The Essex Naturalist 123
Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw - Component of short turf.
Hyacinthoides non-scriptus Bluebell - Stunted plants with leaves flat against the ground, an
unusual sight in the open on the top of Broom Hill.
Lamium amplexicaide Henbit - A common annual on sandy disturbed ground near rabbit
burrows or eroding cliffs in the quarry. Several other annuals associated with this habitat.
Lathyrus nissolia Grass Pea - Hall Hill.
Lotus corniculatus Bird's Foot Trefoil - Abundant, the food plant of common blue
butterfly.
Medicago lupulina Spotted Medick - Locally dominant, especially at base of the hills where
quite lush.
Montia fontana Blinks - Abundant on the slopes of Broom Hill in spring.
Myosotis discolor Changing Forget-me-not - Short sandy turf.
M. ramossissima Early Forget-me-not - Short sandy turf.
Oenanthe lachenalii Parsley Water Dropwort - Hall Hill.
Onopordon acanthium Scotch Thistle - A common and conspicuous plant on disturbed sandy
ground.
Ornithogalum angustifolium Star of Bethlehem - Almost certainly native, one of three
bulbous plants. The summit of Broom Hill.
Ornithopus perpusillus Bird's Foot - Common in dry sandy turf and in gravel pit.
Potentilla argentea Hoary Cinquefoil - Frequent in short, sandy turf. A very local plant in
Essex.
Rosa rubiginosa Sweet Briar - A flourishing bush on the south edge of the quarry.
Rumex pulcher Fiddle Dock - Common here, but uncommon in Essex.
Scleranthus annua Annual knawel - Hall Hill.
Saxifraga granulata Meadow Saxifrage - Common on the top of Broom Hill and at least
formerly, in the churchyard at West Tilbury, indicator of ancient pasture. Most frequent
around base of Hawthorn bushes.
Scilla autumnalis Autumn Squill — The most special plant, found only on Broom Hill and
Orsett golf course in Essex and one of only three localities in S. E. England. [SCARCE]
Spergularia rubra Sand Spurrey - Common in very short turf and gravelly exposures.
Teucrium scorodonia Wood Sage - Large patches amongst Broom and Bramble on the slopes
of Broom Hill.
Trifolium species - Eight species of Clover or Trefoil have heen found. These are T. arvense
(Hare's Foot Trefoil), T. campestre (Hop Trefoil), T. micranthum (Slender Trefoil), T. repens
(Dutch Clover), T. striatum (Soft Trefoil), and the rarest of all T. subterraneum
(Subterranean Clover) which is common on southern slopes.
Invertebrates
The richness of the invertebrate fauna, especially from Broom Hill and Hall Hill
rivals and perhaps even surpasses that of the flora. In particular the old quarry
and the south-facing scarp slope on Broom Hill has proved to be very
productive, especially tor burrowing aculeates (Hymenoptera). Recording and/or
determination have been undertaken by the following: