New Flora of Sussex Report - March 2009

1. New Flora of SussexReport - March 2009

2. General comment We are doing pretty well but: We only have 2 more years to complete the bulk of the recording and we still have a lot to do to get the level of coverage we want (see later comments). We cannot afford to leave things to the last moment

3. March 2009

4. More detail • Records • On the computer: 252,300, up from 213,600 in early March 2008 (i.e. ~38,700 new records). • Tetrads (Figures in blue are for last year, March 2008): • 29 have >400 records ( 12 ) • 207 have 300 to 400 (139) • 581 have 200 to 300 (412) • Only 10 have < 100 records

5. Species accounts Some interesting distribution patterns are emerging: e.g. Verbascum nigrum. Why not E.Sussex? Not so odd if you look at National picture So far draft accounts written for over 1050 species Drafts done for many large groups e.g. Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Orchidaceae Drafts complete for some difficult groups e.g. Hieracium, Salix Work in progress on Cyperaceae,Juncaceae & Poaceae

6. Where are the introductions? Fraction of native species per tetrad 55% 75% 85% 95%

7. 2008 - interesting records • Equisetum sylvaticum By Bluebell railway P.J.Acock • Saxifraga tridactylites Robertsbridge SBRS Many already mentioned at autumn meeting, here are some more examples • Galium parisiense Patcham A.Spiers • Gnaphalium sylvaticum Scotland Knob P.Whitcomb • Polygonum rurivagum Sovereign Harbour A.Spiers • Prunus cerasus Near Cross in Hand D.Streeter • Prunus cerasus Arlington J.Sellens • Verbascum pulverulentum Adsdean M.Shaw • A full list will appear in the May Newsletter

8. 2009 - general recording Areas most in need of attention: Take no. of records in all tetrads to over 200 and get over 400 tetrads to 300 or more (currently 236).

9. 2009 - Refinding old records • We need to do a lot of work to try to refind species which have apparently declined • An Excel file will be available on the web site. • Paper lists for any 10km square can also be supplied to those without internet access (examples for a few are available today). • Please let us know which squares you would be prepared to search • Sending in refound records • When sending in small numbers of records (e.g. for refound species) there is a tendency to hide them in the middle of letters or emails and often some piece of data is missing. • Please use the standard forms wherever possible (ideally the Excel recording card) as it makes it less likely that information is omitted and makes the data far easier to process. • Otherwise, please separate the records out at the end of the email or letter

10. Problem areas The weakest part of our recording so far has been the critical groups: Hieracium, Rubus & Taraxacum • Hieracium • Need to identify more records at species level (i.e. not just Hieracium agg.). Rod Stern is happy to act as referee and identify specimens. Only collect specimens if colony size permits. • We also to need refind a number of old Hieracium records • Rubus • We have enlisted the help of an expert (David Allen) who is willing to make a few visits to Sussex. However he is busy with other projects so we will only be able to achieve a very sparse sampling. • Taraxacum • We cannot record these at species level. Therefore will as many of you as possible try to identify them at Section level. Use the keys in Stace or BSBI Dandelion Handbook. At section level they are no more difficult than many other groups. • Many (but not all) of our robust plants belong to Sect. Ruderalia. Look out especially for the more delicate plants

11. Recording request Wherever possible please record specific species/sub species for the following rather than just agg.. Sometimes you can't tell but in many cases you can - please take the time to do so if possible: • Aphanes arvensisand A.australis • Arctium minus andA.nemorosum • Can be difficult but if all the flower heads at the end of the inflorescence branches are stalked then it's A.minus (assuming you have eliminated A.lappa). • However they aren't it could be either - use the key. • Arenaria serpyllifoliasubsp.serpyllifoliaand subsp.leptoclados • Galium palustre subsp.palustreand subsp. elongatum (Easy - see key) • Galeopsis bifidaand G.tetrahitsens str. • Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifoliaand subsp. lucorum (Care needed)

12. New record cards • A set of new record cards have been printed- the front is unchanged but there are a few changes to the species list on the back • Deletion of a few rarely recorded species • Addition of some rapidly increasing aliens (e.g. Conyza bilbaoana) • Updating of some of the BRC codes • Please change over to using these as soon as possible • Both card and paper versions are available here (see side table) & also at field meetings through the year • If you want more and can't get to a field meeting please send request with SAE (remember large letter stamp) to Alan • Updated Excel record card also available from web site

13. Thanks again for all you have done, it has been a fantastic effort so far.Have fun in 2009 - who knows what you may find. Any questions?