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The Essex Naturalist
R. subinermoides Druce - Scattered down the east side of the forest from the
Low Forest to Sandpit Plain. A widespread endemic in southern England.
R. surrejanus W.C. Barton & Riddelsd. - New to Essex. One clump
discovered in the Lower Forest, TL4603. An endemic, widespread in southern
England.
R. tuberculatus Bab. - Powell's Forest, TQ4094 and 4194 is the only locality
discovered. Widespread in Britain and north-west Germany.
R. ulmifolius Schott - Scattered and mainly around the forest margins. The
common hedgerow blackberry of southern Britain and southern continental
Europe, extending to North Africa.
R. vestitus Weihe in Bluff & Fingerh. - Common throughout the forest and
locally co-dominant. Common throughout Britain except for Scotland. Also
present in western and central Europe.
R. watsonii W.H. Mills - New to Essex. Hill Wood, TQ4097. There may be
other sites, as the species was not recognised until after field work had been
completed. A regional endemic from the east Midlands to Hertfordshire.
R. winteri P.J. Muell. Ex Focke - New to Essex. One clump at the entrance to
Bell Common, TL4401. Scattered in Britain, mainly in the Midlands. Also
present in south-west Germany and north-west France.
R. wirralensis A. Newton - One good colony at Broadstrood, TQ4398.
Widespread and formerly regarded as endemic in western Britain, but becoming
increasingly recognised elsewhere.
In addition, an as yet un-named species was found to be frequent in the southern
part of the area surveyed. This regional endemic which has now been found in
scattered colonies roughly from the Humber to the Thames will, it is hoped,
shortly be named in the journal Watsonia (A L Bull in prep.).
Acknowledgements
My thanks are due to the Superintendent of Epping Forest and to the
Conservation Officer, Dr J. Dagley for permission to use my notes collated for
Forest conservation purposes in the preparation of this paper. I would also like to
thank the National Referee, Mr Alan Newton, for his help with identifying
specimens and for encouraging me to write the paper in the first place.
References and bibliography
Edees, E. S., & Newton, A., 1978. Amendments to the British Rubus list. Watsonia 12: 1 33-136.
- , 1988. Brambles of the British Isles. Ray Society.
Rackham, O, 1986. The history of the countryside. Dent.
Rogers, W. M., 1900. Handbook of British Rubi. Duckworth & Co.
Watson, W.C.R., 1958. Handbook of the Rubi of Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University
Press.