Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

Flora of Ashdown Forest,-,;I

Flora of Ashdown ForestTim RichPat DonovanPaul HarmesAlan KnappMalcolm McFarlaneChris MarrableNicola MuggeridgeRachel NicholsonMadeline and Pete ReaderElizabeth RichPhyllis White1996Published with grant aid from English Nature, Sussex Botanical Recording Societyand the Wild Flower Society~=NENGLISHNATURESBRSWFS

Copyright Tim Rich, Pat Donovan, Paul Harmes, Alan Knapp, Chris Marrable, Malcolm McFarlane, NicolaMuggeridge, Rachel Nicholson, Madeline and Peter Reader, Elizabeth Rich and Phyllis White.Published by the Sussex Botanical Recording SocietyISBN 0 9522987 1 6September 1996Dorking Litho Printers Limited, Graphic House, Vincent Lane, Dorking, Surrey RH4 3SA. Telephone: 01306 880177

CONTENTSAcknowledgementsIntroductionThe habitats of Ashdown Forest 3Sources of information and methods 10Analysis of the Flora data 13Species accounts 27The botanists 232Glossary 234References 235Gazetteer 241Appendix 1. Example of completed record card 244Index 246PLATES1. Hairy greenweed (Genista pi/osa), Ashdown Forest, June 1974.2. Old and new views of Kidd's Hill and Gills Lap.3. Road verge near Duddleswell bus stop with saw-wart (Serratula tinctorial, goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)and betony (Stachys officinalis).4. Ashdown Forest map.5. Gorse (U/ex europaeus) at Friend's car park in early spring.6. Old and new views of Chestnut Farm, Nutley.7. Old and new views of old Mill Pond, Crowborough.COVER ILLUSTRATIONSFront: Marsh gentians (Gentiana pneumonanthe) (del. P. Donovan).Back: Ivy-leaved bell-flower (Wahlenbergia hederacea) (del. P. Donovan).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe would like to thank the following who have helped to record the flora or sent us records: John Alder, PennyAngold, Ben Senatt, Alee Bull (Rubus), David Carder, Rob Cooke, David Currey, Simon Davey, lan Diack, DaveEarl (Rubus), Karen Ellis, Lady Rosemary Fitzgerald, Alan Gillham, Rosetta Harmes, Rita Hemsley, Felicia Hill,Nick Hinson, Arthur Hoare, Kent Field Club, Graeme Kay, Dave King, Jan Kirschner (Luzula, Taraxacum,Valeriana, Viola), Geoff Kitchener, John Knight, David Lang, Trevor Lording, Alan Morriss, Alan Newton(Rubus), Eimear Nic Lughadha, Nigel Nicholson, Stephanie Peay, Margaret Pilkington, Hazel. Pollard, Dick Poole,R, Pride, Sylvia Priestly, Brian Radcliffe, Kerry Richards, Sarah Richardson, Francis Rose, Phil Rothweli, PeterRussell, Tony Spooner, Rod Stern, Joan Stoddart, David Streeter, Chris Sutton, Michael Taite, Dennis Vi nail,Rebecca Warren and Chris Weaver. The Sussex Botanical Recording Society and Kent Field Club have alsojoined us for various meetings.The following people have helped in one way or another: R. Barley, Mary Briggs, 'Arnold Cooke, DavidCoombe, Pam Combes, Andrew Dudman (Taraxacum), Ron Groom, Bryan Hoath, Gerald Legg, MichaelLeppard, Alison Main, Peter Marren, Desmond Meikle (Salix), Ron Payne, Mike Parcell, Eric Philp, Donald Pigott,Toni Primavesi (Rosa), Matthew Rich, Nick Rich, John Richards (Taraxacum), Norman Robson, Paul Sowan(Croydon Natural History Society), H. T. Stubbs, Margaret Tebbutt, Ray Vickery and S. Max Waiters. MikeConstantine and the Rangers on the Forest have always helped with requests and detailed knowledge. Wewould like to thank those who have given access permission to private land.We are grateful to English Nature, Sussex Botanical Recording Society and the Wild Flower Society forgrant aid to help publish the flora.

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THE HABITATS OF ASH DOWN FOREST3HistoryAshdown Forest has a long and well-documented history. Glyn & Prendergast (1995) give a readable summary buta few significant dates are briefly mentioned here,The Forest appears to have been occupied initially by nomadic hunter-gatherers and seasonal farmers, thensettled permanently, Amongst the earliest records of human activity found are a Stone Age axe about 100,000years old, and flint flakes have been found in many sites, usually on hillsides. There are also Bronze Age, Iron Ageand Roman remains.The Forest was 'empaJed' in about 1300 by Edward I, enclosing an area of some 14,000 acres, and thosethat farmed the land at that time became 'tenants by custom', In 1372 the deer forest was granted to John ofGaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and became known as Lancaster Great Park. During the Civil War, the Forest was putup as surety against army wages, the deer were wiped out and the pale destroyed. At the Restoration in 1660 theForest was granted to the Earl of Dorset. In 1693, a Duchy Decree allowed half of the Forest to be enclosed andsold off, mainly to a rabbit farmer, hence the name 'warren' which is still used for many Forest areas today (forexample, Broadstone Warren and Hindleap Warren). 1717 brought the end of the iron industry which had thrivedin the area since before Roman times.In 1885, the first Ashdown Forest Act gave power to the Board of Conservators to regulate land use,representing the interests of the owner and the customary tenants or 'commoners'. The most recent Act in 1974set up the Forest management as we know it today. It gave the public free access on foot to the whole area,established the Bye-laws, described the constitution of the Board of Conservators and funding of the management.in 1988, the Forest was bought by East Sussex County Council with help from a public appeal.Throughout the history of the Forest the activities of the Commoners have produced the mosaic of habitatspresent today in which our plants grow. Grazing domestic animals, cutting fuel, bedding and thatching materialand controlled burning have created and maintained the heathlands. The recent decline in Forest 'farming' due tothe changing social position of the Commoners and the increase in road traffic which prevents free grazing, haveallowed the massive spread of scrub and secondary woodland. This is now the major factor causing change to theflora of the Forest.Geology and soilsThe geology and soils are important in providing the substrate that the plants grow in, and are one of the majorfactors determining plant distribution at our local scale. The geology has little direct effect on the plants as it isoverlain by soils which are largely silty and compacted resulting in poor drainage.Ashdown Forest occupies the northern sandstone ridge in the High Weald. It is mainly underlain by theAshdown Beds, a relalively re::;i::;tant mixture of interbedded sandstones, silts, sands and clays. Around the edgesthere are also beds of Wadhurst Clay, consisting of mudstones and shales with some shelly limestones, andTunbridge Wells Sandstone, composed of silts and silty sandstone. These strata were laid down in shallow waterand were uplifted about 65 million years ago at the same time as the Alps, and have subsequently been eroded toproduce the topography and land form that we see today. There are also superficial alluvium deposits in thevalleys which mask the underlying geology. Full details of the geology and land form can be found in Bristow &Bazley (1972) and Robinson & Williams (1984).Tunbridge Wells Sandstone Wadhurst Clay Ashdown Beds3 --++------Ll-4 5 5Alluvium3 -++--~--""4--4 5The Forest is centred on two main massifs, one around Wych Cross and the other from Camp Hill to Gill's Lap,separated by the lower ground of the Millbrook valley. The land rises from about 50 m along the southern edge to 220m at Black Hill. The north side drains down to the Medway Valley and is predominantly north-facing, quite steep

4slopes, dissected by numerous small valleys with springs. The south side has gentler slopes and drains to the RiverOuse. 1-km square maps showing the topography are as follows:Land less than 100 m altitude Land 100-150 m altitude Land above 150 m altitudeThe land less than 100 m and more than 150 m is most simple to relate to the species distribution maps, notnecessarily because differences in altitudes per se are especially significant for plant growth, but for the other factorsrelated to them such as presence of rivers and alluvium.The soils of the area have been described by the SOil Survey (19831 and Jarvis et al. (19841, but the map is verygeneral. Ashdown Forest has also been mapped in more detail by Abbas (1979) but his maps are difficult to makesense of in the field.Poundgate Association soils are the principal soil association in Ashdown Forest, characterised by very acidpodzol'lsed soils. On the gentle slopes of the r'ldge the dominant soils are the Poundgate series which are water-loggedgley-podzols consisting of very fine sandy or silty upper horizons differentiated by podzolization from slowly permeablegleyed silty horizons below. These containing abundant sandstone fragments, which in turn rest on interbeddedsiltstone and sandstone. Cranbrook series soils are deep, silty typical water-logged gley soils which occur on the lowerslopes. Ashdown series, water-logged gley soils with an organic surface horizon over gleyed loamy horizons, arecharacteristic of wet heath land on the lower slopes and around the numerous springs and flushes.Shallow Curtisden Association soils occur principally on soft Cretaceous siltstones and sandstones in the HighWeald and on Jurassic rocks in western England. They are silty water-logged gleyic soils or sandy brown earths andhave slowly permeable compact subsoils which cause seasonal water-logging. On the Forest moderately deepexamples occur along the northern wooded slopes, and interspersed amongst the Poundgate and Cranbrook serieselsewhere, and they are widespread along the southern edge.Wickham 1 Association soils are restricted to the Weald. They are typical water-logged gleys with fine siltytops oils which are seasonally water-logged and grey and ochreous-mottled, They occur at Coleman's Hatch andaround Fairwarp.Curtisden soils Poundgate soils Wickham 1 soils3 -+.....JI-----'-t-3-++---------L+-4 5 4 5AspectThe predominant direction faced by the land is shown in the maps below. The main distinction for plants is betweennorth- and south-facing slopes which usually differ in temperature by about 2°C.North-facing South-facing West-facing East-facingClimateClimate is one of the main factors determining plant distribution on a large scale. The climate of the Forest isgenerally similar to that of the Weald in general - mild and damp - and within our small area may be responsible forsome plants occurring mainly on north- or south-facing slopes. The dampness is also responsible for theoccurrence of some species more widespread in western Atlantic areas such as Hymenophy//um tunbrigense.

Near the bottom of all the non~wooded valleys of the Forest, the increasing water levels give rise to Mol/niabogs which drain into the streams. Ungrazed Molinia clumps form deep (1 metre plus), inaccessible bogs whoseshade and vigour prevent many other species surviving, Where these have been grazed at Millbrook, the cattlebreak down the clumps and Menyanthes, Anagallis tenella and other interesting species have appeared.Where the Mol/nia has failed to achieve its 'tussock' form, several other species are characteristic. One ofthe best sites is along the Old Lodge boundary where among the Molinia can be found several Sphagnum species,Drosera species, Cirsium dissectum, Rhynchospora and Dactylorhiza incarnata.Meadows and grasslandThe Forest has few meadows of interest within it, but around the edges the occasional species~rich haymeadow can be found with Genista tinctoria, Centaurea nigra and Lathyrus pratensis. Most of the meadowswithin the pale are heavily grazed Lolium perenne ~ Cynosurus cristatus swards, and support few or no species ofinterest.Stream and riversOther than the Medway and Millbrook, most of our streams are either small and dry in summer, or shaded,and lack aquatic vegetation. The Medway is the largest river in the flora area and has aquatic plants such asNuphar lutea and Cal/itriche and the few open stretches of Millbrook have Ranunculus peltatus and Sparganiumemersum.Ponds and lakesThere are a few large lakes in the Forest such as in Pippingford Park, Boringwheel Mill and Old Mill Farm. Thevegetation present is variable, some with Menyanthes trifoliata, Potamogeton natans and E/eogiton f/uitans, andothers with Typha and Nymphaea alba. Some of the smaller ones have more marginal vegetation with speciessuch as Sparganium erectum and Carex riparia, others which dry out in summer may have plants such asRanunculus peltatus and Cal/itriche species. The two alien species, Crassu/a helms;; and Myriophyllum aquaticum,are currently spreading and could take over some ponds.Open bog pools are not common on the Forest but they are often quite rich. In Pippingford Park some havebeen created by explosives. Typically, they will have submerged Sphagnum species, Eriophorum angustifo/ium,Hypericum elodes and Narthecium. These provide particularly good habitats for Odonata, including the small reddamsel fly (Ceriagrion tenel/um).Villages and other habitationThe villages have their share of escaped garden plants, weeds and casuals, and have a completely differentflora to the rest of the Forest. Near houses, garden plants are often thrown out onto rubbish piles and sometimesestablish. The local churchyards often have a range of species with ferns on the walls, Leontodon hispidus andLeucanthemum vu/gare. The playing fields created from the Forest grasslands can be quite rich with good swardsof Agrostis species, Nardus stricta or Danthonia decumbens: Fords Green even has Chamaemelum nobile. Thedisused railway at Forest Row is largely over~grown with scrub but still has some open patches with typicalrailway species such as Chaenorhinum minus.The golf courses tend to have improved fairways, though acid grassland survives on the roughs. They alsohave heathy patches and scrub, but the boggy areas have mostly been drained and the areas are generallyimpoverished compared to what they would have been as heath. However, some rarities such as Cicendia occuronly on the golf courses and other plants including Anagallis tenella are widespread there.Roads, verges, tracks and car parksRoad verges support a distinctive neutral to calcareous grassland flora which differs markedly from the acidicheaths adjacent. This is largely due to the input of limestone dust from the road chippings onto the verges whichraises the pH often to 6.5~8.0. The flora is typically composed of species such as Galium verum, Pimpinellasaxifraga, Medicago lupulina and many grasses, and even some calcicoles such as Bromopsis erecta andFliipendula vulgaris can be frequent.There are some eighty miles of rides and tracks on the Forest. Visitors like to think that they are there fortheir benefit, but their primary function is to facilitate fire control. They act as fire~breaks (though they will onlystop a small fire), they can be used to allow 'back~burning', which effectively increases the width of the fire break,and they give improved vehicle access for fire fighting. Management involves once~a-year mowing, carried out inthe autumn after flowering; this takes one tractor nearly two months. To maintain access it is also necessary toditch and drain the main fire~rides. Where grazing has been re-introduced, mowing is not necessary because thestock enjoy the good grass on the rides.The rides are important wildlife sites because the mowing effectively simulates grazing where there is nostock. Species such as the silver-studded blue butterfly are found almost exclusively on the rides. Plant specieswhich cannot cope with rank competition also like the short growth. These include Dactylorhiza maculata,Euphrasia species, Salix rep ens, Nardus stricta, Pedicu/aris sylvatica, Danthonia decumbens and sometimesGentiana pneumonanthe. Boggy rides, though inconvenient for walkers, also have some interesting species suchas Drosera rotundifolia, D. intermedia and Rhynchospora.HedgesThe Forest Pale is largely covered by trees and is poor in hedgerow species. Many sections are dominated byFagus sylvatica or Quercus robur.7

8The older hedges and hedgebanks around the outside of the Forest are often richer, with up to four Rosaspecies, !lex aquifolium, Crataegus monogyna, Cory/us avellana, and other woody species. The hedges around thesmaller recent intakes in the Forest are generally poor though of similar composition.ArableArable land around the Forest is very uncommon and rarely has many weeds. Kickxia elat/ne has been foundin one field and the organic farm at Plaw Hatch has abundant Chenopodium species.Other aspects of managementGrazing is clearly one of the three fundamental activities which form and sustain heathland (with cutting and,possibly, burning), The effect of grazing is to prevent succession to woodland from occurring; it reduces fertility,slows or halts ageing of vegetation and introduces structural and age mosaics (due to the different palatability ofspecies). It is the opinion of many (or all?) managers that grazing is essential to produce sustainable, qualitylowland heathland; all other management techniques can only be considered as 'holding action' until grazing canbe re-introduced (the exception being the coastal heaths where the heath land may be the climax vegetation).As far as the Forest is concerned, 200 acres are enclosed and grazed at present. Permission has been grantedby the Secretary of State for the Environment to fence a further 1100 acres. There are Commoners who want tocontinue to graze stock on the Forest but the traffic speed and volume do not allow safe grazing on unenclosedland.There are old records of customary tenants (later Commoners) being granted permission to burn the Forest toimprove the grazing. There is certainly a recent (last fifty years) tradition of burning to provide 'early bite' grassrecovery for stock. There is, however, much controversy as to whether or not the Forest was burned when theCommoners were at their peak. The argument against is that there were certainly too many Commoners for theproduce of the Forest and that burning would actually destroy many of the things they sought - bracken, firewood,mature heather for thatching, gorse for firewood etc. It seems likely that burning only became necessary with thedecline of the Commoners as the Forest began to grow up. Controlled burning is not used on the Forest forseveral reasons: it is not compatible with the campaign waged to avoid arson or public carelessness causingwildfires; it is not environmentally acceptable (take straw-burning); it is difficult to predict the effect on therecovering vegetation (often an increase in bracken); it has a devastating effect on invertebrates, small mammalsand reptiles. It is important to realise that if burning is contemplated, it must be part of a complete system ofgrazing and cutting, and not used as a panacea for heathland problems (reducing fertility, killing scrub andcoppicing heather).The main aliens which are controlled are Fal/opia, Rhododendron and Gaultheria, which have fortunately notreached the epidemic proportions which can be observed in other areas of the country. Where they do occur, theyare removed by digging out the whole plant or spot spraying.ConservationAshdown Forest is the largest continuous block of heath, semi-natural woodland and valley bog in south-eastEngland. Heathland is an internationally important and declining habitat, and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI), the Forest is of national nature conservation importance: The SSSI schedule mentions a range of species ofnote, including Lycopodiel/a inundata, Wahlenbergia hederacea and Gentiana pneumonanthe. The wetland habitatsare important for bog bush crickets and small red damselflies, and mown rides provide habitat for silver-studdedblue butterflies, while the hazel coppice has a population of dormice, another declining species (protected underthe Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981). Perhaps more importantly, the Forest has recently been designated aSpecial Protection Area (SPA) for birds. This is due to the fact that a significant percentage of the Britishpopulations of Dartford Warbler and Nightjar nest here (the numbers fluctuate from year to year), as well as therebeing regular visits from great grey shrike, hen harrier and woodlark. Each species has their own habitatpreferences, and in most cases it is not considered necessary to manage habitats solely for a particular rarity.However, once it is known which species are present and their habitat preferences, the Rangers are usually keento ensure that suitable management is undertaken. Coppicing of the hazel to provide continuous dormousehabitat; fencing marsh gentians within the grazed area to allow them to flower and cutting the gorse to ensurethat there is thick, dense nesting habitat are all important conservation tasks. In general, however, the aim is tomanage the Forest to provide the mix of heathland and woodland habitats which have become available overthousands of years. The plants and animals which have evolved to live in these situations would be unable toadapt to large scale changes in habitat which occur without management. Reptiles and invertebrates whichrequire open heath would be lost from areas allowed to scrub over and become woodland in a matter of decades.Botanically, the Forest area is (or was) home to about 900 species and hybrids. Nearly 50 (6%) of thesespecies are native plants endemic to the United Kingdom or Europe (excluding Taraxacum for which there is noclear information), though some are already extinct:Aira praecoxCallitriche hamulataCallitriche platycarpaCarex laevigataCarex piluliferaCarex pulicarisCentaurea nigraCeratocapnos claviculata subsp. claviculataCirsium dissectumPossibly a European endemicPossibly a European endemicPossibly a European endemicWestern European endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemic

Conopodium majusCrataegus laevigataDactylorhiza praetermissaEpipactis purpurataErica tetralixEuphrasia anglicaEuphrasia nemorosaFagus sylvaticaHyacinthoides non-scriptaHypericum elodesHypericum pulchrumLuzula congestaNarcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. pseudonarcissusNarthecium ossifragumPedicularis sylvatica subsp. sylvaticaPilularia globuliferaPotentilla sterilisRanunculus hederaceusRubus armipotensRubus arrheniiformisRubus brevistaminosusRubus cissburiensisRubus decussatusRubus fissusRubus hastiformisRubus leucostachysRubus subinermoidesRubus surrejanusRubus trichodesSalix cinerea subsp. oleifoliaSalix repensScutellaria minorTeucrium scorodoniaUlex galliiUlex minorUlmus praceraViola lacteaWahlenbergia hederaceaWestern European endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicPossibly a UK endemicEuropean endemicOur ssp. is a European endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicNorth-western European endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicEuropean endemicUK endemicEuropean endemicUK endemicUK endemicUK endemicUK endemicUK endemicUK endemicUK endemicUK endemicUK endemicWestern European endemicPossibly European endemicWestern European endemicEuropean endemicWestern European endemicWestern European endemicUK endemicWestern European endemicWestern European endemic9The following 62 species (7.3%) which are likely to be native have been recorded in the past from the Forest buthave not been refound (many introduced species have also not been refound). Most are classic wet heath, dryheath or acidic grassland species, indicating that changes in the habitats are probably the cause (see for examplePaltes 2, 6 and 7). They are presumed to no longer occur on Ashdown Forest (except some Rubus species whichcould be over-looked), but we hope that some will be refound.Alchemilla glabraAlopecurus aequalisAnthemis arvensisApium inundatumBidens tripartitaBotrychium lunariaBromus lepidusCarex rostrata?Carex strigosaCarlina vulgarisDactylorhiza praetermissaDamasonium a/ismaDaucus carataEleocharis quinquefloraEquisetum telmateiaEriophorum vaginatumFilago vulgarisFumaria bastardliFumaria officinalisGentianella speciesGenista pi/osaGnaphalium sylvaticumHammarbya paludosaHuperzia selagoIris foetidissimaJasione montanaJuniperus communisKnautia arvensisLycopodium clavatumMentha pulegiumMoenchia erectaMyosurus minimusOenanthe aquaticaOrobanche minorPedicularis palustrisPersicaria minorPilularia globuliferaPinguicula vulgarisPseudorchis albidaPyrala rotundifoliaRanunculus hederaceusRosa obtusifoliaRubus arrheniiformisRubus caesiusRubus conjungensRubus fissusRubus lindleianusRubus murrayiRubus platyacanthusRubus sulcatus?Rubus wedgewoodiae?Sagina subulataSagittaria sagittifoliaSalix tdandraScleranthus annuusSorbus torminalisTrifolium arvenseTriglochin palustrisUlex gaffiiVaccinium oxycoccosVeronica anagallis-aquaticaViola lac tea

10SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND METHODSHistorical recordsThere are many unpublished documentary sources held in the Public Records Office and the County Records Officedating from 1274 onwards which contain brief references to plants and their uses, but these have not been abstractedsystematically. We are aware of a number of other references which have not yet been traced.1. LiteratureAlthough there are a number of unpublished manuscript records for species such as beech and bracken on AshdownForest, the earliest published records traced are for a few rare species in Turner & Dillwyn's (1805) Botanist's Guide.Forster (1816) published eleven localised records in his Flora Tonbridgensis, all original and accurate with thepossible exception of Triglochin palustris.Cooper (1835) provided more early records from the Forest, with a few interesting comments "Pine, fir, beechand birch all grow very well in this district, and the two Forests just mentioned fAshdown and St. Leonard'sl have beenplanted with them with great success". His list of 'forest' plants is of woodland plants, but there are a few specificrecords, some of which are repeated from earlier sources, especially Turner & Dillwyn (1805).In 1836, W. H. Coleman spent six months at Saint Hill, East Grinstead and recorded plants within a radius of fourmiles (Rich 1994al. Although Coleman was probably aged only about twenty at the time, the list is bothcomprehensive and accurate. He appears to have visited the Forest on a number of occasions, and specifically noted51 species, some with detailed localities. Among the most interesting records are Carlina vulgaris, Filago minima,Sagina subulata and Vaccinium oxycoccos.Jenner's (1845) flora of Tunbridge Wells drew heavily on Forster's flora, and most records were copied directly,adding little new.Deakin (1871) noted many plants from the "forest", "Forest", and "Forests" in his flora of Tunbridge Wells, whichmay refer to any combination of Ashdown, Broadwater and Waterdown Forests. Only records specifically fromAshdown Forest have been abstracted, though it is quite clear that some plants were known to be widespread on allthree. Many of the records are original.Hemsley (1875) provided three localised records in his outline of the flora of Sussex.The first reasonably comprehensive Flora of Sussex was published by Arnold (1887), with records for AshdownForest mainly included in District VII Medway, but some also in District IV Ouse. Arnold relied heavily on Jenner's listsfrom Tunbridge Wells area, and also on Coleman's (1836) list. Definite localities from within the Forest area have beenabstracted. Many species are described as common in District VII as a whole, and others simply noted from Withyhamor Maresfield are too imprecise to be included. The second edition (Arnold 1907) contains a few extra records.Boys Firmin (1890) included a list of the wild flowers from Crowborough compiled by Miss Rusher, though manyof the commonest flowers were omitted. Eleven species were recorded from the Forest.William Whitwell (1902) recorded plants during three visits to the Horsted Keynes area between 1899 and 1900.There are nine specific records, all probably from the west side of the Forest.Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society visited Ashdown Forest on 26 June 1902, the Coronation day ofEdward VII (Clark 1903). The I'lst of plants recorded includes records from West Hoathly, Brambletye, Ashdown Forestand East Grinstead. Insufficient details were given to locate most of the plants definitely within the Forest, but heathspecies such as Huperzia selago, Lycopodium clavatum and Genista anglica almost certainly were.Isaac Wells gave a talk on the flora of Ashdown Forest in 1915 (Wells 1916), but did not mention any specificlocalities. He first became acquainted with Ashdown Forest in 1860 and was attracted by the numerous ferns growingin quantity. By 1915 the ferns were described as "somewhat rare now", and he ended with a plea for theirconservation.Wolley-Dod's Flora of Sussex (1937), the second major Sussex flora, included a critical review of the old records,mostly from the original manuscripts, and as he was so thorough, the original sources have not been re-investigated.There are many detailed records from both the Forest and surrounding land; these have been abstracted reasonablysystematically, though it is difficult to decide how many records for places such as Hartfield, Maresfield orCrowborough should be included as their parishes go right up onto the Forest.Ingwersen (1951) gave records for Myrica and Osmunda from the Forest, but neither fits with the other recordsand he is probably quoting from hearsay rather than personal knowledge; neither record is accepted.The next major set of records was collected for the Sussex Plant Atlas between 1966 and 1978 (Hall 19801. Therecords are mainly given as tetrad (2 km x 2 km square) maps, with the occasional locality cited for rarer species.Records have been abstracted if any part of the tetrad occurred within the study area, though it is likely that some ofthe records are from outside the area. Tetrad records additional to the Sussex Plant Atlas were given by Briggs (1990);these include both pre- and post-1980 records. Again, tetrad records only are included, some of which may be fromoutside our flora area. The tetrad letters have been converted to the standard BSBI 'DINTY' grid (Ellis 1986) and donot follow those given in Hall or Briggs.Several PhD theses have been written on the forest, and some information has been abstracted from them. Jenks(19671 carried out a vegetation survey. Abbas (1979) studied the soils. Irons (1982) pulled together much informationon the impact of man on the historical ecology.A few miscellaneous records were given by Marrable in Willard (1989), mainly derived from previous work.Ashdown Forest News, produced by the Friends of the Forest, has many useful and interesting articles (a set is held atthe Forest Centre). Kent Field Club have visited Ashdown Forest on a number of occasions and records have beenabstracted from their Bulletins. A few records have been abstracted from issues of the Sussex County Magazine.

Fincham (1995) published a small photographic guide to 107 'more common' flowers of Ashdown Forest, whichshould be useful for beginners. The main identification errors are Calamintha ascendens and Carum carvi, and anumber of the photographs are incorrectly labelled.2, Unpublished sourcesW. E. P. Done recorded the flora of the area around Groombridge between 1904 and 1914 in a personal diary, now inthe possession of the Sussex Botanical Recording Society. Done recorded extensively on the east side of Forest,especially around Crow borough and some of his records from that area may refer to areas outside our study area.Between 1928 and 1953, George Dent noted many observations of plants and animals on Ashdown Forest in hispersonal diary, including details of Genista pilosa and Hammarbya pa/udosa. The information has been summarised bycourtesy of Mrs Phyllis Green who inherited the diary when George died in 1959.A few records from one of Ron Boniface's notebooks have been included from his visit on 14 August 1948 toHindleap Warren, Broadstone Warren and the golf course where he gives frequencies for plants which differ markedlyfrom the current situation.Data for selected 'rare' species were compiled for the Forest by Colin Corfield in 1981/82; these records havebeen abstracted by Chris Marrable.Peter Sollars carried out a detailed survey of the parish of Forest Row mainly between 1985 and 1987. He hasabstracted details of the more interesting species from his notebooks.Data held by the Biological Records Centre (BRCI, Monks Wood for TO/4.3 was summarised for the BSBIMonitoring Scheme (Rich & Woodruff 1990), and selected records have been abstracted from the 'historical' pre-1987records. 1987 and 1988 records collected by the SBRS, DB, and PW & RW have also been abstracted where theycould be located to a l-km square and recording information was available. Additional historical records wereabstracted for TQ/4.2 manually but fewer details were available.3. HerbariaRecords have been extracted from the comp~ter database at the Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton (BlN) byGerald Legg and Joan Stoddart; where possible, these have been correlated against the literature records. The maincollections are of T. Hilton (especially the period 1893-19011 and E. H. Farr (1892-19051.There are a few collections in Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery (llS), and data have been extracted fromthe card index by MM. There are three main collections from the Forest by J. Stirling, L. M. Child and G. E. Shaw (thelatter possibly on joint excursions).The herbarium of Miss Phyllis Stockdale (1898-19491 of East Grinstead ((ater Mrs Horrill of Eastbournel is held atBexhill Museum (BEX), and the records have been extracted by RN. The records date mainly 1910-1914, with a few1916 records, and most are simply labelled East Grinstead, though a few for Ashdown Forest and Forest Row are alsonoted. She collected many plants from F. J. Hanbury's garden at Brockhufst, and presumably learnt from both him andher father, William Stockdale. Wolley-Dod had also been through and confirmed or corrected the material. Acomparison of the notes and records in Wolley-Dod (1937) with the herbarium material indicates that Wolley-Dod musthave talked directly to Mrs Horrill and gleaned further information; for instance, the Drosera intermedia (D. longifolia)specimen in BEX is simply labelled East Grinstead whilst the record in Wooliey-Dod (1937) reads 'bog near the riflerange, Forest Row'. Individual localities must therefore be treated with caution, but we have attempted to correlatethem as far as possible (Rich, Nicholson & Wood 1996).A few records of selected species have been extracted from material in the cupboards at the Natural HistoryMuseum (BM), but the remaining 40% of the material in boxes has not been searched, and further work on the Barton& Riddelsdell Rubus herbarium is required.A few records have also been abstracted from the Fielding-Druce herbarium at Oxford (OXF).4. Field surveyThe main field survey was carried out from 1993 and 1995. Botanists were asked to record the vascular plants in allthe l-km squares covering the Forest area, irrespective of the actual Ashdown Forest boundary. They were asked tovisit as many different squares as possible rather than concentrate on one area. Field meetings were organised withthe Flora group once or twice each month during the summer to help with plant identification (five in 1993, ten in1994 and thirteen in 1995). There was no need to direct recorders at this stage to different areas as they largelytended to select different routes IRich & Smith 19961.The record cards used were the SBRS ones which are designed to collect recording information (Appendix 1), andin particular the time spent recording was requested. A check was kept on which habitats had been recorded, and unrecordedones were visited later. Several spring surveys were carried in 1994 and 1995 to look for early-floweringspecies. Experts were called in to help with the large critical genera, Taraxacum and Rubus, as they simply could notbe recorded with local expertise.A check was kept on time spent recording during the first two years, and then a realistic target - to bring the totaltime in each l-km square up to ten hours - was set in 1995. To try to ensure even coverage, botanists were allocatedgroups of 8-10 squares in 1995 and asked to co-ordinate the recording. Recorders were also supplied with lists of'common' species which were missing from the squares. This drew attention to plants like Betula or U/ex which hadnot been noted. Lists of missing species which had been recorded in the tetrads by Hall (1980) were also circulatedwhich helped to refind some plants, Special searches were made for some species such as Genista pilosa.An incomplete list of the historical records was circulated in February 1994. Draft maps of the 1993/1994 datawere circulated in March 1995, which also helped to draw attention to the under-recorded areas and erroneousrecords.Record cards were sent to TR after each trip or during the winter, and compiled onto master-cards. TR and otherschecked identification of problem plants, some of which have been deposited in' herb. P. A. Harmes. All the field11

12survey data were then put together and double-checked against the master-cards; this reduced data-processing errorsto less than 0.1 %. Draft final maps were circulated to all members of the group during the winter of 1995/1996 withrequests for details of odd or interesting records. This resulted in a number of additional errors being detected.Detailed local knowledge is essential for assessing the quality of the records. We believe the final data-processing errorrate to be very low indeed (no errors were found in a third sample check), and negligible compared to identificationerrors. For an account of sources of error see Rich & Woodruff (1990, 1992).A check for completeness of recording was carried out after the recording was finished in October 1995. Lists ofthe residual missing common species were circulated and a few squares checked for extra species. The numbers ofextra species recorded for six squares are shown below:Square Hours Number of extras43.31 1 045.29 2 447.30 2 347.32 3 547.33 0.5 348.30 2 9This indicates that additional records could probably be made in all squares, and we make no claims to have recordedeverything (see also the following chapter on analysis of the data). We would welcome extra records.

13ANAL VS IS OF THE FLORA DATAIn this chapter, the information about the recording and environment are presented and then analysed tosee how it relates to the species data. Our species data are also compared to the Sussex Plant At/as.1. Recording and environment dataThe following maps show which botanists visited which squares, and indicates the success in gettingrecorders to visit different areas. We have also had many Flora and SBRS meetings.David Bevan (DB) Patrick Coulcher (PC) Pat Donovan (PO)3 -t-.------"'Y_ 3 -t-f'"---'"-___ -----'-+_34 5 4 5Paul Harmes (PH) Alan Knapp (AK) Malcolm McFarlane (MM)3 -++--I---L..j--4 5 4 5Nicky Muggeridge (NM) Rachel Nicholson (RN) Helen Proctor (HP)3 -++!IO.!~--L..j--4 54 5Elizabeth Rich (ER) Tim Rich (TR) Phyllis White (PW)Other botanists Flora meetings SBRS

14Figure 2. Number of different visits to each square.9 10 810 8 7 8 7 7 10 8 7 8 88 11 8 7 12 11 14 6 6 7 12 58 9 11 10 6 6 8 9 7 7 7 1010 10 9 5 7 10 9 57 6 8 6 8 8 9 8 76 6 6 8 9 7 6 68 6 9 56 8 12 8Figure 3. Number of different botanists who visited each square.7 5 54 10 2 6 5 5 5 8 3 7 63 8 2 10 5 4 9 4 2 5 5 53 6 8 6 3 13 11 9 7 4 5 4-7 8 6 9 5 6 5 810 5 12 9 8 5 5 9 79 7 8 8 7 8 7 85 7 7 83 9 7 8

15The number of different visits to squares (mean 8 visits per square), and the number of differentbotanists who visited each square (mean 6,5 botanists per square) are shown in Figures 2 and 3respectively.The hours spent recording are shown in Figure 4; we have achieved a reasonably even coverage(mean 11 hours per square). With hindsight the squares 48.32, 49.32 and 49.33, which were recordedas part of tetrad 43W for the BSBI Monitoring Scheme, should have been re-recorded during 1993-1995as they have had many extra hours of recording above our target of 10 hours.Figure 4. The number of hours spent recording in each square.10 12.5 1110 ~0.5 10 10 10 10 10 10 11.75 10 14.7510 12.25 10 10 10 10.5 13 10.5 10 14.5 22.75 10.2512.5 11.25 10 12 10 10 10 10 10 10 10.75 16.510 10 10 10 10.5 11.25 10 1110.25 10.25 12 11.25 14.5 10.25 10.25 10.5 1010.5 11.5 11.75 10.5 11.75 12.5 11.25 1010.5 10.25 10 10.2510 10 10 10Data on the physical environment have been compiled from Ordnance Survey maps, the ancientwoodland inventory and field notes (e.g. presence of a pond not marked on the map). The habitatsrecorded are shown on the following maps, with open circles where they are present but unrecorded(e.g. on private land). The maps show we have been reasonably successful in recording the knownhabitats in the area; where we have failed has largely been on private land (to which we have notalways asked for access).Ancient woodland Semi-natural woodland Plantation

16CoppiceScrubHeathland3-+ ....3454 5GrasslandM arsh and bogStreams and rivers4 5Ponds and lakesVillages andother habitation (+)Churchyards3 -+-J..-------Lj-454 5Golf courses•••••3-++-----~Playing fields3 -+-¥"-------',,;j-Disused railway454 5Roads and vergesCar parksRides, tracks and firebreaks3 -+l'"---~-~4---4 5

17Hedgerows Disturbed/waste ground Arable3 -+-I'"----"''''----' ..... '-t- 3 -+-k------'-+_4 5 4 5The number of habitats recorded in each square is shown in Figure 5.Figure 5. Number of habitats recorded in each square.15 13 1411 10 10 12 1 1 11 12 12 11 7 1315 11 12 11 11 13 11 10 11 8 12 109 11 10 10 7 6 7 8 7 8 7 1413 11 11 7 9 12 10 119 9 10 9 8 8 7 9 118 8 10 9 9 10 11 913 8 1 1 1010 11 14 13We have also ensured comprehensive coverage during the spring and early summer (all earlyflowering species can still be found easily in June), and visited most squares during peak summer in Julyand August. Only one square (44.33) was not recorded after July.January - June July - August September - December5

182. Species dataA total of 916 species were recorded in our survey, and the number of species in each square areshown in Figure 6. If the critical species, hybrids, infraspecific taxa and those with known recordingbias are excluded, there are 734 species, and the numbers are shown in Figure 7. We have recorded anaverage of 258 species per l~km square (241 if critical taxa are excluded),Figure 6. Total number of species304 365 363280 270 268 254 236 234 264 281 266 190 272303 263 298 247 274 313 297 216 221 229 307 240271 261 284 260 176 218 228 268 187 223 247 279291 208 280 286 186 232 241 213203 268 286 239 214 165 183 205 229261 263 285 268 259 266 303 243340 213 247 283291 300 325 309Figure 7. Number of species excluding critical taxa277 335 330260 253 251 244 227 225 238 266 252 184 258281 243 258 227 258 285 277 197 215 217 285 226256 243 271 240 168 200 214 239 174 213 237 254265 200 255 269 175 220 225 206198 251 271 233 199 162 178 196 221243 249 274 238 241 243 274 230300 190 236 271270 279 287 282

19The frequencies with which species have been recorded in 1-10,11-20, etc., squares is shown in Figure8. 194 (21.2%) species have been recorded in only one square, or 129 species (17.6%) excludingthose with known recording bias. 34 (3.7%) species have been recorded in every square, This graphfollows the reverse-J pattern as expected (Jaccard 1908) I with many rare species and relatively fewerintermediate ones, and then a few more very common ones.Figure 8. Number of species recorded in 1-10 squares, 11-20 squares, etc.600500400Frequency 300.AII speciesm Species excluding criticals200100o10 20 30 40 50 60 70Number of squares3. Comparison of the environment, recording and species dataThe data were first investigated for systematic recording bias. Rich & Woodruff (1990) assessedrecording quality by assuming that ~lluares relatively poorly recorded would have below averageproportions of grasses, common species and critical taxa recorded; the maps for these groups forAshdown Forest are shown below:Below average proportionof grassesBelow average proportionof common speciesBelow average proportionof critical taxaThese measures of recording quality can then be combined to indicate squares relatively poorly-recordedand well-recorded. The squares with two or more measures of under-recording (i .e. relatively poorlyrecorded),and the converse (i.e. relatively well-recorded), are shown below.Squares relatively poorly-recorded.Squares relatively well-recorded

20These maps show no relationship to the recording patterns, but the squares around the edge aregenerally poorly-recorded whilst those in the middle are well-recorded. This suggests that the maps aremore a function of the distribution of the plant groups used to compile them than the botanists.To test whether our species data are more closely related to the recording or environmentalvariables, we have first correlated various measures of both against the number of species recorded foreach square. The correlations presented exclude species for which there is known recording bias (e,g.Taraxacum), but very similar results are obtained if all species are included.It is well known that the number of species recorded is strongly related to the time spent recording(e.g. Rich & Woodruff 1990, 1992, Rich & Smith 19961. For our survey initially the time spentrecording was significantly correlated with the number of species recorded in each square in 1993(r~0.652, p«O.OOll and in 1993-1994 (r~0.555, p«O.OOll as expected. However, by the endof 1995 when the recording was complete and coverage was fairly uniform there was no correlation(r = 0.201, p> 0.05, not significant) suggesting that our species-richness is largely independent of effort(Figure 91.Figure 9. Relationship between number of species and time spent recording (r=0.201, p>0.05).350300• •N 250• •u sm pb e 200 :e cr i 150eo s 100•5000 5 10 15 20 25time (hours)Woodell (1975) demonstrated that independent visitors add significantly more species to squaresthan repeat visits by the same recorder, so it might be expected that more species would be recorded insquares visited by many different botanists. The relationship between number of species recorded andthe number of different botanists who visited each square is shown in Figure 10; there is no significantcorrelation (r = -0.059, p>O.l). This suggests that we have evened out this effect by getting manydifferent botanists to visit each square.As we have not had access to all land, it might be expected that the number of species would berelated to the proportion of each square investigated. The relationship is shown in Figure 11 (r= -0.19,p > 0. 1). The slightly negative relationship may be due to lower coverage around the margins of theForest where there is not open access.As many species have characteristic habitats, it might be expected that squares where morehabitats are present would have more species. There is a strong relationship between the number ofspecies and the number of habitats recorded in each square (r=0.657, p<

21(r~0.434, pO.l).-0.059,•300t350N 250u sm pb e • 200e cr ; 150eo s100I • I• • ••• • I •t ••• • • • •• t5000 2 4 6 8 10 12 14Number of different botanistsFigure 11. Relationship between number of species and percentage of square recorded (r = -0.19,p>O.l ).350300N250u smpb e 200e cr ; 150eo s100••• •:!• ••• •• i•I•500020406080 100Percentage of square recorded (%)

22Figure 12. Relationship between number of species and number of different habitats recorded(r~O.657, p«O.OOl).350300N250U 5m pb e 200e cr i 150eo s100•• •• •• • i I P a • •• •• •5000 2 46 8 10 12 1416Number of different habitatsFigure 13. Relationship between number of species and number of visits (r = 0.32, p < 0,02).NU 5350300250m pb e 200e cr i 150eo 5100•• •*• ••5000 2 46 8 101214Number of visits

23A second type of comparison has been carried out using a multivariate technique called Two-wayIndicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN). This is a computer program designed to perform a divisivecluster analysis on multivariate data which, in very simple terms, looks at sets of data with manyvariables and progressively splits them into smaller groups of similar samples. The patterns of squaresproduced by each TWINSPAN analysis can then be compared (the symbols simply indicate groups ofclosely related squares).A. Recording dataA map of the TWINSPAN classes for the recordingdata has been produced using qualitative data of thesquares recorded by each botanist, habitats recorded ineach square, season of recording, and a quantitativeestimate of time spent recording. This shows a widescatter of different groups with one main block in thecentral east side of the Forest; the pattern cannot beclearly related to any recording patterns or distributionpatterns of any individual species.4 5••••••••••• 1 1•+ 0 000• ++ 0 •• O ••+++.0 013•• +00 o.+ •• +++++•• + •••••4 51 ••• 1••••••••••••00.0 • • 0 •• ++0 •• •0+0+3·1•• +++ 0••• 000 •• O •••••4 5S. Environment dataA map of the TWINSPAN classes for the environmentdata has also been produced using the habitats, soils,geology, aspect and altitude present in each square .This shows a clear distinction between the centre andthe outside of the Forest, and picks out the areas ofhigh ground and the river valleys. Similar patterns canbe seen in many individual species (e.g. Primulavulgaris).C. Species dataA similar approach can be used for the species data(again excluding species with known recording bias) .This shows a very strong distinction between the centreand the outside of the Forest and the areas of highground are again picked out .We therefore conclude from this pattern analysis that again our data are more closely related tovariation in the environment than the recording.

244. Species correlations against environmental dataAs our data are independent of the recorders, it is safe to compare them mathematically with theenvironmental variables. A similarity co-efficient has been used to describe how similar theenvironmental variables and the species maps are; it is a value calculated using a formula with thefollowing properties:100 means that the distributions match exactly.o means that the overlap is random (i.e. no coincidence).-100 means a complete anti-correlation (i,e. are exact opposites).The formula effectively gives a positive weighting to all squares where either both or neitherenvironmental variable or species occurs, and a negative weighting to squares where one but not theother occurs, the final figure being a sum of the weights over all squares. The five best-fitenvironmental variables for selected species are given in the Table below. Note that these are to beused as indicators of variables to be investigated in more detail, as some correlations may be spuriousthe associations may not necessarily be causal; for instance Wahlenbergia is an obvious candidate forassociation with ancient woodland, but it is unlikely to be climatically limited to both north- and southfacingslopes.SPECIESAesculus hippocastanumArtemisia vulgarisBrachypodium sylvaticumCarex sylvaticaDryopteris aemulaFilipendula ulmariaGalium palustreGalium verumMedicago lupulinaNarthecium ossifragumPlantago coronopusPo/vga/a serpvllifoliaPopulus tremulaPrimula vulgarisReynoutria japonicaStellaria alsineU/ex minorWahlenbergia hederaceaENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLE WITH THE FIVE HIGHEST SIMILARITY COEFFICIENTS (SIMILARITY CO-EFFICIENTS IN BRACKETS)50-100 m altitude (24), Curtisden soils (23), Roads and verges (22), Mainurban areas (20), Churchyard/cemetery (19).Mainly south-facing (24), Roads and verges (21), Car parks (18), Orchard(17), Wadhurst Clay (15).Curtisden soils (51), Ancient woodland (47), Roads and verges (47), Mainurban areas (29), Mainly south-facing (24).Curtisden soils (43), 50-100 m altitude (42), Mainly north-facing (29),Alluvium (28), Pond/lake (22).Plantation (29), Mainly south-facing (15), Pond/lake (151, Churchyard/cemetery (9), Curtisden soils (81, Streamiriver 18).Alluvium (73), 50-100 m altitude (51), Curtisden soils (38), Mainly northfacing(32), Coppice (25).Pond/lake (43), Ancient woodland (34), Alluvium (24),50-100 m altitude(24), Curtisden soils (24)' Coppice (24),Car parks (54), 200 + m altitude (32), Mainly south-facing (21), 150-200m altitude (18), Mainly west-facing (12).Car parks (26), Roads and verges (16), Main urban areas (12), 200 + maltitude (12), Playing fields (12).150-200 m altitude (35), Car parks (34), Marsh/bog (24), Poundgate soils(21), Mainly south-facing (18).Car parks (59), 200 + m altitude (44), Roads and verges (22), Mainlysouth-facing (21), 150-200 m altitude (21).Poundgate soils (28), 150-200 m altitude (25), Car parks (23), Bracken(14), 200+ m altitude (13).Ancient woodland (33), Curtisden soils (30), Wadhurst Clay (26), 50-100m altitude (24), Car parks (21).50-100 m altitude (44), Roads and verges (28), Mainly north-facing (26),Wadhurst Clay (24), Alluvium (20).Main urban areas (33), Ancient woodland (28), Churchyard/cemetery (24),Golf course (24), Curtisden soils (24).Plantation (43), Alluvium (32), Pond/lake (16), Ancient woodland (15)'Coppice (15).Heathland (58), Bracken (42), 150-200 m altitude (36), Poundgate soils(31), Car parks (26).Ancient woodland (44), Curtisden soils (28), Coppice (13), Mainly northfacing(13), Mainly south-facing (12), Alluvium (12).

25Similarly, environmental variables can be correlated with species, as shown below:ENVIRONMENTALVARIABLEAncient woodlandCar parksChurchyard/cemeteryDisused railwayHeathlandMain urban areasMarsh/bogPlantationPond/lakeSemi-natural woodlandStream/riverAlluviumTunbridge Wells SandsWadhurst ClayCurtisden soilsPoundgate soilsWickham 1 soilsSPECIES WITH THE FIVE HIGHEST SIMILARITY CO-EFFICIENTS(SIMILARITY CO-EFFICIENTS IN BRACKETS)Wahlenbergia hederaeea (40), Rlbes rubrum (39), Carex laevigata (35),Veronica hederifolia (35), Hypericum tetrapterum (35).Euphrasia attic/naNs agg. (52), Ranunculus bu/bosus (44), Galiurn verum(43), Unum catharticum (42), Agrimonia eupatoria (41).Svmphoricarpos a/bus (65), Hypericum androsaemum (62), Reynoutriajaponica (49), Calvstegia silvatiea (47), Galanthus nivalis (45).Callitriche platycarpa (100), Chaenorhinum minus (99), Linaria vulgaris(99), Spiranthes spiralis (99), Rosa eanina x obtusifolius (99).Festuea filiformis (63), Juneus squarrosus (61), Erica tetralix (59), Ulexminor (58), Nardus strieta (53).Symphoricarpos rivu/aris (66), Equisetum arvense (51), Me/ica unit/ora(50), Reynoutria japonica (46), Veronica hederifolia (45).Salix rep ens (34), Carex eehinata (32), Salix aurita (29), Trichophorumeespitosum (28), Carex nigra (28).Senecio sy/vaticus (32), Mentha arvensis (31), Stellaria a/sine (30),Senecio vul9aris (27), Ca/litriche stagnalis (26).Lotus u/iginosus (52), Iris pseudacorus (52), Ma/us domestica (52), Carexsvlvatiea (50), Galium palustre (47).Fagus svlvatiea (100), Castanea sativa (99), Bleehnum spieant (97),Holeus mollis (97), Ajuga rep tans (96).Epilobium obscurum (66), Alnus glutinosa (63), Prunus avium (60), Carexsylvatiea (59), Glyeeria fluitans (59).Filipendula ulmaria (50), Scirpus svlvatieus (55), Festuea gigantea (49),Lycopus europaeus (47), Chrysosp/enium oppositifo/ium (46).Carpinus be tu/us (74), Me/ica unit/ora (69), Acer campestre (66), Luzulaforster! (64/, Atriplex patula (62).Acer campestre (57), Crataegus /aevigata (55), Carpinus betu/us (55),Chrvsosplenium oppositifolium (49), Meliea uniflora (49).Carex sv/vatica (51), Rosa arvensis (50), Lvchnis flos-cuculi (46), Prunusdomestiea (46), Arum maeulatum (45).Juncus squarrosus (61), Carex panicea (44), Carex echinata (43), Ribesni9rum (39/, Polvgala serpv//ifolia (38).Acer eampestre (82), Crataegus laevigata (81), Polyp odium agg. (81),Oenanthe crocata (75), Luzu/a forsteri (71).5. Comparison with Sussex Plant AtlasThe Sussex Plant Atlas was recorded using tetrads between 1966 and 1978 (Hall 1980). It wasrecorded on an ad hoc basis with no standardisation in the recording, and thus provides a usefulcomparison with our data. For the comparison we have summarised our 1-km square data into the 14tetrads which directly correspond to the Sussex Plant At/as but also including tetrads 43A and 43V forwhich we have only recorded three of the four 1-km squares.When the number of records for each tetrad were compared the results shown in the table belowwere obtained, We have recorded on average nearly half as many species again as the Sussex PlantAtlas, indicating that the Sussex Plant At/as was under-recorded. About 6.5% of the species recordedin the Sussex Plant At/as were not recorded for our flora, indicating that more species could be found inour squares, Application of Dony's (1963, 1976) species-area relationship for Hertfordshire to our datasuggests that a mean of 223 species would be expected for each l-km square; we have recorded anaverage of 241 species per l-km square (excluding critical species) which suggests that Dony'sequation needs revising based on Sussex data.

26Numbers of species recorded in tetrads in the Sussex Plant Atlas and summarised from our AshdownForest data.Tetrad42J42N42P42T42U42Z43A43843F43G43K43L43043R43V43WSussex Plant Atlas(SPA)267354287351244247241245253223283315225297270290Ashdown Flora, all % (SPA/AFIspecies (AFI416 64487 73412 70484 73359 68382 65403 60425 58379 67400 56387 73444 71356 63386 77321 84381 76The correlations between species numbers, recording and environmental data in Section 3 abovewere repeated for our Ashdown Flora data in tetrads with identical conclusions, again indicating our dataare independent of the recording. A Twinspan analysis for comparison with the Sussex Plant Atlas,shows that the Sussex Plant Atlas data and the Ashdown Forest data do not match well which must bedue to variations in recording, but neither pattern matches the environment data very well. Thissuggests that the recording may be an important factor to be taken into account in any analysis ofresults.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS27Lat'1n names follow Stace (1991) unless otherwise stated so authorities have not been given. The first English name givenfollows Stace (1991), followed by Sussex names from Arnold (1907), Grigson (1955) or local sources.Species in [square brackets] are currently thought to be errors, are not properly naturalized, or are probably fromoutside the Flora area. An asterisk *" in front of the name indicates that the species is not native or probably not native inthe Flora area.Historical records for the Forest are given in approximate date order, quoting the original source wherever possible(records repeated in later publications are not duplicated). The herbaria are cited using their standard abbreviations (Kent &Alien 1984). Literature sources are listed in the bibliography with the exception of those in Ashdown Forest News (AFN)which are cited in brief. Tetrad nomenclature follows the standard BSBI DINTY system (Ellis 1986) (see Figure 14); notethat this is NOT the system used by Hall (1980) and Briggs (1990) whose tetrads have here been reallocated to thisstandard system.Figure 14. The DINTY tetrad system within a 1 O-km square (so-called after the second line).E J P U ZD I N T YC H M S XB G L R WA F K Q VDetails of the current distribution and ecology are given usually with 6-figure or 4-figure grid references for manyuncommon species, but not for the most sensitive rare plants. As all the records are from the lOO-km square TO(51) thisis not given.Details of the British and world distributions are taken mainly from Clapham, Tutin & Moore (1987) to help put thelocal distributions into a wider context.The initials of the botanists are as follows:AB Alec BullAH Arthur HoareAK Alan KnappAN Alan NewtonCM Chris MarrableDB David BevanDE Dave EarlDK Dave KingDS David StreeterEL Eimear Nic LughadhaER Elizabeth RichFR Francis RoseHP Helen ProctorJK Jan KirschnerMM Malcolm McFarlaneMR Madeline ReaderOther abbreviations are as follows:SEX Bexhill MuseumBM Natural History Museum, LondonBTN Booth Museum, BrightonCGE Cambridge University herbariumNMW National Museum of WalesOXF Oxford University herbariumLlV Liverpool MuseumL TR Leicester UniversityTLS Tunbridge Wells MuseumNMNNPAPCPDPHPRPSPWRCRNRRRWSRTRAFNAFRRBRCBSBISBRSagg.det.et al.s.1.S.s.*+Nicky MuggeridgeNigel NicholsonPenny AngoldPatrick CoulcherPat DonovanPaul HarmesPete ReaderPeter SollarsPhyllis WhiteRob CookRachel NicholsonRob RandallRaymond WhiteSarah RichardsonTim RichAshdown Forest NewsAshdown Forest Rangers' records (various sources)Biological Records Centre dataBotanical Society of the British IslesSussex Botanical Recording Societyaggregate (closely related plants)determined bywith various otherssensu lato, in a broad sensesensu stricto, in a strict sensenot native in Flora areaonwards, Of with various others

28PteridophytesLYCOPOOIACEAEHuperzia se/ago. Fir clubmoss.Ashdown Forest, J. Woods (BTN). On the Forest near Wych Cross (Cooper 1835). Marshy pool, Ashdown Forest, 1862,G. P. Oavies (BTN). Ashdown Forest, N. J. Treutler, 1886, and near Wych Cross, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Seen in April1901 on the west side of Ashdown Forest "the young shoots of heather rendering it very inconspicuous", but not in June1902 (Clark 1903). (Records in Jenks 1967 surely refer to LVGopodiella inundata).These are the last Ashdown Forest records for a northern, montane species, which although once reasonablywidespread on the lowland acidic heaths is probably now extinct in south-east England. Many of the sites havedisappeared due to loss of habitat and scrub invasion resulting from lack of grazing. This does not appear to be the reasonfor its disappearance from Wych Cross, where open heath land still occurs; it may have been destroyed in a fire (e.g.Rackham 1986). The last Sussex record was from Bingletts Wood near Heathfield, c.1965, FR, and the nearest sites arenow in Derbyshire and Devon.The presence of a plant which occurs on acidic soils and peats in the higher mountains around the world and theArctic is a little surprising in lowland England, but Jermy et al. (1978) suggest that frost hollows give the required lowertemperatures in areas of higher rainfall. The old Forest records indicate it grew on wet ground on the exposed ridge,probably the most suitable site climatically.Lycopodiel/a inundata (Lycopodium inundatum). Marsh clubmoss.Crowborough Common, C. E. Britten; Near Forest Row, Miss Davenport; Broadstone Warren,E. Jenner; Chuck Hatch, 1848, J. Weaver; between Chelwood Gate and Pippingford, Miss K.Pickard (Wolley-Dod 1937). Chelwood, 1957, and suffering from horses hoofs, 1965 (BulletinKent Field Club 3: 9 and 11: 27). Tetrads 42P and 43F (Hall 1980). Three other populations3 known to FR have gone; south of Chuck Hatch (474.320)' last seen in the 1950s, north ofLondonderry Farm (444.293) and at Goat cross-roads (402.327) - the latter last seen in 1986(Briggs 1990).4 5 Still present from 1993 onwards in the classic site between Chelwood Gate andPippingford Park (42.30, tetrad 43F), with two big patches and three smaller ones all within 20metres where it has been known since at least 1950, E. C. Wallace. Like Huperzia and Lycopodium, the prostrate shootscan look like young Cal/una or Erica.Marsh clubmoss is a species of wet peaty areas on lowland heaths. It probably requires open ground created by alittle disturbance once provided by grazing animals or possibly peat cutting. The shoots creep along the ground at a rate of2-10 cm per year, and each branch shoot lives for a couple of years. It produces fertile shoots in late autumn (Headley1994). On Ashdown Forest it occurs on bare, brown, peaty patches where water lies in the winter. The shoots are readilyshaded out by Cal/una, Molinia and Erica tetralix and this is probably the reason it has gone from all of FR's sites so thepatches must be kept open to conserve it in its last site. An alternative technique is to transplant it, which has worked onHeyshott Common (Briggs 1990), and a few plants from the known site were transplanted c. 500 metres to the north westby the Rangers in 1995 in case of fire or trampling, but did not survive the 1995 drought; further transplants are planned.It is declining throughout lowland Britain and probably through much of its range in north-west Europe too. It is aNationally Scarce Species (Headley 1994), and has been recorded in 6410-km squares since 1970, and about twice thatnumber before 1970. The main strongholds are the Surrey and West Sussex heaths and the New and Woolmer Forests. Italso occurs in North America.Lycopodium clavatum. Stag's-horn clubmoss.On Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Ashdown Forest, N. J. Treut(er, 1886 (Arnold 1887). Crowborough 1899, A. G.Gregor (Wolley-Dod 1937). Ashdown Forest, 1895, K. Dixon (BTN). Reported from the west side of the Forest asluxuriant, "covering several yards of ground" (Clark 1903). Patch apparently spreading, probably near Chelwood, 1965(Bulletin Kent Field Club 11: 27). Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).Now probably extinct on the Forest. The last site was a small hidden quarry near Legsheath 1398.330), c. 1983, DS& CM, and it was also known about half-way down the old airstrip (42.30) where it was last recorded in c. 1976, S.Stuart.In the 1970s it was found in many new sites in the Weald especially on rides in Forestry plantations on the TunbridgeWells Sands (Briggs 1990), but it does not persist for long and by the 1 990s had declined again. Brewis, Bowman & Rose(1996) suggest that it needs some disturbance to persist. It generally occurs in acidic grassland, grassy heaths, openforesrty rides and sometimes rough woodland, and almost always on acidic soils; Jermy et al. (1978) note it occurs onslopes allowing surface water to flush through the vegetation. It is quite widespread in northern Britain, but is decreasingin England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is quite widespread in northern Europe but occurs in the mountains in the south.

29EQUISETACEAEEquisetum f/uviatile. Water horsetail.Six tetrads (Hall 1980).Recorded frequently from the wetter valleys south of Forest Row, at Old Lodge and in apond in the corner of Furnace Wood. Almost all localities are in ponds, often where there isother vegetation and bottoms choked with silt, or in gentle flushes in some of the springs.3 Many of the sites are shaded. It has been suggested to be particularly abundant in marl pitsbut this has not been confirmed.It is widespread in Britain from the rich ditch systems of Sussex grazing marshes such asPevensey Levels, to clear nutrient-poor lakes in Scotland. Jermy et al. (1978) note the ecology4 5is little understood. It is widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and North America.Equisetum x litorale (E. fluviatile x palustre). Shore horsetail.Ashdown Forest, c. 1955, R. A. Boniface (BRC). Not refound.Jermy et al. (1978) note that this hybrid is surprisingly frequent in Britain and Ireland given the dissimilarity of thehabitats of the parents. There is a distinct cluster of records in the north Weald which is probably due to the efforts of asingle recorder.Equisetum arvense. Field horsetail.Common in tetrads around the edges of the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded 'It quite widely in arable fields, gardens, waste ground around the edgesof the Flora area, and on roadsides on the Forest. It is distinctly uncommon on the Forest.Common and widespread in Britain, and recorded in Europe, central China, North America3 and Greenland.4 5Equisetum palustre. Marsh horsetail.Tetrads 33V, 43F and 431< (Hall 1980).Recorded from scattered squares around the edge of the Forest, and in the Chelwoodarea. Jermy et al. (1978) note that it requires moving ground water with a medium basecontent(calcium/magnesium), and it may occur where the soils are less acidic.3 -+-l---....-------Y- It is frequent in Sussex, and common and widespread in Britain, Europe, temperate Asiaand North America.4 5Equisetum telmateia. Great horsetail.Recorded from tetrads 42N, 43K, 43L, 43M and 43V in Hall (1980), some of which may have been from outside our area,but oddly not recorded at all during our survey. This species often occurs on wet clays in Sussex often by spring lineswhere there is some water seepage, a habitat not present in most of Hall's tetrads on the Forest. It is found locallythroughout Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.OPHIOGLOSSACEAEOphioglossum vulgatum. Adder's-tongue.Tetrads 43G (Hall 1980) and 42T (Briggs 1990), and refound in both.The main habitat on Ashdown Forest is on the more floristically-rich verges, clearly wherethere is some base-enrichment from the road, and some patches may be 5 metres long.Twyford Lane (404.314), 1995, CM; near Goat cross roads (402.325), 1993, TR & NM; Priory3 Road (405.328), c. 1993, CM; both sides of Hindleap Road (418.319), 1995, CM; A275 nearWych Cross Place (419.315), 1990, CM; thousands on private meadows and lawns, OldCherry Cottage (41.33 and 42.33), 1995, PS; Chelwood Vachery drive (435.304), 1993, TR &4 5 NM; east of the Visitor Centre (434.323), 1992, NM and 1995, CM; verge 30 metres NE ofcar park, Gills Lap (468.315),1995, TR; verge 100 metres west of Greenwood Gate(478.314), 1995, TR; Poundgate verge (482.285), 1995, CM, big colony, 1995, PS; two fronds, Toll Lane wood(461.263), 1993, TR & NM, not refound SUbsequently.This small, grass-green fern is very difficult to see, and is probably generally under-recorded (e.g. Briggs 1990 gaveabout twice as many records for Sussex as HaJl 1980). It is found most easily in April or May before the vegetation closesover, and the fronds have usually died down by the end of June or been mown.

30It is widespread but rarely common in England, but rarer in Wales and Scotland where it is predominantly coastal(Jermy et al. 1978), and it is also widespread in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.Botrychium lunaria. Moonwort.On the Forest between Fisher's Gate and Maresfield, on the open part of the Forest between Crowborough Warren and thenew church, and between Coleman's Hatch and Forest Row, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). These are the last records for theForest where it is probably long extinct.The records of Botrychium from acid heathland are initially somewhat surprising, as it is usually a calcicole of welldrainedsites in rich mountain grassland, limestone grassland and sand dunes. However, it does occur on calcareousheaths in the Breckland, and on acidic soils such as Witley Common in Surrey with heather, and also under bracken(Lousley 1976). It has certainly declined in south~east England and was last recorded in Sussex near Brighton in 1965 (Hall1980). Not seen in Kent since 1947, and only in three squares in Surrey recently.Widespread in northern Europe, and in the mountains in the south, and in Asia Minor, Himalaya and Australasia.OSMUNDACEAEOsmunda regalis. Royal fern.On Ashdown Forest (Forster 1816), )n some of the bogs on Ashdown Forest (Co)eman 1836),In the forests, rare, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Ashdown Forest but victim of vandalism (Pickard1930), Chuck Hatch, 1931, E, C, Wallace (Wolley-Dod 1937), Che(wood Gate (probablY42.30), two big clumps and several others scattered around, 1948, 1949, G. Dent (Dent 1928-3+H(-!""---'-+-1953), Chelwood Gate 1955, R, A, Boniface (BRC),Native plants occur in the following sites: on the side of a slit trench (422.308) and in adrainage gully (c, 423,305) east of the Isle of Thorns, 1991 +, CM & NM; one plant in a root4 5 plate by the path near Hoadley's Farm (506,324), 1994, TR et ai, which disappeared when theroot plate fell on it during the winter before it could produce spores; Broadstone Warren(42.33), CM, 1995. This last site is superb, with four large fertile clumps (one with fronds to 2 metres tall, and anotherepiphytic on the bole of an alder coppice) and about seven young plants in an open, flushed alder wood with beech fern.It has been taken frequently from the wild into gardens, and has probably re-established itself in the wild again fromspores. We have recorded it introduced in the following sites: planted in Chelwood Vachery around the bog pool(431,294), 1994, MR, PR & TR; one plant by a pond at Home Farm, Pippingford Park (443,304), 1993, PD & TR; severalclumps by a swimming pond, Northbank Wood (434,319), 1995, TR & PA where G, Dent regularly recorded it (Dent 1928-1953); planted around springs in Pheasantry (440.315 - not plotted) and present to at least 1986, M. Tebbutt; one bypond, Ridge Road (448,329), 1992 +, CM & NM; in the rockery at Oldlands Hall (476,275), 1995, PD et ai,Royal fern is one of those wonderful plants whose bright green foliage contrasts with the golden fertile fronds. In theWeald it tends to grow in valley bogs or damp woodland, and sometimes on the sand rocks, but is never now abundant,and Hall (1980) regards Ashdown Forest as the only native area in Sussex. Wolley-Dod (1937) gives 35 records but notesit was formerly more common, and Hall (1980) only gives half that number of tetrads including introduced sites.It is scattered through Britain mainly in areas with high rainfall, from sea cliffs in Cornwall to fens in East Anglia andbogs in the north and west, and even in a limestone crevice at an altitude of 400 metres on Ingleborough, Yorkshire. InIreland it is often abundant on abandoned peat cuttings. It is a western sub-Atlantic plant in Europe, and occurs widely inthe tropics, and North America.MARSILEACEAEPilularia globulifera. Pillwort.In a bog at Quarry Brook [Quabrook = a boggy place] on the right of the road from Hartfield to Forest Row, E. Jenner(Arnold 1887); this record is from what must have been an excellent boggy site, but is now drained. Ashdown Forestnear Nutley, 1957, R, A, Boniface (BRC),Pilu/aria is now probably extinct in Sussex. Wolley-Dod (1937) recorded 19 sites, and the sites at Horsham andPiltdown (Hall 1980) have gone. A more recent site near Crawley (Briggs 1990) was recently destroyed by landfill. It isnow a Nationally Scarce Species recorded in 162 10-km squares before 1970 compared to only 90 since 1970. Most ofthe decline occurred between 1918 and 1950 (Jermy 1994).Pilu/aria is a plant of lowland nutrient-poor pond and lake margins where there is some disturbance or bare ground. Itis a western European endemic, with the bulk of the sites occurring in lowland Britain, France, northern Germany andSweden. It is declining in much of mainland Europe. The New Forest is thought to support the largest concentration ofsites.HYMENOPHYLLACEAEHymenophyJ/um tunbrigense. Tunbridge filmy-fern.Furnace Wood, c. 1955, FR (tetrad 42T in Hall 1980), Thought lost due to tree felling but one patch refound 1975, M,Rickard, 1985, FR (also reported just outside the Flora area at Rock Wood on the opposite side of the valley to FurnaceWood, OS, but not seen recently).

One plant on a vertical, north-facing rock beneath an 80% canopy cover of birch,mountain ash and pine in replanted ancient woodland (47.26), 1993, RN et al. It survived thesevere summer drought of 1995 well as the rocks stayed damp through most of the summer.In 1994, one small part of the patch was peeling off and dy'lng, so it was transplanted to a3 -f-I--------'+_nearby ledge where it has subsequently grown and spread.Tunbridge filmy-fern was first found at Tunbridge Wells by G. Dare in the 1600s (hencethe name), and has been recorded in about 20 localities in south-east England. Most sites are4 5 concentrated in the Ardingly and Tunbridge Wells complexes of sand rocks in the north of theWeald, with Furnace Wood as an interesting outlier. In 1994/1995 a total of 77 patches werefound in 24 colonies in twelve sites (six of these have only one plant), and it was probably extinct in eight sites, a 68%decline in the number of colonies and 20% loss of sites since the 19505 (Rich, Richardson & Rose 1995). The decline isdue to a combination of loss of woodland cover, dense shade especially from rhododendron, and storm damage;historically, collecting and public pressure have also caused losses.Tunbridge filmy-fern is one of a number of western oceanic or Atlantic species most frequent on the west coasts ofBritain and Ireland which are also found in the mild, damp climate of the We aid in Sussex and Kent (e.g. Dryopteris aemula,Wah/enbergia hederacea; Rose 1952). It is characteristic of steep, porous sandstone rock faces usually surrounded bydeciduous woodland with a particular microclimate, and it often grows with Atlantic bryophytes. It occurs locally inwestern Europe and Macaronesia.POl YPODIACEAEPolypodium. Polypodies.British Po/ypodium is composed of three segregates forming a polyploid series with hybrids. P. cambricum has two sets ofchromosomes and has not been found. P. vulgare s.s., with four sets of chromosomes, and P. inter/ectum, with six sets,have been both recorded. The records have all been checked under a microscope; P. vulgare has 10-13 thick walled cellson the annulus, and P. interjectum 7-9. The hybrid between them has misformed spores and is reputed to be frequent.The old records - Ashdown Forest, 1895, T. Hilton IBTN). and all the records in Hall (19801 - are for the aggregate P.vulgare sensu lata.We have mapped both the aggregate and the two segregates. In the summer drought of 1995 many fronds did notproduce sporangia which prevented us from completing our research into the distribution of the segregates. However,from the data available the two segregates are about equal in frequency, and occur in similar places. They are most typicalof the banks of sunken lanes, as around Coleman's Hatch (45.33). P. vulgare s.s. has been recorded as an epiphyte onlyat Keyward's Wood (504.324), perhaps reflecting the lack of old woodland trees on the Forest. In southern England P.interjectum is reputed to require more hn!':e-rich substrates and be more shade tolerant, and is thought to be the morewidespread species (Stace 1991). The polypodies occur over most of Europe, the Far East, Macaronesia, eastern NorthAmerica and South Africa.31Polypod/urn s.l.Polypodiurn vu/gare s.s.PolypodyPo/ypodium inter/ectumIntermediate polypody3 -+h.-----'--+~3 -f-I--------'+_3 -+t------'--+~4 54 54 5DENNSTAEDTIACEAEPteridium aquilinum. Bracken.Ubiquitous on acidic soils in both Hall (19BO) and our survey, and consequently there are nospecific old botanical records but there are numerous social ones, including a 1274 referenceto it being used by the 'customary tenants' for fuel. Bracken was one of the main products ofthe Forest, with one of the ancient commoners' rights being to cut 'brakes and litter'. After 13August bracken was cut by hand by both men and women and taken off in carts as shown inthe picture in Glyn & Prendergast (1995). It was used locally for bedding for stock, litter forhens, manuring land and at Woodlands Nursery. It was also sent as far away as Hailsham(pers. comm. J. Waiters, 1995) and even to the London markets. Jenks (1967) notes it was4sold, though this may be illegal as commoners were supposed to use it themselves. In the1950s near Chelwood Gate it was cut by hand, left to dry and then taken in for bedding for pigs {M. Morley, pers. comm.1996(.

32In some areas of the Forest there are large, impenetrable stands of bracken which are a major fire risk. It has probablyincreased and spread into many heather areas due to reduced Gutting by commoners and lack of grazing by cattle. Itespecially takes over dry heath land after fires, new plants often establishing from spores at the foot of slopes where thesoils are temporarily enriched by ash. Similar increases have occurred on other commons in Sussex (Rose 1992) but not inthe New Forest (Tubbs 1986). Dense bracken has few other associated species, and the litter layer smothers other plantsattempting to grow beneath it. Some stands occur on richer soils by the roadside and may be mixed with Urtica dieica andGalium aparine. The soils are usually acidic and measurements of pH 3.5, 3.7, 3.9, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 have been obtainedfor six sites.There have been several trials to see how it can be controlled. About 40 hectares of the military training area weresprayed by helicopter with Asulox (Asulam), two applications giving a 90% kill. The effects on other plants were notrecorded, but some such as Rumex acetosa are known to be very sensitive (Asulam was formulated to control docks) andno large scale spraying is allowed on the Forest areas managed by the Conservators.Mowing when the fronds are first expanded and again about 3 weeks later for 6-8 years reduces it by about 95 %; thefinal 5 % can be cleared by hand application with Asulox. The areas revert to acidic grassland and are usually dominated byDeschampsia flexuosa.Scraping back down to the subsoil has been carried out since 1989, treating roughly one hectare a year. These areasare reseeded with heather litter and within 18 months become Cal/una-dominated heath. The bracken peat removed isused by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Wakehurst Place as a mulch for shrub borders, and to protect sensitive plants fromfrost (AFN 30:6); in autumn large piles can be seen waiting for collection from various car parks.Studies of bracken in Britain have shown that stands may consist of a number of genetically distinct clones whichdiffer in response to nutrient availability, frost and competition, and some clones as big as 390 metres long have beenreported (Sheffield et al. 1989). It is frost-sensitive and tends not to occur in frost pockets in valley bottoms; a sharp frostin May 1995 damaged many plants in hollows around the Forest. At the bottom of Millbrook, plants in the open werekilled by direct radiation frost, but those in woodland 10 metres away were unaffected.Probably one of the five most common plants in the world. Cosmopolitan through Europe (though rare in the Arctic) tovolcano tops in Kenya and to the Far East. In Japan young fronds are eaten as a delicacy although they are carcinogenic -there is little evidence that the spores are carcinogenic as has been widely reported in the popular press.THELYPTERIDACEAEThelypteris palustris (T. thelypteroidesj. Marsh fern.On the bog in Ashdown Forest where the road crosses the water on the way from Eridge Roadto Groombridge in abundance (Forster 1816), and 1846, W. W. Reeves, but not seen "in recentyears" (Wolley-Dod 1937); it is unclear if this locality is actually on Ashdown Forest as the3-++-----'--wordingis ambiguous. Near Newbridge, 1931, Miss K. Pickard, and 1937, A. H. Wolley-Dod.Still present (Hall 19801.4 5On a special hunt in 1994, we found one small c. 5 x 3 metres ± infertile patch in a verywet iron flush beside the stream at Newbridge, with Myosotis secunda, under dense shadefrom alder and willow. The iron flush has a slightly elevated pH c. 6.5 compared to c. pH 5.5elsewhere. Barely had we suggested that a couple of large, overhanging branches should beremoved to give it more light than the Rangers had obliged, and in 1995 five of the crowns had fertile fronds.Marsh Fern is a Nationally Scarce Species in Britain recorded in 85 10-km squares since 1970 (Jermy 1994). Itoccurs in reed swamp, fen carr, new peat cuttings and valley mires where there is a high winter water table. It is thoughtto be declining due to drainage of mires, possibly coupled with changes in fens to Sphagnum communities and acidification(Jermy 1994). It has declined in Sussex from Wolley-Dod's (1937) 13 sites to only three in the Sussex Plant At/as (Hall1980). It is more widespread in central and eastern Europe, across the northern hemisphere and tropical Africa.Phegopteris connectilis (Thelypteris phegopterisj. Beech fern.Boggy spot near Kidbrook Park Pales, E. Jenner (Forster 18421. Near Forest Row, F. V.Paxton, 1854 (Arnold 18871. "A note by W. W. Reeves says that about 1870 the fern was alltaken from the bog at Forest Row by a lady from Tunbridge Wells and has not reappearedsince" (Wolley-Dod 1937). Some plants further up the stream survived this act by 'Disgusting3-i-+~~------~+- of Tunbridge Wells', and a patch was subsequently found in the valley alder carr betweenHindleap Warren and Kidbrooke, 1948, R. A. Boniface. In some quantity at Kidbrooke4 5(416.3351 until at least c. 1970 (Rose 1995), the record given incorrectly in Hall (19801 forthe tetrad to the east. Also still persistent where introduced at Stand en outside the Flora area(Briggs 19901.The Kidbrooke site has been searched repeatedly since the 1970s (and annually 1993-19951 without success, andthere is no obvious reason for its disappearance as the large, damp alder woodland is still apparently suitable and has beenthe same for at least 50 years. In September 1995 a new colony was found by CM (his attention drawn to it by theOsmunda growing with it), probably the most exciting rediscovery of an "extinct" East Sussex plant during the Flora. Thecolony was c. 17 metres wide by 6 metres long with many patches, in a damp flush on private land to the east inBroadstone Warren. The plants were in a wet flush with Juncus acutiflorus, Sphagnum spp, Hydrocoty/e vulgaris and

Viola pa/ustris in an open alder coppice with about 50% canopy cover where some coppice stools were about 2.5 metresdiameter at the base. The fern was growing out in the open and had many healthy, fertile fronds.To those more used to seeing the plant in rocky woods, slopes and mountains in the north and west of Britain, thishabitat in wet alder flushes may be a bit surprising but all the Sussex localities are the same, and it may be the onlysituation in which it can survive the summer droughts in the south-east. Jermy et al. (1978) note it prefers humid bankswhere moving water can flush through its root system.Beech fern is yet another species more widely distributed on acidic substrates in the north and west (where it can befrequent), but very rare in the Weald, and not found elsewhere in the south-east. The other Sussex colony at Worth Foresthas not been refound recently (the woodland was coppiced, the ground Flora became over-grown with brambles and thefern disappeared), and now it is otherwise only known in the Weald near Haslemere, in Surrey.It is locally frequent on the continent where climate and substrates are suitable particularly in the mountains, althoughrare in the warm and dry lowlands in the west. Also found in Asia and North America.33~:!?

34Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadriva/ens. Maidenhair spleenwort.No tetrad records in Hall (1980), and onlv recorded bV us from the bridge near Braberrv Hatch(428.296), 1993 +, TR & EL; more than 12 plants on wall on drive to Horncastle House(392.322), 1995, DB. !The 33V tetrad record in Briggs (1990) was from outside our Floraarea).3 +f-a--------'+ Locally frequent and widespread in Sussex and much of Britain (commoner in the west),and widespread in Europe.4 5Asplenium ruta~muraria.3 -++------!...j-4 5Wall-rue.Tetrad 43H (Hall 1980).West of Lines Farm, four plants on Medwav bridge (442.349) and abundant in shadedcracks on old railwav bridge (442.347), 1995, TR; Fairwarp Church (466.268) on the east sideof the wall by the road, with four plants to the south of the gate, and twelve to the north,1995, TR; Nutlev Church (442.279), four plants to west of gate and twelve to east, 1995, PD.Probably the most characteristic wall fern in Britain, and in eastern England where naturalrock outcrops are rare, it is virtually restricted to them. Frequent and widespread in Sussexand much of Britain, and widespread in Europe, Asia and eastern North America.Ceterach officinarum. Rustyback.One plant on Brabies Gate Bridge at Braberrv Hatch (428.296), 1993, OK, where it has beenknown locally since at least 1980. Care has been taken to look after it during repointing workon the bridge.Uncommon in Sussex with more sites in West Sussex than East (Briggs 1990). Much3 commoner in western Britain than in the east where it usually occurs on calcareous substrates,but in the west is also found on other rocks. Markedly south-western in Europe, and alsofound eastwards to the Himalaya.45WOODSIACEAE* Onoclea sensibilis. Sensitive fern.This is the only non-native fern recorded in the Flora area, and a large patch was foundestablished on wet ground along the stream and by the pond in Maskett's Wood (428.285),where it was probably originally planted with other exotics. This is exactly the habitat in whichit is naturalized in a number of widely scattered localities in Britain. In its native habitat in3 North America and eastern Asia it also occurs on wet ground, either in woodland or sometimesin the open.It is called sensitive fern as it dies back after the first frosts.4 5Athyrium filix-femina. Lady-fern.Ashdown Forest, and 'var. rhaeticum' was noted from the great bog near Kidbrook Park Pales,E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Common on the Forests, W. B. Hemslev (Wollev-Dod 1937).Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have found it commonly along stream sides and in damp ground, but it is rarely found3in the open, and hence quite uncommon or absent on the higher ground squares in the eastside of the Forest. Also absent from the intensively farmed area south of Nutley.In Sussex it is locally abundant in the wooded areas in the north of the Weald on the4 5sandstones, and is notably absent from the chalk and clay. It is widespread in Britain and thewhole of the northern temperate zone, India, Java and South America.

35DRYOPTERIDACEAEPolystichum aculeatum.3 ++------'-1-4 5Hard shield-fern.Tetrads 42T and 43H (Hall 1980), the latter may be outside the Flora area.One plant in the sunken lane at Fairwarp 1474.267), pH 4.3, 1995, PD, the same tetradas Hall's 42T record.Its occurrence in Sussex predominantly on sandy soils noted by Hall (1980) and confirmedby our record and observations of it on sand rocks outside the Forest contrasts with its ecologyin Britain as a whole, where Jermy et al. (1978) note it requires a base-rich substrate, though itis certainly common on limestone and base-rich places in the north and west of Britain. It isquite widespread in Britain and western Europe, becoming rarer eastwards, also found in NorthAfr'lca and Asia.Polystichum setiferum. Soft shield-fern.Tetrads 33V, 42P, 43H and 43Z (Hall 1980).Our records are scattered around the edges of the Forest, where it either occurs as singleplants on the north side at the Plaw Wood stream (390.332) and on the track at Rystwood(437.343), or more locally frequent along river banks in the deeper shaded gullies around3 ++------'"'-/-- Fairwarp and the stream east of Black Hill. It also occurs in abundance on the west side of theA22 cutting at Nutley (442.283), a dangerous place to record it.Damp shaded stream sides on alluvial soils and sunken lanes are its usual habitat inSussex where it can be locally common, but surely not restricted to base-poor soils as4 5suggested by Jenny et al. (1978)?It is a southern sub-Atlantic species of south and west Europe and other temperate areas which reaches its northernlimit in Scotland. It occurs most frequently in south and west Britain where it is warm and wet in winter, and this mayexplain why it is commonest in our deeper wooded stream valleys and sunken lanes.Both Polystichum species were noted as increasing in England by the BSBI Monitoring Scheme (Rich & Woodruff1996) which may be due to relaxed cutting regimes in hedges (FR, pers. comm. 1990).Dryopteris filix-mas. Male-fern.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it from most squares except the high open areas on the east side ofthe Forest.It is one of the most common and widespread ferns in Sussex and Britain, with broad3ecological requirements, though most abundant in woods and often in hedges. It is commonand widespread in Europe, Asia, Madagascar and the Americas.4 5Dryapteris affinis (D. barreri). Scaly male-fern.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We recorded it less frequently than D. filix-mas, but it is none the less quite widespread especially on the poorer soilsin wooded areas in the middle of the Forest, and sometimes on the hedgebanks. It is abundant in woodlands on the westside of lakes in Pippingford Park, but more often occurs as a few plants scattered here and there. In Britain it is muchcommoner 'In the west, and is also quite western 'In distribution in Europe.D. affinis has arisen by hybridisation between D. filix-mas and the montane D. oreades, but reproduces from sporesproduced asexually so distinctive forms may be locally frequent. This fern is a taxonomic nightmare, and although threesubspecies are generally recognised there may be at least eight taxa in the group. Rob Cooke has determined all ourrecords for the subspecies, of which we have two: subsp. borreri is the commonest one and tends to occur on the morefertile soils, whilst subsp. affinis is much rarer and occurs on the more acidic soils. Subsp. cambrensis is western inBritain and is unlikely to occur here. The maps of the subspecies are obviously incomplete.Drvopteris affinis subsp. affinis subsp. borred3 +I-----"'--.;;,.j- 3 -t-Ic---------..-"'nl-4 5 4 5 4 5

36Dryopteris aemula. Hay~scented buckler-fern.Wood at Old Sands, Maresfield, R. A. Pryor (Wolley-Dod 1937), but probably not our area.Ghyll at Duddleswell (458.283) until dislodged by small boys sliding down the bank, 1950s,DS. Frequent on the Forest (Briggs 1990).Found almost always scattered as small isolated populations in the deeper ravines by3 streams. A typical place to find it on the Forest is on the lower half of a steep, north~facingbank in a shaded gully, on deep, damp soil, mixed with D. di/atata. The lighter green, crinklyfoliage which curls upwards and the deep purple stipe easily distinguish it at a glance once it is4 5 known, and the glands on the fronds are useful as confirmation with a lens. The hay scent ismuch stronger when plants are dried. The details of all our records are as follows: one plantby stream, Horneastle Wood (394.315), 1994, TR & DB (near an old FR site); six plants in ghyll, Hindleap Warren(411.328), 1994, TR; two sites in woods at Chelwood Corner (422.288 and 426.288), PH et aI., 1994; about 300 plantsIn top of ghyll in Pippingford Park 1438.309), 1995, Flora meeting; one young plant in ghyl!, Southbank Wood (432.315),1995, TR; seven plants on stream fork near old pond, Broadstone Warren (430.332), TR & NM, 1994 (an old DS/FR site);more than 70 plants in ghyll east of Duddleswell Manor (472.285), quite frequent in lightly shaded areas, 1995, TR & G.M. Kay; about 15 plants on side of cut drainage channel to pond, Five Hundred Acre Wood (488.332), 1995, PW; sevenplants on north-facing bank, Keyward's Wood (502.325), 1994, TR et al.FR has made a detailed study of this species in the Weald (Rose 1958), and now has details of over 120 sites. Thetwo critical factors affecting its distribution appear to be micro~climate and substrate. It most frequently occurs in steepsided,sheltered ghylls where the humidity is higher and the summer temperature lower than the surrounding ground, and isusually on north-east- or north-facing rocks and slopes though it may occur on south~facing slopes in very shelteredpositions. The soils are always well-drained but acidic (pH 5.0-5.5), on either massive sandstone or stony or rocky banks.It most often occurs under oak and beech, but will not tolerate dense shade from holly or yew, and is rarely found incoppiced woodlands probably because it cannot survive the periodic disturbance and high light intensity.It might be imagined that it would be a relict woodland plant, but the colonisation of drainage ditches indicates that itcan spread into new ground, and it has also been reported on relatively recent drainage ditches in the New Forest (FR, pers.eomm. 1992).Britain and Ireland hold most of the world population of this species, which is a very western, oceanic plant. It alsooccurs in the Canaries, Madeira and Azores, the north Spanish coast, and north-west and south-west France. The Wealdenpopulations are the most easterly in Europe, and it is locally more abundant here than in other parts of its range such asNorth Wales.Dryopteris carthusiana (D. spinulosa). Narrow buckler-fern.Ashdown Forest, W. Borrer (Arnold 1887). Ashdown Forest (BTN). Common in AshdownForest (Hall 1980).As one might expect of this plant of wet woods on acidic soils, most common in thevalley bottoms and in flushes, and sometimes locally abundant as at Newbridge. Itoccasionally occurs out on the open heath as near Poundgate.The erect growth form and boggy habitat of this fern distinguishes it from D. dilatata.Both species grow together at Newbridge in the alder woodlands but we have not looked for4 5 the hybrid which is supposed to be quite frequent where the parents meet.It is scattered in the Weald and is widespread in Britain. It is also quite widespread inNorth America and Europe but is rare in the south. Wet heath land and bogs are very typical habitats for it in westernBritain and Ireland.occurs in woodland, sometimes out in the open in wet boggy areas, and on roadside banks. It1995, a gall which causes the fronds to roll at the tips (possibly Dasineura filicina) wasDryopteris dilatata. Broad buckler-fern.Ashdown Forest, 1895, E. H. Farr (BTN). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).This species is probably the second most frequent fern on the Forest after bracken. Itis surprisingly absent from the Old Lodge square where it has been specifically looked for. Infrequent. Young plants have uniformly pale brown scales and could be mistaken for D.4 5carthusiana.Very common in the Weald but rare on the chalk, and quite western in distribution inEurope, and also in temperate Asia. Possibly increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).

37BLECHNACEAEBlechnum spicant. Hard-fern.On the forests, abundant, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Ashdown Forest, 1897, T. Hilton (BTN).Very luxuriant in Crowborough Warren (Done 1914). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Our records also show it is widespread but rare or absent from the clays along thesouthern edge of the Forest. This matches the pattern in Sussex where it is clearly shown to3be a calcifuge like Athyrium, avoiding the chalk and the pure Weald clay (Hall 1980).Common in western Britain and Europe and becoming rarer eastwards. It also occurs inMorocco, Japan and western North America.45GymnospermsForestry trees are widely planted around the edges of the Forest, but there seems little point in recording them exceptwhere they regenerate naturally from seed, usually in or by their plantations. The records we have are shown on the maps,but they have probably not been recorded as systematically as other species. Christmas trees are often planted out on theForest but they rarely survive for long.The only conifers of special note are the Sequoiadendron giganteum and Sequoia sempervirens planted in 1984 nearCripp's Manor (401.319), Goat Cross-roads (401.325) and Lavender Platt (401.334) on the Meridian Line which runsthrough the Forest; these were apparently chosen to contrast with the other trees when seen from the air (AFN 30:5).*Pseudotsuga menziesii.Douglas fir.* Tsuga heterophylla.Western hemlock~spruce.* Picea abies.Norway spruce.3 -++-----'-\--3 -++-----''"'-/-3 -++----"'---'-1-454 545*Larix decidua.European larch.*Larix x marschlinsii (L. x eurolepis).Hybrid larch.*Larix kaempferi.Japanese larch.3 -+-I~--"'--"""'r3 -+-1--""-----1-1-3 -+1-----'--1-4 54 545* Pinus nigra subsp. laricio.Corsican pine.*Chamaecyparis lawsoniana.Lawson's cypress.* Thuja plicata.Western red-cedar.3 -++-------'+-3 -++-------'-11-3 -+f-----'-l-4 54 54 5

38PINACEAE':-E!'!!!!.~~~f!!.:~~~~'in,.' Scotch fir,In William Raper's notebook 1878-1879, John Brooker, born 1806 near Coleman's Hatch, gavethe following evidence "When I was a boy there was a toll of full grown Scotch fir called theMount but with that exception there are no firs on the Forest. In after years tolls of youngScotch fir were planted on the Forest", Abundant on the Forests (Done 1914), Common onthe Forest (Hall 1980).Some of the hilltop clumps were (reputedly) planted in 1825 probably as landscapefeatures. The clump at Gills Lap, once composed of 63 or 64 trees, for many years was alsoknown as 'The Camel' because of the shape of its silhouette (AFN 29: 21). More clumps havebeen added recently. It is now virtually ubiquitous across the Forest and regenerating freely. There are often small grovesof saplings near the clumps and these may grow to become a serious problem for management if not controlled whilst theyare still small.Pines are often badly affected by fires, and are killed by the fiercer blazes. Many trees were lost in the Great Stormand the timber sold for building (AFN 15: 2-4). 'Scotch fir up to 5 ft' are sold from the Forest Centre as Christmas treesand do not lose their leaves until Easter (AFN 28: 5-6) - one 36 ft tree even starred in Siegfried at the Royal Opera House(AFN 28: 20-21). Some trees were also transplanted to beside the (ake at Hever Castle 12 miles away (AFN 18: 17).The trees are the European lowland race and not the native Scottish form. Crossbills sporadically nest in Scots pine inthe Forest, and eat the seeds from the cones. It is widespread in Europe and temperate Asia.CUPRESSACEAEJuniperus communis. Common juniper.On Ashdown Forest, very scarce (Coleman 1836). Not recorded since and probably extinct. Juniper was last seen in theAshdown Forest area on the southern edge of Stumblewood Common (outside the Flora area) by FR in 1945 but itprobably became extinct soon after and could not be found by FR and OS in the mid 19505. This Stumblewood Commonsite and 'Juniper Wood' west of Nutley were searched again in 1995 without success. One plant at Coleman's Hatchchurch is unlikely to be a descendant of the Forest junipers, as the church is quite recent.Junipers on lowland heaths have declined enormously in general in lowland Britain due to changes in land use. Ward(1973) recorded 26 extinct sites in Sussex and 50 post-1960 sites half of which had only ten or fewer bushes. There wereonly four extant sites in the Weald including one at Tunbridge Wells. They remain locally frequent on the South and NorthDowns but often clustered in small populations. They are sensitive to fire, and appear to have very particular requirementsfor seedling establishment.Widespread in Europe, though mainly in the mounta'lns in the south. Also in North Asia, North Africa, Himalaya andNorth America.TAXACEAETaxus baccata. Yew.Crow borough, 1790, T. Woolgar (Wolley-Dod 1937). "Common. Certainly indigenous onAshdown Forest" (Coleman 1836). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Yew trees are widely scattered around the Forest, and there are some quite large onesespecially on boundary banks. They are also found in hedges, for instance at Newbridge(456.325) and a yew hedge has recently been planted at the Forest Centre. Lower branchesunder two metres from the ground are regularly nibbled by deer, especially in the winter, andthere are noticeably few young trees in some places. The trees are usually separate sexes, anda count of 53 medium to large yews in Broadstone Warren in 1995 by PW found 20 (38%)with berries. The numbers of fruits varied enormously between trees, and fallen berriescarpeted the ground under some trees. The berries are elegantly known in Sussex as 'snotty gags' (Grigson 1955), andolder Forest residents have mentioned that as children they used to suck the fruits for the flesh and spit out the(poisonous) seeds. In Sussex there is a tradition that it is unluckY to fell yews. Some yew timber blown down in the 1987storm was sold for carving (AFN 15: 2-4). Yew Tree Farm and Yew Tree Hall take their name from the tree.The group of yews at Yew, the Duddleswell road junction (471.288), originates from the custom of planting three toindicate farms willing to accommodate overnight drovers and their cattle; two yews indicated accommodation for the menonly. One of the three yews blew down in the 1987 storm; the first replacement died during a dry spell, a second gotpulled up, a third was too spindly and fell over, and a fourth died in the 1995 drought (AFN 28:1).The churches around the Forest have planted yews, but none have the very ancient yews for which some churchyardssuch as Crowhurst in Sussex are famous. Alan Mitchell, the great authority on trees, suggested these were often presentbefore the churches were built. Yews simply seem to be present in churchyards for the tradition of winter greenery, andwere not planted for making long bows - the best staves were apparently imported from Spain or Italy.Scattered as a native in Britain and increasing possibly due to planting (Rich & Woodruff 1996), scattered in Europe,the M'lddle East, Himalaya and the mountains of North Africa.

39AngiospermsLAURACEAE* Laurus nobilis. Bay.] -++-~~~-----'-+-Seedlings were found on a path and verge outside a garden near a bush at Cackle Street(452.266), 1995, RN & ER.This widely used pot herb is occasionally established in the wild in sheltered locations inBritain. As a native it occurs on the limestone along the Mediterranean coast and possibly theAtlantic coasts of Portugal and Spain, and is often now confined to inaccessible rocky cliffs.4 5NYMPHAEACEAE*Nymphaea alba. White water-lily.Cackle Street, 1933, G. Dent (Dent 1928-1953). Tetrads 42U and 43K (Hall 1980).Probably native in some localities in Sussex, but our records are probably always of liliesplanted in ponds and lakes. Sometimes the flowers are pink, as at Braberry Hatch and many]-++-.....'"--'"--L.j-other locations, and sometimes white as at Mill Wood, the pond by Ridge Road, and Ellison'sPond. During the 1995 drought some ponds dried out leaving whole plants exposed on drying4 5mud; they seem to have survived quite well although a few were eaten by deer.The water in the ponds is often quite murky and dark, and the only other species to growwith it at all frequently is Potamogeton natans. The poor nutrient status of the ponds on theacidic soils probably also suits this species compared to Nuphar lutea, and indeed smallerNymphaea plants, sometimes distinguished as a separate subspecies, are widespread in the acidic poor waters of lochs andlochans in the north and west of Britain and Ireland.Widespread in Britain and Europe, though rare in the far north.Nuphar lutea. Yellow water-lily, Brandy bottle.Forest Row, Miss P. Stockdale (undated but c. 1910-1916; SEX). Still known in this area, withlarge patches possibly planted in a lake at Forest Row (421.347), 1995, TR, and probablynative as non-flowering submerged leaves in River Medway east of Forest Row (441.349),1995, TR & PA.] -++-~~~--'-+-This water-lily tends to occur in more nutrient-rich, calcareous waters than the whitewater-lily, and is often also found in deeper and running water. As well as the floating leavesit has submerged ones which are not best suited to muddy water, and its absence from the4 5Forest ponds may be due to their generally murky nutrient-poor water; it could also be absentbecause it has not been introduced.Common and widespread in Britain and Europe, though rare in the far north.CERATOPHYLLACEAECeratophyllum demersum. Rigid hornwort.Pond on the edge of the golf course at Forest Row (437.342), 1994; pond by Ridge Road(448.329), 1995; mucky pond by farm at Pricketts Hatch (443.270), 1995; north side ofpond at Ashdown Park (431.320), 1995, all found by TR with a grapnel.This species floats freely in the water just below the surface, and can occur in open3 conditions or lurk under dense mats of duckweed, as at Prickets Hatch, where it seems to bequite shade-tolerant, an unusual characteristic for a water plant. It often occurs in nutrientrich45water, and is often abundant in arable areas where there is high inorganic nitrogen in thewater, probably from fertiliser run-off (Goulder & Boatman 1971). The widespread increase ineutrophic water due to fertilisers may have resulted in an increase in this species in thelowlands.Occasional but probably under-recorded in Sussex (Briggs 1990 had about twice as many records as Hall 1980). Fewbotanists regularly carry a grapnel or are prepared to use it in smelly, dirty water, a potential habitat for both the hornwortand Weil's disease. Widespread in Britain, Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America,

40RANUNCULACEAECaltha palustris. Marsh-marigold, Kingcup.,---.. --===----.. , Recorded in six tetrads in Hall 11980),3 -++-. ... ----'_+_4 5We have it in seven 1-km squares most of which match Hall's except for two tetrads onthe west side of the Forest, and also introduced at Chelwood Vachery around the spring1432,297), It is mainly found in the alder woods around the edges of the Forest le,g,Newbridge) but it is surprisingly rare; one might have imagined that it would be frequent in thewet, acidic flushes around the Forest.Widespread in the Weald, Britain and Europe, but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). Also in temperate and arctic Asia, and North America.Anemone nemorosa. Wood anemone, Drops of snow.Quite widespread on the Forest, even in open situations on road verges and with brackenaway from woodland - the verges and banks on the 82026 around Fairwarp are lined withpatches, the white drifts most noticeable on sunny days in April. It may also be present in atleast some of the squares we have not had access to in the spring.Wolley-Dod (1937) notes that plants with lavender-co[oured flowers (var. caeru/ea DC.)were recorded by Talbot from Ashdown Forest. Occasional patches with blue-, pink- orpurple-f[ushed petals can now be found quite widely; blue-flowered plants were found by Goatcar park, RN (these went purple when driedL PR reported one very striking patch atShepherd's car park with magenta petals coloured on both sides (var. purpurea DC.) amongstnormal white patches, and var. purpurea was also seen in woodland south of Londonderry Farm (446.289), 1982, ER.Plants with flowers of both colours occur at Maskett's Wood. As plants spread to form patches by rhizomes under thesoil, sometimes different clones grow together and can be distinguished by the slightly different shapes of leaves.Wood anemones are shade-tolerating rather than shade-demanding, and will grow quite successfully in the open. Theygrow best on moist to wet soils where the air humidity is high, and this is why they are most frequently found in woodlandor shaded areas (Shirreffs 1985). Where the climate is dry they are almost confined to woodlands (e.g. Lincolnshire), butwhere it is damper they are less restricted (e.g. Derbyshire). They grow best on soils of a relatively heavy texture (e.g.clayey or silty), although they will tolerate a range of soil conditions. The suitability of both the damp climate and the siltysoils may help explain their frequency in the open on Ashdawn Forest.Although they contain a bitter poison, anemonin, which discourages grazing, they may have decreased since thedecline in grazing on the Forest due to the spread of bracken. They can tolerate light fires. The open conditions after the1987 storm caused some patches in woodland to flower better (AFN 15: 2-4).Common in Sussex (Hall 1980)' and widespread in Britain, Europe and western Asia.* Clematis vitalba. Traveller's-joy, Boy's bacca, Tom bacca, Old man, Old man's beard.Recorded in tetrad 33W and 43A in Hall 11980), but the latter is probably in 43B by Warrencar park where there is an old conspicuous plant on the north side of the road.We have six records mainly from hedges and urban areas where it has escaped from3 -++------'_+_cultivation, for instance hedge at Horncastle 1390.324), 1995, TR; Warren car park 1416,320),pH 6.8, 1993, TR; scrambling over trees in young woodland, Tompset's Bank 1425,339),4 51995, PW; verge opposite Quarry car park 1470,319), 1993, PW.In Sussex it is common and widespread on the chalk, with a few records from the Weald(Hall 1980). It is widespread on chalky soils in lowland England, Europe, the Caucasus andNorth Africa.Ranunculus acris. Meadow buttercup, Crowfoot, Goldcup, Kingcup.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980),We have recorded it widely on the Forest on verges and in meadows, especially indamper areas, but it is rarely abundant. It avoids the more acidic soils. It appears to bereasonably resistant to herbicides but is often reduced in frequency where they have beenapplied.It is widespread in Britain and temperate and arctic Eurasia.

41Ranunculus repens, Creeping buttercup, Crowfoot, Goldcup, Kingcup.Ubiquitous in Ashdown Forest. It is often found in the richer, disturbed places, and like R.acris avoids the acidic soils. The grassland plants often differ from the finer, smaller plantsfound in wet flushes in woodland around the Forest, and it is known to be a very variablespecies, even within populations (Coles 1977),Found throughout Europe and Asia,Ranunculus bulbosus. Bulbous buttercup, Crowfoot, Goldcup, Kingcup.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980), with many additional records from the Weald in Briggs(1990).Locally frequent on road verges and in unimproved meadows around the Forest, floweringjust before creeping buttercup and a slightly different colour; if in doubt the reflexed sepalsshould be distinctive (but see R. sardous). Also rarely found on rides and grassy areasamongst heather as near Stone Cottage, 1995, AK.It occurs throughout Europe and locally in western Asia and North Africa.4 5Ranunculus sardous (R. hirsutus). Hairy buttercup.Fisher's Gate (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrads 33W and 53B (Hall 1980). Tetrads 43H and 43W(Briggs 1990) and locally frequent on the moist Ashdown Sands.This species is quite characteristic of pastures on the clays and arable land in the MedwayValley, where it may be locally abundant. There were large populations near Friars Gate in3 -++---------'+- 1987/88, and in 1991 one horse-grazed field was a sea of yellow so it is presumably not eatenlike the other buttercups. Our records are mainly from the edge of the Medway valley, with oneplant on a verge near Gills Lap. It is rather like R. bulbosus with its reflexed sepals, but itflowers for a longer period, has more yellowy-green leaves and has a few tubercles on the4 5fruits (absent in R. bulbosusl.Most frequent in west and central Europe, also in western Asia and North Africa.Ranunculus sceleratus. Celery-leaved buttercup.Pond by road, Tile Barn Farm (477.335), 1993, MM (the 33W tetrad record in Hall 1980 maybe from outside our area).This species is very characteristic of damp mud on the edges of ponds, or sometimestrampled marshes in fields, and is beautifully adapted to its temporary habitat. It is a summer3 annual or less often a winter annual, and can even produce two generations in a field season.It can form a persistent seed bank, and germination is enhanced by fluctuating temperaturesand exposure to sunlight. The plants can flower and die within two months, some producing4 5 up to 56,000 seeds. The achenes adhere well to animals and birds, and can also float forseveral days to aid dispersal to nearby habitats (Grime, Hodgson & Hunt 1988).Widespread in Britain, Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.*Ranunculus lingua. Greater spearwort.--;--===-----,--, Around pond at spring at Chelwood Vachery (432.297), 1994, TR; one plant introduced withother aquatics to a pond on the golf course, Forest Row (437.342), found on 14 August 1995and destroyed when pond cleared out the following day, TR & PW; introduced by A. Morriss toPippingford Park under pontoon bridge (449.297) and at small pond (453.316), 1995, TR.3 -++-__....----'--1-This plant of water margins and pond edges is currently spreading in Britain (Rich &Woodruff 1996), presumably from plants thrown out of gardens. It is an uncommon native offens. It also occurs in Europe (rarer in the south) and in Asia.4 5

42Ranunculus f1ammula subsp. f1ammula. Lesser spearwort.Wet places in many habitats, common (Hall 1980).Quite common on wet rides, around ponds and in flushes in meadows and woodland, andoften where there are some nutrients, but not in eutrophic places. Exasperatingly absent froma number of the higher, drier squares such as Gills Lap to Kings Standing (we have looked).Able to tolerate ferrous iron and often in such flushes.Common in Britain and Europe, but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Italso occurs in temperate Asia and the Azores.Ranunculus ficaria. Lesser celandine.One of the earliest species to flower, and locally abundant on roadsides, in woodland, on stream banks, etc., the brightyellow flowers opening widely in sunshine. The mild winter and wet of 1994/5 was beneficial for its growth and therewere excellent displays in spring 1995. We have searched the Forest for it specially in March and April, and most of thesquares which lack records probably lack the plant, although we have not had access to all land at the right time of year.The leaves go yellow and are harder to find by end of May, and are usually gone by July.Widespread in Sussex, Britain and Europe. Sell (1994) distinguished four subspecies in Britain, of which three occur inour Flora area. They are best distinguished by flower size and the presence or absence of axillary bulbi Is (best seen afterflowering as they can be very small and overlooked before). We have attempted to map them wherever practical.i) Subsp. ficaria has small petals usually to 15 mm on the Forest (to 20 mm elsewhere) and lacks bulbi Is. It is widespreadaround the Forest and edges, often as scattered plants. Judging from the records it is about as common as the followingsubspecies.ii) Subsp. bulbi/ifer also has small petals usually to 11 mm and has bulbi Is in the leafaxils from which it regenerates, andoften forms large patches in woodlands, gardens and waste ground (e.g. behind the telephone box at Wych Cross,419.319). Most of the records are from around the edges of the Forest and in urban areas.iii) *Subsp. chrysocephalus has petals to 23 mm (flowers 47 mm diameter) and lacks bulbils. It was found on dumped soilnear the Half Moon (498.334), 1995, TR, the first record for Sussex, and it looked very big by comparison with the othertwo subspecies. It appears to be native in the east Mediterranean region, and could be widespread 'In British gardens,A double-flowered garden form (taxon unknown) was found dumped and established by School Lane, Nutley(443.280), 1995, TR & JK.Ranunculus ficaria Subsp. (!caria Subsp. bulbilifer Subsp. chrysocephalus3 -+~-.....----'L-J-j- 3 -++-----'-+-4 54 5Ranunculus hederaceus. Ivy-leaved crowfoot.Marden's Hill, E. D. Morgan (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrads 42T and 43K (Hall 1980).Alas, we have not refound this plant on the Forest, and it seems to be quite rare now in Sussex. It is a stronglywestern oceanic species occurring from southern Sweden to Spain, and is endemic to Europe.It can be distinguished from the following species by the leaves which are widest above the base and petals usuallyless than 4 mm (leaves widest at the base and petals usually more than 5 mm in R. omiophyllus). It usually grows insimilar wet muddy places, often where they are disturbed and open.Ranunculus omiophyllus (R. lenormandii). Round-leaved crowfoot.Nutley 1851, J. Weaver; Ashdown Forest, C. E. Salmon; near Crowborough, E. Ellman(Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrads 42J, 42N, 43A, 43L and 43R (Hall 1980).Shaded stream north-west of Cri pps Manor {398.3211, 1995, AK; Chelwood Gate area(41.29), 1995, MM; mud by stream near Ashdown Park (428.3191, 1993, TR & EL; three] -+i.;.--------'-+_ sites along the main stream Ii) shaded mud, Braberry Hatch (428.296), 1993, TR & EL, (ii)4 5Mill Wood (437.288), 1994, ER, RN et al. and (iii) alder wood Newbridge {455.3231, 1993, TR& PD; marshy pond in Toll Lane woodland (461.262), 1993, TR & NM where it has beenknown since 1983 AFRR; Duddleswell, shady stream by footbridge (467.283), 1995, RN &ER; Forest Row, recently cleared pond {436.3421, 1995, TR & PS.Our records are generally from mud in shaded habitats and possibly for good reason. Cook (1966) notes that inBritain its distribution follows the 8 cm August rainfall isohyet, and it is absent from much of the drier central and easternEngland; our shaded sites may be those which remain cool and damp enough for it in the summer. Elsewhere it occurs on

wet mud, small streams, ditches and ponds, often in temporary water, and in open and disturbed habitats (Webster 1988),It may grow in more base-poor, oligotrophic habitats than R, hederaceus in Britain, but overall the habitats of the twospecies overlap ICook 1966).The flowers are usually pollinated in bud before they open (Cook 1966), The flowering heads produce an average ofabout 38 achenes per head, which are either pushed down into the mud by the pedicel {as in R. hederaceusl or may bedispersed in water where they float for up to 3.5 days ISalisbury 19701.In Sussex it mainly occurs in 5t Leonard's and Ashdown Forests (Hall 1980). It has a very restricted distribution inwestern Europe, being reasonably widespread in western Britain and Ireland where it is very characteristic of rills andstream heads at moderate altitude (Rodwell 1991), western France (Brittany and Normandy)' Spain, Portugal, southern Italyand Sicily. It also occurs in the coastal mountains of Algeria.43Ranunculus peltatus. Pond water-crowfoot.Recorded in tetrad 43L in Hall 11980).The only water-crowfoot currently known in the Forest, occurring in ponds and also inrunning water in the stream from Pippingford Park, though we were unable to find it in thelakes themselves. It completely covered the pond at Wrens Warren 147.321 in 1995, PW, and3 -++_-'"-------'-+_ was reported to have been brought in by ducks. Plants from Boringwheel Mill Farm 145.261were recorded as R. aquatilis sensu lata, and probably also refer to this species.It occurs in shallow water and on drying mud, where the water levels fluctuate. Seedsgerminate in the autumn and plants flower from May onwards. It is often found in temporary4 5or disturbed habitats, but sometimes occurs in more permanent water. It is widespreadthroughout the lowland British Isles, but absent from much of Scotland and parts of Wales and Ireland. It is also found inmost of Europe and North Africa.The water-crowfoots are notoriously difficult to identify, and the best identification guide is Webster (1988). Thecharacters used to distinguish this species from the following are: the pedicel in fruit longer than the petiole of theopposing leaf, and petals 11-22 mm with a pear-shaped nectar pit (pedicel in fruit shorter than the petiole of the opposingleaf, and petals less than 10 mm with a circular nectar pit in R. aquatilis). If in doubt collect flowering/fruiting plants forverification.[Ranuncu/us aquatilis, common water-crowfoot, was recorded in tetrads 43K and 43L in Hall (1980), the latter recordedalso for R. pe/tatus. We have found no records during our work although it is more a plant of ponds, and assume that asthese species have been regularly confused in the past the records are in error; we would welcome voucher specimensdemonstrating otherwise!}Myosurus minimus. Mousetail.Formerly in great abundance in a cornfield near Wych Cross, Mr Turner (Deakin 1871). The same record in subsequentpublications reads "Formerly abundant at Wych Cross, E. Jenner" (Arnold 1907) and "formerly abundant in a cornfield atWych Cross, Furness in Flora of Tunbridge Wells" (Wolley-Dod 1937). We assume this site is to the east of Wych Cross inwhat is now the Ashdown Forest Farm, recently home to rare breeds but not rare plants. It is now very rare in EastSussex, and confined to south and west England but widespread in central and southern Europe, south-west Asia andNorth Africa.Mousetail is generally an annual of fertile broken ground which may be trampled and seasonally wet, and occurs in theedges of arable land, riverbanks, poached gateways and tracks. It is still found in the New Forest in this type of habitat,and could have occurred as a native in a similar habitat on Ashdown Forest too. It is somewhat salt-tolerant and evenoccurs on roadsides (it was found in abundance on the heavily salted Peterborough ring road in 1987, TR & DE). It issporadic in appearance, and appears to be declining, especially in its former arable sites (Chatters 1994).*Aquilegia vulgaris. Columbine, Two-faces-under-a-hat.Tetrad 33V IHall 1980), probably not in our area and not native.All our records are garden escapes which occur near gardens on dumped rubbish. Theflowers vary in colour from pink to white and purple, and none are the deep blue native form.As a native it seems widespread in chalk and limestone areas in England and Wales but3 never common. It is widespread in western Europe, where its taxonomy is more complex; acomparison of native and introduced plants might help clarify the status of many populations.4 5

44*Thalictrum aquilegiifolium. French meadow~rue.Planted with other garden plants near Smockfarthing (401.3191, 1994 but gone by 1995, TR.Widely grown in gardens in Britain, and sometimes established (e.g. since 1949 inTunbridge Wells; Clement & Foster 1994), A native of south~east Europe and stronglycontinental in distribution, and possibly not spreading successfully in our climate,3 -++--------'-_t_4 5BERBERIOACEAE*Berberis thunbergii. Thunberg's barberry.A Japanese native which is mass-planted on landscaping schemes and widely grown aroundgardens - the thorns are useful for keeping burglars out. We have three records all from nearhouses where it has probably been bird~sown and has flown the nest, but is well established.None of the native Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) has been found, and is now very rare in3 Sussex.4 5*Mahonia aquifolium. Oregon~grape.Old planting in hillside woodland with laurel near Old Lodge (45.29), 1995, TR; seedling onwall of old garden, Old lands Hall (47.27), 1995, PO et al.Widely grown in gardens and spreading into the wild, especially in south~east England.Native in western North America.3 -++-_-...--"-1--4 5PAPAVERACEAE*Papaver somniferum subsp. somniferum. Opium poppy.Tetrads 42N and 42T (Hall 1980).We have two records from dumped soil on a roadside at Poundgate (48.28) in 1994, anda casual on a track near New Pond Cottages (48.29) in 1995, both Flora Group meetings.It is widely established in Britain as a casual which does not persist for long, although it3 -I-t--------..LJ- does seed prolifically and can recur in subsequent years. It is increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996), and originates from Turkey. The ornamental garden plants produce verylittle latex of interest.4 5*Papaver rhoeas. Common poppy, Red~weed.Tetrad 42J (Hall 1980).We have five scattered records, mainly from dumped earth or newly disturbed roadverges as there is so little arable land in our Flora area.Poppies have made a resurgence in recent years due to set-aside land, and they can still3 -++--""""---'-+- turn some fields in Sussex red from long-dormant seed (e.g. Rich 1992).Common and widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa.4 5

45*Meconopsis cambrica. Welsh poppy.•] -++-----Y_4 5As a native this species occurs on moist, shady screes and rocky places, often under trees andusually on base-rich soils in hilly country in Wales and south-west England (Ellis 1994).However, it is also widely naturalized on roadsides, gardens, walls and waste groundelsewhere in Britain, especially in the west where the climate is damper. Paradoxically likemany other rare native plants, it fruits profusely and spreads in gardens, but does not seem tospread in the wild.We have recorded it mainly in the urban areas, especially Forest Row and Nutley where itis quite widespread in gardens. It is endemic to western Europe, and is rare in Wales, England,Ireland, central France and the Pyrenees and Spain, and introduced elsewhere.*Chelidonium majus. Greater celandine.Six tetrad records in Hall (1980), but we only have four 1-km square records. This speciesmay be native in Britain, but is strongly associated with habitation in Sussex and was formerlycultivated as a medicinal herb.Widespread in England and Wales, and in Europe and North Asia.] -++-----"-+-4 5*Eschscholzia californica. Californian poppy.A few plants on new rubble in gateway, Old Lodge {461.3091. TR, 1994 but gone by 1995.It is regularly found naturalized or thrown out of gardens in southern Britain. Native ofsouth-western North America, where for instance it grows on rocky shores.] -++----"'-~Y_4 5FUMARIACEAE*Pseudofumaria lutea (Corydalis lutea). Yellow corydalis.Tetrad 43V (Hall 1980).Recorded once in woodland just off Cackle Street {453.2631. 1995, RN & ER. It is alsonaturalized in Forest Row where it has been recorded since at least 1956 (BRC), but not yetrecorded outside gardens in our Flora area.3 It is widely grown in gardens and churchyards, and is naturalized on walls and in damp,calcareous places throughout Britain. Native in the foothills of the Italian Alps, but widelyintroduced in Europe.4 5Ceratocapnos claviculata subsp. claviculata (Corydalis claviculata). Climbing corydalis.One substantial colony in secondary woodland on woodland edge immediately south-east oftee on Royal Ashdown golf course (c. 434.343), 1987, PS. The plants grew up to about 1metre tall through the young scrub (by 1995 this had grown up quite markedly), and were]-++-----"-+-visible at some distance. The Forest Row locality is a long way from the few other EastSussex sites. In Sussex as a whole it is a rare plant, usually on acidic soils of the Lower4 5Greensand in West Sussex and on the Ashdown and Tunbridge Wells sands in the east.An unusual species in being one of the few woodland annuals, and it may be veryabundant in some years but virtually absent in others The seedlings germinate in the autumnand over-winter, usually flowering in May and often continuing into the autumn in wet years.It will tolerate quite dense shade but prefers more open patches and path edges. It also occurs on heath land with bluebellsand wood anemones under bracken. Where such sites are planted with conifers it may once again become very abundantafter clearance.

46In Europe it is endemic with a very western distribution and it is restricted to five main areas from Denmark tonorthern Spain.Fumaria bastardii. Tall ramping-fumitory.Nutley, S. Morris (Wolley-Dod 1937), but not seen again, This species is still widespread along the west coast of Britain in,gardens, fields, new road verges and disturbed soils (Pearman & Preston 1994), but appears to have gone from south-east:England where it may only have been a casual. It is also predominantly south-western in distribution in Europe.Fumaria muralis subsp. boraei. Common ramping-fumitory.Tetrad 42N (Hall 19801, and apparently a predominantly East Sussex plant. Hedge nearAshdown Hotel (427 .3431, 1986, PS.We have two post-1987 records; bank on north side of Clock House Lane, Nutley:(444.2781, 1994, PO & AK; disturbed soil in pasture (possibly from buried seed?), Forest Row'3 {436.3491, 1995, TR & PA.Very western oceanic distribution in Europe predominantly. in western Britain, France,Spain and Portugal.4 5Fumaria officinalis. Common fumitory, Earth smoke.Tetrads 42N and 53W (Hall 1980). Tetrad 43A, 1987, AI

47Ulmusx hollandica f?U. glabra x minor, and possibly with U. p/otii too). Dutch elm.One tree by road west of Old lands Farm (475.267), pH 7.3, 1995, TR & G. M. Kay. Theidentity of this tree is not certain, but it differs markedly from the local U. procera in havingbig leaves and is suckering along the hedgerow.] -++-----'-+--4 5Ulmus procera. English elm, Elven.Frequent on the south side of the Forest, and in 43L (Hall 1980).Small tree on east side of A22, Forest Row (424.349), 1994, RN & ER; frequent inHollybush Wood (441.270) - our only woodland record where it occurs in both squares withmany suckers, 1995, TR & PA; at entrance to Hunter's Farm (450.265) in hedges to west and] -\--I-~~-----'-+--- south-east in several places along the A22, 1994/5, TR; four small trees by A22 south of theWilliam IV (446.272); shaw near Boringwheel Mill Farm (453.263), 1995, TR; hedge east ofColeman's Hatch Church, including a large tree and many suckers (450.338), 1994, TR;hedge south of Holly Cottage (479.266), 1995, TR; un localized in 44.34, 1994, TR. The4 5elms near Nutley appear to be one clone, but they may be different from the clone atColeman's Hatch.English elm usually likes rich soils on clays, consequently it is not found on the Forest, and similarly is uncommon innorth-east Sussex (Hall 1980) where the soils are unsuitable. Common and widespread in Britain and Europe, and probablyendemic.For anyone interested in the history and ecology of elms, the chapter in Rackham (1986) is highly recommended.CANNABACEAE* Cannabis sativa. Cannabis.One plant 15 cm tall on A22 verge by lay-by at entrance to Pippingford Park (437.303)oblivious to the traffic but it did not last long, 1995, TR & PA. Odd patches are reputed to besown on the Forest but get eaten by rabbits.Originally from Asia, and notably casual in Britain.3 -++---"''---~'-+---4 5Humulus lupulus. Hop.The cultural importance of this plant cannot be over-emphasised. 'Hopped ale' or beer wasfirst brewed in England in the fifteenth century, and was initially regarded as adulterated. Itwas accepted when the resinous compounds in the hops helped to preserve the ale longer inwarm weather (Drummond & Wilbraham 1939). The hops were first imported from the3 continent, but by the sixteenth century hop gardens were well established in the High Wealdand even supplied the London markets (Warren & Alford 1994). The number of oast housesaround the county indicates the large areas devoted to hops, and some are still grown todayalthough the quantities have dropped dramatically due to imports. Weak beer, mead and cider4 5 were once essential as drinks, the brewing process purifying unclean water.There are eight tetrad records in Hall (1980), and we have also recorded it quite widely,mainly from road verges and hedges. The name "Cackle" Street may be derived from "cockle", a seventeenth century termfor a hop drying kiln. To judge from the oast houses still present in Nutley, Toll Lane and Fairwarp, hops were grownaround the southern edge of the Forest, and our records are presumably mainly from colonist plants rather than relicts ofcultivation (plants at Wych Cross reservoir and opposite 'Wood Reeves car park are female). As a native it probablyoccurred on rich alluvial soils along rivers, where it still occurs today. The native distribution in Britain and Europe has beenmuch obscured by planting, but it was probably widespread. It also occurs in western Asia and North America.

48URTICACEAEUrtica dioica. Common nettle, Stinging nettle, Naughty man's play thing.Ubiquitous in both Hall (1980) and our survey, but the maps do not reveal that 'It is largelyabsent from the heathy areas as it prefers rich soils with high phosphate and nitrogenconcentrations. The rich soils result in high nutrients in the plant which would make it highlypalatable were it not protected by the stinging hairs. Nonetheless many insects eat it, andpatches of nettles often provide shelter for other palatable herbs such as Galium aparine.Common and widespread in Britain, Europe and temperate Asia.Nettle pollen is a common cause of hay-fever late in the season, when its pollen is one of4 5the commonest in the air (Rich 1994b). Young plants have been blanched or eaten asspinach, and the leaves have been used as a herbal tea.Urtica urens. Small nettle.Five tetrad records in Hall (1980), but only recorded once at Wych Cross Nursery (420.320),1993, TR, where it wasn't supposed to be for sale!Small nettle is commonest on sandy soils, and probably has not persisted on the rather,moist, silty Ashdown soils, It is widespread but not common inland in Britain, and it is3 widespread in Europe.4 5*Soleirolia soleirolii. Mind-your-own-business.We have eight records from damp ditch sides or masonry, and also noted it introduced withsoil on the footpath across Broadstone Warren. It is quite well established in damp places onwalls, gardens and churchyards in south-west Britain and Ireland and is increasing (Rich &Woodruff 1996).3 As a native this is a rare endemic of a few islands in the west Mediterranean, though wetend to dismiss it without a second thought. It is rarely introduced elsewhere in Europe.4 5JUGLANDACEAE*Juglans regia. Walnut.3 -++-___ ----L+_Planted near Goat cross-roads (40.32), 1993, but not naturalized. Good fruit was set locallyin 1995.Scattered in Britain and increasing (Rich & Woodruff 1990). Native in south-east Europeand central Asia to China.4 5MYRICACEAE[Myrica gale. Bog-myrtle, Sweet willow, Sweet gale.Ingwersen (1951) noted" a few miles east on Ashdown Forest it was so plentiful that a whole hill has been called after it"Gale Hill". Gale Hill, with the years, has been corrupted into "Gallow's Hill", and people are apt to think that a gallowsonce stood there. That may be indeed, but gale leaves a sweeter memory".We have no idea as to the origin of Ingwersen's comment as Myrica has never been confirmed from the Forest. Wehave seen no trace of Gale Hill or Gallow's Hill, though the settlement at 413.307 was once called The Gale. The nearestMyrica records are "bogs of the Gaghl, Gaggle or Gargle Wood (388.339), which takes its name from the plant, retainingthe ancient guttural pronunciation" and "The Bottoms, May's Farm" (388.341) (Coleman 1836) just outside the Flora areabut both are long gone, and from Buckhurst Park, Withyham (tetrad 53L; Hall 1980). It is a rare plant in bogs where thereis some lateral water movement in south-east England, though frequent in the New Forest and locally dominant in the northand west. It mainly occurs in north-west Europe and North America.]

49FAGACEAEFagus sylvatica. Beech.Found in the Forest Row tetrad where it was missing in Hall (1980), and certainly missingfrom only one square in our survey where there are virtually no trees, 1995, AI

50*Quercus cerris. Turkey oak.Five tetrad records in Hall (1980), only one of which matches our records. We have recordedit mainly in the Pippingford Park - Old Lodge area as trees with occasional saplings, and asisolated trees elsewhere.It is widely planted for timber and grows rapidly. In some areas of Britain it is very4 5invasive and may be as common as the pedunculate oak, but does not appear to be spreadingsignificantly on the Forest. It is an introduced species in Britain, but occurs naturally fromsouthern Europe eastwards to Asia.Turkey oak is easily distinguished from the other oaks by the acorn cups which have longhairs or scales. The leaves are hairy and very variable, ranging from shaliowly to deeply lobed.It hybridises with pedunculate oak elsewhere in southern Britain, but hybrids have not yet been recorded in our area.No knopper galls (caused by the insect Andricus quercusalicis) have been noted in 1993-1995 on the Forest - theepidemic of the 1980s has come under control naturally by parasites and parasitoids (Q. cerris is the secondary host).*Quercus i/ex. Evergreen oak.One mature tree in woodland from Twyford area (394.311), 1995, DB but no seedlings noted.This species is native in southern Europe, especially on limestone, and is becoming naturalizedin similar places in Britain (e.g. Isle of Wig ht, Torquay). Fortunately it is frost sensitive andrarely invasive inland or on acidic soils and is unlikely to invade the Forest, though it is3 increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).4 5auercus petraea. Sessile oak.In wood between Hartfield and Forest Row, E. Forster IWolley·Dod 1937} but probablyoutside our area. Four tetrads in Hall (1980) but none match our records and surely overrecorded?3-+j----Y-The main population on the Forest occurs in the ghyll west of Duddleswell 1458.284},where it may be relict from the original woodland cover. There is also a record from near4 5Goat cross·roads, 1987, PW Iwhich could not be found in 1993·1995} and trees growoutside the Forest at Furnace Wood (473.262) where they are quite frequent and areregenerating. Elsewhere in Sussex it is scattered ar.rn.ss the Weald, generally on acidic soilsand in rocky woods.Sessile oak differs from pedunculate oak by having many shallow lobes on the leaves, and acorns on stalks usuallyless than 2 cm long. It is commonest in western Britain but is widespread on the Continent.auercus X rosacea (a. petraea x rabur). Hybrid oak.3 -1--1-----4-Hybrids between the pedunculate oak and the sessile oak have mixed characters from bothparents, and where to draw the line between them is a matter of opinion (see Rich & Rich1988). Good examples of hybrids have been recorded at Duddleswell with both parents(458.284), and the edge of Moulden Wood near Poundgate 1497.283}. Hybrids are wellknown in Britain and Europe, and may occur with or without parents.4 5Quercus rabur. Pedunculate oak.Ubiquitous in both Hall (1980) and our survey, and widespread in Britain and Europe. This isthe commonest oak on the Forest, and has leaves with 4-6 deep lobes on each side, and;acorns on stalks more than 2 cm long. It is also one of the commonest trees, often invadingheathland as well as being a natural component of the woodlands. It is very common in3Sussex, Britain and Europe .••Oak has probably always been an important product of the Forest - though its currentabundance is primarily due to the absence of grazing - and it was protected from the right of4 5 estovers. Oaks were widely used for charcoal for the blast furnaces (Coleman's Hatch mayrefer to 'cole', or charcoal) and were an important source of income and revenue on theForest (see AFN 22: 3-4 and 23: 5-7). Acorns, with beech mast, may have been important for pannage for pigs andpiglets, and they were collected to be fed to pigs by Mrs E. Vernon of Horney Common (pers. comm. to MR). Many largetrees were blown over during the 1987 storm when one third of the 1500 acres of high woodland was lost, and the timberwas sold for veneer and hardwood frames (AFN 15: 2-4). Some large trees may even have nests of wild bees.

A special large oak at Chuck Hatch, the Holy Oak {473.331}, sheltered open air chapel meetings in the early 1900s(AFN 22: 9). This used to be in a completely open area on the edge of the Forest, but is now surrounded by densewoodland. Oak Plat and Lone Oak Hall are local names.On 24 April 1995, a severe frost in an otherwise very mild spring caused many oaks to be frosted just as they werecoming into leaf and flower - those on slopes and on open areas seemed worst hit. Many trees were still brown a monthlater, but slowly recovered and put out new leaves which were very variable and quite uncharacteristic in shape, rangingfrom very deeply lobed to others reminiscent of Q. petraea (and indeed could have easily been recorded for it or the hybridin error). Similarly, acorn production in these frosted plants was very low in an otherwise excellent year for acornproduction (one frosted tree at Strood Green, West Sussex only produced one acorn, TR). Such frost damage is quitefrequent in some parts of Europe and causes the trees to grow slowly, giving a dense, hard, much~valued wood, but seemsquite rare in Britain.There are also other causes of leaf loss - for instance in about 1990, tortrix moths did a lot of damage to oaks on theForest, and defoliated some completely at Friar's Gate; under the trees it rained caterpillars {B. Hoath & A. Main, pers.comm. 1995}.51*Quercus rubra. Red oak.3 -+-h....----'--t-This oak is easily distinguished by the large leaves with long teeth, which turn a brilliant red inautumn. It occurs naturally in North America, and is widely planted in Britain, either forautumn colour, or as a broad-leaved forestry tree. The records we have are for planted treesaround ehelwood Vachery, the golf course at Forest Row, Wych Cross, Nutley, Fairwarp andFriar's Gate, but no seedlings or saplings have yet been reported. Increasing in England (Rich& Woodruff 1996).4 5BETULACEAEBetula. Birches."A heath, with here and there a few birch scrubs upon it, verily the most villainously ugly spot I ever saw in England",1822, W. Cobbett; some things do not change, but there is now more birch.Birch from the Forest used to be an important source of domestic and commercial fuel, one of the rights of estoverswhich is still exercised by a few commoners. Faggots were used for brick~making, and some even for making brooms.Broomyard still remains as a name in Forest Row, the yard still being in operation until well after the last war. Birchesfigure widely in names on and around the Forest - Birch Grove House, Birch Wood, Birchfield Farm, Great Birch Wood andThe Birches. In the 1990s, branches were cut by permit and woven into baskets and containers and examples were onshow at the Forest Centre. Arnold (1907) gives a recipe for birch wine made from the sap, which is still made locally andapparently is potent!The ecology of both birch species has been described by Atkinson (1992), They have broad climatic tolerance inBritain although in Europe B. pendula is more southerly and B. pubescens more northerly. In genera!, B. pendula occurs onlighter drier soils and B. pubescens on wetter ones, but both have a broad tolerance on Ashdown Forest (as in easternEngland) though B. pubescens is solely dominant on the wettest soils over Sphagnum and Molinia. On the Forest bothbirches are quick to colonise bare areas even on nutrient-poor soils (pHs measured were 2.3, 3.4 and 3.5) and regularlyneed to be cleared from the heathlands. They have regenerated particularly well after the storms, and there are manydense thickets with impenetrable stands of birch, especially associated with rushy flushes. However the trees areintolerant of shade and although growing rapidly are eventually overtaken by more shade-tolerant, slower growing speciessuch as oak, which in turn is replaced by beech.The two species can be told apart from the leaves, though both are quite variable (avoid leaves from suckers orshaded conditions). Betula pendula has quite triangular leaves with teeth on the teeth, and young twigs rough with manyresinous warts. Betula pubescens has hairy, more rounded leaves with single teeth, and often hairy twigs.Birches are the main cause of spring hayfever in people sensitive to tree pollen (Rich 1994b).Betula pendula Betula x aurata Betula pubescens3 3 -++...--__ -'--1-34 5 4 5 4 5

52Betula pendula. Silver birch.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980). We have recorded it in every square but it is not as frequent on the ground as B.pubescens. Common and widespread in Sussex, Britain, Europe Asia Minor and Morocco.The name pendula comes from the habit of the leading shoots of some trees drooping or pendulous to one side - howthen do the trees grow upright?Betula x aurata (B. pendula x pubescens). Hybrid birch.This hybrid has been recorded twice as intermediate plants, but these really require more detailed study and verificationfrom chromosome counts; they could be quite frequent.Betula pubescens subsp. pubescens. Downy birch.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980), Again we have recorded it from every square, and it is common and widespread onboth dry and wet soils on the Forest.Branches on quite a number of trees succumbed to the drought in 1995, and trees with dead leaves were quitefrequent.Common and widespread in Sussex, Britain, Europe and north-east Asia Minor.Alnus glutinosa. Alder.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread in the old woodland areas and along the main rivers but absent from thehigher and drier areas. This may be because although the seeds require high light conditionsfor germination, the seedlings are susceptible to drought so they only establish in damp, openplaces (McVean 1955). No evidence of the disease causing die back in the canopy of alder(BSBI News 68: 47) has been noticed up to 1995.The alder woodland at Newbridge is a superb if somewhat treacherous habitat, wherecoppice stools occur down an extensive set of iron flushes on the slope. The woodland hasmany unusual plants of restricted occurrence but the wood itself may be quite young (Plate2). Alder is one of the few trees deer do not eat, and the woodland may have colonised largely since the grazing wasremoved. A 20 year coppicing cycle is now being revived with superb results (AFN 27: 11-12).Alder is cut from the Forest for estovers by the commoners. It makes very good charcoal and may have been used tofuel the first British blast furnace at Newbridge (now only marked by a pond bay at 454.325). It was also the main sourceof charcoal for gunpowder (Howkins 1994).Common in Sussex, Britain, Europe, western Asia and North Africa.*Alnus cordata. Italian alder.One tree c. 7 metres tall on woodland edge south-east of Fairwarp Farm (473.265), possiblyplanted but in an odd place, TR, 1994.As a native this is a rare tree of Corsica, southern Italy and Albania, but is increasinglyplanted as a street tree or for landscaping in Britain.3 -t-+------'--f-45Carpinus betulus. Hornbeam.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded quite frequently but rarely in abundance around the Forest, sometimes asplanted trees, or in hedges as for instance at the entrance to Broadstone Warren, banks inPippingford Park, or the boundary bank on the south side of Chelwood Vachery. There is oldhorn beam coppice in the northern part of Furnace Wood, and the trees cast dense shade inwhich little grows.A continental species also recorded in Asia Minor which is accepted as a native in southeast4pollarded.5 England, and certainly typical of the acidic soils in the Weald. Hornbeam is very shadetolerant, and old understory coppice stools can grow to dominate the canopy. It can also beHornbeam is one of the strongest timbers, and it burns with the greatest heat and with the brightest flames (Howkins1994). The timber was highly valued and London was once encircled with hornbeam (Epping Forest, Ruislip andHoddesdon Woods are the only major areas to survive). Its charcoal was used in furnaces.

Cory/us avel/ana. Hazel.Recorded in 91 % of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980), and we have it in most of our squaresexcept a for few remote heathy areas. Also common and widespread in Britain, Europe andAsia Minor as it probably has been for the last 10,000 years. The name TNutley' ispresumably derived from hazel nuts.It occurs widely in hedges (sometimes the hedges were double-planted with hazel on oneside and hawthorn on the other) and also as an early colonist of heathland. It appears fairlycatholic in its soil requirements and will occur on some quite damp soils. Many plantssuffered badly in the drought in 1995 and the leaves curled and turned whitish beforedropping early in August.Hazels were once cut regularly in the woods around Nutley (e.g. Hollybush Wood) for bean poles by the locals, andthe bluebells used to flourish. Now that this no longer happens, the woods have become very over-grown and dark andthe bluebells have declined (J. Waiters pers. comm. 1995). The young wands were also used locally in the late 19thcentury and up to the 1980s as a base for Christmas wreaths, and also for constructing small baskets to contain primrosesor polyanthus in Sphagnum moss at Easter. Coppicing has been re-introduced to the woodland in Toll Lane with pleasingresults (AFN 22: 18-19 and 25: 4-6). Hazel has long been an important crop in the countryside and there are at least fourdozen ways in which the wood has been used (Howkins 1994).Observations of the nutters in Horney Common indicate that collecting nuts has declined with the local bus serviceover the last 25 years - nuts falling on the lanes are now more likely to be run over by cars than squirreled away in pocketson the way to the bus stop. 1992 and 1993 were average years for nuts, 1994 had a very poor crop, and 1995 was thebest year for many years.Hazel nuts are an important food source for wood mice and dormice (e.g. AFN 26: 17-18), though dormice were lastseen on the Forest in the 1980s.CHENOPODIACEAE*Chenopodium bonus-henricus. Good-King-Henry, Mercury goosefoot.Tetrad 42U (Hall 1980). Not found, and presumed extinct. This is an old pot herb which has fallen out of flavour, and isnow declining. It usually occurs around old farms and near buildings in nutrient-rich places.Widespread in Britain though now mainly in northern England, and probably native in central Europe and western Asia.*Chenopodium rubrum. Red goosefoot.Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered around the Forest. It is a classic nitrophile of nutrient-rich mud and dungheaps. It is also surprisingly frequent along the road verges beside the tarmac and someecotypes may be salt-tolerant. Seed production ranges from 5 to over 500,000 seeds anddepends on the size of the plant (Salisbury 1970).Widespread in Sussex, though oddly rare in the west (Hall 1980), and predominantlysouth-eastern in Britain. It is increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is also45 widespread in central Europe but rare in the north and south. Also in Asia and North America.~-------"53Chenopodium po/yspermum.4 5Many-seeded goosefoot.Frequent on the Forest, especially on the heavy soils (Hall 1980).This is the prettiest of the Chenopodium species on the Forest, with the dark greenleaves often edged in red, and a mixture of black, white, green and red in the inflorescence.Single plants occur scattered on waste ground and along road verges, and it is often found onwoodland rides. It is generally more frequent on the Weald Clay soils than the AshdownSands.In Britain mainly south-eastern in distribution from the Humber to the Severn, and only arare casual elsewhere. It is widespread in Europe and Asia.*Chenopodium ficifolium. Fig-leaved 900sefoot.Tetrad 43K (Hall 1980).We have many more records than HaiL but it rarely occurs as more than a few plants ata time in gardens, nurseries or on disturbed road verges. It has also been recordedoccasionally in the road gutters with other Chenopodium species.] -+-f'"-----'-+__ The Atlas of the British flora (Perring & Waiters 1990) shows a strongly clumped4 5distribution around London and in the Fens, but it has since either spread or is more widelyknown, having been overlooked due to its resemblance to C. album (Rich & Woodruff 1996).The oblong leaves with strong lobes are quite distinctive once seen, and the plant tends to begreen and not whitish or mealy. It is scattered across central Europe but does not seemcommon anywhere (possibly under-recorded there too), and in Asia and North Africa.

54*Chenopodium album. Fat-hen.Frequent along the road verges in the gutters, also as a garden and arable weed and in gateentrances.A variable plant with many forms which come true from seed. The seeds themselves arepolymorphic; when the days are long the seeds produced are black and dormant, and whenthe days are short they are brown and can germinate immediately (Grime et ai, 1988), Thismakes it a persistent weed which is very difficult to eliminate.Recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980), and ubiquitous in Britain, Europe,4 5 Asia and Africa.*Atriplex prostrata (A. hastata). Spear-leaved orache.Frequent around the Forest (Hall 19801.Often found growing in the edge of the grass at the margin of road verges, but less oftenin the gutters where the Chenopodium species occur. It frequently grows with the followingspecies, though not in equal abundance.3 Widespread in Britain but usually near the coast in the north. It may be a native speciesof coastal habitats. Widespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa.4 5*Atriplex patula. Common orache.Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.This species occurs on road edges, tracks, waste ground, in gardens and cultivated land,and in other disturbed places around the Forest.Widespread in Sussex, Britain, Europe, Asia and North Africa.4 5[*Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris. Sugar-beet.One plant on over-grown lawn, Hornc

plants in the autumn; we have not recorded it doing so during our work. It is likely to reappear in areas where there is soildisturbance, for instance on woodland rides.Montia fontana is very uncommon in Sussex but is widespread in Britain and temperate parts of the world, Thecommon name is a modern invention, but is appropriate because the plant is so small that one blink and you miss it!CARYOPHYLLACEAEArenaria serpyllifo/ia subsp. serpyllifolia. Thyme~leaved sandwort.Tetrad 43V (Hall 19801.We have three sites in the centre of the Forest but do not remember specific details ofany of them!It is a winter annual and requires open sites and relatively high levels of soil moisture. It] -++--I----'_+_ varies in abundance from year to year and is able to form a persistent seed bank.4 5Widespread in Sussex on calcareous soils and walls, but rare elsewhere and not on heavyor acidic soils. It is widespread in lowland Britain, Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa.A. serpyliifolia subsp. leptoelados has been reported in tetrads 43H and 43M (Hall 1980).It is probably over-recorded in Britain in general and requires confirmation from measurementsof the seed sizes (Rich & Rich 1988); it seems to be a plant of dry sandy ground in the Breckland, and TR has yet to seeconvincing material from anywhere else.Moehringia trinervia. Three-nerved sandwort.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Most frequent in old hedges and woodland, typically on damp soils on banks, but widelydistributed and with no strong distribution pattern.Unusually for a woodland species, it is an annual which tends to exploit the slightlybetter illuminated and warmer sites in woods, though it may get droughted if the sites are tooopen (Grime et al. 1988). It is often in disturbed, open places in secondary woodland, andcan form a persistent seed bank to exploit such temporary habitats. Leaf litter may prevent itbecoming established on the general woodland floor.Common in Sussex, and widespread in lowland Europe, western Asia and Siberia.Stellaria media sensu stricto. Common chickweed.This species is a nitrophile and weed, often in gardens, dung areas in pastures and on richalluvial soils on river banks. Most of our records are from roadsides or near habitation, and itis absent from the acidic, nutrient-poor areas.Arthur (1989) gives a Sussex folk remedy for rheumatism as crushed chickweed laid onas a poultice.Ubiquitous in Sussex in 98% of the tetrads (Hall 1980), widespread in Britain, Europeand the world.There are no records for the segregates S. neglecta and S. pa//ida, but both could occur;the former is a rare plant of damp woodlands and the latter a plant of open, dry grassland.Stellaria holostea. Greater stitchwort, Brandy snap, Easter flower, Miller's star, Snapper flower, Snowflake, Star-flower.,-,-:==:---,--, Frequent on the Forest on the richer soils. It occurs in the hedges, verges and hedge banksaround the Forest edges and in the older woodlands, but is absent from the heathy areas andthere are oddly few records in the Hindleap and Broadstone areas. Grime et al. (1988) notethat it is most abundant on moist, mildly acidic, moderately infertile soUs. Although it is3sometimes considered to be an ancient woodland indicator it does not tolerate deep shade.Recorded in Sussex in 90% of the tetrads (Hall 1980). Common in Britain butdecreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996), and widespread in Europe except in the north and south.45Also in North Africa and the Near East.55Stellaria graminea.Lesser stitchwort.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded from every square. It is mainly on road verges in the centre of the Forest butelsewhere the most characteristic habitat is in damp, unimproved pastures where it isfrequent.This species has flowers of two sizes which may confuse the uninitiated.flowers are hermaphrodite, and the smaller ones are wholly or partly male-sterile.summer of 1993, a smut fungus infecting the stamens was frequent.Widespread in Britain, Europe and Asia.The largerIn the wet

56SteJ/aria u/iginosa (5. a/sine), Bog stitchwort.Common on Ashdown Forest IHall 19801.On the Forest it occurs mainly on rides and tracks in damp, open places. Later in theseason when other vegetation has grown up it needs to be searched for under other plants.In Sussex it is very much a plant of wet, acidic soils. It is widespread in Britain, Europe,temperate Asia and North America.Cerastium fontanum. Common mouse~ear.Recorded in every square, where it can be found on grassland, verges, tracks, car parks anddisturbed areas.Recorded in 98% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980), widespread in Britain andcosmopolitan,It is a very variable species found throughout Europe. Three subspecies are now thoughtto occur in Britain; the four Ashdown Forest populations investigated have been subsp.vu/gare which has leaves hairy on both sides and the stem hairy all round, but subsp.h%steoides could also occur.* Cerastium glomeratum. Sticky mouse~ear.Common on the Forest IHal1 19801.Quite frequent in disturbed places such as gateways, road drains, car parks andcultivated ground, often on nutrient~rich soils. It is absent from shady and wet places.This species has increased markedly in Britain between the 1950s and the late 1980s,which may be due to herbicide-tolerant plants occurring in fertilised rye grass pastures (Rich &Woodruff 1990, 1996). It is widespread in Britain, Europe and temperate Asia.Myosoton aquaticum. Water chickweed.Tetrads 42P, 43V and 536 IHal1 1980).Marshy vegetation on lake side, Twyrord (394.312), 1994, DB; one plant on bank abovestream, Marden's Hill 149.321, 1987, PW & RW, and probably scattered along this stream butun"recorded as our locality is between two of Hall's tetrads.In Sussex it is usually a plant of damp, nutrient~rich places along the rivers and streams,often in shade and sometimes on stonework. It is widespread in lowland Britain and Europe.4 5Moenchia erecta. Upright chickweed, Starry chickweed.On Ashdown Forest (Coleman 18361. Ashdown Forest, 1892, E. H. Farr IBTNI. In dry places the rather rare little starrychickweed ... is likely to be found IPickard 19301.Probably extinct. Moenchia erecta normally occurs in very short grass on shallow soils and there is still plenty ofapparently suitable habitat on the Forest. However, because it is inconspicuous and flowers very early in the year, oftenbefore the end of April, it could be overlooked.It is very rare in the county with only three sites in East Sussex and one in West Sussex. It was formerly widespreadin southern Britain but is becoming rare inland except in central Wales and the New Forest. It appears to be declining, likeso many of its associates, due to the lack of open ground created by grazing (Chatters 1994). Also found in central andsouthern Europe.Sagina subulata. Heath pearlwort.In a warren on Ashdown Forest, on the east of the Stone Quarry above Kidbrook (Coleman 1836). Forest Row, W. Borrer(Hemsley 18751. Near Duddleswell, 1895, J. H. A. Jenner IWolley-Dod 19371. Probably extinct on the Forest, and lastrecorded in Sussex in c. 1931 (Hall 19801.This is an unusual species which likes stony or gravelly soils in open, disturbed places which are often at least dampin winter. Borrer's site is may be the same as Coleman's which is now beech woodland, and few likely places are left for itat Duddleswell. It is close to extinction on the inland heaths of southern England and has gone from Norfolk, but stilloccurs frequently in the New Forest and around the rocky coasts in the west and in uplands in Scotland. It has an oddpatchy distribution in western Europe.

Sagina procumbens. Procumbent pearlwort, Bird's-eye.Common on the Forest IHall 1980}.Recorded in all but two squares on the Forest, where it is typical of short, damp, opengrassland, lawns, car parks, and disturbed ground.Common and widespread in Sussex, Britain, Europe, Asia, North America and Greenland.3574 5Sagina apetala. Annual pearlwort.Common on the Forest IHall 1980}.We have it mainly on the west side of the Forest where it occurs on disturbed soils in carparks, where it may have been introduced with gravel, on tracks, and around the villages. Wehave recorded both subsp. apetala and subsp. erecta and agree with Hall (1980) that the3 latter is commoner, but have not looked at their distributions in detail.Widespread in Britain but mainly south-western in Europe, and also in western Asia.4 5Scleranthus annuus. Annual knawel.Forest Row, Miss P. Stockdale, 1910 IBEX; WolleY-Dod 1937}.Not refound on the forest, and probably declining in Sussex. It is most persistent on dry, open, light, sandy soils andmay not have liked our damp, silty soils.Scattered patchily through most of Britain on suitable acidic soils but decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996), thoughwidespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa.Spergula arvensis. Corn spurrey.Nine tetrads in Hall 11980}.We only have five records from open disturbed ground, and it does seem rare.It is a phenotypically and genetically variable species. In Britain the two main varietiesshow an interesting difference in distribution, which New & Herriott (1981) ascribe to3 -++-_.!IL.._--'"JLjdifferentgermination characteristics; plants examined from two sites on the Forest were var.arvensis which lacks papillae and is the commoner one in south-east England, whilst var.sativa which has papillae occurs more frequently in the north and west.Locally frequent on sandy soils in lowland Britain but decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996)4 5and widespread in Europe except around the Mediterranean. It is cosmopolitan indistribution and reportedly one of the world's worst weeds, especially in cereal crops.*Spergularia marina. Lesser sea-spurrey.One plant of this seaside plant was found on bare soil on the A22 verge at Kidbrooke Hill1418.335}, 1995, TR & PA.As a native it occurs on salt marshes and saline places around the coast of Britain andEurope and the temperate northern hemisphere. It also occurs scattered inland in England on3 -++-___...-..L+_road verges, presumably spreading with the use of de-icing salt. What is surprising is thatneither Danish scurvy-grass (Cochlearia danica) nor saltmarsh grass (Puccinellia distans) havebeen found on the Forest verges although we have looked for them; they are classic roadsidesalt plants which are now widespread on verges.4 5Spergularia rubr8. Sand-spurrey.Ashdown Forest, 1895, T. Hilton IBTN}.We only have three records; on cinders in car park, Isle of Thorns (418.303), 1995, Florameeting; track in Streeter's Rough 142.291, 1993, TR; Black Hill area 147.31}, 1994, SBRS.This is yet another annual which is more frequent on light, freely-drained sands, and it3 -f-.,......-----l...j- may not grow well on the siltier soils of Ashdown Forest.It is scattered through Britain and decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It occurs inEurope, Asia, North Africa and North America.4 5

58Lychnis flos-cuculi. Ragged Robin, Ragged Jack, Bachelor's buttons.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Usually found in damp or wet places in meadows, heathy grassland, on clayey rides andin open patches in woodland. In deep shade it flowers sparsely or not at all, and the hairless,narrow leaves are often a puzzle when found vegetatively.3 Widespread in Britain and Europe, but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).4 5*Lychnis chalcedonica. Maltese-cross.One clump with four fruiting stems just outside Lavender Platt (402.332), 1995, PW.This species is widely grown in gardens and occurs as a persistent escape elsewhere inBritain. It is native in eastern Europe.3 -++-----'-+-4 5Si/ene vulgaris. Bladder campion, Snappers.Tetrad 43F (Hall 1980).Entrance to Spring Garden (46.27), 1995, B. Hoath & A. Main, and apparently presentfor a long time before that.In Sussex widespread on the chalk and sometimes introduced with soils elsewhere,3 -++-----'-+__ possibly the origin of Hall's record. Widespread in Britain and Europe, but decreasing inEngland (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Also found in temperate Asia and North Africa.4 55i1ene latifolia (5. alba). White campion.Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980).We have three records, confirming its scarcity: Cold harbour Manor, bank by road andprobably introduced (399.326), 1995, TR; introduced with soil and mown, Goat car park(401.326), 1987-1995, PW; lane south of Nutley (44.26), 1993, MM. It is usually an annual3 --++_-----'4- of disturbed, open places such as arable field margins, but the plant at Goat car park seems to4 5be perennial perhaps due to mowing.Very common on the chalk in Sussex and occasional elsewhere (Hall 1980), but notreally a plant of the Forest. Widespread in Britain, Europe, western Asia and North Africa.5ilene dioica. Red campion, Bachelor's buttons.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Found mainly around the edge of the Forest, usually in nitrogen-rich, shaded places suchas river alluvium, old woodland edges and hedges. Usually the populations are small, but it isabundant on verge east of Fairwarp (473.266).It is relatively susceptible to frost damage, drought and waterlogging, and tends to occurin sheltered, open woodland (Baker 1947). Widespread in Britain and western Europe as wellas central Asia, North Africa and Greenland.We have not recorded any of the S. dioica x latifolia hybrid with pink flowers which is4 5usually quite widespread where the parents meet, probably because S. /atifo/ia is souncommon on the Forest. The two parent species are almost completely inter-fertile, and whilst S. latifolia is usuallypollinated by moths at night and S. dioica by bees during the day, there are enough other pollinators around to ensureregular gene flow between them; it seems that the species are maintained by the ecological differences, the hybrids beingneither properly suited to woods or fields (D. Goulson).

59*Saponaria officinalis. Soapwort, GiII~run~by~the~street.,---;---::==-----,----, By Chelwood Vachery (c. 433.3021, 1994 +, Flora meeting. During the 1995 drought, thepatch remained green all summer.This species was apparently once commonly cultivated near wool mills and the soapyextracts from its leaves and roots used for washing wool (hence the name). When the leaves3 -I-+--~----'-+-- are rubbed between hands they produce a soapy, green slime which needs washing off athome. The slime is formed by chemicals called saponins which are found in many plants andwhose natural function may be to provide resistance to fungal attack (Osbourn 1996).4 5Scattered in Sussex where it is a persistent garden escape on roadsides, etc.Widespread in lowland Britain, native in Europe but not in the north, and Asia.POLYGONACEAEThe definitive identification guide is the BSBI docks and knot weeds handbook (Lousley & Kent 1981), but the nomenclatureand sequence have been updated here.*Persicaria campanulata (Polygonum campanulatum). Lesser knotweed.Planted and spreading in Maskett's Wood (428.285), 1995, TR; established garden escapeoutside house at Isle of Thorns (417.3071, 1995, TR & PA; bank by garden at Nutley(445.276), 1995, AK; St John's area (50.321, 1994, Flora meeting.A native species of the Himalaya, originally introduced in about 1910 and now3 naturalized in Scotland and Ireland in damp shaded places. Semi~naturalized in England andWales and increasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It has dimorphic flowers which may accountfor lack of seed-set, and it spreads mainly vegetatively (Conolly 1977).4 5*Persicaria wallichii (Polygonum polystachyum). Himalayan knotweed.A275 near Wych Cross (41.31 I, 1988, PW and 1993, Flora meeting; naturalized by stream ondrive to Old lands Hall (478.277), 1995, TR +; naturalized outside garden, Campfields Rough(470.2801, 1995, ER & RN. Also reported in 1993 but not localised, from the A26 in thePoundgate - Heron's Ghyll area.3 --++-___---L+__The history and spread of this species in Britain has been documented by Conolly(1977). As the name implies it is native in the Himalaya, and well-naturalized in westernBritain. It usually spreads vegetatively from plantings or garden throw-outs; at some sites it4 5covers acres of ground and seems to do best where sheltered from frost. Rarely naturalized inSussex (Hall 1980), but certainly spreading in Britain (Rich & Woodruff 1996).*Persicaria bistorta (Polygonum bistorta). Common bistort.Tetrads 42E, 42N and 43L (Hall 1980).Recorded on a hedgebank, Horncastle (393.311), 1993 +, DB.Probably introduced in south-east England and usually found near houses on the sides ofditches, streams and in damp grassy places. In northern Britain it is often found in damp3 -I-+---------.J'+_ meadows where it could be native. Widespread in Middle Europe, especially in damper andupland areas, Asia and Japan.4 5*Persicaria amplexicaulis. Red bistort.Established garden escape outside house at Isle of Thorns (417.3071, 1995, TR & PA.This Himalayan species is widely grown in gardens. It is rarely naturalized in south-eastEngland but more widely so in the west of Britain and Ireland. It does not appear to set seedin Britain.3 -I-,""--------'+_4 5

60Persicaria amphibia (Po/ygonum amphibiumj. Amphibious bistort.Tetrads 43A and 43H IHall 19801.Surprisingly rare given the number of ponds with base-poor, medium-nutrient water, andonly recorded in 47.26, 1994, Flora meeting Idetails not recollected and possibly an error),One of the few truly amphibious plants in Britain, occurring in permanent water and on3 -++------'-+_ dry land though often not flowering in the latter case. Common in Britain and increasing (Rich& Woodruff 1996), and widespread in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.4 5Persicaria maculosa (Polygonum persicariaj. Redshank, Lover's pride.Frequent on roads ides especially in the gutters, on pond edges, in the villages, car parks andarable fields, etc., often on reasonably nutrient-rich soils. It is only occasionally found inwoodland rides and does not appear as shade-tolerant as P. hydropiper. Whilst most plantsexamined have lacked glands, a few with glands scattered on the pedicels were treated asthis species and not the next.Recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 19801. Common throughout lowlandBritain and Europe, and widespread elsewhere in the world as a weed.Persicaria lapathifolia (Polygonum lapathifolium). Pale persicaria.Common on the Forest IHall 19801.Possibly under-recorded on the Forest. This and P. maculosa frequently grow togetherbut the differences are not always immediately obvious; P. lapathifolia is certainly lesscommon. It is found on the edges of roads, in gardens and in arable fields. It was abundant3 --+.--------'_+_ at the organic farm at Plawhatch in 1995.Common in Sussex and lowland Britain, and possibly increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Probably more widespread in Europe than P. maculosa. Found in temperateregions of the northern hemisphere and in South Africa.4 5Persicaria hydropiper (Polygonum hydropiper). Water-pepper,Common on the Forest IHall 19801.Most typical of wet patches on shaded rides and often abundant on them. It is especiallyfrequent in damp muddy hollows where the soils are silty and compa~ted, and it is largelyabsent from the heathy, acidic soils. It has a persistent seed bank and 4% of the seeds maystill be viable after 50 years ISalisbury 19701.Young plants can be distinguished from P. maculosa, with which it may grow, by thepeppery taste as the English name hints.Common in Sussex, Britain, lowland Europe, temperate Asia snd North Africa.Persicaria minor (Polygonum minus). Small water-pepper.Near Rifle Butts, Forest Row, Miss P. Stockdale IBEX; Wolley-Dod 19371; this site was probably at about 425.337 andwas drained for the golf course.Probably extinct. This is a species of wet grassland, swamps and pond edges, often on nutrient-rich mud which driesout in summer (Mountford 1994). Plants produce both flat and trigonous seeds in varying proportions which differ in somegermination characteristics, though both germinate best in the spring and in the light (Salisbury 1970).Scattered thinly over the southern part of Britain and always scarce in Sussex, particularly so in the east. Quitewidespread in Europe except the extreme north and south and temperate Asia.Polygonum aviculare sensu stricto. Knotgrass, Armstrong.Quite frequent in car parks, on road edges, field edges and villages, but very uncommonanywhere else.Virtually ubiquitous in lowland Europe, and temperate Asia.P. aviculare s.s. and P. arenastrum have often been recorded as an aggregate in the past,but they are readily distinguished. P. aviculare is a sprawling plant with a variety of leaf sizes,and the fruit has three equal sides. P. arenastrum is a more compact plant with mainly equal,small leaves except at the tips of branches, and the fruits have two equal sides and a smaller,concave one.

61Dolygonum arenastrum. Equal-leaved knotgrass.Tetrad 43H (Hall 19801.Usually a plant of trampled areas, especially car parks and gateways.under-recorded, and certainly so in Sussex (Hall 1980).It is widespread in Britain but under-recorded, Asia and temperate Asia.Probably a little4 5*Fallopia japonica (Reynoutria japonica). Japanese knotweed.Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.We have widely recorded it from roads ides, waste ground and stream sides, and it seemsto be spreading. It produces little seed (none in two populations examined on the Forest) andspreads very effectively by roots and rhizomes, thus often introduced with soil on roads ides,or washed down rivers. Some patches now cover several hundred square metres.It is a vigorous species native in the lava fields in Japan and the Far East. Conolly(1977) has described its spread in Britain. It was first introduced as an ornamental gardenplant in 1825. It may be a little restricted by climate; it is affected by frost and possibly4 5 drought, but unfortunately usually recovers rapidly.This and Heracleum mantegazzianum are the two vascular plants that it is illegal to introduce into the wild yet it is stillincreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It can grow through tarmac, paving and stonework, and is a considerable nuisance onriver banks. Its shoots can grow 4 cm a day in the spring, and it rapidly swamps other vegetation. Once established it isdifficult to eradicate, and in areas with sensitive wildlife requires three good doses of glyphosate or 2,4~D. with follow-upspot treatment. It can also be controlled by regular cutting, or intensive grazing by sheep or goats.On the Forest war has been declared on Japanese knotweed and a control programme implemented. It is controlled inabout 16 sites by a combination of cutting and spraying. Small areas of young plants can be pulled out by hand, which islabour intensive but works well. as at the entrance to the Ashdown Forest Centre car park. On larger patches if newgrowth is caught early in the year, spraying with glyphosate and a wetting agent can be effective. Larger, taller patchesare first cut, and then sprayed when the regrowth is about 0.5 metres high, which is not only easier to do but the youngerfoliage absorbs the spray better. Absolute control can be achieved but requires effort over several years.*Fal/opia x bohemica (F. japonica x sachalinensis). Bohemian knotweed.Verge bank below a garden on the 82188 (509.3221, 1993, PW.This hybrid is becoming more widely recognised and recorded in Britain. It has oftenbeen mistaken as F. japonica; useful leaf outlines showing the consistently cordate leaf basesare given in Rich & Rich (19881.3 -++--------'-+-4 5*Fal/opia sachalinensis {Reynoutria sachalinensis}. Giant knotweed.Recorded in tetrad 33W (Hall 19801 but possibly outside our area.One large clump near the entrance to Posthorn Lane, Forest Row (435.347), 1993, TR;car park at St John's (504.315), 1991, PW, and hopefully eradicated by spray in 1994/5.Rarely established in Sussex where it has been thrown out of gardens or crept under the3 fences of its own accord, and most often naturalized now in wet places on stream banks.Probably first introduced from the Far East, as a fodder plant; it is now scattered throughoutlowland Britain (Conolly 1977).4 5

62*Fal/opia convolvulus (Polygonum convolvulus). Black-bindweed.Occasional in the Forest area (Hall 1980).We have a few scattered records from disturbed soils on verges, in gardens, orintroduced with imported soil as at Pippingford (444.302), 1993, TR & PD.Common in Sussex except on heavy soils. Widespread in Britain, Europe, temperate Asia3 -++------'''"----'-+__ and North Africa.4 5Rumex acetosella subsp. acetoseJ/a. Sheep's sorrel.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread and common on open rides, dry banks, disturbed ground and sometimes onlitter in heathland. The few plants checked have all had the fruiting perianth separated fromthe achenes and are subsp. acetosella; little is known about the distribution of subsp.pyrenaicus in which the perianth is not easily separated from the ripe achenes. On some ofthe sandy commons in West Sussex the leaves may be very narrow and in-rolled - theseplants have been called 1 R. tenuifolius' though this is now known to be a growth form on drysoils (see Rich & Rich 1988); on the wetter Ashdown Forest soils no narrow-leaved plantshave been seen.s species is dioecious, with male plants flowering earlier than female ones. The male plants also put moreresources into vegetative growth than female plants, and may be able to persist better in closed vegetation (Grime et al.1988). It has a good seed bank allowing it to recolonise after drought (Hintikka 1990L and young plants were veryabundant after the 1995 drought in many places on open soils, such as around Gills Lap (468.319).Common on acidic soils in Sussex, Britain and much of the world.Rumex acetosa subsp. acetosa. Common sorrel, Sorrow.Common in damp grassland, on rides and on verges.Recorded in 93% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread and common inSussex, Britain, Europe, temperate Asia, Japan, North America and Greenland.J4 5Rumex crisp us subsp. crispus. Curled dock.It is interesting to find that this species, one of the commonest angiosperms and mostwidespread plants around the world, is not common on Ashdown Forest although it has beenrecorded from over half of tr_e squares. It is mainly a nitrophile, so where it does occur on theForest it is found in disturbed places, grassland and villages.Recorded in 95 % of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Common and increasing in Britain(Rich & Woodruff 1996), and common in Europe and most of Africa.Rumex x pratensis (R. crispus x obtusifolius; R. acutus).Heron's Ghyll, near Fairwarp, A. H. Wolley-Dod (Wolley-Dod 1937).Recorded in the private meadow at Braberry Hatch (428.296), 1994, TR & DK with bothparents, but possibly present elsewhere and overlooked.It is supposed to be frequent in Britain.4 5

63Rumex conglomeratus. Clustered dock.Recorded in eight tetrads in Hall (1980).This dock is surprisingly rare on the Forest, and may historically have been be overrecordedfor R. sanguineus. It is mainly found in unimproved grassland.It is thought to be increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe3 -+-h..----""------'-+_ south of the Baltic, temperate Asia and North Africa.4 5Rumex sanguineus var. viridis. Wood dock.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Probably the commonest, most widespread dock on the Forest, along the edges ofwoodland, hedges, urban areas and car parks.Increasing and widespread in Britain (Rich & Woodruff 1996), and mainly western in3Europe, also south-west Asia and North Africa.4 5Rumex obtusifolius. Broad-leaved dock.Only unrecorded in one square on the Forest which is largely acidic heathland. It is generallysimilar in ecology to R. crispus.Recorded in 98% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996), widespread and common in Britain, Europe, temperate Asia, North Africa3and Japan.45CLUSIACEAE*Hypericum calycinum. Rose-af-Sharen.Tetrad 43Q (Hall 1980), not refound.Woodland north of Twyford car park (408.321), 1984-1994, DB.It has been widely grown in gardens in Britain since it was introduced in 1676, possibly3 +t------Yfroma single clone. It mainly propagates vegetatively and is probably established fromdumped garden rubbish rather than from seed. In Britain about one fiftieth of the natural seed4 5is set as it is self-incompatible, though more seed is set in hot summers (Salisbury 1963,1969a).Native in northern Turkey and south-east Bulgaria where it often occurs on shadyriverbanks and in the understory of oak and beech woods ..Hypericum androsaemum, Tutsan, Sweet amber, Titsum.Ashdown Forest (Whitwell 1902). In a wood leading from Forest Row to Wych Cross (Peters1935). Common on the Forest {Hall 1980).We have usually found one or two plants at each site, mainly in woodlands, with aconcentration of records on the north-facing slopes in the Hindleap and Broadstone areas.3 ---t--I'"...----'"l+_ Seed taken from a plant at St John's in 1991 is now a virulent weed in PW's garden in4 5Surrey, and it reproduces freely. It is often cultivated, and there may be a regular exchange ofseed between gardens and wild areas.In Britain it is common in suitable areas in the south and west and is especially frequentin the Weald and New Forest, with fewer records elsewhere which are often of gardenescapes. It is a strongly western plant in Europe reaching its most northerly limit in Scotland, and also occurring in southwestAsia to northern Iran and north-west Africa.

64*Hypericum x inodorum group. Tall tutsan.One large clump by footpath west of road, Chelwood Gate (412.299),1994, TR; dumpedgarden rubbish'near Stone Cottage (447.327), 1995, TR & PA; three places down stream inKeyward's Wood (c. 502.325), 1995, TR. Hall (1980) gives two records in Sussex.The variation is due mainly to the H. hircinum parent. They are occasionally naturalized3 as garden escapes throughout the country,4 5Hypericum perforatum. Perforate 8t John's~wort.Very common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread around the Forest on verges, on clays and in the· more base-rich places butquite absent from acidic heath. !t has a wide ecological amplitude, and occurs on a range ofsoil types in grassland, verges and waste ground, and in some very dry sites. Grime et al.(1988) note that its grassland distribution is biased towards burnt sites. Shoots grown in4 5strong sunlight are poisonous to stockWidespread in lowland Britain north to southern Scotland. Europe, temperate Asia andNorth Africa. A noxious weed in Australasia, South Africa, California, Iraq, etc.Hypericum x desetangsii (H. maculatum x perforatum).,---;---===-----;-, Ashdown Forest, 1983, BSBI Meeting (confirmed by N. K. B. Robson), seen again in 1984,DB, but not present in 1990.We have only one recent record; Forest Row (423.341), 1995, DB & PD, but it is alsoknown from the old railway line outside our survey area. Plants with two strong and two3 +t--------'4- weak ridges on the stems, and acute or apiculate sepals should be checked for this hybrid.Crackles (1990) notes that it is a very variable hybrid which may be widespread on railways.It is apparently rare in Sussex (Hall 1980), and is scattered through Britain. It is alsorecorded in Europe.4 5Hypericum maculatum subsp. obtusiusculum. Imperforate St John's-wort.Forest Row, Miss K. Pickard (Wolley-Ood 1937). Frequent on Ashdown Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it scattered around the Forest on verges, banks, etc., preferringmore acidic soils than H. perforatum. This species or its hybrid with H. perforatum is quitefrequent along the old railway line at Forest Row. Inflorescences from there are collected to3 make aromotherapy oil which is apparently good for treating aches and pains - the flowers45turn the oil a brilliant red.Frequent on the sands and clays in the north of East Sussex but rarer elsewhere. Thedistribution of this plant in Britain is oddly clustered in the Weald, central Wales and thewest Midlands, in northern England, and also in southern Ireland. It is widespread in lowlandandmontane Europe, with subsp. maculatum in Europe and as far east as western Siberia.Hypericum tetrapterum. Square-stalked St John's-wort.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widely scattered on the Forest, normally occurring only as a few plants. It is usuallyfound in the wetter grasslands or around ponds on clayey soils, and sometimes also onwoodland rides where it reappears after disturbance but slowly decreases in frequency as3 the rides grow over again.Widespread in lowland Britain, and in Europe east to the Caucasus and in North Africa.4 5

65Hypericum humifusum. Trailing S1 John's-wort.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 19801.Frequent and most characteristic of rides, especially in woodlands, where it may bevery abundant after disturbance from clearance or co pp icing . It was more frequent in thedry summer of 1995. Plants will flower in their first year, and the flowers open mid-morning3 and close mid-afternoon.Widespread in Britain but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), Widespreadin Europe south of the Baltic, and it occurs in North Africa.4 5Hypericum pulchrum. Slender 5t John's-wort.On the Forest (Firmin 18901. Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.We have found it in most of the squares. It is a calcifuge which often occurs in dryplaces on banks and hedgebanks, in woodland, on the dry banks of streams and in openheathy places. The flowers often change from yellow to orange-red as they get older, andcan be quite striking in co[our.Common in the Weald (Hall 1980) and widespread in lowland Britain but absent frommuch of the Mid[ands. Endemic to north-west Europe.Hypericum elodes. Marsh St John's-wort.Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). In a bog near Gills Lap, 1911 (Done 19141.Ashdown Forest, many observers (Wolley-Dod 19371. Chelwood Gate (42.30), 1955, R.Mackechnie & E. C. Wall ace (BRCI, Near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Bonilace (BRCI. Frequent onthe Forest (Hall 19801.] -++_-.,.""---4- Abundant round a lake at Smocklarthing (401.315), 1995, DB; one clump on dry4 5stream bank on golf course where it survives strimming (429.338), 1992 +, NM; flush ingrazing experiment, expanding after grazing reintroduced (445.297), 1992 +, NM; northeastof pond, Ridge Road (446.328), and also one large clump in pond on south side ofheavily shaded pond (447.328), 1995, PW; Lower Misbourne near where path crossesstream (456.277), 1994, RN & ER; several plants round edge of newly made pond in heath, Pippingford Park (454.305),1993, SBRS. Also recorded in a wet ditch west 01 Millbrook west car park (437.297), c. 1980, PO, but gone in 1994.In Sussex, this is much reduced in frequency since Wol[ey-Dod's (1937) flora. It is now mainly recorded onAshdown and St Leonard's Forests, and is very rare elsewhere. It is a typical heathland plant of boggy, wet places, andmay once have been more widespread on the Forest. It is tolerant of grazing and smells musty which may deter animals,and in the New Forest forms large sheets in boggy ground and ditches in heavily grazed areas. It is also surprisinglyshade-tolerant and can survive under trees as at the Ridge Road ponds. [n Britain and Europe it is strongly western indistribution possibly because of sensitivity to frost; aerial parts of plants in cultivation at Forest Row were badly hit inNovember 1995, though those under water survived well.The flowers open for one day only, opening mid-morning and closing at c. 5 p.m. The flower structure suggeststhat it should be se[f-incompatible as the structure is designed for out-breeding (N. K. B. Robson, pers. comm. 1995). Toinvestigate this, five flowers on one cultivated plant were se[fed and good seed was set in a[I, ripening about 6 weekslater. Also one isolated plant on the golf course at Forest Row was observed to be setting good seed in 1995. It isc[early self-compatible.It is endemic to western Europe, northwards to north-west Scotland and eastwards to Germany, [taly and extinct inAustria.TILlACEAE* Tilia platyphyllos. Large-leaved lime.Kidbrook by the Park pales (Jenner 18451; this record could reler to T. x vulgaris.Six trees of various s'lzes with a few seedlings with the'lr characteristic five-fingeredcotyledons on the edge 01 a ghyll in Southbank Wood (431.3141,1995, TR, probably plantedas part of Ashdown Park, This area of woodland is amongst the best in South bank Wood] -t-t------'-+_which is otherwise exceptionally dull, and the limes were growing over bracken with bluebellsand wood anemones. No limes are currently known at Kidbrooke.In Sussex this has now been recognised as native in the woodlands along the foot of the4 5 north-facing scarp of the South Downs where it was probably one of the canopy dominants inthe original woodlands. It is one of the rarest native trees in Britain, but has also been widelyplanted. Its ecology and conservation are discussed by Pigott (1981). It occurs in central and southern Europe north toBritain and south-west Sweden. [t also occurs in eastern Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus.

66*Tilia x vUlgaris. Lime.3 +f--------'-j-Five tetrads on the south side of the Forest, hardly naturalized (Hall 1980).Our trees are probably all planted near habitation, but only two match Hall's tetradrecords indicating it has been variably recorded by both his and our recorders. One saplingwas found in Forest Row (43.33), 1993, TR. We agree that it is not really naturalized.The hybrid has been widely planted in Britain and Europe since the middle ages (Pigott1991 ),4 5MALVACEAEMalva moschata. Musk~mallow.Five tetrads in Hall (1980),Scattered around the Forest on grassy verges, car parks (e.g. abundant at ChurlwDod,417.311), hedge banks and pastures. It avoids the more acidic soils, and is still frequent inunimproved grassy places in England, though decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Widespread but mainly western in Europe, and found in North Africa.It is a very pretty plant, and is sometimes grown in gardens. Hanbury (1917) grew a4 5locally-collected white-flowered form in his garden at Brockhurst, but we have not seenwhite musk-mallows on the Forest. He also noted that seeds collected from it gave somewhite- and some pink-flowered plants.Ma/va sy/vestris. Common mallow, Cheese plant.Four tetrads on the south side of the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it as scattered mainly around the edges of the Forest. If you havetime on a sunny day it is worth watching this species, as the leaves track the sun. Thesignal is detected in the pulvinus where the leaf joins the stalk, and movement seems to be3 initiated by the blue component of sunlight only.4 5Hall (1980) notes it is almost absent from the High Weald and the Wadhurst clay whichis interesting for a plant otherwise widespread in lowland Britain. It is widespread in Europesouth of the Baltic.*Ma/va neglecta. Dwarf mallow.Recorded once on introduced soil in Pippingford Park (444.302), 1993, SBRS.It is quite an uncommon plant in Sussex, and grows mainly on light soils. In Britain itoccurs mainly in the south-east, and is widespread in Europe except the north. Also foundin Asia and North Africa.J -++---''''--~---L+-4 5* Alcea rosea. Hollyhock.Recorded as a garden escape south of Nutley (44.26), 1994, TR, but scarcely naturalized.Occasionally naturalized in Britain. Its origin is obscure, but it may be from China.3 -++-~~~-----'--+-

67DROSERACEAEDrosera rotundifolia. Roundwleaved sundew.Bogs of Ashdown Forest, plentifully (Coleman 1836), On the bogs on Ashdown Forest,near Chuck Hatch and elsewhere (Done 1914), Boggy heathland, Ashdown Forest, 1970,• D, p, Young (BM), Abundant in bogs south of Forest Row, 1948, R, A, Boniface, Eleventetrads on the Forest (Hall 1980). Present on most ditch sides near Royal Ashdown golf3 course club house, colonising bare soil, 1987 + t PS.It was recorded from fifteen squares during recent survey work. In most of these itoccurs in several discrete patches, on bare ground in wet areas or amongst Sphagnummosses. Populations survive on some well-used paths and rides where there is a little4 5 disturbance. Some populations may well have been lost with habitat changes in recentyears. Valentine (1979) noted that sundews can reproduce vegetatively by adventitiousbuds which develop on the leaves in late summer and autumn.D. rotundifolia is frequent in the north and west of Britain. It is found elsewhere in Europe from Iceland andnorthern Scandinavia to northern Spain. It also occurs in temperate Asia, Japan, Greenland and North America. It isusually confined to areas with a high water table or high rainfall and humidity. It does not often occur in open pools, asD. intermedia can, but it is frequent at the edges of pools amongst bryophytes.Sundews are carnivorous plants. Invertebrates are attracted to the shiny glands at the ends of the tentacles on theleaves. They become stuck to the sticky secretions, and then trapped as first the tentacles and then the whole leaf foldtogether. The plants benefit from absorbing nutrients from their prey, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, which arelikely to be deficient in their soils. They can survive without catching any prey, but under experimental conditions feedingthem has shown increased biomass, number of leaves, seeds and weight of seeds (Crowder et al. 1990).Drosera intermedia (D. longifolia). Oblong-leaved sundew.• •] -++-''"-c..------'-+_4 5Near Forest Row (Cooper 1835), Bogs of Leg's Heath, Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836),Near Forest Row (Deakin 1871), Ashdown Forest near Nutley, M, R, Dixon, 1886 (Arnold1887), Ashdown Forest, 1894, H, Farr (BM), Bog near the rifle range, Forest Row, Miss p,Stockdale (a specimen in BEX is labelled East Grinstead, August 1911 but surely must relateto Forest Row); Quabrook Common between Hartfield and Forest Row, 1817, E. Forster,and seen by Wolley-Dod in 1937; between Pippingford Park and Chelwood, E, Ellman;between Chelwood and Nutley, E, H, Farr; bog north of Gills Lap, E, D, Morgan (Wolley-Dod1937). Frequent in bogs east of Broadstone Warren, 1948, and ncar Nutley, 1957, R. A.Boniface, Tetrads 42J, 42P, 43F and 43H (Hall 1 980),Trampled ride east of the Isle of Thorns with Rhynchospora (423,304), 1988, CM, and 1993 +, TR et ai, butdeclining as the area re-vegetated; ride in the grazing area (444.296), 1983 +, CM and still present 1994, TR & PA butthe site appears to be drying up in recent years; large population on small footpath leading west from the A22 on theslope below Millbrook west (438.294), 1983 +, CM but the path has grown over and there was no sign of it in 1995,but another population of 100 plants was found to the south with Rhynchospora (438.292), 1994, PW; Broadstone Trailnear the pile bridge with Rhynchospora (441.327), 1994, AK but only a single plant in 1995 declined for no obviousreason, NM & CM; bare soil on areas stripped of turf on practice range in 1987, and holding own in quite closed turf forseveral years, 100 metres south of golf course club house (431.341), still present in 1994, PS.Drosera intermedia appears to be declining on the Forest, possibly due to changes in management and trampling, orto changes in ground water levels. There is a fine balance between the level of trampling required to maintain thenecessary open patches and erosion which is too heavy. It has gone from the wet heath north of Goat car park(403,327), 1986, FR (Coleman's site) which is now more heavily used, This together with the loss of the Millbrook westsite shows just how important the balance of trampling pressure is for keeping sites open for this species.It is primarily a plant of sites which are flooded in winter and subject to drying out in summer, although it is alsowidespread in bog pools. The sites on the Forest which appear to have been lost recently were possibly relatively drycompared to typical habitats.D. intermedia is scattered and local in distribution in England and Wales, where its decline is blamed on drainage. Itis a more lowland plant than D. rotundifolia and D. anglica in Britain, reaching only 350 metres altitude in Scotland and335 metres in Ireland. It also has a more restricted European distribution, being absent from northern Scandinavia andrare in eastern Europe (Crowder et al. 1990). It also occurs in Asia Minor and North America.VIOLACEAE* Viola odorata. Sweet violet.Recorded in tetrad 42T in Hall (1980), probably as a garden escape, but not seen by us.It tends to grow best on more calcareous soils and may not persist on the acidic Forest soils. In southern Europe itoccurs in natural habitats such as alluvial woodlands and scrub but becomes less frequent in them in the north. It isclearly native in the Mediterranean and has been introduced as a medicinal and ornamental plant elsewhere.

68Viola riviniana. Common dog-violet.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).This is the commonest violet on the Forest, in hedges, woodland, road verges, banksand on tracks. It is also variable, as elsewhere in Britain. Good' V, riviniana' has quiteyellowish spurs to the flowers and there are some very good, distinct populations on theForest. Others have broad, purplish spurs; these are currently interpreted as hybrids with V.reichenbachiana, and some of the populations are mapped separately (see below), Plantswith pale bluish flowers occur on road verges immediately east of King's Standing.Cranfield transplanted 24 boxes of violets within his woods at Broadstone Farm to anarea with oaks as a food plant for the silver· washed fritillary (AFN 14: 14·17). The flowersare also regularly eaten by slugs and insects and small holes can be seen in the spurs where they have been robbed bybees. If there are few pollinators around during the main flowering period in the spring seed set would be very low, wereit not for seed production by the cleistogamous flowers which are produced all summer (Beattie 1969).Almost ubiquitous in Sussex and Britain. Widespread in Europe except in the south-east, and in North Africa.Viola x dubia (V. reichenbachiana x rivinianaj.Plants with purple spurs seen on Ashdown Forest were regarded as hybrids by JK in 1995,and differ from European V. riviniana; most were reasonably fertile. They are widespreadboth on and around the Forest (e.g. woodland at Toll Lane, Boringwheel Mill, Wych Cross,Parrock Lane), and may be quite widespread in Britain. Their interpretation depends on thespecies concept of V. riviniana, which seems to be broader in Britain than on the Continent.In Europe and Britain, the two parents tend to be partially ecologically separated, V.riviniana in the open and V. reichenbachiana in woodland though there is considerableoverlap in their ecological requirements. Where their habitats are fragmented they come into4 5contact regularly, and this may have resulted in extensive hybridisation.The parents overlap in flowering time, V. reichenbachiana usually coming into flower before V. riviniana, and thepollinators are not specific. Flowers of both species usually last about 7-14 days. Initially the flowers are designed forpollination by a few specific insects such as bees which can operate the pollination mechanism; they are attracted to thenectar which can half fill the spur. Later, the floral organs and the way that the pollen is presented change considerablyas the flowers age and the pollen can be transmitted between flowers by many generalist pollinators (Beattie 1969).Viola reichenbachiana. Early dog-violet.This species occurs in woodland on clay soils, as at the copse near Mudbrooks House1403.3391, pH 6.3, 1995, TR & PA, or the woodlands at Toll Lane (460.263· tetrad 42T inHall 1980), pH 6.5, 1993, TR & NM where it also occurs on the verges, and at FurnaceWood (47.26), 1994, TR & SR. It was also recorded in tetrad 42P in Hall (1980) which3 looks odd as there are no suitable soils.4 5It is widespread in woodlands 'In lowland Britain, Europe, Caucasus, Kashmir, Moroccoand Madeira.Viola seeds are dispersed either purely by ants attracted by a caruncle which providesfood, or by explosive ejection of the seeds followed by dispersal by ants (Beattie & Lyons1975). Seeds of most species such as V. riviniana and V. reichenbachiana are dispersed explosively first by the capsuleswhich split into three segments, and then may be carried further by ants. Only a few Eurasian species such as Violaodorata and V. hirta are dispersed purely by ants (possibly those of the genus Formica). The plants show variousadaptations of the capsules and seeds; those with ballistic dispersal have fruits held on erect peduncles and small, shinyseeds with a small caruncle. Capsules of species dispersed purely by ants tend to be held near the ground and have largeseeds with tough coats and a large caruncle as bait. Seeds of both groups germinate better when they have beengnawed by ants, but some seeds get eaten completely.[Viola canina. Heath dog-violet.Coleman (1836) recorded Viola flavicornis (a variety of "Viola canina" with deeply cordate leaves) from Ashdown Forest,but the exact identity of his plants is unknown.We await confirmation of the presence of V. canina on the Forest, including the unverified records for tetrads 43Land 43W in Hall (1980). True V. canina occurs nearby on Halt ye Common and possibly still on Chailey Common, and itmight be expected from Ashdown Forest. One possible plant occurred on a track at Wych Cross Place (418.316), 1987,PW & RW, but has not been refound.Plants need to be carefully checked, and some records may arise from non-experts assuming that "dog violets" areV. canina rather than the very common V. riviniana. Historically, both V. canina and V. riviniana were included in thesame species giving further potential for confusion.]

69Viola laetea. Pale dog-violet.This was collected in 1951 by John Lavender from a roadside in the Crow's Nest area on his way to meet Francis Rosebut has never been seen again, despite being searched for, It could have occurred on the less acidic verges with slightlybetter soils with plants such as Unum catharticum with which it occurs in the New Forest. Studies on V. /actea indicateit seems to require warmer, more open drier habitats than V. riviniana, and this may explain why it was so uncommon onAshdown Forest where the silty soils are just too wet.Hybridisation and over-growth is believed to have resulted in loss of populations at Chailey and Copthorne Commonsin Sussex (Hall 1980). It is tempting to suggest that the pale blue V. riviniana plants near King's Standing are relicthybrids, but no detailed studies have been carried out.Viola lactea is a Nationally Scarce Species and has been recorded in 71 1 O-km squares in Britain, evidently decliningdue to loss of open heath land especially in the east (Evans 1994; Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is now presumed extinct inSussex and has not been found recently despite searches of former sites. It is an extreme Atlantic species endemic inwestern Europe from North Wales and Ireland to Portugal. The former East Sussex sites were the most easterly.Viola palustris subsp. palustris. Marsh violet.Ashdown Forest, N. J. Treutler (Wolley-Dod 19371. Common on Ashdown and St Leonard'sForests but rare elsewhere in Sussex (Hall 1980).On the Forest it is most characteristic of wet woodlands, and at the bottom of longMolinia flushes often hidden between the bases of the tussocks. Nowhere is it common,and many populations have only a few plants. Flowers have only rarely been seen in Marchand April, but capsules from the cleistogamous flowers can be found through the summer.All plants checked were the glabrous subsp. palustris. The hairy subsp. juressi which ismore western in distribution in Britain might have been expected to occur as so many otherwestern plants do, but has not been recorded.Widespread in the north of Britain and Europe, the Moroccan mountains, Azores, Greenland and northern NorthAmerica.Viola arvensis. Field pansy.J -++---'''"-------'-_\_Introduced with soil in Pippingford Park (444.302), 1993, SBRS, and verge with weeds atentrance to Tile Lodge (467.3151, 1993, PW.It is locally common as an annual weed in arable fields in Sussex but it avoids acidicsoils (Hall 1980). Herbicide-resistant strains have evolved in some parts of Britain.Widespread in lowland Britain, Europe, Asia Minor, Iran, Iraq, North Africa and Madeira.4 5CUCURBITACEAEBryonia dioica. White bryony.Tetrad 43A (Hall 1980), possibly outside our area.We have one record from the Newnham area, probably Chillies Lane (49.281, 1994, RN& ER. It is a long-lived perennial which climbs up to the light through other vegetation and3 -J-_\_-------'--jtendsto occur in hedges, scrub and open woodland.In Sussex it is very common on the chalk and occasional elsewhere, sometimes onintroduced soils. It is widespread in lowland Britain on calcareous soils, and in much ofEurope except the north. It is also found in western Asia and North Africa.4 5 This is the only native member of the Marrow family. The fruits are red and poisonousto man.SALlCACEAE*Populus alba. White poplar.Planted at Chelwood Gate (41.291 and near Friar's Gate (49.33), but not naturalized.Scattered in Sussex (Hall 1980). Native in southern and eastern Europe, eastwardsacross most of Asia and in North Africa where it grows in woodlands, along rivers and on3 -+J..------'-+__lake sides.The timber is tough and fine-grained, and is an important industrial wood in the NearEast. In Britain it is mainly planted for ornament and landscaping, and one of the commonestcultivars has a twisting and leaning stem so that the whole crown leans to one side (Jobling4 5 19901.

70*Populus x canescens. Grey poplar.Between Millbrook and Old Lodge, S. Stewart, 1970s, not noted recently.Recorded in two squares and spreading by suckers, but not natural'lzed; Twyford{394.3111, 1994, DB; 48.29. 1995, Flora group.It grows on a wide range of soils including moist, heavy clays, and acidic or alkaline3 +-I-------,nsoilsprovided they remain moist during the summer. It is not tolerant of dry heathland soils{Jobling 19901.Scattered in Sussex {Hall 19801, and widely established in lowland Britain, possibly4 5 sometimes originating in situ where different sex trees of the parents grow in close proximity(Jobling 1990). It is also widespread across Europe and Western Asia.Popu/us (,emu/a. Aspen, Aps.Common on the Forest {Hall 19801.Our records are remarkably clustered, perhaps indicating colonisation of the Forest fromaround the edges; it is a palatable tree and would have been rare whilst the Forest wasgrazed. It readily invades open, acidic soils on the Forest, but rarely as a pioneer, and is3often found in the open edges of oak-birch woodlands. Once established, the tree produces4 5suckers which spread out from the parent plant with leaves which are a different shape andha·lry. It is not tolerant of shade and is rarely found in closed canopies.Widespread in Britain on acidic soils and damp clays, and it occurs throughout Europeand Asia.A small, easily-overlooked tree. The leaves fluttering in the wind can often be heard before it is seen. In the springthe male catkins look like big furry caterpillars. In autumn the leaves turn a brilliant yellow and can be easily spotted fromthe car.[*Populus nigra. Black poplar.There is one record of a Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica ') in 48.30, but it is not naturalized.No native black poplar (Populus nigra var. betulifolia) occurs in the flora area but four venerable spinsters can just beseen by the Medway at Forest Row, where they were first found by PS in 1986; one was lost during the 1987 storm.Poplar Farm is situated near Poundgate.]* Populus x canadensis (P. de/taides x nigra, P. x euramericana). Hybrid black-poplar.Tetrad 42P {Hall 19801.We have many records of planted trees. It cannot naturalize as all the plants are male!It is widely planted throughout Britain. The hybrids appear to have ori'ginated in Europeafter P. deltoides was introduced from North America, and there are now many cultivars3 +1'"----'"which we have not attempted to separate (see Jobling 1990, Stace 1991).4 5Sa/ix. Willows and Osiers.Our guide for identification of willows has been the excellent BSBI willows and poplars handbook by Meikle {19841.Most hybrids have been identified by TR who took a fairly broad view reflecting the variation seen in the field.Willows were taken from the Forest under the right of estovers and used for fuel.Willows have separate male and female trees, but we have not investigated the proportions of male and femaleplants for most species yet. The male catkins add splashes of yellow to the Forest in early spring but last for only a fewdays each.Salix fragilis. Crack willow.Occasional around the Forest {Hall 19801.We have recorded this tree quite widely, often planted near farms and ponds around theedges of the Forest, but it is not common. A few trees occur along the Medway, but ingeneral our rivers are too small to have the usual pollards along their banks.3 --++-___--~Kf_Widespread in Britain (where it is not shown as native in Atlas Florae Europaeae) andEurope through to western Siberia and Iran. Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).4 5

71* Salix alba. White willow.3 -+-t-----'-_t_Tetrads 43F, 43H, 43M and 53A (Hall 1980), probably mostly outside our flora area.We have only recorded it twice as single trees planted in Pippingford Park 448.312,SBRS and at 453.316, MM & ER, both 1995.Widespread in Britain and native in much of Europe east to central Asia.4 5*Salix x sepulcralis (S. alba x babylonica). Weeping willow group.One tree planted in Maskett's Wood with other introductions by pond (428.285), 1995,Flora meeting, but not weeping very much.Occasionally established in Britain, but probably not truly naturalized. It probablyoriginated in cultivation. S. baby/onica is native in China and does not survive well in our3 climate.4 5Salix triandra. Almond willow, French willow.Recorded in tetrad 42T in Hall (1980), possibly from around some of the ponds near Oldlands Hall or Marlpits at Fairwarp,but not refound.This willow is one of the main species used for basket-making. There is an excellent display of willow cultivars usedfor baskets at Wakehurst Place, which also describes the techniques used to produce different coloured twigs.It is scattered in lowland Britain and widespread in Europe, and also occurs in temperate Asia and Algeria.*Salix viminalis. Osier.Tetrads 42N and 43H (Hall 1980), but not refound (the latter record may be from outside our area along the old railwayline at Forest Row).Widespread in Britain and native in much of Europe to Himalaya and Japan. Increasing in England {Rich & Woodruff19961.Salix x sericans (S. caprea x viminalis). Broad~leaved osier.A young tree by the pond at Marlpits, Fairwarp (467.263), 1993, TR & NM, wasprovisionally identified as this, but it had been co pp iced and the twigs used to make a newfence when we went to double-check it in 1995. We will have to visit it again in a fewyears.3 -++------"'--1--It is a frequent hybrid willow in Britain and Ireland, and may arise spontaneously. It wasalso planted for coarse basket work (Meikle 1984).4 5Salix caprea subsp. caprea. Goat willow, Sally.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded by us in nearly every square where it typically occurs on the edges of heathsand scrub, and avoids the acidic podzols. At Broadstone Farm, 80% of the goat willowswere lost in the 1987 storm resulting in concern for the purple emperor butterflies whichfeed on Salix (AFN 14: 14-1 7), but they are still present.In Forest Row in 1995, a tree 10 metres tall produced thousands of seeds which wereshed with their fluffy down with green seeds into the drying wind over a period of aboutthree days in June, giving the impression of light snow. About two seeds were found persquare centimetre on open soils 20 metres down wind, about half of which germinatedimmediately (Sa/ix seeds are reputed to only live for a few days). Surprisingly, many grew well despite the drought, andby the end of July there were densities of about one per square centimetre, which then rapidly declined until only two orthree per square metre remained by the end of August.Widespread in Britain (increasing in England; Rich & Woodruff 1996) and in Europe east to central Asia.

72Salix x reichardtii (S. caprea x cinerea).This hybrid is either very common or very uncommon depending on which characters areused to identify the parents and therefore the hybrid. Plants with dark reddish~brown twigsand broad, softly hairy leaves as described by Meikle (1984) are quite widespread on theForest and were recorded by TR with enthusiasm in 1993, less so in 1994, and in a more3 perplexed state in 1995.It is probably very common in Britain, and is linked to both parents by a series ofintermediates IMeikle 1984).4 5Salix x capreo/a (5. aurita x caprea).One bush recorded in heathland area away from both parents at Old Lodge le. 468.306),1994, TR & DK, and another unconfirmed one on the lane to Chestnut Farm 1447.272),1994, TR.It is occasionally recorded in Britain where the parents meet.3 -++_---'"---L+_4 5Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia. Grey willow.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).We have recorded it in every square. It occurs on roadsides, on open heathland ondamp and dry soils, on woodland edges, around ponds and flushes, and in a few hedges.The rusty hairs under the leaves are more noticeable later in the season, and help distinguish3it from the other species.Salix cinerea is widespread in Britain and Europe, but subsp. oleifolia is a westernEuropean endemic restricted to Britain, Ireland, western France, Spain and Portugal (Meikle4 51984). It is one of the commonest willows in Britain and is increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996).Salix aurita. Eared willow.Ashdown Forest, 1901, T. Hilton IBTN). Principally on the slopes of Ashdown Forest IDone1914), Common on Ashdown Forest and on other wet heathy areas in the High Weald (Hall1980).This species is locally common in wet Molinia flushes and heathland around the Forest,though oddly rare in the Pippingford Park area. It has small, crinkled leaves which aretwisted to one side at the tip.Widespread in Britain, and in central and northern Europe.Salix x multinervis (5. aurita x cinerea).We have nine records for this hybrid, usually from where the parents occur together.It is probably widespread in Britain, and also occurs in Europe.4 5

73Salix repens var. repens (var. ericetorum), Creeping willow.Ashdown Forest, plentifullv (Coleman 18361. Forest Row, 1910, Miss P. Stockdale (BEXI.Plentiful on Ashdown Forest (Done 19141. Ashdown Forest, near Pound gate, A. H. WollevDad (Wollev-Dod 19371. Near Nutlev, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRCI. Common on AshdownForest, its main Sussex headquarters (Hall 1980).We have found it quite widely on rides, on open heath and on the golf course where itoften occurs in the roughs but not on the fairways as close mowing eliminates it. It flowersin March and April when the male catkins can be conspicuous, and then later, female plantsappear to be dabbed with cotton wool as the pods open to release the seeds in June.Widespread in Britain, and decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), Mainly inwestern Europe and thought by some to be endemic.Sa/ix >< amhigua (5. repens x aurita).This hybrid was noted by Parsons in Clark {1903L probably from the Forest. There are many bushes which at first sightappear to be this at Duddleswell (460.286), but on closer examination are probably all small S. aun'ta, and the hybridremains unconfirmed. Meikle (1984) suggests it may be quite widespread in Britain.BRASSICACEAESisymbrium officina/e. Hedge mustard.Eight tetrad records main IV from around the Forest (Hall 19801.Scattered around the Forest, rarely in quantity, often in the villages or on roads ides, butnot in hedges despite its name. It is common on disturbed, often nutrient-rich soils.Widespread in Sussex, Britain, Europe, the Near East and North Africa.3 --+-f'L-....... ---"--j-4 5Alliaria petio/ata. Garlic mustard, Jack-by-the-hedge.We have recorded it quite widely often in nutrient-rich, often damp places on roads ides,hedges, partly-shaded wood edges, and in the villages. It sometimes grows as a weed ingardens.Widespread in Sussex, Britain. Europe, Asia and North Africa. It may be increasing inthe countryside in general due to fertiliser drift from farm land.Arabidopsis thaliana. Thale cress.Eight tetrad records on the Forest (Hall 19801.Scattered around the Forest on dry roads ides, car parks and in urban areas, usually ondisturbed soils. It is an annual which flowers mainly in spring and early summer, but in thewet summer of 1993 a second generation flowered in late summer and autumn.Widespread in Sussex, Britain, Europe, Asia and East Africa.Erysimum cheiranthoides. Treacle mustard.Tetrad 42T (Hall 19801.Four plants on track at field edge north of Lines Farm (444.3481, 1995, TR et al. Theleaves are rough to the touch (like fine sand paper) due to the appressed hairs.This is an annual plant of light, sandy soils, mainly in eastern England and scattered3 --++-------'-+elsewhere. In Europe it is widespread except in the south. It also occurs in North Africa,northern Asia and North America.4 5

74*Hesperis matronalis. Dame's-violet.Scattered down the Medway near Forest Row for many years (e.g. tetrads 43H and 43M inHall 1980).Dumped soil on roadside at Marlpits corner, Fairwarp (467.265), one spike in 1994,two in 1995, B. Hoath & A. Main; garden escape near Lines Farm (44.34), 1993, TR & EL.3 -++----~'+- This species is now widely established in the countryside, often along rivers, and is',ncreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Eric Philp suggested that it increased4 5dramatically in Kent a few years after seeds were distributed with a women's magazine(pers. comm. 1987). It is probably native in southern Europe and Asia but is widelyintroduced.Barbarea vulgaris. Wintercress, Yellow rocket.Four tetrad records in Hall (1980).We have records from Warren car park (415.320), 1994, TR; banks of the Medway(44.34), 1995, TR & PA; and Poundgate/Training camp area (49.29), 1995, RN.Widespread in Britain on riverbanks (possibly the native habitat) and on waste ground.3-++----~- Widespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa.Wintercress and other cresses were once important parts of the winter diet ofpeasants in the sixteenth century when scurvy was a widespread, predominant disease4 5 (Drummond & Wilbraham 1939). The cultivated wintercress is now American wintercress(Barbarea vernal which tastes nicer.Barbarea intermedia. Medium-flowered wintercress.A few dwarf plants in closely grazed pasture near Greenwood Gate (482.305), 1995, TR,an odd habitat; Friar's Gate, a swath in a field of new grass (499.333), 1988, PW & RW.Rare and scattered in Sussex, often associated with construction works, andincreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Scattered throughout Britain, and native in3 -++-----''"L..J- southern and central Europe.4 5Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Nasturtium officina/e) agg. Watercress group.This aggregate is composed of Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum S.S., R. microphylla and the hybrid between them, R. xsterilis. It is difficult to identify non-fruiting material, and consequently most records are for the aggregate.Recorded in tetrads 42Z and 43R in Hall (1980), the former re-recorded.It makes good sandwiches to take on 'expotitions' on Ashdown Forest.Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticumagg.Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum s.s.Rorippa x sterilis3 -++----c~--'-+- 3 -++---""-----...L(- 3 -t-t------Lj-4 5 4 5 4 5Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Nasturtium officina/e) sensu stricto. Watercress.Confirmed from two squares, and probably the commonest taxon in wet places, ditches and on pond edges.Widespread in Sussex, Britain, Europe, western Asia and North Africa and widely cultivated throughout the world ..Most watercress cultivated in Britain is derived from American seed; the wild watercress is much more tasty than thecultivated plants, which like most things American are bigger and greener, and have no sense of culture.Rorippa x sterilis (R. microphylla x naslurtium-aquaticum). Hybrid watercress.Pond on edge of golf course at Forest Row (436.342), 1993, TR. The pond was dredged in 1995 and the plant wasmissing.Very scattered in Sussex and Britain but probably under-recorded, and sometimes also mis-identified for sterile formsof either parent. Widespread in Europe, and also cultivated throughout the world.

75*Rorippa sylvestris. Creeping yellow-cress.Tetrad 42Z (Hall 1980).Weed in imported soil, Pippingford Park (444.3031. 1993, TR; weed in vegetable patcharound old well, Fairwarp (469.268), PD & RN, 1995; weed in drive, Marsh Green(465.3331. 1994, PC, HP & Hazel Pollard.J ++------"'-------Lf- Scattered in Sussex and Britain. Native in Europe, and now widespread through theworld.A variable species, with two main chromosome races; tetraploids are probably thenative form on river banks, shingle and lake shores, whilst the larger more robust hexaploids4 5are widespread as persistent weeds,Armor8cia rusticana. Horse-radish.Four tetrads in Hall 11980).We have recorded it three times probably where it persists as a garden escape. Thegrated root is used for horse-radish sauce - beware of fresh material which is considerablymore potent than the processed versions!J ++-------'-1- Widely introduced in Sussex and lowland Britain and possibly native in south-eastEurope and western Asia. It is largely sterile and spreads vegetatively.4 5Cardamine amara. large bittercress.,---,---------';-, Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980).J -++--..... :---'-+-4 5Widespread and locally abundant, as for instance at Newbridge bog where a typicalplace to find it is around the edge of an iron flush or on the stream bank.It can be confused with C. pratensis but has blackish-purple anthers, and the stemstend to creep and root at the nodes to form small patches. It is rarely fertile {possibly as it isself-incompatible), and the fruits that were seen at Newbridge in 1995 were predated byinsect larvae. Plants at Friars Gate were also found in fruit, PW,It is occasional in the Weald, and is remarkably rare south-west of a line fromPortsmouth to Liverpool and in north-west Scotland. It is widespread in Europe."C:.:a"r.::d::;-8:..:m:..:i::n::e=p::r::8:=-te::n",s::,.::·s,-.-,C:;""c:.:;koo-flower, lady's smock, Milkmaids.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded in most squares, though absent from the more acidic parts and heathland.Locally frequent in old woodland and meadows, probably as different genotypes. A veryvariable plant in Britain and Europe where it is widespread. It also occurs in northern Asiaand North America.4 5Cardamine x fringsii (C. flexuosa x pratensis, C. x haussknechtiana). Bevan's bittercress.One plant with very pale pink flowers was found by DB with both parents in 1994 atHorneastle Wood (394.315), but did not persist into 1995.This hybrid may be quite overlooked in Britain - plants of C, pratensis with small flowerswhich may be pale pinkish-purple or white should be examined carefully and compared with3 local populations of both parents. It appears to originate from local populations where theparents meet (e.g. Bevan & Rich 1991).4 5

76Cardamine flexuosa. Wavy bittercress.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it in every square in its typical habitats. It is common in open, damp,shady places such as riverbanks and shady flushes in Britain, and as a garden weed especiallyin the north and west. It is increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996) and is widespreadin Europe and across Asia.It probably arose as a hybrid between C. impatiens and C. hirsuta, and consequently isdifficult to tell from the latter which also occurs on the Forest. C. flexuosa has flowers withusually six stamens, hairy stems and four or more stem leaves. C. hirsuta usually has mostflowers with four stamens, glabrous stems and 1 ~4 stem leaves.Cardamine hirsuta. Hairy bittercress, Hairy-leaved Lady's smock.~---------_ Frequent on the south~east side of the Forest (Hall 1980).This species is much less frequent than C. flexuosa on the Forest and may have been alittle over~recorded, but after the 1995 drought plants appeared in many places on verges andbanks where they had not been seen before. It is much more a plant of dry, sandy places,wall tops and rocks, and often as a garden weed, and the predominantly damp, silty soils ofthe Forest may suit C. flexuosa more.Widespread in Britain and most of the northern hemisphere. Increasing in England (Rich& Woodruff 1996).4 5* Lunaria annua. Honesty.3 -++--------'+-Recorded from three squares around Nutley, where the plants are garden escapes.It is occasionally naturalized in Sussex (Hall 1980) and is probably increasing in Britain(Rich & Woodruff 1996). Probably native in south~east Europe, but now widely spreadthrough the world.The most significant feature of this plant is that the fruits are used as TR's logo!4 5Erophila verna sensu lata. Common whitlowgrass.Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).Two plants of E, verna var, verna sensu Filfilan & Elkington on the gravel, FairwarpChurch (466.267), 1995, TR. Erophila has been present in the churchyard from at least 1985,and this site could also be the origin of the record in the Sussex Plant Atlas, It is an early-3 flowering annual of dry sandy places, walls and anthills and is easily overlooked, but it doesseem to be absent or very rare on the Forest.Erophila sensu lato is widespread in dry open habitats in Britain and Europe. The4 5 taxonomy of this group has now been clarified by Filfilan & Elkington in Rich (1991) but thedistribution of the taxa still requires elucidation.In Sussex, E. verna 5.5. is the commonest taxon, with a few records of E. glabrescens from dry soils. There are veryfew records of E. majuscula.*Capsella bursa-pastaris. Shepherd's~purse, Pickpocket.We have records of this annual weed scattered around the Forest on roads ides, gateways,gardens and waste ground in disturbed open places. It generally occurs as groups of a fewplants.Ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980). It is a common cosmopolitan weed.4 5

77* Thlaspi arvense. Field pennycress.Tetrads 43K and 53B (Hall 1980).Dumped soil in Pipping/ord Park (444.303), 1993, SBRS.Once a frequent weed of sandy ground and heavy clays, but now less common due toherbicides. It is still reasonably widespread in lowland Britain, Europe, Asia and North Africa.3 -++--""----'-1-4 5*/beris amara. Wild candytuft.Near Poundgate, Crowborough, doubtless imported with rubble, E. D. Margan (Wolley-Dod 1937).This is a Nationally Scarce Species in Britain (Showier 1994L which has always been rare in Sussex. Its occurrenceon imported rubble is of interest but where did the chalk come from? Firmin (1890) noted chalk was brought to spread onthe fields by a team of twelve donkeys from Short Bridge to the Warren Estate up to three times a week at one time (AFN27: 18). Short Bridge was the end of the Ouse Navigation where chalk was brought by canal from the South Downs.Leppard (1980) also noted that chalk was brought from Lewes to East Grinstead. However, Iberis is only a rare casual onthe South Downs and is unlikely to have come from there. Coleman (1836) recorded Anthy//is was probably brought toImberhorne with chalk from Godstone so we know chalk for roads was brought some distance, but Iberis is also rare inSurrey and occurs mainly in the Box Hill area. We will probably never know.It is native in west and southern Europe and North Africa.*Lepidium sativum. Cress.3 -++---"'--~-4-One plant at Home Farm, Pipping/ord Park (443.304), 1993, TR & PD. The cress 0/ 'mustardand cress', but more likely to have come from bird seed than out of a sandwich.A rare casual in Sussex but possibly under-recorded, and frequently mi5-identified as otherLepidium species. Scattered in Britain and Europe, and probably native in Egypt and westernAsia.4 5*Coronopus squamatus. Swine-cress, Star of the earth.Four scattered records, from clays around Nutley, imported with soil in Pippingford Park and aroadside near Faggot Stack Corner. It usually occurs in gateways and waste ground, often onclay soils.It is probably native in south-east England and much of Europe.3 -++----'''-----~-'-t-4 5*Coronopus didvmus. Lesser swine-cress.Five tetrad records on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have it scattered around in gardens, waste ground, car parks and on dumped soil. Ithas spread widely in Sussex and the British Isles since first introduced in the early eighteenthcentury, and is still increasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996); it has even reached the remote islands3 off the south-west Irish coast.Nobody knows for sure where in the world this plant originated from, but it is now acosmopolitan weed.4 5*Diplotaxis tenuifolia. Perennial wall-rocket.Recorded in Hall (1980) in tetrad 42N (Nutley, which must be from our area), 43H (old railway line at Forest Row outsideour area) and 53A, probably Crowborough.Not refound. It is doubtfully native in Britain usually being associated with commerce and habitation, and probablyoriginated in southern and central Europe.

78*Brassica napus. Oil-seed rape.Our records are from road verges where the seeds get blown off the back of lorries, and nocrops were noted in the area during the survey. At King's Standing it was introduced withimported soil in 1995. The roadside plants do not persist, and none have been observedsetting fruit so it is not currently considered to be naturalized.3-+~~~------Lf- The apparent scarcity of records for Sussex in Hall (1980) compared to the frequencywith which we have recorded it probably reflects the huge increase in the amount of oil-seed!rape cultivated for the subsidies in recent years. It is increasing elsewhere in England too {Rich;4 5& Woodruff 19961.Fields of oil-seed rape are often blamed for causing hay fever I but it seems the irritationarises from the chemicals given off by the flowers rather than allergy to the pollen.*Brassica rapa. Turnip.~-+~ ________ -L+-Tetrad 42Z IHall 19801.Recorded on disturbed soil by the A22, Nutley 144.271, 1994, TR; 46.26, 1994, PD &RN. As a native this probably occurs on river banks, but has been widely introduced with soilor seed.It is widespread in Britian and Ireland, and is native in Europe and Asia.4 5Sinapis arvensis. Charlock, Cadlock, Kelk.Frequent on the Forest IHall 19801.We have a few scattered records mainly from roadsides and disturbed ground, and veryfew records from arable land which 'IS an uncommon habitat in our area.It is a variable plant and was once a perniciOUS weed but it can now be eradicated with3 -+-t---""---~'-t- herbicides.It is widespread in Britain, Europe, Asia and North Africa.*Sinapis alba subsp. alba. White mustard.A few plants in Upper Parrock Farm yard 1449.3471, 1994, TR, gone by 1995.The mustard of 'mustard and cress', but now usually grown as a green manure. Quiteuncommon in Sussex and mainly on basic soils (Hall 1980), and scattered through Britainoften as a relict of cultivation. Probably native around the Mediterranean._, -++------'--1-4 5*Hirschfeldia incana. Hoary mustard.One plant recorded on cinder path on golf course, Forest Row (437.339), 1995, TR, the lastnew species to be added to the flora.Hirschfeldia is a typical plant colonising cinders and slag around power stations andindustrial sites, and must have been imported to the golf course with the cinders used to make3-i-r---------~-- the paths. It has been spreading in Sussex in recent years, with a number of plants scattered4 5on roadsides - possibly benefiting from the run of hot summers.It is becoming widespread in southern Britain, and is native in southern Europe and theNear East.

79aphanus raphanistrum. Wild radish.Tetrads 42U and 43M IHall 1980).We have four records from waste ground and arable land, usually as single plants.It is mainly a weed of light soils in Sussex and is widespread but scattered in Britain. Italso occurs in Europe, North Africa, Australasia and the Americas.3 -++-----'+-4 5RESEDACEAEReseda lutea/a. Weld, Dyer's rocket, Greenweed.Recorded in tetrad 42N in Hall 11980).One plant on a bareish area on the north side of the bridleway east of Nutley (451.277),1995, RN, the same tetrad as recorded by Ha)1.It is commonest on the chalk in Sussex and on railway land, and is widespread in3 southern Britain, Europe, western Asia and North Africa.Formerly cultivated for the yellow dye from its leaves,4 5ERICACEAE*Rhododendron ponticum. Rhododendron.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).On the Forest rhododendrons are spreading into woodland from adjacent privateproperties where they were planted (AFN 17: 14-16). So far from their original home in southwesternEurope and south-west Asia, they have largely escaped from their native pests and3diseases and their thick, waxy leaves are virtually untouched by our native fauna. TheAmerican lace bug, another alien, is feeding on them in parts of southern England. Fewinsects seem capable of exploiting the flowers, though honey bees are known to collect thepoisonous nectar.Plants with wilted leaves were very noticeable in the drought of 1995, though adjacentbushes could be growing apparently normally. There· were authorised sales by the Wood Reeve in 1980-1981 ofrhododendron tips for flower arrangements.The Conservators are fighting back to reverse the rhododendron invasion, by digging them up by the roots, or by theuse of herbicidal sprays which include a strong wetting agent to penetrate the wax. Though some rhododendron can befound on the open heath, this has yet to reach the epidemic, hill-covering proportions found in other areas, such asSnowdonia. They are widespread in Britain and increasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996).*Rhododendron luteum. Yellow azalea.A large bush well away from houses, east of Dalingridge Farm (399.322), 1987, AK (Briggs1990), and still there in 1994; one in Broadstone Warren 1423.324), 1995, flora meeting; oneon the boundary bank below the Ashdown Forest Centre (434.325) and one in the woodlandopposite Hindleap Warren entrance (419.319), 1995, CM.Inconsistently recorded in Sussex as an obvious garden escape (e.g. frequent onBlackdown, West Sussex but not previously noted, 1995, Rod Stern), and it can sometimesbecome established in abundance on acidic soils as at Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire. Itis a native of Asia Minor and the Caucasus.4 5

80Gaultheria mucronata (Pernettya mucronafa). Prickly heath.Plants are occasionally naturalized, as near Goat cross-roads (401,327) in a damp marshwhere it was first noted in 1988, PW and has been spreading since. It is grown in gardens•• and is either spread by birds or establishes from garden throw-outs. The berries arepoisonous.3-o-r----------~-- There are a few records from acidic soils in Sussex (Hall 1980), and it is naturalized mostwidely on moorland and in damp woods in Scotland and Ireland. It is native in South America.4 5* Gaultheria shallon. Shallon.Planted, as at the Old Lodge Estate as covert for the blackcock which were once bred there,for pheasants and other game, or escaped from gardens. A very large patch c. 10 metres'across occurred in the National Trust woodland east of Wych Cross (423.322), but otherwise imost patches are quite small. There are a few records from acidic soils in Sussex (Hall 1980)'and it is also naturalized in Surrey especially on Leith Hill, and it is scattered elsewhere inBritain. It is native in western North America.A hybrid between G. shallon and G. mucronata has been reported in Britain and should be4 5looked for where the two plants occur together. Potential sites to search for the hybrid where'the species grow near each other are near Goat cross-roads and woods near St John's.*Enkianthus species.Two plants of an unidentified species (possibly E. campanulatus) were recorded near houses,Nutley 1447.272), 1994, AK & PD.3 -1-1------'+4 5Cal/una vulgaris. Heather, Ling.'Customary tenants ought by custom to have heath, bracken and gorse to burn for the needsof their houses Extent of Ashdown Forest 1274. On the Forest (Firmin 1890). AshdownForest, with white form, 1910, Miss P. Stockdale IBEX). Common on the Forest IHal1 1980).Heather used to be cut on the Forest for litter on a 10-12 year rotation (J, Waiters, pers.comm. 1995). It was also reputedly used for making brooms which were so hard-wearingthey were not commercially viable O.e. no repeat sales), so birch was more generally used,with heather brooms only on the private estates. There have been recent authorised sales bythe Wood Reeve of heather turves and thatching heather. The Ashdown Forest Centre wasinitially roofed with heather, but it rotted after a few years as it did not shed the watersatisfactorily {one visitor asked if it bloomed every year! AFN 5: 12-13}.Heather is particularly important as the principal component of heath land on Ashdown Forest today. It occurs on bothwet and dry acidic soils, and soil pHs measured where it is dominant were 3.4, 3.6, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 4.0 and 4.6. Manyinvertebrates have evolved to live on it, including the silver-studded blue butterfly and the emperor moth. The Dartfordwarbler, a rare bird found on the Forest in good numbers when weather conditions allow, needs dry heath and often nestsin Calluna with gorse. In order to maintain suitable conditions for it, current management on the Forest aims to maintain amosaic of different ages. This is often achieved by cutting with a forage harvester, removing the litter to preventmulching. However, most of the heather on the Forest is on ground which is not accessible by tractor, and is becomingsenescent; these areas may be lost to birch invasion in the near future. White-flowered plants have been noted in 49.28,45.30 and elsewhere.Ashdown Forest supports a significant proportion of the Sussex population of silver-studded blue butterflies. Thesecommonly feed on Calluna and Erica and can be seen on the wing in July and August (AFN 30: 18).Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), but still very widespread in Britain except the Midlands. Widespread'In Europe except the south. Also found in Morocco and the Azores.

ica tetralix. Cross~leaved heath.Ashdown Forest including white-flowered plants (Col em an 18361. Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner(Arnold 18871. On the Forest (Firmin 18901. Ashdown Forest, 1892, E. H. Farr (BTNI.Ashdown Forest, white form, 1910, Miss P. Stockdale (BEXI. Ashdown Forest (Done 19141.White form at Twyford (Dent 1928-19531. Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.Surprisingly, cross-leaved heath has not been found in sixteen of the squares we havesurveyed. It is restricted to the wetter heathy soils of the Forest, where it is found inassociation with Molini8, Sphagnum and low Cal/una cover. Where apparently pure stands ofCal/una have been mown in the past ten years, the regenerating heather now has a highproportion of Erica tetralix, as for instance near Gills Lap (466.314). It may be able to toleratethe effects of water-logged environments as it is shallow-rooted, but freedom from competition from Cal/una and E. cinereawhich do not tolerate the conditions well is also important is allowing it to dominate the vegetation.Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread on suitable acidic soils in western Britain, rarer in theeast. A western European endemic.Erica cinerea. Bell heather.Ashdown Forest, including white-flowered plants (Coleman 18361. On the Forest (Firmin18901. Ashdown Forest, 1910, Miss P. Stockdale (BEXI. Ashdown Forest (Done 19141.White forms at Twyford and Duddleswell (Dent 1928-19531. Common on the Forest (Hall19801.3Bell heather was found in all but seven squares during the fieldwork, which is surprisingbecause it is the least abundant of the three heathers on the Forest, occurring only in the driestareas. It is frequently found as scattered plants, often on the edge of fire rides where soil4 5disturbance has resulted in drier ground. Erica cinerea, E. tetralix and Cal/una can be foundtogether particularly on rides.The reproduction of bell heather by seed has been described by Bannister (19651. Plants will flower in July and earlyAugust from their second or third year onwards. Flowers may be self~ or cross~pollinated. Ripe seed can be obtained asearly as September, but most is shed in October and November. Each capsule contains 18~34 seeds (one third of whichmay be abortive), each plant producing on average about 5000 seeds. Seed dispersal is poor and seedlings usually occurnear the parents. Seed germinates immediately it is shed, or intermittently thereafter and seeds may be long~dormant.Germination is stimulated by light, alternating temperatures and short heat shock (i.e. fires). A mycorrhizal fungusassociation with the roots appears to be essential to seedling survival, recycling nitrogen from the decaying litter to theheathland plants. Seedlings establish better on mineral than organic substrate, and on moist rather than wet soils.Plants grow best in open conditions, but will tolerate shade down to 15 % of daylight reasonably well and flowersparsely; between 15% and 7% of daylight it only survives as a straggly, weak, non-flowering plant. It often grows as anunderstory to heather, and will grow in open woodland but does not survive in deep shade. It does not germinate well onwet soils occupied by E. tetralix and is killed rapidly if the water table rises, perhaps due to sensitivity to ferrous ions in theground water.Still widespread in Britain on acidic soils but decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Mainly western in Europe.*Erica vagans. Cornish heath.The Crow borough record where it was recorded naturalized on forest land in the Crowborough Guide 1930 was acceptedby Wolley-Dod (19371; 1(. E. Bull reported that in 1972 the site at Camp Hill was much overgrown and it could not berefound (Hall 1980). Press Ridge Warren, near garden, 1945, G. Dent (Dent 1928-1953). It has not been seen recentlyand is probably extinct.Currently it is native in Cornwall where it forms extensive heath on the Lizard, and appears to be a classic Lusitanianplant. However, according to F. J. Hanbury it grew luxuriantly in the rock gardens at Brockhurst, East Grinstead (Hanbury1917) so it is perhaps not climatically limited to Cornwall. It is endemic to western Europe.Erica sp.An unknown Erica was found on the edge of a path near Chelwood Vachery (c. 435.2961, 1990-1994, NM & CM, butcould not be refound when needed for identification. It will have to be checked again, and may be one of Winnie-thePooh's 'spotted or herbaceous backsons'.Vaccinium oxycoccos. Cranberry.Bogs in Hindlip Warren, Ashdown Forest, on the eastern branch of the Kidbrooke stream, 31 August 1836 (Coleman 1836;LlV). Searched for several times in 1994 and 1995, TR, without success, the whole area now being woodland or denserhododendron. Old maps indicate areas of Sphagnum bog where it could have occurred at Hindleap.Cranberry is now a very rare plant in the Weald, with only three localities remaining in Sussex (Briggs 1990), two inSurrey and only a few sites in Hampshire in the Woolmer Forest area. Sphagnum bogs are generally very small andscattered in the south and prone to drainage or scrub invasion, and it has gone from most former sites in southern Englandbut still lingers in Norfolk. It is more widespread in the north and west where there are larger areas of bog. In Europe it iswidespread in the north and centre. It also occurs in Asia, North America and Greenland.81

82Vaccinium myrtillus. Bilberry, Hurts, Whorts.Ashdown Forest, 1842 (BTN). Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Ashdown Forest,(Done 1914). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it from most squares with the exception of a few around the edge andthe exposed hill top north-east of Camp Hill. Fruits are still collected locally for eating, for iinstance 2 kg were collected ,n 1985 (AFN 8: 20).It occurs in two main habitats on the Forest; in the open heaths with Cal/una especially'where slightly damp and acidic (soil pHs measured were 3.2, 3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.2), and inthe woodlands. The woodland plants may be relict from former open heathland which hasbeen colonised by trees, for instance north of Priory Road (410.338), and it is often found on 'slightly raised banks along streams (e.g, Kidbrooke, 416.335). Bilberry survives in shade better than Erica cinerea orCal/una, and spreads clonally to form some quite large patches. It is replaced on dry soils by E. cinerea, and may dominateon more disturbed soils as for instance on the bronze age barrow at Four Counties (467.312) where it is mixed withbracken.Bilberry can also be a natural component of woodland on acidic, rocky soils in the Weald, and it can become dominantin woodland where there is no grazing. Sometimes in southern England the leaves are retained through the winter, andphotosynthesis in both the leaves and the green stems during the winter may be important in helping the plants survive inwoodland.Its reproduction has been described by Ritchie (1956) and Welch et al. (1994). There are two flowering periods, onein spring and one in early summer. The first flowers can be found in March in mild winters on the Forest, often when thereare only a few leaves on the plants. They are mainly insect-pollinated, and produce an average of 18 seeds per berry. Theberries are eaten by birds (e.g. pheasants; Pickard 1930) and small mammals, but in Scotland seemed to be taken afterthey had fallen to the ground rather than from the bushes themselves. The seeds germinate best when given a coldtreatment and light, and are short-lived with a marked drop in viability within three years. Seedlings are apparently rare inthe wild, and most reproduction is by vegetative spread.It is widespread on moorland and mountains in the north and west of Britain, and in the Weald, New Forest and onacidic soils around London, but is virtually absent from the Midlands. It is widespread in Europe and North Asia.PYROLACEAEpyrola rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia. Round-leaved wintergreen.Near Forest Row, 1 August 1935, Miss Parsons, confirmed by A. J. Wilmott IBM; dated '1937' in Wolley-Dod 1937).Small patch on sandy bank in Hindleap Warren with Vaccinium myrtillus, 1948, R. A. Boniface. "Lots of these perfectflowers ... decorate a bank" (Ross 1955). Ashdown Forest, O. Buckle, July 1958 (pers. comm. to DS). Photographed inperfect flower, 12 September 1965 (Bulletin Kent Field Club 11: 27). TetrEld 438 (Hall 1980). The last record we havetraced was 3-4 spikes, 1978, F. Tebbutt; he monitored it for many years and it disappeared after a severe winter. It isprobably extinct and no plants have been seen at this site for many years. With its loss from this site P. rotund/folia hasbecome extinct in Sussex.This site was on a bank of the road between Forest Row and Goat cross-roads (c. 406.334). A slide taken by F.Tebbutt in 1968 showed three spikes on a bank associated with Vaccinium, Hedera, Lotus, Fragaria, Lonicera and grasses.This is a Nationally Scarce Species, which has only been recorded in 42 10-km squares in Britain since 1970 (Rumsey1994). In the south it occurs in fens, dune slacks, chalk pits and under willow scrub, most of which are usually damp andcalcareous, and in Scotland in pine woods, mountain ledges and the sides of burns. The site at Forest Row is certainlydamp and north-facing but not very calcareous, which may explain why it did not persist as long as it has elsewhere.It is also native in Europe, northern Asia and Asia Minor.PRIMULACEAEPrimula vulgaris. Primrose.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have found it frequently around the edges of the Forest in old woodland, hedge banksand sometimes on verges (e.g. replanted after disturbance on verge south-east of Chuck Hatchat 454.332). It has occasionally been planted out on the Forest too - a few plants occur by alay-by on Ridge Road (442.325), and probably around a number of houses and farms. Pinkfloweredplants were seen near Camp Hill (46.28), 1993, RN & ER, and 200 metres south-eastof Balcombe Farm (390.312L 1995, TR, possibly a result of crossing with garden plants orpossibly natural (Valentine 1975). An investigation of the ratios of the pin and thrum flowersnear Fernhill by TR and Nick Hinson found 21 of each form.Prior to the First World War, primrose seeds were collected and sold to Carter's seed merchants, £1 for a poundweight of seed (Mrs E. Vernon, Horney Common, pers. comm. to MR).Seed production is limited by pollination; although bees and butterflies have been observed to visit the flowers they doso only rarely, and they are probably pollinated at night by moths (80yd et al. 1990). Helliwell (1980) found thatgermination was poor and few seedlings survived on acidic soils of less than pH 4.7, and soil pH is presumably the reasonour plants occur around the edges of the Forest (three oH measurements were 4.9, 5.2 and 5.6). It does occur in the

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

84*Lysimachia punctata. Dotted loosestrife.This plant is quite widespread around habitation where it often survives when thrown out ofgardens, and there is a large, conspicuous patch by the A22 at Millbrook 1439.2961.It appears to be increasingly established in the wild, despite being apparently sterile(Clement & Foster 1994). It originates from Europe and south-west Asia.4 5Anagallis tenella. Bog pimpernel.On bogs on Ashdown Forest, common (Forster 1816). Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman1836). Boggy places near Maresfield, W. C. Unwin, and Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner (Arnold• 1887). Ashdown Forest IDone 1914). Ashdown Forest, Miss P.Stockdale Ithe specimen inBEX is labelled Forest Row, August 1910); Coleman's Hatch, H. S. Salt; near Chuck Hatch, E.3 D. Morgan IWolley-Dod 1937). Near Kidbrooke Park, 1947, G. Dent IDent 1928-1953).South of Chuck Hatch, 1950s, FR. Near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface IBRC). Tetrads 42N,43B and 43L IHall 1980).Now very scattered and isolated on the Forest. Large patches are present in a wet45grassland by the lake at the Isle of Thorns 1420.303 in both squares) where it is speciallymanaged, 1992 +, DS; frequent under Juncus at a spring by A22 opposite the entrance to Broadstone Warren (419.328),1995, TR; two large patches in maze of wet paths, Chelwood Corner 1427.287), 1994, TR; pond edge, Broadstone Farm1437.332), 1987, PD; golf course at Forest Row, at least three sites: (i) one large patch on ditch side (434.343)subsequently lost when ditch regraded, 1987, PS; (ii) stream side east of club house 1433.341), 1995, PS & TR; liii) twolarge patches each one metre long in ditch by path east of bridge Ic. 429.339), 1995, TR & PA; abundant in flush nowopened up by grazing, Millbrook 1445.297), 1993 +, NM et al.; one patch under rushes by path, near Dumpey's car park1445.327), 1983 +, CM & NM et al.; very small patch on margin of pond, Camp Hill 1468.298), 1988 & 1993, PW;standing water in brick structure in open heath north of Gills Lap (468.327), 1992, NM. It has also been recorded inwoodland "opened up" by the 1987 storm behind Three Chimneys, Twyford 1402.314), 1993, CM & NM, and nearI

It is predominantly a plant which occurs near the coast in Britain, except for the New Forest and the Weald, but isscattered through lowland Europe, south~west Asia, North Africa and the Americas. It is often associated with Radiatalino/des which has a similar ecology, and both are decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).GROSSULARIACEAE*Ribes rubrum. Red currant.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980),Usually found in woodland, often along stream banks 'In alder carr but also in scrub andhedges. Away from the valleys it is likely to have been spread from gardens by birds. It usedto be grown at the Wych Cross fruit farm.It is predominately western in distribution in Europe, but is widely introduced and it isvirtually impossible to establish its native range. It is increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996),Some garden cultivars may be R. rubrum x spicE/tum.85*Ribes nigrum. Black currant, Gazel.Crowborough Warren, 1899, E, Gilbert (TLS), Occasional on west side of the Forest (Hall1980),It is now quite widespread, often on wetter ground than the other Ribes species. Itusually occurs on wet, rich alluvial soils in woodlands as shown in the east of the Forest, butit also occurs on quite dry roads ides around Wych Cross where it may have been bird-sownfrom the former fruit farm. Deer do not eat it.In Sussex it occurs predominately on the Tunbridge Wells Sands and Lower Greensand. Itis mainly northern in distribution in Europe, and is probably native in swampy woodland in4 5eastern Europe and Asia. It is increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).It can be picked out from a distance from R. rubrum by the more sharply, deeply lobed leaves; close up it has amberglands under the leaves (absent in other species). Rubbed leaves usually smell of black currant though oddly some blackfruitedbushes opposite Wych Cross Nursery do not.*Ribes sanguineum, Flowering currant.,---;--::==------;---, Scattered on roadsides and near habitation; one plant on roadside south of Nutley (448.267),1994, TR, another east of Nutley (444,2771, 1994, PD & AK, and another in Long car park(426.311), 1995, TR, and elsewhere.Widely grown in gardens, and occasionally spreading into the wild throughout much of3 -+-t-~----'-t- Britain, especially in the north and west, and is increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).It is native in western North America.Garden plants with larger yellowish-pinkish flowers may be R. x gordonianum which4 5could also occur.*Ribes uva-crispa. Gooseberry, Goosegog.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980),Our records match the pattern shown by Hall. It is widely scattered in hedges and youngwoodland around the Forest, often near habitation.Widespread in Britain and Europe, and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996); italso occurs in Morocco. The form which is probably native in western Europe has short,dense, patent non-glandular hairs on the berries. Plants with a mixture of long glandular hairsand short hairs, or those with glabrous berries, are likely to be of garden origin, Plants withonly glandular hairs on the berries occur in the Carpathians.The first edition of Clapham, Tutin & Warburg's Flora of the British Isles had a minorprinting error giving the size of the fruits as 10-20 cm instead of 10-20 mm; it was affectionately known as the giantgooseberry edition!CRASSULACEAE*Crassula helmsii. New Zealand pigmyweed, Australian swamp stonecrop.No botanist has a good word for this Australasian species which is currently spreading rapidly in Britain. It probably initiallyspread as a throw-out from aquaria and garden ponds, and subsequently under its own steam. It grows in a range of waterconditions from acidic to alkaline and even saline water, from 3 metres deep to 0.5 metres above the normal water level,and it seems to be virtually indestructible. Perhaps the first positive thing to be said is that a carpet of flowers in the pondat Tompset's Bank filled the air with a lovely scent of honey in June 1995.

86We have found it in ponds at Kidbrooke Park (418.339), 1995, TR & PA; Tompset'sBank (424.338), 1995, PW; Pippingford Park, introduced with other aquatics (448.299 and445.302), 1995, Flora meetings; established in a tiny stream in a meadow on slope east ofNutley Post Office (445.275), 1995, TR, a more unusual habitat.3 There were only two records for Sussex in Hall (1980), but Briggs (1990) added 13more, and there are even more now, It is now also widespread and increasing in England(Rich & Woodruff 1996).4 5 Control measures were being investigated at Weir Wood reservoir in 1994, where therewere vast areas lining the shore at the normal water line, Sheets of black plastic were pinnedover areas which probably killed the plants by heat rather than shade; the Crassula had recovered by 1995. Other controlmeasures suggested seem to involve major herbicide application, and it has yet to be eliminated from any site where it hasbecome well-established. Another alien, Hydrocoty/e ranunculoides, seems to be out-competing it at Piltdown Pond!It seems to be insensitive to the weather. It survived the drought in 1995 at Weir Wood, turning slightly brown butrecovered rapidly. The only other aquatic with it was Littorella unit/ora which seems able to put its leaves up through thecushions. It grows throughout the winter and does not seem to be frost sensitive, probably in part because it is protectedby the water.*Semperv;vum tectorum. House-leek, Sengreen, Sungreen, Welcome home husband however drunk you be.Nutley, R. A. Boniface (Wolley-Dod 1937). Not refound in Nutley in 1995, PR.Once frequent on the roofs of houses where it was planted in the belief it was a protection against lightning, but nowrarely seen in Sussex (plants still survive on a roof nearby at Balcombe). Native in southern Europe where it occurs onrocky slopes in the lowlands and mountains, almost a habitat match for roofs and walls.Sedum teleph;um. Orpine, Livelong.• •3 -l--I-----Lt-~-~------~ Ashdown Forest, M. R. Dixon, 1886 (Arnold 1887). Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Mainly recorded around the edges of the Forest, typically on hedge banks. Pathside,Horncastle Wood (394.311), 1994, DB; Forest Row, old railway line (43.34), 1987-1995 andspreading, PW; abundant along drive near Hunters Farm (447.264), 1994, TR; pathside southof Water Farm (441.335), 1995, PW; path, Forest Row (443.348), 1995, TR & PA; 46.32,1993, TR & EL. We have not looked to see which subspecies occur - the characters seem towork better on dried material than in the field.45It does not seem to be eaten by rabbits - plants along the drive to Hunter's Farm wereuntouched despite still being green and fleshy whilst everything else had been nibbled to theground during the 1995 drought. It is apparently eaten by sheep and goats but not by horses.It is scattered in Britain in the lowlands, and although it will survive at altitude its growth rate is strongly dependenton temperature (Woodward 1987). Widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and North America.*Sedum spurium. Caucasian stonecrop.Garden rubbish, Forest Row (434.343), 1994, TR & NM, not surviving to 1995 as morerubbish was dumped on top.Native in south-east Asia. Occasionally established in Britain usually on calcareous rocks,and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).3 --l--I-----4-4 5*Sedum acre. Biting stonecrop, Poor man's pepper.Recorded in tetrad 42N in Hall (1980), presumably from Nutley (perhaps once on a roof with the Sempervivum) and notrefound. An interesting species which is mainly a calcicole occurring on soils above c. pH 6.0, but quite widely recordedon walls and calcareous sands. It is also grown in gardens.It is widespread in Britain. It occurs widely in Eurasia and North Africa.*Sedum album. White stonecrop.All our records are of plants escaping from gardens or introduced with soil. Naturalized onrailway bridge, Forest Row (438.347), 1994, TR & NM; introduced with soil by pond,Pippingford Park (44.30), 1995, PO & RN; spreading on graves, Fairwarp Church (466.268),1995, TR; Crow borough Training camp, possibly on bare ground near offices (49.29), 1995,3 RN.Possibly native on limestones in the south-west of Britain, but not native in Sussex whereit mainly occurs on walls near the sea (Hall 1980). Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). Native in northern and western Europe and North Africa.4 5

87SAXIFRAGACEAE[*Darmera pe/tata. Indian rhubarb.Planted in bog garden at Chelwood Vachery (430.295) but not yet naturalized though it could spread down the stream andnaturalize in damp woodland, its usual habitat in North America.]* Tel/ima grandiflora. Fringe-cups.Recorded spreading down verge at Highgate (426.341), and spreading down stream atKidbrooke (420.345), 1995, TR.It is now occasionally established in Britain, especially down rivers, and is increasing inEngland (Rich & Woodruff 19961. It is native in western North America.3 -++------L.(-4 5Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it scattered along the larger rivers, and occasionally in flushes in thewoodlands. It is one of the earliest species to flower from February onwards, and is easilyoverlooked later in the year. Planted in marsh west of Fairwarp Village Hall (466.264) by B.Hoath in the mid-19aOs, and spreading to form a large patch.It occurs in both acidic and basic flushes in Sussex, but its relative C. alternifolium onlytends to occur in flushes from the Bargate Beds which are rich in minerals other than calcium(FR, pers. comm. 1992). It is common in the Weald, though absent from the Downs (Hall1980)' and is widespread in Britain and western Europe east to Poland.ROSACEAE*Spiraea.Fairwarp, E. D. Morgan (WolleY-Dod 19371. Tetrads 42N and 53W (Hall 1980).Old records refer to S. "salicifolia" which was broadly interpreted to include S. alba and hybrids, so which plantsoccurred is unknown. Even now, the identity of some bushes is uncertain; they have been named using the accounts inRich & Rich (1988) and Stace (1991) but each bush seems to key out to a different name.They are all untidy, invasive plants unsuitable for small gardens, and consequently get thrown out regularly.*Spiraea x pseudosalicifolia (5. douglasii x salicifolia). Confused bridewort.Twyford, near lake (395.312), 1995, DB.ProbablY the most commonly naturalized Spiraea in Britain. It originated in cultivation.*Spiraea douglasii. Steeplebush.This species, or possibly one of its hybrids, near Nutley (44.28), 1994, SBRS.It is widely grown in gardens, and is native in North America .•

88*Spiraea canescens. Himalayan spiraea.Plants with white flowers, flat-topped inflorescences and bluish leaves thought to be thisspecies are naturalized at Maskett's Wood (42.28) and Pippingford (44.31).It is apparently rarely naturalized in Britain, and as the name implies is native in the• Himalaya.*Filipendula vulgaris. Dropwort.A few plants on the road verge near Gills Lap (469.319), NM & CM, 1993. The discovery ofthis species was surprising, but it appears to be one of a number of calcicoles growing onverges on the Forest possibly introduced with chalk used to make the road (see Ibeds),It is predominantly a plant of chalk and limestone in south-east Britain, but will also growon calcareous clays and in river meadows. It is surprisingly common on the chalk in EastSussex compared to West Sussex, and there are occasional records in the Weald (Hall 1980).It is fairly widespread in dry grassland in Europe, where it can also be found in open woodlantl.It also occurs in Asia and the North African mountains.Filipendula ulmaria. Meadowsweet, Sweet hay.,----,--==::----.,------, Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Our records show an interesting restriction to the north side of the Forest where dampground and marshes are associated with the main stream valleys, and possibly the more baserichsoils. It occurs on river banks and lightly-grazed, damp pastures, but is virtually absentfrom the small fenny areas in the alder woodlands possibly because it is sensitive to ferrousiron toxicity (Grime et al. 1988).In Sussex it is widespread but is largely absent from the dry chalk and the AshdownSands, confirming our pattern on a broader scale. It is nearly ubiquitous in Britain andwidespread in Europe and temperate Asia.*Kerria japonica. Kerria.One plant in hedge opposite houses, Priory Road (421.348), 1995, TR.A garden plant occasionally established in Britain, probably from material dumped fromgardens. It is native in China.*Rubus odoratus. Purple-flowered raspberry.Planted and spreading in Maskett's Wood (428.285), 1994, TR.A native of eastern North America, cultivated in gardens and rarely naturalized in Britainand Europe.Rubus idaeus. Raspberry.Chelwood Common, N. J. Treutler, 1886, and described as common on the Forests by E.Jenner (Arnold 1887). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it widely around the Forest on verges, woodland edges and hedges. Itis also a nitrophile and tends to occur on the richer soils, so it is rare on the parts of the Forestwith poor heathland soils. It is probably wild in the damper woods, but plants elsewhere maybe of garden origin. It was also grown for the fruit crop at the former Wych Cross fruit farm,and is frequent by the fence along the edge of Broadstone Warren where it was presumablyspread by birds. Wild plants are fairly uniform in Britain and differ from cultivated plants inhaving mainly hairy stems, large dense prickles, and smaller, darker fruits which are mostly

89insipid in flavour IHaskel1 1960),In Sussex it is rarer on the heavy clay soils.widespread in Europe and Asia,Widespread and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), and*Rubus spectabilis. Salmonberry.Three separate clumps on grassy area west of Stonemead (429.289), 1994, PH et al.This species is potentially invasive. First introduced to Britain in 1827, grown in gardensand planted as pheasant food, it is now locally naturalized. Most of the spread currentlyappears to be vegetative, and fruit production is low compared to its native sites in NorthAmerica. It appears to be more at home in northern Scotland.Rubus fruticosus. Bramble, Blackberry.Brambles tend to be abundant on acidic soils in well-lit places, and we have recorded them inevery square on the Forest.Many brambles produce berries asexually, creating many local forms differing in manysmall characters such as leaf shape, hairiness, prickles, etc.; there are over 400 of these'microspecies' in Britain. The heaths and commons of south-east England are very rich inspecies, and Ashdown Forest is the centre of a regional endemic complex. Nineteen of thespecies recorded are endemic to Britain, and many more to Europe.This account follows Brambles of the British Isles (Edees & Newton 1988). Fourbatologists (from batos = berry) have identified our microspecies. In 1994, Dave Earl taughtTR a few basic species, while Alan Newton and Alec Bull independently recorded five 1-km squares on the north side ofthe Forest and two on the south side. In 1995, Rob Randall joined us for a day recording on the south side of the Forest.Other records for TQ/4.2 and TQ/4.3 have been taken from the maps in Edees & Newton (1988) (most of the records inHall 1980 were based on the same information), and from the report of a Rubus meeting at Newbridge in 1969 (Philp1970), updated with help from Alan Newton. There are some unnamed species present and a considerable amount ofwork remains to be done.Blackberries have been collected locally for many years le,g, 25 kg by one family alone in 1985; AFN 8:20), Arthur(1989) records that a Sussex folk remedy for boils was to crawl under a bramble which had grown into the soil at bothends. Anyone trying it may need another of his remedies for extracting thorns from fingers; draw the thorn out using oneof the bramble leaves moistened with a blackberry as a plaster for an hour or two. 'Brambletye' is a local name at ForestRow, originally 'Branbertie' in the Doomsday Book.Not surprisingly, the records we have are strongly related to where the expert batologists have recorded.Number of microspecies(small dots few species, large dots many species)RecordersIsymbols are X ~ AN & AB, + ~ DE, 0 ~ RR)4 5The non-specialist can skip most of the next few pages unless they want to know which blackberries they are likely to beeating, but have a look at Rubus newbridgensis, Ashdown Forest's very own bramble.Section Rubus. Subsection Rubus (R. suberectus).The records for R. suberectus from Ashdown (Cooper 1835) and Ashdown Forest, W. Borrer (Arnold 1887) are referred tothis Subsection but not to a microspecies.Rubus arrheniiformis.Wych Cross, 1951, W, Watson leGE - the TQ/4,3 record in Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988),Widespread but very localised in England and Wales on heaths and heathy woods. Long thought to be a Britishendemic, AN has recently confirmed it from Holland and Belgium.

90Rubus bertramii (R. opacus).East of Camp Hill 147.28), 1994, AN & AB.Widespread in damp woods and heath margins in north-western Europe. Perhaps one ofthe best tasting blackberries (Earl 1994).Rubus fissus (R. rogersii ).New Bridge near Posingford Wood, 1933, W. C. Barton & H. J. Riddelsdell (Wolley-Dod 1937). Newbridge, 1969, B. A.Miles (Philp 1970). Newbridge, 1974, AN.Widespread but very localised in Britain on heaths and in heathy woods and apparently endemic.Rubus nessensis.Posingford Wood, Hartfield, 1936, W. C. Barton & H. J. Riddelsdell (BM).Path to Pooh Bridge {468.335}, 1994, DE. Furnace Wood {473.264}, 1995, RR & PH;above lake at Oldlands Hall, TR et al. 1995, and it seems to be well established in this valleyand further down le.g. Rock Wood, 1907, T. Hilton, BM).First described from Loch Ness (hence the name), and widespread in Europe in dampwoods and by streams.Rubus plicatus.Ashdown Forest ICooper 1835). Ashdown Forest, W. Borrer (Arnold 1887). Forest Row, A.H. WolleY-Dod and E. G. Gilbert (Wolley-Dod 1937). TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton1988).Goat car park (403.326), Warren car park (416.320), Townsend car park (445.328)'1994, DE. Near Cold harbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32), Gills Lap {46.31}, roads idesnear Sunting's, Newbridge 146.32}, 1994, AN & AB. Nutley {44.27, 45.27}, near Poundgatecar park (48.28), 1995, RR & PH. The map has many more records which were noted in the4 5field once we had learnt how to identify this species. It is probably the commonest uprightbramble with white flowers, in June, on open heathland.Widespread on heaths and moors in central and western Europe, preferring dry sandy soils.Rubus scissus (R. fissus sensu Fockel.East of Camp Hill {47.281, 1994, AN & AB.Quite common north of a line from the Wash to the Severn, but very localised in thelowlands. Widespread on heaths and moors in north-western Europe.Rubus su/catus.Near Wych Cross, 1904, H. C. Waddell (WolleY-Dod 1937). A possible record but requiring confirmation. It is a very localspecies usually found in only small quantity.

91ection Rubus. Subsection Hiemales.eries Sylvatici.ubus chloophyllus fR. rhodanthus, R. rhombifoliusi.Ashdown Forest, 1899, T. Hilton IBM). Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles IPhilp 1970). Openwoods and heaths, particularly in Ashdown Forest (Edees & Newton 1988). The record for R.holerythrus from near Wych Cross, A. H. Wolley-Dod IWolley-Dod 1937) probably belongshere.3 --++------"+_ Common in woods near Pooh car park (472.332), 1994, DE, and possibly this species onheath opposite Townsend car park 1445.328), 1994, DE. Near Coldharbour 140.32), HindleapWarren 141.321. Coleman's Hatch 144.32), Gills Lap 146.31),1994, AN & AB.A characteristic species of Ashdown Forest in open woods and heaths. It also occurs in4 5Kent and western France.ubus imbricatus.TQf4.3 IHall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Nutley 144.27, 45.27, 45.28), Fairwarp 146.261. near Poundgate car park 1481.284),1995, RR & PH.Locally frequent in southern Britain in well-defined populations on acidic soils onhedgebanks, heaths and borders of woods. Also known in France and Germany.* Rubus laciniatus.There are a number of scattered records from around the Forest for this introduced spec'leswhich has probably been spread from gardens by birds. Instantly distinguished from the otherbrambles, even by the non-expert, by the finely divided leaflets,Widespread in north-western Europe.[Rubus lentiginosus.Newbridge, E. G. Gilbert (Wolley-Dod 1937). A very doubtful record as the main area of distribution is in North Wales, butthere are isolated records for the Hampshire-Berkshire border; it may refer to R. brevistaminosus which occurs atNewbridge.lRubus lindleianus.ilshdown Forest, rather scarce, H. J. Riddelsdell IWolleY-Dod 1937); Wych Cross, 1906, C. R. Billups IOXF, the TW4.3'ecord in Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Widespread in north-western Europe often on hedgebanks. The fruits of this species are rather small, seedy and sour:Earl 1994).~ubus platyacanthus (R. carpinifolius).'osingford Wood, W. C. Barton and H. J. Riddelsdell; Ashdown Forest, scarce, H. J. Riddelsdell IWolley-Dod 1937).:oleman's Hatch, W. C. Barton. TQ/4.3 IHall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Widespread in north-western Europe on heaths, etc.~ubus pyramidalis.Roadside between Newbridge and Chuck Hatch, 1934, W. C. Buton & H. J. Riddelsdell IBM).Stonehill 145.28), Gills Lap 146.311. roadsides near Suntinll's, Newbridge 146.32), 1994,AN & AB. Nutley 144.27, 45.27, 45.281. Fairwarp 146.23), near Poundgate car park1481.284), 1995, RR & PH.Widespread in north-western Europe.

92Rubus sciocharis.Gills Lap (46.31), 1994, AN & AB, the first record for East Sussex.Widespread in north-western Europe on wood borders and hedge banks but ratherlocalised in Britain and possibly still colonising from the continent (RR, pers. comm. 1996).Series Rhamnifofli'.Rubus cardiophyllu5 fR. rhamnifolius}.Posingford Wood, E. G. Gilbert; fairly common on Ashdown Forest, H. J. Riddelsdell (Wolley·Dod 1937(. Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 19701. TO/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton19881.Roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (45.27), nearEllison's Pond (46.28), Fairwarp Farm (47.26), Poundgate car park (48.28), 1995, RR & PH.Local in north-west Europe on edges of heaths, woods, and on hedgebanks butwidespread and common in most of lowland Britain.Rubus cissburiensis.Near Newbridge, 1934, W. C. Barton & H. J. Riddelsdell (BM(. TO/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees &Newton 1988).Priory Road near Kidbrooke Wood (412.338), Goat car park (403.326), Warren car park(416.320), Townsend car park (445.328), 1994, DE. Near Coldharbour (40.32), Hindleap3 -++-------'+- Warren (41.32), Coleman's Hatch (44.32), Stonehill (45.28), Gills Lap (46.31), roadsides nearSunting's, Newbridge (46.32), east of Camp Hill (47.28), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (44.27,45.27, 45.28), near Ellison's Pond (46.28), Fairwarp (46.26, 47.26), Toll Lane (461.263),near Poundgate car park (481.284), 1995, RR & PH.4 5Described from Cissbury in Sussex, and a regional endemic of heaths and wood bordersespecially near London. Widespread, often abundant in south-east England.Rubus dumnoniensis.Hindleap Warren (41.32), Stonehill (45.28), 1994, AN & AB (Edees & Newton 1988). Nutley(45.27), near Poundgate car park (481.284), 1995, RR & PH.Widespread in Britain, but a predominantly western species. Recently found in France.Rubus polyanthemus.3 -++----.-!.+_"4 5Wych Cross, A. H. Wolley·Dod; Posingford Wood, H. J. Riddelsdell (Wolley·Dod 1937).Marshy ground near Crowborough Warren, 1932, W. C. Barton (BM). Crowborough Common,1933, W. C. Barton & H. J. Riddelsdell (BM). TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Warren car park (416.320), and Townsend's car park (445.328), 1994. DE. NearColdharbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32), Stone Hill (45.28), Gills Lap (46.311. roadsidesnear Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (44.27, 45.27), Fairwarp (46.26,47.26), near Ellison's Pond (46.28), 1995, RR & PH.Widespread in Britain in hedges, wood edges, quarries, etc. and in north-western Europe.

93Rubus pr%ngatus.Nutley (45.27), 1995, RR & PH, known in the area (Edees & Newton 1988) and seen atChailey Common in 1994, AN and BSBI, and Tunbridge Wells, 1995, RR.Woods, heaths and hedge banks, widespread in south-western Britain and also found innorth-western France,Rubus subinermoides (R. pubescens var. subinermis).One of the commonest Rubi on Ashdown Forest, H. J. Riddelsdell; near Wych Cross, T. Hilton(Wolley-Dod 1937). Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 1970). TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees &Newton 1988).J -++-------'-t-Woods near Priory Road 142.33), Goat car park (403.326), Warren car park (416.320),opposite Wych Cross Nurseries (421.321), Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre (43.32),4 5Townsend's car park (445.328), Newbridge (456.3251. and Pooh car park to Pooh Bridge(46.33,47.33), 1994, DE. Near Coldharbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32), Coleman'sHatch (44.321. Gills Lap (46.31), roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.321. 1994, AN &AB. Nutley 144.27, 45.27), Fairwarp 146.26, 47.26), near Ellison's Pond (46.28), 1995, RR& PH.Often abundant in Sussex, and common and widespread in southern England, yet endemic to the British Isles,Series Sprenge/iani.Rubus brevistaminosus.Roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), 1994, AN & AB (Edees & Newton 1988).A local endemic species apparently confined to the Weald and North Downs. There areseveral colonies in the Hartfield area.Rubus sprenge/ii.J -++-------'-t-TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Warren car park (416.320), Piglet's car park (470.320), Po oh car park (472.332),1994,DE. Hindleap Warren (41.32), Stonehill (45.28), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (44.27, 45.27,45.28), Fairwarp (46.26), 1995, RR & PH.This dainty pink-flowered bramble may be quite widespread in the Forest, Widespread incentral and northern Europe, especially in oak-birch woods on sandy and gravelly soils.4 5Series Disc%res.Rubus armipotens (R. godronii, R. pseudobifrons).Near Wych Cross, W. C. Barton & H. J. Riddelsdell (Wolley-Dod 1937). Newbridge, 1969, B.A. Miles IPhilp 1970). TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Priory Road near Kidbrooke Wood (412.3381. Goat car park (403.326), and path to Pooh3 -++---------'_+_Bridge (472.332), 1994, DE. Near Cold harbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32), Gills Lap(46.31 I. 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (44.27, 45.27, 45.28), near Ellison's Pond 146.28),4 5Fairwarp Farm (47.26), near Poundgate car park (481.284), 1995, RR & PH.An endemic species of heaths, wood margins and hedge banks, and particularly commonin south-east England.

94Rubus procerus (R. armeniacusJ. Himalayan Giant.Hindleap Warren (41.321, Stonehill (45.281, Gills Lap (46.31), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley(44.27), 1995, RR & PH.This is the cultivated blackberry which is increasingly escaping from cultivation in Britain.Despite the English name it probably originated from Germany. The berries may vary fromsweet to sour on the same panicle, though with a few ounces of sugar they are ideal for jam'or pies (Earl 1994).Rubus ulmifolius fR. fusticanus).Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 1970). T0/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Path to Pooh Sticks Bridge (472.332), near Townsend car park (445.328), 1994, DE.Roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), AN & AB, 1994. Nutley (44.27), FairwarpFarm (47.26), 1995, RR & PH.3 Perhaps one of the commonest and most widespread brambles in Br'ltain, from sea cliffsin the Channel Islands to hedges in central England, and north to Scotland, though becomingmore restricted to south~facing banks near the coast in the north.4 5 It has also been introduced throughout the world (not for its fruits which are small andsour) and is often a pest; for instance, it has spread dramatically on Robinson Crusoe's Islandsoff the coast of Chile and is ousting the native flora which contains 41 % endemics (Plant Talk 2: 19-21).Series Vestiti.Rubus adscitus.East of Fairwarp Farm on path edge (473.266), 1995, RR & PH, the first record for EastSussex. It has long pointed sepals and floriferous zigzag panicles which make it looksomewhat more distinctive than many brambles.It is widespread in southern Britain, and also occurs in France.Rubus leucostachys.3-+~----------L+-4 5Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 1970). T0/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Woods near Priory Road (412.3381. and Townsend's car park (445.3281. 1994, DE. NearColdharbour (40.321. Hindleap Warren (41.32), Coleman's Hatch (44.32), Stonehill (45.28),Gills Lap (46.31 I. roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), 1994, AN & AB. Toll Lane(461.2631. Fairwarp (46.26, 47.26), near Poundgate car park (481.284),1995, RR & PH.'Var. angustata' was also recorded at Coleman's Hatch (44.32) and Stonehill (45.28),1994, AN & AB.A regional endemic species in south-east England.Rubus surrejanus.Probably Ashdown Forest, C. H. Waddell? (Wolley-Dod 1937). T0/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees &Newton 1988). The record 'or R. lasiostachvs from Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp1970) refers to this species.Specimens collected at Warren car park (416.320), 1994, DE, may be this species. GillsLap (46.31), 1994, AN & AB. South of Poundgate car park (482.284), 1995, RR & PH.Hedgebanks, borders of woods and heaths, widespread and endemic in southernEngland.

95bus vestitus.Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 1970). TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Gills Lap (46.31), 1994, AN & AB, and scarce in the area.Woods, wood margins and hedgebanks, often on somewhat calcareous soils.Widespread in western and central Europe.eries Mucronati.ubus acutifrons.ewbridge, W. C. Barton and H. J. Riddelsdell (Wolley-Dod 1937). This record is doubtful as it is a regional endemicecies of the Welsh borders; the record probably refers to R. decussatus.leries M/cantes.ubus decussatus (R. hirtus var. rubiginosus in part, Wolley-Dod 1937).Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 1970). TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Goat car park (403.326), Warren car park (416.320), Newbridge (456.325), footpath toPooh car park (472.332), 1994, DE. Near Cold harbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32),roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32)' 1994, AN & AB. Fairwarp Farm (47.26), Toll3 Lane (461.263), 1995, RR & PH.Difficult to distinguish from R. largificus, but plants referable to this aggregate are quitecommon. A regional endemic species of south-east England.4 5~uhus hastiformis (R. thyrsiger).Toll Lane woodland (461.263), 1995, RR & TR.A reg'lonal endemic of the British Isles of wood margins and heaths almost confined toareas near the coast in south-west England, Wales and southern Ireland, so ours is anespecially interesting record, It was also found by H. J. Riddelsdell in the Brighton area.ubus trichodes (R. foliosus auct.J,Recorded from Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 1970).A plant collected at Toll Lane (460.2631, 1995, RR has been confirmed by AN, as hasanother from Lake Wood, Uckfield, It is a regional endemic of woods and wood margins insouth-east Britain,45/bus wedgwoodiae.ych Cross, W. C. Barton (Wolley-Dod 1937); specimen not seen by AN and not found in the area recently.This species is an endemic and occurs on heaths in West Sussex and Surrey,

96Series Anisacanthi.Rubus dentatifoliu5.TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 19881.Near Coldharbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32), Stonehill (45.281, Gills Lap (46.31)east of Camp Hill (47.28), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (45.281, near Poundgate car park (48.2811995, RR & PH.Widespread across southern England and Wales, Ireland and western France,predominantly western species.[Rubus infestus.Near Wych Cross, C. H. Waddell (Wolley-Dod 19371. This record is doubtful because this species is known to bEwidespread in the north, with very few records south of the Midlands. Plants at Warren car pa'rk (416.320) similar to thi:species but not conspecific were seen in 1994, DE.]Series Radu/ae.Rubus bloxamii.Near Wych Cross, T. Hilton (Wolley-Dod 19371. TQ/4.3 (Edees & Newton 19881.Under trees at Piglet's car park (470.320), 1994, DE.Widespread in central and southern England on wood borders, heaths and hedgebank~and extending only to the Channel Islands and Normandy.Rubus cant/anus.Newbridge, W. C. Barton, 1932 (BM, det D. E. Alieni.Toll Lane woodland (461.263)' 1995, RR & TR.A regional endemic species of heaths, hedgebanks and edges of woods in south-ea~England.Rubus flexuosus.J -t--j------'-t-TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 19881.Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre (43.32), and plants with very flexuose stems occur in tlwoods west of Pooh car park (472.332) but have predominantly trifoliate leaves on tlpanicle, so they may be of hybrid origin as commented on in Edees & Newton (1988), 199DE. Hindleap Warren (41.32), roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), 1994, AN & ANutley (44.27, 45.271, Toll Lane (461.263), Fairwarp (46.26, 47.26), 1995, RR & PH.Widespread in Europe.4 5Rubus insectifolius (R. nuticeps; R. fuscus var. nutans).Near Ashdown Park, Newbridge, W. C. Barton and H. J. Riddelsdell (Wolley-Dod 1937); spresent in 1994, DE. TQJ4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 19881.Stonehill (45.281, Gills Lap (46.31), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (44.27, 45.28), Toll La• (461.263), near Ellison's Pond (46.281, Fairwarp (46.26, 47.26), near Poundgate car p'(481.284), 1995, RR & PH. It tends to get a felt-like mould/disease on the leaves which tespreads to other species.Widespread in western Europe.

97Rubus largificus.3 -+t--------'+_Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 19701. TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Hindleap Warren (41.32), 1994, AN & AB; woods near Priarv Road (412.338), 1994,DE.A regional endemic of wood borders, heaths and hedge banks which could easily beconfused with R. decussatus. The large fruits in autumn may make good crumble (Earl 1994)!4 5Rubus rudis.North of Wvch Cross, W. C. Bartan (Wallev-Dad 1937; uncanfirmedl.Fairwarp (46.261, 1995, RR & PH.Widespread in north~western and central Europe.Series Hystrices.Rubus murrayi fR. hystrix var. adornatus sensu Wolley-Ood 1937).Newbridge, A. H. Wallev-Dad (WalleV-Dad 19371. Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 19701. Newbridge, 1974, AN (Hall1980; Edees & Newton 19881.Plants which mav be this species occur on the path to Paah car park (472.332), 1994, DE.An endemic species, widespread, but only locally common in Warwickshire and near London.Rubus newbridgensis. Ashdown Forest bramble.Wych Cross to Nutley Road, 1931, W. C. Barton (BM). Newbridge, 1934, W. C. Barton (BM). Dry ground by the roadbridge, Newbridge, and roadside Newbridge to Chuck Hatch, 1933, W. C. Bartan & H. J. Riddelsdell (BMI. High Beeches,Ashdawn Park, 1933, W. C. Bartan & H. J. Riddelsdell (BM). Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 1970). Newbridge,1974, AN (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 1988).Our very own bramble but with only one very tentative record from near High Beeches, 1995, TR. When AN and ABvisited the Newbridge area in 1994 they did not explore it extensively as much of the wood has grown up making the areaunattractive for looking for brambles (refound 1996 by RR & PH near the water splash). It has certainly decreased in theWorth and Rowfant district.Described as new to science by Barton & Riddelsdell (1936) from the type specimen collected at Newbridge in 1934,and reported from "East Sussex, in many places near Worth and eastwards to the Hartfield-Maresfield Road ... uniform andconstant in characters, easily distinguished by the combination of a very fully and variously armed stem, neat concaveleaves and leaflets, and a sturdy cylindrical panicle with hairy rachis densely armed and glandular. The plant is of a rathergreyish-green colour in the open; the intermediate and basal leaflets are large in proportion to the terminal leaflet; thearmature is remarkably uniform on stem rachis and petioles; the stem-prickles themselves often armed with hairs, glandsand pricklets".A regional endemic of southern England in woods, wood margins and hedgebanks.Rubus phaeocarpus fR. babingtonii}.Newbridge, W. C. Bartan and H. J. Riddelsdell Ithe TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton1988).Warren car park (416.320), 1994, DE. Near Cold harbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren141.32), raadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), 1994, AN & AB. Nutlev 145.27), nearPaundgate car park (481.2841. 1995, RR & PH.Heaths and wood borders, widespread in south-east England, and also found in northernFrance.

98Subgenus Rubus. Section Cory/ira/i/.Rubus britannicus.J -+--I-~~~-----'---t-4 5Road to Hindleap Warren Activity Centre (415.3201, pH 5.5, opposite Wych Cross Nurseries(421.3211, Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre (43.32), Newbridge (456.325) and path to PoohBridge (472.332), 1994, DE· this species can be used for playing Pooh sticks when no twigscan be found. Hindleap Warren (41.32), Stonehill (45.28), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (44.27,45.27), 1995, RR & PH.This species has quite distinct large round leaflets, and TR has added the extra records. 'It is a regional endemic of woods and their borders in south-east England.Rubus conjungens.Marsh Green near Hartfield, 1942, W. C. Barton (BM).An endemic species widespread in southern Britain on hedgerows and banks, and very local elsewhere.Rubus nemorosus fR. balfourianus).Newbridge, 1969, B. A. Miles (Philp 19701. TQ/4.3 (Hall 1980; Edees & Newton 19881.On woodland edge at the top of the path to Pooh Bridge (472.3311. opposite WychCross Nurseries (421.321), and opposite Wilkins Garage, Forest Row (437.347), 1994, DE.Hindleap Warren (41.32), 1994, AN & AB. Toll Lane (461.2631, 1995, RR & PH.3 Widespread in south-east Britain but more localised in the north, and in north-westernand central Europe.The fruits of this species are a good size and flavour, often better than those of R.4 5 procerus (Earl 19941.Rubus tuberculatus,Clays at Toll Lane (461.263(, and near Fairwarp Farm (47.261, 1995, RR & PH.Widespread in hedges, on wood borders, waste ground and railways, etc., a weedy andaggressive bramble. It predominantly occurs in the west but is spreading eastwards (RR,pers. comm. 1996). It also occurs in north-west Germany.In addition there are three taxa whose taxonomy remains to be clarified:Rubus orbifolius sensu W. C. R. Watson. Near Coldharbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32), roadsides near Sunting's,Newbridge (46.32), 1994, AN & AB. Nutley (44.271. 1995, RR & PH. A local endemic as yet undescribed.Rubus sprengeliiflorus sensu W. C. R. Watson. Near Coldharbour (40.32), Hindleap Warren (41.32), Coleman's Hatch(44.32), Stone hill (45.28), roadsides near Sunting's, Newbridge (46.32), East of Camp Hill (47.281, 1994, AN & AB.A local endemic as yet undescribed.R. vulnerificus Le!. ex Genev. Ford's Green, Nutley (447.2721 and scrub in Toll Lane (462.2631, 1995, RR. These plantswere compared against material in the BM from Buckham Hill and several localities in France and may be correctassuming that the name is legitimate.Subgenus Rubus. Section Caesli.Rubus caesius. Dewberry.Tetrads 42N and 42P (Hall 19801.We have five provisional records all of which require verification (as do Hall's) as it is often over-recorded for membersof the Corylifolli series. This species is most common on the chalk and calcareous soils in Sussex. It is a widespreadcalcicole in Europe.

Potentilla anserina. Silverweed.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).It is frequent in damper patches on rides and wet grassland, but not on the most acidicsoils or in some of the more heavily wooded areas.The life cycle of this species probably depends on the size of individual plants, andvegetative spread is probably more important for population increase than seeds (Eriksson1988), Plants pass the winter as a rhizome with the bud at the soil surface, and the leavesdevelop in the spring. Small rosettes may simply grow all summer. In June and July, somerosettes above a critical size produce flowers, The flowers are insect-pollinated and selfincompatible,but fruit production is commonly limited by availability of pollen. Between Julyand September the bigger rosettes produce stolons which root and give rise to daughter rosettes, but this uses a lot ofresources. A few rosettes both flower and produce stolons. In the autumn the stolons wither leaving isolated daughterplants, and the cycle begins again the next year.Its prime habitats are shores of lakes, rivers and seas, and it also occurs in man~made habitats such as meadows,roadsides and on waste ground. Ubiquitous in Sussex and Britain, and widespread in Europe except for much of the southand in Asia.99*Potentil/a recta. Sulphur clover.Forest Row, 43M (Hall 1980).On the path between Nutley and Fairwarp church (45.27), 1995, RN (det. PH), lookingvery out of place in a bramble bush with Alchemilla mollis and Geranium x oxonianum.A garden escape originally from Eurasia and North Africa, now widely established insouthern and eastern England. It is a very variable species.Potentil/a erecta subsp. erecta. Tormentil.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it in every square in grassland and heathland.Widespread but decreasing in Britain (Rich & Woodruff 1996), and widespread in Britain,Europe and Asia.Potentil/a x suberecta (P. erecta X anglica).Near Wych Cross, C. E. Salmon (Wolley-Dod 1937).All three records were made in 1995 by TR whilst specially looking for hybrids, and itgenuinely seems to be quite rare on the Forest. These hybrids form few fruits, rarely root atthe nodes and have entire or deeply cut stipules but they are not easy to determine (seeHarald in Rich & Rich 1988). It seems to be much rarer than P. x mixta, possibly becauseone parent, P. anglica, is rarer and their distributions correlate well.It apparently is quite widespread in Britain where the parents occur together.Potentil/a anglica (P. procumbens). Trailing tormentil.This species is reputedly often confused with P. x mixta and P. x suberecta and Hall (1980)suggests it may be frequent in ~ussex but the data are too inadequate to be certain.We had few records until 1995, when plants were specially looked for; only fertile plantswere accepted by TR. It occurs on mildly acid soils in unimproved meadows, edges of roads,and tracksides, often in open vegetation.It is probably quite widespread in Britain in the west and in areas with acidic soils, and ismainly western in Europe. It also occurs in Madeira and the Azores.

100PotentiJ/a X mixta (P. erecta x rep tans and P. anglica x rep tans).Many sterile plants creeping and rooting at the nodes were recorded under this name, mainlyin 1995 after PW had drawn our attention to how frequent they were. It is a composite taxonof two possible origins which are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Plants occurtypically on roadsides and hedge banks, often without either parent but rarely far from them.It is widespread in Britain.Potentilla rep tans. Creeping cinquefoil, Five fingers.Patches of this creeping plant are typical of roadsides, often in slightly more enriched sitesthan P. erecta. It can also dominate in grassland which is heavily grazed by rabbits, as theydo not seem to eat it.Virtually ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980) and in Europe, though rarer in the north; theMiddle East, Himalaya and North Africa.Potentilla sterilis. Barren strawberry.Common on the Forest IHall 19801.The most typical sites for this evergreen species are on hedge banks, in sunken lanes andon woodland banks where it does not get covered in leaf litter. Large populations along thebanks of Priory Road 1412.3381 and opposite Pooh car park 1472.3311 were mostly scrapedoff during over-zealous ditching works in spring 1995. It is often regarded as an ancientwoodland indicator species but occurs widely in our secondary woodlands,Common in the Weald and in Britain on moist, base-rich soils of intermediate pH, It isabsent from water-logged and drought-prone sites (Grime et al. 1988),It is an endemic, predominantly western, species in Europe. It becomes rare eastwardsand in the Czech Republic in 1993, JK and TR had to pull up Convallaria majalis and Polvgonatum odoratum to prevent itbeing shaded out in one of its two sites (Rich 1996).Fragaria vesca. Wild strawberry.Common around the Forest (Hall 1980).Our map gives more detail also showing it to occur mainly around the edges. It oftenoccurs on road banks with Potentilla sterilis but it may be less common because it grows beston calcareous soils of which we have few.The delicious little strawberries are eaten by birds, slugs and hungry botanists, It formspatches and spreads up to 1 metre at a time by stolons which appear after flowering in thelate summer; the stolons root when they contact moist soils and decay during the winter toleave separate plants for the following year.It is widespread in Britain and Europe, but is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). It is distributed world-wide in temperate areas and occurs at higher altitudes in the tropics,An odd, robust form has been recorded near Marden's Hill but is believed to belong to this taxon (det. A. C. Leslie). Ithas been recorded at 494.317, 1988, PW and 1995, TR near the old mill building.*Fragaria x ananassa. Garden strawberry.Tetrads 42J and 43A IHall 19801.A garden escape not re-recorded during our survey.Britain.It originated in cultivation, and is occasionally naturalized in*Duchesnea ;nd;ca. Yellow-flowered strawberry.Bank of path near garden, Nutley 1445.2781. 1995, RR & PH.Rarely established in Sussex, and mainly naturalized in southern woodlands in Britain. Itis widespread as a native in Asia, but is widely grown in gardens in Britain. The fruit isreputed to be poisonous.

101Geum urbanum. Wood avens.Primarily recorded from woods and hedge banks around the edge of the Forest, but alsooccasionally along the road verges in the more wooded areas where it seems to be associatedwith deer tracks (the achenes have a hooked barb which may catch on fur or clothing).Absent from the heath, acidic soils and waterlogged sites.Recorded in 93% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980), and widespread in Britain, Europe,Asia and North Africa.Agrimonia eupatoria. Agrimony, Church steeple.Frequent on tracksides and road verges, especially on the road banks.Recorded in 93% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in lowland Britainand Europe though rarer in the north; Asia Minor and North Africa.Agrimonia pro cera rA. odorata}. Fragrant agrimony.Tetrads 42T, 43G and 43W (Hall 1980).Verge east of Wych Cross (41.31),1995, TR & HP; track, Streeter's Rough (423.293),e 1994, TR; entrance to The Birches (446.329), 1993, PW et a/.; verge, Poundgate (481.285),1995, AK; less common than A. eupatoria and often growing with or near it.Probably most frequent in the Weald in Britain, but generally much scarcer in Britain andEurope than A. eupatoria. Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Differs from A. eupatoria in the much more fragrant smell from the abundant yellowglands, the notched petals, and the strongly reflexed bristles on the fruits which is the bestcharacter; if it is uncertain whether a plant is A. procera, then it is probably A. eupatoria.Alchemilla 'vulgaris'. Lady's mantle.On the Forest Ridge (Hemsley 1875) - presumably Ashdown Forest as this was for the Medway district.Alchemilla is a critical group widespread in northern Britain, but there are only likely to be two species to which thisrecord could refer, A. filicaulis or A. glabra. Both species are now apparently extinct in East Sussex although still commonand widespread in north-west Britain. Any sparsely hairy plants in natural sites should be examined carefully.A. glabra was last recorded in the Flora area on trackside near a cottage west of Crowborough (486.304), 1968, P.C. Hall and Furnace Wood (475.263), 1970, J. Milner (tetrads 42T and 43V, Hall 19801. Other East Sussex records wereHorsted Keynes 1958, Newick 1962 and Kingsfold 1966.A. vestita was recorded on the way to Mills Rocks, East Grinstead, 1913, P. Stockdale (BEX; Wolley-Dod 1913), justoutside our area. The other East Sussex records are Ardingly 1934 and Holebrook 1956.*Alchemilla mol/is. Garden lady's mantle.A typical plant regularly thrown out of gardens and established on rides; for instance tworoots were reported by B. Willard in topsoil imported to repair a track (AFN 16: 16-17).Interestingly, much more widely established on Ashdown Forest than elsewhere in Sussex, butpossibly increasing in Britain in general.It is native in south-east Europe and Asia.--++--""---"e'----'-IAphanes aggregate.The two species of Aphanes are difficult to distinguish from each other except in flower or fruit, and some have beenrecorded only to the aggregate, which is widely recorded in open, dry places throughout the British Isles.Both species are annuals which germinate mainly in the autumn and flower in the spring and early summer. In themild autumn of 1995 after the hot summer there was abundant germination of plants in places where they had not beenpreviously noted on the Forest, so they may be more widespread.

102Aphanes arvensis sensu stricto. Parsley-piert.Tetrads 33V and 33W (Hall 1980).Only recorded introduced with soil to Pippingford Park (444.303), 1993, SBRS. Locally common in Britain and Sussexon soils ranging from mildly acidic to calcareous.Aphanes inexspectata fA. microcarpa). Slender parsley-piert.Tetrads 43F (Hall 19801.Much more common on Ashdown Forest than A. arvensis s.s. and usually found on acidic soils, especially in dry opensites. Less common in Sussex and Britain than A. arvensis S.S., and predominantly western in Europe. Also found in NorthAfrica and North America.Aphanes agg. A. arvensis A. inexspectataRosa. Roses.This account is based on the B5BI Roses handbook (Graham & Primavesi 1993) which has replaced the standard 1930-1931 work by Wolley-Dod, and brought some consistency to an otherwise thorny problem. Wolley-Dod gave a name toeach hybrid or form, resulting in a complex plethora of taxa as shown in his Flora of Sussex; this approach has now beendropped in favour of more broadly defined species which may show some introgressed characters from other species. Ifanyone wants to spend their life in roses there is still much work to be done on the genetics and variation.Roses are quite variable within the species, and adjacent bushes can sometimes appear quite different. Plants arebest identified with both hips and foliage (beware of cut bushes whose foliage is often untypical). Most plants of speciesother than R. arvensis and R. canina have been seen by TR and a few of the more difficult specimens have been confirmedby Toni Primavesi. Graham & Primavesi (1993) also note that some hybrids are quite frequent, but we have recorded veryfew, probably because we have had enough problems getting to know the parents, let alone their wayward offspring.Most of the roses on Ashdown Forest are the glabrous species, R. can;na and R. arvens;s. The trick for finding therarer ones is to look for bushes with lots of glands or hairs on the leaflets, but as these tend to occur singly or in pairsscattered around the Forest verges and woodland edges, many R. can;na plants will have to be examined before they canbe picked out. The rarer species are likely to have been under-recorded to some extent as new ones have been foundwhilst driving round hedge-crawling.*Rosa multiflora. Many-flowered rose.One large bush opposite house near 5t John's (50.31), probably planted, PW, 1995.native in eastern Asia.It isRosa arvensis. Field-rose.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Frequent in hedges and in woodland around the edges of Ashdown Forest as clearlyshown on the distribution map, and especially frequent on clays. Whilst often associated withancient woodlands, this rose is a good colonist and also occurs on scrubby edges on theForest, sometimes in large patches where the cream-coloured, upturned flowers contrastbeautifully with the weak trailing purple-green stems. One bush on Ridge Road climbingthrough the trees was over 5 metres tall.It is easily distinguished from the other species by the exerted, united styles arising froma flat disk. It is common in Sussex and lowland England, though rare in the north andScotland, and frequent in south, central and western Europe, reaching its northern limit in the British Isles.

103osa x pseudorusticana fR. arvensis x sty/asa).Plants in a hedge west of stile, south-west of Mudbrooks House (402.337), 1995, PW looklike R, arvensis but have very sparsely hairy leaves and conical discs, with variable fruits. Thisis the first record for East Sussex, confirmed A. L. Primavesi.*Rosa g/aucB. Red~leaved rose.Planted and spreading by seed and suckers on the edge of Maskett's Wood (428.285) to formlarge patches but scarcely naturalized.Only rarely recorded as naturalized in Britain (usually bird-sown from gardens). Native incentral Europe.Rosa sty/asa. Short-styled field-rose.This rose may be quite overlooked in Sussex and south-east England, and will no doubt befound elsewhere too in hedges and wood edges - check hairy, upright bushes for united stylesarising from a conical disc at the top of the fruit.We have seven sites mainly on the clays; one bush in hedge east of Monkshill Farm(394.339), 1995, AK; Toll Lane, one bush outside farm (459.263) and another in hedge1452.266), 1995, TR; two bushes occur in a small unimproved field south-east of FairwarpFarm, 1993 +, PO 1473.265); several on south side of Furnace Wood (479.260), 1995, TR;single plant in woodland on roadside near Chuck Hatch (471.332), 1995, PO; one plant onwoodland edge by road near Fagot Stack Corner (488.324), 1995, PD. Also recorded fromtetrad 43G (Broadstone Warren - golf course area) in Briggs (1990) but not refound and an unexpected place for it.Mainly in southern Britain north to the Midlands, and locally distributed in south and west Europe.Rosa canina. Dog-rose.The commonest rose on the Forest (as it is in Sussex and Britain) on wood edges, hedges andverges, but absent from heath areas. One plant in woodland near Priory Road was about 6metres tall.Glabrous roses with free styles are likely to be this species, though it is quite a variablespecies and often has a few small glands on the leaves and sometimes hairs on the midribsunderneath (Group Pubescentes = R. dumetorum auct. non Thuill.); these hairy plants arequite widespread but have not been mapped separately.Widespread in Europe south of the Baltic, south-west Asia and North Africa.Rosa x dumetorum Thuill. (R. canina x obtusifolia).Three specimens of this hybrid collected by TR in 1995 (as R. obtusifolia or hairy R. canina !)have been named by A. L. Primavesi and are the first records for East Sussex: one bush bytelegraph pole in hedge on south side of track to Hunter's Farm (448.264); one on north sideof old railway line, Forest Row (437.348); several in a hedge at Quabrook 1444.343). Thishybrid is quite frequent where the parents grow near one another, and it shows a bewilderinggradation of forms between the parents.Rosa obtusifolia. Round-leaved dog-rose.Recorded from near Crow borough Warren by Wolley-Dod (1937) and possibly still around but not refound. It is said to befrequent in southern Britain in hedgerows and scrub, but we have very few recent records in Sussex. It is also found incentral, southern and north-west Europe.

104Rosa tomentosa. Harsh downy-rose.This species, our only member of the downy-rose group, has large, pointed, quite hairy [eaves I• • which look grey in colour, but no significant glands except on the peduncles. It is usually a• hedgerow species which can grow to 4 metres, but also grows in scrub and on woodlandedges, It occurs widely in southern Britain and is locally common on the chalk.Rare but quite characteristic of hedges around the edges of the Flora area, especially onthe north-east side of the Forest. One plant outside garden, Priory Road (421.3481; west ofPrickets Hatch (442.2701; at least four sites around Quabrook and Parrock Lane (44.341; Iwest end of Cackle Street (45.26); a few bushes in lane north of Hart's Farm (459.3351;somewhere near Newnham (49.28); one plant in hedge by junction at Hoadley's Farm!(507.325). Not yet refound in tetrad 42U where it was recorded in Hall (1980).It occurs mainly in southern Britain but reaching Scotland, widespread in Europe except the far north, Caucasus and IAsia Minor.Rosa rubiginosa. Sweet~briar.One bush on east verge of A26 near Pound gate (486.285), 1994, TR et al. It was mown flat iin autumn 1995, but will probably re~grow.The sweet~briar group (R. rubiginosa and R. micranthal are distinguished by the apple~scented, long~stalked glands on the leaves, and they can sometimes be found by smell fromacross the road! R. rubiginosa is distinguished from R. micrantha by the hairy styles, and they,also differ in habit, sepal and pedicel characters.This rose is most characteristic of chalk soils in southern Britain (it grows on clays atPoundgate), but also occurs in hedges and on suitable soils elsewhere north to Scotland.Widespread in Europe south of the Baltic, and also found in western Asia.Rosa micrantha. Small~flowered sweet~briar.Nutley, N. J. Treutler (Wolley-Dod 1937).• Scattered around, usually as single bushes, but rarely recorded from hedges. Northverge west of Wych Cross Place (418.319), TR, 1995; one bush at entrance to Birches onRidge Road (445.329), 1995, PW, one by pond and one on road to cricket ground nearby;hedge, Quabrook (444.343), 1995, TR; one on wood edge at Newbridge (459.326), 1995,PW (another in hedge to east, not very glandular and possibly hybrid but hips trimmed off,1995, TR); bank opposite Fairwarp turning (465.264), 1995, TR; Ridge Road west ofAshdown Park Hotel (426.324), 1995 TR & PW; one just inside entrance to Crows (or Doves)Nest (474.283), 1994, Flora meeting; one enormous bush c. 5 metres tall on track oppositeForest Lodge Farm (497.327), 1987-1995, PW; one near Fisher's Gate (493.336), 1987-1995, PW; one on roadside nearSt John's Church (502.320), 1995, TR;Plants tend to have small leaves with many glands, strongly curved prickles, and glabrous styles. It seems mostfrequent in the eastern half of the Forest for no reason obvious as yet. It is commonest on chalky soils in southern Britain,but is scattered through the Weald. Widespread in south, central and western Europe.*Prunus persica. Peach.One small shrub in bramble bush at Churl wood car park (416.310), 1993, Flora meeting,presumably resulting from a stone discarded after a picnic.Occasionally recorded in Britain elsewhere as a throw~out. It probably originally camefrom China.*Prunus cerasifera. Cherry plum.,--,--===----,--, Smockfarthing area (39.32), 1995, AK; one shrub in hedge on Parrock Lane (446.343), 1995,TR & PA; one small tree in hedge opposite entrance to Boringwheel Mill Farm (456.264),• 1995, TR & PA; Friar's Gate 149.33), 1995, SR.The first species to flower in spring (excepting the flowering cherries in gardens), whichis the easiest time to find it, but a search of roadside hedges in March 1995 failed to revealany more. Non~flowering specimens in shade could also occur. No fruit was seen in 1995; itapparently fruits rarely and rather sparingly in Britain.Mainly planted in hedges but also spread by birds, and increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Recorded occasionally in West Sussex, probably under-recorded in EastSussex, and widespread in Britain. Native in south-east Europe and south~west Asia.

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.

106*Prunus /aurocerasus. Cherry laurel.Given the number of records for the Forest in our map, it is surprisingly under~recorded in Hall(1980) possibly because such an obvious garden escape was ignored.It is often planted near houses but now well-established and spreading, with largergroves nearer houses and small plants in the middle of nowhere. The crushed leaves producecyanide as a metabolic intermediate, which is still used by entomologists to kill specimens; thekernel-like flavour was also once widely used for culinary purposes and was widely used forflavouring puddings and custards, or mixed with brandy sometimes with predictableconsequences. Nowadays it is planted more for screening.Fruits are produced abundantly and are spread widely, presumably by birds but perhapsalso by deer which may eat fallen fruit (some stones have been seen in deer droppings). The sweet sickly scent of thecandelabras of white flowers in April is quite noticeable. It casts a dense evergreen shade which suppresses all othergrowth underneath it. It is a growing threat to the Forest and may become a worse problem than rhododendron as itseems to be quite resistant to herbicides. Like rhododendron it comes from Turkey and south-west Asia and is spreading inBritain. It seems to appreciate our climate and grows rapidly; you could say laurel is hardy!*Pyrus pyraster. Wild pear.A275 verge, Chelwood Gate (416.3061, first seen 1977 Trudy Side & PW, still present 1988,PW, DB but not seen 1993 onwards despite several searches.An introduced tree possibly an escape or relict of cultivation. Scattered through lowlandBritain. Native in Europe.Malus aggregate. Apples.Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.The distinction between our cultivated and native wild apples is not clear, and we may not have recorded themconsistently. Cultivated apples are usually distinct in having hairy leaves, pedicels and calyces; such plants can often befound near houses and on the urban edges and roadsides. Plants in older areas of woodland, often with thorns, glabrousleaves and calyces have been recorded as crab apples (M. sy!vestris), but they often have hairy pedicels and very sparselyhairy leaves which according to Stace (1991) suggests that these also be called M. domestica. Perring (1968) suggeststhat the original native woodland trees were glabrous and have since become introgressed with genes from cultivatedapples.Malus sy/vestris. Crab apple.It is widely recorded on the Forest but not in the acidic podzol areas, and prefers the clayeyand richer soils. In April and May, the lovely pinkish-white flowers make trees stand out inopen woodland and on wood edges. In 1995 the apple crop was superb, the groundunderneath many trees being littered with fallen fruit. Roasted crabs were once a favouriteautumn pudding, and windfalls are still collected on a small scale to make crab apple jelly.Crabtree Farm is near Camp Hill.Widespread in lowland Britain, Europe and south-west Asia.*Malus domestica. Apple.The distribution is strongly related to roads and habitation, if the former, almost always withinan apple core's throw from the road. Other plants are found near habitation where they maybe bird-sown or from discarded fruit. Self-sown plants usually have small, yellowish sourfruits (Stace 19911.Forge apples are a local variety reputed to have arisen when a blacksmith near EastGrinstead made some cider. He discarded the pulp by his forge, and a few seeds grew toproduce a new apple (Wickens 1948), We do not know if they survive.Deer cause a lot of damage to apple trees in orchards. Two ancient Sussex customs toget trees to bear fruit well were apple howling (where small boys howled around the tree atNew Year) and 'christening' the trees on St Swithin's Day (AFN 14: 21-22), but sadly neither seems to be practised thesedays.Widespread in lowland Britain. It originated in cultivation, and now over a thousand cultivars are known.

orbus aucuparia. Rowan, Mountain ash, Ouickbeam.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).We have recorded it in virtually every square where it occurs in woodland and onwoodland edges, by roads and rarely in hedges. It grows on most soils except where waterlogged.1995 was a very good year for fruit, many trees groaning under their weight at the endof July. The berries ripened red by the middle of August, and most were still on the trees inthe autumn. The seeds have a winter-chilling requirement so germinate mainly in the spring.The seedlings are very shade-tolerant but are quite palatable, so trees tend to be rare in grazedwoods such as around Pippingford Park.First reported in the Weald in 1597 and oddly suggested not to be native in Kent, though we in Sussex have nositation in accepting it. It is widespread in the Weald, especially on acidic soils, less common on the clays (Hall 1980),d in most of Britain except the Midland agricultural belt. It is widespread in Europe, north Asia Minor and the Moroccanountains.Sorbus intermedia. Swedish whitebeam.One tree by lane, Isle of Thorns 1417.307), 1995, TR & PA, not obviouslY planted.Not recorded as established in Sussex (Hall 1980). Scattered in Britain and increasingprobably as an escape from cultivation (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is native in countriesaround the Baltic.1070 Sorbus aria. Common whitebeam.Old Lodge in plantation, 1987, MR, probably not the same tree that was seen growing on theboundary of Old Lodge in 1987, PW - neither has been refound and the latter was believed tohave been lost in a fire.Millbrook Hill, in middle of wet heath on slight mound by slit trenches 1442.296), 1995• and before, OK - the tree has many stems and may have been coppiced during BTCV work;one tree 4 metres tall c. 100 metres west of old airstrip 1424.308), 1995, MR, CM; planted inHindleap Warren Ic. 414.326), 1994, TR; one tree by path at Chelwood Gate 1411.300),1995, TR & PA. It is not native on the Forest and is probably bird-sown from the Isle ofThorns where it is planted, the trees differing in leaf shape from native West Sussex plants.Sorbus aria has an interesting distribution in Britain, being native on the chalk and limestone in southern Britain. Itnay also be native on the acidic Lower Greensand soils in the western Weald where there is a constant, smaller-leavedorm which is quite widespread. It is found throughout Europe.'Sorbus cuspidata. Large-leaved whitebeam.One small tree with its very distinctive large leaves under birch tree by path at Chelwood Gate1410.300), TR & PA, 1995; this appears to be bird-sown, but it is usually planted.iorbus torminalis. Wild service-tree, Chequer tree, Chequers.lecorded from the south-east edge of the Forest in tetrad 42T IHall 1980), but not yet refound. Recently planted in'ippingford Park by A. Morriss.This species has been studied in detail in Britain by Roper (1993). The tree is a useful indicator of ancient woodlandnd hedges, and shows a marked preference for two types of soil: those derived from clays and those derived from hardermestones. In the Weald there is a strong concentration in the area north-west of Romney Marsh between Ashford and:obertsbridge, spreading west more thinly to Ashdown Forest. In this area the trees grow on the Weald Clay, andVadhurst and Guestling Clays of the Hastings Beds, but they are almost entirely absent from the Gault Clays and theIshdown Sands.It has long associations with man in the Weald, and may have been widely planted. The fruits, known as chequers,le re eaten within living memory but they are bitty, do not taste very nice and need to be bletted. They were also used to1ake a cider-like drink hence the name is associated with public houses such as Chequers Hotel in Forest Row and~aresfield. It occurs in Europe, Asia Minor and Algeria.

108* Amelanchier lamarckii.• • •Juneberry.Scattered isolated plants occur in woodland in the Braberry Hatch - Chelwood Vachery area(42.29,43.29), 1994, TR+; three bushes in woodland, Forest Row (429.345), 1995, PW;old tree, Shepherds Gate (448.332), 1995, PW; Spring Farm area, planted (46.32), 1993 .Becoming quite widely established, often as scattered bird-sown plants on acidic soils inopen woodland and scrub in lowland Britain (Schroeder 1970). Introduced to gardenslpossibly from North America.*Cotoneaster x wateri.Waterer's cotoneaster.Wall of St john's Church, Crowborough (503.317), 1995, PW (det. j. Fryer).A hybrid grown in gardens and quite widely naturalized in Britain.*Cotoneaster horizontaJis. Wall cotoneaster.Recorded naturalized around Nutley.This Chinese plant is widely grown in gardens and is commonly naturalized in Britain.*Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii. Hjelmqvist's cotoneaster.One small plant c. 1 metre tall on roadside by Round Wood (394.339), 1994, TR & R. j.Warren (det. J. R. Palmer). It survived one hedge cutting and was still present in 1995.It is rarely naturalized in Britain, and possibly originated from China.*Cotoneaster simonsii. Himalayan cotoneaster.Scattered records of small bushes near habitation.Widely naturalized in Britain, usually in woods and scrub edges. Native in the Himalayas,*Cotoneaster bullatus. Hollyberry cotoneaster.Scattered records of small bushes near habitation (e.g. track east of Jumper's Town 1995PW, and near Summerford (469.261 and 469.262),1993, TR+, both det. j. Fryer).Yet another Chinese garden plant Widely naturalized in Britain.

109r*Crataegus persimilis. Broad-leaved cockspur-thorn.bout ten scattered trees planted in Raven Wood (431.311 I, 1995, TR. These trees are not regenerating at Raven Wood,ut are known to be bird-sown and established elsewhere in southern England. They differ from C. crus-gall! in havinglightly hairy veins on the undersides of the leaves.]Crataegus monogyna. Hawthorn, May, Cuckoo's bread-and-cheese tree, Agarve, Agasse, Hogarve, Hoghazel, Hog-go5se.Recorded in every square on the Forest, in woods, hedges, scrub and on roadsides; rapidlycolonising drier neglected grassland sites on the better soils, and only rarely a primary colonistof heaths, for example near Gills Lap 1466.317). Cultivars with pink, double flowers areplanted around Nutley.This species tends to set fruit when cross-pollinated and may be largely selfincompatible.The fruits turned red at the beginning of September 1995, and were stillpresent on the bushes in February 1996 but then disappeared rapidly in the cold weather.They are dispersed by resident and migratory birds and small mammals.Without doubt the commonest species planted in hedges in Sussex, often with Cory/usave//ana. The 'Isle of Thorns' is an enclosure made of thorns, and the hedge includes at least some hawthorn. The Sussexxpression 'gathering knots of may' has become corrupted by some to 'gathering nuts in May'.Ubiquitous in Sussex, lowland Britain and Europe east to Afghanistan.Crataegus laevigata x monogyna. Hybrid hawthorn.This hybrid is quite frequent around the Forest as scattered plants, and may occur in theabsence of either parent, but usually occurs near C. /aevigata. It tends to occur in open• woodland and in hedges, possibly where originally planted.Byatt (1975) analysed Crataegus populations in south-east England lincluding AshdownForest - the grid reference should be TQ/42.30; pers. comm. 1996) and found that mostpopulations contain hybrids and show varied degrees of introgressive hybridisation.It is widely recorded in lowland Britain.Crataegus laevigata. Midland hawthorn.Forest Row, H. F. Parsons (Wolley-Dod 1937). Seven tetrad records including some in themiddle of the Forest IHall 1980).Most typically a plant of woodland on heavy clay soils IByatt 1975) as shown clearly bythe map, and usually regarded as an ancient woodland plant. Where it is frequent this may betrue, but it has recolonised a number of secondary woodland sites on the edge of the Forest,as at Priory Road 1412.338-1 and Toll Lane 1461.2631, presumably bird-sown. The mostunusual site was one bush on the north verge of Ridge Road c. 50 metres east of theAshdown Park Hotel entrance 1429.324).Crataegus /aevigata and the hybrid tend to flower a couple of weeks before C. monogynaand can then be picked out for examination in more detail later.Widespread in the Weald, especially on the clays, and in lowland south-east Britain. It is endemic to Europe.FABACEAE*Robinia pseudacacia. False acacia.Two well-grown trees outside 'Dell Wood', Tompset's Bank 142.331, 1995, PW; Forest Row142.341, 1995, PO & DB; spreading out of gardens near Bank Cottage 143.331, 1995, TR;large tree outside Oldlands Farm 1477.268), 1995, TR.Often planted and occasionally naturalized (probably mostly spreading vegetatively).]--++-----'-+-Occasional in Sussex and increasingly recorded in England especially on sandy soils (Clement& Foster 1994). Native in North America.4 5

110Lotus corniculatus. Common bird's-foot-trefoil, Boots-and-shoes, Cuckoo's stockings, Eggs-and-bacon, Lady's fingers, MiI~maidens, Pattens-and-clogs, Pig's pettitoes, Shoes-and- stockings and many more!iWe have it from every square in car parks, along rides and in pastures. It seems tolerant 0\quite wet ground.iUbiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980) and Britain, probably the most ecologically wide-ranginglegume in Britain. Widespread in Europe, Asia, North Africa and the East African mountains.Large continental forms of this plant are often sown on road verges in so-called ' wild,flower seed mixtures'. An upright form was noted on the verges of the A22 north of Nutley,(44.29), 1994, TR but its ongin is unknown.Lotus pedunculatus (L. uliginosus). Greater bird's-foot-trefoil.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980). Locally abundant on wet soils and in the flushes;sometimes forming quite large clumps, usually in ungrazed or lightly grazed sites.It has nitrogen-fixing nodules in the roots with the bacterium Rhizobium lupini, as havemost legumes. Grime et al. (1988) note that legumes may be rare in wetlands as the;nitrogen-fixing processes need oxygen which is in short supply in water-logged soils, and this:species is the only common wetland legume in Britain. It tends to occur in the drier parts ofiwetlands, and it is fairly sensitive to ferrous iron toxicity.Widespread in Sussex and Britain. Widespread in west, central and southern Europe,North Africa and the Canary Islands.Vicia cracca. Tufted vetch.Widespread but never common on the Forest, and usually on verges or climbing up hedges;the purple tufts of flowers are more readily spotted in hedges than the low-growing plants onroads ides which are often mown and do not flower. It needs other vegetation for support, andmanages to pull itself up by the tendrils at the ends of the leaves.Ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980), and widespread in Britain. Increasing in England (Rich& Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe and Asia; in Japan and Greenland.Vicia hirsuta. Hairy tare.Records in Hall (1980) for the Flora area are confined to tetrad 42T (not refoundl, although itWe have found it in four sites: tens of plants with Filago minima on road verge near Goatcross-roads (397.332), 1992, AK and seen there until 1994; lawns at Isle of Thorns(449.265), pH 5.3, 1994, TR; sandy field north of Old Lodge (458.303), c. 1990, OK but notThis plant clearly prefers sandy rather than clayey soil and is relatively common on the Lower Greensand in Westbeen seen recently near the coast in the far south-east and in Buckhurst Park. Nationally its distribution is concentrated inthe south-east but it is less common in Sussex than in the adjoining counties, and is decreasing in England (Rich &Ornithopus perpusillus. Bird's-foot.is recorded for two further tetrads in 42L and 42X just to the south of Ashdown Forest.3-+~--~~--~- (418.304), 1995, Flora meeting; abundant on the north side of a track to Hunter's Farm4 5refound in 1994/5, OK & TR.In the site near Goat cross-roads it appeared after clearance of a road verge, but by 1995had disappeared as a result of the area becoming very overgrown. In November 1995numerous seedlings were found at the Hunter's Farm locality on bare ground created by the summer drought.Sussex. In East Sussex it only occurs in scattered localities where, apart from the sites in Ashdown Forest, it has onlyWoodruff 1996). Mainly western in Europe.3-4~-------..-L+-4 5Seven tetrads on the Forest (Hall 1980).Forest Row, verge of old railway (436.347), 1995, PW; soil dumped on roadside oppositERadio Station (473.292), 1994, SBRS; verge with disturbed soil, Marden's Hill (499.325), p~7.6, 1993 but gone by 1994, TR.The white to very pale lilac flowers of this species contrast with the distinctly pale blUEflowers of V. tetrasperma. Both V. hirsuta and V. tetrasperma are distinctly rare on thEForest, with the latter being relatively more frequent despite being reported from fewer tetrad~in Hall (1980).Common and widespread in Sussex, lowland Europe, western Asia and North Africa.

111icia tetrasperma. Smooth tare.Four tetrads on the Forest (Hall 1980).Usually found as a few plants scattered along rides, but never common, and in thefarmland around. Twyford area (39.31), 1993/4, DB; south of Nutley (44.261, 1993, MM;near lake, Lines Farm (44.34),1995, PW; Newbridge (457.326),1994, Flora meeting; 46.31,3 -+t-----'-t- 1993, PO; south of Chuck Hatch (473.329),1994, TR; 49.31,1993, MM.Hall (1980) noted that in Sussex it prefers damper ground than V. hirsuta, and this mayexplain why it is more frequent on the silty Forest soils. It is widespread in south-eastEngland, and rarer elsewhere in Britain. Widespread in Europe except the far north; western4 5Asia, Japan and North Africa.Vicia sepium. Bush vetch.3 -+.----""4 5Many tetrads on the Forest, but one of the few places it is not ubiquitous in the Sussex Weald(Hall 1980).Scattered around the Forest in the villages and on roadsides and hedges, and occasionallyin open woodland. It is quite characteristic of the bushy edges of car parks.In south-east England it tends to occur on moist soils often in partial shade but is lessrestricted in the north and west, perhaps reflecting a requirement for moisture (Grime et al.1988). Widespread in Britain and Europe, though rare in the Mediterranean region, temperateAsia and Greenland.Vicia sativa. Common vetch, Fitches.This is an aggregate with a complex taxonomic history which means the old records aredifficult to interpret, and should be treated as Vicia sativa sensu lata (e.g. Hall 1980, etc.).Like V. sepium it is scattered around the Forest on roadsides and in the villages. Thecommonest taxon of this group on the Forest is subsp. segetalis and probably all records canbe referred to this. Very narrow-leaved plants were noted on track sides south of Brown'sBrook (472.2771, 1994, Flora meeting and could be subsp. nigra.Widespread in Britain, and in Europe except the far north; temperate Asia and North4 5Africa.* Vicia !aba. Broad bean.One plant on verge to Hunters Farm (449.2651, possibly carried by pigeons from nearby field, 1995, TR & G. M. Kay.Gone by January 1996, probably eaten by a hungry bunny.Lathyrus linifolius (L. montanus). Bitter-vetch.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Most typical of hedge banks and verges, sometimes in sun or light shade, usually onmoderately but not strongly acidic soils. A lovely plant and one of TR's favourites.Widespread in the Weald in Sussex but rare elsewhere. It occurs throughout Britain in4 5woodland, moorland, unimproved grassland and hedgebanks on acidic to neutral soils; many ofthe sites are somewhat damp or humid. It is decreasing in England, presumably due to habitatloss (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in west, central and southern Europe to Russia, andin North Africa.*Lathyrus latifolius. Broad-leaved everlasting-pea.Firebreak on heath imported on soil used to improve the track, Duddleswell (465.282), 1993,PW.A garden escape or throw-out now widely established and 'Increasing 'In Britain onroadsides, railway banks and waste ground {Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in southern and3 -++_-----'-+_ central Europe and North Africa.4 5

112Lathyrus nissolia. Grass vetchling, Shoes-and-stockings.,--,---------,------, Several plants on dumped soil outside Twyford Farm (397.312), 1994, DB & TR, but wherethe soi! came from is another matter! This species can be very difficult to see amongst grassias its leaves match the grass leaves, but the red flowers or the pale brown pods usually give itiaway.IPredominantly recorded in south-east England and frequent in Sussex, It seems to belincreasing by spreading along major road verges (e.g. along the M4; Rich 1994c), a favouredlhabitat being the tall Arrhenatherum grassland. In Sussex it has a patchy distributionapparently unrelated to soils (Hall 1980), Widespread in west, central and southern Europe to45the Caucasus and Syria; North Africa.Lathyrus pratensis. Meadow vetchling, Tom thumb.,-,----===,-----,----, Frequent in meadows where not heavily grazed and on verges around the Forest and mostiabundant on the clays or in limed meadows where the soil pH is slightly higher. The map!]shows it occurs mainly around the edges of the Forest, and it is absent from the heathland andwoodland. :Ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980), in Britain and widespread in Europe. It is also found inlAsia from Siberia south to the Himalaya, and in North Africa.i*Me/i/otus a/bus. White melilot.Tetrad 42Z (Hall 1980), not refound.Usually a casual scattered in Sussex on disturbed ground, and more established in the larger conurbations. Native inEurasia and North Africa.Medicago lupulina.4Black medick, Nonesuch.Our maps shows some interesting lines of records mainly related to the roads - it tends tooccur on the more base-rich soils in open grassland on the verges which agrees with theobservations of Grime et al. (1988) who note it is commonest on calcareous, moderately,disturbed infertile soils in Britain and is essentially a colonist of bare areas. Calcareous dustfrom limestone chippings used to surface the roads gets deposited on the verges.Recorded in Sussex in 90% of the tetrads (Hall 1980), and in lowland Britain.Widespread in Europe except the far north, temperate Asia and North Africa. Sometimescultivated for forage.5Medicago sativa subsp. sativa. Lucerne.A few plants in rough grass at the southern end of Duddleswell car park (466.273), 1995, TR;Newnham area (49.28), 1994, SBRS.Rarely grown now as a fodder crop though it was formerly commonly so, andconsequently decreasing as an escape from cultivation (Rich & Woodruff 1996). The plants at3 Duddleswell may have originated from seed used to sow the car park, and it is also sometimesfound in bird seed. Locally frequent on the chalk in Sussex, and scattered through lowlandEngland. Native in Eurasia and North Africa.4 5Medicago arabica. Spotted medick.Bank of Long car park on foreign soil (427.311), 1995, PW; Chelwood Vachery (43.30),1994, Flora meeting; dumped soil in Pippingford Park (444.303), 1993, SBRS; verge at TollLane (462.263), 1993, TR.Very much a warmth-loving plant, and scattered along the coastal region in Sussex with3 -++--'"'''"-----'__\_ fewer records in the Weald. Similarly in Britain it is only frequent in the extreme south-east ofEngland, and occurs scattered around the coast elsewhere. Mainly in southern Europe,4 5extending north to Britain and the Netherlands, and in North Africa. ,II

113Trifolium rep ens. White clover"Recorded in every tetrad in Sussex (Hall 1980).We have recorded it in every square too.Widespread in Britain, Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is extensively sown as anagricultural crop; we have not investigated which of the numerous cultivars are established inour area.4 5* Trifolium hybridum. Alsike clover.Nine tetrads around the edge of the Forest (Hall 1980), surprisingly frequent as we onlyrecorded it once, as a few plants scattered through a rushy pasture at The Farm {392.326),1995, TR, a most peculiar place for it and totally out of character. Perhaps the decline is dueto it no longer being sown on roads ides or grown as a crop.3 -I--+----------1--l-- Probably introduced throughout Britain, and widespread in the lowlands especially onverges. Native in southern Europe and Asia.4 5Trifolium campestre. Hop trefoil.Seven tetrad records on the Forest (Hall 1980), yet we have only recorded one plant hidingunder Genista anglica on ride near Stone Cottage (445.327), Sylvia Priestly, 1995; it is oddlyrare but is perhaps more commonly associated with basic soils.In Sussex locally common in open places on the chalk and frequent elsewhere.3 -I--I-----l..I- Widespread in lowland Britain, and in Europe except the extreme north and east, western Asiaand North Africa.4 5Trifolium dubium. Lesser trefoil.Widespread on the Forest on verges, damp grassland, lawns, etc.Recorded in Sussex in 90% of the tetrads (Hall 1980). Widespread and increasing inEngland (Rich & Woodruff 1996), possibly as it is often accidentally sown as a contaminant ofT. rep ens seed (Grime et al. 1988). Widespread in Europe except the extreme north, andNorth Africa.Trifolium micranthum. Slender trefoil.Tetrads 42N, 43W and 53A (Hall 1980).Scattered across the Forest on damp clayey soils. 1995 was a very good year for it,4 5with many new records from previously botanised places but it had disappeared completely byJuly!This species is easily confl:lsed with depauperate T. dub/um, especially on mown lawns,but is much rarer. On the Forest it typically has 3-6 flowers, each with a slender pedicel and adarker yellow colour than T. dub/um but not as orange as it can be elsewhere in Britain. Theterminal leaflet also has a stalk about the same length as those on the side leaflets, whilstlesser trefoil has it distinctly longer.Perhaps commonest in south-east England in Britain, but widely scattered in open grassland and especially lawns.Western and southern Europe, the Caucasus and North Africa.

114Trifolium pratense. Red clover.Recorded in Sussex in every tetrad (Hall 1980), and we have only failed to find it in onesquare where there are no road verges and the fields are all heavily improved.Widespread in Britain, Europe, western Asia and North Africa. A very variable species,with many cultivars.Trifolium medium. Zigzag clover.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent on road verges on the Forest, and only rarely in grassland.In Sussex locally frequent on heavy soils in the east and much scarcer in the west.Widespread in lowland Britain, also usually in grassland on heavy soils with intermediate3 fertility (Grime et aI, 1988). It tends to occur in older grasslands and can be long-lived, to iform clonal patches. These clones are self-incompatible and some isolated clones may not setseed. Widespread in Europe except the extreme north and south, Caucasus and westernSiberia.4 jTrifolium arvense. Hare's-foot clover.Tetrad 42U (Hall 19801, but we have not recorded it.An annual species very characteristic of dry, sandy ground and only occasional in East Sussex though locally frequenton the Lower Greensand in West Sussex. It is locally frequent in suitable sandy places in lowland Britain and Europe. Italso occurs in north and west Asia and North Africa.*Lupinus x rega/is. Russelllupin.Single plant on grassy verge near Sutton's Farm (401.3121, 1994, DB. Probably now thecommonest lupin naturalized in Britain and often confused with one of its parents, L.polyphyflus.It originated in cultivation from American parents.3 -++-~~~----'-+-4 j*Laburnum anagyroides. Laburnum.Presumably planted in hedge, St John's (50.31 I, 1993, TR.Widely established in Britain. Native in central and southern Europe.3 -++-------l-l-4 jCytisus scoparius. Broom.Recorded in every tetrad on the Forest except 33W (Hall 19801.Widely recorded now on roadsides, woodland rides and disturbed areas, and muchincreased over the last 30 years. It is locally abundant in several areas east of Nutley, possiblyon the sandier soils. At the turn of the century on Ashdown Forest it was used by commonersas a short-term thatch for animal shelters. Broomhill and Broom Farm are local names.Very common in the Weald on well-drained, acidic soils, and widespread in similar placesin Britain but rare in intensively farmed areas. It requires open conditions for establishment butcan persist for some time in bracken. Widespread in west, central and southern Europe.

115Genista tinctoria. Dyer's greenweed.--,-==,---,------, Tetrads 42T, 43H and 43M (Hall 1980).Recorded around the edge of the Forest in unimproved meadows on clays; a few plantsin meadow, Oalingridge Farm (398.323), 1993, TR, much increased in size but not quantityafter grazing animals were removed in 1995; a few plants in meadow near Coleman's Hatch3 --+-j-___----.J'+_(456.332), 1994, TR & SR; locally abundant in meadow at Marsh Green (463.335), 1994,4 5SBRS; a few grazed plants in meadow east of Fairwarp Farm (472.265), 1993, PO & TR.In Sussex it is still locally frequent on the clays in unimproved pastures, but it isdecreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Coleman (1836) recorded it as 'too commonin pastures', Locally distributed in Britain but quite widespread, and in most of Eurasia.Genista pilosa. Hairy greenweed.All the historical records traced are given below, and seem to resolve themselves into three areas - Gills Lap (aboveHartfield and Newbridge), Black Hill (road to Groombridge), and Crowborough. There are also references to 'Nutley' in thegeneral floras but there are no details or specimens, so it should be treated as a generalisation.On Ashdown Forest between Groombridge and Maresfield, Mr Hankey (Forster 1842; BM); Ashdown Forest, J.Woods, 1853 (BM); Plentiful on the high part of the Forest near the branching road from Maresfield to Groombridge toHartfield (Deakin 1871); On both sides of the road on the high part of Ashdown Forest above Hartfield "this plant isplentiful in the above locality, a very wild and heathy district. It is easily passed over as Genista anglica", T. Walker, 1873(BM); Plentiful in several places in the Forest near Nutley, Hartfield, etc. (Hemsley 1875); Crowborough, August 1877 'anautumn-flowering specimen, the usual time being the spring', W. W. Reeves (BM; undated in TlS); Ashdown Forest, 1884,G. E. M. Holmes (BM); Ashdown Forest, Miss A. Wall is (Arnold 1887; BM); Near Newbridge, 1890, C. E. Salmon (BM);Ashdown Forest, 1893, E. H. Farr (LTR); Ashdown Forest, 1893 and 1895, T. Hilton (BTN); near Newbridge, 1903, C. E.Salmon & W. E. Nicholson (BM); Ashdown Forest, 1905, E. H. Farr (BTN); Near Gills Lap, 1911 (Done 1914).Crowborough Warren, 1912, j. Roffey (BM). Ashdown Forest, F. j. Hanbury, 1916 (BM); near Newbridge, 71919, j. H.Stephens (BTN); Ashdown Forest near Hartfield, H. S. Redgrove, 1934 (BM); near Newbridge, 1934, j. E. Lousley (BM);above Hartfield, June 1935 in flower, E. C. Wall ace and August 1935 in fruit, J. E. Lousley (BM); In many places betweenHartfield and Nutley, formerly locally plentiful, and in other parts of Ashdown Forest, several observers to 1936 (WolleyDod 1937). Above Newbridge, about a dozen plants; above Chuck Hatch, only one plant: all 1944, fortunately survivingdamage in the Ashdown Forest area from military training, FR, C. West & j. R. Wallis (Rep. BEC. 12: 712).Did Wolley-Dod over-state its frequency in "many places"? Two sites have been known within living memory, theGills Lap area and Black Hill (M. Briggs, D. Coombe, R. Groom, A. Hoare, C. D. Pigott, F. Rose, pers. comms. 1995-6). Nodetails of the Crowborough site have been traced.Plants have been seen in at least two places, possibly four places, at Gills Lap. The 1944 plants seen by FR were onthe west side of Gills Lap, and east of the 82026 near Wren's Warren (c. 471.320). George Dent gave detailed directionsof how to find the plants on the west side of Gills Lap on Kidd's Hill (465.317), 1946, and low stunted bushes, 1948(Dent 1928-1953). From c. 1946 Donald Pigott knew several plants c. 100 metres from the road on the shallow podzolwith Cal/una, V/ex minor, Deschampsia flexuosa and with Genista ang/ica nearby, and showed them to David Coombe in1949. He last saw them in about 1953/4 just as the rabbits began to die out, and the area began to grow up and becomeinvaded by scrub. The vegetation then became more vulnerable to fire, due to the bulk of combustible material, than thepreviously rabbit-grazed stunted heathland. Another large plant occurred on the south-eastern bank of the B2026 but thatalso became over-grown. FR saw them again in 1958. Gills Lap was severely burnt in May 1960, and virtually the wholecolony was wiped out; only one plant was found in 1961 close to a path (Streeter 1961). This loss is the origin of thecomment about the susceptibility to fire in Briggs (1990), though Coombe has observed its ability to survive light fires onthe Lizard. Another possible hairy plant (90% sure, but unconfirmed!) was found by AH in 1980 on the east side of theroad about 50 metres north-east of the junction at Gills Lap, but when he returned to check it in flower a couple of weekslater the verge had been mown flat and there was no sign of the plant. Neither AH nor Coombe could refind it in 1981 .The second site, on the old Roman road north-east of Greenwood Gate Clump at Black Hill (476.312), was refound byRon Groom on 6 June 1965, following up a reference to the road from Maresfield to Groombridge in Forster and Deakin(cf. above), and clearly where the plant had been lurking ever since. He searched the heathland and found first G. ang/icaand then by sheer luck "at least eleven clumps of G. pilosa in flower but no fruits formed yet". They were growing withbushy heather c. 60 cm high, and the Genista was also of a similar height. He revisited the site in August 1971 but it hadaltered appreciably with an extensive area burnt, and the ride had been widened into the Genista patch as a firebreak. Heeventually found two prostrate plants on the ride with a few fruits and still a few flowers. Ron assumed his site was theknown site, but whilst talking with Ted Wall ace in 1972 it ~ecame apparent that it was a different one to the extinct siteat Gills Lap. On 18 April 1973, Ron and Ted went to the Forest to meet Mary Briggs, and they searched unsuccessfully foran hour, eventually giving up and having a picnic. Later that day, Ron and Ted returned for a final search and found oneplant on the ride almost where they had lunched! On 3 August 1973, Ran searched again: "Genista pi/osa was refound bythe ride. Two large plants were located, the one seen in April and another, as large, a yard away; each was over a footacross with numerous offset rosettes but no sign of it having flowered this year. Both looked fairly vigorous and healthy".In 1974, Mary and Alan Briggs "on a perfect June evenin'g, found the lay-by, walked onto the heath in the sunset - G.anglica was in full flower and standing out brightly in the evening sun, but a little further on a low clump of deeperyellow ... G. pi/osa!/I One large floriferous tussock and three smaller plants each with a few flowers scattered nearby". The

116plants were photographed by Peter Wakely for the Nature Conservancy Council in June 1974 (see Plate 1).On Mary'gnext visit, the plants were almost under a pile of logs constructed for a horse jump, and this was to be the death of thejplants. On 10 March 1975, David Coo,m,be found the site severely ~am~ged by pony jU,n;ping, one, plant ~a~ at least a thirdlof its branches damaged and the survIving part was about 20 cm In diameter. Ran vIsited the site again In August 1976"the furzy ground between the road and the main ride has been burnt this year and the fire came within a few feet of theiplants. The plants appear to be doing well but no sign of the fruits. There are two main clumps with a number of separateplants in each, very prostrate here" and again in June 1977 "we found three plants this time, two very prostrate and hardlYIgrowing well with no flowers, the third on the edge of the ride just a few inches from last year's burnt ground - thisflowering sparsely. The Genista pilosa seems to be in a precarious situation". This appears to be the last recordi(incorrectly cited as 1978 and 1979 in 8riggs 1990) and despite repeated searches it has not been seen since. InSeptember 1979 David Coombe failed to refind it, noting much erosion and pony jumps. Searches by the SBRS in c.11982, 70 botanist hours by Lady Rosemary Fitzgerald and co-workers for the Nature Conservancy Council in June 1987,Ron Groom in 1993 and a Flora meeting in 1994 also failed. For the record, the plants occurred 202 paces along the track:from the edge of the road, opposite the lay-by with the post box by Heasman's Lodge Farm entrance.The loss of this Red Data Book species is perhaps one of the most significant losses from Ashdown Forest, and theplant is now extinct in south-east England. Attempts had been made on several occasions to draw attention of severalrelevant authorities to the plight of the Gills Lap and Black Hill plants, but no action was taken (Streeter 1961). Even aslong ago as 1915 a local botanist W. E. Nicholson hoped N. Charles Rothschild and his recently formed Society for thePromotion of Nature Reserves would be able to provide 'some form of protection' for Genista pilosa which had suffered,'grievously' from Forest fires started by soldiers camped where it grew (pers. comm. P. Marren, 1996). The plant can beincredibly difficult to see when not in flower as it often grows prostrate forming mats amongst other vegetation, but the'large, bright yellow flowers for a short period in May-June are more obvious, and it looks like a small prostrate broom, quite.different from petty whin. It could still lurk somewhere on the Forest - the old records indicate it was once quite'widespread, If dormant seed is still present in the soil it could reappear again if disturbed, as legumes generally have a longseed viability.Genista pilosa is an interesting species with an odd distribution and ecology in Britain. Its main and most familiarhabitat now is sea cliffs in west Cornwall and Pembrokeshire, where it may often be abundant on the tops of cliffs andslopes on generally open ground, on serpentine or base-rich soils. It has also been known for many years on ledges out ofthe reach of sheep on the weakly basic soils over half-way up Cadir Idris at altitudes of 1300-2000 ft in mid Wales, andwas found more recently growing on limestone pavements in the Brecon Beacons. It was last definitely reported on thedry heaths of the Breckland prior to 1866. In south-east England it has been recorded in Ashdown Forest, and fromWrotham Heath in Kent in 1831, Prof. Henslow (BM). Details of an unconfirmed locality at Broadwater Forest (Wolley-Dod1937) are lacking; a letter from A. H. Wolley-Dod to FR in 1943 "My notes say the late E. D. Morgan found it onBroadwater Forest. No other details ...". These widely scattered sites with markedly different climates and soils indicate arelict distribution from more widespread occurrences earlier in this interglacial period.It is likely that plants from different parts of Britain are ecotypes adapted to different soils. Plants grown fromcuttings from plants on basic soils in Cornwall have grown well in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden on acalcareous sandy loam for over 30 years, and retain their prostrate, mat-like habit. On the other hand, rooted cuttingstaken in 1975 from already damaged Ashdown Forest plants, growing on acid podsolized soils, grew for about two yearsat Cambridge but suffered severe chlorosis (presumably lime-induced) and did not survive as unfortunately they were nottreated with sequestrene. Not only were the last-seen Sussex plants more straggly and upright than western cliff-topplants and possibly less silky-hairy, but they were probably physiologically different too. It is notable that in central Europeit can grow to 1 metre tall, and is almost certainly different from the coastal plants in north and west Europe.In Europe Ellenberg (1988) classifies it as a sub-oceanic plant indicative of fairly warm conditions which usually occurin open well-lit places and sometimes in partial shade. It is described as a calcifuge, usually on soils poor in availablenitrogen but variable in soil moisture, and it occurs in a similarly broad range of habitats. It occurs in the dry lowlandCalluna heaths of northern Germany near the Baltic which are presumably similar to our Breckland and Ashdown Forestsites. In the sandstone hills of Rhine Palatinate, C. D. Pigott noted it abundantly in dry heathland with Cal/una and also inthe more open parts of Quercus - Castanea scrub. At Fontainebleau near Paris, FR noted it abundantly in patternedheathland on the acidic soil stripes with Calluna and Erica cinerea, but absent from the calcareous soil stripes which havePulsatilla, Veronica spicata, etc. It occurs in sub-oceanic Quercus robur - Pinus sylvestris woods with Fagus on the acidsoils on the northern plain of central Europe which are possibly similar to the original woodland type of Ashdown Forestbefore it was cleared, and in the Pinus nigra woods on limestone with calcicoles on the eastern edge of the Alps ataltitudes of 700-1200 metres which may be similar to the Brecon Beacons site. In Bosnia it ascends to 1950 metresaltitude, and in the eastern Alps well above the tree line (Hegi, Ill. Flora Mittleuropal, and in the Czech Republic it grows ondry continental steppe heath with Veronica spicata and Carex humilis. In this context, the sea cliff sites in Cornwall andPembrokeshire are the odd ones out!

*Genista anglica. Petty whin, Needle furze.On Ashdown Forest (Col em an 18361. Ashdown Forest 1904, J. Stirling (TLS). Near Gills Lap;Friar's Gate (Done 1914). Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Concentrated on the east side of the Forest in the Gills Lap to Camp Hill area (e,g.abundant on rides near Stone Cottage), and also elsewhere where there is good heath land .Ashdown Forest is the centre of its distribution in Sussex, and it is surprisingly rare on theLower Greensand in West Sussex, Like many other plants of lowland heaths it is decreasing inEngland (Rich & Woodruff 1996)' but it is still scattered on upland moorland in easternScotland. It occurs in western Europe from Sweden to Italy, and in north-west Africa.Be warned, plants may sometimes be spineless (var. subinermis) and sometimes hairy ...which does not make them G, pilosa; we have not as yet noted these variants on the Forest.V/ex europaeus, Gorse, Furze, Hawth, Hoth. (Plate 5)"Customary tenants ought by custom to have heath, bracken and gorse to burn for theirneeds" Extent of Ashdown Forest, 1274. Ubiquitous on the Forest (Hall 1980).Gorse generally tends to occur on acid brown earths rather than heath podzols (Proctor1994), so it is often abundant along roadsides, heath margins, acidic grassland and in openscrub and is one of the commonest plants on the more open areas and roadsides on theForest. A good place to see the contrast is south of Gills Lap where it lines the road but isinfrequent in the heather to the east and west, though it is abundant on the steep slopesaround Gills Lap itself. Soil pHs measured at eight sites range from 2.8-5.6 with a mean of4.1 (± 0.3 s.e.). In some areas it dominates whole areas and forms dense groves; plantsopposite Churlwood car park were 2.6 metres tall.In spring the flowers scent the air with coconut and create swathes of yellow across the Forest. Later the ripe podssplitting open with a sharp snap to scatter the seeds is a familiar sound on sunny days in July. The flowering of gorse isnotoriously variable from year to year. 1994 was a poor year for flowers, but in 1995 it started flowering profusely inJanuary, which was very early and continued until mid May. If it flowers early, does it set seed?At monthly intervals in spring 1995, PA and TR labelled ten flowers on each of 21 plants and followed them throughto fruit-set. Quite a lot of the earlier flowers aborted but some did set fruit - significantly fewer in February and March thanlater. Only the February flowers had lower numbers of seeds in each pod, so even if kissing is in season, reproduction istoo!However, with the exception of those February flowers most of the seeds in the pods were predated by either thegorse weevil (Apion ulicis) or a micro-moth. These seed predators are easily seen in nearly ripe pods - the weevils aregreyish and have long snouts, the micro-moth larvae are little caterpillars. Once predation has been taken into account, theactual percentage fruit set varied surprisingly little. The weevils cannot escape from the pods themselves, and have towait until they split open - so the familiar crack of pods may be more usually indicative of weevils flying through the airthan seeds.Summary of fruit and seed set in V/ex europaeus 'In 1995 near Long car park (10 flowers were marked on each of 21bushes at approximately four week intervals).117Date flowers markedNumber of bushes floweringMean number of pods harvested per bushMean number of seeds per un predated podMean percentage pods predatedMean number of good seeds per podMean chance of ovule producing seed4 Feb.63.21.85.3%1.85.5%5 March123.34.576%2.24.4%2 April 29 April20 216.2 5.34.5 4.661% 64.5%2.3 1.910.8% 8,1%Gorse was widely used on the Forest for roofing, fuel, cooking, bread making, and brick and lime kilns (Steele 1936;Leppard 1980; Irons 1982). The spines protect it to some extent from grazing, and the plant was crushed in a special millso it could be fed to animals. Others note that the thorns are remarkably persistent in the skin, some taking six days to getout. Blooms are still collected on the Forest to make wine, and there were authorised sales by the Wood Reeve of gorsefor horse jumps and for planting. Arthur (1989) records that sticks of gorse from Ashdown Forest were sold for umbrellahandles. A very readable account of gorse, including the economic uses and folklore, is given by Humphries &Shaughnessy (1987).Gorse is a predominantly western plant in Europe, but is widespread in Britain. It is also widespread in Australasia asan introduction and is a noxious weed. The potential for controlling it using the weevils has been investigated but has metwith little success.

118U/ex gal/ii. Western gorse.Kidd's Hill, A. H. Wolley-Dod and W. Ingwersen IWolley-Dod 19371. Introduced to the Wych Cross area in the 1960s byM. Woodman as an experiment, but not currently known.This species occurs widely in the north and west of Britain and just reaches West Sussex, but also occurs in Kent andEast Anglia, Endemic to western Europe form Spain to Scotland. It is somewhat sensitive to frost.Care needs to be taken in separating it from U. minor; U. gallH populations usually have a mean calyx length of morethan 10 mm, whilst U. minor populations have them less than 9 mm.V/ex minor (V. nanus). Dwarf gorse, Dog furze.Ashdown Forest IColeman 18361. On the Forests around Crowborough IDone 19141.Abounds on some of the heaths in East Sussex, such as Ashdown Forest (Wolley-Dod 1937),Common on the Forest IHall 1980).On the Forest, it occurs mainly on dry heath with Cal/una, and on wet podzolisedheathland soils with Molinia and Erica tetra/ix. The soil pHs of seven sites measured rangefrom 3.2-4.1, with a mean of 3.7 I± 0.13 s.e.l. It grows predominantly in the open, but willsurvive for a few years in open secondary woodland where it can grow to 1.5 metres tall.Our map shows it from all squares with significant areas of heathland, and it is only absentfrom some areas around the edge. Elsewhere in Britain it occurs on chalk 'heaths' and sandyglacial drift (Proctor 1994). It is palatable and is suppressed by heavy grazing.It flowers profusely in August and September, the deep yellow flowers contrasting beautifully with the purple heather.The fruits do not appear to be predated by weevils, and they over-winter and ripen in the spring (this seems to be veryunusual in Br'itish plants). Seeds are slow and erratic to germinate, but seedling establishment can take place rapidly afterfire.This plant is one of the real treasures of lowland heaths in the south-east of England, with a few scattered localities inthe East Midlands, North Wales, Lancashire and Cumbria (Proctor 1994). The populations on these heaths represent amajor part of the world population as, outside England, it is confined to the western edge of France, Spain and Portugal,but gives way to U. gallii along the Atlantic margin.The British distribution of U. minor scarcely overlaps at all with that of its close relative U. ga//iJ~ western gorse, whichhas a similar ecological niche.HALORAGACEAE[Myriophyl/um verticil/atum. Whorled water-milfoi!. Pond on Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner IArnold 18871. A surprisingrecord as it tends to occur in base-rich water and probably an error? The whereabouts of Jenner's herbarium is unknownso the record cannot be checked.]*Myriophyllum aquaticum (M, brasiliense), Parrot·s-feather.Tetrad 42U IHall 19801. Duddleswell, 1976, C. T. Prime, 1978 J. Milner IMilner 19791.Planted around pond at Chelwood Vachery 1431.297), 1994, TR; pond on golf course,Forest Row 1436.342), 1995, TR, and one of the few plants to survive bulldozing inSeptember 1995; pond by Prickets Hatch 1443.2701, TR & PA, 1995; Ellison's Pond,3 -++_~----L+_ Duddleswell 1462.2871, 1986 +, DB & B. Wurzell, growing to practically fill the pond by 19954 5- this may be one of the longest established sites in Britain.This invasive plant, which first became naturalized in Britain sometime in the early-1970s(Chicken 1977) as a throw-out from aquarists' ponds or with tadpoles or terrapins, is nowbecoming widely established in Britain. It may even be able to out-compete Crassula helmsiiby over-growing it. It is reputed to be frost-sensitive but has survived freezing conditions on Ashdown Forest (Milner1979, Hall 1980) and has certainly thrived in the run of mild winters. PW has also cultivated material from Ellison's Pondand observed that it is tolerant of cold; shoots were blackened by frost but in the spring put up new green shoots. Wesuggest it should be eradicated as soon as possible after it has been discovered.It is native in South America.Myriophyllum spicatum, Spiked water-milfoil.Pond on Ashdown Forest near Wych Cross IWhitwell 19021.Both sides of ornamental pond at Ashdown Park Hotel 1431.320), 1995, TR & PA, onesite but two squares, and interestingly in the same areas as Whitwell's record,In Sussex it occurs predominantly near the coast in streams, lakes, ponds and ditches,3 -++_------!..+_ sometimes in quantity (Hall 1980). It is widespread in Britain and is possibly commonest inthe south and east, where it occurs in base-rich, moderately nutrient-rich water. Widespreadin Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.4 5

Myriophyllum alterniflorum. Alternate water-milfoil.Pond near Coleman's Hatch, C. E. Salmon (Wolley-Dod 19371.One isolated record in the fishing lake at Forest Row (422.3471. 1995, TR, and then aseries of ponds and streams along the Pippingford watercourse downstream from the pond inChelwood Vachery (431.2951. 1995, MR, PR & TR, to pond in Mill Wood (437.2881, 1995,MM & TR, to a pond (448.2991 and several lakes (44.301 in Pippingford Park, 1995, SBRSetc, In 1995 it flowered freely, possibly because of the warm weather.This was recorded in Hall (1980) from five tetrads just south-west of the Forest but noton it, and in Sussex is quite a rare plant. It tends to occur in base-poor and nutrient-poor4 5water such as drains from the acidic, uncultivated areas of the Forest, and is most frequent inthe north and west of Britain. Mainly in west, north and central Europe, Greenland and the Azores.GUNNERACEAE[Gunnera manicata. Brazilian giant-rhubarb.Bottom of Dodd's Hill (450.2691, 1995, AK. Planted around pond at Chelwood Vachery (431.2971, 1994, TR, but notnaturalized. The species is spreading vegetatively in damp woodlands and meadows in a number of parts of Britain, andspreading by seed in the Channel Islands and western Ireland. It is native in southern BrazilJLYTHRACEAELythrum salicaria. Purple loosestrife.Tetrads 43H and 43M along the Medway (Hall 19801.One plant in wood east of ford at Shalesbrook (435.3421. 1995, PW; damp ground onfield edge near Lines Farm (443.348), 1995, Flora meeting; several clumps in dryish ditch atbottom of Oldlands Hall formal gardens (476.2741. 1995, R. Barley et al.; Pound gate (48.281,3 1994, TR.Mainly in the main rivers and associated wetlands in Sussex (Hall 1980), and quitewidespread in the lowlands of Britain. It is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Widespread in Europe except the far north, Asia and North Africa.4 5 This beautiful purplish-pink plant was introduced to North America in the 1800s, andnow billions of plants blanket many of their finest wetlands. Plants can produce 2.7 million seeds annually which aredispersed by water, animals and birds, and it is a severe threat to the natural flora and fauna as nothing there eats it. Agood biological control agent would be worth patenting!Lythrum portula. Water-purslane.Considering that it was only recorded in tetrad 43L in Hall (1980) when it must have beenoverlooked, we have recorded it very widely. It is very characteristic of the wet hollows inmuddy tracks, and in shallow ponds with base-poor and nutrient-poor water. In the hotsummer of 1995 it was conspicuous turning reddish as it dried, but still we only added aproportional one third of records so not necessarily more abundant in dry years.Scattered throughout the Weald in wet places in open communities, and possibly the areain which it is most common in Britain. Widespread in Europe except the far north, Siberia andthe Azores.This species shows a cline in the length of the calyx segments ~Allen 1954), with plantsin western Britain and Europe having them 1.5-2 mm long (subsp. longidentata) compared to 0.5 mm in plants fromelsewhere (subsp. portula), though why is unknown. Plants from Jack Daw had very short calyx segments, but they arelonger in other plants; we have not investigated them in detail.THYMELAEACEAEDaphne laureola. Spurge-Iaurel.One plant on eastern edge of Courtland Wood (451.2611, 1995, TR; five plants by Marlpits(467.2641. 1993, TR & NM.The occurrence of this 'calcicole' at the Marlpits might be expected to be related tocalcareous clay, yet the pH of the clay was 3.9 and the leaf litter around was 4.6 (these were3 -1---1-------1.--1- double-checkedl, and at Courtland Wood pH 5.3. At Marlpits the plants were also quitedamaged by grazing with many weak shoots, and they flowered only very sparsely.4 5Mainly in woodlands on the chalk in Sussex, and rarer on the clays in the Weald (Hall1980). Locally common in England and Wales in chalk and limestone woodlands. It reachesits northern-most distribution in Britain, and occurs in southern and western Europe andtemperate Asia.119

120ONAGRACEAEEpilobium hirsutum. Great hairy willowherb, Codlins and cream, Gooseberry pudding.This handsome plant of marshy and other damp places, including road verges, is ubiquitous inSussex according to Hall (1980) but is not quite so widespread in Ashdown Forest. Theblanks on the map for such a conspicuous and well-known plant as this one are likely toindicate real gaps in its distribution with some degree of accuracy and, in many cases,correspond to the main areas of heathland.Common in England and increasing but absent from much of Scotland and Wales (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and Africa.Epilobium ciliatum x hirsutum.A single record from the car park, St John's (505.316), 1991, PW, det. G. Kitchener. It isoccasionally recorded in Britain where the parents meet.This car park and its hybrids were first discovered by PW, who suggested they should beinvestigated in more detail. There seems to be some very promiscuous E. cilt"atum about!3 -+-)------'--)-4 5Epilabium parviflarum. Small-flowered hairy willowherb.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered over the Forest in damp places but avoiding the more acidic areas. The Britishdistribution is rather sim'ilar to E. hirsutum. It is found over much of Europe, western Asia toIndia, and North Africa.3 -+-I-..---...,,'----'I'---J__j_4 5Epilobium obscurum x parviflorum.Roadside near Kidbrook Park, det. G. M. Ash (Wolley-Dod 1937).Kidbrook Park in 1995, TR & PA.Surprisingly, another possible plant was found inEpilobium ciliatum x parviflorum.Several plants in a car park, St John's (505.316), 1992, G. Kitchener.3 -+-)------'--)-4 5Epilobium montanum. Broad-leaved willowherb.This is the commonest Epi/obium species in Sussex (Hall 1980) and, jointly with E. obscurum,the most common in our survey. It is found most often in woods, hedgebanks and roadverges but also occurs as a garden weed. Its distribution in the Forest is rather similar toPrimula vulgaris and Arum maculatum which are clearly associated with woods and shadyhedgebanks.Widespread throughout Britain apart from some areas of Scotland. It occurs in most ofEurope, western Asia, Siberia and Japan.4 5

121Epilobium montanum x obscurum.Found with both parents on verge of private road, Broadstone Warren (431.323), 1995, PW(confirmed TR).3 -++---------'+-4 5Epilobium ciliatum x montanum.One plant in flowerbed with parents, Horncastle House (391.325), 1995, DB; several plants,car park, St John's (505.316), 1992, G. Kitchener; one plant just east of southern bridge inPippingford Park, 1995, G. Kitchener on the SBRS/KFC field meeting. This is now probablythe commonest hybrid Epilobium in Britain (Stace 1991).4 5Epilobium lanceolatum. Spear-leaved willowherb.Roadside bank by woodland, Church Hill (498.325-6), 1987, PW (det. FR), and still present in1993. FR has a particular interest in this species and has suggested that it is currentlyincreasing in Britain.Epilobium lanceolatum is a rather uncommon plant of dry, rather open habitats. Britain3 lies at the northern extreme of its range and it is only found south of a line from the Wash toSnowdonia (Mountford 1994). It occurs in southern and western Europe, western Asia andNorth Africa.4 53 -++------Y-Epilobium tetragonum (Epilobium adnatum). Square-stemmed willowherb.Surprisingly scarce in our survey with only seven records, all confined to the eastern andwestern edges of the Forest. Hall (1980) shows a very different distribution with the majorityof records in the central southern part of the Flora area. The reason for this difference is notat all clear.3-++-----~- It occurs in lowland Britain but is rare in the north and Ireland, and in Europe north tosouthern Sweden and in western Asia.4 5Epilobium ciliatum x tetra anum.One plant in a car park at St John's 1505.316), 1992, G. Kitchener.This hybrid is recorded occasionally in Britain.3 -++-------'---t---4 5

122Epilobium obscurum. Short-fruited willowherb.Common in our survey, especially toward the west of the Forest. Generally in rather damp,places.Care is needed to distinguish this species from E. tetragonum. The glandular hairs on thecalyx tube which indicate E. obscurum are very inconspicuous and careful examination,preferably with a lens having a magnification greater than x 10, is necessary in order todifferentiate correctly between the two species.Locally common over the whole of Britain and much of Europe, also North Africa,Madeira and the Caucasus.Epilobium roseum, Pale willowherb.Chelwood Common, Miss M, Cobbe, and Forest Row (Wolley-Dod 19371, Tetrad 43F (Hall1980),One plant by road to Chelwood Farm (426,287), 1994, TR; locally frequent in Forest Rowon edges of pavements and flower beds, especially near the old school (427,349), 1993-1995, ;3 TR,It occurs throughout lowland Britain, Europe and Asia Minor.4 5*Epilobium ciliatum (Epilobium adenocaulon). American willowherb.Widespread in Hall (1980) and similarly common in our survey. This is in marked contrast tothe situation in Wolley~Dod (1937) who has only five records for the whole of Sussex.Usually found on road banks and waste places. The gaps in its distribution correspond4 5mainly to the areas of the Forest with the highest proportion of heathland. Its distribution isvery similar to a number of weedy species like Atnplex prostrata and Sonchus oleraceus. Notonly is it now a common species but forms a range of hybrids, indeed most of our Epilobiumhybrid records have E. ciliatum as one of the parents.Preston (1986) reviewed the records for this species and noted that, although it was firstcollected in Britain in 1891, it was not recognised until the 1930s. The first description waspublished in 1935, and after that it was found more widely, reaching Wales by 1942, Scotland by 1957 and Ireland by1958. The colonisation seems to have been by continuous spread in contrast to that of Senecio squalidus.A native of North America, well established in south~east England and spreading (Rich & Woodruff 1996).£pi/obium palustre. Marsh willowherb.Coleman's Hatch, H, 5, Salt (Wolley-Dod (1937). Tetrads 42T, 43K and 43V (Hall 1980),We have only two records from our survey. The first is from a flush at Newbridge(457.325) close to the site of Galium u/iginosum where several plants were found growing ina mat of Hydrocotyle vulgaris by AK and AH in August 1994. The second record is for a3 -++_----..l-+_ single plant found in a rushy flush in unimproved pasture at Brown Knoll (487.299) during oneof the Flora meetings in 1995.Epilobium palustre is a calcifuge. It occurs in wet places throughout Britain and isscattered thinly throughout much of East and West Sussex. Locally common throughout4 5Britain and widespread in Europe, Asia, North America and Greenland.It can be confused with other Epilobium species, especially E. obscurum from which it can be distinguished by thecomplete absence of raised ridges on the stem and the presence of a short appendage at the hairy end of the seed, afeature which is clearly illustrated in Stace (1991).*Epilobium brunnescens. New Zealand willowherb.Hall (1980) shows it in tetrads, 42N and 43H but it was not found during our survey, which is perhaps surprising as thisintroduction from New Zealand is still spreading in Britain. It is most common in the north and west and may beclimatically limited in the south-east.Chamerian angustifalium. Rosebay willowherb, Fireweed.Almost ubiquitous in our survey, as it was in Hall (1980) and WolleY-Dod (1937). A nativeplant once mostly of rocky gullies in northern Britain, now widespread everywhere. Thespread is attributed to the creation of suitable ground such as railway banks and road sides,and studies have shown that it is not the result of an alien genotype being naturalized as isoften thought (Myerscough 1980), Coleman (1836) only gave one site at Plaw Wood, whereit still occurs today. By the time Arnold published his flora in 1887 it was still uncommon asindividual records are given (none of which are from the Flora area). Since then it has becomeone of our most familiar wild plants with its showy flower spikes brightening a range of open

habitats.It lives up to the name of fire weed on the Forest, often appearing in large numbers where areas of heathland or roadverge have been burned. It is a species which requires high light levels and nutrients, and hence is often found with Urt;caand Rubus. Where secondary woodland develops around patches, the rose bay will survive but flowers sparingly andproduces little or no seed.Widespread and common in most of Britain, Europe, Asia and North America.123*Oenothera glazioviana (Oenothera erythrosepala). LargeMflowered evening-primrose.Oenothera is a large, critical genus with many species. In Britain this is the commonest ofthem with large flowers. The seven records scattered across the area indicate a slightincrease in the frequency since Hall (1980) who shows it in tetrads 42N, 42T and 43L, noneof which correspond to our records. Our records are from waste places and car parks which3 -J.-l,..----!I-JLI- are the typical habitat of this plant.O. glazioviana is an introduction from North America which is now a familiar sight onroadsides and waste places in much of Britain except for some areas of Scotland. Locally4 5common in west and central Europe.Circaea /utetiana. Enchanter's-nightshade.Common in Hall (1980) and almost ubiquitous in our survey.Circaea has the distinction of being the only genus native to Britain with only 2 petals inits flowers. It is a plant of moist shady habitats, mainly found in woodland where it can bepresent in large numbers. This habitat preference, together with the fact that it does not occurin the more acidic areas, probably explains its absence from 1-km squares 45.28, 46.29 andthe band stretching from 47.28 to 47.31 which are mainly heathland. It is also a hedgerowplant, and may invade gardens from surrounding hedges.Widespread in Britain with the exception of northern Scotland and in Europe fromDenmark southwards, and east to central Asia and North Africa.CORNACEAECornus snnguinen. Dogwood.Tetrads 42N, 42P and 42T on the south side of the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered around the edges of the Forest on the more calcareous clays, and especially inthe Toll Lane - Cackle Street area. This matches its distribution in Sussex where it is commonexcept on the acidic soils. Similarly it is widespread in southern lowland England, eastern3 -l--l------..l.-l-Wales and in Europe south of the Baltic. In the north of Britain fruit-set is uncommon exceptin warm years and it seems restricted to old woodlands and hedges - in the south it is a rapidcolonist of open ground.4It is unlikely that this species was used in the production of charcoal as5Frangula alnuswas also called 'dogwood' in Sussex, and produced very good charcoal IAFN 30: 13-14).*Cornus sericea. Red-osier dogwood.Planted in Maskett's Wood (428.285), 1995, TR et.a/.; at entrance to Wrens Warren but notspreading (471.326), 1995, PW; at entrance to Rooks Lodge 1485.335), 1995, PW.Probably not naturalized properly in Sussex, but known to be elsewhere in Britain andIreland and potentially a significant weed of wetlands with eutrophic soils (Kelly 1990).3 Native in North America.4 5

124CELASTRACEAEEuonymus europaeus. Spindle.Tetrads 33V, 43A and 43F IHal1 1980).Very locally distributed around the Forest usually as scattered, isolated bushes and, likeCorn us sanguinea, on the more calcareous soils. A row of large bushes between theentrances to Hindleap car park (404,324) are generally left when the sight-lines are trimmed,3 -++-...-------'-+- though some sucker naturally, DK. This Hindleap site 'IS not on the clay and were it not forIthe high pH on the roadside IpH 7.71. Hall's records for tetrads 43A and 43F would lookdistinctly suspect; we have not refound it in 43F.Common in southern England on base-rich soils, and in the north of England moreL_-'4 ________ 5-..J restricted to limestone soils. Widespread in middle Europe, Caucasus and western Asia.AQUIFOLlACEAE/lex aquifolium. Holly, Christmas, Holm."Ashdown Forest was anciently covered with it; little now remains except a dense thicketnear Leg's Heath Gate" IColeman 1836).By contrast, we have recorded it in every square, no doubt spreading as a result ofrelaxed grazing pressure and obviously suited to the damp, acidic soils. It is locally abundantin woodland, often as saplings under trees where birds have voided seeds, with a few largertrees. In some woods, such as Kidbrooke Wood (416.335), small saplings and bushes lessthan one metre tall are abundant and are so heavily browsed by deer they cannot grow anytaller. Rabbits may also eat them from below to about 30 cm from the ground leaving adistinct cut~off line. Holly can also be quite frequent as a heathland colonist, as for instancearound Gills Lap 1465.320) where the bushes have been coppiced by fire. It is also abundant in hedges around the Forest,and was one of the major hedging species. There are good holly hedges along the lane at Shepherd's Gate 1448.336) andCackle Street (452.265), and it was traditional to leave holly standards in hedges uncut to prevent witches flying up anddown them and bringing bad luck! Holly Hill, Hollycroft and Beggars Bush Ibegar ~ berry, so holly bush) are local names.At one time cut branches were supplied to the wild deer herds as food during hard winters. Permits are still issued forberried and black holly to be cut from specific trees for wreaths, crosses and other Christmas decorations. Even in theearly 1990s lorry-loads were sent from Horney Common to the London and Brighton markets.Only the female trees have berries. PW counted trees over 5 feet tall in Broadstone Warren in November 1995 andfound only 10 out of 41 (24%) were female; most were along the boundary so the imbalance could be a result of planting,but casual observation suggests this may be representative of the local situation. It matches a similar pattern found innorthern Britain by Richards (1988)' though it is better to count trees in flower rather than fruit. Many berries remaineduneaten on the open Forest in the winter of 1995/1996, even in March.Winter cold, particularly frost, causes physical damage to hollies. Holly is abundant in western and southern Europe,but becomes increasingly rare eastwards. At the eastern limit of its distribution in Poland it is restricted to woodland andthe bushes are about the same height as the winter snow, which gives them some protection from the cold. This easternlimit correlates with the mean -0.5°C isotherm for the coldest month in the winter (extreme n'lghts may be 20°C colderthan the mean). Laboratory tests on holly show that frost damage begins to occur in the xylem and phloem when leavesand small twigs are frozen to -12°C. Depending on hardening, with increasing cold, larger twigs and eventually wholebushes may be killed. If frosts are frequent and severe, the holly cannot survive the continual damage and dies exceptwhere sheltered.Ubiquitous in Sussex, and common and widespread in Britain, south and central Europe.BUXACEAEBuxus sempervirens. Box.3 -+-1-----'--1-Probably planted in all localities and not naturalized. Pippingford Park 145.31), 1995, Florameeting; hedges along the lane at Shepherd's Gate 1448.336), 1995, TR; hedge west of farm,Toll Lane 1459.2631. 1995, TR; also planted in various churchyards.This is a native species of chalk scrub and woodland in Britain, western Europe and themountains of North Africa.4 5

125,UPHORBIACEAEVlercurialis perennis. Oog's mercury, Snake's-bit, Snake's victuals.Frequent around the Forest, but notably one of the few places in Sussex where it is notubiquitous outside the urban areas (Hall 1980).Most of our records are from the more calcareous soils around the edge of the Forestand in the older woodlands, but in some places it is established in secondary habitats as on3 the A22 road embankment over Millbrook (442.286).4 5This is a rhizomatous perennial of shaded places in the lowlands on moderately tostrongly calcareous, generally freely-draining soils. Brewls, Bowman & Rose (1996) note thatit does not withstand trampling. It is one of the first plants to flower in the spring and isdioecious. The two sexes are reported to have different ecological requirements, the malesbeing more commonly recorded in well-lit places and higher pH soils (Grime et al. 1994). Five colonies investigated in themore open parts of the Forest in spring 1996 were exclusively male, suggesting colonisation from the surrounding woods.Widespread in Britain except in the far north and in Europe south of the Baltic, Caucasus and south-west Asia.*Mercurialis annua. Annual mercury.Tetrad 43V (Hall 1980). Not refound. A weed of gardens and cultivated ground usually on calcareous or nutrient-rich soilsin southern Britain, but not established in the Forest. Native in Eurasia and North Africa. It is an unusual species withdioecious diploids and monoecious polypi aids; to date only the former have been recorded in Britain.Euphorbia helioscopia. Sun spurge.Tetrads 42E, 42T and 43H (Hall 1980).On the Forest it is an annual weed of arable fields and gardens. It is in five scatteredsquares and is especially associated with the villages.In Sussex widespread on the chalk in arable land, and similarly widespread in lowland3 -++_--'~----L+_Britain, Europe and central Asia.4 5*Euphorbia lathyris. Caper spurge.,-,--;:==,---,.---, Recorded once as an escape from cultivation outside houses at Streeter's Rough (423.292)'1993, TR. It was once planted on the green in front of Duddleswell tea rooms as a moledeterrent; the plants have gone but the moles obviously still like the local food source.A garden weed scattered in Sussex and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).3 -+h..------L+_ Probably native in east and central Mediterranean region.4 5Euphorbia pep/us. Petty spurge.Common around the Forest (Hall 1980).We have also found it common around the Forest edges, the exceptions being two siteson soil introduced to Pippingford Park. It is much more frequent as an arable weed in thevillages than E. helioscopia, possibly because it has broader soil requirements, which may also3 explain its wider distribution in Britain.Widespread in lowland Britain and Europe to Siberia.4 5Euphorbia amygdaloides.3 -+--ia _____ --4 5Wood spurge.Frequent around the Forest (Hall 1980).Our records largely match· the pattern in Hall (1980) where it occurs around the Forestedges with a few records in the middle. It is most frequent in the Toll Lane woodlands wherethe soils are more calcareous clays, but is also surprisingly frequent in parts of Pipping fordPark. It seems to be largely uneaten by deer.This is a classic plant of coppiced woodlands on moderately to strongly calcareous soHs,and is quite widespread in Sussex. It is locally frequent in southern Britain north to theMidlands, and in central, southern and north-western Europe, the Caucasus and the Algerianmountains.

126RHAMNACEAEFrangula alnus (Rhamnus frangula). Alder buckthorn, Dogwood.Ashdown Forest (Coleman 18361. Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.On open heath and woodland across the Forest, sometimes locally abundant, as for'instance south of Chelwood Gate cricket pitch or around Jumper's Town. It can withstandshade and occurs as scattered plants in closed secondary woodland where it fruits onlysparsely. The mixture of black and red berries as they ripen is often striking.This species produces a high grade charcoal which is light and flammable, and especiallysuitable for making gunpowder and time fuses. It was planted and coppiced specifically forgunpowder in some places in Britain, and it is still commercially harvested in Europe (Hawkins1994). 'Dogwood' was historically collected from the Forest and taken to 'Dogwood Yard' at'Fairwarp. Bark was stripped from bundles of sticks after soaking in the pond, and then dried before being sent togunpowder factories at Faversham, Maresfield and other places (AFN 30:13-14), The bark is also useful medicinally(Howkins 1994).ILocally common on acidic soils in the Weald, and especially frequent on Ashdown and St Leonard's Forests. Locallyfrequent in England and Wales on acidic soils, but decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in middle Europe toSiberia, and in North Africa.LINACEAE*Linum usitatissimum, Flax,Occasional as regularly spaced plants scattered on road verges, and in drains, whence theyarrived off the back of seed lorries. The short, oil-seed plants are also rarely grown for linseedin the Flora area, as for instance near Monkshill Farm (394.339) in 1995, but all the recordsare from roadsides, Numerous seedlings have been noticed germinating in September in road3 -++-~------'-+- gutters, but few survive to flowering.4 5Flax fields often appear blue in the morning and green in the afternoon, which is probablyeither due to flowers tracking the sun, or the petals dropping as the flowers only last a day.Flax was once quite widely grown for linen and linseed oil up to the first world war. Aflax factory was built during World War II at Five Ash Down, and produced webbing, etc.Historically seed was imported from eastern Europe, resulting in the occurrence of some unusual weeds specific to flaxfields which had evolved to resemble flax (e.g. Camelina spp.; Rich 1991). The modern resurgence of growing flax forlinsfjfjrJ sllhsidies has not resulted in the re-appearance of any interesting weeds as the seed is cleansed of impurities.Linum catharticum. Fairy flax.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 19801.Our d'lstribution map shows a pattern strongly related to the richer road verges whichpresumably have a calcareous influence from the road chippings, It also occasionally occurs inopen, damp, base-rich areas in grassland, and may occur on rides.Common on the chalk in Sussex and locally frequent elsewhere (Hall 1980); it iswidespread throughout Britain but decreasing in England probably due to habitat loss (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe and western Asia.This slender plant behaves as an annual or biennial, the former producing about three4 5times fewer seeds than the latter. Seeds germinate mainly in the spring, and seedlings survivebest in open grassland in microhabitats with some cover provided by perennial plants. It is most frequent on soils abovepH 7, and has not been recorded on soils below pH 5 (Grime et al. 1988).Ridge Warren (412.3081 with Wahlenberg;a, 1987, MM, but now gone as the site has grownRadiola linoides. Allseed, Flax-seed.On Ashdown Forest and elsewhere in abundance (Forster 1816). On Ashdown Forest(Coleman 18361. Ashdown Forest, W. C. Unwin (Arnold 1887). Frequent in BroadstoneWarren, 1948, R. A. Boniface.Despite the apparent abundance on the Forest in former times it was not recorded on the3 Forest for the Sussex Plant Atlas (Hall 1980). We have recorded it in only two sites; Press4 5over; Five Hundred Acre Wood on ride (489.3271, 1994, ER & RN.This calcifuge species is also decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It occurs indamp mud in wheel ruts and woodland rides and varies enormously in abundance from year toyear. It is often associated with Anaga/lis minima but has a wider distribution in Britain which Salisbury (1970) suggests isdue to its three-fold greater potential seed output.

Although one of Britain's tiniest plants and thus easily overlooked, it does seem to be becoming rarer. It is now onlycaliy frequent in Britain in the Weald, the Surrey heaths and the New Forest, and very scattered near the coastsIsewhere. Mainly western in Europe, and in temperate Asia and Africa.127OLYGALACEAEolygala vulgaris. Common milkwort.Nine tetrad records from the Forest in Hall (1980), but we do not believe them all!This species usually occurs in moderately to strongly calcareous soils (pH 5-8, Grime etal. 1988) and the Forest is generally quite unsuitable for it. Our records have all been4 5checked carefully and are as follows: meadow at Pipping ford Park 1449.2981, 1995, TR;verge at Marlpits 1454.2881, 1995, Flora meeting; Marsh Green 146.331, 1994, SBRS; vergeby Radio Station 1474.2871, pH 7.4, 1994, Flora meeting.Widespread on the chalk in Sussex but in the light of our experience possibly somewhatover-recorded elsewhere? Widespread in Britain predominantly on calcareous soils, anddecreasing in England probably due to habitat loss IRich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread inestern Europe. We have not investigated which of the two subspecies occur,This species has all lower leaves alternate; P. serpyllifolia has at least some opposite pairs but they often drop off~arly so examine the position of the nodes if in doubt (Rich & Rich 1988),olygala serpyllifolia. Heath milkwort.~~!t.3rJAshdown Forest, 1893, T. Hilton IBTN). Frequent on the Forest IHall 1980).Our distribution maps shows it widespread on the southern slopes where there is openheath land and grassland, The small blue flowers are noticeable in May when the vegetation isopen, but they are present all summer.In Sussex locally frequent in acidic grass lands and on heaths. In Britain most frequent inthe north and west, but scattered throughout, Strongly western in Europe, and in Greenland,45IPPOCASTANACEAEAesculus hippoc8stanum, Horse-chestnut.Common in Sussex and on the Forest (Hall 1980),We have recorded it most frequently around the Forest on the richer soils and in thevillages, Many trees must have been planted but it does regenerate commonly by itself,Widely established in Britain, Native in south-eastern Europe.3 -I-i'"-____---'"'-+_The conker crop in 1995 was very poor, probably due to the dry summer, The treesused for the National Conker championships similarly only produced about 30 conkers from200 trees.4 5A,CERACEAEAcer pJatanoides. Norway maple.Four tetrads on the west side of the Forest IHal1 1980).Surprisingly frequent in some places, for instance from the Ridge Road to near StoneCottage 144.32, 44.33, 45,331, 1995, PW, or north-west of Nutley 143.281. 1995, TR & MM.Recorded around the edge of the Forest, mainly associated with houses but often naturalized3 -I-.-___.._-----'-+_ away from them.4 5Scattered in Sussex and increasingly recorded as naturalized in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). Native in Europe from e?stern France to Asia.A concrete post by the Radio Station has the impression of a maple leaf, the work ofCanadian soldiers present during the war IAFN 29; 15).

128Acer campestre. Field maple.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Mainly recorded around the edge of the Forest on the richer clays in hedges, and!sometimes also planted on boundaries. We have not re~recorded it in five of Hall's tetrads.Native and widespread in lowland Britain north to Cumbria and Durham. Widespread in3 Europe south of the Baltic though rare in the Mediterranean, and in western Asia.4 5*Acer pseudoplatanus. Sycamore.Recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980),We have recorded it in most of the squares but it is rarely !3bundant. Widespread andincreasing in Britain (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Native in south-east and central Europe and Asia west to eastern France, and had theEnglish Channel not flooded it would surely have reached Britain by itself. It was first irecorded in the fifteenth century, and is now so well established it gives the appearance ofbeing native and is probably the fifth commonest broad-leaved tree. Pigott (1984) noted thatin Britain it tends to only occur at high frequency in woodland canopies in the north and westwhere the climate is wetter (30 inches or more of rain a year), which matches its behaviour inEurope where it occurs in the hills in the Ardennes, Vosges, Black Forest and Alps, and is rare in the drier northern parts ofFrance. Interestingly, this was one of the trees on the Forest most hit by drought in 1995 when a number of younger treeswere killed off.OXALlOACEAE*Oxalis corniculata. Procumbent yellow-sorrel.Garden weed, Forest Row (43.34), 1995, PW, TR; Fairwarp (46.26), 1995, PO & RN;Oldlands Hall (47.27), 1995, PO et al. Usually a weed in gardens, waste ground and dumpedsoil.Scattered in Sussex, and in southern Britain where it was first recorded in 1585. It is3 widespread throughout the world as a weed.This species has yellow flowers mostly with ten fertile stamens. It creeps and roots atthe nodes, and is often flushed purple. Reid (1975) noted that its flowers opened an hourearlier and shut an hour earlier than those of O. ex/lis.4 54 5*Oxalis exilis. Least yellow-sorrel.Garden weed, Forest Row (426.349), 1995, TR; dumped soil with garden plants in woodlandoutside houses at The Ridge (448.329), 1995, TR & PA; side of track, Pippingford Park(45.30), 1993, SBRS; Old lands Hall (47.27), 1995, PO et al.Occasional in Sussex and Britain, and increasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native inJ -I-+---'"---'-f- Australasia.Like the above species, a weed, but smaller in all its parts and usually with five fertilestamens (Reid 1975).* Oxalis stricta (0. europaea). Upright yellow-sorrel.Forest Row (43.34), 1995, TR; probably this species near Home Farm (443.304), 1993, TR& PO; Fairwarp (46.26), 1995, TR.Another garden weed of waste ground occasionally established in Sussex and Britain. Ithas small yellow flowers and grows upright but does not root at the nodes. Native in EasternJ-++---~----L+- Asia and North America.Stace (1991) clarifies that the Dillenius' oxalis ('0. stricta') in Hall (1980) should becalled O. di//en/i.4 5

129*Oxalis articulata. Pink-sorrel.•] -++-----'".t-Occasionally recorded scattered around the Forest, the common weedy pink sorrel in gardens,for instance as a garden escape near Brown's Brook (472.278), 1994, Flora meeting, andnaturalized in flower-beds at Oldlands Hall (475.275)' 1995, PD et al .Increasingly recorded in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in eastern SouthAmerica.4 5Oxalis acetosella. Wood-sorrel, Cuckoo's meat, Cuckoo-sorrel.Recorded in every tetrad on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it in all but 1ive squares, though it is not common. Plants with pinkflowers were noted at Newbridge, 1987, PW, It is widespread in Britain on many soil types,mainly in woodlands but also in the open where not droughted (Packham 1978). It iswidespread in the northern hemisphere.Wood sorrel is one of the best adapted woodland plants. It is evergreen and its ability togrow through the winter enables it to survive in quite deep shade. In this habitat the leavesare very thin, spreading the tissue to catch as much light as possible (Packham & Willis1977), Such leaves may over~heat when caught by sun~spots on the woodland floor, so ithas a clever mechanism to avoid damage; the leaves droop rapidly and move out of the way (this phenomenon was firstinvestigated by Bjorkman & Powles (1981) on a close relative O. oregana which grows in giant redwood forests in NorthAmerica). The movement is caused by specialised cells in the pulvinus (the junction between the leaflet and the stalk)which alter their size hydraulically. Experiments with O. acetosella by TR have demonstrated that when too much light isdetected in the pulvinus the leaves can droop within 6 minutes in bright light, and 15 minutes in duller light. If the light isfocused on the leaves but not the pulvinus it cannot be detected, and it is possible to give them enough light to bleach thechlorophyll without the leaves drooping. The response is initiated by blue but not by rep light. When the light is removedthe leaves take 30~45 minutes to move horizontal again. Young leaves respond faster than old leaves, and adjacentleaflets can act completely independently. The leaves also droop at night, a separate response called nyctinasty; Darwin(1882) demonstrated that it prevented radiation frost damage at night.Wood sorrel flowers freely in May, and the rest of the summer produces cleistogamous flowers which produce just asmany seeds. The capsules dehisce explosively ejecting the seeds a metre or more from the parent.GERANIACEAEGeranium.Many species are grown in gardens and become established for short period of time in the wild ~ one plant collected near agarden at Crow borough (506.322), 1994, PW was not identifiable, and there is one record of *G. macrorrhizum, 1994, ER(det. PW).*Geranium endressii. French crane's~bill.Tetrad 53A (Hall 1980).Two records from Forest Row as garden escapes by houses (one may even have beenplanted), one growing with the following species. The flowers get paler as the seasonprogresses.] --++-------'---1-- Locally naturalized in Britain. Native in the Pyrenees.4 5Geranium x oxonianum (G. endressii x versic%rj. Druce's crane's~bill.We have recorded this more fr~quently than G. endressii, and it seems to be more commonlygrown in gardens locally and is available in the garden centres. The plants are garden throwoutsor occasionally spread under their own steam (they are at least partly fertile).] --++-----------'-+--This hybrid has long been confused with its parents, and we hope we have recordedthem correctly because the commonest taxon nationally is supposed to be G. endressii. The4 5plants have pale pink flowers sometimes with deeper veins, and are often variable on thesame plant (Stace 1991). Plants sold locally as Geranium 'Claridge Druce' in garden centresare not pale pink or variable on the same plant.It originated in cultivation, and is also naturalized elsewhere in Britain.

130*Geranium versicolor. Pencilled crane's-bill.Near Forest Row, Miss Parsons fWolley-Dod 1937). Not recorded again, and possibly confused with one of the above?'Plants with white or nearly so petals and magenta veins should be examined carefully. Native in southern Europe.[*Geranium sanguineum. Bloody crane's-bill.Between Maresfield and Nutley, 1901 t S. Morris (Wolley-Dod 1937). Recorded once as a garden throw-out on PosthornLane, Forest Row (43.34) 1993, TR, but gone by 1994 and not really naturalized.]Geranium dissectum. Cut-leaved crane's-bill.Frequent on the road verges and in open pastures and meadows except where grazed. Afterthe summer drought of 1995, the autumn germination was prodigious and some roadsidebanks had sheets of young plants. Roadsides are a very typical h~bitat where it flowers earlyand avoids being mown before fruiting.3Recorded in 90% of the Sussex tetrads (Hall 1980). Widespread in lowland Britain andEurope south of the Baltic.4 5Geranium mofle. Dove's-foot crane's-bill.Tetrads 42T, 43M and 53A (Hall 1980).We have recorded it a little more widely than Hall, usually with G. dissectum nearby. InSussex it is common except on the heavier soils, and is widespread in lowland Britain and inEurope mostly south of the Baltic. It is also found in south-west Asia to the Himalaya and3 -+-f"'-----'-_t_ North Africa.4 5*Geranium lucidum. Shining crane·s-bill.Bridge over railway, Forest Row (438.347), 1995, TR; drive to Barnsgate Manor (48.28),1995, RN & ER.A rare scattered plant in Sussex, probably usually as an escape from cultivation and notnative on the Forest. Probably native on chalk and limestone in the west of Britain, and3 widespread in Europe. It is also found in south-west Asia to the Himalaya and North Africa.4 5Geranium robertianum. Herb Robert, Bachelor's buttons, Little bachelor's buttons, Stinking Bob.Frequent on the richer soils, often on road verges and on the edges of woods. White-floweredplants were recorded along the stream at Cow Field (495.317), 1995, Flora meeting.Ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain but decreasing in England (Rich& Woodruff 1996), and widespread in Europe and Asia. It has a broad ecological range fromshingle beaches to dense woodland, and is most abundant on calcareous soils.*Geranium phaeum. Dusky crane's-bill.Tetrad 43A (Hall 1980), not refound.Locally established in Britain, and decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in damp shady places insouthern and central Europe.

*Erodium cicutarium. Common stork's-bill, Hemlock stork's-bill.Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980).Rough track near Centre Bridge, Pippingiord Park (449.316), 1995, SBRS, presumablyfallen off the wheels of an army lorry.Widespread inland in southern Britain (but decreasing Rich & Woodruff 1996) on sandy3 -++-------'-+-- soils, becoming increasingly confined to the coast in the north. Widespread in Europe butprobably native only in the south and west, temperate Asia and North Africa.1314 5TROPAEOLACEAE* Tropaeolum majus. Nasturtium.A garden escape on dumped soil, Forest Row (434.343), 1994, TR & NM, but not persistent.There is no record of the fate of 'nastershalums' planted around the Forest in Winnie-thePooh.Increasingly recorded in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in the Andes.3-++---------~-4 5BALSAMINACEAE*Impatiens parvif/ora. Small balsam.Tetrads 43M and 43W (Hall 1980). Tetrads 33V and 43V (Briggs 1990).We have recorded it in seven scattered squares, and it is possibly still spreading. It isusually found in disturbed, nutrient"rich, damp places in the open or in more natural conditions] -++..-----~inwoodland on stream banks.It is probably best established in the Weald in Britain where it is abundant in some4 5woodlands and along river banks, and it also well established in some urban areas such asLondon. As a native it occurs on river and stream sides, ravines, stony mountain slopes andshady, moist places in central Asia matching to some extent the habitats in which it isnaturalized in Britain. It is extensively naturalized in eastern, central and northern Europe. Itmay have been introduced with buckwheat for pheasant food or with rooted trees and shrubs (Coombe 1956).*Impatiens glandulifera. Indian balsam, Policeman's helmet.Four tetrads around the Forest (Hall 1980).Now well established in our Flora area along rivers ides, and sometimes on waste ground.First introduced to Britain in 1848, and now widespread and still increasing along rivers3 +h------'+_and streams. It is well adapted to the river-bank habitat, and grows rapidly on the dampnutrient-rich soils, often forming dense stands which exclude other species. It is shadetolerant4 5though it flowers less profusely in woodland. The seeds require a chilling treatmentso they germinate in the spring after the winter floods, and the plants are tolerant of floodingand silt depOSition. The fruits dehisce explosively to scatter the seeds locally, and they aremore widely spread by water along the rivers; it now occurs along most major water coursesin Britain. It is native in the Himalaya, and may be somewhat frost-sensitive.ARALlACEAE*Hedera colchica. Persian ivy.Large patch climbing trees outside garden, Forest Row (432.344), 1993, TR and still there inquantity in 1995, PW; by Fairwarp Village Hall (467.263), 1995, TR.Occasionally established ilJ Britain. Native from the Balkans to Caucasus.3 -++------'--f---4 5

132Hedera helix subsp. helix. Common ivy.Ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980) and nearly so on the Forest, widespread in Britain and mainlywestern in Europe. It also occurs in Asia Minor and Iran.Ivy tends to be a typical colonist of secondary woodland but is palatable, and hasprobably spread on the Forest following the removal of grazing animals. It is one of the fewspecies to start flowering in the autumn, but tends to do so only in well-lit places. The seedsare spread by birds.There is little evidence that ivy climbing up trees significantly affects them.Entomologists regard ivy as an important nectar source which also provides winter shelter formany species, and think its removal from trees is an inexcusable act of vandalism (Kirby1992)1 The second brood of the holly blue butterfly feeds on ivy on the Forest. It also provides shelter for birds and bats.*Hedera helix subsp. hibernica. Atlantic ivy.Scattered around the Forest in hedges and woodland, almost always near houses butsometimes locally abundant and swamping the local vegetation (e,g. large patches establishedon wood edge east of Fairwarp Village Hall (467.263), 1995, TR & G. M. Kay).3 -++------4-Often treated as a distinct species rather than a subspecies of H. helix (McAllister &Rutherford 1990); in addition to the larger, broadly lobed leaves, it smells fetid and the raysof the hairs on the leaves project in all directions (appressed in subsp. helix).As a native it is mainly western in Britain, but is widely planted. It is thought to besomewhat frost-sensitive and is most often naturalized in the west, so our Wealden records4 5 may match the pattern shown by other Atlantic species.APIACEAE (UMBELLlFERAE)The best guide for identification of this family is the BSBI Umbellifer handbook (Tutin 1980).Hydrocotyle vulgaris. Marsh pennywort.Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Ashdown Forest, 1895, T. Hilton (BTN). Frequenton the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it scattered in flushes and wet grassland mainly in the open centralareas of the Forest. It creeps and forms patches amongst other vegetation where the flowersand fruits are well-hidden. It readily colonises wet, disturbed areas, but does not toleratewoodland shade.In Sussex, locally frequent on acid or peaty soil (Hall 1980); Grime t1l al. (1988) note it4 5occurs on soils of pH 4.5-6.0. Widespread in Britain but commoner in the west, anddecreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in west, central and southern Europe.Sanicula europaea. Sanicle.Frequent around the Forest (Hall 1980).An evergreen species usually recorded from the edges of tracks and paths or roadsides(e.g. around Wych Cross) on exposed banks and probably on the more base-rich soils, andsometimes also on the richer soils along the streams, as near Old Lodge. Surprisingly we havenot recorded it on the south side of the Forest, where it was recorded in the Sussex PlantA tlas and should occur.Grime et al. (1988) note it occurs on soils above pH 4.5, is most frequent on calcareoussoils above pH 6.0, and that it is very shade-tolerant. Inghe & Tamm (1985) in Sweden found4 5 that juvenile plants flowered first at 8-16 years old, and when they did flower they tended notto flower again the following year. There was low mortality of established plants with a half-life of between 59 and 360years (so some live as long as the trees above), but they were susceptible to summer drought.Brewis, Bowman & Rose (1996) note that it usually occurs in ungrazed woods in Hampshire, and off the chalk it is agood ancient woodland indicator. Common in Sussex on basic soils, but uncommon on the acidic sands. Widespread andmainly on calcareous soils in Britain and Eurasia and parts of Africa.Anthriscus sylvestris. Cow parsley, Keck, Rabbit's meat, Queen Anne's lace.Ubiquitous in Sussex in every tetrad (Hall 1980).We have recorded it widely around the Forest on verges, field borders and in hedges,though not in the acidic areas or where there is deep woodland.This species is a nitrophile which can dominate vegetation in spring and early summer,lining some Sussex verges like white lace. It has probably increased in abundance in Britain asa result of fertiliser drift from fields onto road verges and into woodland edges. It is alsoresistant to many herbicides. Plants in southern Britain are hairy and can look very different toglabrous plants in the north. It does not appear to line verges in Europe to the same extent asin Britain.

Widespread in Europe from the shores of the arctic, the birch woods and mountain ledges of Norway to the richgrasslands of central Europe and stream and ditch-side communities, but rare in the Mediterranean (Clapham 1953). It alsooccurs in temperate Asia and North Africa.*Smyrnium olusatrum. Alexanders.A small clump at the base of hedge, Clock House Lane, Nutley (443.2771, 1994, AK & PD.In Britain alexanders is a fully naturalized introduction, formerly used as a pot herb,whose native range in southern Europe extends to north-west France. Although very commonaround the coast south of a line from Liverpool to the Wash, it is distinctly scarce this far3 inland, with our site being one of the farthest from the coast in Sussex, It has been recordedspreading inland on road verges in recent years (e.g. Beeching Way, East Grinstead, 1994,TR).Western Europe, south-west Asia and North Africa.4 5133Gonopodium majus. Pignut, Fairy potatoes.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Never abundant, but quite widespread in woodland and grassland around the Forest,though not on heathland. The small tubers were eaten locally as a snack or titbit by childrenwho up to at least the 19405 often went to school without breakfast such was the poverty3 (Mrs E. Vernon, Horney Common, pers. comm. to MR).Given its general high frequency in Britain, it is surprising to find it is an endemic plant ofwestern Europe from Norway to Italy.4 5Pimpinella saxi/raga. Burnet saxifrage.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 19801.Very locally distributed in road verges and grassland, usually in unimproved, slightlymore base-rich areas but also on more acidic, low fertility soils in older grassland. On theverges it often gets mown and the basal leaves need to be searched for carefully. With the3 late verge cutting in 1995 more was noticed in flower on the verges, and it is especiallyfrequent south of Gills Lap.Common in Sussex in dry grassy places and on the chalk. Widespread in Britain, Europeand south-west Asia.4 5*Aegopodium podagraria. Ground-elder, Gout-weed, Bishop's weed.Common on roadsides and especially near houses, mainly around the edge of the Forest.Ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980) and Britain. Believed to have been grown as amedicinal plant and as a spring cure for gout since Roman times. Now one of the worstgarden weeds and virtually impossible to get rid of.Clapham (1953) considers it to be a natural constituent of deciduous woodland on baserichsoils in central and eastern Europe, where it is most prominent in moist, valley-bottomand stream woodlands. In north-west Europe it is also a typical component of the ruderalnitrophilous communities similar to those in which it occurs in Britain, and where it isobviously a weed. Also found in temperate Asia.Oenanthe crocata.4Hemlock water-dropwort.Seven tetrads on and around the Forest (Hall 1980).Usually found by streams and rivers (as for instance scattered down the Pippingfordstream) on wet soils often in sheltered, shaded places, It is tolerant of iron flushes.Common in the Weald, usually on the clays. It has a strongly southern and westerndistribution in Britain and is strikingly uncommon in areas with a mean January daytemperature of less than 5°C. It is also strongly western in Europe and the Mediterranean.This is one of the most poisonous plants in Britain and must not be mistaken for wildcelery, which does not grow on Ashdown Forest.5Oenanthe aquatica. Fine-leaved water-dropwort.Recorded in the Fairwarp tetrad 42T in Hall (19801, obviously from one of the ponds hence probably not on the Forest, butnot refound possibly due to limited access. One plant was seen 2 metres outside the Flora area at 402.340, 1995, Florameeting; this pond had been restored and the plant had presumably originated from buried seed in the mud - this has beennoted at Shortwood Pond in Surrey.

134Very locally frequent in Sussex.to Asia except the far north.Scattered and decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), widespread in EuropeAethusa cynapium. Fool's parsley.Roadside between Nutley and Crowborough, as var. agrestis, R. A. Boniface (Wolley-Dod1937). Tetrads 42T and 43H (Hall 1980).Rare as an arable weed or in gardens; 40.31 t 1988, DB; three plants in disturbedflowerbed of old school (426.349), 1993, TR; introduced with soil to Pippingford Park3 (444.303), 1993, SBRS; Chuck Hatch (47.33), 1994, PW. It is a polymorphic species, butwe have not investigated which of the subspecies occurred.Widespread in lowland Britain, Eurasia and North Africa.4 5* Foeniculum vu/gare. Fennel.Chelwood Common, escaping from entrance to house (417.292), 1995, AK; Forest Row(42.34)' 1995, PO & DB; introduced with soil to Pippingford Park (444.303), 1993, SBRS.Mainly established in eastern England on verges, sand dunes and waste ground nearhouses, and probably a native of maritime areas in southern Europe.4 5Si/a urn si/aus. Pepper-saxifrage.Tetrads 42N and 42T (Hall 1980).23 plants on A275 verge north of Chelwood Gate, c. 30 plants (415.305), 1993, Florameeting; one plant on track verge near Streeter's Rough (422.292), 1994, TR; verge by RadioStation (474.287), 1994, PW. Usually a plant of damp, old, unimproved, neutral meadows,3 but on the Forest on road and track verges.Common on the Weald Clay in Sussex, more scattered elsewhere, and widespread inlowland England. It is a more variable plant in western, central and eastern Europe.4 5Conium macu/atum. Hemlock, Keck.Frequent on the banks of the Medway at Forest Row outside our Flora area, but occasionallyintroduced with soil on the Forest though not persisting.This is a classic nitrophile of river banks, disturbed road verges and sometimes gardens,often associated with Urtica dioica.Widespread in lowland Britain and Eurasia except the far north.3 -++-------'-\__4 5Apium nodiflorum. Fool's water-cress.Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980).Only recorded once in a ditch near the pond at Lines Farm (444.344), 1995, TR.In Sussex locally frequent on the Weald Clay and in the major river valleys. Widespreadin Britain, and in western, central and southern Europe, west and central Asia and North]-++-------'-+-Africa.4 5Apium inundatum. Lesser marshwort.Ashdown Forest, J. Edwards (Wolley-Dod 1937). Not refound!Rare in Sussex, with scattered records from the nutrient-poor lakes on the sands and clays. Decreasing in England(Rich & Woodruff 1996). Endemic to Europe and very western in distribution from Sweden to Sicily.

* Sison amomum. Stone parsley.Tetrad 33V (Hall 1980), probably outside the Flora area.One patch found by rubble on track entrance by the William IV in Nutley (445.272), pH7.3, 1995, TR & PH, presumably introduced.Locally abundant on the Wadhurst and Weald Clays in Sussex, and notably scarce3 elsewhere. Locally frequent in England south-east of a line from the Severn to the Humber rwhere it reaches its northern European limit. Western and southern Europe. Also present inNorth Africa.4 5135[Carum carvi. Caraway.Recorded in error for Conopodium by Fincham (1995).1Angelica sylvestris. Wild angelica.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread on the Forest by rivers and stream banks, and in wet pastures and ditches,sometimes in damp, open woodland. Also very common in Sussex except on the chalk.Widespread in Britain, Europe and temperate Asia.*Pastinaca saliva subsp. sylvestris. Wild parsnip.Tetrad 43A (Hall 1980) where it is still present.Verges at Wych cross on both sides of road (417.320), pH 8.2, 1993+, AK etc.;Coleman's Hatch (45.33), 1993, TR; Kings Standing car park, presumably introduced withlimestone rubble, mown and not flowering (473.301), 1995, TR & PW.3 Very common in Sussex on the chalk. Common on calcareous soils in lowland Britain,and widespread in Europe except the extreme north, and in western Asia.4 5Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium. Hogweed, Cow parsnip, Rabbit's meat, l

136Torilis japonica. Upright hedge-parsley.Common on east side of the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it scattered on roadsides, open scrub and hedges.in Sussex and widespread in Eurasia to Japan, and North Africa.It is very common3 -I--I---------'-+_4 5Daucus carata. Wild carrot.Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980); not refound.Predominantly on the chalk in Sussex, but also elsewhere in the Weald (Hall 1980). Widespread in lowland Britainthough becoming more coastal in the north, and in Europe south of the Baltic, temperate Asia and North Africa.GENTIANACEAECicendia filiformis. Yellow centaury, Slender cicendia.First found on the edge of the Royal Ashdown Golf Course, Forest Row (43.34), 18July 1986, PS, when he noticed the yellow pinprick of a bud while examining Juncusbufonius with a lens. He returned daily for two weeks until the flowers opened in3 -1-+_-----1-1-sunshine on 1 August. The colony was spread along about 17 metres of the dampedge of a sloping track and contained about 700 plants between 4 and 80 mm tall4 5(the largest having 3 main branches) growing on bare soil and in grass at the trackedge. Drosera rotundifolia and Isolepis setacea were also present but the Iso/epis hassince disappeared.In most years the majority of the plants in the colony are extremely small, oftenless than 10 mm tall, accompanied by a few larger ones which may reach a height of 50 mm or more. As withother annuals, the numbers vary considerably from year to year though the small plants are extremely hard to seeand make recording of exact numbers difficult. In 1987 there were around 600-1000 plants (Briggs 1990 reported100 plants). In 1988 180 plants were recorded, in 1989 50 plants, and in 1992 70 plants (AFRR). In 1994 TR &NM found four plants, but later that summer AH found over 30. The dry spring and summer of 1995 was notconducive to growth and about 15 plants were seen by AK in July, but none could be found in August by TR. Atthe moment the site does not appear to be threatened although it is a little more overgrown than it was in 1986and some management may become necessary to ensure its survival.Cicendia filiformis is often associated with tracks, the edges of pools and ditches and occasionally occurs indamp pastures. Salisbury (1970) noted that it has occurred in certain muddy depressions year after year,sometimes in abundance, whilst being absent from apparently similar depressions nearby. The seeds germinateover an extended period in the spring, and come into flower rapidly. He found plants had an average of threecapsules per plant and an average of 197 seeds in each capsule.Cicendia is becoming scarce in the British Isles (Byfield 1994), with sites in East Sussex, Hampshire, EastDorset, Cornwall, North Devon, Dyfed, Gwynedd and the Channel Isles and can only be regarded as widespread intwo areas - the New Forest and the Lizard Peninsula. Many of its sites are on heathland where it is threatened bydestruction of habitat or changes in management, particularly the loss of grazing, when it succumbs easily to theinvasion of grass and scrub. The Forest Row site is currently the most easterly known site in Britain (by about100 km), although it was once known from two areas of Norfolk which are slightly further east. The nearestextant sites are now in the New Forest. It is presumed extinct in West Sussex where the last known localitieswere Turner's Hill, 1953, FR and St. Leonard's Forest, 1980s, M. Briggs.It also occurs in western and southern Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa and the Azores.Centaurium erythraea. Common centaury, Gentian.Near Forest Row, C. H. Waddell (Wolley-Dod 1937). Common on the Forest (Hall1980).Widespread on rides, paths, car parks, verges and in grassland around theForest. Plants with white flowers occur occasionally (e.g. noted in 41.30, 43.20,)and rides in Five Hundred Acre Wood 48.32).Widespread in Sussex, common in the Weald, and widespread in lowlandBritain, Europe and south-west Asia.4 5

137Centaurium pu/chellum. Lesser centaury.Broadstone Warren (42.321, 1954 and Fairwarp area 1956, P. A. Barker (BRCI.Tetrads 43G and 43R (Hall 19801.A few plants on west side of Wych Cross Reservoir embankment (419.315),1995, TR & E. Goddard; abundant on ride in Funnell's Wood (442.2621, 1995, TR &3 PA; verge by Box car park (459.2871, 1993, OS et al.; Five Hundred Acre Wood(48.321, 1993, ER & RN.Scattered in the Weald and adjacent chalk, one of its strongholds in Britain. It islocally distributed in the New Forest and the Bedfordshire area, and very rare and4 5 scattered around the coast of England and Wales. Widespread in Europe, especiallynear the sea, and west and central Asia.*Blackstonia perfo/iata. Yellow~wort.Meadow near Wych Cross, J. Weaver (Wolley-Dod 19371. Tetrad 42U (Hall 19801. Presumably introduced inboth cases and not refound.Common on the chalk in Sussex, and occasional in the Weald sometimes introduced. Locally abundant onchalk soils in southern Britain. West central and southern Europe, south-west Asia and Morocco.Gentianella. Gentians.There are records for G. campestris, field gentian "On Ashdown Forest" and for G. amarella, autumn gentian "OnAshdown Forest, near Wood's Nursery" in Deakin (1871), which possibly refer to the same plant, and also thesame as the G. amarella record 'near Wood's Nursery, Maresfield, F. A. Malleson' in Wolley-Dod (1937). Of thetwo species G. campestris is more likely to have been present as it is not a strict calcicole, but neither arecurrently known and we have been unable to trace any specimens.Gentiana pneumonanthe. Marsh gentian, Calathian violet.On the Forest, about a mile north-east of Wood's Nursery, on a bank facing southeast,plentifully (Cooper 1835) [Wood's Nursery was between Fairwarp andMaresfield on Nursery Lane]. Ashdown Forest (Deakin 1871). In the Forest nearWood's Nursery, Maresfield, plentifully, W. C. Unwin; Ashdown Forest, Miss A. Wallis(Arnold 18871. Nutley Downs, 1889, T. Hilton (BMI. Found on the Forest (Firmin18901. Rest near Chelwood Gate, 1898, D'Alquin & C. E. Salmon (BM; BTNI.Ashdown Forest (Done 19141. Heathy ground east of Chelwood Gate, 1919, F. J.Hanbury (BM). Near Chuck Hatch, 1933, W. C. Barton (BMI. Between Nutley and4 5Horney Common, A. G. Gregor; between Nutley and FClirwarp, Miss Gatty; bog nearChelwood Gate, abundant, C. C. Plowden; Wych Cross; damp heath near Pippingford Park, 1930, A. E. Ellis(BTN); valley between Pippingford and Nutley, E. C. Wall ace; near Chuck Hatch, E. C. Wallace (Wolley-Dod 1937).Many references to plants at Pippingford Park, on a slope near Five Hundred Acre Wood, Duddleswell, two sitesprobably near Chelwood, and one site at Twyford, G. Dent (Dent 1928-1953). Masses in valley bog east of NewLodge Farm below Gills Lap, late 1940s, C. D. Pigott. Near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRCI. Tetrads 42N,42P, 42Z and 43F in Hall (19801, with nine extra tetrad records in Briggs (1990).We have found Gentians in 13 squares on the Forest, with the main populations in the Misbourne valley andthe Millbrook grazing enclosure. The populations vary in size from single flowering spikes to over 100 plants, butsome populations in the 1950s had thousands of plants, FR. From casual observation they seem to be in declineas there is no room for new seedlings amongst the dense Molinia that surrounds them. Studies in the Netherlandshave shown two types of population: on wet, inundated heaths populations have high recruitment of seedlingsresulting in a dynamic population with plants of different ages; whilst in unfertilised grasslands dominated byMolinia there is very little recruitment and the static, even-aged populations slowly decline. Our populations onAshdown Forest seem to be of the latter type. In the past grazing and trampling by the commoners' cattle andhorses would have provided appropriate conditions for recruitment of new plants, and it may be significant thatthe largest remaining populations on the Forest are in the areas in which grazing continued the longest.Gentians apparently regenerate well after mowing or grazing early in the year, but they are adversely affectedby grazing at the wrong time, or lack of grazing. When grazing was re-introduced on 100 acres near Millbrook in1989, the cattle grazed them unselectively so an exclosure was erected to protect them. Where grazing has beentotally excluded the plants are surrounded by dense Molinia as elsewhere on the Forest, but they do flower andsurvive the grazing, albeit in lower numbers.Marsh gentian is rare but locally frequent where conditions are right in Britain, but it is decreasing in manylocalities. It is a long-lived perennial with a mean life expectancy of about twenty years. The seed-bank is shortlived(no more than five years) so if seed production is wiped out one year by picking, mowing or grazing at thecrucial time recruitment suffers (Chap man 1994).A lowland species in the British Isles, confined to damp, acidic heathland in two main parts in England andWales. In the south it extends from Dorset to Kent and Surrey, but is now probably extinct in West Sussex. Inthe north it occurs in North Wales, northern England and East Anglia. [t has been recorded in 50 1 O-km squares in

138Britain since 1970, and in another 76 1 O~km squares before 1970. Found throughout much of Europe fromsouthern Scandinavia to the mountains of Spain, Italy and the Balkans, eastwards to central Asia.APOCYNACEAE* Vinca minor. Lesser periwinkle.Four tetrads around the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded mainly around the edge of the Forest on banks and woodland edgesand usually near houses, a result of dumping garden rubbish over a long period. Largepatches 20 metres across were established on wood edge east of Fairwarp Village] +T------'-,f- Hall (467.2631. 1995, TR & G. M. Kay.4 5Locally established in Britain and more frequent than the following species.Native in southern, western and central Europe and western Asia, but widelyintroduced and its native range is difficult to establish. Some regard it as a possiblenative in south-east England as it is common in woods in north-west France.* Vinca major. Greater periwinkle, Pinpatch.A mile north 01 Mareslield, J. Edwards (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrad 42J (Hall 1980).Fairwarp, small patch under oak where presumably dumped from gardens androoting at the tips (465.265). 1995, TA.Locally established in Britain. Native in the west and central Mediterraneanregion, introduced elsewhere.] ++------"-j-4 5SOLANACEAE*Hyoscyamus niger. Henbane.On rubbish tip at Crow and Gate, Ashdown Forest, TWNH (Wolley-Ood 1937).Henbane is normally found in disturbed areas on chalk or on sand near the sea (Johnstone 1994) so theabsence of any records during this survey is not surprising. Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Widespread in Europe, western Asia and North Africa.Solanum nigrum subsp. nigrum. Black nightshade.Six scattered tetrads (Hall 1980).Recorded on waste ground, in the gutters along the roads, gardens and in thevillages, and more rarely as an arable weed.Common and widespread in Sussex and south-east England, scattered3 elsewhere in Britain. Widespread in Europe.4 5Solanum dulcamara. Bittersweet, Woody nightshade.Quite frequent in damp woods, ditches, and even in hedges with some climbing toover 2 metres tall. It is particularly characteristic of pond margins and marshy areasand the alluvial borders of ghylls. It occurs in a range of shaded and unshadedhabitats, but usually on the more fertile soils.Recorded in 98% 01 the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Common andwidespread in lowland Britain, Europe, Asia and North Africa.This species is sometimes erroneously called 'deadly nightshade'. It ispoisonous but not as toxic as true deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) which doesnot occur on the Forest.*Datura stramonium. Thorn-apple.Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980). Not refound. This species is a scarce casual in Sussex which is rarely persistent - aboveground at least, the seeds may be long-dormant. It is very poisonous.It is widespread as a casual in Britain, and widespread in temperate and subtropical areas of the northernhemisphere.

139CONVOLVULACEAEConvolvulus arvensis. Field bindweed, Lily.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Frequent on waste ground, in gardens and lawns, occasional on mown andslightly disturbed road verges. The flowers last only one day each, opening in themorning and closing by the afternoon. Grime et al. (1988) note that its distribution3 -++---'""'"---......'../--and seed-set in Britain appear to be limited by climate. It is drought-tolerant andmore common on south-facing slopes, and the roots may be damaged by freezing.A pernicious weed in Sussex except on the Ashdown Sands. Widespread inBritain and temperate regions of the world.4 5Calystegia sepium. Hedge bindweed, Grandmother's or Grandfather's Night-cap, Woodbine.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread around the Forest though avoiding the acidic areas, and especiallyfrequent along hedges off the Forest. Not all records may be C. sepium sensu strictoas vegetative plants cannot be determined with certainty, but it does seem to bemore common than C, silvatica.This species and C. silvatica are markedly selfMincompatible, and as smallpopulations are usually single clones, little or no seed is set (Waiters & Martin 1958).Seed is however set in larger or obviously heterogeneous populations, and sometimesthey hybridise with C. si/vatica (we have not looked for hybrids).Very common in Sussex and widespread in lowland Britain and temperate regions.[Ca/ystegia pu/chra. Hairy bindweed.Tetrad 33V (Hall 1980); not refound and probably not in our Flora area.)* Calystegia silvatica. Large bindweed.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Occasional around the edges of the Forest, usually in the villages and nearhouses. It often forms large patches scrambling over hedges and verges, It iscertainly less frequent than C, sepium, as it is elsewhere in Sussex, Widespread in3 lowland Britain. Native in southern Europe, the Caucasus and North Africa.4 5CUSCUTACEAECuscuta epithymum. Dodder, Devil's guts, Hell weed. (Account by SR).On Ashdown Forest (Caleman 1836). Webb (1885) found it in great quantitiesparasitic on fifteen different species "among others oak, hawthorn, agrimony, gorse,needle whin, heath, ling, wax-heath, Blechnum fern, both on barren and fertile fronds,and bracken. It was very plentiful on gorse, heath and ling, but not so much on theothers. In general the flowers were pinkish, hanging in little round bunches on deeppurple stems, but I also observed some with pure white flowers attached to palegreen stems, they did not grow in such full clusters as the purple ones did. Thegreen plant was not in a more sheltered situation than the purple", On the Forest4 5(Firmin 1890). Specimens collected by Miss P. Stockdale in 1911 were parasitic onCalluna, Erica tetralix, Vlex minor and Origanum (BEX). On furze near Crow borough (Done 1914). AshdownForest, 1934, D. P. Young (BRC). Frequent south of Forest Row, 1948, R. A. Boniface. Ashdown Forest,abundant after fire (Ross 1955). Near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRC). Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have also recorded it scattered throughout the Forest, usually on rides and never abundant thoughprobably most noticeable in 1995. It can sometimes be abundant after fires (Ross 1957) but the few fires seen onAshdown Forest 1992-1995 have not resulted in any plants, and indeed one site was lost on Old Lodge Reservefollowing the fire in 1994. Quite why it is characteristic of rides is not certain, but it is definitely more frequent onthem than in the surrounding heaths.Dodder is a parasite of plants, mostly on heathland, chalk grassland and coastal habitats. It is totallyparasitic, and is dependent on its hosts for all its nutrients and water, and its "leaves" which lack chlorophyll arereduced to small scales. Seeds germinate in spring after the other vegetation has started to grow, and producefine yellowish threads which circumnutate around until they find a host plant. The thread then spirals around thehost stems producing small papillae which develop into haustoria (the dodder:host interface). The haustoria

140penetrate the host tissues, releasing enzymes allowing it to obtain water and nutrients, which also causes aproliferation of new growth in the host to which the parasite can spread. Once established the dodder roots die.The threads branching from anyone point are different lengths which is believed to maximise its chances ofstriking another host. The effects upon host growth vary from necrosis of shoots and impaired flowering in U/exminor, to discoloration of the growing shoots in Cal/una. The reddish colour of heather attacked by dodder is quitenoticeable late in the season on some rides on the Forest.C. epithymum has been recorded parasitising numerous plants; van Ooststroom (1951) noted 91 hosts inGotland, Sweden. The hosts on Ashdown Forest have been recorded for populations in seven sites:Host species Sites Host species SitesCa//una vulgaris 717 Potentilla erecta 2/7Deschampsia f/exuosa 317 Danthonia decumbens 117Erica cinerea 317 Ga/ium saxatile 117Molinia caeru/ea 317 Pedicularis sy/vatica 117Vlex minor 317 Pteridium aquilinum 117Festuca filiformis 217 Rubus fruticosus agg. 117These compare well with hosts previously recorded on the Forest (cf. above), but it almost always occurs onCa//una and spreads onto other plants from there, and is sometimes only weakly attached to grasses. Theinteresting one is Pedicularis sy/vatica which is itself a semi-parasite on the roots of other plants, so it isn't onlyfleas which have smaller fleas!On chalk grassland dodder is predominantly found on legumes such as Trifolium, Lotus and Medicago. Thedodders on chalk grassland are generally bigger and more branched with paler, larger flowers with shorter styles,and have been described as var. trifolii Bab. Seedlings taken from plants parasitising V/ex minor failed to grow onclovers suggesting that these races are physiologically different too and this may explain why Trifolium, Lotus andMedicago on the Forest are not parasitised (host specificity is known in other parasites such as mistletoe). Someof the morphological variation between the two races may be related to the differing nutrition available from thehosts; the luxuriant growth of var. trifolii could reflect the increased nitrogen levels in the hosts which havenitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, although this would be expected in Vlex on heathland too, or perhaps anadaptation to parasitising clonal patches of clover rather than isolated heath land shrubs.Although commonly thought of as an annual regenerating each year from seed, Shillito (1952) demonstratedthat C. ephhymum can over-winter on woody hosts by means of tubercles. These organs appear as tiny scales onthe host above the haustoria and develop after the stems die back in late autumn. The following spring theydevelop new stems which grow and infect more plants, giving an instant early start to the dodder. This is almostcertainly the main form of perennation on Ashdown Forest since patches can be found in exactly the samelocation from year to year, usually on Cal/una, provided the rides have not been mown too short. The role oftubercles in var. trifolii would be interesting to investigate on chalk grasslands since the availability of overwinteringperennial hosts is less than on heathlands, and also in the related C. europaea which typically parasitisesVrtica and Humulus on riverbanks.Locally common in southern Britain and most of Europe, and in temperate Asia and North Africa.MENYANTHACEAEMenyanthes trifoliata. Bogbean.Near Coleman's Hatch, B. B. Gough; near Crow's Nest, Camp Hill, E. M. Day;Poundgate, A. G. Gregor (Wolley-Dod 1937). Ashdown Forest, 1942, L. M. Child(TLS). A number of references to Chelwood and Duddleswell, with a note to golooking for it before the end of May (Dent 1928-1953). Chelwood Gate (42.30),3 1955, and near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRC). West of Fairwarp, in theColeman's Hatch area, at Upper Chuck Hatch and at Newbridge Bog, 1950s, FR.Tetrads 42N, 42P, 42T and 43F (Hall 1980).4 5 Large patches in pond at Chelwood Vachery (430.295), 1994, TR, MR & PR;small patch in wet boggy flush near Londonderry Farm (445.292), 1992 +, NM et al.,and another at 444.292, 1992, NM which appeared following re-introduction of the grazing in 1989, possiblyfrom buried seed or perhaps just more visible when the grass was eaten; lakes in Pippingford Park (44.30 and44.31), 1993 +, Flora meetings but gone from pond in 44.31 where it was last recorded in 1987, R. Fitzgerald etal.; bog west of Airman's grave (458.297), 1991, CM; small pond east of Old Lodge (467.297), 1992, NM & CM.Scattered in Sussex and south-east England and decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996), though still widespreadand common in the north and west. Widespread in Europe except near the Mediterranean, Asia, Morocco,Greenland and North America.

141*Nymphoides pe/tata. Fringed water-lily.Cackle Street, 1933, G. Dent (Dent 1928-1953).Not refound. Although probably native in parts of eastern and south-eastern England it is likely to have beenplanted at Cackle Street, as it is widely elsewhere. Widespread in Europe and Asia.POLEMONIACEAE* Polemonium caeruleum.3 -++-___----l_+___4 5BORAGINACEAEJacob' s-Iadder.Appropriately enough, an escape at Friar's Hill (Wolley-Dod 1937).Under bracken on bank between car park and heath, Ashdown Forest Centre(433.323), 1988, Sue Buckingham, but gone by 1994 and probably before. Itappears to have been introduced with soil brought in when the cess pit for the centrewas enlarged, and persisted for a few years.A rare escape in Sussex and increasing as a garden escape in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996), but native in northern England. The native form has leaflets mostlythree times as long as wide, whilst cultivated and garden plants have leaflets mostlyless than about 2.7 times as long as wide, and are of European origin (Pig ott 1958).Widespread in north and central Europe, Caucasus, Siberia and North America.*Echium vu/gare. Viper's~bugloss.Tetrad 42P (Hall 1980). Not refound.Locally frequent on the chalk and coast in Sussex, especially around rabbit burrows. Still widespread ineastern England but decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe and temperate Asia.*Pu/monaria officinalis. Lungwort.Tetrad 43A, 1987, MM; not refound.Widely established as a garden escape in Britain. Native in Europe.Symphytum officina/e. Common comfrey, Knitbone, Bruisewort.Tetrad 43P (Hall 1980).Chelwood area (41 .29), 1994, Flora meeting; Nutley area (44.28), 1995, MM.Frequent in Sussex, often on river banks and other damp places, but easilyconfused with S. x uplandicum; S. officinaie in Sussex usually has cream or white3 -+-J..---------'-+_ flowers and strongly winged stems.Planted and grown by local herbalists in the early 20th century for use onsprains and fractures. Widespread in lowland Britain and in Europe except theextreme south and often introduced in the north; temperate Asia.4 5* Symphytum x up/andicum. Russian comfrey.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Established outside garden amongst bracken (446.275), 1995, TR; Lines Farmstream (444.347), 1993, TR & EL; Toll Lane, patch on verge (46.26), 1995, PO &RN; A26 verge near Claygate Farm (478.262), 1995, TR.3 It was once grown for fodder, and may not be well~established in the Forest as itis rapidly devoured by deer, and the soils may also be too acidic. Widely establishedin Sussex, lowland Britain and Europe.4 5*Symphytum tuberosum. Tuberous comfrey.Near Fairwarp, E. D. Morgan; roadside north of Maresfield, Wolley-Dod (Wolley-Dod1937).Boringwheel Mill area (45.26), 1994, Flora meeting; Fairwarp, by the bus shelter(465.264) and by the village hall (467.263), 1992 +, B. Hoath where it apparently3 -1-+--------'--1- arrived in soil at the former and also nearby on Nursery Lane when some minor roadimprovements were carried out; St John's car park (504.316), 1991 +, PW.A rare plant in Sussex and presumably introduced. Native in west, central andsouthern Europe northwards to England, and possibly in Scotland.4 5

142* Symphytum orientale. White comfrey.Lane side from nearby garden, NlWey (446.276), 1995, TR.A rare garden escape in Sussex, and scattered in south-east England. Native inAnatolia.3 -++-~~----"4-4 5*Pentaglottis sempervirens. Green alkanet.Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).Scattered on waste ground and in hedges usually near habitation, and especiallyin the villages.A frequent garden escape in Sussex, Widely established and increasing in3 -++--""----'-+- England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in south-west Europe, and widelynaturalized in north-west Europe.4 5*80ra90 officinalis. Borage.3 -++---''"---'--f--Waste ground near Home Farm (444.303), 1993, SBRS; St Johns (50.31), 1991 +,PW.A garden escape occasionally established in Sussex and Britain. Native insouthern Europe.4 5Myosotis scorpioides. Water forget-me-not.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have found this large-flowered water forget-me-not on the edges of pondsand streams, usually in open situations scattered around the Forest with a fewrecords from Pippingford Park.Grime et al. (1988) note it occurs on a wide range of soils from calcareous tomild acidic (pH> 5), and is tolerant of fluctuating water tables. It often forms clonal4 5patches and may spread vegetatively along water courses. The seeds do not float. Itis common along riverbanks, lakes and ponds in Sussex and Britain, and mainlyoccurs in central and northern Europe. It also occurs in Asia and North America.As the water forget-me-nots are often confused, the following Table should help with their identification onAshdown Forest:M. scorpio/des M. secunda M. laxaCorolla To 8 mm across. To 6 mm across. To 5 mm across.Calyx lobes at flowering Lobed less than half Lobed half way or more, Lobed half way or more,way, equilateral isosceles triangular in isosceles triangular intriangular in shape. shape. shape.Stem hairs Appressed or sometimes Lower part with All hairs appressed.patent.spreading hairs, upperappressed.Stolons Usually present. Present. Absent.

Myosotis secunda (M. repens). Creeping forget-me-not.Ashdown Forest, between Forest Row and Crowborough, W. W. Reeves (Arnold1887). )n a bog south 01 Coleman's Hatch (Done 1914). Quabrook Common, E.Forster; Ashdown Forest between Forest Row and Crow borough, abundant, W. W.3 -++-----cil-----'-+_Reeves (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrads 42T, 43K and 43L (Hall 1980).A distinctive plant, quite characteristic of acidic pond margins and iron flushes,4 5which is tolerant of iron compounds produced under anaerobic conditions which arenormally toxic to plants. It is typical of quaking areas between the alder stumps as atNewbridge (455.324)' and also abundant round some shaded ponds, as atPippinglord Park (446.312). Grime et al. (1988) note that it olten replaces M.scorpioides by acidic and nutrient-poor water.A very uncommon plant of the Weald in Sussex (Hall 1980) and Kent, but perhaps overlooked? Morefrequent in North and west Britain, and in western Europe, Azores and Madeira.143Myosotis laxa (M. caespitosa). Tufted forget-me-not.Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).This small-flowered water forget-me-not is recorded occasionally in open flushesand ditches around the Forest. It is an annual or biennial and tends to occur onnutrient-rich mud in disturbed places.Frequent in marshes and wet places in Sussex, especially on the TunbridgeWells Sands, and widespread in Britain. Widespread in Europe, but rare in the south,Asia and North Africa.4 5*Myosotis sylvatica. Wood forget-me-not.Tetrads 43A, 43R and 43V (Hall 1980). Tetrads 43M and 43W (Briggs 1990).Widely grown 'In gardens, and most of our records are associated with thevillages and obvious garden escapes. It is possibly native in some woodland sites,3 -f-t-------'"'!Jand can be found in the alluvial woodlands on damp but not wet soils.Occasional in Sussex and accepted as native by Hall (1980) where it may benative in alluvial woodlands along the Rother, on Weald Clay and in old woodlandsnear Horsham (FR, pers. comm. 1996) but also an escape from cultivation. It is4 5certainly native in woodlands in mid and northern England, but is widespread as anintroduction and is increasing elsewhere (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread inEurope except the south-west and the north.Myosotis arvensis. Field forget-me-not.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered on shaded woodland rides, in gardens and in the villages, in a fewarable fields, and on roadsides around the Forest. It is an annual and occurs in openhabitats on mildly acidic to calcareous soils (pH> 5). It varies in size depending on3the environment and time of germination.Very common in Sussex and lowland Br·lta·ln. Throughout Europe, and intemperate Asia and North Africa.4 5Myosotis discolor. Changing forget-me-not.Tetrads 43K and 43M (Hall 1980).Scattered around the Forest on the sandier tracks, bare open areas andsometimes on waste gr?und. It is often found in surprisingly damp places.Scattered in Sussex mostly on coastal beaches as it is in Hampshire, in dry open3 -++---..---'+--- places and on walls. Widespread in Britain, and mainly western in Europe.4 5

144VERBENACEAE* Verbena officinalis. Vervain.Tetrad 53A {Hall 1980}, possib}y outside our area,Streeter's Rough area (42,29), 1993, TR,Common on the chalk in Sussex and occasional elsewhere, and sometimes ondry roads ides in the Weald. Mainly in southern Britain, and widespread in Europe and3 western Asia; also found in North Africa.4 5LAMIACEAE (LABIATAE)Stachys officina/is. Betony.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980),One of our most attractive plants, especially when present in large numbers.Our survey shows it to be widespread in the south, west and north-east of the Forestbut strangely absent from a band running diagonally in from the north-west corner.As Stachys officinalis is such a well-known and relatively conspicuous plant the mapalmost certainly reflects its true distribution. The reason for its absence from theseareas is unclear as it is found mainly in open woodland, grassland and road verges(Plate 3), habitats which are present in many of the squares where we have norecords.Common in most of England and Wales except East Anglia and widespread inEurope outside Scandinavia, also in Caucasus and Algeria. Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).*Stachys byzantina. Lamb's~ear.Seedlings on tipped soil, Kidbrooke {420,346}, 1995, TR, but not established,It is widely grown in gardens and occasionally established in Britain. It is nativein south-east Europe and south~west Asia.J -++-----Lf-4 5Stachys sylvatica. Hedge woundwort.Described as ubiquitous in Hall (1980) and found to be similarly widespread on shadyroad banks, and in hedges and woods during our survey. It occurs on moist, fertilesoils usually of pH 6-8 but not below pH 4 (Grime et ai, 1988), and is tolerant of lightshade, forming clonal patches by the spreading underground rhizomes.3 Common throughout the whole of Britain and much of Europe except theMediterranean where it becomes scarce. Also found in the Caucasus and Kashmir.4 5Stachys palustris. Marsh woundwort.Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have twelve scattered records, mainly from wet places such as along theMedway, although the record from Gills Lap is for a plant growing in the road gutterby the entrance to North Park car park (467.315), PW, where it has persisted for3 some years. It also grows on wet verges with Si/aum near Chelwood Gate{415,304}, 1993, TR, It mainly occurs in damp, relatively undisturbed sites ineastern England presumably due to sensitivity to drought, but in the damp, humid4 5 climate of western Ireland occurs very frequently as a weed of disturbed ground.Present throughout much of Britain, and in Europe, but becoming scarce aroundthe Mediterranean and in the north of Scandinavia. Also found in temperate Asia and North America.

145Stachys 8lvensis. Field woundwort.Chelwood Common, Miss M. Cobbe; near Fisher's Gate, rare, E, D. Morgan {WolleyDad 19371. Tetrads 42N and 42T (Hall 1980).One plant seen on a roadside near Suttons Farm (401.312), 1990, DB. Aninconspicuous but attractive annual normally found as a weed in arable fields on3 -++--------'-+- sandy, non-calcareous soils. Its rarity is to be expected given that, even in the past,arable land was never widespread in the Forest.Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 19961. Scattered over Britain andmuch of Europe as far north as southern Sweden, Asia Minor and North Africa.4 5*Ba/Jota nigra. Black horehound.Surprisingly scarce, with only a single record from Horncastle (39.32), 1995, DB butthis is consistent with the distribution given in other sources. Hall (1980) shows it ascommon in the southern half of both East and West Sussex but very scarce in thenorth-east and north-west of the counties, and the distribution in Kent shows a3 -+t--------'+_ similar absence from the High Weald (Philp 19821. The same "hole" in its otherwisealmost ubiquitous distribut'lon in south-east England can be seen clearly in the map inPerring & Waiters (1990). Hall suggests a climatic factor may be involved in thedistribution but, if this really is the case, it is not clear what it might be. More work4 5is needed before the virtual absence of Bal/ota in this area can be explained.It occurs most frequently in dry, dirty, dusty places near habitation, and on waste ground, and maybeAshdown Forest is too up-market for it.Common in much of England, south and west Wales but rare in Scotland and only present in Ireland as anintroduction.Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. montanum fGaleobdolon luteum). Yellow archangel.Inadvertently omitted by Hall (19801 but shown as common in the map supplied ascorrigenda and published in Briggs (19901.We have records from eleven squares around the edges of the Forest. Yellow3 -++------'-1-archangel is distributed throughout the southern half of Britain and is generallythought to be an indicator of ancient woodland. Our records are for woods and,occasionally, old hedgebanks. Its distribution around the edge of the Flora area4 5reflects the fact that it is found only on the heavier base-rich clay soils, avoiding themore acidic sandy areas completely. Packham (1983) notes it grows poorly on soilsbelow pH 4.3.Widespread in Europe except Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, and found in Iran. Its northern limit inBritain may be caused by inhibition of sexual reproduction in the cool, damp summers. In Europe its southern limitmay be due to limited rainfall as it is not very tolerant of drought, and it is more restricted to woodland in theeastern part of its range (Packham 1983).*Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. argentatum (Galeobdolon 8rgentatum). Silver archangel.An increasingly common garden escape or, perhaps more accurately, garden throwout.Scattered around the Flora area near houses, on roads ides or beside lay-bys,where those who have become tired of its rampant growth in their gardens havediscarded it.3 -+-t----~-I- The origin of this subspecies is unclear but it is now scattered over much ofBritain. It has large silver blotches on the leaves (see Rich & Rich 1988)' but subsp.montanum plants may also have a few silver speckles.4 5Lamium album. White deadnettle.Generally regarded as a common plant, the distribution in Hall (1980) shows thatLamium album is indeed frequent in many parts of Sussex but is absent from much ofAshdown Forest and much of the Kent Weald, as is Bal/ota nigra too. This has beenconfirmed in our survey where we have records from only seven l-km squares in the3 -++----'"--4- north and east of the area. Although its absence from the more acid, sandy areas isunsurprising, it is not clear why it does not occur more widely around the edges of theForest. It is a weedy perennial species of disturbed, nutrient-rich sites (often fouled by4 5 dogs) but does not even seem common in our villages.'--------------'

146Common throughout most of south-eastern Britain but becoming rarer in the west and restricted to nutrientrichsites. Widespread over much of Europe except the far north and south. Also found in Himalaya and Japan.Lamium purpureum. Red deadnettle.This species was recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex by Hall (1980) and isextremely common all over southern England. It is, however, present in only 30% ofthe 1-km squares in our area. Its sites on the Forest are strongly associated withhuman activity, occurring in gardens, disturbed areas on road verges and track sidesor as a pavement weed in the villages. It is absent from large areas of woodland andheathland.Very common throughout Britain and much of Europe.4 5Ga/eopsis tetrahit s./. Hemp~nettles.This aggregate is composed of G. tetrahit sensu stricto and G. bifida. They can only be distinguished in flower soour vegetative plants have been mapped as the aggregate. The aggregate is shown as common in Hall (1980) butthere is little reliable indication of the relative frequencies of the two segregates.Plants of the aggregate generally occur in disturbed habitats such as paths ides, the edges of arable fields andheaths, in light secondary woodland and by hedges. They are usually summer annuals and flower late in theseason.Ga/eopsis tetrahit s.s. Common hemp~nettle.Confirmed in only three localities around the edge of the Forest during our survey.Common throughout Britain and Europe except the far south-east.Ga/eopsis bifida. Bifid hemp~nettle.Found to be more common than G. tetrahit during our survey despite the fact that Hall (1980) has no records forthe area. This is certainly due to under-recording of this species in the past. The national distribution is not clearbut it is certainly present over much of the range of G. tetrahit s.s.In Finland, studies have shown that 96-100% of the seeds are dormant for at least ten years (Hintikka 1987).Seeds are probably stimulated to germinate by clear-felling and burning, and plants can dominate areas afterforestry work has been carried out. This strategy enables it to colonise disturbed competition-free habitats, Itbehaves similarly on Ashdown Forest, occurring on small disturbed areas and retreating into the seed bank as thevegetation closes over again.Ga/eopsis tetrahit s./, Galeopsis tetrahit 5.5, Ga/eopsis bifida3 +~-..------"Bf- 3-++_---~+- 3-++----~-+-4 5 4 5 4 5ScuteJ/aria ga/ericulata. Skullcap.Bogs near Gills Lap, Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Forest Row, 1910, Miss P.Stockdale (BEX). Occasional (Hall 1980).We have only accepted two modern records, but there could be more: Old Mill(48.30), 1995, AK; stream woodland near Cowfield (49.31), 1995, TR & PA. In3 -++_----'"'-+_ 1993 vegetative plants with toothed leaves were recorded widely in woodland, rides,ditches and streams and ponds, but were withdrawn in 1994 after we had discoveredthat S. x hybrida was much more common. It is quite possible that some of therecords in Hall may be for the hybrid (see below).4 5S. galer/culata is a plant of rather wet, swampy places, favouring the edges ofstreams and ponds or wet grassland. It is a lowland plant with a wide distribution, occurring throughout Europe,in Asia, Algeria and North America, In the UK it is widely distributed over most of the country except in north-eastEngland and eastern Scotland. It is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).

5cutellaria x hybrida (5. galericulata x minor). Hybrid skullcap.Hall (1980) has a single tetrad record, 43W, and there is a more recent record for thearea from 33V, A. G. Hoare, confirmed by A. C. Leslie (Briggs 1990).We have a total of 17 1-km square records, many more than the parent S.galericulata. The hybrids are especially locally abundant along the streams and ridesof the woodlands in the north-west corner of the Forest. They occur in dense shadeas well as in the open, and appear fairly uniform in cultivation but vary due toenvironmental conditions such as shade. The plants tend to form patches by thecreeping rhizomes, and many of the patches have probably spread vegetatively (no4 5seed has been found on any of the plants examined) and populations may be clones.They are rather shy-flowering and a good indicator of the hybrid is the presence of many non-flowering plants. Forexample, when AK first saw the colony in Plaw Wood in the late summer of 1993 hundreds of plants were presentbut none could be found in flower so confirmation had to wait until 1994 when a number of plants flowered.They can be distinguished as follows:147Number of teeth onmid-stem leavesFlowersFlower sizeFertility5. galericulata8-23.Deep blue.10-20 mm.Fertile.S. x hybrida6-13.Pale purplish-blue.7-12 mm.Sterile.S. minor1-4.Pink.6-10 mm.Fertile.This plant is certainly more common in and around our area than has been previously supposed and it is quitelikely that it may have been wrongly recorded as S. galericulata. Some examples of places to see it are as follows:abundant along public footpath, Plaw Wood (394.3331. 1994, PW, AK (neither parent could be found); north edgeof pond, Priory Road (413.339), 1995, TR; large patch beside path just west of the A22 with S. minor (419.336),1995, AK; abundant in the alder clearance area at Newbridge (458.3231. 1994, Flora meeting. The lack ofrecognition of this species means that its distribution is poorly known, and it could be much more widespread.5cutellaria minor. lesser skullcap.Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Ashdown Forest, M. R. Dixon, 1886(Arnold 1887). Near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRC). Common on the Forest(Hall 1980).Found over most of the Forest in our survey. This might be expected as the3 typical habitat for S. minor is damp heathland and woodland rides. It was abundantafter scrub clearance on A275, plants being pollinated by both honey and bumblebees (the bumblebees caused the whole plants to bend over). It varies from 5-10 cm4 5 tall in dry, open areas to nearly 70 cm tall in Molinia tussocks on Old Lodge Reserve.It is much less widely distributed than S. galericulata, being calcifuge and foundin England almost exclusivelY south of a line through Bristol and scattered throughout Wales. It is a westernEuropean endemic.Teucrium scorodonia. Wood sage.Ubiquitous, occurring in dry places in woodland, hedge banks and road or trackverges. Although very common in our area and most of Sussex, T. scorodonia isscarce in many areas in the south of West and East Sussex.It is a slow-growing perennial herb which forms patches and can be locallyabundant. It has physiologically distinct populations which differ in soil and shaderequirements (Hutchinson 1968). It occurs mainly on either calcareous (pH> 7) oracidic (pH 4-5) soil; clones from the two types grow best on their own soils. Plantsfrom woodland tend to put their resources into developing more leaves to catch morelight, whilst plants from the open sites develop extensive root systems to helpmaintain a water supply to survive drought. On the Forest it occurs mainly in the open and along woodland edgeswhich may be clones preferr'lng open conditions as most of the woodland is secondary.Distributed over most of Britain, much of Ireland and an endemic of south, west and central Europe as farnorth as Germany, the Netherlands and southern-most Norway.

148Ajuga rep tans. Bugle.Very common in our survey, in agreement with Hall (1980)' generally found on thericher soils. A pink-flowered plant was recorded near Crow and Gate, Crowborough(Wolley-Dod 1937), and pink-flowered forms were noted in 39.32 and 42.29, 1994,TR.Common over most of Britain and Europe as far north as the south of Sweden.Also found in western Asia and North Africa.Glechoma heder8cea. Ground ivy, Alehoof, Lion's mouth, Robin-run-in-the-hedge.Ubiquitous (Hall 1980) and similarly very common in our survey. It is found in avariety of places including the verges of roads and tracks, under ~edges and in someareas of woodland, It is not eaten by rabbits and often large patches occur in heavilygrazed areas.Common in Britain and Europe with the exception of the far north; west andcentral Asia to Japan.Prunella vulgaris. Self-heal.One of our truly ubiquitous species, occurring on road verges, by tracks and ingardens, grassland and woods but absent from undisturbed heathland.Common throughout Britain and most of Europe; temperate Asia, North Africa,North America and Australia.4 5*Melissa officinalis. Lemon balm.No records from our area in Hall (1980) but now with two occurrences on the Forest.A small clump in a large lay-by car park beside the A22 (436.303), 1985, CM andstill present had clearly been dumped. Another patch near Smockfarthing (401.319),1994, TR was probably planted.3 -++---"'------'-t- A native of southern Europe, western Asia and North Africa, naturalized in manyplaces in the south of Britain and widely cultivated for its lemony leaves.4 5[Clinopodium ascendens {Ca/amintha ascendens}. Common calamint.Recorded in error for C. vulgare by Fincham (1995).1Clinopodium vu/gare. Wild basil.Occasional in Hall (1980), mainly at the southern edge of the Forest and with sevenrecords in our survey of which only those from 46.26 and 46.27 correspond to therecords in Hall. Mainly found on road verges (e.g. west of Wych Cross 413.320, pH3 ++------Lj-7.6, entrance to Old Lodge 469.305) probably where chalk has been used as aconstruction material, which explains why Origanum vu/gare occurs with it in four of4 5the areas. It was also found on a woodland ride at Toll Lane (463.263), 1995, PH &PD.Common in the south but less so in the north, widespread in Europe except inthe far north, central and western Asia, Siberia, North Africa and North America.

Origanum vu/gare. Marjoram.Near Fisher's Gate, one large plant, A. H. Wolley-Ood; Ashdown Forest, Miss A. B.Cobbe (Wolley-Dod 1937).Hall (1980) has records from tetrad 43A only in the south-west of our area. Our3 --++-----Ysurveyshows a rather wider distribution with records from five squares. Origanumvu/gare is even more closely associated with chalk than is Clinopodium vu/gare so the4 5presence of both plants in four of its five locations is strongly indicative of thepresence of introduced chalk in these places.The distribution in Britain and Europe is broadly similar to the preceding species.Common in the south but becoming less so in the north, widespread in Europe exceptin the far north, and in north and west Asia. Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996),[Thymus praecox. Wild thyme. We have no records from our survey but it was recorded from tetrad 43P in Hall(1980). However, this is probably an error for T. pulegioides which is the commonest thyme of heathlands in thesouth~east.lThymus pulegioides. Greater thyme, Large thyme.Thyme is mentioned in a poem about Broadstone by J. Hayward in 1865 (AFN 16: 9-11 I. but it was either poetic licence or has gone. Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).Recorded from the south of the Forest in three 1 ~km squares, two of which lie in3 --++------'-+-42T: wall of Fairwarp Church by gate (465.2671. 1995, TR; bank at B2076 entranceto Spring Garden (465.270), pH 7.8, 1993, RN & ER; road bank opposite45Duddleswell tea rooms (468.2841. pH 6.7, 1995, RN & ER.Although T. pulegioides is commonest on the chalk in Sussex there are a numberof records from the heath lands on the Tunbridge Wells Sand to the south and southeastof the Forest (Philp 1982). Our pH measurements indicates that they may oftenstill be on calcareous soils! It is found in southern and eastern England, and widely distributed in Europe with theexception of the far north-west.Lycopus europaeus. Gypsywort.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread in the northern part of the Forest. Our records are from a variety ofwet places, including marshes, stream banks and the edges of ponds but not themore acidic boggy areas or wet heath. The absence of gypsywort from the more3acidic areas can be seen very clearly by comparing its distribution with that of4 5Narthecium ossifragum, which is a characteristic plant of wet, acidic places. Despitethe fact that Lycopus is recorded in eighteen 1-km squares and Narthecium in 28,there are only two 1-km squares on the Forest where both plants are present.Common in the south of Britain but becoming scarce in the north, widespread inEurope, reaching as far north as southern Sweden, north and central Asia and North Africa.Mentha arvensis. Corn mint.Pressridge Warren, Summerhayes & Redhead (Wolley-Dod 1937). Common (Hall1980).Only slightly less common than M. aquatica and generally found in damp ratherthan wet places, often along the edges of rides in woodland.Widespread in Britain and Europe but absent from the north~western extremities;North Asia to the Himalaya.149Mentha x verticil/ata (M. aquatica x arvensis). Whorled mint.Tetrad 43R (Hall 1980).We have two records, neither of which is for Hall's tetrad: lane to ChelwoodVachery (434.303), 1994, PD et al., growing with fertile M. arvensis; ornamentalpond by Old lands Hall (476.2751. 1995, TR et al., possibly planted.A sterile hybrid widespread in Britain where the parents meet.3 --++--""-~~--'-+-4 5

150Mentha aquatica. Water mint.Always common (Hall 1980) and still found in large quantities in wet places overmuch of the Forest with the exception of the most acidic areas. Quite often firstdetected by the strong minty smell arising from underfoot. It is quite shade-tolerantbut may not flower in woods.Present throughout Britain and much of Europe north to southern Sweden andNorway. Also found in south-west Asia, Africa and Madeira.* Mentha spicata. Spear mint.An introduction with no previous records but found in five squares during our survey:naturalized at Horncastle House (392.323), 1995, DB; near Home Farm (44.30),1993, SBRS; Boringwheel Mill Farm (45.26), scarcely naturalized; Friends car park(45.28), 1993, PD; Pippingford Park (45.31), 1995, Flora meeting; Camp Hill (47.29),3 1995, RN.Of unknown origin, now widely naturalized in Britain and much of Europe.4 5Mentha x vil/asa. Apple mint.A single record from 43V is given in Hall (1980) which was not refound in thissurvey.Streeter's Rough (42.29), 1993, TR; ride, Duddleswell (46.27), 1995, TR; onepatch on lane to Old Lodge (465.304), 1993 +, DK. All are referable to var.3 -f--h..-----"'---'-+_ a/opecuroides.Probably of garden origin and widely naturalized in Britain and western Europe,like most other mints.4 5Mentha pulegium. Pennyroyal.There are old records for this attractive plant from the Forest, Ashdown Forest, and near Forest Row, W. W.Reeves (Arnold 1887) but unfortunately it has now disappeared from the area and is only known in Sussex as anintroduction around the margin of Ardingly reservoir.Pennyroyal is a classic plant of commons and village greens which are regularly disturbed by livestock whocreate the required habitat of open, broken ground containing holes and gullies which fill with water in winter. Itsdisappearance is the result of the loss of such habitats over most of the country, with the exception of the NewForest where it can still be found in reasonable quantity in a few places.Nationally it is only present in any abundance in the New Forest where the trampling and grazing by cattleand horses that provide the required habitat is still widespread (Chatters 1994), and it is only known in about 251 O~km squares in the country. In the dry summer of 1995 it was found at a number of new sites inNorthamptonshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and two in Wales, the low water levels possibly allowing flowering. Theintroduced forms tend to be more erect compared with the native form which is more prostrate.Now very local in southern England and scattered in west, central and southern Europe, North Africa andMacaronesia. Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).*Mentha requienii. Corsican mint.A tiny but strongly scented introduction, not previously recorded from our area, butnow with a single record from a kerb stone on east side of Forest Road, Forest Row(439.346), pH 5.2, 1995, TR.As its name suggests it is a native of Corsica and Sardinia. It occurs rarely in3 the Weald on woodland rides, and is rarely naturalized in Britain.4 5

CALLlTRICHACEAE151Ca/litriche is a difficult genus whose members are best identified from plants withfruits; useful illustrations are given in Stace (1991). Lack of fruits is usuaJly given asthe reason by most botanists for ignoring this genus, but careful searching of plantsor populations shows that at least some are usually present, and young fruits can bematured on plants in jam jars on window sills. The map shows all Callitriche records.Other than some C. stagna/is, which is the common plant of puddles on rides,virtually all records have been seen or checked by TR, All species are probablyunder-recorded in Sussex and Britain,Callitriche stagna/is. Common water-starwort.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Common on wet rides in damp muddy depressions as an annual, andoccasionally in water. Plants on the rides disappear by the end of the summer butcan be found germinating in spring so there must be a seed bank in the mud.3 Common in the Weald and widespread in Britain, the commonest species.Widespread in most of western Europe and North Africa.4 5Callitriche platycarpa. Various-leaved water-starwort.Ditches on old railway line, Forest Row (43.34 and 44.34), PW & TR, 1995.These tend to be bigger more robust plants than C. stagna/is and have long,obvious stamens if you can find them flowering. Grime et al. (1988) note it mayreplace C. stagnalis in lowland waters enriched by agricultural run-off.3 There are few Sussex records and it may indeed be quite uncommon. Probablywidespread in lowland Britain. Possibly endemic to north-west and central Europe.4 5Callitriche obtusangula. Blunt-fruited water-starwort.Lake at Forest Row 1421.346); lakes and streams at Pippingford Park 144.30, 45.31);scattered down the stream running through Newbridge, and present as large mats inthe water-splash 1455.325); stream by bridge, Hart's Farm 1461.332), all 1995, TR.Usually in streams in more base-rich water and flowering/fruiting later than the3 other species. It is rarely recorded in Sussex but is surely widespread and is commonin the fen areas of east Kent. Probably widespread in southern Britain, southern andwestern Europe and North Africa.4 5Callitriche hamulata. Intermediate water-starwort.Pond on Ashdown Forest near Wych Cross IWhitwell 1902). Occasional on theForest IHall 1980).Frequent in ponds and standing water which is clear and probably fairly acidicand nutrient-poor. Linear-leaved masses in the Medway seem to be this species, butgrow mixed with an unidentified broad-leaved species.Occasional in Sussex, and probably widespread in lowland Britain. Possiblyendemic to north-west and central Europe.4 5

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

153Fraxinus excelsior. Ash.4 5Locally frequent on the richer more calcareous soils, planted in hedges and scattered along thewet soils by streams, but rare elsewhere on the acidic soils and absent from the heathy areas.A number of the trees were frosted in April 1995, PD.Recorded from 97% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain, and inEurope, western Asia and North Africa.The name 'Ashdown Forest' is nothing to do with ash trees. The earliest reference is to'Aesca's hill fort', and the name is believed to have been derived from that. 'Forest' comesfrom the word 'Foris' meaning outside (Le. outside the common law).* Syringa vulgaris. Lilac.3 -++-----Y--One well-grown bush in scrub near house, Highgate (425.343), 1995, PW; one bush withsuckers in woodland edge opposite Fairwarp Farm (472.266), 1994, TR & SR.Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native and endemic in south-eastEurope, but widely cultivated.4 5Ligustrum vulgare. Wild privet, Prim.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded mainly around the Forest margins and verges, usually on the more calcareoussoils similar to Comus sanguinea and Euonymus europaeus. It usually occurs as a fewscattered bushes, though it is more frequent in the Toll Lane area. During the mild winter of3 1994/5 it retained its leaves until the spring.It is widespread in lowland Britain on calcareous soils. South, west and central Europeand North Africa.4 5*Ligustrum ovalifolium. Garden privet.Five scattered records mainly near houses in the villages but also from waste ground, as nearWych Cross where it may be relict from cultivation.Hall (1980) does not regard it as naturalized in Sussex. It is native in Japan.3 -+-!-----'.II-4 5SCROPHULARIACEAEVerbascum thapsus. Great mullein.Occasional (Hall 1980) and still scattered across the Forest, mostly in disturbed areas close toroads and tracks, and often as single plants most conspicuous when flowering. The largewoolly leaves are also distinctive.Common in Britain except in the north-west. Widespread in most of Europe, except inthe far north, and in Asia.4 5

154Scrophularia nodosa. Common figwort.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).Common in damp, often rather shady places all over the survey area, frequently on roadsides, track edges and by ditches. Like the following species it usually occurs as one or two,isolated, scattered plants. It is pollinated by wasps.Widespread over much of Britain, Europe and temperate Asia.Scrophularia auriculata. Water figwort, Water betony.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).Slightly less common than S. nodosa with a preference for rather wetter habitats but notfound in the most acidic conditions. These preferences probably explain its tendency to berare on the higher ground.Widespread in England and Wales but absent from much of Scotland. The Europeandistribution is concentrated in the west, reaching as far north as the Netherlands, and itoccurs in North Africa.*Mimulus agg. Monkey~flower.The two records from the eastern edge of the Flora area are the first for the Forest althoughHall (1980) has several records from adjoining areas, especially to the south-west. Therecords are from Newnham area (49.28), 1994, AK and the stream north of Ocklye House1500.313),1991 +, PW.3 Mimulus is a critical genus and identifications need checking carefully (see Rich & Rich1988). The Ocklye House plant has provisionally been named as M. guttatus, a native ofNorth America.4 5*Antirrhinum majus. Snapdragon.Twyford Farm, blatant garden throw-out on spoil 1396.311 ), 1994, DB.A garden escape increasingly recorded in England, especially on old walls (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Native in the western Mediterranean.3-+~--------~-4 5*Chaenorhinum minus. Small toadflax.Tetrads 42Z, 43H and 43M IHall 1980).Two of our three records for this species are from the disused railway near Forest Rowand correspond to the two tetrads shown in Hall (1980) for the north of our area. This wasperhaps predictable as railway ballast is a common habitat for this plant, and until recent3 --++-__'!Il...-__---1....!--redevelopment it was abundant around the disused station in Forest Row just outside theFlora area. Our third record was from introduced limestone rubble on a turning area at4 5Pippingford Park 1456.312), 1995, Flora meeting.Common over most of Britain as far north as the highlands of Scotland, and widespreadin Europe and western Asia.

~'Cymbalaria mural is. Ivy-leaved toadflax, Creeping sailor, Mother of millions, Wandering Jew.Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have four records for this long-established introduction, three from walls which areits favoured habitat, and one from Gills Lap where it occurred on the ground in the car parkarea. Hall (1980) has records for three tetrads in our area but the only one which3 --+-+------'--t- corresponds to our records is for Nutley. Coleman (1836) recorded it from the yard of theDorset Arms in East Grinstead where it was still present in 1995.4 5A native of southern Europe, now widely naturalized on damp walls etc., in Britain,which matches its native habitat as a calcicole of shady rocks and woods. Once fertilised,the stalks of the flowers turn away from the light and push the fruiting capsules into creviceswhere the seeds can grow in a sheltered environment.155Kickxia spuria. Round-leaved fluellen.One seedling behind the seat outside the village hall at Fairwarp (466.263), 1995, PD & RN,presumably from mud kicked off a boot; it had gone by the autumn possibly when the carpark was renovated.K. spuria is significantly scarcer in Sussex than K. elatine and more calcicolous, and the3 --+-+------'--t- distribution in Hall (1980) shows very few records for the north-east of the county so thisrecord was a pleasant surprise although its chances of becoming established in the area mustbe rather slim. Common in southern, central and western Europe, and North Africa.4 5Kickxia elatine. Sharp-leaved fluellen.There is a record from Chelwood, 1939, G. E. Shaw (TLS) but the distribution map in Hall(1980) shows it is distinctly rare on the Ashdown Sands around the Forest.We now have two records: one large plant by a planted tree at Old lands Hall on whatlooked like local, not introduced, soil (476.277), 1995, RN et al.; one plant in stubble, Line's3 Farm (446.348), 1995, TR.Confined to the south of England; as far north as Lincolnshire in the east and occasionalin Wales. Common over much of southern, central and western of Europe.4 5Linaria vulgaris. Common toadflax, Butter and eggs, Brandy-strap, Gallwort.Rare, only found in a few waste places by habitation around the Forest, just as expected fromthe distribution shown in Hall (1980). Much of our area is probably too acidic and wet for thisspecies which, in Sussex, is clearly commonest on the chalk and drier western Greensands.It forms patches in open ground and on verges by the rhizomes which spread under the3 ground. Isolated clones may not set seed as it is self-incompatible.Widespread in lowland Britain and Europe and western Asia.4 5*Linaria purpurea. Purple toadflax.Like many introduced species, our data indicate that purple toadflax is rather more widespreadthan in the past. Wolley-Dod (1937) regarded it as rare in Sussex and gave a single record inour area: Marden's Hill, G. Marshal!. Hall (1980) states that it is becoming more frequent andrecorded it in two of our tetrads, 43H and 43V. We have seven records from disturbed or3 man-made habitats where it has been thrown out of gardens or spread by seeds.Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is native in southern Italy.4 5

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.

157Veronica scutellata. Marsh speedwell.Ashdown Forest, N. J. Treutler, 1886 (Arnold 1887). Near Fairwarp, E. D. Morgan; bog nearColeman's Hatch, H. S. Salt (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980).We have five records for V. scute/lata during our survey, which is rather more than inprevious floras: pond margin at Mill Wood (437.288), 1995, MM; Pippingford Park (44.311.] 1995, Flora meeting; Ridge Road pond (447.329), 1994, PW; many plants in flower alongditch east of water splash, Newbridge (456.326), 1995, PW (corresponding with Hall's tetrad43L record); shaded bog by road junction, Fairwarp (465.264), 1995, PD & RN.This rather attractive speedwell is characteristic of wet places and is easily distinguished4 5 as the racemes of flowers emerge from one side only of each pair of leaves. Although widelyscattered over the whole of Britain and Ireland, V. scutellata is rather uncommon in Sussex and is decreasing in England(Rich & Woodruff 1996) so it is pleasing to see that it is certainly holding its own in our area.Widespread in Europe except the south, and in northern Asia.Veronica beccabunga. Brooklime.Scattered across the Forest in wet places and stream edges but not found in the most acidicconditions. The frequency is similar to that in Hall (19aO) whose map shows that V.beccabunga is less frequent in our area than in many other parts of Sussex.Brooklime and cresses were once popular remedies for scurvy and were recommended in] --++----..:---'"'-+- Culpepper's herbal in 1653 as "good to fasten loose teeth and heal spongy foul gums".Widespread in Europe except the north, North Africa and temperate Asia.4 5Veronica anagallis-aquatica. Blue water-speedwell.Hall (1980) has a single tetrad record from 43L but no plants were found in this survey. It is a fairly widespread species inBritain, and around the world.Veronica arvensis. Wall speedwell.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Present across the centre and southern parts of the Forest, as shown in Hall (1980), butabsent from much of the north. This is because this annual generally prefers drier, openhabitats such as old walls, car parks and limestone rubble in Pippingford Park, which are lesscommon on the north side of the Forest. The seeds will only germinate in the light, which isprobably an important factor' limiting it to open sites. They also have a complex temperaturecontrol mechanism to ensure that they only germinate in the spring and autumn (Baskin &Baskin 1983). It seems to behave as a winter annual in most places on the Forest, flowering4 5 from May onwards, but in arable land cultivated in the spring it may be a summer annual.Widespread in Britain and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in Eurasia, but now widely spreadthroughout the world and a serious weed in some countries.* Veronica peregrina. American speedwell.A rather scarce introduction from America, not found during our survey but shown as present tetrad 43W in Hall (1980). Itis widely naturalized in west and central Europe.Veronica agrestis. Green field-speedwell.Tetrads 42Z and 43H (Hall 1980).One plant on wall of bridge at Newbridge Mill (456.328), 1995, TR & SR. This site was• a very odd habitat for a specie~ which usually occurs as an arable weed or in gardens, and isoften more of a calcifuge.3 Veronica agrestis is a rather uncommon plant over much of Sussex and may well bedeclining in the county. It is widespread in Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa.4 5

158Veronica polita. Grey field-speedwell.Rare, with only a single record from dumped soil near Home Farm (444.303), 1993, Florameeting, which is not in the same area as the single record for tetrad 33V given in Hall(1980), This lack of records is simply a reflection of the scarcity of suitable arable habitats inthe Flora area.3 It is widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa.4 5* Veronica persica. Common field-speedwell.This plant is now so frequent, it is easy to forget that it is an introduction from south-westAsia which Arnold 118871 noted was spreading rapidly, Shown as common by Hall 119801but less so in our area than anywhere else in Sussex, a picture confirmed by our surveywhich produced records for less than a third of the squares recorded. The reason is that3 waste ground, cultivated land and gardens, its preferred habitats, are relatively uncommon on4 5the Forest.Seeds germinate rather sporadically through the spring, autumn and summer, and theymay be killed by frost in severe years. This is one of the first species to flower in the spring,but seed set is generally low at first IBoutin & Harper 19911,It is native in western Asia, and is naturalized almost throughout Europe.* Veronica filiformis. Slender speedwell.An escape from gardens described as rare by Wolley-Dod (1937) who gives a single record forour area; near Fairwarp, E. D. Morgan. Within forty years it had become common and wellestablished IHall 1980(, and it is increasing in England IRich & Woodruff 19961,Our data might be thought to show a further spread as Hall shows it to be present in 113 of the tetrads which fall in our area whereas our 31 1-km square records fall in 18 tetrads but4 5the difference can also be explained by the more intense recording in our survey (see Veronicahederifol;a belowl,Slender speedwell occurs in grassy places and, where it is well-established, can producea rather attractive blue haze in lawns during the spring, a feature not always appreciated bytheir owners! It is strongly self-incompatible and little seed is set as many populations are clones.It is native in Turkey and the Caucasus.Veronica hederifolia. Ivy-leaved speedwell.Our survey indicates that V. hededfolia is significantly more common in our area than the distribution map in Hall (1980)would suggest. It seems unlikely that the frequency of this widespread plant has increased significantly over the lasttwenty years on the Forest so the difference is probably a result of the more intense spring recording which occurredduring our survey. Rich & Woodruff (1995) found that it is increasing in England.Both subspecies are present but the records are too fragmentary to draw much in the way of conclusions from them.The smaller plants of shady places in woodlands are subsp. lucorum, and the more robust weeds of gardens and wasteground are subsp. hederifolia; the former appear to be more frequent.V. hederifolia occurs as a weed in gardens and other cultivated ground and also in hedge banks and woodland edges.Seeds germinate in the autumn and early spring and the seedlings survive through the winter. Nationally the distributionhas a distinct bias toward the south-east of England. It is widespread in Europe, North Africa and Asia, and occurs in NorthAmerica as an introduction.Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifolia subsp. lucorum3 -++-..-'I:------'--t- 3-++-------~4_ 3-++-------~+-4 5 4 5 4 5

159Sibthorpia europaea. Cornish moneywort.Found by RN et ai, in full flower, July 1995 at Old lands Hall {476,2751, About seven largepatches of the moneywort were growing in damp grassland and on shaded banks by therockery stream where they may have been introduced, but from where? The rockery stone is3 ++-----LIprobablylocal sand rock from Heron's Ghyll, or it could have been introduced with some of therockery garden plants such as Lysichiton or Osmunda. It is known as a native a few miles to4 5the south in tetrad 42S (Hall 1980). Further investigation is required.Sibthorpia is one of the small group of plants like Wahlenbergia hederacea andHymenophyllum tunbrigense which is confined to the west of Britain except for a few sites inSussex. It is a Nationally Scarce Species recorded in 74 10-km squares since 1970 (Stewart,Pearman & Preston 1994). Colonies are reduced in size during summer droughts but grow back from surviving fragments,They may also be defoliated by severe winter cold. Its world-wide distribution is disjunct with populations along thewestern edge of Europe, Greece and Crete and the mountains of tropical Africa.Me/ampyrum pratense subsp. pratense. Common cow-wheat.Ashdown Forest, 1895, T, Hilton (BTN), Fisher's Gate (as var, lanceolatum), E, C, Wall ace(Wolley-Ood 1937), Common on the Forest (Hall 1980),Locally frequent in open woodlands and wood edges where there is more light, forinstance along the edge of the Royal Ashdown golf course, and by paths and road banks such3 -++-ll..'L---L+- as along Priory Road or Kidd's Hill. It is able to colonise secondary woodland from older4 5woodland and our map may show a slow process of invasion into the Forest from the edges.It is sensitive to grazing and is virtually absent from Pippingford Park where there are deer.M. pratense is an annual. The seeds germinate at low temperatures in the spring, andsheets of seedlings may appear in some years, as in 1995. The plants are hemi-parasites,their roots attaching themselves to the roots of other species and absorbing water and nutrients. Plants can grow withoutparasitising other species but are usually poorly developed and much smaller.The seeds have a small oil-bearing body, an elaiosome, which is attractive to the ants, who pick up the seeds andcarry them off (experimental removal of the elaiosome significantly reduces their attraction to the ants). Seeds are shedduring the day when the majority are removed, leaving few to be eaten by small mammals at night. Studies of anAmerican species M. lineare show that seeds dispersed by ants survive and grow better than if they fall at random,possibly because the ants move them into better-lit places (Gibson 1993). This presumably explains why the plants are somuch more frequent along tracks and banks where the microclimate is more suitable for the ants.It is a widespread and very variable species in Europe and western Asia.Euphrasia officina/is aggregate. Eyebrights.On the forest (Firmin 1890),Eyebrights are a critical group and can present considerable difficulties in identification inareas where a number of species occur. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your4 5point of view!) only two species of Euphras;a have been seen recently on the Forest and theseare relatively easy to separate; E. anglica is readily distinguished from E. nemo rosa by thelong-stalked glandular hairs, which are easily visible in silhouette with a x 10 lens on themiddle and upper leaves. Records for E. micrantha (E. latifolia var. gracilis), Ashdown Forest,1901, T. Hilton (BTN) may be E. nemorosa but need confirming by an expert.Eyebrights are declining due to agricultural improvements (Rich & Woodruff 1996),Euphrasia anglica. Eyebright.Chelwaod Gate/Chelwaod Common, 1934, A, H, Walley-Oad, det H, W, Pugsley (TLS); NearWych Cross, E, Ellman; Ashdown Forest, T, Hilton, det H, W, Pugsley (Wolley-Dad 1937),•• Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).Found mainly in short grass, often on road verges and rides. Our records are thinly45scattered across the Forest although in some places it is locally common, as for examplealong the verges on the south side of the road between Nutley and Camp Hill, where it can beseen growing with Spiranthes spiralis, an unusual combination.Possibly endemic to the British Isles, locally frequent in England and Wales and morerarely in Ireland.

160Euphrasia nemorosa. Eyebright.Common (Hall 1980).This is the commonest eyebright on the Forest, widely spread along verges, rides and ingrassland. Plants with pinky~purple flowers occur in a number of populations (e.g. Millbrook4 5Hill, Millbrook Farm, Duddleswell) which have been suggested to be E. micrantha (alsoreported from Crowborough Common), but they otherwise conform to E. nemorosa and arebest treated as that (A. J. Silverside, pers. comm. 1994). Whether the flower colouration isrelict from hybridisation with E. micrantha or not remains to be seen.Widespread in England and Wales but becoming scarce in Scotland, Endemic to northand central Europe as far south as the north-east of Spain.Odontites vernus. Red bartsia.We have significantly more records than Hall (1980) who shows it in only four tetrads in theForest, probably due to our more intensive coverage of the area. It is found in a variety ofhabitats, in grassy areas, waste places, by tracks and rides. We have not investigated whichsubspecies occur.Widespread in Britain, and in most of Europe and northern Asia.J ++-...... "------""--'-If-4 5Rhinanthus minor. Yellow~rattle, Penny~rattle.Only recorded from two places in the east of the Forest: verges by Gills Lap car park(466.315), 1987, 1993, PW; King's Standing (473.301), 1995, Flora meeting. It may be onthe verges where limestone dust from the roads has spread making the soils more calcareous.It is a lot scarcer than would be expected from the distribution shown in Hall (1980) who hasJ -++-~~--"'--L+recordsfrom six tetrads, none of which correspond to our records.R. minor is indicative of undisturbed grassland and is still common on chalk in Sussex butbecoming scarcer elsewhere. The reason for the apparent decline in the last 20-30 years maybe the continued loss of old grassland to agricultural improvements.4 5This is another annual hemi~parasite whose roots have been recorded attached to over50 different hosts, mostly grasses and legumes. It often occurs in patches and the areas around the plants have a shorter,more open sward structure and tewer grasses due to the effect it has on its hosts. It is also sensitive to grazing and canbe rapidly eliminated from swards, where it would otherwise become a pest.It is a very variable species and is widespread in Britain and Europe. It also occurs in Greenland and North America.Pedicularis palustris. Marsh lousewort.Fisher's Bog [probably near Fisher's Gate], Or Milner Barry (Deakin 1871). Ashdown Forest, TWNH (Wolley-Dod 1937).Not seen during the survey for Hall (1980) and last seen in Sussex on the Lewes Levels, 1932, Ran Boniface (therecord Willard 1989 is an error for P. sylvatica). It is a species of wet mineral or peaty flushes. Decreasing in England(Rich & Woodruff 1996), but still reasonably widespread in south-west Surrey, the New Forest and north-west Britain. It isquite widespread in Europe.Pedicularis sylvatica subsp. sylvatica. Lousewort.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Our distribution map shows it to be mainly concentrated on the southern slopes of theForest in open areas. It is locally frequent on rides and grassy places on heathy soils, the pinkflowers a pleasant sight in early summer. All material examined has had glabrous calyces andis subsp. sylvatica. It is a biennial which is often abundant after fires.[t is another hemi-parasite, thought to parasitise the roots of grasses. MM has carriedout experiments on its germination (Pedicularis has the reputation of being almost impossibleto grow from seed). P. sy!vatica was found to germinate readily but the numerous seedlingsdied gradually. In only one case, using Agrostis as the host, has a plant been produced whichhas flowered.Widespread and locally common in the north and west of Britain. It is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Subsp. sy/vatica is endemic to Europe, and occurs in west and central Europe from Spain to Sweden and Russia.

161OROBANCHACEAEOrobanche rapum~genistae (0. major). Greater broomrape.Chelwood Common, N. J. Treutler, 1886 (Arnold 18871. Near Nutley, on Broom, W. E.Nicholson (Wolley-Dod 19371. Near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRCI.Refound just west of Chestnut Farm (44.271 in 1994 and reported to the Rangers by a3 --++--------'-+--local resident. One plant beside a minor path had two flowering spikes in 1994 and three in1995, but an adjacent plant in 1994 did not flower again, and another plant by the track with4 5three spikes in 1994 also did not flower again in 1995.O. rapum-genistae is a root parasite of both broom and gorse, and all the plants wereassociated with broom (the usual host). As both broom and gorse are frequent on the Forestits scarcity might seem surprising but this is typical of its behaviour nationally,It is a plant of western Europe and, in Britain, occurs most often in the south and west. It suffered a considerabledecline between the turn of the century and the early 1960s, especially in the east of the country (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Foley (1994) suggests that climatic changes may be the main cause of the decline in the early part of the century.However, there must have been a major loss of small patches of gorse and broom in most of England and it survives nowonly where those are still relatively frequent; habitat loss is a more likely explanation.It mainly occurs in western Europe, reaching its northern limit in Scotland. It also occurs in North Africa.Orobanche minor. Lesser broomrape.Tetrad 43R (Hall 1980).Presumed extinct. Not found during our survey despite being the commonest broomrape in East Sussex with recentrecords from nine 10-km squares in the county and it has for instance appeared in abundance on clover sown on the newA27 Brighton bypass. It is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It occurs in Europe, Asia Minor and NorthAfrica.LENTIBULARIACEAEPinguicula vulgaris. Common butterwort.Ashdown Forest, 1894, E. G. Gilbert; Crowborough, 1922, Miss H. C. Underhill (possibly the same localityl (Wolley-Dod1937). Ashdown Forest, Miss E. M. Harding and members of the Tunbridge Wells Natural History Society "a notablediscovery" (Harding 1932). Notes in G. Dent'~ diary states that A. Morriss found it in Pippingford Park near gentians closeto a small gate, and that gentians flowered on 29 July 1945 near the Pinguicula place - no further details are given (Dent1928-1953).This 1932 record was the last record (misquoted by Hall 1980), and has almost certainly gone. It has been searchedfor since by many others including FR, to whom Wolley-Dod gave two different sites; whether it was in one or both weshall never know.It is widespread in north and western Britain, but is now very rare in the south and east due to agriculturalimprovements and habitat loss. Ashdown Forest was the most south-easterly site in Britain and it is now extinct in southeastEngland. Widespread in north, west and central Europe, northern Asia, North Africa and North America.*Utricularia austral is. Bladderwort.Plants flowering in an ornamental pond at Oldlands Hall (476.275), 1995, TR et a/., musthave been introduced with other aquatics.This species occurs scattered in Sussex, especially in the wetland areas such asAmberley Wild Brooks. It is probably widespread but scattered in Britain and Europe.3 --++__------'-_\_4 5[Utricularia minor. Lesser bladderwort.The record in Streeter (1961) appears to be a misunderstanding of an R. A. Boniface record for Chailey Common.]

162CAMPANULACEAECampanula rotundifolia. Harebell.On the Forest (Firmin 1890). Shepherd's Gate Farm, 1954, P. A. Barker (BRC). Frequent onthe Forest (Hall 1980).We have found harebells to be surprisingly uncommon, with very few records mostlyfrom the east side of the Forest. There are 3-4 beautiful large blue patches on verges on east3 side of Gills Lap (467.316) which escaped the mowing in 1995, at least for long enough tobe noticed; a few scattered plants occur on the golf course fairways which are onlyconspicuous when flowering and also get mown off soon after; and it occurs in grasslandwhere it is still grazed at Chuck Hatch (474.332). It also occurs· scattered on a few other4 5 verges, and appears sporadically depending on the mowing,In Sussex it is common on the chalk, and is also surprisingly frequent in the St Leonard'sarea. It is widespread in Britain but becoming uncommon in the lowlands. In Europe it is a very variable species.Wahlenbergia hederacea. Ivy~leaved bellflower.On the bogs of Ashdown Forest, very common (Forster 1816). Bogs on Ashdown Forest(Coleman 1836). Reported in bud in June 1902 (Clark 1903). Plentiful on some of the bogson Ashdown Forest near Old Lodge, also in Five Hundred Acre Wood (Done 1914). Manyparts of Ashdown Forest (Wollev-Dod 1937). Common with 17 tetrads (Hall 1980).3Our records show it to be most frequent along in the western half of the Forest, in4 5contrast to Campanu/a rotundifolia. It typically occurs on damp, partly shaded, clayey rides inwoodland, or the banks of small streams and in ditches, and sometimes in damp, opengrassland. It even occurs on wet clay on a grave in St John's churchyard. The soil pHsrecorded range from 4.4 to 6.7. Once the habitats are learnt it is usually possible to pick outfrom a distance likely spots to search.The damp summer of 1994 appeared to be a very good year for it, with many records of large conspicuous patches,and some plants stayed green through the mild winter of 1994/5. The 1995 drought did not seem to affect it too much,and plants flowered right through the drought and set abundant seed ~ admittedly they were generally in the damper areasanyway. The damp soils on which it occurs in the Weald substitute for the damper climate it experiences in the west ofBritain.In Sussex it is locally frequent in Ashdown, Worth and St Leonard's Forests, and it is very rare in the Kent Weald. InBritain it mainly occurs from Hampshire into south-west England (where it is decreasing Rich & Woodruff 1996) andWales. Studies of the genetics in Wales have shown that populations are quite variable both within and between sites(Kay & John 1995). It is a western European endemic from Portugal to south-west Scotland.Jasione montana. Sheep's-bit.Dodd's Bank, near Nutlev, M. R. Dixon, 1886 (Arnold 1887). Fairwarp area, 1956, P. A. Barker (BRC). Near Nutlev,1957, R. A Boniface (BRC). Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980).This plant was last seen by PO at Dodd's Bank on the east side of the road at c. (449.267) in the 19705, but the areais now over-grown and it has not been refound. Dodd's Bank is one of the few areas on the Forest which has sandy soilon which it typically occurs in south-east England. If the area was cleared it could reappear from seed in the soil, aphenomenon which has happened at Midhurst Common in Sussex. It has also been recorded from just outside the area onrocks near Maresfield {462.2571, 1957, FR & C. A. Stace.It is a rare and declining plant of heaths in Sussex and England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), and is strongly western andnow largely coastal in distribution in Britain. It is a variable species in Europe (Parnell 1987) and is widespread except inthe north.*Lobelia erinus. Garden lobelia.Waste ground at Wvch Cross {419.3201, 1993, TR; imported soil near Home Farm (444.316),1993, Flora meeting; near houses, Poundgate (487.288), 1994, SBRS.This garden escape has been recorded as a non-persistent weed usually on dumped soil.It 'IS increas'lngly recorded in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is native in South Africa.3 --+-t-----'!L-----'-+__4 5

163RUBIACEAESherardia arvensis. Madder.3 -++--------'-+-Three big clumps and one small one, introduced with soil on new verge, Highgate Green(423.3431, 1986-1988, PS. Now gone, though it could possibly reappear if the verge wasdisturbed again.An arable weed on the chalk in Sussex, and occasionally recorded in the Weald. It iswidespread but decreasing in England, especially in the north (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It isfound over most of Europe, North Africa and western Asia.4 5Galium odoratum. Sweet woodruff.Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980(.It occurs scattered down the stream on the more calcareous clays from the banks alongthe lane east of Old lands Farm (477.2671, 1993+, SBRS, southwards through Furnace Wood3 -++----Lt-(various sites, 475.267, 473.2631, 1995, TR et al., where it is clearly native. It is alsocreeping out of the back of Gate Cottage, Twyford (399.3121 where it was planted, 1994,4 5DB (not mappedl.Most commonly found in old woodland on base rich soils so its scarcity on the Forest isno surprise. It is locally frequent on the chalk in West Sussex and on the Weald Clay in theWeald. Common over much of Britain, and in Europe and North Africa.Galium uliginosum. Fen bed straw .The record for "Galium erectum, bog in Pappingford Warren, Ashdown Forest, in the cornernext to Gills Lap" (Coleman 1836(, may refer to this species. Wolley-Dod (19371 has onedefinite record for the Flora area from Coleman's Hatch, H. S. Salt and another which may bewithin the Forest - near the mineral spring, Hartfield, E. Jenner. Tetrad 43L (Hall 19801.3 -+-+-___--L\--There is an unconfirmed record for the ghyll by Lavender Plat! (404.332(, 1988, AFRR.In August 1994 AK found a small group of plants in a wet area beside the boggy woodat Newbridge (457.325) where the ground water pH is around 6.0. The plants were noticedon a very dull, drizzly day because the flowers were pure white and stood out clearly in the4 5dim light at the edge of the wood. In August 1995 the area was much drier and moreovergrown and no G. uliginosum could be found. It was also found with Cardamine amara and Viola palustris, on the edgeof the golf course at Forest Row between the pond and the boundary (346.3421, 1987, PS. TR and PS revisited the site in1995 to find that the area had been half covered in sludge bulldozed from the pond and no G. uliginosum could be found.Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 19961.G. uliginosum is widely distributed in Europe. It occurs widely in England and southern Scotland but is distinctlyscarce in Wales and northern Scotland. Hall (1980) shoWs it as thinly scattered in Sussex with records from 26 tetrads inEast Sussex. However, ours are the only recent records from East Sussex, indicating a significant decline in the last 20years, which may well be due to the loss of wetland habitats due to drainage or in-filling of ponds.Galium palustre. Common marsh-bedstraw.Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.Widespread and common in damp flushes in grassland, beside ponds and streams and inwoodland. Sometimes it fills the air with scent when flowering profusely, as at Newbridge.It is very variable, some plants with practically linear leaves and smooth fruits. Bothsubsp. palustre and subsp. elongatum have been recorded but it may not be possible toseparate them morphologically (Rich & Rich 19881.Common over the whole of the British Isles and most of Europe.Galium verum. Lady' 5 bedstraw.Apparently absent from the are_a in Hall (1980) but recorded in tetrads just beyond the southeastcorner of the edges of the Forest.Recorded from road verges mainly in the Gills Lap - King's Standing area, and the yellowpatches were very much more conspicuous in 1995 when the verges were mown late. This3 --++_--""""Jf-1-+- indicates that it was probably under-recorded in this area in the past so it may be commoner4 5in other parts of East Sussex than is indicated by the map in Hall.Scattered over most of the British Isles but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). Present over most of Europe and western Asia.

164Galium mol/ugo. Hedge bedstraw.Occasional on the north side of the Forest (Hall 19801.We have found it in 12 of our squares scattered on the Forest but the match betweenours and Hall's distributions is rather poor. It is usually found either on verges in the centralarea, or in hedges and hedgebanks around the Forest edges.Common in Britain south-east of a line from the Humber to the Severn and again in aband from the Lake District north-eastwards. The European distribution is unclear because ofambiguities in the treatment of G. mol/ugo and G. erectum (G. album) although plants fromthe G. mol/ugo group are found across the whole of Europe.4 5Galium saxatile. Heath bed straw .On the Forest (Finnin 18901. Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.Our survey found it in all but two squares on the extreme western edge of the area. It isa characteristic plant of heathland and acidic grassland and may often be found in acidic areaswhere the number of species present is rather low. Young plants often have the leaves inwhorls of four rather than six, but have reflexed hairs on the leaf margins.Common throughout Britain but strictly calcifuge. Present in most of Europe except forsome areas in the south, and found in Newfoundland.Galium aparine. Cleavers, Goo5e~grass.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980) and almost ubiquitous in our survey.An extremely common plant of road banks, disturbed and waste places, and even locallyfrequent along the sides of paths among bracken and bramble on apparently quite poor soils.Also on alluvium in wooded areas but rarely growing to maturity and presumably washed in.As well as being common it is very easily found by botanists; its leaves become visible veryearly in the season and it continues to be easily identifiable until the autumn. It may thereforebe that it really is absent from the two missing squares on our map.Abundant throughout the British Isles and found over the whole of Europe except the farnorth, and in northern and western Asia.Cruciata laevipes (Galium cruciata). Crosswort.Six tetrads around the edges of the Forest (Hall 19801.We have recorded it from very few sites: small stretch of riverbank on the Medway nearForest Row which straddles two squares (440.349), and on adjacent drive to Emerson College(438.3481, 1995, TR & PA; verge of lane, Coleman's Hatch (457.3371, 1995. PW; Five3 -++_----L+_ Hundred Acre Wood (491.331), 1987, PW & RW, not seen recently. Its rarity is quitesurprising given the amount of 'edge' around the Forest, but is perhaps related to whateverfactor determines the puzzling distribution in Sussex as a whole as referred to by Hall (1980).Widespread in most of England, East Wales and southern Scotland but with some4 5strange gaps. Its fine-scale distribution in the south-east indicates that it tends to avoid theusually drier, more open sites where Galium verum occurs, and they tends to be mutually exclusive plants (FR, pers. comm.1996). It occurs in most of Europe north to the Netherlands and Germany, and in western Asia.CAPRIFOLlACEAESambucus nigra. Elder, Eller, Ellet.Common on the Forest and especially around the edges near habitation and farms, usually onnutrient-rich soils with Urtica dioica and Galium aparine. Spread by birds and badgers.Recorded in 99 % of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980), and also very common throughoutBritain except in the Scottish mountains. It is widespread in Europe but has been widely3cultivated for its fruits and the native range is difficult to establish. Also in western Asia andNorth Africa.4 5

165Viburnum OpUIU5.Guelder-rose, Stink-tree.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread mainly around the edges of the Forest, often on the more mineral-rich clayeysoils. It tends to occur as scattered bushes along hedges and ditch sides, in damp scrubbywoodland, and occasionally on the wet alluvial soils in the valleys,The leaves have inter-floral nectaries at their base which are a common feature of leavesof tropical plants to attract ants; none have been seen on our plants!It is widespread in England and rarer in Scotland, and in Europe, except the south andAsia.* Viburnum lantana. Wayfaring-tree.Poundfield, Crowborough, E. D. Morgan (Wolley-Dod 1937).Not refound, In Sussex this is a typical plant of chalk scrub, and there are occasional records from the Weald usuallyon railway banks (Hall 1980), It is widespread on calcareous soils in lowland southern England, in central and southernEurope and in Asia and North Africa.* Viburnum rhytidiaphyllum. Wrinkled viburnum.One plant, Chelwood Corner (426.288), probably planted, 1994, PH/SBRS.It is widely planted in Britain and originated in China.3 -f--f--------'_\_4 5* Symphoricarpos a/bus (5. rivu/aris). Snowberry.Four tetrads around the Forest (Hall 1980).Small patches are established on road verges, wood edges, stream sides and outsidegardens around the Forest. It was first introduced to Britain in 1817 and has been widelyplanted for game cover and ornament. It is now widespread in Britain and still increasing3 (Rich & Woodruff 1996).It is native in North America, where it occurs from the lowlands to sub-montane habitats,on a wide range of soil types. It is usually found in forest edge" vegetation which matches itspattern in Britain. Seeds require hot summers and cold winters before they will germinate and4 5reproduction from seed seems to be a rare event in Britain, most of the spread beingvegetative" The white berries are not attractive to birds and often rot on the plants (Gilbert 1995).* Symphoricarpos x chenau/tii. Pink snowberry.Chelwood Corner (426.288), 1994, PH det. A. C. Leslie; entrance to Trees car park(433.306, and missed by TR on three occasions), 1995, PW.This hybrid is possibly more widespread than we have realised - it has leaves hairy onthe midrib underneath and pink berries. It originated in cultivation in Holland and was first3 introduced to 8ritain in 1955 (Gilbert 1995).4 5*Leycesteria formosa. Himalayan honeysuckle.One plant, Chelwood Corner (427.287), 1994, TR; seedlings, Pippingford Park (44.30), 1993,S8RS; planted and self-sown on lane north of Forest Lodge (452.263), 1995, TR; two largebushes on back drive to Old lands Hall (474.274), 1995, TR et al.Only recorded from near Battle in East Sussex (Hall 1980), but becoming more3 widespread in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in the Himalaya and China.4 5

166* Lonicera nitida. Wilson' 5 honeysuckle.Probably mainly planted and rel'let from cultivation but some plants also appear to be selfsown,It is usually found near habitation .•Widely recorded in Britain and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native inChina.3 -++------'-+-4 5Lonicera periclymenum. Honeysuckle.Recorded in every square in the Forest in old and secondary woodland and hedges, morerarely on verges or scrambling up through brambles, and most common on moist, acidic soils.It has been observed climbing up trees to at least 8 metres high, and it probably grows higherin some woodlands. The honeysuckle smell in the evening is a delight. In August the fruitsgo a bright, translucent red, sometimes contrasting with the cream flowers on nearbyinflorescences. During the 1995 drought, many honeysuckles in woodlands were observed tohave wilted, but fewer had done so in hedges.Common, in 95% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain, and inwestern, central and southern Europe, and Morocco.AOOXACEAEAdoxa moschatellina. Moschatel.Tetrads 42T and 53B (Hall 1980), the latter probably from outside our area.One patch c. 3 x 2 metres on roadside by an old hedge near Fairwarp Farm (473.266LpH 6.4, 1994, Chris Weaver; one patch c. 5 x 5 metres nearby in secondary woodland bytrack (472.265), 1994, TR & SR; several more patches scattered along lane (474.266,3 474.267,476.269), 1995, TR & PA.This plant is usually regarded as an ancient woodland indicator species elsewhere, butthe first two records are from Forest land in what is clearly secondary woodland.45It is locally distributed in Sussex and Britain in damp, shady, base-rich places in moistloams, on chalk, on alluvial soils by rivers, etc. Widespread in Europe though confined tomountains in the south. Asia and North America.VALERIANACEAE* Valerianella locusta. Corn salad, Lambs lettuce.r--.,----===----,--, Hedge opposite Ink Pen Lane, Highgate (426.343), 1986, PS, and still present in abundancein 1995, TR (soil pH 7.6). It may be a relict from cultivation.This species is scattered in Sussex in arable land, on old walls and near the sea. It iswidespread but scattered in lowland Britain but is decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It iswidespread in Europe though rare in the north. North Africa and western Asia.3 -++------'--+-4 5* Valerianella carinata. Keel~fruited corn~salad.Two sites around Tompset's Bank (424.346 and 425.346), c. 1985, PS but not searched foragain and likely still to be present; Fairwarp churchyard (466.2671, PO (Briggs 1990), and stillpresent in flower beds and on graves in 1995; several plants in the flower beds of the RedLion Pub car park, Chelwood Gate (414.303), 1995, AK, right beside where we had parked3 -+-I'"------'-+_ for a Flora meeting the previous week and not noticed it!Increasing but still rare in Sussex, often in churchyards and sometimes gardens.4 5Increasing or perhaps increasingly recorded in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), but still anuncommon plant. Southern, western and central Europe and North Africa; in central Europe itis a native of warm, rocky slopes where it is declining, but it is increasing as a neophyte inparks, gardens, etc.

167Valeriana officina/is 5.1. Common valerian.Five tetrads on the Forest edges (Hall 1980).Confined to moist, sandy riverbanks, possibly just out of the reach of grazing animals,mainly along Millbrook through Pippingford to Marsh Green, along the stream in the Marden'sHill - Friar's Gate area, and also just outside the Flora area in Furnace Wood where it may3 -++--.....---4-have been recorded for the Sussex Plant Atlas, These stream sides are its typical habitat inthe Weald, and our plants are probably subsp. sambucifolia but they have not beeninvestigated in detail. They also occur in more open habitats in western England where theclimate is damper. Plants which may be referable to 5ubsp. collina occur in well-drained4 5 chalky woodlands or north-facing grasslands in Sussex. The name V. officina/is has not yetbeen typified but is usually applied to diploids which do not occur in Britain.A variable species widespread in Britain, Europe and temperate Asia.Valeriana dioica. Marsh valerian.On the bogs on Ashdown Forest (Forster 1816). Crowborough Warren, E. H. Farr (WolleyDad 1937). Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980).Surprisingly rare, and only one population of c. 20 plants was found in a shaded, wetflush in Home Wood (502.325), 1995, TR et al. As it has not flowered we do not know3 -+t--------'--t- whether both sexes are present.In Sussex it occurs scattered on heaths and boggy woodlands, and may be declining dueto drainage. It is widespread but decreasing in England, northwards to southern Scotland(Rich & Woodruff 1996). Western and central Europe.4 5*Centranthus rub er. Red valerian.Walls at Plawhatch Hall (39.32), 1995, TR; walls at Old lands Hall (475.277), 1995, PD et al.An introduction often grown in gardens and naturalized on calcareous mortar on walls.Locally frequent near the coast on chalky soils, walls, etc. in Sussex and southernBritain. Native in the Mediterranean and western Asia.3-++-----~-4 5DIPSACACEAEDipsacus fullonum. Wild teasel.Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980).Scattered around the Forest, often near habitation, and sometimes introduced with soil.It is common on the more calcareous soils and clays, and along riverbanks.Widespread in Sussex but avoiding the acidic soils. Common and widespread in the3 -+h..-----'..t--lowland south-east of Britain, increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), rarer in the northand west. South, west and central Europe, western Asia and North Africa.4 5Succisa pratensis. Oevil's-bit scabious, Blue ball. Blue kiss.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered on the Forest in wet marshy areas, sometimes locally abundant, and oftenpersistent on wet woodland rides in quite shaded conditions.This is a species which occurs both on wet marshy acidic soils and on deeper, partlyleached soils over chalk and limestone. It is quite widespread in Sussex and Britain, but isdecreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is widespread in Europe except the extremenorth and south, and in North Africa.Knautia arvensis. Field scabious,Tetrads 42U and 43M (Hall 1980). Not refound. This species tends to occur on calcareous soils and clays, and iscommon on the chalk in Sussex, with a few scattered records from the Weald. It is decreasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe, western Asia and North Africa.

168ASTERACEAECar/ina vulgaris. Carline thistle.On Ashdown Forest, in the Warren east of the Quarry above Kidbrook IColeman 1836). Forster 11816) also described it ascommon on Tunbridge Wells Common.Probably extinct. It now appears to have gone from most sites on heathland and only remains on the chalk in Sussex.It is widespread but not common on calcareous soils in Britain and is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996),Widespread in Europe and Asia Minor.Arctium lappa, Greater burdock.Tetrads 43M and 43R IHall 1980).Legsheath 139.331. 1994, AK; verge near Friend's car park 1456.288), 1993, PW;Duddleswell 146.27), 1993, MM; Fagot Stack Corner 148.32), 1993, TR.The fruiting heads of this species and A. minus have strongly hooked barbs which areJ -++_---~'+_ readily caught in clothing or fur, and consequently plants are often found along paths andtracks. The bristles from the pappus fall from the heads and irritate the skin; the seeds are4 5dispersed when the heads are pulled or scratched off.Occasional on roadsides and riverbanks in Sussex, and mainly in south~east England.Probably under~recorded nationally. Widespread in Europe and Asia Minor.Arctium minus. Lesser burdock.Frequent on the Forest IHall 1980).Plants are quite frequent over the Forest on the edges of car parks, by tracks and onwaste ground, but often only a small proportion of the plants flower. Both subsp. minus andsubsp. nemorosum were recorded on the Forest, and are mapped separately; subsp. minus isthe commoner of the two, as also found in Hall (1980) although he was not over~confident ofthe records.The status of A. minus subsp. pubens in Sussex remains to be resolved but it shouldoccur in the Weald. It was mapped jointly with subsp. nemorosum in Hall (1980) and nofurther work has been carried out since. It has been mapped carefully in Kent by Philp (1982)'and is locally distributed. In Surrey there are reservations about the taxonomy of the group (Leslie 1987). Any plantswith long peduncles and lacking purple colouring would be worth looking at for subsp. pubens; these have only been foundon waste ground at Wych Cross (419.320), 1995, TR.Widespread and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe, and North Africa.subsp. minus subsp. nemorosum subsp. pubensJ-++-----L+-3 -++_-----'-+_5 4 5 4 5Carduus crispus {C. acanthoides}. Welted thistle.Twyford area 139.31) and Smockfarthing 140.311. 1994, DB; Near Stonehill car park 145.28),1993, Flora meeting.In Sussex most common on the chalk but also scattered in the Weald. Feldman & Lewis(1990) found that the wind-born seeds were rarely dispersed far from the parent plants, andJ -++------'-+_ although large quantities were produced many were predated. As 90% of the seeds4 5germinate within a year there is little seed bank; persistence is mainly from local populations,and the Weald populations are therefore likely to be self-maintaining rather than relying onimmigration from the chalk.Widespread in lowland Britain. Widespread in Europe except the north and south~west.

169Cirsium vu/gate. Spear thistle.We have recorded it frequently but it is not common, and some l-km records are of a singleplant only. It occurs mainly as a weed of waste ground and pastures on south-facing s'lopeson the richer areas of soil on the south side of the Forest, and is largely absent from thewooded northern slopes and heathlands.Recorded in 95% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain. Europe,western Asia and North Africa, introduced elsewhere.Cirsium dissectum. Meadow thistle."Bog in Pappingford Warren, Ashdown Forest, in the corner next Gills Lap" (Coleman 1836).Frequent in bogs south of Forest Row, 1948, and near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface. Eighttetrad records mainly on the south side of the Forest (Hall 1980).We have fewer records and it is probably declining: north of Londonderry Farm(445.296), 1994, NM et al.; Airman's Grave (458.2751, 1995, P. Maurice; Duddleswell(464.2781, 1994, AK; near Hollies car park (461.2781, 1992, AFRR; Old Lodge Bottom(465.299) with Dactylorhiza incarnata, 1993 + I many recorders; north of Radio Station(479.295-482.2931, 1992, AFRR; disturbed area of mown grass and bracken south-west of4 5Wren's Warren (473.318), 1995, Flora meeting. Two sites have gone in recent years (notmapped): south of Royal Ashdown club house (431.341 I, 1988, PS, destroyed by drainage of bog on practice hole. TwoAFRR records have not been refound; bog north of Goat car park, and north of Poundgate car park (482.286), 1983.The young leaves of Cirsium palustre may be unlobed and are easily confused with C. dissectum; C. dissectum leavesare usually densely white-hairy underneath but this is not always the case with new growth,In Sussex it mainly occurs on the Tunbridge Wells Sands and is very locally distributed. Widespread in flushes, bogsand wet meadows but not common in southern Britain and decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). The great Irishbotanist David Webb was once heard to remark how uncommon it was around the Irish Sea, and wondered if it had had abad crossing? Endemic to western Europe with a southern-oceanic distribution, mostly near the coast in France.Cirsium paJustre. Marsh thistle.Ubiquitous on the Forest (Hall 1980), and we have recorded it in every square.Frequent in rather boggy and sad corners of the Forest, and abundant in wet meadowsnear Marsh Green where it is reportedly grazed by depressed donkeys. It also appears indamp woodland when it is coppiced or cleared, but may not flower in deep shade.3 Common in the Weald in Sussex, and nearly ubiquitous in Britain. Widespread in Europe,western Asia and North Africa.4 5Cirsium arvense. Creeping thistle.Recorded in every square in grassland, on verges and waste ground. It does not appear to bea significant weed on pastures locally, perhaps due to efficient control.Ubiquitous, and one of the world's worst weeds. Patches can increase in size by over 6metres a year, and are difficult to eradicate as the roots may grow to a depth of severalmetres. Abundant thistle-down can be seen floating on the wind in late summer but seeddispersal may be poor as the seeds are readily detached from the pappus.SerratuJa tinctoria. Saw-wort.Ashdown Forest, near Maresfield, W. C. Unwin (Arnold 1887). Common on the Forest (Hall1980).Mainly concentrated in the southern parts of the Forest in open areas, where it occurs intwo main habitats. It is locally abundant on road verges (e.g. Crowborough Road betweenFriends and Hollies car parks, pH 7.8, and near the bus shelter at Duddleswell, pH 6.3, Plate3). It also occurs at low frequency but quite characteristically in damp heathland, often withGentiana pneumonanthe, but sometimes simply with Molinia on the sides of gullies, anunexpected location. The populations have mixed female and hermaphrodite plants, the latterhaving broader flowering heads.

170Mainly in the High Weald in Sussex and rare elsehwere (extremely rare in the Kent High Weald), and locally abundantin southern Britain. Widespread in Europe, except the north and south, and in Algeria.*Centaurea montana. Perennial cornflower.Recorded once as an established garden escape at Nutley (476.276), 1995, TR.Occasionally recorded as a garden escape and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996), Endemic to the European mountains and widely cultivated.3 -+-+-------'-j-4 5*Centaurea cyanus. Cornflower.Probably extinct, Heron's Ghyll, E. D. Morgan (Wolley-Dod 1937). Sixty years ago Wolley-Dod had already noted thatcornflower was "becoming rare and probably seldom found in its named stations" so its absence from the Forest isunsurprising and matches the situation across the whole country where it is now found only very sporadically. It is anarable weed and has probably declined due to cleaner seeds and herbicides (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Native in south~east Europe and the Near East.Centaurea nigra. Common knapweed, Buttonweed.Widespread on road verges and in unimproved grassland, but rarely abundant (one exceptionbeing a pasture at Rystwood Road, 438.343). Absent from the heathy areas.It is a very variable species in Britain, but our plants are fairly uniform.Ubiquitous in Sussex (Hall 1980) and in Britain, so surprisingly endemic to Europe. It hasbeen introduced to North America and Australasia where it is a serious weed.*Cichorium intybus. Chicory.Tetrads 33W, 42Z, 43A and 43V (Hall 1980).One site on A22 verge at the entrance to the Ashdown Forest Farm Park, Wych Cross(423.313), 1994, B. Radcliffe & J. Stoddart; two plants were present in 1995, TR. This doesnot correspond to any of Hall's tetrads, which have not been refound. The plants are3 -++----~'-I-- conspicuous when the flowers open in sunshine but they close in mid afternoon.4 5Scattered in Sussex and lowland England where it is possibly native in East Anglia, anddecreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe, western Asia and North Africa.C. intybus is grown as a coffee additive or substitute, and for fodder in France. Thecultivated salad chicory or endive is C. endivia.Lapsana communis. Nipplewort.Widespread on verges, by hedges, on disturbed soil and in the villages, but rare in woodedareas and absent from the heaths. It is a winter~ or summer~annual which tends to occur inopen, nutrient-rich places or in light to moderate shade on soils above pH 5 (Grime et al.1988).Recorded in 99% of the Sussex tetrads (Hall 1980). Widespread in Europe, Asia andNorth Africa.Hypochaeris radicata. Cat's-ear.Recorded in every square, where it occurs on rides, banks, in acidic grassland and sometimesin permanent pasture.This plant flowers continuously through the summer, though there are peaks in earlyJune and September. About one hour of bright sunlight is needed to open the flowering3heads and once open, they cannot close for a period of at least three hours, so if it rains the4 5pollen for a whole day may be washed off. If it is warm and sunny the heads close afterabout 3~4 hours, but they will stay open for 6~7 hours in cooler, cloudy conditions (Turkington& Aarssen 1983).

171We suspect that Leontodon hispidus has been over-recorded for this species; Hypochaeris can be easily distinguishedin that it has simple not forked hairs on the leaves, and has pale yellow, triangular scales on the receptacle - this can beseen by plucking the florets out to leave the scales behind.Recorded in 92% of the Sussex tetrads (Hall 1980). Widely distributed throughout Britain, mainly on neutral tomoderately acidic, well-drained soils in grazed or mown pastures and on verges. Widespread in Europe, northern Asia andNorth Africa.Leontodon autumnalis subsp. autumns/is. Autumn hawkbit.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread and locally frequent on road verges, pastures, rides and waste places on wetor acidic soils. It flowers in late summer and is a very variable species, some plants havingalmost entire leaves and others almost pinnate.It is easily distinguished from the other Leontodon species by the branched floweringstems and has only simple hairs on the leaves. It is separated from Hypochaeris by theabsence of receptacular scales.Very common in Sussex and Britain. Widespread in Europe though rarer in the south. InAsia, North~west Africa and Greenland.Leontodon hispidus. Rough hawkbit.Recorded in ten tetrads in Hall (1980), but surely over~recorded, perhaps for Hypochaeris?Poundgate road verge where chalk may have been used to build the road (484.285), pH7.7, 1993 +, Flora meeting; Rystwood Road on clay (441.344), pH 6.6, 1995, TR; Nutleychurchyard, pH 6.6, Coleman's Hatch churchyard, pH 6.5, and St John's churchyard, pH 6.S,3 1995, PD.The rarity with which we have found this species compared to the apparent frequency inthe Sussex Plant Atlas is surprising, and only two of the tetrads are in common. It is mostabundant on chalk and limestone soils of mid to high pH, and would not be expected to be4 5common on the Forest except in places with raised pH such as road verges as, ourmeasurements indicate. It is also characteristic of the churchyards; raised pH in soils around churches may be a result ofcalcium leaching from mortar either directly from the buildings or from discarded material when they are rebuilt, or perhapsfrom the tombstones. L. hispidus could have been present around Coleman's Hatch, where the soils are base~rich clay, andat Nutley, but must have been introduced elsewhere.It is similar to L. saxatliis in having forked hairs on the leaves, a single stem and drooping buds, but all the acheneshave a pappus, and the involucre is darker in colour and it is much more hairy (though L. saxatilis can sometimes be veryhairy too). Hybrids between the two have been recorded in Britain but we have not found any.Widespread in lowland Britain on calcareous soils and clays in unimproved pastures. Widespread in Europe and AsiaMinor.Leontodon saxatilis (L. taraxacoides). Lesser hawkbit.Locally frequent on the east side of the Forest (Hall 1980).Although it is common on the Forest on road verges, tracks, lawns and open, drygrassland it is very often overlooked as an intensive search in East Sussex by PO proved,resulting in a large increase in records (Briggs 1990).It is easily identified when in flower by the outer achenes which have no pappus, whilstthe inner ones do. These outer fruits persist long after the inner ones have been blown awayand the stem is dead (even as late as November).Widespread in Sussex on heaths, on bare, open, generally acidic or sandy soils.Ubiquitous in Britain. Widespread in southern, central and western Europe.Picris echioides. Bristly oxtongue.Scattered around the Forest on dumped soil, road verges and in car parks, but usually only afew plants at a time, and not recorded in Hall (1980).Common on the chalk and on clays, especially on roadsides and near the coast in Sussex.Locally abundant in south~easte.rn Britain and widespread in southern Europe and South~west3 Asia.4 5

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.

173Mycelis muralis. Wall lettuce.Seven tetrad records (Hal! 1980).Locally frequent in the north-east of the Forest on the damp, more calcareous soils inwoodland, and scattered elsewhere on roadsides, stream sides, brickwork, etc. It is usually amarked calcicole of soils of pH 6 or above (Grime et al. 1988) and may be restricted by soil3 -++._---"''4- type in our area.In Sussex locally frequent in the west and less common elsewhere. Locally abundant inareas of Britain with high rainfall, and widespread in Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa.4 5Taraxacum. Dandelions.Dandelions are one of the major critical groups in Britain which require specialist knowledge for identification. Over 230species have been recorded to date in Britain many of which are probably endemic. Their reputation is so fierce that theystrike fear into the heart of the keenest botanist and only madmen try to identify them; we have therefore coined thephrase "madologist" to describe anyone studying Taraxacum.Dandelions of the British Isles (Dudman & Richards 1995) is an excellent account of the genus which we have used asthe basis for the identification and nomenclature. There are no previous records for the Ashdown Forest area for individualspecies, and East Sussex in general has been poorly worked (Hall 1980). A little help from an expert is essential to getstarted and it simply takes time to learn them - perhaps "this year, next year, sometime, never" as measured on thedandelion clock. Our records are based on the results of a survey by Jan Kirschner, the Czech expert, during Easter 1995.John Richards has kindly looked through the material we collected and corrected a few names; the material is now held inherb. PH. Not surprisingly our records for the critically determined taxa largely coincide with squares visited by Jan.Taraxacum genusNumber of species determined(# ~ 11)Squares recorded by Jan Kirschner4 54 5Dandelions initially all look the same and yet different to the untrained eye, but once they are known there are manyslight differences which define the species. Most, if not all British species are agamospermous (producing by seedswithout the usual sexual process). Even if insects are observed visiting the flowers, as brimstone butterflies do on theForest in April, they are not cross-fertilising them.To make identification of the species more manageable, the genus is broken down into nine sections in Britain, four ofwhich occur in our Flora area. It is not possible to identify every individual dandelion at the moment, and the techniqueemployed is to look for species which are known, then collect and learn new species. Identification needs to be based onplants carefully selected in the field, which are then pressed for later reference. Plants should be collected soon after theycome into flower for the first time, usually in mid-April, so that the outer leaves can be collected with a young floweringhead.Plants flowering in summer or growing in shaded, trampled or frequently mown places, or those with damaged,infested or diseased leaves should be ignored.Dandelions have been recorded in every square on the Forest. We would expect at least 50 species from the Floraarea, but to date have named about half that number. The distribution maps reflect first the areas that we recorded, andsecondly the richer dandelion areas because experience rapidly indicated that the central areas of the Forest were very poorwith few species.The habitat determines which species are likely to be found. The main habitats for Sections Hamata and Ruderalia arehedgebanks, road verges, meadows and waste land in the villages, where they occur in disturbed, open vegetation onrelatively nutrient-rich soils. Section Celtica species occur on nutrient-poor grasslands - these are likely to be the originalnative species of the area. Section Erythrosperma species occur in dry, open habitats. Dandelions are rarely found inheathland or in woodlands, and consequently Ashdown Forest does not have many species.British dandelions are not representative of the genus as a whole. Elsewhere in Eurasia there are many diploid sexualspecies, and plants may have white, pinkish or reddish flowers, they can have more than one flowering-head on eachscape, they may flower in the autumn, have leathery leaves or flower without any leaves visible at all. World-wide thereare about 2000 species, with the greatest diversity in the mountains of central Asia.

174Section Erythrosperma.45This section includes small plants with dissected leaves and reddish fruits which usually occurin dry, open grassland, on either calcareous or acidic soils. However, they appear to besurprisingly rare on the Forest. One fruiting plant, sandy ground, Isle of Thorns (418.303); carpark at King's Standing (468.315), possibly lost when they closed one car park entrance, both1995, TR, and both too far gone to identify to species. There is also a record for T."Iaevigatum" which equates to Section Erythrosperma for tetrad 42T in Hall (1980) which hasnot been refound.Section Celtica.This group includes the main native species of the area. They typically occur on nutrient poor soils in lightly shaded placeswith moderate levels of disturbance. Most of the species within the group are quite distinct afld are easily identified; theyare by far the best group for a non-specialist to start with.Taraxacum nordstedtii.This distinctive little dandelion is one of the most widespread on the Forest verges,hedge banks and meadows. It is a variable species but plants from Ashdown Forest are quitetypical.It is fairly common and widespread in Britain (the second most-recorded species)' and inwest and central Europe.Taraxacum unguilobum.3 --++----"'----"4---This is a very distinctive little species, for which there was one site on grassland at theentrance to Chelwood Vachery 1435.304), pH 6.1, 1995, JK & TR, the first record for EastSussex. This species has more than its fair share of good characters; it lacks pollen, hasyellow stigmas and backward-pointing leaf lobes.It typically occurs on sandy soils and is common in northern and western Britain, but maybe introduced in the south-east. It also occurs rarely on the continent (e.g. sand dunes inHolland).4 5Taraxacum gelertii.3 ++-------Y,Only one site for this dandelion which has white-bordered, erect bracts, was found on vergesnorth of Suttons Farm (403.314), pH 6.5, 1995, JK & TR.This is one of the commonest species of Section Ce/tiea in Britain. In Europe it reachesas far east as Poland and the Czech Republic.4 5Taraxacum subbracteatum.This is probably the second commonest member of the section in the Ashdown Forest area,and it occurs most characteristically on nutrient-poor verges around the Forest. It is quitedistinct and easy to identify.It occurs throughout Britain and is locally abundant.4 5

175Taraxacum exceJlens.Scattered along the hedgebanks near Hart's Farm (456.336-81, 1995, JK & TR.It occurs scattered throughout Britain but is most frequent in the west.] -++_----'__f__4 5Taraxacum bracteatum.Recorded from a hedgebank near Hart's Farm (458.336) and from a verge in Parrock Lane(446.3421. 1995, JK & TR, but possibly more common.It is widespread in damp habitats throughout the British Isles.3 -++-------'-+_4 5Section Hamata.This is the commonest dandelion section on the Forest, and is especially characteristic of road verges. The species of thissection are very similar to each other and are difficult to distinguish. In most places on mown verges they have notdeveloped properly and cannot be identified with any certainty.Taraxacum pseudohamatum.3 -+~ ___ ---L+--This is the commonest dandelion in the Flora area and is usually the first species to come intoflower in the spring. It is quite robust and has broad, outer involucral bracts.It is very frequent on verges and one of the commonest species in Britain. It occurscommonly in western Europe.4 5Taraxacum hamatiforme.3 -+-t-------'--t-There are records for this species from Parrock Lane (449.346), the edge of the golf course atForest Row (429.3441, verges at Plaw Hatch Farm (393.3241, and another possible one fromthe east end of Toll Lane (464.2641. 1995, JK & TR.It is widespread in Britain and one of the most common species of the section in Europe.4 5Taraxacum hamatum.3 -++-___ ----L+_Recorded once at School Lane, St John's (505.3181. 1995, JK & TR, but possibly morewidespread on verges.Widespread in Britain and Europe (the third most commonly recorded species in Britain,so oddly rare here), its eastern-most known locality is Moscow.4 5

176Taraxacum hamatulum.Plant on a verge near Birch Grove House 1413.305),1995, JK & TR Idet. A. J. Richards).It is scattered in southern England and Wales, and may be introduced.] +~-----'--t-4 5Taraxacum lancidens.] -++------'-f-There was one record from a verge on sand at the west end of Cackle Street (450.266),1995, JI< & TR. This seems to be a new East Sussex record for this introduced species.In Britain it has been previously recorded from Dorset and Cheshire. It is scattered inwest and central Europe.4 5Taraxacum quadrans.] -+h..------'--t-There are a few scattered records from roadsides on the Forest and adjacent areas; ChelwoodBeacon 1424.294), Nutley (444.269), Balcombe Farm (391.312), 1995, JK & TR.It occurs scattered through Britain but may not be a native species. It is widespread inEurope, but probably not common.4 5Section Ruderalia.This is the biggest section of Taraxacum in Britain, and the species can be very difficult to identify. They tend to be bigrobust species on nutrient-rich soils, and as the name suggests they occur as ruderal species in towns and villages - thebest place to look for them is on the scruffy, un mown edges of unsurfaced lanes. Those found on the Forest area haveprobably all been introduced.Taraxacum ekmanii.] --++------'-+-Gilham Lane, Forest Row (424.349), A26 verge, Poundgate (487.287), grass verge, SchoolLane, Nutley (442.278), hedge bank near Harts Farm (458.336), Highgate Road, Forest Row(425.343), verge, Parrock Lane (446.344), verge immediately north of Suttons Farm(403.314), pH 6.5, all in tall grass on verges.Common elsewhere in Britain and Europe.4 5Taraxacum ancistrolobum.] -I-+------'....,f-Recorded once from Down Street at Nutley (444.269), 1995, JK & TR.Widespread in Britain, where it is very common in the lowlands in the north. Scattered inwest, central ~nd northern Europe.4 5

177Taraxacum sinuatum.Recorded from road verges between Nutley and Chelwood Gate (434.288), and at the westend of Cackle Street (450.266), 1995, JK & TR, the first records for East Sussex.It is scattered in both the west of Britain and in Europe.4 5Taraxacum alatum.One of the most widespread species in Europe, but only found once on Ashdown Forest nearHart's Farm (458.336), 1995, JK & TR, the first record for East Sussex!It is widespread and locally common in Britain.3 -++-----'--/-3-+T-----~-4 5Taraxacum pulchrifolium.] -++-----'--1-Recorded as one plant in Highgate Road, Forest Row (425.343)' abundant as the dominantplant on the bank by the school in Nutley (442.278), pH 7.2, both 1995, JK & TR; one plantin Pippingford Park by Centre Bridge (449.317), 1995, TR.It is an introduced species scattered in Br'ltain, but is fairly common in continentalEurope.The name pulchrifolium means "beautiful-leaved", which it is.4 5Taraxacum interveniens.3 -+T-----~-Recorded on the bank by the school in Nutley (442.278), pH 7.2, and near the Post Office(443.276), 1995, JK & TR: Its occurrence with T. pu/chrifolium at the school in Nutleysuggests that both species may have been introduced with foreign grass seed.It is scattered throughout Britain, but very common in central Europe.4 5Taraxacum amplum.] -++------'--1-A few plants on a bank on the east side of Old Lane, Crowborough (507.313), 1995, JK &TR, the first record for East Sussex.Very rarely recorded in Britain but fairly common on the continent.4 5

178Taraxacum corynodes.3 -+-f'"--------'-_j__One plant on a verge near Birch Grove House (413.305), 1995, JK & TR, the first record forEast Sussex, Introduced and scattered in Britain, mainly in the west. Scattered on thecontinent.4 5Taraxacum undulatum.3 -++--------'-_j__Recorded once on a hedgebank near Hart's Farm (456.3381, 1995, JK & TR (det. A. J.Richards), the first record for East Sussex. Scattered through Britain and Ireland on wasteground, etc.4 5Taraxacum pallidipes.3 -++-------'-+-Recorded once on a track side in Forest Row (424.349), 1995, TR & JK, the first record forEast Sussex.It is scattered on road verges in Britain but is probably under~recorded. It is not rare onthe continent.4 5Taraxacum lacerifolium.3 -++-------'-+-Recorded on verge opposite Woodside, Nutley (447 .288), pH 8.1, and on verges at PlawHatch Farm (393.3241, 1995, JK & TR, the first records for East Sussex (det. A. J. Richardsl.It is locally frequent in southern Britain and is probably introduced.4 5Taraxacum ochrochlorum.3 -I-t--------'__\_This species which has very broadly winged petioles and orangy flowers was recorded oncefrom a verge at Chelwood Gate (426.2881. 1995, TR & JK, the first record for East Sussex(det. A. J. Richardsl.It is introduced to Britain and is scattered throughout but may be overlooked for T.ekmanii.4 5Taraxacum, unnamed species.There is a common, widespread plant on verges all round the Forest which has been found in almost all localities visited. Aprovisional name has been given to the plants but as it is variable there may be more than one taxon involved, and somespecimens are perhaps close to T. mu/tie%rans and/or T. ob/iqui/obum.

179Crepis capillaris. Smooth hawk' s-beard.Common on the Forest IHall 19801.Locally frequent on disturbed soils, on verges, in car parks and pastures, and usually ondry open soils. It is very variable in size from tiny plants 5 cm tall in grassland grazed byrabbits to large ones over 30 cm high on verges.Very common in Sussex and lowland Britain. Western, central and southern Europe.*Crepis vesicaria. Beaked hawk's-beard.•3 --++------'+-4 5Tetrads 42P, 42T and 42U IHall 19801.Highgate 142.34), 1993, TR; Nutley 144.271, 1995, TR; one good plant on disturbedground used for car parking, Wren's Warren 1472.3241, 1995, PW; these do not relate to anyof Hall's tetrads. It tends to flower in early summer and is best distinguished from robustforms of C. capillaris by the beak to the fruits as the English name indicates.Locally frequent in Sussex near the coast, on the chalk and occasional elsewhere often ingrass on road verges. First recorded in Britain in 1713, now locally frequent in south-eastEngland and still spreading. Native in west, central and southern Europe.Pi/ose/la officinarum (Hieracium piloseJla). Mouse-ear-hawkweed.Frequent on the Forest IHall 1980).Locally frequent on dry, open soils on verges, lawns and banks, and in grassland. Subsp. euronota, subsp.micradenia, subsp. officinarum, subsp. tricholepia and subsp. trichoscapa, which differ in their hair types (see Rich & Rich1988), have been recorded in 1993-1995 by TR. There are no data available on the occurrence of the subspecies inSussex.Widespread in Sussex and in Britain, but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Pi/osella officinarum subsp. euronota subsp. micradenia3 3 -++-----'-+--4 5 4 5 4 5subsp. officinarum subsp. tricho/epia subsp. trichoscapa3 --+-j'"-----'-+__ 3 -++-----'-+__ 3 -+-j'"-----'-+--4 54 5 4 5*Pilosella aurantiaca (Hieracium aurantiacum). Fox-and-cubs.Forest Row 142.34), 1995, DB & PO, where it is locally established on lawns. The orangeflowers only open in bright sun~hine. The creeping shoots form patches and the grass aroundthem is often suppressed, perhaps by allelopathic chemicals emitted from the plants.Scattered in Sussex and lowland Britain, usually near habitation. Native in Europe.3 -++__----'-+__4 5

180Hieracium species on Ashdown Forest. A. H. umbellatum. B. H. sabaudum. C. H. trichocaulon. D. H. exotericumaggregate.Clu«

181Hieracium. Hawkweeds.3134 5Hieracium umbel/atumThis genus is one of the most difficult in Britain, with no upwto~date monograph to aididentification. There are about 25 species in the Weald which could occur in the Flora area,but most are quite rare. Our plants have been named by comparing specimens against namedmaterial in the Natural History Museum (BM), and with help from Rod Stern who has alsoproduced a key to southweast England hawk weeds (see BSB1 Hieracium study groupnewsletters). We have recorded four species and H. cantianum could also be present.There are very few records of Hieracium by F. J. Hanbury listed in Wolley-Dod (19371,despite the fact that he wrote a monograph on the genus in 1904 and lived at Brockhurst,East Grinstead; Wolley~Dod's plants were mainly named instead by H. W. Pugsley.Hieracium nomenclature follows Sell (19681.Ashdown Forest, 1841, J. Weaver (Wolley-Dod 1937). Var. coronopifolium was noted nearWych Cross on road to Nutley, C. H. Waddell (Wolley-Dod 1937) but it is no longerrecognised. Recorded as locally frequent in Hall (1980) with Ashdown Forest as the majorstronghold in East Sussex.We have found it on verges, scrub margins and hedgebanks. This is the last species onthe Forest to come into flower, and is immediately distinguished from the others by the erectphyllaries on the buds and many narrow leaves on the stem. It varies much in size of plantand flowers, and in leaf shape and size; our plants belong to the narrowwleaved typical groupof the east of Britain and are subsp. umbellatum.It occurs on heaths, grassy places and rocks throughout Britain (especially in the Weald).Hieracium sabaudum (H. borea/e, H. obliquum, H. perpropinquum).In a hedge near Forest Row, 1819, E. Forster; Ashdown Forest, J. Weaver; Nutley Road n~arWych Cross, R. S. Standen (Wolley-Dod 1937). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).This is a variable species of open acidic woodland and heaths, on sandy soils.Throughout England and Wales and especially the Weald, where it is one of the3commonest species. It has many leaves on the stem which are very weakly toothed, andhave long hairs.4 5(A SS SI Monitoring Scheme record for H. strumosum on Twyford Lane verge (404.315)may have been H. sabaudum.)Hieracium trichocaulon (H. tridentatum sensu Pugsley).Near Wych Cross on road to Nutley, C. H. Waddell (Wolley-Dod 1937).This is the second species to come into flower, and is scattered around the Forest,usually on track or road verges or maybe that is where we have seen it most often. We didnot really understand it until 1995, and consequently it may have been underwrecorded. It has3 many stem leaves which usually have three strong teeth, and many fewer hairs than H.sabaudum.4 5Hieracium species, included in the H. exotericum aggregate (H. murorum aggregate).Ashdown Forest, 1899, T. Hilton (BTN). Tetrads 33W and 43R (Hall 1980).One site on the road bank opposite Pooh car park (472.331), 1995, TR (probably the43R record in Hall 1980). This is the first species to come into flower in June, andconsequently gets nobbled first by the verge cutters and later by ditch maintenance. It only3 has 0-1(-2) stem leaves and a marked basal rosette. Philp (1982) points out that thetaxonomy of these plants is not yet sorted Qut, and we have not taken the matter further.4 5Filago vulgaris. Common cudweed.Presumed extinct. Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980)?Not found in our survey. This plant is rather scarce in Sussex with only two reliable recent records from East Sussex.The map in Hall (1980) over~estimates its frequency as it is now known that in a number of cases it was recorded in errorfor Gnapha/ium u/iginosum (e.g. seven of the tetrad records in Hall are known to be incorrect; Briggs 1990) and the sameis probably true of some others, so the tetrad 42N record may not be correct. The source of the confusion seems to have

182been the use of English names by inexperienced recorders as both F. vulgaris and G. u/iginosum have been called commoncudweed.Locally abundant in eastern England and rarer elsewhere. It is decreasing (Rich & Woodruff 1996). West, central andsouthern Europe, western Asia and North Africa.Filago minima. Least cudweed.There are a few early records for Filago minima in the Ashdown Forest area: "On AshdownForest, about the Stone Quarry near Kidbrook" {Coleman 18361; Fairwarp, E. H. Farr;Ashdown Forest, Miss M. Cobbe (Wolley-Dod 1937) but it was not recorded in Hall (1980).In 1993 AK found a small colony together with Ornithopus on a roadside near Goat3 -+1-------'+ cross-roads (397.332) from which the scrub had been recently cleared. In 1994 the site wasbecoming overgrown and the number of plants of Filago and Ornithopus had declined. By4 51995 the site had become completely overgrown with gorse, birch and bramble, and neitherspecies could be found. Given the conditions under which they originally appeared if thescrub were cleared again the plants would probably reappear.Like all species of Filago, F. minima is declining nationally (Rich & Woodruff 1996). The British distribution shows adistinct preference for the east of the country but the Sussex distribution is concentrated in West Sussex where the sandycommons, pits and fields which are its preferred habitat are more common. It seems never to have been common in EastSussex and our site is the only one currently known in the vice-county. One reason for its scarcity on Ashdown Forestmay be that the sand is more clayey and moister than the main West Sussex sites.Widespread in Sussex, Britain and Europe, except in the north.Gnaphalium sylvaticum (Omalotheca sylvatica). Wood cudweed.On Ashdown Forest, in pits by the road near Leg's Heath Gate (Coleman 1836). Crowborough, Miss M. Cobbe (Wolley·Dod1937). Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).Presumed extinct. No plants were found during our survey and it seems that this plant has declined significantly sincethe 19605 and 19705 when the data for Hall was collected. Whereas Hall shows 27 tetrad records for East Sussex thereare no recently confirmed records for the vice-county. The reason for its recent scarcity is unclear as its typical habitat ofopen areas and rides in woodland is still relatively common.Nationally it is widespread but is believed to be declining (Farrell 1994; Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread inEurope, and a calcifuge. Also in North America.Gnaphalium u/iginosum (Filaginella u/iginosa). Marsh cudweed (Common cudweed).Common in damp, rather bare or disturbed places all over the Forest.In Sussex it is common everywhere except on the chalk. It occurs over most of Englandand Wales but becomes increasingly scarce toward the north of Scotland, It is one of thecommonest species on mud, and very variable in size in response to the growth conditions(Salisbury 1970).Widespread in Britain. Europe, western Asia and North America.Pulicaria dysenterica. Common fleabane.Widespread on the Forest in damp grassland, road verges and on woodland rides especially onthe clays, usually as small scattered patches but also sometimes in abundance as in meadowsnear Home Farm (444.304). Once the flowers open in July they are very attractive toinsects, and they somet'lmes seem to shimmer with brimstones and meadow browns.Recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in lowland Britainand locally common north to the Scottish border. West, central and southern Europe north toDenmark. Asia Minor and North Africa.Solidago virgaurea. Goldenrod.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent in open woodland, scrubby heath land and on road banks (Plate 3).Frequent in the High Weald and on other acidic soils in Sussex.Widespread on acidic soils, especially in western Britain and interestingly also on chalkdowns and cliffs in east Kent (FR, pers. comm, 1996), Widespread in Europe, Asia and NorthAmerica.

*So/idago gigantea. Early goldenrod.Well established patches on A275 verge near Reservoir car park [419.315)' 1993+, TR;south of Nutley 144.26), 1994, TR.Scattered in Sussex and increasingly established in Eng)and IRich & Woodruff 1996).Native in North America.3 -++-----'-t-1834 5*Aster. Michaelmas daisies.3 -I-~----Y-4 5A number of species of Aster and their hybrids are cultivated in Britain, and many taxa arenaturalized, None of our records have been critically determined but they are likely to be A.x versicolor or A. x salignu5, the commonest taxa in Sussex.Tetrad 42N IHall 1980).A275 verge near Reservoir car park 1419.315), 1993+, TR, no doubt from plantsdumped at the lay-by; garden throw-out, Fairwarp 1474.269), 1995, TR.Scattered in Sussex and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in NorthAmerica.*Erigeron canadensis (Conyza canadensis). Canadian fleabane.Tetrad 43H IHall 1980).Still scarcely established on the Forest and usually recorded as a single plant such as oneplant at Wych Cross garage 1419.329), 1995, HP & TR, though more frequent in Forest Rowand hitching lifts in the slipstreams of traffic on the A22.3 -++-----'-t- A species from tropical America first recorded in the London area in 1690, and nowcommon on waste ground, walls, etc. throughout southern Britain, but surprisingly it is stillvery rare in Ireland. Native in North America.4 5Bel/is perennis. Daisy.34 5Recorded in virtually every square on the Forest, usually on richer soils on lawns, meadows,car parks and playing fields. Almost certainly absent from 43.31 where it has been searchedfor.The flowering heads close at night and open in the light, hence the name 'day's eye'.Plants on very dry soil in Cackle Street during the 1995 drought had capitula only 10 mm indiameter, half the normal size.Ubiquitous in Sussex and Britain. West, central and southern Europe, and western Asia.* Tanacetum parthenium (Chrysanthemum parthenium). Feverfew.Poundgate IWolley-Dod 1937). Five tetrad records IHall 1980).A garden plant scattered in the villages and occasionally introduced with foreign soil onthe Forest. Seedlings mysteriously appeared on TR's front path in 1995, probably from mudon boots.3 Widely distributed in Sussex, lowland Britain and Europe, often associated withhabitation and especially frequent in urban areas. Once cultivated as a medicinal plant.Probably native in south-east Europe and Asia Minor.4 5

184Tanacetum vu/gare. Tansy.3 -+_J.._-------'-+_4 5Tetrad 42N (Hall 19801.Five scattered records from verges, villages and rough grassland around the edges of theForest.In Europe it is probably a natural component of some maritime, lake shore and riversidecommunities in north~west Europe, and is also widespread as a ruderal where it has frequentlybeen introduced (Clapham 1953). This pattern is repeated in Sussex and Britain, and it isaccepted as a native species.Artemisia vulgaris. Mugwort.Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.A characteristic place to find this is along the very edges of verges on the A22 where itis mown short and rarely flowers. It is also established on waste ground in the villages.This species is unusual in the Asteraceae in being wind-pollinated. It is the third most4 5common cause of hay fever in Scandinavia, but seems to affect few people in Britain unlessthey have already been sensitised to mugworts and wormwoods abroad (Rich 1994b).Very common in Sussex but avoiding the Wadhurst clay. Widespread in lowland Britainand Europe.Achillea ptarmica. Sneezewort.Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.Scattered mainly in the wetter meadows and pastures in the central and northern areasof the Forest, and in ditches.Locally frequent in the Weald on acidic soils, and still widespread in lowland north and3 -I-t--_""---.JLj- west Britain but declining nationally due to drainage of wet grassland. Widespread in northernEurope.4 5Achillea millefolium. Yarrow, Nosebleed.Common on roadsides and in grassland. White- and pink-flowered plants were noted growingtogether in Forest Row (44.34), 1994, TR.Ubiquitous in Sussex and Britain. Widespread in Europe and western Asia.ChamaemeJum nobile. Chamomile.Although previous floras describe it as "frequent" (Arnold 19071 and "rather frequent" inSussex (Wolley-Dod 1937), the only previous records traced are 'on Ashdown Forest'(Coleman 18361, Ashdown Forest, 1921, H. Mace (BRCI, and Forest Row, 1938, G. E. Shaw(TlSI. It was recorded sometime up to 1980 in the Fairwarp tetrad 42T (Hall 19801 but not3 refound or localised. It was also recorded outside the Flora area on verges near StumblewoodCommon (403.3071, 1950s, FR; the verges are now tall grass or are shaded and the plant hasgone. It is sometimes also planted on lawns, as at Buxted Park (1995, PD) or Old Lodge(now gone; S. Stewart, pers. comm. 1995).4 5 Ford's Green, hundreds of vegetative plants on football pitch, and a few on the cricketpitch (445.271 I, 1993, TR. Ford's Green is part of the common land of Ashdown Forest, and was sheep-grazed until the1950s when the ma'ln duty of the greenkeeper was to sweep the droppings off the cricket pitch (J, Waiters, pers. comm.19951. During the winter of 1994/1995 the pitch was heavily trampled as it was one of the few dry pitches in the area.By the end of the winter it was a sea of brown mud and had sand sprinkled on it to help the playing surface. This gaverise to concern for the chamomile but in the summer it was even more abundant and flowered profusely. The severedrought turned the remaining grass brown but the chamomile stayed green and stood out very clearly. It flowers mostprofusely on the Green in dry summers when it is not mown.It grows with Achillea millefolium f which is very similar in leaf but not in flower. Chamaemelum has creeping stemswhich form patches, the leaves are smaller and have fewer segments and the leaf tips lack the long hair point of Achillea(small hair points may be present on some leaves); the smell is distinctive to some people but not others. Similar plants

ecorded with Chamaemelum are Matricaria recut/ta, M. disco/dea, and Tripleurospermum inodorum. A survey by HeatherWins hip for Plantlife and Hampshire Wildlife Trust in 1993 showed that Chamaemelum was declining nationally (Wins hip1994). In East Sussex in 1993, Ford's Green and Chailey Common were the only known extant sites, and the latter hasonly one small patch, The single Ashdown locality at Ford's Green certainly merits conservation, if only 50 that after afootball match the Nutley lads will smell a little sweeter than normal!The flowers were once brewed into a cure-all tea and were highly valued fetching 400 shillings per cwt (Bates 1943).It is still drunk today as a herbal tea.Chamaemelum was once quite common and widespread in southern England on common land, and it thrived in short,heavily grazed turf, with the accompanying poaching of the ground and dung patches. The post-war decline has followedthe decline in pasturing stock on commons in England, and it only remains frequent inland in the New Forest and onDartmoor which are still grazed. Studies of the genetics have shown that many populations now have very little variation(Kay & John 1995). Recently. it has been increasingly noticed on sports fields derived from old common land, where themowing and trampling mimic grazing. The occurrence of hundreds of plants at Ford's Green is therefore quite typical. Thesoil pH where it was most abundant was 4.9, and it did not occur where the soils had a higher pH from the lime used tomark the pitches. It could also survive elsewhere on the Forest on lawns.It mainly occurs in western Europe and North Africa185Anthemis arvensis. Corn chamomile.Barnsden, near Nutley, and Forest Row, E. M. Day (Wolley-Dod 19371. Tetrad 42T (Hall 19801.Not refound, perhaps not surprisingly for an arable weed which is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 19961. InSussex and elsewhere it is now an uncommon arable weed of the chalk (Wilson 1994), and occasionally occurs as acontaminant of continental seed mixtures with other arable weeds such as Agrostemma githago and Chrysanthemumsegetum.It is widespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa, and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a weed.Anthemis cotu/a. Stinking chamomile.Five tetrad records (Hall 19801.One plant in gateway, south-west of Mudbrooks House (402.338), pH 5.4, 1995, Florameeting.This is a annual weed which is variable in size and habit. It occurs most frequently on3 -+-+-----'-+_ heavy clay and clay-loam soils, especially if they are base-rich, and our site on mildly acidicclay may not be very suitable for it (hence only one!). Germination takes place mainly in theautumn and spring depending on cultivation, but can occur throughout the year. It is selfincompatibleand requires cross-pollination, so our isolated plant may not have set seed {Kay4 51971; Wilson 19941.Frequent on heavy soils in the Weald. Widespread but decreasing in lowland south-east England and possiblyclimatically limited by cooler temperature and increasing rainfall to the north and west (Kay 1971; Rich & Woodruff 1996).Widespread in Europe north to England and Finland but probably native around the Mediterranean, western Asia and northeastAfrica.*Chrysanthemum segetum. Corn marigold.Ashdown Forest, 1921, H. Mace (BRC), we presume recorded from arable land.Another arable weed which is decreasing in England and has not been refound.Europe and western Asia.It is now very scarce in Sussex.Leucanthemum vu/gare. Oxeye daisy, Horse daisy, Midsummer daisy, Dog daisy.Scattered on verges and in pastures and lawns, most frequent on the more calcareous soilson the south side of the Forest. Usually conspicuous in flower in May and June, but in themild weather of October 1995 some flowered again after the summer drought.Recorded in 92% of the Sussex tetrads (Hall 19801. Widespread in Britain and Europe.4 5

186*Leucanthemum x superbum (L. maximum), Shasta daisy.Tetrad 42J (Hall 1980).Road verge near Birch Grove House (413.304), 1993, Flora meeting; near Home Farm(44.30), 1993 +, SBRS.Occasionally recorded as a garden escape in Sussex, and increasingly so in England (Rich3 -+-f'"----'''"----'-+_ & Woodruff 1996). It originated in cultivation.4 5Matricaria recutita (Chamomilla recutita). Scented mayweed.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered around the Forest often on roadsides and in gutters, and occasionally as aweed in gardens and flower beds.Common in Sussex. Locally common in non~calcareous, loamy soils in Britain (WiJson31994) and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe and Asiawest to India.4 5*Matricaria discoidea (M. matricarioides, Chamomilla matricarioidesj. Pineapple-weed.The first record we have traced is for Forest Row, 1910, Miss P. Stockdale (BEX), only a fewyears after the first confirmed Sussex record from Lewes in 1901 (Wolley-Dod 1937).Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread in gateways, gardens, car parks, road verges and on waste ground. It isabsent from the heathy areas.Recorded in Sussex in 98% of the tetrads (Hall 1980). First recorded in Europe in 1852and from Britain in 1871, and now very widespread and still increasing in Britain (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Native in north-east Asia,Trip/eurospermum inodorum. Scentless mayweed.The commonest mayweed on the Forest, on verges, road gutters, arable land, waste groundand other disturbed open habitats.Recorded in 95% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). The commonest mayweed inBritain (Wilson 1994). Widespread in Europe and western Asia.34 5*Senecio cineraria. Silver ragwort.Waste soil in council dump, Wych Cross (419.320), 1994, DK; disturbed verge near AshdownPark (429.323), 1993, TR & EL. Not persistent in either locality.Established by the sea in Sussex, and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Native in west and central parts of the Mediterranean.3 -++-----'-+_4 5

*Senecio x albescens (S. cineraria x jacobaea).Disturbed verge with S. cineraria near Ashdown Park (429.323), 1993, TR & EL, possiblyimported with soil rather than originating in situ, but not persisting. It is occasionallyrecorded in Britain near habitation where S, cineraria is cultivated,•3-++-------~+-1874 5Senecio jacobaea. Common ragwort.Recorded in every square. Frequent on roadsides, but much rarer on the heaths and thenusually on the rides or on imported soil used to make up the paths. It mysteriously disappearsshortly after coming into flower on the verges as it is controlled on some of the chases byhand pulling (AFN 30:31. which usually takes about 4-5 years to eradicate it.The plant contains alkaloids which are poisonous to most herbivores except somespecialist invertebrates. Defoliation by the striking black-and-orange cinnabar moth larvae canmarkedly affect its seedling establishment, rosette growth and flowering. The effects aremost pronounced when defoliation occurs in combination with unfavourable weather such as adry spell. It is often abundant around warrens as it is not eaten by rabbits, and selectivegrazing of other species can give the ragwort a competitive advantage as well as creating the open ground that it needs toregenerate in (Prins & Nell 1990).Ragwort has been introduced to New Zealand where it is a serious weed, and there have been attempts to control itwith cinnabar moths sent from England (Imms 1947). Initially the moths did well but then slowly declined, reputedly dueto predation by birds. The bright colours of the larvae - which in England would be a warning to birds - were ignored andthe local birds gorged themselves until they couldn't fly! Another possible reason was that a native parasitoid of anindigenous moth also parasitised the cinnabar moths (Samways 1981). Another insect, the ragwort seed-fly, was also sentwith better success.Recorded in 98 % of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996), and widespread in Europe and western Asia.Senecio aquaticus. Marsh ragwort.Tetrads 33W, 42N and 43L (Hall 1980).Millbrook Farm area (43.29), 1994, SBRS (AK, AH, etc.). Amazingly rare for a plant ofwet acidic grasslands, but it does seem genuinely to be very scarce in this part of Sussex.Locally frequent in the Weald and along major river valleys in Sussex. Widespread inBritain, especially in the west, but decreasing probably due to drainage of wet meadows (Rich& Woodruff 1996). West, central and southern Europe.4 5Senecio erucifolius. Hoary ragwort.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Usually as scattered clumps on road verges and more frequent on clayey soils. OK iscareful not to pull this species when pulling common ragwort, and its apparent frequencycompared with common ragwort increases markedly during the flowering season as the3 ragwort is pulled up and eradicated!Common in Sussex. Widespread in lowland south-east England, and in Europe except inthe north and parts of the west. Also in western Asia.4 5*Senecio squalidus. Oxford ragwort.One plant near gate noted during the annual flower show at Lines Farm (444.344), 1995, PW,probably trampled to death later 'In the day unnoticed by the visitors!This plant was introduced to Oxford Botanic Gardens and escaped over the wall in 1794and onto the railway lines and spread through Britain very quickly, Salisbury (1961) noted3 that the spread was "markedly discontinuous with respect to the more remote infections,whilst at the same time spreading locally around each new station". It is mainly established inthe Brighton area in Sussex and is more scattered elsewhere.4 5 Widespread in lowland south-east England. It is an endemic of the mountains of centraland southern Europe.

1BBSenecio vulgaris. Groundsel.Car parks, gardens, occasionally as an arable weed, pavements, and road verges. Scatteredmainly around the edges of the Forest.Recorded in Sussex in 98% of the tetrads (Hall 1980). Ubiquitous in Britain, andwidespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa.Senecio sylvaticus. Heath groundsel.Tetrads 42N, 43G and 43R IHall 1980).Scattered in heathy areas on rides and the edges of tracks, mainly in the north~eastcorner of the Forest around Five Hundred Acre Wood, and sometimes locally abundant afterdisturbance le.g. Raven Wood 433.312, 1995, TR).3 -1--1-'''---""-----1--1- Like S. viscosus but with fewer glands which are often sticky, usually a taller plant, and4 5with short outer phyllaries usually less than 114 of the length of the inner ones, and minutelyhairy seeds ( x 20 lens); S. viscosus has outer phyllaries 1/3-1/2 as long as the inner ones andglabrous seeds. Dwarf plants should be carefully checked.Locally frequent on the Tunbridge Wells Sands in Sussex, and very much a calcifuge.Widespread in Britain and decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe and western Asia onsandy soils.*Senecio viscosus. Sticky groundsel.Tetrads 42Z and 43H IHal1 1980).We have a few scattered records; waste ground at Wych Cross Place (419.319 and419.3211. 1994/5, TR; one plant on set-aside land near Tile Barn Farm 1474.3361. 1993, PW;Poundgate 148.28), 1994, PW; disturbed soil on verge, Marden's Hill (499.325), 1993, TR; St3 --+-+----LJ- John's (50.311. 1993, ER, RN & NN. It is much rarer than S. sylvaticus and occurs insecondary habitats.This annual germinates in the spring and flowers in midsummer; seeds produced late inthe Season are often not viable (Salisbury 1964). It seems to be quite drought-tolerant and4 5often grows in bare, dry, open habitats.Scattered in Sussex and mainly associated with railways. Widespread in lowland Britain. Native in Asia Minor andcentral Europe but introduced to the north and west.Tussi/ago farfara. Colt's-foot.Widespread around the Forest usually on disturbed soils and verges.This species is a native of damp, calcareous soils in Britain, often associated with wetseepage zones and damp clays. It has been widely used as a medicinal plant for treatingasthma and has presumably become more widely introduced as a consequence (Clapham31953).4 5It is unusual in that it flowers very early in the year before the leaves are produced. Thecentre of the inflorescence contains 40-50 short male flowers surrounded by about 300longer female flowers; only the male flowers produce nectar and they open first whichminimises self-pollination. The cottony fruiting heads soon look tatty but the pappus is veryeffective in dispersing the seeds over long distances. The seeds are only viable for a couple of months and have togerminate and establish rapidly before the summer.Recorded in 91 % of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain and Europe, Asia and North Africa.Petasites hybridus. Butterbur.Above waterfall, Old Mill Farm 1487.3021. 1995, RN & ER. This is our onlv record and it wasnearly lost with the rest of the day's recording when RN's notebook slithered down the sheerside of the deep gorge; in true pioneer spirit she followed and recovered it at no small risk tolife and limb.3 ~-+--------'~- It is also scattered down the Medwav but under-recorded in Hall (1980). All the Sussex4 5plants seen are male and have spread vegetatively or and may have been planted for earlynectar for bees. The females mainly occur in central and northern England.Widespread in Europe, though as female plants are absent or rare it may have beenwidely introduced. North and west Asia.

*Petasites japonicus. Giant butterbur.Planted at Chelwood Vacherv in bog garden (42.29 and 43.29), but not vet naturalized.Native in eastern Asia.1894 5*Petasites fragrans. Winter heliotrope, SweetRscented coltsfoot.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered on and around the Forest usually near habitation. It spreads vegetatively andforms large patches, sometimes dominating verges for hundreds of yards as by HorncastleHouse (391.324), where it was recorded in 1945 by G. Dent. Some material in Forest Row3 was in flower as early as November in 1994 in the exceptionally mild winter.Scattered in Sussex and lowland Britain, again usually near habitation. Possibly native inthe central European region.4 5Bidens cernua. Nodding burRmarigold.,---;----===----" Forest Row, 1910, Miss P. Stockdale (BEX). Newbridge, 1965 (Bulletin Kent Field Club 11:27). Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980).One plant only recorded in the dried~up parts of the stream bed in Pippingford Park about3 ++------Y-100 metres south of Centre Bridge (449.316), HP, 1995.This species is typical of exposed muddy shores of ponds and lakes. It is an annual4 5which grows rapidly in the nutrient~rich conditions, and it flowers in late summer. The barbedfruits attached themselves readily to clothing and are difficult to remove.Locally abundant in lowland Britain. Widespread in Europe except the far north and muchof the Mediterranean, and in northern Asia,Bidens tripartita. Trifid bur~marigold.Newbridge, 1965 (Bulletin Kent Field Club 11: 27).Not refound. A species similar in ecology and habitat to B. cernua. Salisbury (1970) thought it was more common inacidic sandy areas than B. cernua, but this is not borne out in Hall (1980) where both species occur in similar places. It islocally abundant in lowland Britain, Europe and Asia.Eupatorium cannabinum. Hemp~agrimony.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered on roadsides, ditches and stream sides mainly on the south side of the Forest.It is very attractive to butterflies,Very common in Sussex in a range of habitats. It does not seem to have many ecologicallimitations in Britain, occurring on a wide range of soils and sites, It is widespread in Europe,Asia and North Africa.4 5ALlSMATACEAESagittaria sagittifolia. Arrowhead.Cackle Street, 1933, G. Dent (Dent 1928-1953). Tetrad 43V (Hall 1980), possiblV planted.One Sagittaria plant, possibly S. sagittifolia, was discovered introduced with other aquatics to a pond on the golfcourse, Forest Row (436.342), 1995, PW, and was destroyed the same day when the pond was cleared out.Common along the main river courses in Sussex and their associated ditch systems but rare elsewhere.Widespread in lowland Britain, and in Europe except for the northern and southern extremities. Asia.

190*Sagittaria latifolia. Duck-potato.Probably introduced with other aquatics, Ellison's Pond (462.288), from where it hasbeen known since 1985, AH.It has been introduced to several European countries, and is naturalized in a fewsites in southern Britain but does not seem to spread far from the initial sites. It is3 widespread as a native in wetlands in the Americas, and American Indians once used thestarchy tubers for food.4 5Alisma plantago-aquatica. Water-plantain.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).A few scattered records in ponds around the Forest but not found in the moreacidic, nutrient-poor water.It is a widespread and very characteristic species of damp mud and shallow water3 --++---------'+- throughout the British Isles in lakes and ponds, rivers, streams and ditches. It tends togrow in open vegetation and is an early colonist of new sites. It grows especially well innutrient-rich water. In water over 65 cm deep it apparently survives vegetatively but willnot flower. The flowers are reputed to open in the afternoon.4 5It is widespread in Sussex and is native in temperate Europe and Asia.[Alisma lanceolatum. Narrow-leaved water-plantain.Once recorded in the Botanist's Pocket Book for Ashdown Forest (Wolley-Dod 1937) but not seen in our survey.Given the frequency with which it is confused with juvenile A. plantago-aquatica and its rarity in acidic water, theoriginal record must be in some doubt.It grows in similar places to A. plantago-aquatica but is generally much less common and certainly so in Sussex.It is widespread but uncommon in southern Britain, and widespread in Europe except the north. Also in western Asiaand North Africa.]Damasonium alisma. Starfruit.Ashdown Forest, New Botanist's Guide (Arnold 1887) but now long extinct.This is a Red Data Book species which used to occur on the drying mud around ponds where they were keptopen and trampled by cattle. It is no longer to be found anywhere in Sussex, and is extremely rare in England.Birkinshaw (1994) has reviewed its conservation in western Europe, and steps are being taken to conserve it in itsfew remaining sites in Surrey and Buckinghamshire; no plants were seen in Britain in 1995 (Rich et al. 1995).It occurs in western, southern and south-east Europe, Asia and North Africa, with England being its northernlimit.HYDROCHARITACEAE*Stratiotes aloides. Water soldier.Ponds in Pippingford Park at 448.299, 1995, TR and 444.301, 1993, SBRS, a deliberateintroduction in both cases.This aquatic species is noted for the unusual way in which it spends the autumnand winter submerged, and then rises to the surface in the spring and summer, but the3 --++----:~-----'-+- mechanism for this has never been satisfactorily explained (Sculthorpe 1967). Therosettes put out shoots which form little rosettes at their tips, and it can rapidly grow tofill a pond. !t is dioecious but rarely seems to flower in Britain and fruit set has not beenobserved (Mountford 1994). Fema!e plants are reputed to dominate in Britain and the4 5northern part of its range, and male plants mainly dominate in the south, but the sexesoverlap in the middle part of its range.As a native in Britain it is now largely confined to the Norfolk Broads and is a Nationally Scarce Species(Mountford 1994). In Sussex it could be native on Pevensey and Lewes levels. It has been introduced to manyplaces in the Midlands and the south-east. Widespread in Europe though rarer in the west and south, and in northwesternAsia.

*E1odea canadensis. Canadian waterweed, Canadian pondweed.We have two records from small ponds in Pippingford Park at 444.301, 1993 and448.299, 1995, both SBRS, and both obviously introduced wite other aquatics. It doesnot grow well in acidic, nutrient-poor water which may explain its absence from theForest.3 First recorded in Britain in 1836, and one of the earliest aquatic aliens to beintroduced into Britain from North America. It is locally frequent in Sussex, and is nowrelatively common in Britain (Simpson 1984) and naturalized world-wide.4 5191*E1odea nuttallii. Nuttall's waterweed.We have records from ponds in the Forest Row area, a new pond near Pound gate(484.2881, 1994, SBRS, and new pond west of Old Mill House (482.3031, 1995, TR. Itis significantly more common in the Forest area than E. canadensis but has also not beenreported previously.3 -++-~~~-""'-+- Both Elodea nuttal/Ii' and E. canadensis show a wide range of variation which is4 5mainly due to the growth conditions (Simpson 1988). Only female plants of both speciesare present, and in the summer, pink flowers on long stalks can dot the water surface.E. nuttallii can be easily distinguished as the narrower leaves curl backwards like an armtwisted behind a back.This is a more recent introduction to Britain than the last species, having been first recorded in 1966. It isscattered in Sussex and is increasingly common in England (Rich & Woodruff 1995) and scattered in Scotland, Walesand Ireland. A native of North America.* Lagarosiphon major. Curly waterweed.Pond on the edge of the golf course at Forest Row (436.342), 1993, TR; pond inPippingford Park (450.298), 1992, PW; Ellison's Pond 1462.288), 1993, TR.It is more common now than as noted in the Sussex Plant At/as. A native of SouthAfrica, commonly used by aquarists and increasingly naturalized in England (Rich &3 Woodruff 1995). Also naturalized in a few European countries.Readily distinguished from the Elodea species by its larger size and spirally arrangedleaves (whorled in Elodea).4 5APONOGETONACEAE* Aponogeton distachyos. Cape-pondweed.Hall 119801 gives a pond at Nutley (42N) as the only Sussex locality for this plant.We have four records. One of these is from the same tetrad as Hall's record but thesite, a dammed stream near Lower Misbourne Farm (456.272:1 is not a pond and therecord may have been from Boringwheel Mill pond to which we have not had access. It3 'IS well-established in the main lakes at Pippingford, where it was probably planted but isnow naturalized, 1993 +, SBRS.4 5A native of South Africa, frequently planted in ponds and naturalized in scatteredlocalities in Britain.JUNCAGINACEAETriglochin pa/ustre. Marsh arrowgrass.On the bogs on Ashdown Forest, not uncommon (Forster 1816; no specimen in BM).This species of wet grassland, ditches and heathland flushes has not been recorded again, and we wonder if theoriginal record was correct though it is difficult to see with what it can have been confused. It is a very uncommonplant in Sussex, but has been recorded on St Leonard's_ Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread in Britain but commonest in the north and west, and in Europe except the Mediterranean region. Italso occurs in North Africa, northern Asia, North and South America and Greenland.POTAMOGETONACEAEThe monograph of the British species by Preston 11995) is now the standard guide but was not published until we hadfinished our survey! It might have helped to clarify some of the problems we have had distinguishing plants of P.natans and P. polygonifo/r"us from dried-up ponds during the 1995 drought.

192Potamogeton natans. Broad-leaved pondweed.,--;---===-----;-, Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Common in suitable habitats during our survey, occurring generally in deeper waterin the bigger ponds and lakes and often forming large patches by itself. It tends to occurin open water but will persist in ponds for some time 85 they become grown over andshaded. It has a broad range of water tolerance from nutrient-poor to nutrient-richconditions. One cattle trough on The Farm (393.329), 1995, TR, had a good patchgrowing well in clean tap water. It is also planted in some ponds, as in new ponds inPipping ford Park.4 5Widespread in Sussex except the west, and throughout the northern hemisphere.Potamogeton po/ygonifolius. Bog pondweed.Ashdown Forest, abundant, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Ashdown Forest IWhitwell 1902).Pools on Ashdown Forest near Gills Lap, etc. (Done 1914). Six tetrad records for theForest (Hall 1980).It occurs in the smaller flushes and shallow ponds on acidic soils, and has evenbeen seen in a dried-up, shaded stream in South bank Wood (433.315), 1995, TR.Although associated particularly with more acidic habitats, it is less common on theForest than the previous species, presumably because it has more specialised4 5requirements.It is occasional in the Weald. Common throughout Britain, and mainly in westernand central Europe. It also occurs in north-western Africa and eastern North America.Potamogeton berchtoldii. Small pondweed.Recorded in the pond near Newgale Farm, 1988, PW (confirmed by E. G. Philp) which isthe record in Briggs (1990).Not present in 1994, but refound again in abundance around the margins in 1995after the pond had been opened up. Some plants had unusually wide leaves (2.2 - 2.43 mm) which were at or slightly beyond the widest value (2.3 mm) given in Preston(1995). Waterfowl were observed to eat it.Occasional in Sussex. Scattered throughout Britain and much of the northern4 5hemisphere ill a broad rallge of aquatic habitats and water quality conditions.ARACEAE*Lysichiton americanus. American skunk-cabbage.Planted and spreading in Maskett's Wood (428.285L 1995, Flora meeting; planted atChelwood Vachery in bog garden (429.296), 1994, MR, PR & TR; spreading downstream at Kidbrooke 1420.345), 1995, TR.Introduced and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in western3 North America where it grows in similar boggy, wet woodlands.4 5* Calla palustris. Bog arum.] -++_----'iL-----'-+_Planted in pond in Pippingford Park (444.301), 1993, SBRS; one plant in iron flush inshaded alder wood at Newbridge (455.323), 1993, PD & TR, presumably spread downthe stream from Pippingford Park. This is the first naturalized record for East Sussex.Occasionally naturalized in Britain and Ireland. Native in Europe, North Asia andNorth America.4 5

Arum maculatum. Lords~and~ladies, Cuckoo pint, Lily grass, Small dragon, Great dragon, Ram's horn, Wake Robin,Schoolmaster.Recorded widely around the Forest in hedges, woodland, gardens and road verges,usually on the richer soils,Recorded in 92% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain andreaching its northern limit in southern Scotland. Western, central and southern Europe,and North Africa.1934*Arum italicum subsp. italicum. Italian lords-and-Iadies.Several clumps established in lane east of ford at Oldlands Farm {476.2681, leaping offdown lane from the farm garden, 1995, TR & PA; one plant in hedge by Duddleswellcross-roads {471 .2881. 1995, RN & ER.Subsp. italicum is increasing as a garden escape in England (Rich & Woodruff3 -++------Lj- 1996), and is native in southern and western Europe and North Africa. None of thenative 5ubsp. neglectum has been found, and would probably not be expected (Prime,Buckle & Lovis 1955).4 5LEMNACEAE* Spirode/a po/yrhiza. Greater duckweed.A few plants in a new pond in Pippingford Park {448.2991, 1995, TR, where it wasprobably an accidental introduction w'lth other aquatics,Locally abundant in rivers, ditches and ponds in Sussex, especially on the grazingmarshes of areas such as Pevensey and Lewes, and locally distributed in lowland Britain,3 Widespread in Europe except the extreme north and south, and many other places in theworld.4 5Lemna minor. Common duckweed.Common on the Forest {Hall 19801.Scattered mainly around the edges of the Forest, in small flushes, open and shadedponds, and in the Medway. This is our commonest duckweed, as it is in Britain.It is widespread in Sussex in a wide range of aquatic habitats and a range of water3 -++---~--'+- conditions. L minor is able to grow optimally at lower levels of phosphate in the waterthan the other duck weeds, whilst L minuta is able to grow at lower nitrogenconcentrations (Lound 1980), It occurs throughout lowland Britain and Europe,4 5Lemna trisu/ca, Ivy-leaved duckweed.,----,-==---'--,-----, Tetrad 43 B (H a 11 1980).Pond at Ridge Road (446.328), 1993, TR, but not seen in 1995.This submerged duckweed is quite shade-tolerant, often growing under otherfloating aquatics and may- not be noticed unless fished out with a grapnel or stick, It is3 -++---------'_+_locally distributed in Sussex, and widespread in lowland Britain and Europe, It iscosmopolitan except for the polar regions and the tropics,4 5

194*Lemna minuta (L. minuscula), Least duckweed.Pond south of Nutley 1447.2631, 1993, MM; Marlpits pond (467.263), 1993, TR & NM;pond in Furnace Wood (476.2601, 1995, TR; pulled up on grapnel with Callitriche fromRiver Medway (443.3491, 1995, AK & TR, but only noticed when we tried to identify theCallitriche at home!3 ++-------L.f- This species was first recognised in Britain in 1977 (Leslie & Waiters 1983), and hasdefinitely been spreading ever since and was not just overlooked. It was not recorded inHall 11980) and only a few times in Briggs (19901, but has continued to spread since. Itis now widespread in southern Britain. Native in North and South America.4 5JUNCACEAEJunCU5 squarrosus. Heath rush, Goose corn.On Ashdown Forest, not common IColeman 1836). Near Pipping ford, 1904, J. Stirling(TLS). Thinly scattered on Ashdown, near Gills Lap, etc. (Done 1914). Forest nearPippingford, J. Stirling; Ashdown Forest, locally common, A. H. Wolley-Dod (Wolley-Dod1937). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widely distributed on rides, acidic grassland and wet patches on heath land, tolerantof grazing and trampling. It is a very characteristic heathland species.This species keeps its place in the vegetation by forcing its leaves outwards anddown, pushing its competitors out of the way. The patches slowly increase in size andeventually form rings as they decay in the centre. At King's Standing it is frequent intrampled areas near the car park, forming small patches and decaying rings mostly up to 20 cm diameter.Widespread in northern and western Britain, and on the heaths in East Anglia, the Weald, Surrey and the NewForest. Central, western and north-west Europe, Greenland and North Africa.*Juncus tenuis (J. macer). Slender rush.Newbridge, near Coleman's Hatch, Miss K. Pickard; near Old Mill, Crowborough Warren,T. Hilton; near Maynard's Gate, A. H. WoIJey-Dod; in two spots near Wych Cross, A. H.Wolley-Dod (Wolley-Dod 1937), and described as rare but spreading. Abundant on paths,Hindleap Warren and Broadstone Warren, 1948, R. A. Boniface. Frequent on the Forest(Hall 1980).Widely distributed on tracks, around car parks and especially on rides in woodlands,often in damp, shaded situations but also sometimes in dry, open places. Its spreadseems to be especially associated with forestry operations.Becoming widespread in Britain, especially in the north and west, and naturalized innorthern, western and central Europe. It is native in North and South America.Juncus bufonius sensu stricto. Toad rush.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Common everywhere on rides, pond edges, damp patches, disturbed clayey ground,car parks and sometimes road gutters.It mainly grows on open mud of pH 4-5, but will grow on other soils too, with an3estimated seed output of 13-15 million seeds per square metre (Salisbury 1970). It isone of the most widespread mud species, almost cosmopolitan, and increasing in England(Rich & Woodruff 1996).4 5Juncus articulatus (J. lampocarpus). Jointed rush.Ashdown Forest (Done 1914). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread but not common on the Forest, usually on open sides of streams andponds where the vegetation is slightly open, sometimes on woodland rides in unshadedplaces.Widespread in Britain and Europe, and in the northern hemisphere.This species and J. acutiflorus can be difficult to distinguish until in fruit (Rich &Rich 1988). J. articulatus has blackish fruits with a distinct point (acumen) at the tip. J.acutiflorus has brownish fruits which taper to the tip.

Juncus x surrejanus (J. acutiflorus X articulatusj.Local in flushes often near both parents; the predominance of records on the west side ofthe Forest may reflect areas botanised intensively by TR who specifically looked for thehybrid.Widely scattered in Britain and probably much overlooked. The inflorescences are3 intermediate between the parents, but some plants have large diffuse panicles; for detailssee Rich & Rich (1988).1954 5Juncus acutiflorus. Sharp-flowered rush.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread and more common on the Forest than J. articulatus, but nationallyprobably less common. It usually occurs in flushes and wet grassland, and sometimes onwet heath mixed in amongst the Molinia in quite acidic soils. Sparse patches can also befound in open woodland and mixed with J. effusus in flushes.Widespread in Britain. Western, southern and central Europe, and western NorthAmerica.Juncus bulbosus. Bulbous rush.Ashdown Forest, 1895, T. Hilton (BTNI. Bogs around Crowborough (Done 1914). On abog between Hartfield and Forest Row, as var. uliginosus, E. Forster (Wolley-Dod 19371.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Frequent in deep and shallow water and sometimes in muddy patches on rides, amarked calcifuge. The flowering heads often have small plantlets mixed with flowers.Common in northern and western Britain, less frequent in the south-east.Widespread in Europe except the south-east; North Africa and North America.Juncus inf/exus. Hard rush.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered around the Forest, often on imported soils in and around the car parks.Most frequent on clays, and apparently somewhat calcicolous.Common on heavy soils in Sussex. Widespread in Britain and Europe north tosouthern Scotland and southern Sweden. Also in Asia and North Africa.Juncus ettusus. Soft rush.Common on the Forest (Hall 19801.Recorded in every square. Frequent in wet trampled areas as near King's Standing,and in damp pastures and flushes. It is also characteristic of steep flushes in openwoodland where it forms large patches in the wettest areas. Plants can also be found3sparsely along the sides of streams in woodland, and occasionally in the wet iron flushes.It is unpalatable to stock and has largely been eradicated from meadows 'In the area 'Inwhich it must have once been abundant.4 5 About five plants with loose spiral shoots (the twists completing their turns every14-15 cm or so, with 3-4 full turns) were found on a track near a hut in South bank Wood(433.312) in 1995 by TR; the plants may be referred to corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus L. forma spiralis (J. McNablHegi) but were more or less upright and not spreading at the base as described for other plants (Henderson 1992;Nelson 1993; Preston 19941. Plants showing this tendency are not uncommon (e.g. 430.305, PWI. This taxon ispredominantly found on the west coast of Scotland, and also in Ireland and Wales, with an outlying record fromFrensham Pond in Surrey - it may be more widespread.Throughout Britain. Widespread in Europe, except the Arctic, and the north and south temperate lanes.

196Juncus conglomeratus. Compact rush.Common on the Forest (Hall 19S0).Recorded throughout the Forest except for three of the marginal squares. It is moretypical of the heath lands than J. effusus.Widespread in Sussex, Throughout Britain but less common than J. effusus, andusually somewhat more calcifuge. Widespread in Europe, also found in Asia, North Africaand eastern North America.Luzula forsteri. Forster's wood-rush.Tetrads 33V, 42T and 43L (Hall 19S0), refound in the latter two.Verge near Co}eman's Hatch church (449.33S), 1995, PW; locally abundant on lanenorth-west of Hart's Farm (455.33S-459.334), 1995, TR,. PW; verge outsideBoringwheel Mill (456.263), pH 7.4, 1994, SBRS; banks in coppice woodland, Toll Lane3 --r+----~'+- (462.263), pH 4.9, 1993, TR & NM; south bank of lane near Furnace Wood (472.264),1995, TR; Verge near Hoadley's Farm (50S.324), 1993, PW. It typically occurs on partlyshaded, sandy I dry banks and in sunken lanes.Widespread in the Weald, its main stronghold in Britain, and also around London and45in south-west England. In Britain it tends to occur on dry banks with weakly acidic tocalcareous, free-draining soils. It is widespread in southern, southern-central and western Europe, the Middle East andNorth Africa and reaches the northern limit of its distribution in England.It is a very variable species in Europe and local populations in Spain and the Caucasus are often recognised assubspecies; these may have spread from refugia areas in the post-glacial period. L. forsteri was described from Britainand our plant is subsp. forsteri.Luzula >< barreri (L. forsteri >< pi/asa).Tetrad 42E (Hall 19S0).We found the hybrid twice, in both cases with the parents: verge outsideBoringwheel Mill (456.2631, 1994, SBRS; old bank in coppice woodland, Toll Lane(462.2631, 1993, TR & NM. Some plants on the lane north-west of Hart's Farm3 (455.33S) may also be hybrid.This hybrid is intermediate between the parents but shows hybrid vigour and usuallyproduces 0-1 (-2) seeds per capsule (see Rich & Rich 1988).4 5 Quite rare in Sussex but probablY overlooked to some extent, but recordedoccasionally where the parents meet. A record of the hybrid from Ireland (where L.forsteri does not occur) is based on a specimen of L. pi/osa in CGE.Luzu/a pilosa. Hairy wood-rush.Common on the Forest (Hall 19S0).It occurs mainly around the edge of the Forest in the older woodlands and in thecentre is mainly confined to the river valleys; absent from the open, heathy areas. Mostof the populations are small, but very locally it may be abundant. It is an evergreenspecies, typically found often on steep banks and in damp shady places where it will notbe covered by leaves during the winter.It is widespread in the Weald on acidic or neutral soils, and is also widespread inBritain but is oddly rare in Ireland. Widespread in Europe and east to the Caucasus andSiberiaLuzula sylvatica. Great wood-rush.Friar's Gate, C. E. Britten; wood west of Crowborough, R. A. Boniface {Wolley-Dod1937}. Tetrads 42E, 43R and 538 (Hall 19S0).One clump c. 50 cm across in open woodland by path in Broadstone Warren(422.324), 1994, TR; lane north-west of Hart's Farm (45S.335), scattered down the3 --r+----------'_f_ river banks from Peculiar's Farm (457.330) to Pooh Sticks Bridge (471.33SI, 1995, TR etal.; steep river bank, Cow Field (495.319), 1995, Flora meeting; stream near Half Moonpub (499.334), 1987, PW & RW; stream near Oak Plat (49S.335) and downstream,1995, TR & PA; outside southern wall of St John's church (503.317), 1993, RN, NN &4 5ER.This species is palatable and is rapidly eliminated from grazed areas, hence its rarity on the Forest. It isevergreen in the lowlands and may suffer from grazing most during the winter when there is little else for animals toeat. Most of our localities are on steep, inaccessible sides of streams where it is protected from hungry stock by

fences or topography. It may dominate the woodland floor vegetation in the older woodlands, and the isolated clumpin Broadstone Warren is presumably a recent colonist.Very locally frequent in the Weald, especially in rocky woodlands and on acidic soils, but surely not on heaths assuggested by Hall (1980), It is commonest in northern and western Britain and grows at high altitude in the Scottishmountains, usually on ungrazed ledges but also sometimes on open, grazed hillsides where the patches increasevegetatively but rarely flower. It is widespread in southern, central and western Europe occurring mainly in themountains in the eastern part of its range, and occurs in Asia Minor.197Luzula campestris. Field wood-rush, EasterMgrass, Good Friday grass.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread in virtually every square on the Forest. It forms patches in short,unimproved, neutral and acidic grassland, on verges, playing fields, golf course fairways,and especially in lawns. The patches slowly increase in size and eventually the centresmay die leaving a ring. It flowers from March onwards, hence the name EasterMgrass,and often occurs with Carex caryophyllea, but is very difficult to find by midsummer asthe leaves die down until the autumn. It is very tolerant of mowing and grazing and isoften frequent in mossy, heavily rabbit-grazed areas.Common and widespread in Sussex and Britain. Widespread in Eurasia, and in themountains of tropical Africa.Luzula multiflara sensu lata. Many-flowered woodMrush.In Britain L. multitlora s.l. is usually considered to consist of L. multitlora and L. congesta. L. congesta is an octoploidwhich is often treated as an infraspecific taxon of L. multiflora in Britain but it appears to have been misunderstooddue to poor characters being given in the floras (Kirschner & Rich 1993). The two species can be separated asfollows:L. multif/ora fEhrh.) Lej. subsp. multiflora: Inflorescences usually pedunculate. Anthers as long as, or up to two timeslonger than the filaments. Seeds oblong-ovoid, 0.9-1.1 (-1.2) mm long, usually 0.8 mm wide.L. congesta (Thuill.) Lej.: Inflorescence congested, some of the clusters may be pedunculate. Anthers as long as thefilaments. Seeds ovoid, 1.2-1.5 mm long, 0.9-1.0 mm wide.All records for the segregates have been determined by TR from seed measurements. Records for the aggregate areeither of vegetative plants or from other recorders.L. multif/ora subsp. multiflora is much rarer on the Forest and tends to occur on bare mineral soils in the open asaround Gills Lap. It is widespread in Europe, and is itself a complex species in Europe represented by a range ofmorphologically and/or karyologically distinct populations at various ploidy levels. A hexaploid cytotype (subsp.mu/tit/ora) occurs in continental Europe and Britain in a range of habitats from the lowlands to the mountains, mostlyin meadows and mesophilous woodlands. In geographically or ecologically marginal regions, diploid and tetraploidpopulations can be found, and a new tetraploid has recently been found in Ireland (Kirschner & Rich 1993, 1996).L. congesta is common on rides, in wet heaths and bogs, open woodland, and damp grassland on AshdownForest, and seems to be the common widespread plant of most of Sussex. It is an endemic of western Europe. Itoften occurs on peaty organic soils.L. mu/tit/ora s.l. is common in the Weald in damp acidic habitats and is widespread in Britain.Luzula mu/t1'f/ora 5.1.L. mu/tit/ora subsp. multif/oraMany-flowered wood-rushL. congestaClustered wood-rush.3 -++--'L~_--'-+-4 5

198CYPERACEAEEriophorum angustifolium. Common cottongrass.Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Found in bogs on the Forest in summer(Firmin 18901. On the Forests around Crawbaraugh (Done 19141. Near Rifle Butts,Forest Row, Miss P. Stockdale (a specimen in BEX is labelled East Grinstead, September1913 but presumably relates to this site); Ashdown Forest, Miss K. Pickard; near PoundGate, A. H. Wallev-Dad and A. G. Gregar (WalleV-Dad 19371. Baggv heath(and,4 5Ashdawn Forest, 1940, D. P. Young IBM). Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread on the boggy, open parts of the Forest but rarely common and oftenvegetative. It is often found in the wetter boggy pools amongst other vegetation on wetpeaty soils. It can be quite difficult to see as the leaves often go reddish and blend inwith the Sphagnum. As it can become dominant when grazed in bogs elsewhere in Britain, it may have been morewidespread formerly than now.Common in north and western Britain and often dominant on blanket bog vegetation which is either overgrazedor burnt, but less frequent in the south and east. Widespread in Europe but rare in the south. Also in the Arcticregions of North America and Greenland.Eriophorum vaginatum. Hare's~tail cottongrass.Ashdawn Forest, A. H. Wallev-Dad IWallev-Dad 1937; no specimen in BM). As reported in Rose (1995), it used tooccur in several places on the Forest (FR has never seen it on Ashdown Forest). It is likely to have been in wet, open,acidic heathland on peat, possibly with E. angustifo/ium.Widespread in north and western Britain, with a number of localities on Lower Greensand wet heaths in WestSussex and Surrey and formerly reaching its south~eastern limit at Broadwater and Ashdown Forests, but now extinctin East Sussex. A plant introduced to Hothfield Common in Kent has survived for many years (Philp 1982). Northern,north~east and central Europe.Trichophorum cespitosum subsp. germanicum (Scirpus caespitosus). Deergrass.On Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). On the Forests, very common, E. Jenner (Arnold1887). Ashdawn Forest near Gills Lap IDane 1914). Ashdawn Forest, TWNH(presumablv the same record as 1932, G. E. Shaw, TLS); near Paundgate, A. G. GregarIWallev-Dad 19371. Frequent on the Forest (Hall 19801.Locally frequent on the Forest, the yellowish tufts standing out in late autumn. Itoccurs on wet heaths and along the sides of small paths through the heath, usually ondamp peaty soils. A good place to see it in abundance is north of Poundgate car park(483.286). This species is often frequent along paths and tracks where soil compactionby trampling results in low aeration of the soil (Rod well 1991).Ashdown Forest and the Lower Greensand heaths of West Sussex are its mainheadquarters in Sussex. It is widespread in northern and western Britain and locally distributed on acidic peaty soils inthe south-east. This subspecies occurs in western Europe, whilst subsp. caespitosus is more widespread but has notbeen confirmed in Britain. The species is also recorded in the Himalaya, North America and Greenland.E1eocharis palustris. Common spike-rush.Ashdawn Forest (Farster 1816). Tetrads 33V, 42N and 43K (Hall 1980).Very local on the edges of ponds around Kidbrooke, Chelwood Vachery andPippingford Park and Ridge Road. The few natural populations which have beenexamined have been subsp. vulgaris (e.g. pond on Ridge Road, pond in Mill Wood), and3 seem to be this uniformly.Plants in the ornamental pond bV Old lands Hall (476.2751, 1995, TR et al. havemany smaller flowers with glumes 2.7-3.5 mm, and are subsp. palustris (confirmed by S.M. Waiters); these could have been introduced with other pond plants such as the water4 5 lilies but we have not been able to visit the adjacent lakes to see what grows there.This was the first confirmed East Sussex record; a second site at the Tidemills between Newhaven and Seaford hasrecently been found.Scattered in Sussex, and widespread in northern temperate regions.E1eocharis quinqueflora (Scirpus pauciflorus). Few-flowered spike-rush.On the Forests, here and there, E. Jenner lAma Id 18871; on a bog on the Forest near Quabraak, between Hartfieldand Forest Row, E. Farster IBM; Wallev-Dad 19371.This species of open calcareuous or basic flushing has not been refound and is presumed extinct, Quabrookhaving been drained many years ago. It is also extinct in Sussex. Locally distributed in Britain, most commonly inScotland. Found in much of Europe but rare in the south. Also found in temperate Asia, North America andGreenland.

Eleocharis multicaulis. Many-stalked spike-rush_Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 18361. Ashdown Forest, 1895, T. Hilton (BTN).Forest Row and Ashdown Forest, W. Borrer (Wollev-Dod 19371. Near Nutlev, 1957, R.A. Boniface (BRC). Tetrads 42J, 42N, 43F and 43M (Hall 1980).Very local on the wet heathy and peaty parts of Ashdown Fores( usually on soilskept open by trampling or disturbance. It also grows on the edges of the smallheathland ponds in Pippingford Park. It is often associated with Drosera spp. and4 5Rhynchospora.Locally distributed in Britain, most commonly in western Scotland. A calcifuge ofwestern North Africa and predominantly western Europe.Scirpus sylvaticus. Wood clubrush.Tetrads 42N, 42T, 43L, 43M and 43R (Hall 1980).Locallv frequent on the north side of the Forest (as found bV Hall) usuallv in dampflushes, ponds and by streams and rivers. It is quite palatable and the flowering headsare often eaten off, presumably by deer.3 Scattered in lowland Britain with the main headquarters being the Weald, where it iswidespread. Most of Europe but rare in the Mediterranean region.1994 5*Schoenoplectus lacustris (Scirpus lacustris). Common club-rush.One clump planted in pond in a Pippingford Park (444.303), PW. 1995.Locally distributed in Sussex but nearly absent from the High Weald. An emergentaquatic of ponds, rivers and lakes throughout Britain and Europe, Widespread in theworld,3 -1-+-----''"-------'--1-4 5Isolepis setacea (Scirpus setaceus). Bristle club-rush.Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). On the Forests, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887),Ashdown Forest, 1901, T. Hilton (BTN; Wollev-Dod 19371. Five tetrads on the Forest(Hall 1980).Very locally scattered on rides and in open,. damp flushes; there may be morearound but it is so inconspicuous we would not be surprised if it has been overlooked,This species is widespread and increasing in Britain (Rich & Woodruff 1990), Mostof Europe except the north-east, temperate Asia and North Africa.4 5Eleogiton f/uitans (Scirpus f/uitans). Floating spike-rush.Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Pond on the Forest, near Wvch Cross(Whitwell 1902). Ashdown Forest near Nutlev (Done 19141. Chelwood Common, MissM. Cobbe (Wollev-Dod 1937). Near Nutlev, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRCI. Five tetrads onthe Forest (Hall 1980).3 It was found in nine 1-km squares during our survey, It is sometimes abundant, asin a small pond near Goat crossroads (401.326), 1995, AK, where many hundreds ofplants were present in very shallow water and on wet mud as the water level fell in the4 5 summer heat. S'lmilar behaviour was seen in a pond in Kidbrooke Park (418.339), 1995,TR. A patch in the training pond on Pippingford Park (455.310),1987, SBRS, did notlast for long when the Army started training in it!It is a plant of base-poor water and is rather uncommon nationally, occurring mainly in the north and west andaround the New Forest but with a number of sites in Sussex and Surrey. Because of its grass-like appearance it canbe easily overlooked but the rather characteristic pale green colour and somewhat limp appearance allow it to bepicked out once it is known.The distribution in Sussex is concentrated around Ashdown Forest and south of Crawley. Widespread in Britainbut rare in the south-east. Western and western-central Europe.

200*Cyperus longus. Galingale.A couple of plants introduced with other aquatics to a pond on the golf course, ForestRow (436.3421 and rather eaten by deer, 14 August 1995, TR. The very next daydiscovered quite independently by PW I just as a bulldozer was clearing out the pond; it3 -+-1-----'--1-survived, but looked even worse for wear.As a native this plant is confined to a few marshes and wet pastures near the southand west coasts between Anglesey and Chichester. It is widely available from garden4 5centres and has been introduced to many ponds in southern England (Stewart, Pearman& Preston 1994), It is native in southern, central and western Europe, north to southernEngland. It also occurs in Asia and North Africa.Rhynchospora alba. White beak-sedge.Ashdown Forest, 1805, E. Forster (Wolley-Dod 19371. On all the bogs of AshdownForest (Forster 18161. On the great bogs of Ashdown (Cooper 18351. Forest Bogs onAshdown Forest (Coleman 18361. Near Mareslield, 1852, W. C. Unwin (Wolley-Dod19371. Near Forest Row (Deakin 18711. Ashdown Forest, W. Borrer (Arnold 18871.3 -++-''"-:..-I--r-l- Ashdown Forest near Nutley, July 1889, Nutley, Dr Trentler (BTNI. Ashdown Forest,4 51901, T. Hilton (BTNI. Ashdown Forest (Whitwell 1902). Bog on Ashdown Forest nearLutby (Done 19141. Ashdown Forest, 1932, L. M. Child (TLSI. Bog near DuddleswellToll Gate, E. Jenner; near Forest Row, E. Jenner; Chuck Hatch, rare, Miss K, Pickard;Ashdown Forest, A. H. Wolley-Dod (Wolley-Dod 19371. Frequent in bogs at Kidbrookeand east of Broadstone Warren, 1948, and near Nutley, 1957, R. A. Bonilace (BRCI. South of Chuck Hatch, 1950s,FR. Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980), the only East Sussex sites.Very restricted and localised on the centre of the Forest, usually in wet, acid peaty places where the peat islightly disturbed. It often grows with Drosera spp. and Eleocharis multicaulis. The sites are as follows: hundreds ofplants on trampled ride east of Isle of Thorns (423.303), 1993, AK; ride north-east of Millbrook Farm (438.292),1994, PW; Millbrook (442.2931, 1993, AFRR; flushes north-east of Ashdown Forest Centre (439.329, 441.327,441.325,443.3281, 1993-1995, NM, AK, PW, etc.; Misbourne, two patches in valley bog at 451.275, and at455.278 and 457.274,1993+, PW, NM et al.; west of Ellison's Pond (461.289), 1986, PW; small patch in bog andodd ones near pond east of Old Lodge (468.2981 and to north (465.301, 468.3041, 1988-1993 +, PW; north ofPoundgate (478.288 to 480.2871, 1993, AFRR; boggy area by ride south of New Pond Cottages (481.293), 1995,RN & ER. Also seen at 422.307,443.332,439.291 and 449.289, 1990-1991, FR.Very rare in West Sussex on the Lower Greensand but common in the New Forest and at Wool mer in Hampshire.Locally distributed in Britain, most common in western Scotland, Most of Europe except the Mediterranean region andthe south-east, and found in North America.Carex. Sedges.Full details of this large genus can be found in the BSBI Sedge handbook (Jermy et al. 19821.Carex paniculata. Greater tussock-sedge.In some of the bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836), Plentiful in a bog south ofColeman's Hatch (Done 19141. Ashdown Forest, Miss K. Pickard (Wolley-Dod 1937).Tetrads 42N, 43L, 43M and 43R (Hall 19801.Most frequent in the Newbridge-Pippingford area, and a few plants near Old Lodge3 -++---"""''"---'--1- and in the wet woodlands by Pooh Bridge. The extensive stands at Newbridge Bog inthe alder coppice grow in a thick iron 'soup', Where the coppice is very dense the plantscan no longer stand the shade, stop flowering and produce few and fewer leaves untilthe tussocks die; the dead tussocks remain under the alders for some years like little4 5gravestones. However, after coppicing of the alders in 1994, seed germinated inabundance in the open areas, and plants flowered from their second year. The development of the inflorescence atNewbridge is very variable; inflorescences may be dense or lax in the open and sparse in shade, branched qr simple,usually without but sometimes with bracts, and the fruits can be broad or quite narrow.Very locally frequent in Sussex in the Weald. Widespread in lowland Britain often in peaty, medium-rich,seasonally wet soils. Fairly widespread in Europe, Caucasus and western North Africa.Carex x boenninghausiana (C. paniculata x remota).Newbridge Bog, P. C. Hall (Hall 19801. Searched for in 1994 and not found but as manyof the big Carex tussocks were not flowering in the woodland due to dense shade itwould have been very difficult to spot; it could still survive.One large plant was found in amongst C. remota in an alder flush in Pippingford3 Park just south-east of the Centre Bridge (451.3161, 1995, SBRS/Kent Field Clubmeeting, although there was no C. paniculata anywhere near (confirmed A. O. Chater);the plant looks like C. paniculata but has narrower leaves and long bracts.4 5

A hybrid first described by Col em an (1849). Scattered throughout Britain where the parents meet but not common,and quite rare in Sussex, Frequent in Europe.Carex x ludibunda (C. panicu/ata x curta),A single tuft was found at Newbridge Bog by FR and J. R. Warlis in 1944 and was tentatively identified by E. Nelmesbut the specimen was lost (Hall 1980); the herbarium specimen has recently been refound and confirmed by A. O.Chater (Rose 1995). It was searched for at Newbridge in 1994 and 1995, but was not refound.A rare hybrid recorded in East Sussex and Wales.201Carex otrubae. False fox~sedge.Tetrad 43M (Hall 1980).One plant on southern edge of dryish grassland area, Goat cross-roads (403.326),1994, TR; possibly planted by new pond, Pippingford Park (44.30), 1993, SBRS; pond3 --++---''"----'-fatAshdown Park (431.320), 1995, TR & PA.It occurs on the sides of ditches, ponds and streams, on damp and seasonally4 5inundated clayey soils. In Sussex it is noticeably most frequent on the Weald Clay. It iswidespread in lowland Britain, common in the south but restricted to the coast in thenorth. Widespread in Europe except the north, and in Asia.Carex spicata. Spiked sedge.Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).A few plants scattered along Ridge Road between the Forest Centre and WychCross (42.32, 43.32), 1993, TR & EL; A22 verge at Millbrook bottom (442.286), a very3 -+t-------'+_dangerous site due to traffic, 1995, TR; Duddleswell (46.28), 1993, PD; near RadioStation (47.28), 1994, Flora meeting; one plant by main track in Five Hundred Acre4 5Wood (489.326), 1995, PW.Locally distributed on road verges and in grassland in Sussex and lowland Britain,often on heavier soils than other members of the C. muricata group. It is increasing inEngland (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe except the north and aroundthe Mediterranean, western Asia and North Africa.Carex muricata subsp. lamprocarpa. Prickly sedge.Six plants on dry, trampled grassy verge by lay-by just south of King's Standing(473.301), 1995, PW (confirmed A. O. Chater), where fruit and flower production seemsvery low; near Camp Hill (46.29), 1995, RN. The pH on the verge at King's Standingwas pH 7.0, surprisingly high for a reputed calcifuge.3 -++---....'-...L-f-The plants look like a small C. spica ta, but ~ave rounded short ligules instead oflonger V-shaped ones.It typically occurs on banks and heaths on open situations, and is much more4 5frequent on the Lower Greensand soils in the Weald than in our area. It is widespreadbut rarely common in Britain, and mainly occurs in south and west Europe. It is alsofound in western Asia and North AfricaCarex divulsa subsp. divulsa. Grey sedge.Five tetrads on the Forest (Hall 1980).Frequent around the Forest, usually on verges and road banks, more rarely inmeadows. It can be locally abundant, as on the verge outside Boringwheel Mill(456.263), pH 7.4 or along Ridge Road (42.32), 1995, TR. One plant near Chuck Hatchhad an inflorescence 180 cm tall in 1993, PD. No plants of subsp. leers;; have been4 5found.It is widespread on a range of soils in warm open situations in Sussex and Britain,and may be increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is quite widespread inEurope, Asia and North Africa.Carex remota. Remote sedge.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent in wet, soggy places around the Forest, usually where it is shaded,and down the sides of streams. One of our commonest sedges.Widespread in Sussex and locally common in Britain especially in the west.Widespread in Europe and north-west Africa.

202Carex ovalis. Oval sedge.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980),Locally frequent in grassland and by car parks, often where it is slightly open anddisturbed. It occurs on poorly drained, seasonally wet, generally acidic soils.It is frequent on the Tunbridge Wells Sands in Sussex and rarer elsewhere inunimproved situations. Widespread in Britain and Europe. Also found in temperate Asiaand the North African mountains.Carex echinata (C. stellulata), Star sedge.Ashdown Forest, E, Jenner (Arnold 1887), Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980),Locally distributed on wet, acidic soils and in Sphagnum bogs, often where it isslightly disturbed and open, rarely in abundance. Frequent in the coppice area atNewbridge after clearance, presumably reappearing from buried seed.Local on bogs and heaths in Sussex, and probably most frequent in AshdownForest. Locally abundant in northern and western Britain but uncommon in the southeast.Widespread in much of Europe, temperate Asia, North Africa and North America.Carex curta (C. canescens). White sedge.Newbridge, Miss K, Pickard (Wolley-Dod 1937), Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980),Not seen for many years at Newbridge as most of the alder woodland had grownvery dense and shaded but in 1995, about 18 months after an area of alder had beencoppiced, there were about 50-100 plants in the south-west corner of the clearing,3 --+I'"------'--tgrowingintimately mixed with C. paniculata and C. echinata in wet, iron-stained swamp(458,323), TR & PW; flush at Isle of Thorns (419,303), 1995, TR & PA, The plants areslightly greyish in colour and erect, and seem to flower and fruit early with ripe fruits4 5 dropping at the end of June; they then become very inconspicuous.In Sussex very local on wet boggy and sandy heaths. Locally frequent in northernand western Britain but very uncommon and restricted to heaths in the south-east. Widespread in Europe except thesouth, and found in Asia, and North and South America.Carex hirta. Hairy sedge.5Five tetrads around the Forest (Hall 1980),Scattered around on road verges and pastures, but not common. It often grows ondisturbed places on clayey soils, as for instance along the verges between Nutley andChelwood Gate (437,284), pH 6,3-6.4, The creeping rhizomes and hairy leaves, or atleast hairy sheaths, distinguish this species from other sedges on the Forest.Locally frequent throughout Sussex, often in damp or water-logged places.Widespread in lowland Britain; Europe except the north, and North Africa.Carex acutiformis. lesser pond-sedge.Abundant on north side of lake at Ashdown Park Hotel (431 ,320), 1995, TR & PA,Locally frequent in Sussex in standing water along river and stream sides and inditches and ponds. It occurs on moderately nutrient-rich, circumneutral substrates onthe margins of slow-moving and standing lowland waters and wet hollows in flood3 -++-___----.J'+_meadows. The water level may be up to about 20 cm above the substrate.It is widespread in lowland Britain and more widespread than the following specieswhich grows in similar places to it. Widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and NorthAfrica.4 5

203Carex riparia. Greater pond~sedge.Stream side, Twyford (398.313), 1994, DB; one big patch at the east end of the mainpond on Ridge Road (448.329)' 1994, PW.The big fat heads are very distinctive and instantly separate it from C. acutiformis.It is locally frequent in Sussex, the spreading rhizomes often forming extensive stands.3 It occurs in shallow water or sometimes on drier land, often in nutrient-rich conditions, andtolerates fluctuating water levels.It is widespread in lowland south-east England, but is rare and usually coastal elsewhere.4 5 Widespread in Europe, western Asia and North Africa.Carex pseudocyperus. Cyperus sedge.Tetrads 33A and 42T (Hall 1980).Winter-wet pond by Cold harbour Manor (400.326), 1993, TR (possibly Hall's tetrad33A record'!; pond, Braadstone Farm (43.33), 1987, PD; pond by Ridge Road3 -+-I------LI-(447.328), 1993, TR & NM; pond in Furnace Wood (477.260), 1995, TR, probably the42T record. In all three cases it occurs on clayey soils in semi-shaded, seasonally waterlogged4 5or wet conditions.In Sussex it seems most frequent on the Tunbridge Wells Sandstones and on days,but does occur elsewhere. It occurs quite widely in a range of water and substrateconditions in southern lowland Britain where it is locally frequent. Fairlywidespread in Europe, temperate Asia, North Africa and North America.Carex rostrata. Bottle sedge.Newbridge, Miss K. Pickard (Wolley-Dod 1937). Not refound and possibly an error for C. vesicaria which still growsat Newbridge, though it could have occurred there. It always occurs in wet, peaty bogs or swamps.It is widespread in northern and western Britain and uncommon in the south-east. Mainly in northern Europe,Asia and North America.Carex vesicaria. Bladder-sedge.Tetrad 43W (Hall 1980).Very local in wet woodlands at Horncastle, Pippingford Park, Newbridge, ChuckHatch, etc., possibly in the more base-rich flushes and mainly on inorganic soils.Locally distributed in Sussex. Scattered throughout Britain but decreasing in3 --++-----'" England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and NorthAmerica.4 5Carex pendula. Pendulous sedge.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread around the Forest edges, where it occurs in damp, clayey flushes inwoodland and by ponds. It is also grown in gardens and occasionally escapes.Widespread in the Weald, especially on clays and weakly acidic soils which areseasonally wet. It is widespread in lowland southern Britain and rarer elsewhere.Western, central and southern Europe north to Scotland. Also in North Africa.Carex sylvatica. Wood-sedge.Frequent on the west and east sides of the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent around the Forest edges and in Broadstone Warren. It is mostfrequent on the more clayey soils, and often occurs on banks where it is not covered inleaf litter.Common and widespread in Sussex and Britain. Widespread in Europe, temperateAsia and North Africa.

204Carex strigosa. Thin~spiked wood~5edge.Tetrad 43W (Hall 19801, not refound and there are no obvious sites for it in the relevant tetrad. In Sussex this oftenoccurs on the Gault Clay or Weald Clay and is easily overlooked as deer eat the spikes (FR).Locally frequent in southern Britain, the Weald being a major stronghold where it often occurs along the sides ofstreams in the ravine woodlands, West, central and southern Europe to the Caucasus.Carex flacca. Glaucous sedge.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent on roadsides around the Forest, especially where the soils are morecalcareous. In woodland it flowers sparsely Of not at all, and may be relict from moreopen conditions.One of the commonest sedges in Sussex, usually on chalk or base-rich clay soils.Widespread in Britain, and in Europe (except the north-east) and North Africa.4 5Carex panicea. Carnation sedge, Carnation grass, Pink-leaved sedge.Bogs around Crowborough, etc. (Done 1914). Frequent on the Forest {Hall 1980).Locally abundant in wet acidic flushes on the Forest, where it is the mostconspicuous greyish-leaved sedge. It is often confused with C. flacea by the unwary.Ashdown Forest appears to be its main stronghold in Sussex. It is widespread but3 decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), and is common in northern and westernBritain. Widespread in Europe except around the Mediterranean, temperate Asia andNorth Africa.4 5Carex laevigata. Smooth-stalked sedge.Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent in wet flushes in woodland around the Forest, for instance downthe Kidbrooke Stream or in Pippingford Park, and quite widespread. The best place tolook for it is in a flush sloping down to the stream side in damp, boggy, shadedconditions.Locally frequent on acidic ::ioils in the High Weald oflen near Chrysosp/eniumoppositifo/ium. Locally frequent in Britain in areas with rainfall above 75 cm a year, butabsent from large areas. Endemic to western Europe?Carex binervis. Green-ribbed sedge.On the Forests, abundant, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Ashdown Forest, 1896, T. Hilton(BTN). Near Pippingford, 1904, J. Stirling (TLS). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).One of the commonest robust, tufted sedges on rides and heathy areas, and quitedistinctive. It is probably more abundant on Ashdown Forest than anywhere else in3 Sussex (Rose 1995).Locally abundant in northern and western Britain and in the uplands, uncommon inthe south-east on acidic soils; western Europe and north-west Africa.4 5Carex viridula (C. demissa agg.). Yellow-sedge.This treatment follows the revision of Schmid (1983).All our recent finds have been subsp. oedoearpa (C. demissa, C. flava agg.) forwhich there are old records: Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Pippingfordbog, 1904, J. Stirling (TLS). Occasional on the west side of the Forest (Hall 1980).This taxon is occasional in ruts and on tracks and in wet, boggy areas with somebase influence on mineral soil. For instance it is locally abundant on the A22 verges atthe bottom of Millbrook Hill. It is locally distributed in the Weald and is widespread in4 5 Britain; north, west and central Europe and North America.There is an old record for subsp. brachyrrhyneha (C. /epidoearpa) from boggy placeson the Forest near Crowborough, J. H. A. Jenner (Wolley-Dod 1937) but this requires confirmation as it is a very rareplant in Sussex, and is usually more associated with basic flushes and fens.Similarly records for subsp. viridu/a (C. seratina) from Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner {Arnold 18871 and ChelwoodGate, 1955, R. Boniface (Hall 1980) require verification (there is no material in Boniface's herbarium at NMW).

Material which initially looked like this subspecies has been collected from Chelwood Gate by TR and several othersites but is subsp. oedocarpa (deL A. O. Chater).Carex paJlescens. Pale sedge.Forest near Wych Cross (Whitwell 1902). Near Coleman's Hatch, C. E. Salmon;Ashdown Forest, Miss K. Pickard (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrads 42T and 43R (Hall 1980).Scattered around the Forest usually in only small quantity, though locally frequentin Pippingford Park. It occurs in open woodland and on tracks.3 Occasional on the clays in the Weald. Locally frequent throughout Britain, andquite widespread in Europe. Also in temperate Asia and North America.2054 5Carex caryophyl/ea. Spring sedge.Tetrads 43A, 43K, 43M and 43W (Hall 1980), and another four tetrads added in Briggs(1990).We have recorded it quite widely and our map shows a distribution strongly related3 -+-I'"-.....----"L.J.-/-to roads. It usually occurs in short, dry grassland on road verges, in churchyards and onlawns, on weakly to strongly calcareous soils (pH 5.6~7.4 has been recorded in oursites). It is probably under~recorded, overlooked perhaps because it flowers in late45spring. It is sometimes only 5 cm high, usually amongst grass that is growing strongly atthe time, and fruit set is often the victim of the first mowers of spring.It is similar in size to C. pilulifera with short, stiff stems, a sheathing lower bractand club~shaped male spikes. Vegetatively it creeps through the turf and the laxly tufted or isolated rosettes havedark green shiny leaves with black lines on the underside. C. pilulifera has curved, wiry stems and is densely tufted.Widespread but probably still under~recorded in Sussex despite the extra records in Briggs (1990), many of whichwere from churchyards. It is commonest in short chalk turf. Widespread and decreasing in Britain (Rich & Woodruff1996). Widespread in Europe.Carex3_pilulifera. Pill sedge.4 5Common on Ashdown Forest (Done 1914). Occasional across the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread on the Forest on tracks, in open secondary woodland, on heath land, inacidic grassland and sometimes in disturbed soils, and probably one of the commonestsedges. It is one of the first sedges to flower, usually from March onwards. The leavesand shoots tend to grow sideways ralher than erect, and later in the season they looklike discarded mop heads.Frequent on acidic soils in Sussex and Britain. Decreasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Endemic to Europe east to Leningrad and the Carpathians.Carex nigra (C. goodenowii). Common sedge.Newbridge, Miss K. Pickard (Wolley-Dod 1937). Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered in wet flushes, ditches and sometimes drier acidic grassland. Plants maybe tufted or rhizomatous and quite variable in appearance, even when growing next doorto each other as in the ponds adjacent to Ridge Road.3 Occasional in the Weald, and widespread in Britain. Decreasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Europe but rare in the south, Asia, North Africa andNorth America.4 5Carex pulicaris. Flea sedge.3 -++----"'-~'-t--4 5Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). South of Chuck Hatch, 1950s, FR. NearNutley, 1957, R. A. Boniface (BRC). Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980). Near Bowling Green northat Coleman's Hatch (447.328), 1986, R. Tallack, destroyed by a fire lit by ConservationVolunteers, and on ride south of Stonehill car park near Anagallis tenella (45.28), Flushnorth-east of Forest Centre (442.331), 1983, AFRR.Bog pool east of Old Lodge (466.301), 1990, CM & NM, our only recent record.A rare plant in Sussex in flushed grasslands. Locally common in northern andwestern Britain, but now very uncommon in the south~east, Endemic to north, centraland western Europe.

206POACEAEThe best general identification guide to grasses is Hubbard (19841, though see Stace (19911 for bamboos and updatedtaxonomy and nomenclature.*Sasa palmata. Broad-leaved bamboo,Large stands are established in a number of places such as near the stream in Pipping fordPark (449.3161, 1995, Flora meeting, and near Newbridge splash (455.3271. A standaround the east end of the pond at Priory Road (413.339) was cleared in 1995, AK, but hassurvived.3 -+h.---------'--t- This bamboo has stems to 2-3 metres tall with broad leaves 3.5-9 cm wide. It isoccasionally established in Britain, usually near gardens. It is native in Japan.4 5*Sasae/la ramasa. Hairy bamboo.Car park, Forest Centre (43.32), 1993, TR & NM; small patch on bank by track near CentreBridge (448.3161, 1995, Flora meeting; an unvariegated bamboo at St John's (505.315),1995, PW, may also be a form of this usually variegated species (det. D. McClintock),This is a little bamboo growing up to 1.5 metres tall. It is occasionally established in3 Britain and is native in Japan.4 5*Pseudosasa japonica. Arrow bamboo.Near Forest Lodge (452.2631, 1995, AK; Marden's Hill (499.3251, 1987-8, PW & RW (detD. McClintockl.It grows to 5 metres tall and has narrow leaves up to 4 cm wide. The commonestspecies established in Britain, usually near gardens. It is native in Japan and Korea.3 -++_-----'-+_4 5Nardus stricta. Mat-grass.Ashdown Forest, 1833, J. Woods (Wolley-Dod 1937). Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836).Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Very plentiful on Ashdown Forest (Done 1914).Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).A tough grass, unpalatable to stock and dominant over large areas of acidic grassland3elsewhere in Britain. On Ashdown Forest it is largely restricted to rides where it toleratesmowing, but must have been more widespread when the Forest was extensively grazed.The patches of dark green tussocks with the black flowering heads and the previous year's4 5dead white leaves are distinctive. Ashdown Forest is its main locality in Sussex andprobably the only area where it is still frequent.Decreasing in lowland England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), but still common and widespread in the north and west ofBritain. Widespread in Europe, but only in the mountains in the south; temperate Asia, North Africa and eastern NorthAmerica.Milium effusum. Wood millet.Wood near Wood's Nursery, Maresfield, A. H. Wolley-Dod (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrad 42T(Hall 1980).Locally abundant by Forest Pale at Fairwarp (473.266), and a few plants by shadedstream, Furnace Wood (474.264), 1993, TR & SR in the same area as the previous records.3 -++-----'-+-- This species likes the richer, moist brown soils in the Weald, and is surely not found mainly4 5on calcareous soils as sometimes suggested.Scattered through woodlands in Sussex and fairly widespread in lowland Britain,especially in the south-east. Widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and North America.

207Festuca pratensis. Meadow fescue.Five tetrads around the south side of the Forest (Hall 1980).Goat crossroads area (40.32), 1993, AK; meadow at Braberry Hatch (427.297), 1994,TR & DK; Hunters Farm area (44.26), 1994, TR; near Radio Station, presumably from verge(47.29), 1994, SBRS.3 Scattered in grassy places, usually in older pastures on damp soils, in Sussex andlowland Britain. Widespread in Europe and south-west Asia.4 5Festuca arundinacea. Tall fescue.Four tetrads on the Forest (Hall 1980).Characteristic of the sides of roads where it forms small patches, and most noticeablebefore the verges are cut. The increase in winter road salting may explain the increase inthe amount of this grass since Hall (1980) as it seems quite tolerant of salt and is becomingfairly characteristic of roadsides in Britain. It also lines the edges of some French4 5motorways.Scattered in damp grassy places in Sussex, and sometimes planted for forage.Widespread in lowland Britain, and in Europe, North Africa and Asia.Festuca gigantea. Giant fescue.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Damp, shaded or open verges, stream sides and waste ground, mostly around theedges of the Forest. Usually in damp, nutrient-rich places, on the better soils.Common in the Weald. Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996) and widespreadin lowland Britain. It occurs in most of Europe and temperate Asia.Festuca rubra. Red fescue.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Very widespread on the Forest on verges, in car parks, churchyards, sown grass onrides, and in meadows and pastures, but not on acidic heath land . There was one record fora tufted form possibly subsp. commutata on sandy ground at Pippingford Park (449.314),1995, TR, PH et al.Common in Sussex and Britain and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Widespread in Europe.Festuca ovina agg. Sheep's-fescue.The F. av/na aggregate on the Forest appears to be composed of the two taxa below, and F. avina S.S., which wasrecorded frequently on the Forest in Hall (1980), has not been found despite careful searching by TR. Probably allprevious F. ovina 5./. records can be referred to F. filifarmis.Festuca filiformis (F. tenuifolia). Fine-leaved sheep's-fescue.Ashdown Forest near the Stone Quarry (Coleman 1836). Tetrads 43B and 43G (Hall 1980), though clearly underrecordedas stated above.F. filiformis is widespread but only locally frequent on rides and tracks through acidic grassland and heathland. Ithas not been seen in the grazing enclosure at Millbrook, and the impression of the micro-distribution elsewhere is that it isincreasing after cessation of the grazing, which would fit yvith Coleman's observation of only one site. It is distinguishedby the tufted, fine leaves which are often bluish-grey, and it has very short awns on the small florets. It flowers quiteearly and the fruits dehisce and drop in mid summer.Scattered in lowland Britain on rocky, mineral and peaty soils, and in west and central Europe.Festuca lemanii (F. longifolia in part). Confused fescue.A few clumps on eastern bank of track just north of Half Moon Copse (427.318), 1993, TR & EL. It differs from F.filiformis in having generally longer awns and lemmas 4 mm or more long (to 3.5 mm in F. flfiformis).

208Rarely recorded in Sussex where it is thought to be introduced (Hall 1980), and scattered in Britain. Stace (1991)regards it as probably native, and the location of our site might suggest the same. Widespread but mainly western inEurope.F. ovina agg. F. filiformis F. lemaniiL1-I ~••!!b:3 -t-l-------L...t--::'4 5 4 5*Lolium perenne. Perennial rye~grass,Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded widely in meadows, verges, car parks and on tracks in every square exceptone, where it must occur but we have not had access to the farm land. It is obviouslywidely sown in pastures.Ubiquitous in Sussex and much of Britain. Europe, North Africa and Asia.*Lolium multiflorum. Italian rye~grass.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it scattered around on verges and in meadows, especially new leys.It is widespread in Sussex and lowland Britain, and is widely cultivated. Possibly nativein southern Europe.4 5*Lolium temulentum. Dame!.In a cornfield near Duddleswell, E. Jenner (Wolley-Dod 1937).Not refound, and there are no cornfields at Duddleswell any more. Now a rare casual in Sussex and decreasinggenerally in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Perhaps native around the Mediterranean.Vu/pia bromoides. Squirrel-tail fescue,Tetrads 43H and 43L (Hall 1980).Locally distributed on sandy banks, tracks, car parks, bare ground and heathy areasaround the Forest. It is an annual which usually grows on acidic, open soils.Frequent in Sussex and widespread in lowland Britain, reaching its northern limit in3--++---c~-"'--'---I- Scotland. South, west and central Europe, and also in the mountains in Africa.4 5* Vu/pia myuros. Rat's-tail fescue.Home Farm area (44.30), 1993, TR & PO, probably casual.Occasional in Sussex and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Scattered inlowland Britain and often associated with railways. Western, southern and central Europe.4 5

209Cynosurus cristatus. Crested dog's~tail.Frequent in heavily-grazed meadows and pastures, but rare elsewhere. The tough, wiryinflorescences tend to persist in grazed pastures and are visible even through the winter.Recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Common and widespread inBritain and most of Europe and south-west Asia.Briza media. Quaking-grass.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Roadsides, as at Pound gate, Gills Lap, etc., and in churchyards as at Nutley.Very common on the Downs in Sussex, and sometimes on clays and in churchyards inthe Weald. Widespread but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread in3 most of Europe and Asia,4 5Poa annua. Annual meadow-grass.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded in every square in our survey, usually one of the first species to be foundafter starting recording in car parks. It also occurs on rides, in meadows, in urban areas andon verges.Ubiquitous in Sussex, Britain and most of the temperate regions of the world.Paa trivialis. Rough meadow-grass.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded in every square except one, where it may have been overlooked, It isfrequent on disturbed ground, damp woodland especially along stream sides, roads ides andin some pastures, It prefers damp, richer soils and is not found on heathlands.Widespread and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Throughout Britain andEurope, temperate Asia and North Africa,Paa pratensis agg. Smooth meadow-grass.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent, especially along the edges of road verges. Occasionally recorded on walls and in pastures,Both segregates P. pratensis sensu stricto and P. subcaerulea have been recorded. P. pratensis is probablywidespread as it is in the rest of Sussex, and P. subcaerulea seems to be quite frequent too, though under-recorded inSussex (Hall 1980).Poa pratensis agg. Poa pratensis s.s. Poa subcaerulea3-++-------~-+- 3-++-----~~-+-4 5 4 5

210Poa nemoralis. Wood meadow-grass.Near Fisher's Gate, rare, A. H. Wolley-Dod (Wolley-Dod 1937). Frequent on the Forest (Hall1980).Locally frequent on dry banks and in sunken lanes, especially around the edges of theForest.Local in Sussex, but widespread in Britain. Widespread in Europe, Asia and NorthAmerica.Dactylis g/omerata. Cock's-foot.Recorded in every square on the Forest, mainly on verges and waste ground. It is highlypalatable and does not persist in heavily grazed pastures.Ubiquitous in Sussex and lowland Britain. A very variable species which is widespreadin Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa.'* Catapodium rigidum (Desmazeria rigida). Fern-grass.A few plants on a realigned section of the A22 on Millbrook Hill (438.296), 1994, TR;frequent on limestone chippings on a turning circle at Pippingford Park (456.312) andpresumably introduced with the chippings, 1995, Flora meeting.A calcicole locally frequent on the Downs in Sussex, and occasional elsewhere, but3 generally widespread in lowland south-east England. It occurs in southern and westernEurope reaching its northern limit in Scotland; in North Africa and western Asia.4 5*Catapodium marinum (Desmazeria marina). Sea fern-grass.Scattered over 9 metres on the verges of the A22 on open ground by the south-east cornerof Kidbrook Park (420.336), pH 7.5, TR, 1994 (no other saline species present). In 1995the plants had spread an additional 31 metres to the north, and PW found two on thepavement edge about 100 yards further on. Assuming that a similar 4-5-fold increase in3 population size has occurred each year, the plant arrived some time around 1989/1990.Scattered along the coast in Sussex on shingle, dunes and cliffs, and our record is thefirst inland one. West and southern coasts of Europe and North Africa.4 5*Glyceria maxima. Reed sweet-grass.Tetrads 42P and 43Q (Hall 1980).Variegated plants in pond, Broadstone Warren (415.326), 1995, TR; variegated plantsin pond at Tompset's Bank (423.338), 1995, PW; normal plants introduced to Ellison's Pondand forming large stands (462.288), 1993, NM et al. Variegated plants are available in]-+-+-----4-some garden centres, but as they grow rapidly they are often dumped in ponds elsewhere.In Britain it often occurs in nutrient-rich water, especially with high phosphate levels,and on substrates with a high mineral content such as river alluvium. It usually occurs inshallow water and may develop as a floating raft, is rarely found in deep water, and is4 5uncommon in fast-flowing water. The water and soils on the Forest are not really suitablefor it. It is also very palatable to stock.Locally frequent along the larger rivers and in the grazing marshes in Sussex, but not common in the Weald. Itoccurs on flood-plain fens, river banks, ditches, lake margins and rarely in wet meadows. In the lowlands north tonorthern England, but very uncommon in Wales and Scotland. Widespread in most of Europe and temperate Asia.

211Glyceria f/uitans. Floating sweet-grass.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent in wet pastures, boggy flushes, ditches and along the margins of smallstreams in pastures, and also present, sometimes nearly dominant but not flowering, alongthe sides of streams in alder woodland, It occurs in shaJlow, seasonally-inundated land onnutrient-rich soils, usually with a fine mineral substrate.It 'IS more variable than G. declinata and G. nota ta, possibly because it is largely outbreeding(Borrill 1958a, b).Widespread and frequent in the Weald and in Britain. Widespread in Europe, andpresent in North America.Glyceria declinata. Small sweet-grass.Tetrads 33V, 43F and 53B (Hall 1980).Very locally distributed in scattered wet sites around the Forest. Borrill (1958a) notesit can persist in trampled turf and occurs on both acidic and base~rich soils. Plants withshort grey leaves should be carefully examined to see if the lemma is toothed (do not3 -t-t---'"----'--t- confuse this with the palea teeth).Scattered in the Weald and in lowland Britain. Widespread in Europe, and present inNorth America.4 5Glyceria notata (G. pJicata). Plicate sweet~grass.By the stream at Coleman's Hatch (Done 1914). Tetrads 42J, 43A and 43R (Hall 1980).Wet ditch east of Stonehouse Farm, Forest Row (437.349), 1995, TR & PA, the samearea as Done's and Hall's 43R records. The tetrad 42J and 43A records look odd as it doesnot tolerate acidic soils (Borrill 1958a),3 -++-----'-/- Local in Sussex and widespread in lowland Britain. In Europe, North Africa and westernAsia.4 5Melica uniflora. Wood melick.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Scattered around the edge of the Forest on woodland banks, sunken lanes, etc.,perhaps its most characteristic habitat, often with Brachypodium sylvaticum. It also growson dry banks in woodland.3 -+-k-----'--t- Frequent in the Weald, and widespread in Britain. Most of Europe and in south-westAsia.4 5Helictotrichon pubescens (Avenula pubescens). Downy oat-grass.One small patch on calcareous verge with Bromopsis erecta, pH 6.7, opposite junction atKing's Standing (473.301), 1995, Flora meeting.Frequent on the Downs and some of the calcareous clays and limestones in the Weald,casual or introduced elsewhere, as presumably is our record. Widespread in Britain3 especially on calcareous soils, and fairly widespread in Europe and temperate Asia.4 5

212Arrhenatherum elatius. False oat-grass.Frequent and widespread on verges and field edges, sometimes just under hedges, and oftendominant where only mown once or twice a year. It is a palatable species and'thus musthave spread since grazing ceased on the Forest. Both subsp. elatius and subsp. bulbosuswere recorded in 1993-1994 but have not been investigated in detail - the former appears tobe much more common.Recorded in 98% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996L and widespread in Britain, Europe and Western Asia.*Avena fatuB. Wild-oat.3 -++_-------'-+_Tetrad 42N (Hall 1980).Upper Parrock Farm (449.347), 1994, TR; introduced on verge Marden's Hill(499.325), 1993, TR.A frequent arable weed in Sussex, and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Widespread in Europe, North Africa and Central Asia.4 5*Avena sativa. Cultivated-oat.Scattered on roadsides and rides across the heath land, the latter presumably from horsefeed.Scattered throughout Britain as a relict of cUltivation.4 5* Gaudinia fragi/is. French oat-grass.North-east corner of Lodge car park (469.306), about 12 plants, 1993, TR, with more in1994 and 1995, the first record for East Sussex, It may have been introduced with grassseed when the car park was created in 1983; a number of other alien annuals appeared thefollowing year.3 It is well established and persistent elsewhere in southern England in grassland. Nativein southern Europe.4 5Trisetum flavescens. Yellow oat-grass.Scattered on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have similarly recorded it in scattered sites on verges and in meadows.Widespread on calcareous soils in Sussex and lowland Britain. Widespread in Europeand temperate Asia.3 --+i""i.----------'-+_4 5

213Deschampsia cespitosa. Tufted hair-grass.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent in clayey pastures, roadsides and damp woodland. It is a very variablespecies in Britain, both genetically and phenotypicaliy. We have not investigated which ofthe subspecies occur in our area.3It grows in a wide range of grazing, temperature, light and soil conditions, but does not4 5tolerate intense competition and thus is most abundant in shaded, seasonally water-loggedor infertile sites (Davy 1980). It is self-incompatible and a good clump can produce up tohalf a million seeds a year.Common in the Weald, again on clayey soils and in woodlands. Widespread in Britainand in Europe though rare in the Mediterranean region, and widespread in temperate regions of the world. The closelyrelated D. antarctica is one of two Antarctic flowering plants.Deschampsia flexuosa. Wavy hair~grass.Ashdown Forest, 1893, T. Hi)ton (BTN). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Found widely on the Forest, on rides, in amongst heather and in open areas of brackenand acidic grassland. It is also often found on banks, on the Forest pale and on raised soilsaround the base of trees in woodland, but usually absent from the flatter areas probablybecause the leaves are evergreen and cannot tolerate being covered each autumn by deepleaf litter. It was probably very much more common when the Forest was grazed as it isgenerally unpalatable and it may have been one of the dominant grasses.Studies at Headley Heath, Surrey by Shaw et al. (1995) found that soil eutrophicationcaused by dog fouling along paths resulted in a change from vegetation dominated byCal/una to one dominated by Deschampsia flexuosa. Similar patterns can be seen near some of the more popular c,arparks on the Forest.Locally common on acidic, nutrient~poor soils in Sussex and widespread in Britain, especially in the north and west.Widespread in Europe except the south and south~east, in northern Asia and the Americas.Holcus lanatus. Yorkshire fog.Recorded in every square, on verges, grassland and open woodland. It has a broadecological tolerance in Britain and tends to occur on the more nutrient~rich soils. It can be arapid colonist of fire sites.Recorded in 99% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain andEurope.Holcus mol/is. Creeping soft~grass.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent around the Forest, sometimes on open heaths, more often inwoodlands. It forms creeping patches and, in contrast to D. flexuosa in woodlands, occursin places where the leaf litter lies on slightly more nutrient-rich places.Common on acidic sands in Sussex and occasional elsewhere. Widespread in Britainand most of Europe, and in temperate Asia and North Africa.Hybrids between the two Holcus species have not been found yet on the Forest.Aira caryophyl/ea. Silver hair~grass.On Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Tetrads 42T, 43K and 43W (Hal) 1980).Recorded only on both western and eastern halves of Wych Cross Reservoir (420.315)on freely drained soils, 1995, TR & Emma Goddard.Occasional in Sussex, often on dry acidic soils. Decreasing in England (Rich &3 Woodruff 1996). Scattered but widespread in Britain and in south, west and central Europe,Africa and Asia.4 5

214Aira praecox. Early hair-grass.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Locally scattered on rides in barer, sandy soils. It is a winter annual of short, openvegetation on generally acidic soils.Locally frequent in Sussex on sandy heaths and banks. Decreasing in England (Rich &3 Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Britain and mainly western (possibly endemic?) in Europe.4 5Anthoxanthum odoratum. Sweet vernal grass.Widespread in acidic grassland and rides around the Forest.Recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980), Common in Britain, Europe andtemperate Asia.Phalaris arundinacea. Reed canary-grass.Tetrad 43H (Hall 1980).We only have lour native squares; along the Medway at Forest Row (43.34 and 44.34), 1994, TR; near Pooh SticksBridge (47.33), 1988, PW; and in the lake at Pipping lord Park (44.30), 1995, PH and Kent Field Club. All other plantsintroduced to ponds etc. around the Forest are the garden form with variegated leaves, var. picta.Widespread in Sussex especially on the larger river banks and in marshes. Widespread in lowland Britain.Widespread in Europe except the extreme south, temperate Asia, South Africa and North America.P. arundinacea var. arundinacea var. picta3 -++---'~--'-+- 3-+4--.~---~-4 5 4 5[Phalaris canariensis. Canarywgrass.Tetrad 53A (Hall 1980), probably in Crowborough outside our area.]Agrostis capillaris. Common bent.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Common in grassland and on rides. This was probably one of the commonest grasseson the Forest when it was grazed, and it still dominates areas of acidic grassland and theless improved pastures.Very common in Sussex and either increasing or more widely recorded in England (Rich& Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Britain and Europe.

Agrostis gigantea. Black bent.Tetrad 42E (Hall 1980).Mainly recorded in 1993-1994 from road sides by TR or AK, as robust plants on vergesrather than as the arable weed form. Some road verge plants could be A. caste/lana I whichis regularly sown on new verges, and need re-checking.Oddly more frequent in West than East Sussex, presumably related to differences inrecording by botanists. Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread insouthern Britain and Europe.4 5215Agrostis stolonifera. Creeping bent.,--..,.---------,-, Common on richer soils around car parks and on footpaths, but rare on open rides.This is a very variable species, with many different genotypes adapted to differenthabitats (Kik et aI1990). For instance plants with a few, long, thick 8tolons occurred in aproductive meadow, and plants with short thin stolons occurred in saltmarshes. There were3also differences in variation within populations, with least variation present in the meadow4 5as the inflorescences were usually grazed off and reproduction was mainly clonal vegetativespread of a few large clones.Recorded in 95% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain andEurope.[Agrostis curtisii (A. setaceaj. Bristle bent.Noted in error and later corrected by W. H. Coleman (Rich 19941.1Agrostis canina sensu lata.Ashdown Bog, 1939, G. E. Shaw (TLS). Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Represented by both A. canina sensu stricto, velvet bent, and A. vinealis fA. canina subsp. montanaJ, brown bent,which are mapped separately, though both are under-recorded by comparison with the aggregate. Both are quitewidespread in Sussex and Britain.A. canina s.s. occurs most typically in wet flushes and seasonally-inundated ponds, and is distinctive in formingmats of fine, grey leaves. It occurs throughout most of Europe, temperate Asia and north-east America.A. vinealis is more common in dryer grassland and may have been as abundant as A. capillaris when the Forest wasgrazed. It occurs mainly in north-west and central Europe, and temperate Asia.Agrostis canina s.l. A, canina s.s. A. vinealis34 5 4 5 4 5Alopecurus pratensis. Meadow foxtail.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded on roadsides and verges, wet pastures and meadows. A robust grass whichis one of the first to flower in the year and is easily overlooked at the end of the season.Widespread in Sussex and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespreadin Britain, Europe and North Asia.4 5

216Alopecurus geniculatus. Marsh foxtail.Common on the Forest IHall 1980).Scattered in wet flushes and pastures.Frequent and locally common in Sussex and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). Widespread in Britain and Europe except the extreme south. North Asia and NorthAmerica.4 5Alopecurus aequalis. Orange taxtail.Between Wych Cross and East Grinstead, E. Ellman; Ashdown Forest, 1901, T. Hilton (BTN; Wolley-Dod 1937).Probably extinct. This beautiful grass is an annual and numbers can vary enormously from year to year so theabsence of records in our survey may not mean that it is truly extinct in the area. Salisbury (1970) gives detailedecological information.Nationally it is declining but it is still known from several sites around Crawley and occurs just outside the Flora areaon the edges of Weir Wood reservoir. Widespread in Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa.Alopecurus myosuroides. Black~grass.Tetrads 42N and 42T IHall 1980).Disturbed ground near Marden's Hill 1499.325), pH 7.6, 1993, TR; fields near Friar'sGate 1499.334), 1987-88, PW.An annual grass usually of heavy clay soils, and -sometimes a pernicious weed. LocallyJ -++------'-+_ frequent in Sussex and in south~east England. Possibly native in south and west Europeand temperate Asia but widely introduced elsewhere.4 5Phleum pratense sensu lato.Now split into two tolerably distinct species (Stace 1991). P. pratense is a tall, erect robust species with long heads andlarge spikelets (4 mm or more longer). P. bertolonii is smaller, usually with spikelets up to 3.5 mm long.Phleum pratense sensu stricto. Timothy.Recorded in meadows, verges and in car parks, and probably mainly of cultivated origin.Recorded in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain and Europe.Phleum bertolonii (P. pratense subsp. bert%niij. Smaller cat's~tail.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Frequent in short, open grassland and on verges. A number of records in 1993 were probably unnecessarilyrejected.Frequent in Sussex and Britain on a range of soils. Uncommon in north.ern Europe.Ph/eum pratense s.l. Ph/eum pratense s.s. Ph/eum bertolonii34 5Bromus hordeaceus. Soft~brome.Common on the Forest IHall 19BO).Scattered on verges and in open pastures.Very common in Sussex and increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996).Widespread in Britain and Europe and western Asia.

217Bromus lepidus. Slender soft~brome.Tetrad 42J (Hall 1980).Not refound. This is a critical taxon and it is unclear if it is simply under-recorded in Britain today or has declined(Rich & Woodruff 1996); David Coombe remembers seeing it regularly in Britain in the 19505 but has not seen it formany years (pers. comm. 1996). Of unknown origin, but established in north-west and north-central Europe,Bromopsis ramosa (Bromus ramosusj. Hairy-brome.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 19801.Restricted to the older bits of ancient woodland, hedges and tracks around the Forest.The skeletons of the previous year's plants persist through the winter and are easilyrecorded at all times of year.3 Common and widespread in the Weald and in Britain. In Europe mainly in the west,south and centre. In Asia and Africa.4 5Bromopsis erecta (Bromus erectus). Upright brome.Quite frequent on verges around King's Standing (473.302), pH 6.7, and also opposite OldLodge car park on verge (470.306), 1987, PW and still present; verge near Radio Station(474.2871, 1994, PW; frequent on verge east of Pound gate car park (483.285), 1993, Florameeting.3 -++-----"'-'-+- A species more usually found on chalk grassland and occasionally on calcareous claysin Sussex, and rather unexpected on Ashdown Forest! Widespread in lowland England andWales where it reaches its northern limit in Europe. South, west and central Europe, Asia4 5and North Africa.Anisantha sterilis (Bromus sterilis). Barren brome.Four tetrads on the Forest (Hall 1980).Occasional on verges and as a garden weed in the villages.Very common in Sussex except on the Wadhurst Clay. Increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Britain, and mainly in west and central Europe and SouthwestAsia.4 5*Ceratochloa carinata. California brome.East of Fairwarp (47.26),1994, Flora meeting (RC, PW and MM!.Rare or absent in Sussex but increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native inNorth America.3 -++__------'-+__4 5Brachypodium sylvaticum. False brome.Clearly restricted to the edges of the Forest, where it occurs on banks and in sunken lanesand in woodlands.Widespread in the Weald and in 90% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980), a classicplant of coppiced woodlands. Widespread in Britain, Europe, temperate Asia and north-west3 --+-IL.Africa.4 5

218Elymus caninus. Bearded couch.One patch on north side of Parrock Lane opposite gate (449.345), 1994 +, TR.A species of sunken lanes, riparian woodlands, woods and hedges. Surprisingly rare inSussex as a whole and very rare in East Sussex (Hall 1980). Widespread in Britain, Europeand temperate Asia.3 -+-+-------1.--1-4 5Elytrigia repens (Elymus repens). Common couch.Frequent on road verges and most noticeable in 1995 when the verges were cut later in theyear - it often grows along the edge of the carriageway in the Forest, but will occur onbroader verges and in grassland elsewhere.A variety with long awns (var. aristatusl also occurs (e,g. on verges west of OutbackFarm) but has not been systematically mapped; the main reason for noting it is that it maybe confused by the unwary with Elymus can;nus.Recorded in 93% of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 19801. Increasing in England (Rich &Woodruff 1996). Widespread in Britain, Europe and temperate Asia.Hordeum sp. Barley.3 -I--1-------L-I--A very puzzling plant occurred on a ride in wet heath near Poundgate (48.28), 1994, PWwhich may be a barley (A. Payne, pers. comm. 1995). It presumably originated from seed inhorse droppings.4 5Hordeum murinum. Wall barley.Chelwood Farm (42.28), 1994, TR; Millbrook car park round the litter bin where dogsurinate (438.299), 1995, TR; lay-by on A22 by Pippingford Park (437.302), 1994, TR. It isalso present just outside the Flora area in several places in Forest Row.This is an annual grass widespread in open communities in warm, dry areas of Europe3 and western Asia. It is a ruderal species of man-made habitats and requires high light4 5intensity, low competition, moderately high soil pH and high soil nitrogen and phosphorus(Davison 1971).In Sussex it is commonest on the coastal plain and is rare in the High Weald. Commonin south-east England.Hordeum secalinum. Meadow barley.Tetrads 42U and 53A (Hall 1980).Scattered on verges and very locally in meadows around the Forest. It was very muchmore noticeable on verges in 1995 when they remained uncut, which accounts for quite alot of the records and it may be elsewhere but unseen. It is abundant around Gills Lap andfrequent near King's Standing, with an isolated record near Spikey Brown's Cottage.Locally common on the levels in Sussex, where it can tolerate very heavy grazing andimprovement, and where it does appear to be associated with ancient grasslands on moistheavy soils. Mainly in south-east England and rarer elsewhere. In Europe mainly in the west4 5(though absent from large areas in the centre) and in north-west Africa.

* Triticum aestivum. Bread wheat.A few scattered records, mainly of plants on rides or disturbed ground associated withhorses and near gardens.3 ++--------'---t-2194 5Danthonia decumbens. Heath-grass.On the Forests, (Jenner 1845). Near Pippingford, 1904, J. Stirling (TlS). Common on theForest (Hall 1980).Locally frequent on rides and patches of acidic grassland, and occasional in heathland.Occasional in Sussex on acidic soils and sometimes on the chalk, with Ashdown Forest3 as its major stronghold. Decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Widespread inBritain, especially in the north and west, and in Europe, south-west Asia and north-westAfrica.4 5Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea. Purple moor-grass.Very common everywhere on Ashdown Forest (Forster 1816). On the Forest, W. C. Unwin;Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Abundant on the Forest around Crowborough(Done 1914). Common on the Forest (Hall 1980).Recorded widely on the Forest and often dominant over large areas of wet, acidic soils(pHs measured 3.6, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3 and 4.5). It is very common in flushes where there iswater movement, and will survive in woodland under birch. It can be dominant on wet soilsbut where the drainage is better Cal/una can dominate instead - this can be seen clearlydown the slope at Bunker's Hill (498.319). It is abundant in the wet bottoms of the hollowsat Dane's Graves immediately west of Churl wood car park (nobody knows what thesestrange linear features were for), it also dominates on trampled soils along wet paths. In the autumn the sugars aredrawn back down into the roots and the leaves turn yellow, giving a characteristic autumnal colour to the Forest, andlater turn white. The leaves are then abscissed and decay slowly, accumulating to become a fire risk. When burnt, thewet heaths tend to become dominated by Molinia.Molinia tussocks in the stream bottoms in Old Lodge were nearly a metre tall in 1995. The tops were home toLonicera plants but little survived between them except some Scutellaria minor and Viola palustris in the slightly moreopen patches .. Sheep falling into the water between the tussocks may be unable to get out.Locally common on wet heaths and sands in Sussex. Widespread in Britain, especially in the north and west.Widespread in Europe but mainly in the mountains in the south, Asia and north-west Africa.Phragmites australis. Common reed.East side of lake near Old lands Hall (473.2741, 1994, Flora meeting; shaded woodland, CowField, presumably relict from old lake (see Plate 71, 1995, Flora meeting.Mainly in the larger lakes and rivers in Sussex and on the grazing levels, and generallyuncommon in the Weald. Widespread in lowland Britain, and probably one of the most3 widespread species in the world.4 5

220SPARGAN IACEAESparganium erectum. Branched bur-reed.Six tetrad records (Hall 1980).In ponds and along slow-flowing streams, especially along Millbrook through PippingfordPark. There are four subspecies, of which subsp. neg/ectum has been recorded from pondson Stone Hill and south-west of Mudbrooks House, 1995, TR. The other subspecies could4 5occur as they do not differ in ecology but they have not yet been recorded (Cook 1962).Branched bur-reed is a perennial plant of swampy, wet places in water up to 1 metredeep, but it cannot tolerate desiccation (Cook 1962). It shows little preference for water orsubstrate quality, and is equally at home along the Medway and in the acidic, nutrient-poorponds on the Forest. It does not tolerate deep shade or fast-running water and so is usuallyfound on the more open, slow parts of streams. Spread by seed is apparently not common, but must be the mechanism bywhich it has reached many of our isolated ponds. Seeds pass though waterfowl unaffected, and they may float for morethan a year. The bur-reed is palatable to stock and may have spread on the Forest since grazing was reduced.It is widespread in Sussex and is locally frequent by ponds and in streams. Widespread in lowland Britain andtemperate regions of the northern hemisphere.Sparganium emersum. Unbranched bur-reed,Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 1836). Tetrads 42N, 42T, 43H and 43K (Hall 1980).Now confined to the north side of the Forest; minor stream 150 metres east of golfcourse clubhouse (433.341), 1995, TR & PS; Pippingford Park, frequent in stream bedupstream of Centre Bridge for c. 300 metres (449.316-452.313), 1995, TR & HP; stream3 --++---~~~---L+- near Hart's Farm (461.332), 1994, TR & SR.At Pippingford Park the plants that were exposed during the dry summer of 1995 haderect leaves rather like S. erectum but only about one third of the size, and flowered andfruited well. Plants in deep or swiftly-flowing water usually remain sterile (Cook & Nicholls4 51986), and some vegetative plants in the Medway on the drive to Ashdown Farm (443.349),1995, TR & PA may also be this species.It is usually found in permanent water 20-80 cm deep and is tolerant of rapid changes in water level. It occurs in stillor flowing water, and can withstand spates. Individual leaves have been found to last only 31-39 days. It usually occurson clay or fine sandy substrates, and can be frequent on silt. It is most common in mid- to high-nutrient water but willgrow in nutrient-poor water as on the Forest (Cook & Nicholls 1986).It is occasional in Sussex and is widespread in lowland Britain. It is widespread in temperate regions of the northernhemisphere.TYPHACEAETypha latifolia. Greater reedmace, Bulrush, Common cat's-tail.Six tetrad records on the Forest (Hall 1980).Found mainly in ponds, marl pits and along the edges of lakes, but also in relatively dryditches, and sometimes in wet patches in woodland (49.33). It occurs in a range of waterand substrate types, but generally in locations that are wet in winter and dry in summer. It3 forms big patches and excludes most other species.Common in Sussex and England, rarer in Wales and Scotland. Widespread in thenorthern hemisphere and the tropics.4 5PONTEDERIACEAE*Pontederia cordata. Pickerelweed,] ++--___ ....L\__4 5One plant in a new pond west of Ellison's Pond (462.287). late August 1995, AK. The plantwas not there in June; this fact, together with the presence of one of the plastic containersused by garden centres for water plants close by in the same pond, leaves little doubt aboutthe source of this plant!Pontederia cordata is a rather attractive native of eastern North America and is widelyavailable in garden centres. It is still relatively scarce in the wild, currently being known fromonly two other localities in Sussex. Once present it does seem to persist so we can expect itto remain in this site for some time unless someone decides to reclaim it for their gardenpond.

221L1L1ACEAENarthecium ossifragum. Bog asphodel.On the bogs on Ashdown Forest (Forster 18161. Bogs on Ashdown Forest (Coleman 18361.Ashdown Forest, M. R. Dixon, 1886 (Arnold 18871. Ashdown (Wh,twell 19021. Plentiful onthe Forest in the bogs around Crow borough (Done 1914). Ashdown Forest, in most of theboggy spots, plentiful, A. H. Wolley-Dod and MD (Wolley-Dod 19371. Many records forDuddleswell etc., in Dent (1928-19531. Frequent, mainly on the east side of the Forest, theobvious Sussex stronghold (Hall 19801.Locally abundant in wet, acidic flushes in open heath land, mainly on the south side ofthe Forest. In July, the deep yellow spikes contrast with the pink of Erica tetralix to formspectacular sheets of colour.The plant grows best where the summer water table is deeper than 10 cm from thesurface and where lateral water movement and oscillations in the water table are frequent. It is intolerant of severeshading and below 30% of daylight it ceases to flower. It will tolerate a range of pH from 3.6-6,5, but is most common ata pH of 4.5-5.5 (two measurements from our sites are pH 3.6 and 3.9). Reproduction is mainly vegetative, althoughabundant seed is usually produced. The flowers are scented but produce no nectar and are generally cross-pollinated byinsects; they are also self-compatible. Seeds may germinate immediately or up to a year later; seedlings were only rarelyobserved by Summerfield (1974), but have been seen frequently on bare peat by FR.Very uncommon elsewhere in Sussex and south-east England, but abundant in west Surrey, the New Forest and thenorth and west of Britain. It is endemic to north and west Europe from Portugal to Sweden.Convallaria majalis. lily-of-the-valley, 5t Leonard's lily.'In the Forests, near Wych Cross' E. Jenner (Arnold 18871. Dent noted in 1945 thataccording to Ronnie Stevenson it had spread due to tree felling and dragging from one clump;•• he also visited it in 1946 and 1947 (Dent 1928-19531. Wych Cross in larch woodland, c.1956, R. Green. Tetrad 43G (Hall 19801.3 The native sites known today are east of Wych Cross, where the lily occurs on the ridgerather than in the valley. The main site is in the small area of National Trust woodland east ofthe Nursery (423.322), pH 2.8, where it was first found and is of particular interest as theplants are probably native. During the 1970s when the larch plantation was cleared the tall4 5 bracken hid the plants which were rediscovered on a Flora meeting on 17 May 1995 whenMR & PR took us to within 20 metres of it saying "it was here somewhere ... " - almost immediately patches were foundscattered frequently over an area of about 40 metres x 15 metres. It is usually a woodland plant, but was growing withouttree cover except for a few youllg birches, shade being provided instead by bracken, with bluebell, bilberry, heather, wavyhair-grass and foxglove. The woodland itself is reported as ancient woodland in the Sussex Inventory of Ancient Woodlandbut now has little tree cover, partly due to storm damage. Subsequent to the Flora meeting, another vegetative patch wasfound about 30 metres east of the Forest Centre car park just off the road verge (433.3231, pH 3.3, 1995, PW, andanother patch c. 5 metres long was found, presumably planted, in front of Spikey Brown's Cottage (425.324), pH 3.1,1995, TR; both also appear to be the native material.There are also scattered records of plants of garden origin at Nutley in secondary woodland at Morrisfield (448.283);and in the lane below the gardens at Ashdown View (444.286), 1994, Flora meetings; and near Summerford (470.264),1994, TR. It is widely grown in gardens around the Forest.The native plants differ from those grown in gardens. Wild plants have small leaves which are noticeably glaucous,they flower later (they were just beginning to flower sparsely on our visit), and the inflorescences have an average of only5.5 flowers each. By contrast, plants of garden origin are usually more robust, bright green, flower more profusely earlierin the year, and have more flowers on each inflorescence with means of 9.9 and 11.7 flowers per inflorescence for twogarden populations; plants for sale in the Wych Cross Nursery in 1995 were of this latter type! Dent (1928-19531 alsonoted that the wild plants at Wych Cross were much smaller than his garden plants. Three days after the Flora meeting,AI< visited the famous Lily Beds in woodland in St Leonard's Forest and found similar plants to our wild ones, and they arethe same native form as the other Sussex plants. Wolley-Dod (1937) noted that wild plants often do not flower; about 5%of the plants were flowering at Wych Cross in 1995, and only about 10-15% of the St Leonard's plants.PA has studied fruit set of the Wych Cross population: 18 plants were marked in early June in flower, but threeweeks later not one fruit had been formed. Similarly, large wild patches at Dallington Forest in Sussex also produced nofruit in 1995, and neither of the two garden populations produced fruit. This may be because the populations are clones(the lilies spreading by the creeping rhizomes), and plants with different genes are needed to cross-fertilise them, but somegarden plants do set fruit apparently in isolation.Wolley-Dod (1937) noted 36 sites in Sussex including Harrison's Rocks and High Rocks but it appears to have gonefrom many, and Hall (1980) only gave about 20 records in the Sussex Plant Atlas, including some garden escapes; it isprobably in decline in Sussex. It would be nice to restore the Wych Cross woodland back to what may have been theoriginal sessile oak - bilberry woodland to give it a more secure future.Convallaria is scattered in southern England, locally frequent in rocky woods in the north and west, widespread andsometimes common in Europe and Asia.

222*Polygonafum x hybridum (P. multiflorum x odoratum). Garden Solomon's-seal.This has been recorded in scattered localities, sometimes dumped in car parks but also onewell away from an obvious source of introduction: one plant in Warren car park (416.320),1994, TR; woodland edge opposite houses by A22 1429.309), 1994, TR; dumped spoilopposite Radio Station (473.292), 1994, SBRS; one clump in woodland away from house,Poundgate 1489.290), 1994, PD & TR. Also reported planted in woodland near the lakes in4 5Pippingford Park, A. Morriss.In 1995, two clumps were noted to be heavily damaged by Solomon's-seaJ sawfly larvaeand neither could be found later in the year. The female sawtlies use their ovipositors likeminiature saws, and put eggs directly into the tissues of the plant. The larvae are about 1 cmlong and look like green caterpillars. They begin feeding on the underside of the leaves, then they eat the tissue betweenthe veins, and finally entirely strip the plants of their leaves, sometimes defoliating whole plants.This plant probably originated in cultivation. The parents grow together in very few places in Britain but do so inhundreds of sites in Europe but natural hybrids are unknown in many countries. The nearest natural P. multiflorum isprobably in the woods east of Tunbridge Wells, and the nearest P. odoratum is in Gloucestershire.Probably quite widespread in Britain as a garden escape,Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Bluebell,Common on the Forest IHall 1980).Recorded in every square, where it occurs in woodland, on heath land in the open orunder bracken, in acidic grassland, in hedges and on hedgebanks (pH measurements 3.7, 4.7and 4.8), Bluebells are usually more abundant in the older areas of woodland than theadjacent areas of Forest - for instance it grows in sheets in the chestnut coppice on the southeastside of the road at Wood Eaves (483.318) whilst on the other side of the road on theopen Forest they are very sparse; but they are not restricted to ancient woodlands. Theywere noted to have flowered better in some sites which had been opened up in the 1987storm (AFN 15: 2-4).White-flowered plants occur naturally as scattered plants in woodland around the Forest, and at Highgate where theyhave probably escaped from gardens. Riding (1977) found white bluebells to have a lower reproductive output in the wildthough it was similar in the garden, and seed from white bluebells ultimately produced normal blue-flowered plantsindicating high rates of out-breeding. Prior to the First World War, bluebell bulbs were collected for export to Holland (MrsE. Vernon, Horney Common, pers. comm. to MR). Picking or pulling the flowers has no effect on the numbers of flowersin following years, but the associated trampling and damage to the leaves can result in a considerable reduction (Peace &Gilmour 1949).Populations of the introduced muntjac deer are increasing in the area. These deer eat both bluebell leaves arIdflowers, especially in early spring when there is little other food available, and damage to the plants leads to decreasedreproduction and loss of vigour in subsequent years. They also eat other plants such as Mercurialis perennis andDacty/orhiza fuchsli' (Cook et al. 1995, and pers. comm. 1996). We think the bluebells are more important than these aliendeer.Very common in Sussex and most of Britain. They are endemic to western Europe from north and west France toScotland and south-west Belgium, and our bluebell woods are internationally important.* Hyacinthoides hispanica x non-scripta. Hybrid bluebell.This is the commonest bluebell in gardens, and consequently was mainly found near housesaround the villages of Forest Row and Nutley. It is widely recorded in Britain and isincreasing.It differs from H. non-scripta in having blue anthers, broader leaves and open bell-shaped3 -+-+------LJ- flowers (Rich & Rich 1988). There is concern that introgression hybridisation between thebluebells could result in genetic erosion of one of our most important plants.4 5* Hyacinthoides hispanica. Spanish bluebell.Three records from Forest Row, Nutley and dumped soil at Gills Lap. Many of the records inthe Sussex Plant Atlas are likely to be of the hybrid.Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Native in south-west Europe and northwestAfrica. In Portugal the plants are less robust than our cultivated plants, implying some3 horticultural selection.4 5

223*Allium triquetrum. Three-Gornared garlic.A few clumps spread along c. 10 metres of a sunken lane outside garden north of Nutley1444.2861, 1994, SBRS. As yet it does not seem to have spread in Sussex to the extent thatit has elsewhere in south-west England, and should be monitored and eliminated if necessary.It is grown in some gardens locally,3 Increasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996), especially in the south-west. Native inthe western Mediterranean.4 5*Allium paradoxum. Few-flowered garlic.Spreading from a garden onto the verges of the A22 at Forest Row 1422.3421, 1978, PS andspreading ever since; small patch in scrub at the west end of Highgate Lane (424.344) 1995,TR; one patch on A26 near Holly Corner probably established from dumped garden rubbish1479.267), 1995, TR. Conspicuous in flower in the spring but difficult to see later in the3 year.Our plants have both flowers and bulbils. Barling 119581 noted that this Caucasian4 5species reproduces almost entirely from the bulbi Is, and by bulblets produced on the bulbs.The inflorescences tend to have only one flower and although seed was found in smallquantities no seedlings have been seen.Recorded occasionally in Sussex and Surrey but not in Kent, and scattered in Britain. Native in the Caucasus and Iran.Allium ursinum. Ramsons.Tetrads 42P, 43L, 43R and 43V IHall 19801.After noticing we only had one record from 1993 and 1994, a more careful nose waskept out for it in 1995: ditches by entrance to Hindleap Farm 1404.3281, 1995, TR; woodlandby Forest Road (436.3471. bank of disused railway 1441.3471 at Forest Row and garden3-+-1----- throw-out near Stone Cottages 144.321. 1995, TR & PA; bank of Kidd's Hill 1459.3211,1995, MM; in an old lane at Nutley (444.286-446.2891, 1994, SBRS; also found down mainriver valleys on east side of Forest in both ancient and secondary woodland where it isobviously washed down by the streams - it has been traced as far upstream as Old Mill Farm4 51488.3031 and Home Wood 1505.3271, 1995, TR et al. Planted in marsh west of FairwarpVillage Hall 1466.2641 by B. Hoath in 1995 Inot plottedl.It is evidently very rare on Ashdown Forest land itself, perhaps not surprisingly as it is generally regarded as anancient woodland indicator species. It is only frequent on the shaded river alluvium on the east side of the Forest, butmost of the patches associated with garden rubbish which also occur in damp, shaded sites are quite small. The nameursinum means 'sought after by bears', derived from the European brown bears' habit of eating the tubers; the only bearsnow known on the Forest prefer sweeter food made from 'nectar.Ramsons is unusual for a plant which forms large single-species stands in that it mainly depends on reproduction byseed to survive from year to year. The seeds are shed in June and July but generally fall close to the parent as 75% of thefruiting heads are prostrate by the time they are ripe, and it has a poor dispersal mechanism. The seeds germinate after aperiod of warmth followed by cold, so mainly germinate in early spring. The plants then flower from their (fourth-) fifth toseventh (-eighth) years. A small proportion of the plants also produce bulbils (Ernst 1979).Locally frequent in the Weald and widespread in Britain but much rarer in Ireland. Widespread in Europe except thenorth-east but rare in the Mediterranean, and in Asia Minor.*Galanthus nivalis. Snowdrop.Crowborough Warren IOone 19141.Recorded in churchyards, roadsides, outside gardens and occasionally in hedges. All therecords are new to Hall (1980), and more appear each year. A double-flowered form 'f/ore3-++------~-+pleno'occurred in a verge near Coleman's Hatch 1448.3391. 1994, TR.For many years it has been wondered if snowdrops are native in Britain. Recent work4 5by Aaron Davis at Reading has shown that the pattern of variation seen in British 'wild'populations is muddled and does not fit the pattern observed in its home range in centralEurope and Asia Minor, and many of our populations can be matched to plants, say, fromItaly or the Pyrenees. They also set little seed, possibly due to poor pollination as our beesare not very active early in the year. Snowdrops are now considered to be garden escapes.Widely naturalized and increasing in England IRich & Woodruff 19961.

224*Galanthus nivalis x plicatus. Snowdrop.Nutley, churchyard 1442.278) and road bank opposite Bramley Bank 1447.287), 1994, TR;Boringwheel Mill Farm 1456.264), 1995, TR; Fairwarp 147.261. 1995, PD & RN. Allconfirmed by PH.This hybrid probably originated in cultivation.J-t~--------~-4 5Narcissus. Daffodils.Narcissus is a large genus with numerous cultivars which makes identification very difficult. We have only attempted tomap three taxa; N. pseudonarcissus native and introductions, and N. poeticus although more taxa are present. Many taxaare planted on roadsides, etc., perhaps marking the sites of accidents, some persisting from garden rubbish and somesimply planted to brighten the countryside in the spring. Narcissus poeticus, Pheasant's-eye daffodil, and hybrids arefrequent on verges, flowering mainly after the common daffodil; they are endemic to southern Europe. Miniature-floweredtaxa occur planted on verge at Marsh Green and as a garden escape at Marden's Hill.Narcissus pseudonarcissus 5ubsp. pseudonarcissus. Daffodil, Lent lily.Pippingford stream and Millbrook, 1942-1947, and 50 noted in 1952 IDent 1928-1953). Hundreds by lakes, PippingfordPark, 1956, R. Green. Tetrads 42N, 42T and 43A IHall 1980).The native plants grow to about 30 cm tall and have outer perianth segments paler than the inner. They can formlarge patches in some of the older woodlands or scattered along the streams, and when abundant are a beautiful sight astheir scent drifts gently on the wind. The Morriss family have planted many (including the native taxon) around PippingfordPark since before the First World War, and gypsies from London used to pick them to sell (pers. comm. A. Morriss 1995).The native plants are thought to occur in south and west Britain north to Cumbria; they are endemic to western Europefrom France north to Germany and England.Barkham (1980a, b) studied population changes in a woodland in Cumbria over a 10 year period and found that thechanges in population size were related to the effect of a varying environment on the rate of clonal growth of bulbs. Therate of reproduction from clonal growth was greater than that from seed, and consequently many populations show markedclumping. He found they grow best on sites with a high available moisture capacity and moderate shade. pHmeasurements from our sites are 4.8 at Millbrook and 4.7 near Friar's Gate.We have also mapped N. pseudonarcissus cultivars which comprise plants of subsp. pseudonarcissus which are tallerthan 30 cm and have large flowers which are scattered around the woodlands and may have been planted, and much largerand more robust cultivars which have escaped from gardens or been planted in churchyards and verges; especiallycommonly planted is the Spanish daffodil (subsp. major) which has concolorous flowers.N. pseudonarcissus native N. pseudonarcissus cultivars N. poeticus and hybrids4 5 4 5Some introduced plants are spreading down streams and are becoming naturalised. Some mixed populations occurand potentially there could be hybridisation between the garden escapes and wild plants. We investigated one mixedpopulation along the stream near Oak Plat (499.336) and compared them with plants by the Half Moon upstream(498.333) and with another separate isolated native population at Millbrook (44.29). As yet there is no evidence ofhybridisation between them, the wild plants and the garden plants forming dicrete groups as shown in Figure 15 below:

Trumpet length(mm)454035302520••+ +~., ++# +++++Oak Plat.Half Moon'&'Millbrook22515105o+----+----~----~--_+----+_--~o 10 20 30 40 50 60Leaf length (cm)Figure 15. Graph showing plot of leaf length against trumpet length for three populations of Nardssus pseudonarcissus.Ruscus aculeatus. Butcher's-broom, Knee holm.Ford's Green near Nutlev, abundant (Deakin 1871).One clump in hedge on the north side of the track to Hunter's Farm (448.265), pH 5.8,1994, TR; six clumps in one patch opposite Ford's Green (446.271) and clearly no longer]-++-----'-t-abundant (cf. Deakin 1871 above), pH 4.3, 1995, TR; two patches in one clump oppositefarm, Toll Lane (459.263), pH 4.3, 1995, AFRR, onlv noticeable once the woodland had been4 5coppiced; four clumps in one patch bV sunken track, Toll Lane (461.263), pH 4.4, 1992 +,NM; one plant on west side of B2026 about 100 metres south of Fairwarp Church (465.266),pH 4.4, 1995, TR - part was moved to Fairwarp Village Hall (467.263) in about 1980 by B.Hoath when it was thought to be under threat from road widening, and is surviving well underanother beech tree; two clumps (apparently native) occur in wood edge north of track 100 metres to the east (468.264),pH 4.1, 1995, B. Hoath.Plants were just coming into flower in mid-November 1995. Every bush has been examined and all appear to befemale; no berries have been seen. There may be more .in the Cackle Street - Fairwarp area. With the exception of theHunter's Farm plants, all are on acid woodland litter pH 4.1-4.4, but it will grow on chalky soils too.Locally common in Sussex, and sometimes planted for ornament, pheasant cover, and perhaps even for butcher'sbrooms. Probably native in southern England and Wales, but widely introduced elsewhere presumably by butchers.Widespread in western, central and southern Europe north to Britain.IRIDACEAE*Sisyrinchium montanum (S. angustifolium). American blue-eyed-grass.In an old grass road near Chelwood Gate, 1913, J. A. Dell (Wollev-Dod 1937). Naturalized in Furnace Wood, tetrad 42T,1972, J. Milner (Hall 1980), but not refound.Occasionally naturalized in Britain. Native in North Amer'lca.Iris foetidissima. Stinking iris, Roast-beef plant.Tetrads 42T, 43H and 43M (Briggs 1990).Not refound. It is possible that vegetative plants of Iris pseudacorus in quite dry sites on Ashdown Forest aresometimes recorded as this species in error. Locally frequent on the chalk in Sussex and usually in woodlands. Native andincreasing in England and Wales (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It occurs in western and southern Europe and North Africa, andBritain is its northern limit.

226Iris pseudacorus. Yellow iris, Yellow flag.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).We have recorded it frequently by ponds and streams, the bright yellow flowersconspicuous in early summer, It tends to occur in the wetter patches in meadows and on theedges of ponds, but not in deeper water. [t is probably planted in some ponds.It typically grows on soils with a high water content and is fairly tolerant of anoxicconditions, but it does not need to be submerged and can grow in some dry sandy soils. Thesoils vary from pH 3.6-7.7, but it has a high nitrogen requirement. It occurs in a range ofmire and open woodland types, usually forming patches; after flowering the rhizome's4 5 terminal bud dies and growth is resumed by two lateral buds producing dense stands. Therhizomes degenerate after 6-15 years resulting in separation of clonal patches (Sutherland 1990).Common in wet places in Sussex and throughout lowland Britain. It occurs in Europe, western Asia and North Africa.*/ds versic%r. Purple iris.Pond at Tompset's Bank (424.338), 1995, PW, with either I. pseudacorus or a hybrid.A frequent garden escape in Britain. Native in North America.4 53 -++------'--t-*Crocus vernus. Spring crocus.Goat car park (402.326), 1995, TR & JK. Plants with deep purple flowers occur plantedoutside a number of gardens and in churchyards, but can scarcely be considered asnaturalized.We have also found leaves at a number of sites on the Forest, but have had no flowers3-++------'-+- to confirm identification. A mass of Crocus was reported as appearing in clumps on a trackrepaired with imported topsoil, B. Willard (AFN 16: 16-17).Widely established as a garden escape or planted in Britain. Decreasing in England (Rich& Woodruff 1996). Native in central and southern Europe.4 5*Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora (Tritonia x crocosmiiflora). Montbretia.Frequent on the Forest (Hall 1980).Widespread around the Forest, well-established and spreading vegetatively in manywoodland and wood edges.Widely naturalized in Sussex, especially in the Weald, and in Britain. It originated in3 cultivation.4 5DIOSCOREACEAETamus communis. Black bryony, Poison-berry.Widely dispersed in hedges, ancient and secondary woodland, and sometimes heathlandedges, including one plant at the Airman's Grave. It occurs mainly round the edges of theForest. It has been suggested to be a poor colonist and to occur predominantly on calcareoussoils, but our plants behave differently.Recorded in 92 % of the tetrads in Sussex (Hall 1980). Locally abundant in England andWales north to Cumbria, the only British representative of the yam family. Widespread insouthern and western Europe and Asia Minor, with Britain as its northern limit.

227ORCHIDACEAEEpipactis purpurata. Violet helleborine.Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980). Five Hundred Acre Wood, 1987, SBRS (tetrad 43W) (Briggs 1990),and two other tetrads -see below.Two plants on Twyford Lane verge north of Suttons Farm (403.314), pH 4.0, DB,where four plants first found in 1988 were still present in 1994 but eaten off by deer or3 slugs; south-east side of Priory Lane (413.339), several years up to 1990, AK, but not seen1993-1995. Another possible plant occurred at Faggot Stack Corner, 1983, CM & R.Tallack, where 'funny' plants have also been seen by PW.Quite variable in colour, and not always dark purple. More shade tolerant than E.4 5 helleborine and often found in deep shade; usually considered an ancient woodland indicatorbut 2/3 of our 10cal'lsed records are in secondary woodland.Scattered in Sussex, mainly on clays and somewhat calcicolous. It occurs most abundantlY in Oxfordshire, Berkshireand Buckinghamshire, with the Weald as a second stronghold. It occurs in southern and eastern Britain to the Welshborders. An endemic of north-west and central Europe.Epipactis helleborine. Broad-leaved helleborine.Five Hundred Acre Wood near Fishers Gate, 1914 (Done 1914), recorded again in Hall(1980), and still present in abundance in a shaded hollow on the south-east side of pond(490.331)' 1994, ER & RN.3 -+--1"'----,-Our other records are as follows: three spikes by track to Press Ridge Warren (407.318).1987, PW & RW; Wych Cross Reservoir car park (419.315), 1987, CM; four plants on4 5woodland edge, outside Isle of Thorns (416.303}, 1995, Flora meeting; one plant in scrub bypond (423.338), 1995, PW; one plant in gully on Ridge Road (443.326) mown in 1995, PW;Wood Reeves Car park (475.309), 1993, C. Sutton; Faggot Stack Corner (48.32), 1983, CM& R. Tallack, and 1987, PW & RW. So we have it scattered in quite a few sites, but rarely inabundance and rather of the 'here one year, somewhere else the next' type.Elsewhere in Sussex it is also typically a plant of verges and the edges of wood or scrub, and it is locally frequent.The colour may be very variable and it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish it from E. purpurata; if in doubt this specieshas rough calluses at the top of the epichile, whilst they are smooth in E. purpurata. It is pollinated by Vespu/a wasps andflowers at about the time the drones leave the nests.Widespread in lowland Britain, and in Europe, Asia and North Africa. An introduced widespread and problematicalweed in North America.Neottia nidus-avis. Bird's-nest orchid.Near Nutley, frequent by roadside, H. Wheeler (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).Friar's Gate road (477.311), 1983, AFRR. In the 1970s it used to occur under beeches onthe south side of Ridge Road near Ashdown Park (428.323-432.323) but the beeches wereremoved and replaced with' a broad verge. A few plants also occurred regularly at the3 entrance to Spikey Brown's Cottage (425.324) but have not been seen recently.Twyford Lane (406.316), pH 5.1, 1992 +, NM and before (accidentally mown in 1995);A22 verge north of Wych Cross (419.325), 1992, CM, and 1 huge plant and 2 small ones atbase of sign where it got mown (419.323), 1993, and 2-3 plants also occur regularly in4 5 another site to the north from the mid-1980s, PS; Priory Road, two separate clumps (c.411.337L pH 6.2, NM, 1994 - it was also seen on the north-west side of Priory Road about409.336,1986, AK, and at 413.339, c. 1985 and 413.338 c. 1990, PS, CM, but not seen again in 1993-95 andobviously crops up at more than one spot; Pippingford Park (c. 445.299), one plant eaten by deer, 1995, A. Morriss.Commoner in West Sussex than East, and usually in old deep beech leaf litter on the chalk, but as on Ashdown Forestalso scattered across the less calcareous soils in Surrey and Kent. Apparently it can set seed whilst still underground aspollen may be carried by creepy crawlies (D. Lang, pers. comm. 1995).It is scattered through lowland Britain, especially in the south and east, but is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). It is widespread in Europe except the far north and occurs across Asia.Listera ovata. Common twayblade.Occasional on the Forest (Hall 1980).Our distribution map shows two main areas, one in the north-east where it occurs as afew plants on verges, and then common in Toll Lane Coppice and Fairwarp areas where itprefers the richer clay soils. One group appeared in an area where birch had been cleared3-+--I"'------~~ after the Great Storm near Hindleap, CM (AFN 15: 2-4). Occasional plants also occur onroadside elsewhere, forming lines by the creeping rootstock.4 5One of the commonest Sussex orchids, but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). Widespread in lowland Britain, and widespread in Europe and Asia. 1995 was a goodyear for it.

228No Listera cordata, Lesser twayblade, has been found on the Forest, though the habitat could be considered suitablenow but it may have been grazed too much historically; the nearest report is from Grave1ye, last seen in 1975 (Hall 1980).Spiranthes spiralis. Autumn Lady's-tresses.Roadside near Nutley, J. H. A. Jenner (Wolley-Dod 1937), presumably the same site as werecorded it scattered along the verge near Stonehill car park (456.288), pH 7.8; populationcounts from David Lang, MR and others are as follows: 1977, 1 plant (a lady's tress?); 1983,50 plants; 1987, 60 spikes; 1988, 7 plants; 1989, 52 plants mostly eaten off leaving 3;3 1990, 148 plants; 1992, few spikes; 1994, 20 + plants; 1995, 61 plants. One clump withfive shoots on uniform, modern, rye grass lawn, Lines Farm (445.347), first noticed 1995, H.T. Stubbs. Leaves were first spotted on a mown verge on Rystwood Drive, Forest Row(438.344), pH 6.2, April 1995, TR and the plants flowered from August despite the drought;4 5 although these plants were spared the mower most were nobbled by slugs later. Rosettesappeared again in mid September.This species could be much more widespread over the area on lawns of large houses (e.g .. East Court, Coleman 1836,or Brockhurst, Hanbury 1917) where it has obviously been for many years but does not flower, due to regular mowing.However, our Lines Farm record indicates it is not always on old grasslands. The plants on the verges tend to be single,isolated plants but those on lawns tend to occur in clumps with many flowers and numerous rosettes - this is assumed tobe a response to the cutting. Half of the spikes curl to the left, and half to the right (D. Lang, pers. comm. 1995).Occasional on chalk and clay in Sussex. Widespread in southern Britain but decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). It occurs in southern, western and central Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa.Hammarbya paludosa. Bog orchid.Large bog, Kidbrooke, 1846, W. Mclvor (BM; Hanbury & MarshaIl1899). Press ridge Warren near Wych Cross, 1841, andabundant on the great bog near Kidbrook Park Pales (Deakin 1871). Near East Grinstead, 1873, W. W. Reeves (BM). Bognear Kidbrook Park, Miss A. Wall is, 1877 (Arnold 1887). Bog between Hartfield and Gills Lap, 1895, E. S. Salmon (BM;Arnold 1907). Sphagnum bog by stream running from Pressridge Warren near Chelwood Gate, 1898, C. E. Salmon (BM).Ashdown Forest near Nutley, 1907, J. Roffey (BM). Stumble wood Common (probably outside our area), W. E. Nicholson;Chuck Hatch (probably the same locality as 'Bog near Hartfield'), 1922, W. E. Nicholson; Crown Well near Camp Hill(probably 4715.2935), 1923, R. J. Dix (Wolley-Dod 1937). Bog west of Fairwarp (actually a "reservoir" filled withSphagnum, FR, pers. comm.), 1952, Oliver Buckle, who described the locality in a letter to OS in July 1958 "I last sawHammarbya at map reference 463.270 [this equates to a wood in Spring Garden, and is probably an error for c. 457.274J.If you go to Fairwarp Church and work a bit north west until you reach the stream, and then follow the stream southsearching the Sphagnum carefully. There was quite a bit in a small area with Gentiana pneumonanthe, Narthecium andSphagnum. "Alison Ross (in Hall 1980, p. 7) recorded that George Dent had noted bog orchid 'in a redundant tank-trap' (but seebelow) on Ashdown Forest. By a series of coincidences his diary has been traced (TR's grandmother shared a nursinghome in Midhurst with Lady Stratton whose sister, Phyllis Green, lived next door to George Dent near Wych Cross andinherited the diary when he died in 1959). It gives breathtaking, detailed account of the two sites and the plants between1928 and 1952; George was obviously fascinated with the plants and visited them regularly observing flowering, fruitingand the bulbils on the leaves. He used binoculars to spot the plants and notes having bare feet in the marshes!His records have been summarised as follows. He first saw very small plants at Chuck Hatch on 24 August 1927 in awet marsh with Sphagnum and saw three plants in 1929. At Duddleswell (which he called Break Neck Gill) he knew whatappear to be five different places, though the records are somewhat difficult to interpret (the Tea Table Marsh sitepresumably matches Buckle's site):1929, two plants (he cut the flowers from them), and one upstream.1930, two plants.1931, three plants.1932, three in clump near bogbean, one on Tea Table Marsh.1934, one plant on Tea Table Marsh, two in marsh below and twelve in marsh above in red Sphagnum, plus fourplants in new site downstream with Rhynchospora, Hypericum elodes and Narthecium, and another upstream.1937, one plant seen with Dennis Fanshawe on other side of stream.1943, one with leaves well developed in bareish wet place, Tea Table Marsh. A tank had been in and left trackswhich had filled with water to form a pool - this is the origin of the erroneous 'redundant tank-trap' report.1944, two plants with Narthecium.1949, three in old place, two had 10-12 flowers each1952, gorse bush bankIn about 1956, George Dent took Phyllis Green and Robert Green (aged 11) to see the plants in Break Neck Gill, and Robertremembers tiptoeing across Molinia tussocks close to the water and being shown them through a magnifying glass whichhe still has today. This is the last record we have traced, and our bogs and orchids are not what they used to be.Press Ridge Warren is now conifer woodland. The bog by Kidbrook Park is still there but is scrubby and covered in denseMo/inia, the bog near Hartfield may have been Wren's Warren which has suffered a similar fate. The Crown Well is simplydense Mo/inia and the bog west of Fairwarp is dense scrub. There are small open flushes still in Breakneck Gill. The areahas been searched on many occasions in the 1960s and 1970s by Oliver Buckle, Ran Boniface and others, and we have

een unable to refind any bog orchids. Although there are very few places on the Ashdown Forest which now appearsuitable it is worth emphasising that the plants are very small and can be extremely hard to spot. So, if you visit any ofthe remaining bogs on the Forest, do keep your eyes open - we would be very pleased if someone could refind them.Unfortunately Ashdown Forest is not unique and the bog orchid has disappeared from south-east England due to lossof suitably wet habitat. It is now mainly found in the north and west of Great Britain though large and significantpopulations still occur in the New Forest; in these areas it seems to be holding its own. It is a Nationally Scarce Speciesand has been recorded in 95 10-km squares since 1970 (Porter 1994). Outside Britain it occurs mainly in northern andcentral Europe where it is under threat, and it is also known from Asia and North America.229Platanthera chlorantha. Greater butterfly~orchid.One plant by Kidbrook Paling, 1945, G. Dent (1928-1953). One destroyed by ditching workat Fairwarp, 1970s (B. Hoath, pers. comm. to MR).Toll Lane (461.262), pre-1970, 1993, and two plants, one trodden on by deer incoppice, 1994, Chris Weaver; one planted in wood near Fairwarp Village Hall (466.263) in3 --+-1---------1--1--- 1980s, last flowered in 1993 (not 1994 or 1995), B. Hoath.This is usually a woodland plant on chalk or clay in Sussex, or in grassland adjacent towoodland, but is very uncommon. It is said to be pollinated by moths at night when thewhite flowers show up well and it has a strong scent.4 5It is locally frequent in Britain, especially in the south~east and in western Scotland. It isalso frequent in north Wales in small hayfields. It is widespread in much of Europe and Asia.Platanthera bifo/fa. Lesser butterfly-orchid.Ashdown Forest, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Probably recorded from the west side of the Forest by F. Parsons (Cl ark 1903).Near Pippingford, 1904, J. Stirling (TLS). Ashdown Forest near Gills Lap, 1911 (Done 1914). Near Pippingford, J. Stirling(Wolley-Dod 1937). Kidbrook Park bog, 1943, eight in 1944, six in 1947; bog to left of Old Lodge, 1944, 1947, 1948; G.Dent (Dent 1928-1953). According to Haes (1977), a few lesser butterfly-orchids can be found by the sharp-eyed in JuneIn the area between Chelwood Beacon and Londonderry Farm. Tetrad 42T (Hall 1980).More traditionally a heathland plant than P. chlorantha, it often benefited from some shade under grazed bracken(Tubbs 1986), but sometimes also found in deep calcareous woodland (e.g. in Kent, D. Lang, pers. comm. 1995). It hasnot been recorded from East Sussex recently, but has been seen in at least three West Sussex sites.It is commoner in the north and west of the British Isles, but is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). Itoccurs in Europe, Asia and North Africa but is rarer near the Mediterranean. Although it usually has two leaves as impliedfrom the name, at its northern limit in Russia 95% of the plants apparently have only one leaf!Anacamptis pyramidalis. Pyramidal orchid.Rather surprisingly, one plant in Churlwood car park (417.310), 1991, CM, and it reappearedin 1995. The plant occurred on the top of the bank surrounding the hard parking area, pH7.2, which had been surfaced with old limestone railway ballast, pH 8.0, which accountedfor the high soil pH.3 It appears currently to be having a resurgence on the chalk in Sussex, with plants oftenappearing on new road verges. It is widespread on the Downs and on calcareous soils insouthern England, and is rarer in the north. It occurs in western, central and southern Europe,and in North Africa.4 5Pseudorchis albida. Small~white orchid.Ashdown Forest, 1893, K. Dixon (BTN). On Ashdown Forest near Nutley Mill, 1839, J. Woods IBM). Near Nutley, 1841,W. Borrer (possibly the specimen in BTN). Rediscovered by J. Edwards in 1862 and frequently seen by E. H. Farr andothers, but often does not tlower; wood above Hartfield, Miss E. M. Holmes; two specimens from Forest Row, 1935, F.F. Wood were regarded as "unreliable" (Wolley-Dod 1937). A specimen collected by J. Edwards in 1867 is labelled "nearNutley Windmill. The only plant seen, tuber undisturbed" (BTN). Between Fairwarp and Nutley, 1893, E. H. Farr. A notein G. Dent's diary from a letter from E. M. W. 1935 "The little white orchid is to be found at Nutley in a meadowbelonging to Graver the Butchers; it is behind his house and you have to ask permission to get it. Graver's shop is in themain street. Via 'Jane' of Nutley". A single sterile orchid plant, which was probably this species with the right tubers andleaves, was seen by FR in grass heath south of Chuck Hatch in the 1940s.This and other sites in Sussex have been searched since without success, and it is presumed extinct (Hall 1980).They are the only sites in south-east England and the nearest sites are now probably in Wales. It is locally distributed inScotland, and occurs widely in northern temperate regions of the world.

230Gymnadenia conopsea. Fragrant orchid.On Ashdown Forest, near High Beeches and Gills Lap (Coleman 1836). Common on theForests, E. Jenner (Arnold 1887). Nutley, 1842, W. Borrer; sparingly on the Forest near• Poundgate, TWNH; St John's Church, Crowborough, E. D. Morgan (Wolley-Dod 1937).Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980), not refound, and possibly an error for the Ashdown Forest Visitor3 Centre site. Single spike on north road verge between Friends Car park and Beech Hill, 1986,R. Tallack. Single spike in Ellison's pond car park, 1993, C. Weaver.We have two sites, near Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre (438.325), which amazinglyequates to Coleman's site near High Beeches - 12 spikes were reported in 1988 and 1989,4 5 20 in 1991 and 15 in 1992, AFRR and 17 spikes in 1993, CM & NM; road verge by theRadio Mast (472.288), pH 7.5, 1993, NM, two spikes 1994, three but all damaged and no fruit set 1995, TR.Plants on heathy soils on a ride near the Visitor Centre are subsp. borealis, and plants on the verge near the radiomast are subsp. conopsea, possibly imported with chalk used to make the road. Subsp. conopsea is probably thecommonest subspecies in the south of the British Isles where it is widespread on chalk and limestone, but may be the leastcommon in Europe as a whole. Subsp. borealis has also recently been found in Sussex growing on the chalk - it is morenorthern in Britain but appears quite widespread in Europe as a whole, occurring south to the Dordogne.Fragrant orchids are quite widespread in Sussex on the chalk, rare in the Weald, and widespread in Europe and Asia.DactyJorhiza fuchsii. Common spotted-orchid.Common as found by Hall (1980), with plants on the richer soils on road sides, meadows andlight woodland, but definitely avoiding the more acidic poor soils. Spreading well in rockeryat Oldlands Hall, 1995. About 30 plants rescued and transplanted in large clods of earth byB. Hoath in the early 1980s from the Crowborough Hospital Day Centre building site to thegrassland at Fairwarp Village Hall. They are not mown until they have set fruit and arespreading into the adjacent grassland, but the rabbits nip the heads off in acts of sheervandalism.Common in Sussex and lowland Britain. Widespread in Europe but rarer in the south.DactyJorhiza macuJata. Heath spotted-orchid.Frequent (Hall 1980).This orchid occurs scattered through the damper heathland areas on poor soils and inwet flushes. It usually occurs as groups of a few individuals, but occasionally there are largepatches (e.g. the superb stands at Brown's Brook). One wonders jf these were the wild3 orchids responsible for scenting the air at Herons Ghyll during the war (Pinks 1945).Ashdown Forest is the main headquarters for this orchid in Sussex where it is occasionalon acidic and heathy soils. It is widespread in Britain, especially in the north and west. It iswidespread in Europe except for the south-east.4 5DactyJarhiza fuchsii - maculata intermediates.Plants morphologically intermediate between the parents were found in at least threepopulations where the parents grow together, and are provisionally ascribed to the hybrid D.x trans/ens but they have not been verified or checked for sterility. It appears to be a rarehybrid in Sussex and has probably been over-recorded in Britain,4 5DactyJarhiza incarnata (Orchis JatifoJia). Early marsh-orchid.Pippingford bog, 1904, J. Stirling (TLS). Ashdown Forest (Done 1914).Recorded south of Old Lodge (46.29) in a lovely flush with Cirsium dissectum,Eriophorum angustifolium and Narthecium (465.303), and confirmed as the mauve subsp.pulchella by David Lang. Dactylorhlza plants were recorded at this site as D. praetermissa by] G. Dent in 1944 and 1947 (Dent 1928-1953). It appears to have been refound by J.Gascoigne, when there were 70+ spikes (AFN 9: 3-4). 30+ spikes were counted in 1986,1987 and 1988, AFRR, 31 spikes 1991, 30 in 1993, NM, 17 in 1994, TR. A secondpopulation occurs 200 metres to the east with two plants in 1992, three in 1993, NM.4 5 A rare plant in Sussex, with one other site for subsp. pulchella and two for the pinkfloweredsubsp. incarnata. It is scattered throughout Britain, especially near the coasts.Widespread in Europe, but rare in the south.

231DactylorhizB praetermissa. Southern marsh~orchid.Ashdown Forest in TQ/4.3, c. 1955, R. A. Boniface. Tetrad 43L (Hall 1980).Not refound in this area (the record in AFN 9: 3~4 refers to D. incarnata) , but scattered around in Sussex on a range ofsoils and it could reappear on the Forest. It is widespread in southern England and Wales. It is endemic to north-westEurope.Orchis mascula. Early purple-orchid, Long purples, Ram's horn (sometimes also used for 0. morio), Dead men's fingers,Dead man's hand, Stinkers.Tetrads 42N and 42T (Hall 1980) and refound in both.Abundant in copse near Mudbrooks House (403.339), pH 6.3, 1995, TR & PA;roadsides and woodland at Toll Lane (458.263), pH 5.9, four spikes in 1988, CM and stillthere with many vegetative plants too, 1995, TR & JK; Toll Lane coppice (461.263) where it3-++-------~-r- has been known for some time (AFN 9: 3-4) - two plants in 1989, 120 plants in 1990 and4 530 + plants in 1991, and still present in 1993-1995; two plants on hedge bank, nearColeman's Hatch (456.338), 1995, TR; transplanted to Fairwarp Village Hall, B. Hoath, andsurviving well (466.264). In all cases it grows on the richer clay soils, and avoids the acidicheathy soils.The name 'stinkers' comes from the tom-cat smell of the flowers after fertilisation or at night after it has been picked,so they are best left in the countryside where they can be appreciated.Frequent to locally common in Sussex. Widespread in Britain, sometimes at quite high altitudes in the mountains, butdecreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff 1996). It is recorded in much of Europe, Asia and North Africa.Orchis morio.Green-winged orchid.Nutley Place, 1948; meadow near Garde, few in 1941, four in 1944, three in 1945, presentin 1947; G. Dent (Dent 1928-1953). Old Lodge (457.299), on the right part of the bankbetween the lawns in the 1960s, but gone by 1990, S. Stewart, possibly the tetrad 42Precord in Hall (1980).•3-++-------~+- We had no records until 1995 when we thought we should ask the locals: six plants onlawn at Windyridge (440.319), 1995, S. Stewart - the numbers vary from year to year and4 5they are protected with cages as the deer are rather partial to them; one plant in Fairwarpchurchyard (465.268), pH 6.3, 1995, PO, only two florets left after the mower; 12 plants onsteep herb-rich grassy grass bank, Nutley Hall (44.27), 1993, PS - the plants are carefullylooked after and the bank is not mown until mid-summer (this is presumably Dent's site); small purple orchids on thelawns at Oldlands Hall (475.275) seen regularly by R. Barley are assumed to be this.Detailed population studies by Terry Wells in Cambridgeshire (pers. comm. 1995) have shown that this is a perennialwhich can flower many times. 11 out of 23 plants studied have lived for at least 18 years though individual plants can liedormant so they may not be visible every year. Some plants ten years old have not yet flowered, and two plants haveflowered nearly every year - it is clearly not monocarpic as is often reported.It usually occurs in old grassland but is increasingly becoming restricted to lawns, churchyards and nature reservesdue to agricultural improvements. It is most often seen in churchyards in Sussex now, having declined dramatically sinceColeman (1836) recorded it as common in meadows around East Grinstead. Stewart, Pearman & Preston (1994) give acurrent national distribution map showing it occurs in southern Britain, and is decreasing in England (Rich & Woodruff1996). It is widely recorded in Europe and Western Asia.

232THE BOTANISTSDavid Bevan (1940-), David's interest in botany started at the age of eight when his father showed him Wahlenbergia nearHorsted Keynes, where it still grows. He lives in London where he is Conservation Officer for the Borough of Haringey, apast President of the London Natural History Society, on the Council of the London Wildlife Trust, a Branch Secretary forthe Wild Flower Society, runs Railway Fields Nature Reserve and lectures on natural history and conservation. He shares acottage at Twyford, and finds botanizing on Ashdown Forest the perfect antidote to the stresses of urban life,C. Patrick J. Coulcher (1937·). Patrick was educated at Eastbourne College where his interest in botany and generalnatural history developed. He became a fighter pilot, having graduated from the RAF College at Cranwell in 1957 where hewon the United Services Institute award for his thesis 'The Breeding of British Birds'. Botanical interests took secondplace until he retired to Eastbourne in 1992, and was then able to devote most of his time to natural history. He is amember of the BSBI and the SBRS, and gives illustrated talks on various aspects of natural history to raise money forcharity. He has attended many recording meetings for the flora.Patricia Donovan (1928-}. Pat was born and brought up in Sanderstead, Surrey. She went to Wimbledon Art School, andafter a spell working in an architect's drawing office she married and has lived in Buxted for 40 years. Since then she hascombined a talent for drawing with a special interest in plants, and has illustrated a number of books including this flora.She recorded for the Sussex Plant Atlas and was first christened into the Ashdown Forest flora in 1968 when departingfrom a field meeting of the Sussex Flora Committee she leapt over a stream, missed her footing and fell backwards into it.She especially enjoys going to new places, the flora of churchyards and hunting for particular missing species such asLeontodon. She is Field Meetings convenor for East Sussex for the SBRS.Paul A. Harmes (1952-). Paul was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, and spent his early years on the move as hisfather was in the Royal Sussex Regiment. As a child he explored the Downs, gradually becoming interested in wildflowers. He went to Knoll Secondary School in Hove, then joined Seeboard as a cartographic draughtsman, moving 16years later to his current post of Engineering Services Officer with the National Grid Company. Botany became anobsession and in 1992 he succeeded Breda Burt as BSBI Vice-county Recorder for East Sussex. His main contribution hasbeen to answer very patiently numerous queries about records, to store mountains of specimens and the record cards, andto do some recording but not as much as he would have liked as the rest of East Sussex also needs some attention!Alan G. Knapp (1947-). Alan was born and brought up in south-east London, but his father's family came from theTicehurst area in East Sussex. He became interested in natural history when he joined Phillips Research Laboratories in1973, moved to Crawley, and found plants easier to photograph than birds and butterflies. He met Arthur Hoare throughthe Sussex Wildlife Trust and was introduced to the SBRS. His main contribution to the flora has been recording,especially on the west side most easily reached in an evening from Crawley, and helping with the computing and analysisof the data. The most enjoyable part of the project (apart from contributing to the almost impossible task of keeping Timbusy!) has been the unexpected discoveries and visits to new parts of the Forest.Chris Marrable (1953-}. Chris was born in Manchester but was soon moved to rural Cheshire. He studied agriculture inShropshire and then worked for ICI counting red spider mites in East Anglian orchards, mildew infections on barley inWiltshire, and measuring grass heights on RAF Senson in Oxfordshire. He escaped to become a ranger on a lowland heathadjacent to the Dee Estuary on the Wirral, and moved south again to become an Ashdown Forest Ranger in 1983. Hebelieves the flora has two great benefits - the joy of rediscovering lost plants and drawing together all the diverse bits ofknowledge to get them safely recorded forever. In 1996 he married Nicky Muggeridge.Malcolm McFarlane (1935-). Malcolm was born and brought up in Tunbridge Wells. He has had a lifelong interest in wildflowers having had 'Flower Fairy' books as a small child, and enjoyed botanizing on Ashdown Forest. This led to a degreein Botany at Cambridge, then teaching in southern England and Nigeria, finally working for the Education Department ofEast Sussex County Council until retiring in 1989. He lived at Buxted from 1983, and moved to Blackboys in 1994. Hehas been especially involved with recording for the flora and is seldom happier than when listing plants, but also enjoyedthe research into historical records. He is good at falling in bogs on Ashdown Forest, and is also interested in bryophytes.Nicola J. Muggeridge (1968-). Nicky has lived around Ashdown Forest since the age of 13 at Forest Row and morerecently Maresfield. Whilst a schoolgirl, she spent all her spare time out on the Forest on foot or horseback ("revising" asshe called it then). She studied natural sciences at Cambridge specialising in zoology. During the holidays and afterleaving University she worked as a voluntary assistant to the Rangers on the Forest, developing an interest in all aspects ofnatural history and environmental education; she surveyed chalk grassland for English Nature, then mapped the Forest andset up the Forest database. Now a professional ecologist, Nicky still walks the Forest every day, is a member of theAshdown Forest Riding Association and the Conservation Group, as well as being an Information volunteer. Besidesassisting with recording and data input, her knowledge of the Forest has been most helpful. She feels the best thing aboutdoing the flora is the opportunity to learn from real botanists.

Rachel A. Nicholson (1934-). Rachel has been interested in wild flowers since her youth. She trained and worked inhorticulture for six years, including two years at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, where an interest in native plants wasencouraged by the Botany Club. She was introduced to Sussex in the mid 19505 when her parents moved from Cheshireto retire at Five Ashes, MayfieJd; on retirement in 1991 she settled in the same house. Now, after a break of thirty yearsaccompanying her husband and bringing up a family in Tanzania and Nigeria where she became involved with fungi and aquite different flora, she is getting back into British plants via the flora and as a member of the SBRS. Her maincontribution to the flora has been recording, enjoying being out on the wide open spaces in the Forest, quite a contrast tothe deep lanes and lovely ancient countryside of the Mayfield area. On field meetings she often disappears into thedeepest thickets, emerging with a few extra species not seen by the faint-hearted amongst us! She also abstracted PhyllisStockdale's herbarium in Bexhill Museum.Helen Proctor (1948-). Helen was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, moved to Hailsham in 1976 and works for EastSussex County Council. She has had a lifelong interest in plants, ecology and wildlife gardening, and is a keen plantphotographer taking pictures to illustrate talks. She is a member of the Sussex Wildlife Trust and SBRS, and has helpedwith recording for the flora joining us on many meetings.Madeline E. Reader (1926-1. Madeline was brought up near Dorking, Surrey, and her parents' delight in the chalk floraencouraged an early interest in wild flowers. This was renewed on returning to Sussex in the 1950s, where she joined theSBRS. Whilst working as an assistant at the Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre, the need for detailed knowledge on everysubject under the sun was essential. In the early 1980s an attempt by local volunteers to record the plants of AshdownForest failed, so she was delighted to join in the new scheme. Her main contribution (with her husband Pete) has beenabstracting and compiling historical information from numerous floras, which gave her a fascinating insight into the plantsno longer on the Forest, and into the random recording done in the past. Her local knowledge of what has happenedthrough the years has also been invaluable, and any time Tim has a query, guess whose phone rings?Peter J. Reader (1924-). Pete has lived in the Forest area all his life, first at Upper Hartfield and now at Horney Common.He has been a voluntary Ashdown Forest ranger since 1980. An interest in bird watching became frustrated with bluntedhearing and sight, so he found static and silent plant life more rewarding. He has long been interested in photography andhas a collection of old pictures showing how much the Forest has changed. With Madeline, he has spent many hoursresearching the old floras.Elizabeth J. Rich (1936-). Elizabeth was born in Five Ashes and still lives there, her family having lived in Sussex since the17th century. She went to schools in Sussex and Northumberland, her mother's home with which she has maintainedstrong links, and has also lived in London. A country upbringing ensured that an interest in wild flowers was neverforgotten. She joined the Sussex Naturalist's Trust (now the Sussex Wildlife Trust) in 1966, and recorded for the SussexPlant Atlas. She served on the BSSI Meetings Committee for about 20 years, and was also Minuting Secretary to BSSICouncil from 1983-1992. Her hobbies include reading, painting and walking, and she has especially enjoyed recording theplants on Ashdown Forest as her contribution to this flora.Timothy C. G. Rich (1961-). Tim (no relation to ER!) was born and brought up at Stedham in West Sussex. He went toMidhurst Grammar School and became interested in plant taxonomy during the sixth form. He took a degree in Ecology atLancaster, and became a fanatical botanist especially interested in Crucifers. He was introduced to the SBRS by PatDonovan in 1981. After his Ph.D. at Leicester an phototropism, he ran the 8SBI Monitor'lng Scheme, and then brieflyreturned to Lancaster as the first Research Associate in the Unit of Vegetation Science. In 1992 he became self-employed,and moved to Forest Row in 1993. His contribution to the flora has been organising (bullying, the others call it), writingand recording, and he enjoys the latter more than anything. He is very interested in the problems of recording plants andinterpreting the data gathered.Phyllis H. White (1925-1 and Raymond G. M. White (1926-1989). Phyl was brought up in London, but two years in Devonas a wartime evacuee started her interest in the countryside. She became a keen rambler which brought her together withRay, who she married in 1951. Phyl was a quantity surveyor, and Ray sales director in a hospital equipment firm. Theymoved to Hertfordshire in 1955 and natural history became a family pursuit, particularly fungi. In 1967 they moved toKent and joined the recording for the Atlas of the Kent flora, by which time a few outings with John and Chris Dony hadthem hooked completely on plant recording. In 1987 they recorded TQ/4.3 for the BSBI Monitoring Scheme including partof Ashdown Forest. After Ray died Phyl moved to Warlingham, Surrey and joined the SBRS through Breda Burt. Havingalready taken a close 'Interest 'In Ashdown Forest and its plants, she was very happy to take part in another survey. Shehas also helped collate records.233

234GLOSSARYachene: a small, indehiscent fruitcalcicole: more frequently found on or confined to soils with a high or alkaline pH (pH> 6.7)calcifuge: more frequently found on or confined to soils with a low or acidic pH (pH < 4.5)caruncle: an small out-growth on a seedchlorosis: a disorder or disease of plants where yellowish-white patches form on leaves due to lack of chlorophyllcleistogamous: flowers which never open and are self-pollinatedcritical species: a species which is difficult to identifycytotype: populations differing in chromosome number or chromosome morphologydioecious: having the sexes on different plantsdiploid: having two sets of chromosomesecotype: a form adapted to particular ecological conditionseutrophic: rich in nutrientsgenotype: the full genetic constitution of a plantgley: a water-logged clayey soilhexaploid: having six sets of chromosomesintrogression: repeated back-crossing of a hybrid to one or other parent, the hybrid products coming to resemble thatparent after a few generations but with some characters from the other parentmesophilous: liking conditions neither acidic nor alkalinemicroclimate: the climate immediately around the plantmonoecious: having unisexual flowers, with both sexes present on the same plantmycorrhiza: the association of a fungus with roots of plantsnitrophile: more frequently found on or confined to soils with high nutrient conditionsoligotrophic: poor in nutrientspatent: spreading at approximately right anglesphenotype: the plant as developed under particular ecological conditionspodzol: acidic soils with a leached upper layer and a lower impervious layer formed by deposition of iron (iron pan)polymorphic: having many formspolyploid: having many sets of chromosomespulvinus: a swelling at the base or top of a leaf stalkself-compatible: capable of self-fertilisationself-incompatible: incapable of self-fertilisationtaxon (plural, taxa): any taxonomic grouping, such as a species, or a genus, etc.tetrad: a 2-km X 2-km square on an Ordnance Survey map used as a unit for recordingtetraploid: having four sets of chromosomestrigonous: three-angled

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240Turner, D. & Dillwyn, L. W. 118051. The botanist's guide through England and Wales. Phillips and Fardon, London.Tutin, T. G. 119801. Umbel/ifers of the British Isles. BSBJ. London.Valentine, D. H. (1975). Taxonomic treatment of polymorphic variation, Watsonia 10: 385-390.Valentine, D. H. 119791. Experimental work on the British flora. Watsonia 12: 201-207.van Ooststroom, S. J. (1951). On Cuscuta epithymum var. trifolHSab. Watsonia 2: 1-7.Waiters, S. M. & Martin, A. 119581. Self-incompatibility and hybridisation in Calystegia. Proceedings BSBI 3: 104.Ward, L. K. (1973). The conservation of juniper. I. Present status and distribution in southern England. Journal of AppHedEcology 10: 165-188.Warren, R. & Alford, V. 119941. The High Weald. Countryside Commission, Northampton.Watson, H. C. (1835). The New Botanist's Guide to the localities of rarer plants in Britain. Volume 1. London.Watson, H. C. 118831. Topographical Botany. Bernard Quaritch, London.Watson. H. C. (1837). The New Botanist's Guide to the localities of rarer plants In Britain, Volume 2. London.Webb, E.118851. Lesser dodder. Science Gossip 21: 262.Webster, S. D. 119881. Ranunculus L. subgenus Batrachium. In Rich & Rich 11988), lac. cit.Welch, D., Scott, D., Moss, R. & Bayfield, N. G. 119941. Ecology of blaeberry and its management in British moorlands.ITE, Banchory.Wells, J. 119161. The flora of Ashdown Forest. Brighton and Hove Natural History and Philosophical Society Transactions,year ending June 28 1916: 12.Whitbread, A" Barton, J. & Hutton, D. (1989). East Sussex inventory of ancient woodlands 1989 (provisional). NatureConservancy Council, Peterborough.Whitwell, W. 119021. East Sussex notes. Journal of Botany 40: 103-108.Wickens, C. H. 119481. Sussex apples. Sussex County Magazine 22: 68.Willard, B. 119891. The Forest. Ashdown in East Sussex. Sweethaws Press, Uckfield.Wilson, P. J. 119941. Identification - British mayweeds. 8ritish Wildlife 5: 158-162.Winship, H. R. 119941. Chamomile - the herb of humility in demise. British Wildlife 5: 163-165.Wolley-Dod, A. H. 119371. Flora of Sussex. Chatford House Press, Bristol.Woodward, F. I. (1987). Climate and plant distribution, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.The following references which may contain some more details have not been traced (see Arnold 1907 and Wolley-Ood19371:M. R. Dixon (1886). List of plants in Ashdown Forest, etc.W. H. B. Fletcher 11887). List of Sussex wild plants.W. B. Hemsley's papers at Brighton Museum which may contain some more details not abstracted by WoUey-Ood119371.J. Salt 118891. A list of plants col/ected chiefly in the neighbourhood of Sheffield (Sussex).A book, 'Wild flowers of the district of East Grinstead' (reference 5581.9) was noted in Brighton Reference Library byM. J. Leppard many years ago, but could not be traced in 1996.

GAZETTEER241This gazetteer has been compiled from the 1 :25,000 Ordnance Survey map and the Map and Guide to Ashdown Forest(1993 edition) available from the Forest Centre which gives the car park names and locations.Localities are given grid references to the 1 ~km square in which they occur, and thus provide a means of finding thelocalities cited in the text; they will not necessarily indicate the location of the plants,Airman's Grave 45.27 Cop hall Farm 46.26Ashdown Forest Centre 43.32 Court House 44.28Ashdown Forest Gardens 46.28 Cow Field 49.31Ashdown Forest Riding Centre 46.28 Crabtree Farm 48.29Ashdown Park 43.32 Crest Farm 47.28Balcombe Farm 39.31 Cripps Manor 39.31Bank Cottage 43.33 Crowborough Golf Course 49.28Barnsden 47.28 Crow borough Training Camp 49.29Barnsgate 48.28 Crowborough Warren 50.30Barnsgate Lodge 48.28 Dalingridge Farm 39.32Bartons 49.28 Deerswood Farm 47.30Beacon Wood 42.29 Dodd's Bank 45.26Beaconwood Farm 42.29 Dodd's Bottom 45.26Beech Hill 45.28 Dodd's Hill 44.27Beeches car park 40.31 Dovecot Farm 43.29Birch Grove House 41.30 Dovedale Farm 50.32Birch Wood 45.31 Duddleswell 46.27Birchfield Farm 49.29 Duddleswell car park 46.27Black Hill 47.30 Duddleswell Manor 46.28Black Hill car park 47.30 Dumpey's car park 44.32Boringwheel Mill Farm 45.26 East Wood 44.30Box car park 45.28 Eighteen Acre Wood 42.32Braberry Hatch 42.29 Ellison's Pond car park 46.28Brambletye 41.35 End House 44.32Broadstone car park 43.32 Fagot Stack Corner 48.32Broadstone Farm 43.32, 43.33 Fairwarp 46.26,47.26Broadstone Warren 42.32, 43.32 Fairwarp Farm 47.26BruCldstone Warren Scout 42.32 Fernhill 40.33Camp Fincham Farm 46.33Broom Farm 49.28 Fishers Gate 49.33Broomhill 49.28 Five Hundred Acre Wood 48.32, etc.Brown Knoll 48.29 Five Hundred Rough 47.32Brown's Brook 47.27 Ford's Bank 46.26Buckhurst Farm 48.33 Ford's Green 44.27Bunker's Hill 49.31 Forest Lodge 45.26Bushy Willows car park 47.30 Forest Lodge Farm 49.32Cackle Street 45.26 Forest Row 42.34, 43.34Camp Hill 46.28 Four Counties car park 46.31Campfields Rough 47.28 Foxbury Wood 43.33Centre car park 43.32 Friar's Gate 49.33Chantersell 44.27 Friends car park 45.28Chapel wood Manor 43.28 Funnell's Farm 44.26Chelwood Beacon 42.29 Furnace Farm 45.32Chelwood Corner 42.28 Furnace Wood 47.26Chelwood Farm 42.28 Garde 42.31Chelwood Gate 41.30 Gatehouse Farm 44.33Chelwood Vachery 43.30 Gills Lap 46.31Chelworth 41.29 Gills Lap car park 46.31Chestnut Farm 45.27 Gills Lap North car park 46.31Chuck Hatch 47.33 Goat car park 40.32Church Hill 49.32 Goat Farm 40.32Church Hill car park 49.32 Gorsey Down car park 47.28Churl wood car park 41.31 Great Birch Wood 45.27Claygate Farm 47.26 Green Wood Gate 48.30Cobbers Farm 46.31 Greenhall Cottage 42.33Cold harbour Manor 39.32 Greenwood Gate Clump 47.31Coleman's Hatch 44.33, 45.33 Half Moon Copse 42.31

242Harald MacMillan Clump 41.30 New Pond Cottages 48.29Hart's Farm 46.33 Newbridge 45.32Heasman's Lodge Farm 48.31 Newbridge Mill 45.32High Beeches House 43.32 Newnham Park Farm 49.28High Park car park 47.29 Newnham Park Wood 49.28Highgate 42.34 North Wood 44.31Hindleap car park 40.32 Northbank Wood 43.31Hindleap Farm 40.32 Nutley 44.27,44.28Hindleap Warren 41.32, etc. Nutley Windmill 45.29Hindleap Warren Activity 41.32 Oak Plat 49.33Centre Ocklye House 50.31Hoadley's Farm 50.32 Old Airstrip 42.30Hole Farm 45.26 Old Cherry Orchard 42.33Hollies car park 46.28 Old Lodge 45.29Hollies Down car park 44.32 Old Lodge Farm 45.30Hollow Shaw 39.33 Old Mill Farm 48.30Holly Hill 45.33 Old Mill House 48.30Hollycralt 44.33 Old lands Farm 47.26Home Farm 44.30 Oldlands Hall 47.27Home Wood 50.32 Old lands Wood 47.27Horncastle 39.32 Outback Farm 44.28Horncastle Wood 39.31 Paddock Farm 46.26Horney Common 45.25 Paynes Hill Cottages 47.27Hunter's Farm 44.26 Peculiar's Farm 45.32Hurstland's 46.33 Piglet's car park 47.32Isle of Thorns 41.30 Pimp Barn Cottages 48.33Jack Daw 48.31 Pines car park 47.30Jumper's Town 46.33,47.33 Pippinglord lay-by 43.30I

Smockfarthing 40.31Smuggler's car park 47.29South Hartfield House 45.33South Lodge 42.34South bank Wood 43.31Spikey Brown's Cottage 42.32Spring Farm 46.32Spring Garden 46.27Spring Garden Wood 46.268t John's 50.318t Richard's car park 43.32Stone Cottage 44.32Stonehill car park 45.28Stonehouse Farm 43.34Stone mead 43.28Streeter's Rough 42.29Streeters Farm 46.28Summerford 46.26Sunting's 46.32Suttons Farm 40.31The Birches 44.33The Crow's Nest 47.28The Farm 39.32The Nursery 48.30The Park 44.32The Ridge, Chelwood Gate 41.29The Ridge, Coleman's Hatch 45.32The Rough 46.32The White House 41.30Tile Barn Farm 47.33Tile Lodge 46.31Toll Lane 46.26Tompset's Bank 42.33Townsend's car park 44.32Trees car park 43.30Triangle Wood 44.31Twyford car park 40.32Twyford Farm 39.31Upper Misbourne Farm 45.27Upper Parrock Farm 44.34Vachery car park 43.30Warren car park 41.32Water Farm 44.33Water Holes car park 47.29West Wood 43.30Windyridge 43.32Wood Eaves 48.31Wood Reeves car park 47.31Woodcock Farm 44.26Wren's Warren 47.32Wren's Warren car park 47.32Wych Cross 41.32Wych Cross Fruit Farm 42.31Wych Cross Place 41.31Wych Cross Place Farm 40.31Wych Warren 42.33Vew {treesl 47.28Yew Tree Farm 44.27Vew Tree Hall 43.33243

SUSSEX BOTANICAL RECORDING SOCIETYJ -j"T-"T~'-[3T-k h'E(S)~r VI,.~_~T(S) [11 / GRID REFERENCE (SIJ CORNER) rlLOCALlTY PLEASE GIVE PLACE NAMES ON OS MAP FR -~-------------- - --~-- .. - ---... -----_lILl_'-tLIl - "'HIN AREA RECORDED OR CLOSEST TO IT_ O!< V"ICE COUNTY Le,,: _- ChucJ1.... I{vlleh _Ll1:-I-::-J'1LT8l:ciIl__ 13~ Uo>t So"e,. 14 0 E"t So_m- )'ccE I J I ;Iul-;~ HA"TATS "C~ED' __ ~;::~r~~m 1_ R~~;~E3;H;LS~fEC~,~GCv CI~k. tftuJ--; (UH/~t11 ilf7-3. f5 t ) i1AADC:~B G L .. UA , Q VDOES THE GRID REFERE~C~TO 10KM / SKM / TETRAD 1 KM6 FIG / SITESPECIESrUtlZU{UMJabw;,,uU"LOCALITY(juuLI-UiLhI.'ood (nat.)PLantationscrubHedgerowHeathGrassLandRoad Verge~ _ QUALITY OF AREA. RECORDED: RECORDER(S) ,PLEASE GIVE YOOR O\JN,"rk/Ch -yord f-- ,I-~MarshJliuzi-W.{ Pltit 1CA [JJed--Ral1lOay Urban jlle Gdn. IJShlng\e Beach - ·COVERAGE -,------------- 1IStream/River V Dunes I-- good J---:- Good - j -":--':":'-'::,..' C (;,1------{[11Pond/Lake Cliffs HOfl"'r h n . G _ FULL INITIALS:_ ' .... e e Slve I V Outstanchng --- eRock/walt Salt I-Iarsh part! L/I l ~ OURS SPENT RECORDING:a n(;OIT'p ete Average_,J-- I-- -/ Arable Other(sJX'C~_ selected/mise Poor /- { A t!t.LOf-6 FIGGRID REFP3.J)/fOR LESS COMMO~. NOTABLE AND CRITICAL SPECIES NOT INCLUDED OVERLEAf AND SPECIES MARKED +HABITAT(LtJIJlt ('it~OTHER OETAILSSPECIES LOCALITY 6 fiGGRID REFHABITATOTHER DETAILSj~"'C"'CmZQ>

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246INDEX Annual mercury 125 Betula pendu/a 52Annual pearl wart 57 Betula pendu/a x pubescens 52Acer campestre 128 Anthem!s arvensis 185 Betula pubescens 52A cer p/atanoides 127 Anthemis cotula 185 Bevan's bittercress 75Acer pseudoplatanus 128 Anthoxanthum odoratum 214 B/dens cernua 189Achillea mllletalfum 184 Anthriscus sy/vestris 132 B/dens tripartita 189Achillea ptarmica 184 Antirrhinum majus 154 Bifid hemp-nettle 146Adder's-tongue 29 Aphanes arvensis 102 Bilberry 82Adoxa moschatellina 166 Aphanes inexspectata 102 Birch 51Aegopodium podagraria 133 Aphanes microcarpa 102 Bird's-foot 110A esculus hippocastanum 127 Apium inundatum 134 Bird's-foot-trefoil 110Aethusa cynapium 134 Apium nadif/Drum 134 Bird's-nest orchid 227Agrimonia eupaton'a 101 Aponogeton d/stachYDs 191 Sistort 59Agrimonia procera 101 Apple 106 Biting stonecrop 86Agrimony 101 Apple mint 150 Bitter-vetch 111Agrostis canina 215 Aquilegia vulgaris 43 Bittersweet 138Agrostis canina 215 Arabidopsis thaliana 73 Black bent 215Agrostis capi/laris 214 Arctium lappa 168 Black bryony 226Agrostis curtisli 215 Arctium minus 168 Black currant 85Agrostis gigantea 215 Arenaria serpyllifolia 55 Black horehound 145Agrostis setacea 215 Armoracia rusticana 75 Black medick 112Agrostis stolonifera 215 Arrhenatherum e/atius 212 Black nightshade 138Agrostis vinealis 215 Arrow bamboo 206 Black poplar 70Aira caryophy//ea 213 Arrowhead 189 Black spleenwort 33Aira praecox 214 Artemisia vulgaris 184 Black-bindweed 62Ajuga rep tans 148 Arum italicum 193 Black-grass 216A/cea rosea 66 Arum maculatum 193 Blackberry 89Alchemilla 'vulgaris' 101 Ash 153 Blackstonia perfo/iata 137A/chemi//a mol/is 101 Ashdown Forest bramble 97 Blackthorn 105Alder 52 Aspen 70 Bladder campion 58Alder buckthorn 126 Asp/enium adiantum-nigrum 33 Bladder-sedge 203Alexanders 133 Asplenium ruta-muraria 34 Bladderwort 161A/isma lanceolatum 190 Asplenium trichomanes 34 B/echnum spicant 37Alisma plantago-aquatica 190 Aster 183 Blinks 54AI/iaria petiolata 73 A thyrium filix-femina 34 Bloody crane's~bill 130Allium paradoxum 223 Atlantic ivy 132 Blue water-speedwell 157Allium triquetrum 223 A triplex hastata 54 Bluebell 222Allium ursinum 223 Atriplex patula 54 Blunt-fruited water-starwort 151Allseed 126 Amp/ex prostrata 54 Bog arum 192Almond willow 71 Autumn hawk bit 171 Bog asphodel 221A/nus cordata 52 Autumn Lady's-tresses 228 Bog orchid 228A/nus glutinosa 52 Avena fatua 212 Bog pimpernel 84Alopecurus aequalis 216 A vena sativa 212 Bog pond weed 192Alopecurus geniculatus 216 A venula pubescens 211 Bog stitchwort 56Alopecurus myosuroides 216 Ba/Iota nigra 145 Bog-myrtle 48A/opecurus pratensis 215 Barbarea intermedia 74 Bogbean 140Alsike clover 113 Barbarea vulgaris 74 Bohemian knotweed 61Alternate water-milfoil 119 Barley 218 Borage 142Amelanchier lamarckH 108 Barren brome 217 Borago officinalis 142American blue-eyed-grass 225 Barren strawberry 100 Botrychium lunaria 30American skunk-cabbage 192 Basil 148 Bottle sedge 203American speedwell 157 Bay 39 Box 124American willowherb 122 Beaked hawk's-beard 179 Brachypodium sylvaticum 217Amphibious bistort 60 Bearded couch 218 Bracken 31Anacamptis pyramidalis 229 Beech 49 Bramble 89Anagallis arvensis 84 Beech fern 32 Branched bur-reed 220Anagal/is minima 84 Bell heather 81 Brassica napus 78Anagallis tenella 84 Bellis perennis 183 Brassica rapa 78Anemone nemorosa 40 Bent 214 Brazilian giant-rhubarb 11 9Angelica 135 Berberis thunbergii 44 Bread wheat 219Angelica sylvestris 135 Beta vulgaris 54 Bristle bent 215Anisantha sterflis 217 Betony 144 Bristle club-rush 199Annual knawel 57 Betu/a 51 Bristly oxtongue 171Annual meadow-grass 209 Betula x aurata 52 Briza media 209

Broad bean 111 Cardamine x haussknechtiana 75 Ceratochloa carinata 217Broad buckler-fern 36 Cardamine pratensis 75 Ceratoph vi/urn demersum 39Broad-leaved bamboo 206 Carduus acantha/des 168 Ceterach officinarum 34Broad-leaved cocks pur-thorn 109 Carduus crispus 168 Chaenorhinum minus 154Broad-leaved dock 63 Carex acutiformis 202 Chaffweed 84Broad-leaved everlasting-pea 111 Carex binervis 204 Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 37Broad-leaved helleborine 227 Carex canescens 202 Chamaeme/um nobile 184Broad-leaved osier 71 Carex caryophyllea 205 Chamerion angustifolium 122Broad-leaved pond-weed 192 Carex curta 202 Chamomile 184Broad-leaved willowherb 120 Carex demissa 204 Chamomilla matricaria/des 186Bromopsis erecta 217 Carex divulsa 201 Chamomilla recutita 186Bromopsis ramose 217 Carex echinata 202 Changing forget-me-not 143Bromus ereetus 217 Carex flaeca 204 Charlock 78Bromus hordeaceus 216 Carex goodeno wii 205 Chelidonium majus 45Bromus lepidus 217 Carex hirta 202 Chenopodium album 54Bromus ramosus 217 Carex laevigata 204 Chenopodium bonus-henricus 53Bromus sterilis 217 Carex murieata 201 Chenopodium ficifolium 53Brooklime 157 Carex nigra 205 Chenopodium polyspermum 53Broom 114 Carex x boenninghausiana 200 Chenopodium rubrum 53Brown bent 215 Carex x ludibunda 201 Cherry 105Bryonia dioiea 69 Carex otrubae 201 Cherry laurel 106Buck's-horn plantain 152 Carex ovalis 202 Cherry plum 104Buddleja davidii 152 Carex pallescens 205 Chickweed 55Bugle 148 Carex panieea 204 Chicory 170Bulbous buttercup 41 Carex panieulata 200 Chrysanthemum parthenium 183Bulbous rush 195 Carex paniculata x curta 201 Chrysanthemum segetum 185Bulrush 220 Carex paniculata x remota 200 Chrysosplenium oppositifolium 87Burnet saxifrage 133 Carex pendula 203 Cieendia filiformis 136Bush vetch 111 Carex pilulifera 205 Cichorium intybus 170Butcher's-broom 225 Carex pseudocyperus 203 Circaea lutetiana 123Butterbur 188 Carex puliearis 205 Cirsium arvense 169Butterfly-bush 152 Carex remota 201 Cirsium dissectum 169Butterwort 161 Carex riparia 203 Cirsium palustre 169Buxus sempervirens 124 Carex rostrata 203 Cirsium vulgare 169CaJamint 148 Carex spicata 201 Claytonia sibirica 54Calamintha ascendens 148 Carex ste//ulata 202 Cleavers 164California brome 217 Carex strigosa 204 Clematis vitalba 40Californian poppy 45 Carex sylvatica 203 Climbing corydalis 45Calla palustris 192 Carex vesicaria 203 Clinopodium ascendens 148Callitriche hamulata 151 Carex viridula 204 Clinopodium vulgare 148Ca//itriche obtusangula 151 Carlina vUlgaris 168 Club-rush 199Callitriehe p/atyearpa 151 Carline thistle 168 Clustered dock 63Callitriche stagna/is 151 Carnation sedge 204 Clustered wood-rush 197Calluna vulgaris 80 Carpinus betulus 52 Cock's-foot 210Caltha palustris 40 Carrot 136 Colt' s-foot 188Calystegia pulchra 139 Carum carvi 135 Columbine 43Caiystegia sepium 139 Castanea sativa 49 Comfrey 141Calystegia silvatica 139 Ca1's-ear 170 Compact rush 196Campanula rotundifolia 162 Cat's-tail 220 Confused bridewort 87Canadian flea bane 183 Catapodium marinum 210 Confused fescue 207Canadian pond weed 191 Catapodium rigidum 210 Conium maculatum 134Canadian waterweed 191 Caucasian stonecrop 86 Conopodium majus 133Canary-grass 214 Celery-leaved buttercup 41 Convallaria majalis 221Candytuft 77 Centaurea cyanus 170 Convolvulus arvensis 139Cannabis 47 Centaurea montana 170 Conyza canadensis 183Cannabis sativa 47 Centaurea nigra 170 Corn chamomile 185Cape-pond weed 191 Centaurium erythraea 136 Corn marigold 185Caper spurge 125 Centaurium pulchellum 137 Corn mint 149Capsella bursa-pastoris 76 Centaury 136 Corn salad 166Caraway 135 Centranthus ruber 167 Corn spurrey 57Cardamine amara 75 Centunculus minimus 84 Cornflower 170Cardamine f/exuosa 76 Cerastium fontanum 56 Cornish heath 81Cardamine hirsuta 76 Cerastium glomeratum 56 Cornish moneywort 159Cardamine x fringsli 75 Ceratocapnos claviculata 45 Cornus sanguinea 123247

248Camus sericea 123 Damasonium alisma 190 Elymus rep ens 218Coronopus didymus 77 Dame's-violet 74 Elytrigia (epens 218Coronopus squamatus 77 Dandelion 173 Enchanter's-nightshade 123Corsican mint 150 Danthonia decumbens 219 English elm 47Corsican pine 37 Daphne laureola 119 Enkianthus 80Corydalis claviculata 45 Darmera pe/tata 87 Epilobium adenocaulon 122Corydalis lutea 45 Darnel 208 Epilobium adnatum 121Cory/us avellana 53 Datura stramonium 138 Epilobium brunnescens 122Cotoneaster but/atus 108 Daucus carata 136 Epilobium ciliatum 122Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii 108 Oeergrass 198 Epilobium cifiatum x hirsutum 120Cotoneaster horizontalis 108 Deschampsia cesp/tosa 213 £pilobium eiliatum x montanumCotoneaster x water! 108 Deschampsia flexuosa 213 121Cotoneaster simonsii 108 Desmazeria rigida 210 Epilobium ciliatum x parviflorumCottongrass 198 Devil's-bit scabious 167 120Couch 218 Dewberry 98 Epilobium hirsutum 120Cow parsley 132 Digitalis purpurea 156 Epilobium lanceolatum 121Cow-wheat 159 Diplotaxis tenuifolia 77 Epilobium montanum 120Cowslip 83 Dipsacus fullonum 167 Epilobium obscurum 122Crab apple 106 Dodder 139 Epilobium palustre 122Crack willow 70 Dog's mercury 125 Epilobium parviflorum 120Cranberry 81 Dog-rose 103 Epilobium roseum 122Crassula helmsii 85 Dog-violet 68 Epilobium tetragonum 121Crataegus laevigata 109 Dogwood 123,126 Epipactis helleborine 227Crataegus laevigata x monogyna Dotted loosestrife 84 Epipactis purpurata 227109 Douglas fir 37 Equal-leaved knotgrass 61Crataegus monogyna 109 Dove's-foot crane's-bill 130 Equisetum arvense 29Crataegus persimilis 109 Downy birch 52 Equisetum fluviatile 29Creeping bent 215 Downy oat-grass 211 Equisetum fluviatile x palustre 29Creeping buttercup 41 Dropwort 88 Equisetum x litorale 29Creeping cinquefoil 100 Drosera intermedia 67 Equisetum palustre 29Creeping forget-me-not 143 Drosera longifolia 67 Equisetum telmateia 29Creeping soft-grass 213 Drosera rotundifolia 67 Erica cinerea 81Creeping thistle 169 Druce's crane's-bill 129 Erica tetralix 81Creeping willow 73 Dryopteris aemula 36 Erica vagans 81Creeping yellow-cress 75 Dryopteris affinis 35 Erigeron canadensis 183Creeping-Jenny 83 Dryopteris borreri 35 Eriophorum angustifolium 198Crepis capillaris 179 Dryopteris carthusiana 36 Eriophorum vaginatum 198Crepis vesicaria 179 Dryopteris dilatata 36 Erodium cicutarium 131Cress 77 Dryopteris filix-mas 35 Erophila verna 76Crested dog's-tail 209 Dryopteris spinulosa 36 Erysimum cheiranthoides 73Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 226 Duchesnea indica 100 Eschscholzia californica 45Crocus 226 Duck potato 190 Euonymus europaeus 124Crocus vernus 226 Duckweed 193 Eupatorium cannabinum 189Cross-leaved heath 81 Dusky crane's-bill 130 Euphorbia amygdaloides 125Crosswort 164 Dutch elm 47 Euphorbia helioscopia 125Cruciata laevipes 164 Dwarf gorse 118 Euphorbia /athyris 125Cuckoo-flower 75 Dwarf mallow 66 Euphorbia pep/us 125Cud weed 181 Dyer's greenweed 115 Euphrasia anglica 159Curled dock 62 Eared willow 72 Euphrasia nemorosa 160Curly waterweed 191 Early dog-violet 68 Euphrasia officinalis 159Cuscuta epithymum 139 Early goldenrod 183 European larch 37Cut-leaved crane's-bill 130 Early hair-grass 214 Evergreen oak 50Cymbalaria muralis 155 Early marsh-orchid 230 Eyebright 159Cynosurus cristatus 209 Early purple-orchid 231 Fagus sylvatica 49Cyperus longus 200 Echium vulgare 141 Fairy flax 126Cyperus sedge 203 Elder 164 Fallopia convolvulus 62Cytisus scoparius 114 Eleocharis multicaulis 199 Fallopia japonica 61Dactylis glomerata 210 Eleocharis palustris 198 Fallopia x bohemica 61Dactylorhiza fuchsii 230 Eleocharis quinqueflora 198 Fallopia sachalinensis 61Dactylorhiza incarnata 230 Eleogiton f/uitans 199 False acacia 109Dactylorhiza maculata 230 Elm 46 False brome 217Dactylorhiza praetermissa 231 Elodea canadensis 191 False fox-sedge 201Daffodil 224 Elodea nuttallii 191 False oat-grass 212Daisy 183 Elymus caninus 218 Fat-hen 54

Fen bedstraw 163 Fumitory 46 Greater broomrape 161Fennel 134 Galanthus nivalis 223 Greater burdock 168Fern-grass 210 Galanthus nivalis X plicatus 224 Greater butterfly-orchid 229Festuca arundinacea 207 Galeobdolon argentatum 145 Greater celandine 45Festuca filiform!s 207 Galeobdolon luteum 145 Greater duckweed 193Festuca gigantea 207 Ga/eopsis bifida 146 Greater periwinkle 138Festuca lemami 207 Ga/eops/s tetrahit 146 Greater plantain 152Festuca longifolia 207 Galingale 200 Greater pond-sedge 203Festuca av/ha 207 Galium aparine 164 Greater reedmace 220Festuca pratens!s 207 Ga/ium cruciata 164 Greater spearwort 41Festuca rubra 207 Gal/urn mollugo 164 Greater stitchwort 55Festuca tenudolia 207 Galium odoratum 163 Greater thyme 149Feverfew 183 Gal/urn palustre 163 Greater tussock-sedge 200Few-flowered garlic 223 Galium saxatile 164 Green alkanet 142Few~f'owered spike~rush 198 Galium uliginosum 163 Green field~speedwell 157Field bindweed 139 Galium verum 163 Green~ribbed sedge 204Field forget-me-not 143 Garlic mustard 73 Green-winged orchid 231Field horsetail 29 Gaudinia tragilis 212 Grey field-speedwell 158Field maple 128 Gaultheria mucronata 80 Grey poplar 70Field pansy 69 Gaultheria shallon 80 Grey sedge 201Field pennycress 77 Genista anglica 11 7 Grey willow 72Field scabious 167 Genista pilosa 11 5 Ground ivy 148Field wood rush 197 Genista tinctoria 11 5 Ground-elder 133Field wound wart 145 Gentian 137 Groundsel 188Field-rose 102 Gentiana pneumonanthe 137 Guelder-rose 165Field-speedwell 158 Gentianella 137 GUnnera manicata 11 9Fig-leaved goosefoot 53 Geranium 129 Gymnadenia conopsea 230Figwort 154 Geranium dissectum 130 Gypsywort 149Filaginel/a uliginosa 182 Geranium endressii 129 Hairy bamboo 206Filago minima 182 Geranium lucidum 130 Hairy bindweed 139Filago vulgaris 181 Geranium mol/e 130 Hairy bittercress 76Filipendula ulmaria 88 Geranium x oxonianum 129 Hairy buttercup 41Filipendula vulgaris 88 Geranium phaeum 130 Hairy green weed 11 5Fine-leaved sheep's-fescue 207 Geranium robertianum 130 Hairy sedge 202Fine-leaved water-dropwnrt 133 Geranium sanguineum 130 Hairy tare 110Fir clubmoss 28 Geranium versicolor 130 Hairy wood-rush 196Flax 126 Germander speedwell 156 Hairy-brome 217Flea sedge 205 Geum urbanum 101 Hammarbya paludosa 228Fleabane 182 Giant butterbur 189 Hard rush 195Floating spike-rush 199 Giant fescue 207 Hard shield-fern 35Floating sweet-grass 211 Giant hog weed 135 Hard-fern 37Flowering currant 85 Giant knotweed 61 Hare's-foot clover 114Foeniculum vulgare 134 Glaucous sedge 204 Hare's-tail cottongrass 198Fool's parsley 134 Glechoma hederacea 148 Harebell 162Fool's water-cress 134 Glyceria declinata 211 Harsh downy-rose 104Forster's wood-rush 196 Glyceria f/uitans 211 Hart's-tongue 33Forsythia 152 Glyceria maxima 210 Hawkweed 181Forsythia x intermedia 152 Glyceria notata 211 Hawthorn 109Fox-and-cubs 179 Glyceria plicata 211 Hay-scented buckler-fern 36Foxglove 156 Gnaphalium sylvaticum 182 Hazel 53Fragaria x ananassa 100 Gnaphalium uliginosum 182 Heath bedstraw 164Fragaria vesca 100 Goat willow 71 Heath dog-violet 68Fragrant agrimony 101 Goat's-beard 172 Heath groundsel 188Fragrant orchid 230 Goldenrod 182 Heath milkwort 127Frangula alnus 126 Good-King-Henry 53 Heath pearlwort 56Fraxinus excelsior 153 Goose-grass 164 Heath rush 194French crane's-bill 129 Gooseberry 85 Heath speedwell 156French meadow-rue 44 Gorse 117 Heath spotted-orchid 230French oat-grass 212 Grass vetchling 11 2 Heath-grass 219Fringe-cups 87 Great hairy willowherb 120 Heather 80Fringed water-lily 141 Great horsetail 29 Hedera colchica 131Fumaria bastardii 46 Great mullein 153 Hedera helix 132Fumaria muralis 46 Great wood-rush 196 Hedge bedstraw 164Fumaria officinalis 46 Greater bird's-foot-trefoil 110 Hedge bindweed 139249

250Hedge mustard 73 Hybrid watercress 74 Kickxia spuria 155Hedge woundwort 144 Hydrocotyle vulgaris 132 Knapweed 170Helictotrichon pubescens 211 Hymenophyl/um tunbrigense 30 Knautia arvensis 167Hemlock 134 Hyoscyamus niger 138 Knotgrass 60Hemlock water-dropwort 133 Hypericum androsaemum 63 Laburnum 114Hemp-agrimony 189 Hypericum calycinum 63 Laburnum anagyroides 114Hemp-nettle 146 Hypericum elodes 65 Laetuea serriola 172Henbane 138 Hypericum humifusum 65 Lady's bedstraw 163Heracleum mantegazzianum 135 Hypericum maculatum 64 Lady's mantle 101Herac!eum sphondylium 135 Hypericum x desetangsii 64 Lady's smock 75Herb Robert 130 Hypericum x inodorum 64 Lady-fern 34Hesper/s matronalis 74 Hypericum perforatum 64 Lagarosiphon major 191Hieracium 181 Hypericum pu!chrum 65 Lamb's-ear 144Hieracium aurantiacum 179 Hypericum tetrapterum 64 Lamiastrum galeobdolon 145Hieracium boreale 181 Hypochaeris radicata 170 Lamium album 145Hieracium exotericum 181 Iberis amara 77 Lamium purpureum 146Hieracium murarum 181 !lex aquifolium 124 Lapsana communis 170Hieracium obliquum 181 Impatiens glandulifera 131 Large bindweed 139Hieracium perpropinquum 181 Impatiens parviflora 131 Large bittercress 75Hieracium pilosel/a 179 Imperforate St John's~wort 64 Large~flowered evening~primroseHieracium sabaudum 181 Indian balsam 131 123Hieracium trichocaulon 181 Indian rhubarb 87 Large~leaved lime 65Hieracium tridentatum 181 Intermediate polypody 31 Large-leaved whitebeam 107Hieracium umbel/atum 181 Intermediate water-starwort 151 Larix decidua 37Himalayan cotoneaster 108 Iris foetidissima 225 Larix kaempferi 37Himalayan giant 94 Iris pseudacorus 226 Larix x euralepis 37Himalayan honeysuckle 165 Iris versicolor 226 Larix x marschlinsii 37Himalayan knotweed 59 Isolepis setacea 199 Lathyrus latifolius 111Himalayan spiraea 88 Italian alder 52 Lathyrus linifolius 111Hirschfeldia incana 78 Italian lords-and-ladies 193 Lathyrus montanus 111Hjelmqvist's cotoneaster 108 Italian rye-grass 208 Lathyrus nissolia 112Hoary mustard 78 Ivy 132 Lathyrus pratensis 11 2Hoary plantain 152 Ivy-leaved bellflower 162 Laurus nobilis 39Hoary ragwort 187 Ivy-leaved crowfoot 42 Lawson's cypress 37Hogweed 135 Ivy-leaved duckweed 193 Least cud weed 182Holcus lanatus 213 Ivy-leaved speedwell 158 Least duckweed 194Holcus mol/is 213 Ivy-leaved toadflax 155 Least yellow-sorrel 128Holly 124 Jacob's~ladder 141 Lemna minor 193Hollyberry cotoneaster 108 Japanese knotweed 61 Lemna minuscula 194Hollyhock 66 Japanese larch 37 Lemna minuta 194Honesty 76 Jasione montana 162 Lemna trisulca 193Honeysuckle 166 Jointed rush 194 Lemon balm 148Hop 47 Juglans regia 48 Lemon-scented fern 33Hop trefoil 113 Juncus acutiflorus 195 Leontodon autumnalis 171Hordeum 218 Juncus acutiflorus x articulatus Leontodon hispidus 171Hordeum murinum 218 195 Leontodon saxatilis 171Hordeum secalinum 218 Juncus articulatus 194 Leontodon taraxacoides 171Hornbeam 52 Juncus bufonius 194 Lepidium sativum 77Horse-chestnut 127 Juncus bulbosus 195 Lesser broomrape 161Horse-radish 75 Juncus conglomeratus 196 Lesser burdock 168House-leek 86 Juncus effusus 195 Lesser butterfly-orchid 229Humulus /upu/us 47 Juncus inflexus 195 Lesser celandine 42Huperzia se/ago 28 Juncus lampocarpus 194 Lesser centaury 137Hyacinthoides hispanica 222 Juncus macer 194 Lesser hawkbit 171Hyacinthoides hispanica x non- Juncus x surrejanus 195 Lesser knotweed 59scripta 222 Juncus squarrosus 194 Lesser marshwort 134Hyacinthoides non-scripta 222 Juncus tenuis 194 Lesser periwinkle 138Hybrid birch 52 Juneberry 108 Lesser pond-sedge 202Hybrid black-poplar 70 Juniper 38 Lesser sea-spurrey 57Hybrid bluebell 222 Juniperus communis 38 Lesser skullcap 147Hybrid hawthorn 109 Keel-fruited corn-salad 166 Lesser spearwort 42Hybrid larch 37 Kerria 88 Lesser stitchwort 55Hybrid oak 50 Kerria japonica 88 Lesser swine-cress 77Hybrid skullcap 147 Kickxia elatine 155 Lesser trefoil 11 3

Leucanthemum maximum 186 Many-flowered rose 102 Monkey-flower 154Leucanthemum x superbum 186 Many-flowered wood-rush 197 Montbretia 226Leucanthemum vu/gare 185 Many-seeded go05efoot 53 Mantla fontana 54Leycesteria formosa 165 Many-stalked spike-rush 199 Mantia sib/rica 54Ligustrum ovalffolium 153 Marjoram 149 Moonwort 30Ligustrum vu/gare 153 Marsh arrowgrass 191 Moschatel 166Lilac 153 Marsh clubmoss 28 Mouse-ear 56Lily-of-the-valley 221 Marsh cud weed 182 Mouse-ear-hawk weed 179Lime 66 Marsh fern 32 Mousetail 43Linaria purpurea 155 Marsh foxtail 216 Mugwort 184Linaria vulgaris 155 Marsh gentian 137 Musk-mallow 66Ling 80 Marsh horsetail 29 Myceiis mura/is 173Unum catharticum 126 Marsh lousewort 160 Myosotis arvensis 143Linum usitatissimum 126 Marsh pennywort 132 MYDSOtis caespitosa 143Listera ovata 227 Marsh ragwort 187 MYDsotis discolor 143Lobelia 162 Marsh speedwell 157 Myosotis laxa 143Lobelia erinus 162 Marsh St John's-wort 65 Myosotis rep ens 143Lolium mu/tit/orum 208 Marsh thistle 169 Myosotis scorpioides 142Lolium perenne 208 Marsh valerian 167 Myosotis secunda 143Lo/ium temu/entum 208 Marsh violet 69 Myosotis sy/vatica 143Lonicera nitida 166 Marsh willowherb 122 Myosoton aquaticum 56Lonicera periclymenum 166 Marsh woundwort 144 Myosurus minimus 43Lords-and-Iadies 193 Marsh-bedstraw 163 Myrica gale 48Lotus cornicu/atus 110 Marsh-marigold 40 Myriophyl/um a/temif/orum 119Lotus pedunculatus 110 Mat-grass 206 Myriophy//um aquaticum 11 8Lotus uliginosus 110 Matricaria discoidea 186 Myriophyl/um brasiliense 118Lousewort 160 Matricaria matricarioides 186 Myriophyl/um spicatum 118Lucerne 11 2 Matricaria recutita 186 Myriophyl/um verticil/atum 118Lunaria annua 76 Meadow barley 218 Narcissus 224Lungwort 141 Meadow buttercup 40 Narcissus poeticus 224Lupinus x rega/is 114 Meadow fescue 207 Narcissus pseudonarcissus 224Luzula campestris 197 Meadow foxtail 215 Nardus stricta 206Luzu/a congesta 197 Meadow thistle 169 Narrow buckler-fern 36Luzula forsteri 196 Meadow vetchling 11 2 Narrow-leaved water-plantain 190Luzula forsteri x pi/osa 196 Meadowsweet 88 Narthecium ossifragum 221Luzula mu/tit/ora 197 Meconopsis cambrica 45 Nasturtium 131Luzu/a x borreri 196 Medicago arabica 11 2 Nasturtium officina/e 74Luzu/a pi/osa 196 Medicago /upulina 112 Neottia nidus-avis 227Luzula sylvatica 196 Medicago sativa 11 2 Nettle 48L ychnis cha/cedonica 58 Medium-flowered wintercress 74 New Zealand pigmyweed 85Lychnis flos-cucu/; 58 Me/ampyrum pratense 159 New Zealand willowherb 122Lycopodiel/a inundata 28 Me/ica unif/ora 211 Nipplewort 170Lycopodium c/avatum 28 Meli/otus a/bus 11 2 Nodding bur-marigold 189Lycopodium inundatum 28 Me/issa officina/is 148 Norway maple 127Lycopus europaeus 149 Mentha aquatica 150 Norway spruce 37Lysichiton americanus 192 Mentha aquatica x arvensis 149 Nuphar lutea 39L ysimachia nemo rum 83 Mentha arvensis 149 Nuttall's waterweed 191L ysimachia nummu/aria 83 Mentha x verticillata 149 Nymphaea alba 39Lysimachia punctata 84 Mentha pUlegium 150 Nymphoides pe/tata 141Lysimachia vulgaris 83 Mentha requienii 150 Oak 50Lythrum portu/a 119 Mentha spieata 150 Oat 212L ythrum sa/iearia 119 Mentha x villosa 150 Oblong-leaved sundew 67Madder 163 Menyanthes trifoliata 140 Odontites vemus 160Mahonia aquifolium 44 Mercuriall's annua 125 Oenanthe aquatica 133Maidenhair spleenwort 34 Mercuria/is perennis 125 Oenanthe crocata 133Male-fern 35 Michaelmas daisies 183 Oenothera erythrosepa/a 123Mallow 66 Midland hawthorn 109 Oenothera g/azioviana 123Maltese-cross 58 Milium effusum 206 Oil-seed rape 78Malus aggregate 106 Milkwort 127 Omalotheca sylvatica 182Ma/us domestica 106 Mimulus 154 Onoe/ea sensibi/is 34Ma/us sy/vestris 106 Mind-your-own-business 48 Ophiog/ossum vu/gatum 29Ma/va moschata 66 Moehringia trinervia 55 Opium poppy 44Ma/va neglecta 66 Moenehia erecta 56 Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrageMa/va sy/vestn's 66 Mo/inia caerulea 219 87251

252Orache 54 Petty spurge 125 Pontederia cordata 220Orange foxtail 216 Petty whin 117 Poppy 44Orchis latifolia 230 Phalaris arundinacea 214 Populus alba 69Orchis mascu/a 231 Phalaris canariensis 214 Popu/us deltoides x nigra 70Orchis morio 231 Pheasant's-eye daffodil 224 Populus nigra 70Oregon-grape 44 Phegopten's connectilis 32 POPUlU5 x canadensis 70Oreopten's limbosperma 33 Ph/eum bertolonii 216 POPUlU5 x canescens 70Origanum vu/gare 149 Ph/eum pratense 216 POPUlU5 x euramericana 70Ornithopus perpusillus 110 Phragmites australis 219 POPUlU5 tfemula 70Orobanche major 161 Phyllitis sc%pendrium 33 Portugal laurel 105Orobanche minor 161 Picea abies 37 Potamogeton berchtoldii 192Orobanche rapum-genistae 161 Pickerel weed 220 Potamogeton natans 192Orpine 86 Picris echioides 171 Potamogeton po/ygonifolius 192Osier 71 Pig nut 133 Potentilla anglica 99Osmunda regalis 30 Pill sedge 205 Potentilla anglica x rep tans 100Oval sedge 202 Pillwort 30 Potentilla anserina 99Oxalis acetosella 129 Pilosella aurantiaca 179 Potentilla erecta 99Oxalis articulata 129 Pilosella officinarum 179 Potentilla erecta x anglica 99Oxalis corniculata 128 Pi/ularia globulifera 30 Potentilla erecta x rep tans 100Oxalis europaea 128 Pimpinella saxifraga 133 Potentilla x mixta 100Oxalis exilis 128 Pineapple-weed 186 Potentilla x suberecta 99Oxalis stricta 128 Pinguicula vulgaris 161 Potentilla procumbens 99Oxeye daisy 185 Pink purslane 54 Potentilla recta 99Oxford ragwort 187 Pink snowberry 165 Potentilla rep tans 100Oxlip 83 Pink-sorrel 129 Potentilla sterilis 100Pale dog-violet 69 Pinus nigra 37 Prickly heath 80Pale persicaria 60 Pinus sylvestris 38 Prickly lettuce 172Pale sedge 205 Plantago coronopus 152 Prickly sedge 201Pale willowherb 122 Plantago lanceolata 152 Prickly sow-thistle 172Papaver rhoeas 44 Plantago major 152 Primrose 82Papaver somniferum 44 Plantago media 152 Primula x polyantha 83Parrot's-feather 118 Platanthera bifolia 229 Primula x tommasinii 83Parsley-piert 102 Platanthera chlorantha 229 Primula veris 83Parsnip 135 Plicate sweet-grass 211 Primula veris x vulgaris 83Pastinaca sativa 135 Plum 105 Primula vulgaris 82Peach 104 Poa annua 209 Privet 153Pear 106 Poa nemoralis 210 Procumbent pearlwort 57Pedicularis palustris 160 Poa pratensis aggregate 209 Procumbent yellow-sorrel 128Pedicularis sylvatica 160 Poa subcaerulea 209 Prunella vulgaris 148Pedunculate oak 50 Poa trivialis 209 Prunus avium 105Pencilled crane's-bill 130 Polemonium caeruleum 141 Prunus cerasifera 104Pendulous sedge 203 Policeman's helmet 131 Prunus domestica 105Pennyroyal 150 Polygala serpyllifolia 127 Prunus laurocerasus 106Pentaglottis sempervirens 142 Polygala vulgaris 127 Prunus lusitanica 105Pepper-saxifrage 134 Polygonatum multiflorum x Prunus persica 104Perennial cornflower 170 odoratum 222 Prunus serotina 105Perennial rye-grass 208 Polygonatum x hybridum 222 Prunus spinosa 105Perennial sow-thistle 172 Polygonum amphibium 60 Pseudofumaria lutea 45Perennial wall-rocket 77 Polygonum arenastrum 61 Pseudorchis albida 229Perforate St John's-wort 64 Polygonum aviculare 60 Pseudosasa japonica 206Pernettya mucronata 80 Polygonum bistorta 59 Pseudotsuga menziesii 37Persian ivy 131 Polygonum campanulatum 59 Pteridium aquilinum 31Persicaria amphibia 60 Polygonum convolvulus 62 Pulicaria dysenterica 182Persicaria amplexicaulis 59 Polygonum hydropiper 60 Pulmonaria officinalis 141Persicaria bistorta 59 Polygonum lapathifolium 60 Purple iris 226Persicaria campanulata 59 Polygonum minus 60 Purple loosestrife 119Persicaria hydropiper 60 Polygonum persicaria 60 Purple moor-grass 219Persicaria lapathifolia 60 Polygonum polystachyum 59 Purple toadflax 155Persicaria maculosa 60 Polyp odium interjectum 31 Purple-flowered raspberry 88Persicaria minor 60 Polyp odium vulgare 31 Pyramidal orchid 229Persicaria wallichii 59 Polypody 31 Pyrola rotundifolia 82Petasites fragrans 189 Polystichum aculeatum 35 pyrus pyraster 106Petasites hybridus 188 Polystichum setiferum 35 Quaking-grass 209Petasites japonicus 189 Pond water-crowfoot 43 Quercus cerris 50

Quercus ilex 50 Rorippa x ster/lis 74 Rubus largificus 97Quercus x rosacea 50 Ror/ppa sylvestris 75 Rubus lasiostachys 94Quercus petraea 50 Rosa 102 Rubus lentiginosus 91Quercus petraea x robur 50 Rosa arvensis 102 Rubus leucostachys 94Quercus robur 50 Rosa arvensis x stylosa 103 Rubus find/eianus 91Quercus rubra 51 Rosa canina 103 Rubus murrayi 97Radiala linoides 126 Rosa canina x obtusifolia 103 Rubus nemorosus 98Radish 79 Rosa glauca 103 Rubus nessensis 90Ragged Robin 58 Rosa m/erantha 104 Rubus newbridgensis 97Ragwort 187 Rosa multiflora 102 Rubus nut/ceps 96Ramping-fumitory 46 Rosa x dumetorum Thuill 103 Rubus odoratus 88Ramsons 223 Rosa x pseudorusticana 103 Rubus opacus 90Ranunculus Beris 40 Rosa abtus/folia 103 Rubus orbital/us 98Ranunculus aquat/lis 43 Rosa rublginosa 104 Rubus phaeocarpus 97Ranunculus bulbosus 41 Rosa stylosa 103 Rubus platyacanthus 91Ranunculus Hcaria 42 Rosa tomentosa 104 Rubus plicatus 90Ranunculus flammula 42 Rose 102 Rubus polyanthemus 92Ranunculus hederaceus 42 Rose~of-Sharon 63 Rubus procerus 94Ranunculus hirsutus 41 Rosebay willowherb 122 Rubus prolongatus 93Ranunculus lenormandii 42 Rough hawkbit 171 Rubus pseudobifrons 93Ranunculus lingua 41 Rough meadow-grass 209 Rubus pubescens 93Ranunculus omiophy//us 42 Round-leaved crowfoot 42 Rubus pyramidalis 91Ranunculus peltatus 43 Round-leaved dog-rose 103 Rubus rhamnifolius 92Ranunculus rep ens 41 Round-leaved fluellen 155 Rubus rhodanthus 91Ranunculus sardous 41 Round-leaved sundew 67 Rubus rhambifalius 91Ranunculus sceleratus 41 Round-leaved wintergreen 82 Rubus rogersii 90Raphanus raphanistrum 79 Rowan 107 Rubus rudis 97Raspberry 88 Royal fern 30 Rubus rusticanus 94Rat's-tail fescue 208 Rubus balfourianus 98 Rubus sciocharis 92Red bartsia 160 Rubus acutifrans 95 Rubus scissus 90Red bistort 59 Rubus adscitus 94 Rubus spectabilfs 89Red campi on 58 Rubus armeniacus 94 Rubus sprengelii 93Red clover 114 Rubus armipatens 93 Rubus sprengeliiflorus 98Red currant 85 Rubus arrhenHformis 89 Rubus suberectus 89Red dead nettle 146 Rubus babingtonii 97 Rubus subinermoides 93Red fescue 207 Rubus bertramii 90 Rubus sulcatus 90Red goosefoot 53 Rubus b/oxamii 96 Rubus surrejanus 94Red oak 51 Rubus brevistaminosus 93 Rubus thyrsiger 95Red valerian 167 Rubus britannicus 98 Rubus trichodes 95Red-leaved rose 103 Rubus caesius 98 Rubus tubercu/atus 98Red-osier dogwood 123 Rubus cantianus 96 Rubus ulmifolius 94Redshank 60 Rubus cardiophyllus 92 Rubus vestitus 95Reed 219 Rubus carpinifolius 91 Rubus vulnerificus 98Reed canary-grass 214 Rubus chloophVllus 91 Rubus wedgewoodii 95Reed sweet-grass 210 Rubus cissburiensis 92 Rum cherry 105Remote sedge 201 Rubus conjungens 98 Rumex acetosa 62Reseda luteola 79 Rubus decussatus 95 Rumex acetose/la 62Reynoutrfa japonica 61 Rubus dentatifolius 96 Rumex acutus 62Reynoutria sachaJinensis 61 Rubus dumnoniensis 92 Rumex conglomeratus 63Rhamnus frangula 126 Rubus fissus 90 Rumex crispus 62Rhinanthus minor 160 Rubus flexuosus 96 Rumex crispus x obtusifo/ius 62Rhododendron 79 Rubus foliasus 95 Rumex x pratensis 62Rhododendron luteum 79 Rubus fruticosus 89 Rumex obtusifolius 63Rhododendron panticum 79 Rubus fuscus 96 Rumex sanguineus 63Rhynchospora alba 200 Rubus gadronii 93 Ruscus aculeatus 225Ribes nigrum 85 Rubus hastiformis 95 Russell lupin 114Ribes rubrum 85 Rubus hirtus 95 Russian comfrey 141Ribes sanguineum 85 Rubus holerythrus 91 Rustyback 34Ribes uva-crispa 85 Rubus hystrix 97 Rye~grass 208Ribwort plantain 152 Rubus idaeus 88 Sagina apetala 57Rigid hornwort 39 Rubus imbricatus 91 Sagina procumbens 57Robinia pseudacacia 109 Rubus infestus 96 Sagina subulata 56Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 74 Rubus insectifolius 96 Sagittaria latifolia 190Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 74 Rubus laciniatus 91 Sagittaria sagittifolia 189253

254SalixSalix albaSa/Ix alba x baby/onicaSa/Ix audtaSalix aurita x caprea7070717272Salix aurita x cinerea 72Sallx caprea 71Sallx caprea x cinerea 72Sa/Ix caprea x viminalis 71Sa/Ix cinerea 72Salix fragilis 70Sallx x amhigua 73Salix x cap reo/a 72Sallx x multinervis 72Sa/Ix x re/chardti; 72Sa/Ix x sepu/cra/is 71Salix x sericans 71Sa/Ix repens 73Sa/Ix rep ens x aurita 73Salix triandra 71Salix viminalis 71Salmon berry 89Sambucus nigra 164Sand-spurrey 57Sanicle 132Sanicula europaea 132Saponaria officinalis 59Sasa pa/mata 206Sasaella ramosa 206Saw-wart 169Scaly male-fern 35Scarlet pimpernel 84Scented mayweed 186Scentless mayweed 186Schoenoplectus lacustris 199Scirpus caespitosus 198Scirpus fluitans 199Scirpus lacustris 199Scirpus pauciflorus 198Scirpus setaceus 199Scirpus sylvaticus 199Scleranthus annuus 57Scots pineScrophularia auriculataScrophularia nodosaScutellaria galericulataScutellaria galericulataScutellaria minorScutellaria x hybridaSea fern-grassSedgeSedum acreSedum album38154154146x minor1471471472102058686Sedum spurium 86Sedum telephium 86Self-heal 148Sempervivum tectorum 86Senecio aquaticus 187Senecio cineraria 186Senecio cineraria x jacobaea 186Senecio erucifolius 187Senecio jacobaea 187Senecio x albescens 187Senecio squalidusSenecio sylvaticusSenecio viscosusSenecio vulgarisSensitive fern18718818818834Serratula tinctoria 169Sessile oak 50Shallon 80Sharp-flowered rush 195Sharp-leaved fluellen 155Shasta daisy 186Sheep's sorrel 62Sheep's-bit 162Sheep's-fescue 207Shepherd's-purse 76Sherardia arvensis 163Shining crane's-bill 130Shore horsetail 29Short-fruited willowherb 122Short-styled field-rose 103Sibthorpia europaea 159Silaum si/aus 134Si/ene alba 58Silene dioica 58SI/ene latifolia 58Silene vulgaris 58Silver archangel 145Silver birch 52Silver hair-grass 213Silver ragwort 186Silverweed 99Sinapis alba 78Sinapis arvensis 78Sison amomum 135Sisymbrium officinale 73Sisyrinchium angustifolium 225S;syrinchium montanum 225Skullcap 146Slender parsley-piert 102Slender rush 194Slender soft-brome 217Slender speedwell 158Slender St John's-wort 65Slender trefoil 113Small balsam 131Small nettle 48Small pond weed 192Small sweet-grass 211Small toadflax 154Small water-pepper 60Small-flowered hairy willowherb120Small-flowered sweet-briar 104Small-white orchid 229Smaller cat's-tail 216Smooth hawk's-beard 179Smooth meadow-grass 209Smooth tare 111Smooth-stalked sedge 204Smyrnium olusatrum 133Snapdragon 154Sneezewort 184Snow berry 165Snowdrop 223SoapwortSoft rushSoft shield-fernSoft-bromeSolanum dulcamara5919535216138Solanum nigrum 138Soleirolia sole;rolii 48Solidago gigantea 183Solidago virgaurea 182Solomon's-seal 222Sonchus arvensis 172Sonchus asper 172Sonchus oleraceus 172Sorbus aria 107Sorbus aucuparia 107Sorbus cuspidata 107Sorbus ;ntermedia 107Sorbus torminalis 107Sorrel 62Southern marsh-orchid 231Sow-thistle 172Spanish bluebell 222Spargan;um emersum 220Sparganium erectum 220Spear mint 150Spear thistle 169Spear-leaved orae he 54Spear-leaved willowherb 121Spergula arvens;s 57Spergularia marina 57Spergularia rubra 57Spike-rush 198Spiked sedge 201Spiked water-milfoil 118Spindle 124Sp;raea 87Spiraea canescens 88Spiraea douglasii 87Spiraea douglasii x salicifolia 87Spiraea x pseudosalicifolia 87Spiranthes spiralis 228Spirodela polvrhiza 193Spotted medick 112Spotted-orchid 230Spring sedge 205Spurge-Iaurel 119Square-stalked St John's-wort 64Square-stemmed willowherb 121Squirrel-tail fescue 208Stachys arvensis 145Stachys bvzantina 144Stachvs officinalis 144Stachvs palustris 144Stachys sylvatica 144Stag's-horn clubmoss 28Star sedge 202Starfruit 190Steeplebush 87Stellaria alsine 56Stellaria gramineaStellaria holosteaStellaria mediaStellaria uliginosaSticky groundsel55555556188

Sticky mouse-ear 56 Thale cress 73 V/mus x hollandica 47Stinging nettle 48 Thalictrum aquilegiifolium 44 V/mus procera 47Stinking chamomile 185 Thelypteris limbosperma 33 Un branched bur-reed 220Stinking iris 225 Thelypteris pa/ustris 32 Upright brome 217Stone parsley 135 Thelypteris phegopteris 32 Upright chickweed 56Stork's-bill 131 Thelypteris thelypteroides 32 Upright hedge-parsley 136Stratiotes alaides 190 Thin-spiked wood-sedge 204 Upright yellow-sorrel 128Strawberry 100 Th/asp! arvense 77 Urtica dio/ca 48Succisa pratensis 167 Thorn-apple 138 Urtica urens 48Sugar-beet 54 Three-cornered garlic 223 Utricularia australis 161Sulphur clover 99 Three-nerved sandwort 55 Vaccinium myrtillus 82Sun spurge 125 Thuja plicata 37 Vaccinium oxycoccos 81Swedish white beam 107 Thunberg's barberrv 44 Valerian 167SWeet chestnut 49 Thyme 149 Valeriana dioica 167sweet vernal grass 214 Thyme-leaved sandwort 55 Valer/ana officinalis 167Sweet violet 67 Thyme-leaved speedwell 156 Valerianelfa carinata 166SWeet woodruff 163 Thymus praecox 149 Valerianelfa locusta 166Sweet-briar 104 Thymus pulegioides 149 Various-leaved water-starwortSwine-cress 77 Tilia x vulgaris 66 151Sycamore 128 Tilia platyphyllos 65 Velvet bent 215Symphoricarpos albus 165 Timothy 216 Verbascum thapsus 153Symphoricarpos x chenaultii 165 Toad rush 194 Verbena officinalis 144Symphoricarpos rivularis 165 Toadflax 155 Veronica agrestis 157Symphytum x uplandicum 141 Torilis japonica 136 Veronica anagal/is-aquatica 157Symphytum officinale 141 Tormentil 99 Veronica arvensis 157Symphytum orientale 142 Tragopogon pratensis 172 Veronica beccabunga 157Symphytum tuberosum 141 Trailing St John's-wort 65 Veronica chamaedrys 156Syringa vulgaris 153 Trailing tormentil 99 Veronica filiformis 158Tall fescue 207 Traveller's-joy 40 Veronica hederifolia 158Tall ramping-fumitory 46 Treacle mustard 73 Veronica montana 156Tall tutsan 64 Trichophorum cespitosum 198 Veronica officinalis 156Tamus communis 226 Trifid bur-marigold 189 Veronica peregrina 157Tanacetum parthenium 183 Trifolium arvense 114 Veronica persica 158Tanacetum vulgare 184 Trifolium campestre 113 Veronica polita 158Tansy 184 Trifolium dubium 11 3 Veronica scutel/ata 157Taraxacum 173 Trifolium hybridum 113 Veronica serpyllifolia 156Taraxacum alatum 177 Trifolium medium 114 Vervain 144Taraxacum amplum 177 Trifolium micranthum 11 3 Vetch 111Taraxacum ancistrolobum 176 Trifolium pratense 114 Viburnum lantana 165Taraxacum bracteatum 175 Trifolium rep ens 113 Viburnum opulus 165Taraxacum corynodes 178 Triglochin palustre 191 Viburnum rhytidiaphyllum 165Taraxacum ekmanH 176 Tripleurospermum inodorum 186 Vida cracca 110Taraxacum excellens 175 Trisetum flavescens 212 Vida faba 111Taraxacum gelertii 174 Triticum aestivum 219 Vida hirsuta 110Taraxacum hamatiforme 175 Tritonia x crocosmiiflora 226 Vicia sativa 111Taraxacum hamatulum 176 Tropaeolum majus 131 Vicia sepium 111Taraxacum hamatum 175 Tsuga heterophylla 37 Vida tetrasperma 111Taraxacum interveniens 177 Tuberous comfrey 141 Vinca major 138Taraxacum lacerifolium 178 Tufted forget-me-not 143 Vinca minor 138Taraxacum lancidens 176 Tufted hair-grass 213 Viola arvensis 69Taraxacum nordstedtli' 174 Tufted vetch 110 Viola canina 68Taraxacum ochrochlorum 178 Tunbridge filmy-fern 30 Viola lactea 69Taraxacum pal/idipes 178 Turkey oak 50 Viola x dubia 68Taraxacum pseudohamatum 175 Turnip 78 Viola odorata 67Taraxacum pulchrifolium 177 Tussilago farfara 188 Viola palustris 69Taraxacum quadrans 176 Tutsan 63 Viola reichenbachiana 68Taraxacum sinuatum 177 Twayblade 227 Viola reichenbachiana x rivinianaTaraxacum subbracteatum 174 Typha latifolia 220 68Taraxacum undulatum 178 Ulex europaeus 117 Viola riviniana 68Taraxacum unguilobum 174 Ulex gallii 118 Violet helleborine 227Taxus baccata 38 U/ex minor 118 Viper's-bugloss 141Teasel 167 Ulex nanus 118 Vu/pia bromoides 208Tellima grandiflora 87 Ulmus 46 Vulpia myuros 208T euerium scorodonia 147 Ulmus glabra 46 Wahlenbergia hederacea 162255

256Wall barley 218 Wood millet 206Wall cotoneaster 108 Wood sage 147Wall lettuce 173 Wood speedwell 156Wall speedwell 157 Wood spurge 125Wall-rue 34 Wood-sedge 203Walnut 48 Wood-sorrel 129Water chickweed 56 Woody nightshade 138Water figwort 154 Wrinkled viburnum 165Water forget-me-not 142 Wych elm 46Water horsetail 29 Yarrow 184Water mint 150 Yellow archangel 145Water soldier 190 Yellow azalea 79Water-crowfoot 43 Yellow centaury 136Water-crowfoot 43 ,Yellow corydalis 45Water-pepper 60 Yellow Ilag 226Water-plantain 190 Yellow iris 226Water-purslane 119 YellClw loosestrife 83Water-starwort 151 Yellow oat-grass 212Watercress 74 Yellow pimpernel 83Watercress 74 Yellow water-lily 39Waterer's cotoneaster 108 Yellow-flowered strawberry 100Wavy bittercress 76 Yellow-rattle 160Wavy hair-grass 213 Yellow-sedge 204Wayfaring-tree 165 Yellow-wart 137Weeping willow 71 Yew 38Weld 79 Yorkshire fog 213Welsh poppy 45 Zigzag clover 114Welted thistle 168Western gorse 118Western hemlock-spruce 37Western red-cedar 37White beak-sedge 200White bryony 69White campion 58White clover 113White comfrey 142White deadnettle 145White melilot 112White mustard 78White poplar 69White sedge 202White stonecrop 86White water-lily 39White willow 70Whitebeam 107Whitlowgrass 76Whorled mint 149Whorled water-milloil 118Wild privet 153Wild service-tree 107Wild strawberry 100Wild-oat 212Willow 70Wilson's honeysuckle 166Winter heliotrope 189Wintercress 74Wood anemone 40Wood avens 101Wood clubrush 199Wood cud weed 182Wood dock 63Wood forget-me-not 143Wood meadow-grass 210Wood melick 211

Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

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