27th May 2020 - Snippets of Wealth - Broad Buckler Fern, Angular Solomons Seal, Melick Grasses

Today (27th May 2020) was a check out in Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT).

Today I also recorded a further Small Bordered Fritillary in the lower part of Lancelot, also a Small Heath butterfly.

I decided to check out 5 populations of the Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomons Seal) and was caught out just how far on they had got. In the majority of cases the flower was already going over and you could see the small berry forming and starting to bulge from under the petals (see photos). Also another bonus was to find two new populations of ASS bringing my total survey now to 93 populations throughout Hutton Roof. 

One of the key species today had to be the rare hypericum montanum (Pale St John's Wort) which we are so fortunate to have one of our populations within Lancelot. It is a species that has been declining over the years, but we do seem to have hit lucky with ours at this spot for today I recorded 32 immature but sustainable plants which is marvellous in fact it will be a increase of 20 plus.  Interestingly a group of 6 which started to fail about 3 years ago have returned.

Also it was great to see Epipactis schmalhauseneii (orchid hybrid) number one has made it this year (so far) which now takes it into its 8th year that I am aware of.  It does look a little bedraggled and dry so I gave it a good drink of water, hopefully this may just help it a little. 

Red Campion

Red Campion

Red Campion doesnt it look similar to hirsutum

 Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Shows full plant with flower

Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth on 27th May 2020

  Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Shows flower

Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth on 27th May 2020

  Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Shows spent flower

Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth on 27th May 2020

  Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Shows leaf upperside

Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth on 27th May 2020

 Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)

Shows leaf underside

Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth on 27th May 2020

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler Fern)
Showing full plant
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler Fern)
Showing single frond
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler Fern)
Showing single frond
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler Fern)
Showing single frond
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler Fern)
Showing sori on underside of frond
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler Fern)
Showing sori on underside of frond
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

 Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomons Seal)
Showing the first stages of the berry forming under the spent flower
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth, 27th May 2020

Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomons Seal)
Showing the first stages of the berry forming under the spent flower
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth, 27th May 2020

Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomons Seal)
Showing the first stages of the berry forming under the spent flower
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth, 27th May 2020

Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomons Seal)
Showing the first stages of the berry forming under the spent flower
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth, 27th May 2020

Epipactis helleborine (Broad Leaved Helleborine)
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth on 27th May 2020

Hawkweed

In this little area on the limestone it shows, Herb Robert, Wall Lettuce, Rue Leaved Saxifrage,
Biting Stonecrop etc. Please make sure you click over to enlarge.

Pavement area working today

Another area working today

Epipactis atrorubens (Dark Red Helleborine)
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

The start of Galium sterneri (Limestone Bedstraw)
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Two lovely E. Helleborine (Broad Leaved Helleborine)
These will usually come through with Purpurea colourings
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth on 27th May 2020

Looking down the pavement just below the BAP Memorial Seat
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomons Seal)
Just a little more from yet another of out Lancelot populations
again note the berry starting to form
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Briza media (Quaking Grass)
Showing immature just breaking from Sheath
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Briza media (Quaking Grass)
Showing immature just breaking from Sheath
and note the strange spotted leaves as though orchid interaction
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Briza media (Quaking Grass)
Showing immature just breaking from Sheath
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Briza media (Quaking Grass)
Showing immature just breaking from Sheath
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Briza media (Quaking Grass)
Showing immature just breaking from Sheath
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Hypericum montanum (Pale St John's Wort)
Showing a small selection of plants all new this year
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Hypericum montanum (Pale St John's Wort)
Showing a small selection of plants all new this year
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Hypericum montanum (Pale St John's Wort)
Showing a small selection of plants all new this year
Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Now then what about this!!
Epipactis schmalhauseneii (hybrid No.1)
Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 27th May 2020

Looking a bit bedraggled and short of water, this is my first ever hybrid I found on Hutton Roof back in 2012, so its at leas 8 years old.  It never even appeared in 2019 (blamed 2018 drought).
I felt sorry for it yesterday and it got lucky with 1/2 my water bottle.....