The Scarce Plants of Essex. Part 2.
167
secondary flowering plant hosts. Most commonly found in luxuriant nettle beds on the nitrogen rich
silt of river and stream banks, where its 1.0mm diameter stems (c.f. G epithymum only 0.1mm diameter)
form dense anastomosing networks between its host victims. Confined to England south east of a line
from the Severn to the Wash, and only confirmed in 45 hectads since 1970, out of an all time total of
120, reflecting a drastic decline, - especially across the south coast counties. It reproduces by seed
which is believed to be dispersed by water. It was found on the Essex side of the river Stour as numerous
large colonies in dense nettle beds, from Wormingford downstream to Dedham, in the 1980s, following
its discovery on the Suffolk bank by Nigel Cuming in 1973. Alan J Wake (1984) suggested that it might
have been introduced from a colony at Holywell in Huntingdonshire, via the Ely-Ouse water transfer
system, but on the other hand, Hind in his Flora of Suffolk, 1889 - records it extensively in southern
Suffolk, particularly at Semer and Hadleigh, only a few miles north of flie Essex colonies, which may
therefore have existed there for many years unnoticed.
All records:
TL(52)83 889,368 19 Lamarsh, Daws Hall NR. Pitmire Island, nr bridge on patch of
nettles c. 1 m across, also on Mentha aquatica and Artemisa vulgaris.
1993. Jeremy Ison.
TL(52)93 93,33 19 Wormingford, 1984. P Wilson.
93 ,33 19 Wormingford, 1988, Chris Gibson. 1996. RM
97.33 19 Wormingford, 1994, CNHM.
99 ,34 19 Boxted, 1986, Kate Rowland & Terri Tarpey.
TM(62)03 01,34 19 Boxted, 1984, Edward Benton; 1985, Alan J Wake.
017.342 19 Langham, abundant along the backwater stream, west of Valley
to 619,345 House, 1996, CNHS.
020,344 19 Langham, dense 30ft patch, by Stour. 1996. CNHS.
022.343 19 Langham, by Stour. 1996. CNHS.
03 ,33 19 Langham, 2 patches by Stour. 1997. Anne Guiver & Terri Tarpey.
03.34 19 Langham, 1988, Ian Rose.
03.35 19 Langham, 1988, Ian Rose.
04 ,33 19 Langham, 1988, Ian Rose.
04 ,34 19 Langham, 1988, Ian Rose.
040,343 19 Dedham, small amount by Stour, 1992, Anne Guiver & Margaret
Steggall.
048,333 19} Dedham, by Stour, 2 patches c.lm square,
049,333 19} Ann Guiver & Margaret Steggall.
06,33 19 Dedham, 1986, Ian Rose.
Cyperus longus L.
Status in Essex: Introduced. Rapidly spreading.
Galingale
This vigorous, sedge-like, rhizomatous perennial is supposedly native in marshes, by pond sides and
ditches near the south and west coasts of England. Although apparently declining in these areas, it has
spread explosively across southern England, particularly south east of the Severn-Wash line. Although
there is some doubt as to whether its seed ever sets in this country, it has been turning up in places that
it is unlikely to have been introduced, although many of the sites are clearly either deliberate (water
garden centres) or accidental introductions, involving transport of soil containing rhizome fragments.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)