shrubs come intoflower at the end of May when the pendulous racemes of white flowers are quite noticeable.Out of flower the bushes do not stand out until the leaves turn a striking red in September.It is native in North America, where it is a shade-tolerant member of the understory of Q.uercus woodlands. It isplanted for ornament and in Europe also for timber.One wonders how many of the records for Prunus padus, bird cherry, in south-east England are errors for P. serotina.*Prunus lusitanica. Portugal laurel.Near Goat cross-roads 140.32) and near garden, Chelwood Gate 141.301. 1993, Flora meeting.Widely grown in gardens as an evergreen shrub, and increasingly escaping (Rich &• Woodruff 1996). It is native in south-west Europe.