36
BOTANY GROUP MEETING AT DEBDEN WATER -
9th June, 1984 LEADER JOHN FIELDING
Interesting plants observed on this outing
included Dame's Violet (Hesperis matronalis)
which is a garden escape naturalized in the
area. Some unimproved meadows were examined and
Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor), Early Forget-
me-not (Myosotis ramosissima), Field Madder
(Sherardia arvensis), Woolly Thistle (Cirsium
eriophorum), Stemless Thistle (Cirsium acaule)
and Slender Brome (Bromus lepidus) were found.
One plant of Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum
umbellatum) was seen in full bloom. Smith's
Pepperwort (Lepidium heterophyllum) was also
recorded.
Some early fungi were noted including Dryad's
Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) and Pleurotus
cornucopiae. This relative of the Oyster
Mushroom was growing on elm stumps and was
inhabited by a colony of black and yellow
beetles which were later identified by Ian
McClenaghan as Mycetophagus quadripustulatus .
TONY BONIFACE
A REPORT ON A RAMBLE AT LITTLE LEIGHS -
23rd June, 1984
A small group left the Church car park at about
10.50 a.m. and from the Stone Bridge in Rectory
Lane followed the River Ter through dense under-
growth to Leighs Hall where we joined the road
almost at Court Hill. Here we followed the
footpath down to the river meadow and crossed
over again to climb up to the trout pond and
join the Felsted road. At Breams Corner we saw
the recently converted Breams Barn, the subject
of some controversy in planning circles.