New species

Wed 15/07/2020 18:48; mail and pictures from Clive Knight

Walking round this afternoon spotted these. The first two pics are of a plant in Sleepers Field – no idea what it is and the bottom pic I found in the pathway through the woods at the top of Village Green. Both single plants.

Sent from my iPhone

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Wed 15/07/2020 20:45

Hi Clive,
I am having trouble with the purple thing. My immediate response is betony which is Stachys officinalis but the stem doesn’t look quite right in your pictures. Whereabouts in Sleepers did you see it? I may have to go and look for myself. The pink thing is musk mallow, Malva moschata.

Suzanne

Wed 15/07/2020 20:59; mail from Clive Knight

If you come into Sleepers Field from Puddle Corner keep to the right, walking tight to the fence line towards the collapsing seat opposite the Goat Willow that’s being attacked by squirrels. About half way up you should see the flowers poking above the brambles good luck but if you really cannot see it let me know and I am happy to find it with you.

Sent from my iPad

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Thu 16/07/2020 20:21
Hi Clive,
It is betony; it took me ages to find it. If you had turned around 180° and marched across Sleepers to the gap in the hedge that leads into Sheep Field, you would have found the whole colony of it that is growing there, just to the right of the gap. It’s much happier there, growing through tall grass, with lots of light.
It’s a new species in the park; well spotted. Send the pictures to Ian and ask him to log it.

Suzanne

Thu 16/07/2020 21:47; mail from Clive Knight

Will look for this spot tomorrow and will send pics to Ian

Sent from my iPad

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