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and by growing amongst tall grass. It is a poor competitor however, and eventually disappears in a
dense sward. It is able to establish itself in dry, bare, sun-baked sites which most oilier plants are
slow to colonise, giving it a temporary advantage.
Tordylium maximum is widespread in the Mediterranean countries of Europe, extending eastwards to
the Caucasus and northwards to Belgium, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Russia (W). It also occurs
in North Africa and South West Asia. Although regarded as native just across the channel in
northern France, making it highly probable that our Thames valley populations arc self-established,
the Belgian. German and Swiss populations are believed to be associated with human activity.
Similarly in this country, there has always been some doubt about the native status of Tordylium.
The fact that it is not a showy plant and unlikely therefore to have been deliberately introduced as an
ornamental; has not, as far as we are aware, been grown for culinary purposes; and is regarded as
native just across the channel in France, - all point to it having colonised the Thames valley without
the deliberate assistance of man. As only a botanist would be likely to distinguish it from similar
Umbellifers, it may well have been around more extensively in the Thames valley in former times,
and remained undetected. After all, a large dense colony of the showy Oenanthe pimpinelloides.
extending over at least a hectare of rough pasture, transected by a footpath, and only 600m from the
centre of Epping, remained undetected until 1984. If Tordylium was. initially, accidentally
introduced by man, then it seems strange that it developed such a scattered and persistent distribution
of thriving colonies along the Thames valley. Where it lias occurred as a definite casual elsewhere as
on the Isle of Wight (VclO) 1933; W. Sussex (Vc 13) 1931; S. Wiltshire (Vc 8) 1843/88; at Esher in
Surrey (Vcl7) 1871; and N.W. Yorkshire (Vc 62) 1931, its presence lias been ephemeral.
Now that its probable native status in the Thames valley has been given the cloak of respectability by
its acceptance as a red data book species, it is ironic that, due to loss of suitable habitat, it is unlikely
to survive in any quantity on Benfleet Downs without human help. It would not be surprising
however, if once established on some of our dry inhospitable motorway verges it found itself a new
niche, and the roadside colony north of Tilbury may well nucleate the process if the sequence of hot
summers continues. The recent find at Broom Hill suggests we should keep a look out for it over a
wider area.
References:
CHANDLER, T.J., 1965. The Climate of London. Hutchinson. London
CLEMENT, R.J. & FOSTER, M.C., 1994. Alien Plants of the British Isles. BSBI. London.
CROMPTON, G., 1974-86. Rare Plant Survey of East Anglia. Unpublished NCC report.
De CRESPIGNY, E.C., 1877'. A New London Flora. Hardwicke & Bogue. London.
DRUCE, G.C., 1897. The Flora of Berkshire. Clarendon Press. Oxford.
DRUCE, C.C, 1926. The Flora of Buckinghamshire. Buncle. Arbroath.
DRUCE, C.C, 1927. The Flora of Oxfordshire. Clarendon Press. Oxford.
JERMYN, S.T., 1974. Flora of Essex. Essex Naturalist Trust Colchester.
KENT, DTI, 1975. The Historical Flora of Middlesex. Ray Society. London.
MANLEY, G., 1964. South-Eastern England: Fluctuations of Climate. Guide to London Excursions - 20th
International Geographical Congress - London, edit: K.M.Clayton.
TUTIN, T.G., 1980. Umbellifers of the British Isles. BSBI Handbook No 2. London.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)