Andy, Chalk Milkwort has its largest leaves crowded together near, but not
at, the base of the plant. The Common Milkwort has all its leaves somewhat
spaced out, and its largest leaves well up the stems. I have seen both
species near each other on the South Downs (and near Shoreham, Kent), so you
may well be able to add it to the flora of Shoreham-by-Sea.
Musk Mallow used not to be a common horticultural subject, but it seems to
be a favourite 'wildflower' for introducing to grassland sites, so you may
expect to find it among such things as ox-eye daisy where it used not to be
before. Rodney
_____
From: UKBotany@yahoogroups.com [mailto:UKBotany@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of British Marine Life Study Society
Sent: 23 April 2007 14:19
To: UKBotany@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SPAM] Re: [UKBotany] Polygala
Hello,
I saw my first Milkwort on 13 April 2007.
The local list "Flora of Shoreham-by-Sea" only records the Common Milkwort,
rather than the Chalk Milkwort. The Shoreham area and Lancing has been "well
botanised" in the last century.
However, the list does not include Musk Mallow and I have found this growing
wild (garden escape?).
I am sure how to tell the difference between the two species of Milkwort?
I would be interested to know where it was found as well. It is common on
Mill Hill (unimproved warren downland) and it occurs on the Slonk Hill
Cutting (created wildlife meadows with little or no grass) but I do not have
any records for the pasture at Anchor Bottom and I am not sure about Lancing
Ring. I would think it ought to be there on the edge of paths.
I am still investigating the bionomics of this plant. It is common on the
downs but only frequent elsewhere (Sussex Plant Index). I am not sure of the
reason why it is found in some places and not others on chalk. Infertile
land may be important as it may thrive in the absence of grasses, or ground
disturbance may be a factor in preventing it thriving?
I have tentatively thought that numerous instances (common = over a hundred
an acre) of this plant is indicative of unimproved chalk downland. It might
very well occur on Lancing Chalk-pit.
Misty on the Sussex coast today.
Cheers
Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.
org.uk/Adur2006.html
http://www.glaucus.
org.uk/Adur2007.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: April 2007
http://www.glaucus.
org.uk/April2007.html
Adur Valley & Downs Gallery
http://www.flickr.
com/groups/adur/pool/
Hello,
I am running into trouble with the two Milkworts found on chalk
without a professional key. Just the popular books, although, I going
to search around for more information somewhere. I am sure I have
Field Studies Guide to chalkhill plants somewhere.
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Milkwort006.jpg
Sometimes the Milkwort has a distinct rosette of leaves at this base.
This is from the the northern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting where
there is hardly any soil. I have still identifed this as the Common
Milkwort, Polygala vulgaris, as the upper leaves are still slender.
However, the leaves arrangement is different from:
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Milkwort289-2.jpg
They normally lack the rosette. But I have just put this down as
environmental adaptation.
Cheers
Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2006.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2007.html=20
Adur Valley Nature Notes: April 2007
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/April2007.html
Adur Valley & Downs Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/groups/adur/pool/
--- In UKBotany@yahoogroups.com, "Rodney Burton"
wrote:
> Andy, Chalk Milkwort has its largest leaves crowded together near,
but not
> at, the base of the plant. The Common Milkwort has all its leaves
somewhat
> spaced out, and its largest leaves well up the stems. I have seen
both
> species near each other on the South Downs (and near Shoreham,
Kent), so you
> may well be able to add it to the flora of Shoreham-by-Sea.
> =20
> Musk Mallow used not to be a common horticultural subject, but it
seems to
> be a favourite 'wildflower' for introducing to grassland sites, so
you may
> expect to find it among such things as ox-eye daisy where it used
not to be
Behalf
Milkwort,
> rather than the Chalk Milkwort. The Shoreham area and Lancing has
been "well
> botanised" in the last century.
> However, the list does not include Musk Mallow and I have found
this growing
> wild (garden escape?).
> I am sure how to tell the difference between the two species of
Milkwort?
> I would be interested to know where it was found as well. It is
common on
> Mill Hill (unimproved warren downland) and it occurs on the Slonk
Hill
> Cutting (created wildlife meadows with little or no grass) but I do
not have
> any records for the pasture at Anchor Bottom and I am not sure
about Lancing
> Ring. I would think it ought to be there on the edge of paths.
> I am still investigating the bionomics of this plant. It is common
on the
> downs but only frequent elsewhere (Sussex Plant Index). I am not
sure of the
> reason why it is found in some places and not others on chalk.
Infertile
> land may be important as it may thrive in the absence of grasses,
or ground
> disturbance may be a factor in preventing it thriving?
> I have tentatively thought that numerous instances (common =3D over a
hundred
> an acre) of this plant is indicative of unimproved chalk downland.
It might
Hello
Common Milkwort, Polygala vulgaris
Chalk Milkwort, Polygala calcarea.
I should have included the scientific names.
IE7 is a bit wobbly for me and it mucked up rather than me.
Wild Fauna & Flora on Chalk flkr Image gallery:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/chalky/pool/
Cheers
Andy Horton
Hello,
We have had this discussion before:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKBotany/message/2602
And I started it. Then I forgot the details.
Andy Horton
--- In UKBotany@yahoogroups.com, "British Marine Life Study Society"
Hello,
Apologies for the accumulation of messages.
I have out the Milkwort comparison on:
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Milkwort.htm
I think they are both Common Milkworts.
Whilst I was inclined, I did a description of Mill Hill and sent to
Natural England at Lewes.
I put a copy at:
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/MillHillCitation.html
I believe it to be fair comment.
Cheers
Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2006.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2007.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: May 2007
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/May2007.html
Adur Valley & Downs Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/groups/adur/pool/
--- In UKBotany@yahoogroups.com
s25"
ish Marine Life Study
Society"
