Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

152PLANTAGINACEAEPlantago coronopus. Buck's-horn plantain.,--,,----===----,----, Near Wych Cross, Ashdown Forest IColeman 1836). Tetrads 42J and 43F IHall 1980).We have recorded it mainly from the road verges and car parks along the A22 fromWych Cross to Millbrook, which relates to the previous records. It also occurs on verges atGills Lap and King's Standing, and one plant was found on a verge in Nutley 1443.274).3 ++--..... ---'".--'-11- In Britain it is widespread around the coast and inland on acidic, freely-drained sands andgravels. It seems quite tolerant of drought, salt and pollution and can be found on the vergesof many major roads such as the A4 in London and around the M25.In Europe it is widespread around the coasts, and inland in the west and the4 5Mediterranean region. It also occurs in North Africa and western Asia.Plantago major. Greater plantain.Ubiquitous in every tetrad in Sussex IHall 1980).We have recorded it from all squares across the Forest in car parks, verges, tracks andpastures, usually on the damper, richer soils. It is very tolerant of trampling, and is frequentin lawns and playing fields. It is a variable plant, probably due to both environmental factorsand genetic adaptation to different habitats.Widespread in lowland Britain and almost throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa.[Plantago media. Hoary plantain, Lamb's tongue.Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980). The occurrence of this species is a puzzle as it is most typical of grassland on chalk andcalcareous clays in Sussex. It is found in some churchyards but is not in the one at Fairwarp in tetrad 42T, and we havebeen unable to refind it or even suitable habitat for it. Was it confused with P. major?]Plantago lanceo/ata. Ribwort plantain.Ubiquitous in every tetrad in Sussex (Hall 1980).We have recorded it from every square except two in the Pippingford Park area where itcould occur in the pastures which have not been searched. It has a broad ecological rangeand occurs on a range of soils and grassland types.It is one of the most widely recorded species in Britain (Rich & Woodruff 1990) andwidespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa.BUDDLEJACEAE*Budd/eja davidii. Butterfly-bush.Tetrad 42N IHall 1980).We have many more records than Hall, from the villages where it is an escape fromcultivation or a garden throw-out, and from waste ground and old fire sites in the Wych Crossarea. It may be spreading. It is typically a calcicole in Britain and occurs on the richer soils or3 -I-+-''"----.......J-I- mortar associated with brickwork.Widespread and increasing in England IRich & Woodruff 1996). Native in China.4 5OLEACEAE*Forsythia x intermedia. Forsythia.Probably planted but not naturalized at Isle of Thorns (41.30), 1995, and St John's 150.32),1994, both seen on Flora meetings. A hybrid which originated in cultivation.3 +j'L-------'--j-4 5