Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

172Tragopogon pratensis subsp. minor. Goat's-beard, Jack-by-the-hedge, Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon, Joseph's flower.Frequent on the Forest IHall 1980).Very locally distributed around the Forest and mainly in the villages on waste ground andin rank grassland, a preferred habitat. It flowers in mid to late summer and was much moreconspicuous in 1995 when the verges were left unmown.3 Widespread in Sussex, especially on calcareous soils. Locally common in Britainnorthwards to eastern Scotland. Widespread in Europe and west and central Asia, withsubsp. minor in west and central Europe.4 5Sonchus arvensis. Perennial sow-thistle.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).A perennial species mainly associated with verges where it is often mown short and doesnot flower. It is easily identified by the yellow~orange hairs on the involucre.Recorded in 90% of the Sussex tetrads (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain, Europe andwestern Asia.Sonchus oleraceus. Common sow~thistle.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).An annual, widely scattered on waste ground, disturbed soil, road verges and in thevillages. It is probably less common than S. asper but occurs in similar places.Recorded in 90% of the Sussex tetrads (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain and Europe,Asia and North Africa.Sonchus asper. Prickly sow~thistle.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).Widely scattered on disturbed ground, road verges and in the villages. It has shiny, veryspiny foliage with rounded auricles, whilst S. oleraceus has more glaucous, sparsely spinyfoliage with pointed auricles.Recorded in 90% of the Sussex tetrads IHall 1980). Increasing in England IRich &Woodruff 1996), and widespread in Britain, Europe, Asia and North Africa.*Lactuca serriola. Prickly lettuce.Forest Row 1437.347) and Lines Farm 1445.347), 1995, TR; Crowborough Road 145.281,1993, Flora meeting; one young plant in ditch beside road north of King's Standing1471.304), 1995, TR & PW; Friar's Gate area 149.33). 1994, RN & ER.This species behaves as a ruderal in Britain and is commonly found where earth has been3 moved such as on roadsides or industrial estates, but it also occurs in more natural habitatssuch as shingle banks. It will not grow on water~logged soil or on acidic peat, and is equallyrare on skeletal calcareous soils (Prince & Carter 1977). The flowering-heads open in themorning and close in the afternoon.4 5It is increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), and all our records aresupplementary to the Sussex Plant Atlas where it is mainly recorded from the coast. Widespread in southern Europe, Asiaand North Africa.