Thirteen members and guests met at the rather improbable starting point of Morrison’s supermarket car park and made their way to the path between the Foudry Brook and the A33 to look at the plants in and near the brook and in the rough land beside the road. The most instantly striking observation was the extent to which the Foudry Brook was clogged by the water plant floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), one of the four most noxious aliens introduced to the UK. Work is under way to attempt to eliminate this but that procedure will threaten the native water plants, of which there was a fine display. Conspicuous among these was flowering rush Butomus umbellatus, surely one of Britain’s most spectacular native plant species, arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia, water plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica, galingale Cyperus longus and branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum. An unexpected find was dittander Lepidium latifolium on the river bank close to the entrance road to Kennet Island. Also beside the path was a large population of a slender umbellifer that, after some discussion, was agreed to be stone parsley Sison amomum. Refreshment was provided by some particularly luscious blackberries. The stroll was thoroughly enjoyed in spite of the dull, humid conditions.
By Chris Bucke
Plant list
Galingale Cyperus longus
Yellow Water-lily Nuphar lutea
Many-seeded Goosefoot Chenopodium polyspermum
Redshank Persicaria maculosa
Imperforate St John’s-wort Hypericum maculatum
Common Mallow Malva sylvestris
Dwarf Mallow Malva neglecta
Dittander Lepidium latifolium
Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor
Tall Melilot Melilotus altissimus
Black Medick Medicago lupulina
Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Meadow Crane’s-bill Geranium pratense
Orange Balsam Impatiens capensis
Hemlock Conium maculatum
Stone Parsley Sison amomum
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
Floating Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Wild Carrot Daucus carota
Viper’s-bugloss Echium vulgare
Gypsywort Lycopus europaeus
Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris
Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris
Purple Toadflax Linaria purpurea
Lady’s Bedstraw Gallium verum
Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus
Wild Teasel Dipascus fullonum
Hoary Ragwort Senecio erucifolius
Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare
Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita
Mugwort Artemesia vulgaris
Lesser Burdock Arctium minus
Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola
Bristly Oxtongue Picris echioides
Flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus
Water-plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica
Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia
Branched Bur-reed Sparganium erectum
Fungi
Brown Roll-rim Paxillus involutus