SBRS - Autumn Get Together

The Sussex Botanical Recording Society (SBRS) Autumn get together marks the end of my botonising efforts for the year.  There was a series of very interesting talks, a photo competition and much to interest and amuse.

Staplefield Village Hall, 27 October 2018

Bruce Middleton - Heaths of Sussex

Bruce talked about heathland and its species. One interesting section was about improving the habitat for invertebrates by scraping the heather turf off, forcing it to regrow.  This was actually done by golf clubs who were able to re-use the turf to create areas of heathland around their golf courses.

One thing that I had not realised is that healthland needs some disturbance to thrive. During World War II, Heathland was used for exercises, which provided some useful disturbance.

Churchyard Survey

Helen gave us an account of the Churchyard Survey including detail on a particularly good Burgess Hill churchyard.

Notable East Sussex Records 

Matt gave a very interesting talk about native and non-native plants that had been found in Sussex.  Fascinating though the natives are, it was the non-natives that got my attention. Everything from Gaura (Butterfly bush) to Datura (Angel's trumpets)

Field Bindweed

Field Bindweed, Uckfield Rugby Club, 1 July 2018

I'm sure that Mike talked about other things but it was the Field Bindweed that got my attention. Apparently there are 10 subvarieties with varying colours and patterns on the flower. For example some have a yellow middle and others additionally have a red zig-zag line round the centre.  When I surveyed the Uckfield Rugby Club field, I noticed that the Field Bindweeds had different patterns and colours but thought no more of it. .

Find of the year

One of the field trips turned up an unusual discovery. The group found Great Pignut (Bunium bulbocastanum), which has never previously been recorded in Sussex. It has been recorded in the Chilterns and Northern France but never in between.  In its normal habitat, it grows in disturbed places such as verges and as an arable week.

Distinguishing features:

• Bracts and Bracteoles
• Fruit has a swollen stylopolium

Arthur's questions

Arthur had made some observations in his own garden including

• Coral root - the roots actually look like coral
• Oxalis - leaves turn pink when ants are present (similarly bluebell flowers turn pink)

An unexpected pleasure

St Marks wall paintings.

After the meeting, while I was waiting for the car park to clear, I took a look at the church. St. Marks was built in 1847. The charming wall paintings are by the Victorian stained glass designer Charles Eamer Kempe. 

Useful links

• Species of the month
• SBRS web site