A few days after returning to Cornwall from Kent, I ventured back East to South Devon to visit Berry Head. Whilst in Kent, I had missed the Devon Botany field trip there, so I hoped to find at least some of the rarities found on this limestone outcrop on my own.
The first plant of note was White Rock-rose and it was quite easy to find as it was abundant wherever there were boulders and short turf. However, the majority of plants were clearly in seed (see 3rd photo below) and I had to hunt around a bit to find some flowering. It's a beautiful flower and large enough to easily find.
Helianthemum apenninum
Small Restharrow is another Berry Head rarity. Its flowers looks the same as Common Restharrow, however, it is an annual plant and is very small as a result. To differentiate from Common and Spiny Restharrow, look at the leaves. They are widest near the tip in Small Restharrow and widest in the middle in the other two species. Add in their tiny stature and that they lack a creeping habit, and they become easier to spot. They were widespread over the headland, sometimes growing with Common Restharrow too. I'm surprised they do not hybridise, but perhaps one being an annual means they are not genetically compatible.
Ononis reclinata
I was very surprised to find Autumn Squill flowering in large numbers on the cliff slopes (and one in the cafe lawn!). They're a good 2-3 weeks early, in fact, so early that I could still find Spring Squill in seed nearby.
Scilla autumnalis
Honewort is another rare plant found here. Unfortunately, they had all burnt off in the heat and drought of the past week and I could only find a single plant in seed with withered leaves. In this area were records of Small Hare's-ear too, but I couldn't find any, despite extensive searching.
Trinia glauca
Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea is a native species, usually coastal and with dull pink flowers. As the name suggests the leaves are narrow and around six times longer than wide. That is nicely illustrated in the photo below.
Lathyrus sylvestris
Lesser Meadow-rue is a species that I had seen a few times along the lanes in Cornwall, but always as a garden escape. At Berry Head, it was plentiful as a native plant in slightly scrubby areas away from the clifftops. It's a spindly, thin plant, so rather difficult to get a photo of the whole plant, as the stems merge into background vegetation and appear invisible. The flowers lack petals, but the delicate pink stems and bright yellow anthers make up for that.
Thalictrum minus
A patch of Rough Clover near the cafe. These were very small, no doubt drought stricken plants.
Trifolium scabrum
The end of my walk took me down into the quarry area of Berry Head where I found two plants of Pale St. John's-wort, unfortunately still in bud, but clearly different to the other Hypericums present.
Hypericum montanum
Finally, in a short grassy clearing in the quarry were around 50 Southern Marsh Orchids in prime condition. Pyramidal Orchids were plentiful over much of the headland too.
Dactylorhiza praetermissa
A few days later, I went to Braunton Burrows in North Devon, where I was kindly guided by the VCR for North Devon, Bob Kirby. One of the key species I had hoped to see was Water Germander, but it was only flowering in the northern area of the venue and we had chosen the south. We looked hard, in known places, but couldn't find any in flower. So finding it will be a good reason to go back next year for another visit.
However we did find many wonderful plants, including some new species for me. Here's some of them.
Close to the car park growing on the edge of a sandy path was a lot of White Horehound, a rare and declining species.
Marrubium vulgare
Nearby, on the beach was Sea Stock, a new species for me, and also quite rare.
Matthiola sinuata
A few Frosted Orache were nearby, with one in full "flower", though they lack any petals.
Atriplex laciniata
Soapwort on the beach.
Saponaria officinalis
The last plant from the beach area was Prickly Saltwort. A spiny annual plant with tiny flowers that lack petals.
Salsola kali
We then headed into the vegetated dunes and it wasn't long before we came across drifts of Sand Toadflax. It was first recorded here in 1971, but it's not a native plant. The military often do training here and perhaps the seeds of this plant came in on military equipment or boots. It was an interesting plant though with toadflax like blooms atop a slender stem; the plants sometimes in tight clumps, sometimes singly.
Linaria arenaria
We then found Sticky Storksbill and took some time to determine that it was indeed that and not just a sand covered Common Storksbill. Sticky, as its name suggests has glands that sand sticks to which doesn't blow away if you blow on the plants leaves; in the seeds there is a basal pit with lines of flat hairs laying horizontally along the edge of the pit and finally, there is no groove outside of these hairs. All these things together show this to be Sticky Storksbill. You have to pull back the sepals to see these details. I've probably seen this before and failed to recognise it as I didn't know for sure what to look for; so many thanks to Bob for showing me.
Erodium lebelii
Marsh Helleborines were plentiful here, as were Southern Marsh Orchids. It was great to see so many given that it's a rare and declining species over much of the UK.
Epipactis palustris
It's unusual for this species to have well developed stem leaves on show. At most venues, the plants are small and the leaves wither quickly, so it was nice to see some giant specimens with plenty of leaves too.
Dotted around the dunes were lots of small sedges with tiny pineapple like fruits. A new species for me, Small-fruited Yellow Sedge. Unlike the floppy leaves of Common Yellow Sedge, these had stiff, short leaves form a central rosette.
Carex viridula
Another small plant on the dunes was Knotted Pearlwort which was plentiful in places. So called, as from a distance, the leaves look like knots up the stem.
Sagina nodosa
Often seen was another new species, Round-headed Club-rush, a peculiar looking rush with round fruits poking out of a central stem.
Scirpoides holoschoenus
Near one dune slack I found some Sea Milkwort in flower which was an odd find given that at that point we were over 1km from the sea. It shows that the dunes still hold some salinity.
Lysimachia maritima
In one of the damper areas were some Skullcap plants with their intense blue flowers. I haven't seen this plant for quite a few years, so it was good to see it again.
Scutellaria galericulata
Nearby was Pink Water Speedwell.
Veronica catenata
The loveliest sight there had to be literally hundreds of Dune Pansies growing over a large dune slope. Beautiful delicate little yellow and white flowers, interspersed with other species was a delight to see. I'd only seen these before at Newborough Warren in Anglesey, several years ago, so it was a pleasant surprise to see so many in one place this day.
Viola tricolor subsp curtsii
Of course, I saw many other species there too; it's a special place for sure, as is Berry Head in the south. I will return next year to find the species that eluded me this time and hopefully other surprises too.
Every county has a special venue or two for wildflowers, seek them out and take a visit, you won't be disappointed.
Take care
Dave
