42
BOTANY GROUP MEETING. ALPHAMSTONE.
4TH JUNE, 1988
The day turned out to be mainly wet with a
number of showers which discouraged close
examination of specimens. Eight members of
the Field Club started the day near a colony of
Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus) outside
Alphamstone church. The churchyard itself had
been cut and provided nothing of great
interest, except a hedge of Butcher's Broom
{Ruscus aculeatus). The roadside verges
were more interesting yielding Shining
Cranesbill {Geranium lucidum), Rough Chervil
(Chaerophyllum temulentum), Alkanet
(Pentaglottis sempervirens), White Comfrey
(Symphytum orientale) and the Great Horsetail
(Equisetum telmateia) amongst many other
species. An excursion along a footpath around
a field of rye yielded Black Twitch
{Alopecurus myosuroides), Hemlock {Conium
maculatum), Musk Mallow (Malva moschata),
Common Stork's Bill (Erodium circutarium) and
Bur Chervil (Anthriscus caucalis).
The day was spoilt by the weather and a lack of
well marked footpaths, most of which proved
very difficult to follow, but nevertheless 86
species were recorded.
TONY BONIFACE