New Flora of Sussex

Report - November 2009

Note - pictures of interesting records used in original removed to reduce file size.

Thanks to all recorders for the excellent response again this year

2010 is our last full year so we need to complete the bulk of the recording within the next 12 months

We want to reserve 2011 for specific final recording visits needed to complete and check our records

Many interesting new records in 2009 - a small selection follows. Full list in newsletter.

Initial comments

Interesting recordsChenopodium chenopodiodes

Bracklesham Bay, 1st recent VC13 recordDipsacus laciniatus

W of Horsham, 1st Sussex record. Hybrid with D.fullonum also presentEleocharis uniglumis

Amberley Wild Brooks. Only recent VC13 recordEpilobium palustre

Near Whatlington. One of very few confirmed recordsErigeron acer x Conyza sumatrensis

Patcham, 2nd UK record Galium parisiense

Fontwell Services, 1st recent VC13 recordGnaphalium luteoalbum

Hastings. Now found in a 2nd locationGuizotia abyssinica

Billingshurst, unusually large specimenLimonium hyblaeum

Selsey. Much further west than any previous Sussex siteLittorella uniflora

Weirwood Reservoir,refind in 2nd Sussex location

Interesting recordsParis quadrifolia

Hunston. Refind of old recordPolycarpon tetraphyllum

Eastbourne, 1st Sussex recordRanunculus aquatalis

NW of Partridge Green, Ist recent confirmed recordRanunculus penicillatus ssp. penicillatus

West Dean. Only recent record for this subspecies (difference to ssp. pseudofluitans is that it has laminar leaves as well as divided leaves)

Rosa obtusifoliaNear Ringmer, 1st recent native record

Rumex cristatusLewes, 1st Sussex record

Stipa tenuissimaGlynde. First naturalised Stipa record

x Dactylodenia legrandiana(Dactylorhiza ericetorum x Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. borealis)

Ashdown Forest, 1st record in S of England

2009 - Progress

In March we said our target for end of 2009 was:1. Get at least 280,000 records2. Take no. of records in all complete tetrads to over 2003. Get over 400 tetrads to 300 or more records.

What we achieved:1. No. of records is currently 285,260 (up by over 32,800 from 252,450 in

early March)

2. All complete tetrads except one (TQ92K), and many partial ones are at or over 200 records. TQ92K is species poor with few habitats & may never reach 200.

3. Only 379 tetrads with 300 or more records but we have taken the number with over 250 records from ~430 to 772

4. Draft species accounts written for 1380 species (59%). Major push this winter to get the majority of the remaining draft accounts written. Work also started on introductory chapters.

Progress map

Post 2000 records - totals as of 05-11-2009

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>400 records 300 - 400 records 250 - 299 records

200-249 records 150 - 199 records "<150 records"

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Blank areas in map: Tetrads where we have more records

Grey dots: Tetrads where numbers are roughly equal.

Yellow, orange and red dots: Tetrads where SPA had more records (red is largest difference)

Comparison to SPASome tetrads with a reasonable number of records still have many species recorded in SPA but not yet refound. These also need more visits.

Areas most in need of further recording

Combining results from record numbers and areas with many missing SPA records the areas most in need of attention are:

Recording in 2010

More focussed recording - Low record count areas

- Areas with many missing SPA species

- Refinding scarce species records (list on web site - will be updated by January)

- Filling gaps for under-recorded species

First target - species which can only be recorded in spring and then disappear:

- Carex caryophyllaea, Conopodium majus, Erophila verna agg, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, Myosotis ramosissima, Ranunculuis auricomus, Ranunuclus ficaria, Veronica hederifolia, Viola hirta, Viola reichenbachiana

- Also introduced bulbous species e.g. Galanthus, Crocus ....

Tetrads with few or no visits in period March - MayTetrads where many records give only a year and so may not have had visits in this period

Tetrads potentially needing spring visits

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6100Important target for early 2010 - visits in spring

Under-recording of alien shrubs

This map says more about recorder distribution than it does about Cotoneaster rehderi.

Alien shrubs, e.g. Cotoneasters, Pyracantha ... tend to be recorded only by a few people. NB: Care needed with ID

Recording in 2010

Information will be given in the next newsletter- Map showing areas needing spring visits

- Map showing areas with many missing SPA species

As well as this the web site will have:- Updated list of scarce/rare species which need refinding

- Distribution maps of some species that can only be found in spring

- Updated list of very common species with missing tetrads NB: Many of these can be found in winter

- In May we will produce a map showing tetrads which need visiting in June or early July and, later on, those that need a visit in late July - September

Thanks again for all you have done.

Any questions?