The Higher Plants of Hylands Park
Some Noteworthy Plants
Chara globularis Recorded from the Swan Pond in July 2002.
Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern) Originally six clumps of this fern grew in the formal gardens lake
- of these, five are now dead and the sixth is producing very few fronds. A single small plant was
noted on the bank of the Serpentine Lake.
Polypodium sp. (Polypody) Three small immature plants of polypody were found growing on a
nearly prostrate living hawthorn trunk in dense scrub just cast of South Wood in 2001. By December
2002. they had still not produced sori and hence it has not been possible to determine the species.
Polystichum setiferum (Soft Shield Fern) Found in South Wood in small numbers in 2002.
Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield Fern) A single plant found in March 2003 in the Lower
Belt. There is a c. 1980 record for South Wood.
Ranunculus sardous (Hairy Buttercup) This bizarre record is from Ventrises Field, one of the
'new' hay meadows in the north part of the park. Usually a species of estuarine grazing marsh, it
turned-up with Trifolium resupinatum (Reversed Clover) by a track way across the field in 2001
and 2002.
Montia fontana (Blinks) Uncommon in Essex, but found in three places in the formal gardens area
in 2002 - mainly in imported gravel on a path, but also in areas of lawn.
Ononis repens (Common Rest harrow) Typically a plant of the chalky boulder clay, this species
occurs on the London Road verge at its southern-most end, in some quantity, recorded 2001 and 2002.
Sorbus torminalis (Wild Service) Mature but small trees have been found in South Wood, Tower
Belt, Lower Belt and Lightfoot Spring. It is classically a species of ancient woodland often found
on boundary banks.
Daphne laureola (Spurge Laurel) Another plant of the till, this species occurs in some quantity in
the Tower Belt, South Wood and Pigeon Plantation.
Viscum album (Mistletoe) Most frequent on Lime (Tilia x vulgaris) at Hylands, one tree of which
is more like a mistletoe tree. Other trees parasitised include Hawthorn, Hybrid Poplar, Birch and
Red Horse Chestnut.
Conopodium majus (Pignut) Surprisingly widespread at Hylands, mainly in grass, but occasionally
in woodland. It is frequent on the north-western margin of the Lake Field and by the main gate car
park. An indicator species for old grassland.
Silaum silaus (Pepper Saxifrage) Much declined in Essex with the destruction of its old grassland
habitat. At Hylands I have only ever found a single plant in the Ha-Ha ditch.
Calluna vulgaris (Heather) Noted as three tiny plants in the acid grassland area in the formal
gardens in 2001 and flowering once protected from mowing in 2002. This species, with others such
as Galium saxatile (Heath Bedstraw), Carex ovalis (Oval Sedge), the moss Polytrichum juniperinum
and the wasp Astata boops, may indicate a tiny fragment of relict heathland (rather like Galleywood
Common).
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Essex Parks: Section 2 - Hylands Park