Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

centre of the Forest on alluvial soils in the river valleys, for instance, the alder woodland at HindJeap (417.331), andSalisbury (1970) showed the pH of such alluvial soils was usually higher than the surrounding land due to nutrient drift.Helliwell (1980) also found that seedlings were unable to emerge through dense litter - hence it tends to grow on banks. Indense shade (6% of dayl'lght) it produces few flowers and little seed. Additional light in the spring can increase growth butsummer light levels have a dominant influence.Common and widespread in Sussex except near large areas of habitation, and widespread in Br'ltain, western andcentral Europe.Primula x polyantha (P. x tommasinii; P. veris x vulgaris). Common oxlip."In some districts, as I have seen near Hartfield in Sussex and in parts of Surrey, specimensmay be found on the borders of almost every field and small wood" (Darwin 1867).Spontaneous plants arose in the meadow at Braberry Hatch (428.296), 1994, MichaelTaite. The garden polyanthus is probably of the same origin but has been much modified by3 -++...-__--I.+_cultivation. It is occasionally planted in churchyards or on banks as at Legsheath Lane (39.32),Parrock Lane (446.344), near Oldlands Farm (47.26), all 1995, TR, and near Brown's Brook147.27), 1994, Flora meeting. Some plants have yellow flowers, others coloured.4 5 Although primroses are usually pollinated by moths and cowslips by bumblebees (Darwin1867) there are enough insects which visit both to get hybrids. Valentine (1979) noted that asviable seed was only obtained when P. veris was the seed parent the hybrids are usually found near to cowslip plants - asis the case with us at Braberry Hatch. Hybrids are recorded from throughout the British Isles where the parents occur.83Primula veris. Cowslip.3 -++...-----'-/-4 5Occasional on the south-east Side of the Forest (Hall 1980).Native plants are very rare, only occurring on a path side at Twyford (394.311), 1994,DB; meadow at Braberry Hatch (428.296), 1994, Michael Taite; private meadows at OldCherry Orchard (42.33), 1995, PS. Also noted by TR planted in several places on drive toSmockfarthing 140.31, 40.32), 1994; planted on verge outside Suntings 1462.327), 1995;near garden, Fairwarp 1470.263), 1993; verge outside Neaves Farm 1477.336), 1993.This plant occurs in old grassland on clayey and calcareous soils, hence is very locallydistributed in our area. It has declined dramatically in lowland Britain, and is now mainly foundon chalk. It is still widely distributed in England, and is much commoner in Europe.Lysimachia nemorum. Yellow pimpernel.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).Widespread in most areas of the Forest, usually in damp and sometimes in quite wetwoodland.Widespread in the WeaJd and in Britain. Predominantly western in distribution in Europe.Lysimachia nummularia. Creeping-Jenny, Moneywort, Herb two-pence.Ashdown Forest, common, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have it scattered on ditch sides, wet grassland and near habitation (probably anescape from cultivation in the latter), and there is a distinct cluster of records south of ChuckHatch possibly where the soils are a little more clayey. It occurs predominately in south-east3 lowland Britain on wet, clayey or calcareous soils, and is widespread in Europe.4 5*Lysimachia vulgaris. Yellow loosestrife.Recorded in tetrads 42T, 43L and 43R (Hall 1980), but surely over-recorded for L. punctata inthe latter two tetrads?We only have one definite record, an introduced plant in bramble on dry ground oppositehouse, Forest Row 1423.340), 1995, DB & PD.3 -+-+-----Y- As a native species this occurs in calcareous fens, rivers ides and ditches. It is locallyfrequent in parts of lowland Britain, and more widespread on the continent and central Asia.4 5