ESSEX BOTANY AND MYCOLOGY GROUPS
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ESSEX BOTANY AND MYCOLOGY GROUPS |
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Callitriche truncata:
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___________________________________________________________________________________________ Callitriche truncata ssp. occidentalis Guss Short-leaved water-starwort ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Essex status: New to Essex, spreading. A formerly rare native aquatic of southern England south of the 16oC July mean isotherm, which is now spreading rapidly. Its main strongholds are in the east midlands (Notts.,Lincs., and Leics.), plus a stable pocket in Somerset and a few scattered ephemeral records elsewhere. It has been found in 18 hectads in England and Ireland (one) since 1987.C. truncata lacks an emergent rosette, and has conspicuously small, (< 1.0cm) reddish-green leaves, and its mericarps are rounded on the back with no trace of a keel. In common with C. hermaphroditica, it lacks the peculiar peltate hairs, found on the leaf surfaces of all our other Callitriche species. First discovered new to Essex in 1988, in artificial lakes, it has since been found in the Chelmer & Blackwater canal (1998). It is said to be an early colonist of recently dredged, or newly created, base rich to slightly eutrophic waters. So far it has been found at eight sites in Essex and appears to be spreading. It seems likely that it is already more widespread and has been overlooked. [See article in Essex Field Club Bulletin (1988) 38: 41-42.] See illustration. If you find a colony please submit a living sample for confirmation. All records:
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