Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

156Digitalis purpurea. Foxglove, Dragon's mouth, Lion's mouth, Finger root, Tiger's mouth.Ashdown Forest, 1893, T, Hilton (BTN), Common on the Forest (Hall 1980),Recorded in all but one of our 1-km squares, which may be due to an oversight in ourrecording but, as a number of different recorders have visited that area and missed what mustbe one of our most conspicuous plants, it is clear that it must at least be extremely scarce inthat area. Very obviously at home on the acid soils of the Forest (as it is in the Weald),generally found in rather open areas, on heathland or in clearings in woodland, sometimeswhere burning has occurred. It can be quite spectacular in places where many plants are infull flower, and the flowers are often busy with bees.Digitalis purpurea is only found on soils of low pH in Britain where the climate is cool,but in warmer regions of continental Europe it occurs on soils of higher pH; this phenomenon can be replicatedexperimentally IWoodward 1987),It is widespread and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is widespread in western Europe but becomesmuch rarer eastwards, and occurs in Morocco.Veronica serpyllifolia. Thyme-leaved speedwell.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980),Virtually ubiquitous, matching the frequency shown in Hall (1980). Found in dampgrassy areas, on the heathy rides and as a weed in disturbed ground. It persists in shadedrides but rarely flowers.Veronica serpvllifolia is a very widespread species, occurring throughout Britain and inEurope, Asia, Africa and the Americas, It is increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996),Veronica officinalis. Heath speedwell.Rather more common in our survey than the map in Hall (1980) indicates, which is almostcertainly due to the more intense recording. It often occurs in the Forest on low banks and atthe edge of rides, around the edges of grassy patches and occasionally in open heathland.Most typical of acidic, nutrient-poor, freely-drained soils in open conditions. When3 shaded it does not grow well and may be eaten by slugs IDale & Causton 1992a, b),Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe and Asia Minor.4 5Veronica chamaedrys. Germander speedwell, Blue bird's-eye.Recorded as ubiquitous by Hall (1980) and equally common in our survey only missing fromone square. Most often found at the base of hedges, on road verges and in open areas ofwoodland, It occurs on a range of soil types but is badly affected by water-logging,This species requires a long period of vernalization before it will flower, and will notflower in its first year. It is an obligate out-breeding species and has low seed set. Itspersistence in grassland may depend on clonal growth rather than repeated establishmentfrom seed (Boutin & Harper 1991),It is a very widespread plant, occurring across the whole of the British Isles, throughoutEurope, over much of Asia, and in West Africa.Veronica montana. Wood speedwell.Scattered along the river valleys and around the Forest with a frequency similar to that shownin Hall (1980). It occurs mainly in and around old, natural woodland, often near rivers, and isabsent from the main areas of heath land .It grows on moist soils which are weakly acidic to weakly base-rich in pH, andintermediate to rich in soil nutrients. It tends to be confined to woodlands as it cannottolerate high light levels (Dale & Causton 1992a, b),It occurs in west, central and southern Europe and the North African mountains.