138 Saltmarsh Goosefoot at Old Hall Marshes
Quantities
The quantities recorded were purely subjective and can only be a guide. The approximate
measurements used were:
common = approx. 51 + plants per 10 m2; shown as squares on map
frequent ~ approx. 11 to 50 plants per 10 m2; shown as diamonds on map
occasional _ approx. 1 to 10 plants per 10 m2; shown as triangles on map
Note: the plots on the map cover each 100 m2. Due to the scale of the plots, there may be many
records within the 100 m2 at differing densities. The plots are shown as common taking precedence
over frequent which takes precedence over occasional. Compartment numbers are shown only for
those compartments mentioned in the text.
In the large area of goosefoot in the south east of compartment 9, Saltmarsh Goosefoot was commonly
interspersed with Red Goosefoot. At one point a rough count was made of approximately 5 m2
where the flora was composed wholly of goosefoots: Saltmarsh Goosefoot comprised between 1
and 2% of all the goosefoots present.
Quantities were without doubt underestimated. Only plants where identification was confirmed have
been mapped; there were many plants which were too young to determine or which had been grazed.
Chenopodium chenopodioides - Saltmarsh Goosefoot
Observations and discussion
1. Saltmarsh Goosefoot occurs on barish mud created when the water levels drop in summer
along the creeks running through rough grazing and at the edges of fleets.
2. Three patterns of distribution were observed, depending upon the topography :
a. at a particular point along a creek where conditions arc optimum. Red Goosefoot appears
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)