initial stages of colonisation, producing several generations in one year, but are unable
to compete against the more vigorous species present. They disappear quickly from the
area, as has happened in Lords Bushes, where I now find only the odd plant of
groundsel growing, usually at the side of a path-way, and no petty spurge.
A number of species are of foreign origin. I was pleased to note the presence of five
plants of gallant soldier (Galinsoga parviflora) in 1977, an uncommon weed originally
from South America. Canadian fleabane (Conyza canadensis), a North American weed,
and Oxford ragwort (Senecio squalidus), originally from volcanic slopes in the
Mediterranean, region are two species that became common on the bomb sites of World
War II London and are obviously well suited to the burnt and disturbed area of Lords
Bushes.
GARDEN ESCAPES. The suburban areas which surround Lords Bushes have provided
the source of a number of species, among them, cabbage (Brassica oleracea), flowering
currant (Ribes sanguineum), gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa), strawberry (Fragaria x
ananassa) and columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris). Many of these will have been transported
by birds but local people have planted species such as daffodil (Narcissus sp.) and
scattered seeds of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) on the burnt and disturbed area.
NATIVE TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES. This section includes only those that occur as
seedlings and saplings and does not include the mature oak. hornbeam or other species
that survived the drought and clearance.
Goat willow (Salix caprea) and birch (Betula spp.) are the major species of tree on
this area, both species, as adults, produce many thousands of wind blown seeds and this
probably accounts for their abundance on the burnt and disturbed area. Other native
species occurring as seedlings include aspen, oak, beech and hornbeam usually in low
numbers but oak is locally plentiful as a seedling, in some places the small seedlings
carpeting the ground.
NATIVE HERBACEOUS PLANTS. This group of plants have provided some of the
most interesting records. Undoubtedly a number of species in this group originated from
the adjacent, undisturbed grassland. Among these are heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile)
sheeps sorrel (Rumex acetosella) and heath grass (Sieglingia decumbens). (I have found
only one tussock of the latter on the burnt and disturbed area and it is only a little more
frequent in just two or the patches of undisturbed grassland). Others have undoubtedly
originated outside Lords Bushes, among these are lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea),
reed-mace (Typha latifolia) and bur-marigold (Bidens tripartita) the latter two species
and a few others such as the buttercup (Ranunculus flammula), the uncommon (in
Essex) water pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) and flote-grass (Glyceria fluitans) have
all benefited from the generally wet conditions that have prevailed for much of the years
1977-1979. In contrast, the dry well-drained gravels exposed in places by the heavy plant
during clearing, has provided habitat for an uncommon vetch, birdsfoot (Ornithopus
perpusillus), which I found in just one confined area, though there were a number of
plants.
Perhaps the most botanically interesting group of plants are Juncus (Rushes) and
Carex (Sedges). Neither of these genera were well represented in Lords Bushes prior to
1976 yet now nine species of Carex are to be found on the burnt and disturbed area and
six species of Juncus are to be found here. In the Flora of Essex (34) the only sedge to be
recorded for Lords Bushes was black sedge (Carex nigra). Some of the sedges recorded
are among the rarest to be found in Essex including star sedge (Carex echinata) and
straight-beaked sedge (Carex demissa). I have recorded only a few specimens of each of
these species on the burnt and disturbed area. Their appearance cannot satisfactorily be
explained by bird transport or human introduction either deliberately or by chance. I
feel that the only plausible explanation is that the seeds of these species have remained
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