Melampyrum cristatum txt

ESSEX BOTANY AND MYCOLOGY GROUPS

Melampyrum cristatum txt:

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Melampyrum cristatum L. Crested Cow-wheat __________________________________________________________________

BSBI SCARCE PLANT 0920.1255

[scroll down for records]

STATUS NOTES:

Native. Summer annual. Wood borders, scrub, green lanes, verges, and arable land margins, on calcium rich deposits, decreasing. An obligate hemiparasite of a range of woody and herbaceous plants associated with the margins and rides of ancient oak woodland, or on sites formerly bordering woodland. Seeds large and heavy, known to be dispersed by the Yellow Lawn Ant Lasius flavus at least in some areas. In Essex appears to replace M. pratense on superficial deposits over chalk. Typically a woodland annual with apparently long-lived double dormancy seeds that respond spectacularly to regular coppicing. For autoecology see Horrill, A.D. 1972 Journal of Ecology 60 235-244.

Now confined in Essex to the north-west, but formerly more widespread with records from Maldon, Gestingthorpe and until recently, Beckney Wood near Hockley. Very local in East Anglia and adjacent counties, formerly elsewhere, decreasing. Recorded from Herts., Bucks., Beds., Northants., Hunts., Cambs., East & West Suffolk, West Norfolk, Lincs., North Essex, and until recently South Essex. Nationally it has only been seen in 15 x 10km sqs since 1987 and so now qualifies for Red Data Book status.

CONSERVATION: Some sites are being conserved on roadside verge N.R's, and by arrangement with farmers around arable fields, but the woodland sites need management plans to ensure regular coppicing. We are not yet sure of the full distribution of this plant. Mapping its extent should be carried out as soon as possible with a view to developing a full conservation strategy. Many sites have not been checked recently.

POST 1930 RECORDS: Those in red not confirmed post 1990.
TL(52)42	49,27	19	Manuden, edge of cornfield. 1952. Bishops Stortford NHS.

TL(52)43	41 ,37	19	Lt. Chishill, lane just north of the church, 1972. Stanley T Jermyn
	?????	19	Lt. Chishill area, roadsides and hedges, 1958, Bernard T Ward.
	43 ,34	19	Langley, Lower Green, verges, 1972. Stanley T Jermyn.
		19	nr. Langley. 20 August 1933. J E Lousley. Herb.CGE. (BSBI list).
	433,348-433,349	19	Langley, Lower Green, patch over c.30m, east verge, 14 June 2003. Tony Morton. This patch confirmed, runs from just south of the east-west hedges. Also a new small patch found inside the arable field behind it at 38 paces south of the hedge boundary (Martin Heywood). EFC 10 August 2003.
	435,358	19	In ditch between 2 arable fields, with Common Spotted Orchid. 2004. Ken Rivett et al.
	435,358		Killem’s Green, Langley, south bank of deep east-west ditch, several plants, and 2 more at edge of arable field at the western end of the ditch. 19 June 2005. Kenneth J Adams & Martin Heywood.
	435,366	19	Along east-west footpath, just east of Chrishall Common track, 19 May 2006. Dominique Wallace.
	43 ,35	19	Killem’s Green, verges. 1972. Stanley T Jermyn.
	435,385	19	1 mile east of Gt. Chishill. field. Graham M S Easy. (BSBI list) date?
	450,358-451,358	19	Duddenhoe End, nr High Wood, continuous colony on east and south sides of road. Single small patches on west and north sides. 14 June 2003. Tony Morton. These patches confirmed, plus huge colony of what must be many thousands of plants along inside the south and east sides of the hedges, continuously from 4530,3580 west and then south to a point 25 paces north of the gateway at c. 4503,3568. Narrow 0.5m wide margin all along this arable field edge completely covered by the plants. No sign of any plants around the fields south or west of this field. 10 August 2003. EFC Cow-wheat survey.
	451,358	19	Duddenhoe Grange, Langley, abundant, south roadside, around bend, July 1986. Shirley Watson.
	453,357	19	Duddenhoe End, roadside near High Wood, 1971-1972. Joan E Mummery.
	452,358	19	Duddenhoe End, roadside verge nr High wood, abundant, June 1992. Dr Peter Ellis and ditto August 1992. Tim Pyner.
	459,360	19	Duddenhoe End, abundant 10 August 1985. Ruth Comfort.
	449,354	19	Duddenhoe Grange, 1971-1972. Joan E Mummery.
	449,355	19	ditto. 1971-1972. Joan E Mummery.
	450,355	19	ditto. 1971-1972. Joan E Mummery.
	450,357& 450,358	19	Duddenhoe grange, on Elmdon & Wenden Lofts parish boundary, both sides of road, (see site map).1978. John L Fielding and Kenneth J Adams.
	45, 38 or & 45 ,39	19	Chrishall, scarce, scrub near Park Wood, 1966-1968, Stanley T Jermyn.
	46 ,33?	19	Clavering, trackway to Clavering Farm from Ackrill, a few plants c. ½ way along on west side, 1984, John L Fielding. No sign of any plants along this lane, now flailed regularly along northern half, 10 August 2003. K J A et EFC.
	467,332	19	Clavering Place, north side of road. Aug 20 1984. Shirley Watson.
	467,332	19	Lane to Clavering Farm, John Fielding date ?
	472,349	19	Arkesden, Stephens's Lane, several patches along this old green lane, (see site map). August 1984. C Barclay, Ruth Comfort & Kenneth J Adams. Ditto, 16 August 1992. No sign at all. Tim Pyner, date?.
	481,355& 481,356	19	Newlands End, in Long Lane, 1971-1972. Joan E Mummery.
	463,361	19	Cooper's End, roadside verges, 1971-1972. Joan E Mummery.
			ditto. 22 July 1978. (see site maps) John L Fielding & Kenneth J Adams.
	464,363	19	Cooper's End, roadside verge, growing with Sulphur Clover, June 1992. Dr Peter Ellis.
			ditto. All flailed by 16 August 1992. Tim Pyner.
	464,365	19	Duddenhoe End, patch on west side of road just north of Cooper’s End, scattered plants plus large patch on east side. 14 June 2003. Tony Morton.
	46432,36226	19	Copper's End N.R. 20 plants in flower one side of lane, 10-15 the other, 24 May 2010. Claire Tancell.
	46442,36214	19	Copper's End N.R. 20-30 plants in flower. 24 May 2010. Claire Tancell.
	46437,36268	19	Copper's End N.R. 3 plants in flower.24 May 2010. Claire Tancell.
	46416,36360	19	Copper's End N.R. 60 plants in flower.24 May 2010. Claire Tancell.
	46416,36384	19	Copper's End N.R. 40-50 plants in flower 24 May 2010. Claire Tancell.

TL(52)44	43 ,42	19	Icknield Way, near Heydon, scarce, 1972, Stanley T Jermyn.

TL(52)53	502,334	19	Wicken Bonhunt, special verge UTT15. New patch by manhole cover. 24 June 2013. Tony Morton.
	50353,33600 & 50348,33543	19	Wicken Bonhunt, special verge UTT15. 2 large densely flowing patches. 31 May 2017. Ken Adams.
	50,33	19	Wicken Bonhunt, special verge UTT15. 26 May 2020. Jerry Lanfear,
		19	15 August 1954. fld. Douglas H Kent. (BSBI list).
	56 ,39	19	Walden (=Hills) Wood, open ride in coniferised woodland, (see site map). 1969. Kenneth J Adams.
	55,39 & 56 ,39	19	Whitehill Wood, road verge banks to south of, 1972. John L Fielding.
		19	ditto. 1984. (see site map). John L Fielding and Kenneth J Adams.
	560,393	19	Saffron Walden, 30 July 1955. field record.Ronald M Payne.(BSBI list).
	558,391-559,392	19	Saffron Walden, Ashdon Road verges just south of western half of Whitehills Wood (coniferized). Mostly on north verge (35m in all), scattered plants on south side. 14 June 2003. Tony Morton.
	571,391	19	Saffron Walden, 20m patch of strong plants, inside field hedge bordering west side of Redgates Lane, just south of Hills Wood. 14 June 2003. Tony Morton. Discovered by Heather Robinson from Sewards End. Confirmed, 17 August 2003. Very healthy patch up against hedge, 16 paces long and 27paces south from the Harcamlow Way style. KJA et EFC.
	571,389	19	Sewards End, west verge of Redgates Lane, Adrian Knowles 1994 (see map).
	572,389	19	Seward’s End, 6 small patches on west side from 27-37m south from bend in road, 14 June 2003. Tony Morton. Confirmed 17 August 2003. Patch 22 paces long and 50 paces from centre of bend in road. Verge now very narrow scrubbing over. Needs clearing back.
	575,350 & 576,350	19	nr. Debden airfield 1971, Joan E Mummery
	???	19	Wood 3 miles east of Saffron Walden, ( probably Little Hales), 1949. Francis Rose.
	???	19	Saffron Walden, several places!, roadside banks and field borders.1954-1956. J E Lousley, Douglas H Kent, Bernard T ward, Stanley T Jermyn.

TL(52)54	???	19	Hadstock-Ashdon, Essex Naturalist, 26. p.278. 1937.
	56 ,40	19	Great Hales Wood, inside edge of cornfield hedge to north of the wood, also on the verge opposite the wood, 1968 and 1969 (latter flailed in 1969). Kenneth J Adams and Janet M Adams. Now gone from both sites, no sign 17 August 2003. EFC. And Paul Howe-Browne says not seen for many years.
	57 ,41	19	Shadwell Wood, old railway trackside and bank after clearing, to thesouth of, 1972. Stanley T Jermyn.
	573,415-573,416		Still present, June 2003. One large 40m patch on NW side of rlw cutting opposite the top end of Shadwell Wood, several small patches on the SE side just north east of Shadwell Wood. Tony Morton.
	57 ,40	19	Little Hales Wood, 1968-1971 (much reduced 1971), Stanley T Jermyn. ditto. (see site map, where it was present in southern sector of wood). August 1969. Kenneth J Adams. Still present Simon Leatherdale, 2003. Also along track down to the wood Paul Howe-Browne.
	5778,4035	19	Little Hales Wood, small patch in well lit old ride among low bramble. August 2009. Ken Adams & Tony Morton.
	57, 40	19	Ashdon, 22nd August 1954. Bernard T Ward. EFCC herb. (BSBI list).
	5865,4027-5869,4099	19	Ashdon, 7 June 2017. 3 patches, two c.2m and one c.3m. north side of Water End Lane, Ashdon. Sharon Davy showed Ken Adams.

TL(52)62	63 ,27	19	nr. Lindsell, grassy bridleway crossing open field, c.40 plants 1989. Graham Smith.

TL(52)63	693,395	19	Steeple Bumpstead, Old Hall Wood. Franklyn H Perring.fld.(BSBI list).

TL(51)89	844,942	18	Hockley, Meadow nr. Beckney Wood, 1972. R Glover. ditto. 1 plant only, with Dactlorhiza fuschi (and formerly Orchis morio).22 August 1980. Roger G Payne. (Meadow now ruined by overgrazing and jumping props, probably now extinct comm. Kenneth J Adams).

PRE 1930 RECORDS:

TL(52)43	???	19	Little to Great Chishill. 28 June 1895. A S Shrubbs. Herb.CGE (BSBI list).
	c.49 ,31	19	Rickling, 13th July 1929. T J Fogget Durham. University Herb. (Monks Wood cards).
TL(52)80	c.83 ,04	18	Maldon, Hazeleigh Hall Wood, 14 September 1886. Essex Field Club Meeting, Essex Naturalist 2. p.240.
G S Gibson notes: "Woods and hedges"."It grows in shady hedges and often covers the ground in woods the year after the underwood has been cut"."This showy but very local plant quite takes the place of Melampyrum pratense in north-west Essex."

TL(52)vague		19	Walden, very abundant, George S Gibson (FLORA 1862)
		19	Saffron Walden, July 1847 (recorder?). Herb. HAMU.
			ditto. 1889. Rev. F R Tennant Herb. CGE.
TL(52)43		19	between Chrishall & Heydon, George S Gibson. (FLORA 1862).
TL(52)53		19	Debden, George S Gibson. (FLORA 1862).
		19	Debden, 1883. T L Bullock. Oxford Herb.
		19	Newport, George S Gibson. (FLORA 1862)
		19	Wimbish, George S Gibson. (FLORA 1862)
		19	Quendon. (FLORA 1862)
	50 ,34+	19	between Wicken and Rickling, (FLORA 1862)
TL(52)54		19	Hadstock, 1892. G H Bryan. Herb.NMW. (BSBI list).
		19	Ashdon, George S Gibson. (FLORA 1862)
TL(52)83	81 ,38+	19	Gestingthorpe, gathered in woods near, 1724. Samuel Dale.
(N.B. erroneously reported from TQ(51)59 578,992 Doddinghurst, road verge B L Coombes [=M. pratense ]. Adrian Knowles (ROAD VERGE N.R. DATA) (also deleted from Byrds Farm Lane, 543,395 in error for Stellaria holostea early in year Verge V47).