An update on the distribution of the Oxlip Primula elatior (L.) Hill in Essex
Discussion
Sixteen sites were surveyed in 2003. Six of these were sites that could not be surveyed in detail in
2002. Three of these were woodlands of particular interest since they were visited by Miller Christy
during the last quarter of the 19th century. Although Christy docs not comment on the number of
plants on these sites, they must have contained reasonable populations to warrant being mentioned
in his papers. In Pounce Hall Wood he studied pollination of Oxlips, Grimsditch Wood he cited as
a good site for Oxlip / Primrose Primula vulgaris hybrids (P. x digenea A. Kerner), and in Madge
Hobbs Wood he found Oxlip / Cowslip Primula veris hybrids (P. x media Peterm/ Each of these
woods now have less than 100 plants, mainly due to conifer planting in Pounce Hall, and a
combination of deer and neglect in the other two sites.
It is particularly interesting that no Primroses were found in Grimsditch and yet some Oxlips remain.
At the time that Christy studied Grimsditch he was sure that the Primrose was hybridising the Oxlip
into extinction on sites where the two plants occurred together. To prove the point he planted a
number of Primroses amongst the Oxlips in Peverels Wood, Wimbish, in the belief that they would
expand and progressively replace the Oxlip. Several searches over the last 50 years (Woodell
1969), including our own, have failed to find any trace of primroses in Peverels Wood, and modern
ecologists do not believe there is any evidence to support Christy's theory (Rackham 1999). The
disappearance of the Primrose from Grimsditch Wood appears to support their view.
No evidence could be found of the rare Oxlip / Cowslip hybrid in Madge Hobbs Wood. Scales
Grove is also interesting in that the Oxlip population here seems to have increased significantly in
recent years, particularly in that part of the wood that has been replanted with broadleaves following
storm damage in 1987. This underlines the fact that the light / shade regime is critical if Oxlips are
to prosper. Historically, when traditional coppice management was the norm, it is probable that the
balance between light and shade was optimal.
Of the 10 new sites never before visited, seven were found to contain Oxlips, one had false Oxlips
P. x polyantha Miller, and the last no Primulas at all. The two woodlands at Manuden contained
good populations of Oxlips, and it is remarkable that they do not appear to have been surveyed
before. Four of the new sites were field edges or ditches in areas where the Oxlip grows in local
woodlands. Where Oxlips grow on the edge of ditches there is usually only a handful of plants, and
these are highly threatened by farming operations.
Those interested in the Oxlip will be pleased to know that a Flora Recovery Programme is progressing
under the auspices of the County Biodiversity Action Plan. Carefully selected management
procedures will be applied at four key sites that have been subject to detailed survey this year
(2003). The effects on Oxlip populations will be monitored over the next four years.
References
RACKHAM, O. (1999) The woods 30 years on: where have the Primroses gone? Nature in
Cambridgeshire 41: 73-87.
TABOR, R. (2002) The distribution of the Oxlip Primula elatior (L.) Hill in Essex. Essex Naturalist (New
series) 19: 113-134
WOODELL, S.R..I. (1969) Natural hybridisation in Britain between Primula vulgaris Huds, (tbe Primrose)
and Primula elatior (L.) Hill (the Oxlip). Watsonia 7: 115-127
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