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Parndon Wood Reserve, the party explored
nearby Latton Common and Latton Park instead.
Latton Common has apparently been ploughed
at some time and seems to be largely
secondary grassland. Some eleven mundane
species of grass and twenty one herbs were
identified on the common. Where it rose
towards Latton Park and Mark Bushes in the
south, a hillocky area with colonies of
Luzula campestris, Potentilia erecta (Tor-
mentil), Rumex acetosella (Sheep's Sorrel),
Carex ovalis and C. hirta gave a 'heathy'
aspect. In a damp hollow a colony of the
moss Aulacomnium palustre (gemmiferous form)
suggested that water was seeping to the
surface all year round.
The large pond on the southern edge of the
common was almost choked by Elodea nuttallii,
but Ranunculus peltatus, Potamogeton
crispus, P. natans and Lemna minor held their
own. Around the margins Alisma plantago-
aquatica and Eleocharis palustris interspersed
patches of Salix cinerea subsp. cinerea and
S. caprea .
The southern and south-eastern margins of the
common have become encroached by scrub, but
on the grassy slope in the south-east corner
a patch of Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor),
turned out to be a new record. Several
patches of Tansy also occurred in this area.
Along the northern margin of Latton Park
Dogwood, Guelder Rose and Hornbeam belayed
its former broadleaf status. In the small
pond in the arable field near the north-east
corner of the woodland a colony of Ranunculus
aquatilis with its smaller flowers, circular
nectaries and cuneate floating leaf segments
enabled members of the party to compare it