11.
something of a
mystery.
Apparently
Decticus albifrons
takes some two years
to develop from its
egg and may have
arrived in this country anything up to several years
ago.
SOME PLANTS ON TIPTREE HEATH
Essex is not greatly endowed with heathland habitats,
so that our visit to Tiptree on 27th July provided a
welcome chance to examine some of the plants. The
area is in the early stages of being colonised by birch.
If you looked closely you would have found two species
of this tree; one had hairy twigs with evenly toothed
leaves (Betula pubescens) and the other had warty twigs
with leaves that had longer drawn out points as well as
large and small teeth (Betula pendula.) Other less
typical trees of oak, willow and hawthorn were also
present.
Between the young trees gorse (Ulex europaeus) was
growing, and our walk was punctuated by the sound of
exploding pods as the fruit of this member of the pea
family (Papilionaceae) dispersed its seeds in the hot
weather. Amongst the gorse were luxuriant growths of
bracken (Pteridium aquilinum). In places blackberries
were producing their fruits, but most of these were
unripe and so the gastronomes amongst us were delighted
to find ripe raspberries (Rubus idaeus) which tempted
us to aid their dispersal in a different manner.
On a lower level the members of the heather family
(Ericaceae) were to be found. Most common was the ling
(Calluna vulgaris) with its leaves in opposite pairs.
The bell heather (Erica cinerea) has leaves in whorls
of three which distinguishes it from the cross leaved
heath (Erica tetralix) which has its leaves in whorls