Filmy ferns are unusual in that the fronds are a translucent green and they carry their spore-bearing pouches close to the tips of the pinnae. This group seek specific requirements in acidic areas where they form mats which look not unlike patches of moss. Northumberland is home to just a little of the rare Wilson’s Filmy Fern (Hymenophyllum wilsonii) with a site known to only a handful of Botanists high in the Simonside Hills (to the SW. of Rothbury). It was visited on March 28 where “a large patch in cleft of rock” could be seen.
Hybrid Black Poplar (Populus x canadensis) is a fast-growing and attractive tree but although such crosses are easier to propagate and display great vigour they are often very susceptible to bacterial diseases. This hybrid normally as a male clone and produces really stunning red catkins which are about 2½ inches (6 cms.) long. The first few had begun to emerge at Detchant (nr. Belford) on March 8 and they began to fall and decorate the ground below soon afterwards.
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| Marsh Marigold ©Laurie Campbell |
The large and shiny dark green leaves of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) have a distinct kidney-shape. From these arise the dazzling golden-yellow flowers which provide very real colour to any wetland habitat. The first of these appeared in a tiny watercourse near Fowberry Tower (Chatton/7th) but there was much Marsh Marigold (also known as Kingcups) on the Howick Estate (nr. Craster) before the month-end. Meanwhile another well known wildflower of Spring – Common Scurvy-grass (Cochlearia officinalis) – began to flaunt its four-petalled white flowers on the coast at Cocklawburn (nr. Scremerston/11th) with many additional sites springing into life over the following day.
Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis) belongs to a different genus to Wild and Garden Strawberry (both of which are Fragaria sp.). It also appears rather earlier, is rather smaller in size and has petals which are almost heart-shaped. The first Barren Strawberry was discovered on a bare grassy area in Crawely Dene near Powburn (16th). Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) appeared in leaf at Easington (nr. Belford) and at Howick on March 4th and despite a number of ‘false alarms’ (which proved to be Cherry-plum/Prunus cerasifera). Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) flaunted its first snowy blossom behind the sea wall at Elwick (nr. Belford) on the 13th. The fragrant blooms of Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) began to show beside Mounthooley Farm (nr. Beal) on the 11th and by the 15th had appeared at Holburn Grange. Other localities included Fowberry Tower where it was well represented by the 31st.
Bearberry (Arctostophylos uva-ursi) is perhaps best known for its round and highly-polished red berries which are edible. This tough-leaved prostrate plant is related to the Scottish Highlands is classed as “extremely scarce” or “rare” anywhere south of the Border. A hike up into the Simonside Hills (28th) led to a report of “2 large patches nearly in flower”.
Primrose (Primula vulgaris) was in flower on Buckton Moor (nr. Belford) by the 2nd and along Crawley Dene by the 16th whilst the first two spikes of its relative, Cowslip (Primula veris) were visible of the Shale cliffs of Common Slap (nr. Fenham Mill, Beal/28th). Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) is a tiny plant with green flowers which briefly appear in woods and shaded hedgerows. Not only is it frequently overlooked but you really do need to crouch down in order to appreciate its subtle beauty. The flower-heads consist of five detailed faces – all at right angles to each other and it is these which have led to its common, but most apt name “Town Hall Clock”. It was found “in flower” at Scotch Gill, Morpeth (15th) and there was more within a plantation on Belford Moor (nr. Belford/18th). Plants of the genus Ornithogalum are normally cream or white but one species – Yellow Star of Bethlehem has blooms which are almost yellow. It is a member of the Liliaceae family and although scarce in Northumberland 4 flowers were out in a wood near Morpeth (15th).
PLANT CORNER
There is an immortal line of nursery rhyme verse (slightly modified by me) that seems appropriate:
The spring is sprung, the grass is riz; I wonder where the flowers is?
The answer to this beautifully phrased poetic question is, of course, as I write this on 6th April, ‘under several centimetres of snow’. Nevertheless I thought I would choose this month three species that come into flower fairly early, starting with the earliest of the umbellifers (family Apiaceae), Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata). Then, when your enthusiasm for coastal excursions is whetted by some genuinely improved weather and temperatures there are two attractive plants to look out for among the dunes and on whin outcrops near the sea. Burnet Rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia) is a wonderfully fragrant low-growing rose, while Purple Milk-vetch (Astragalus danicus) provides some brilliant violet colour in similar situations to Burnet Rose.
Sweet Cicely is a native clump-forming downy perennial which grows to about 1m, very often in roadside verges. There is an excellent patch on the east side of the A697 at Framlington Gate. Its broad flowering heads are often described as ‘foamy white umbels’ which first appear in April and may last until June. Because of its quite dense clumps it looks very different from Cow Parsley which is the next earliest umbel to appear.
The heavily pinnate leaves, like many of the umbellifers, are also characteristically flecked with pale areas. When ripe the fruit are quite large at 2cm long, held upright and ribbed, dark and shiny. They can supposedly be chewed to give a sweet aniseed flavour. And in fact the whole plant was grown as a pot herb because of its overall aromatic aniseed scent and flavour.
Burnet Rose is another native species. As wild roses go it is very low-growing with the dense bushy patches reaching only about 30cm high. The distinctive creamy-white flowers with prominent golden stamens are borne singly in May and June. They are heavily fragrant and are reputed to have the finest scent of any British wild rose species.
The leaves are pinnate with 7 to 9 rather rounded oval leaflets. They look rather like the leaves of Salad Burnet, which explains the common name of the rose. Unlike many wild roses the sepals are untoothed. When ripe the hips are black rather than red. As well as being found on sand dunes and on coastal whin outcrops the plants are also found on igneous rocks in upper Coquetdale and even in the Bizzle corrie high up on the flanks of the Cheviot.
Purple Milk-vetch is a low (to about 30cm), downy, native perennial from the family Fabaceae. The leaves are pinnate, as with almost all vetches, and there is a terminal leaflet, but no tendrils. The upright flowers are bright violet and can be found from May to July. The short small seed pods are typically pea-pod shaped with spreading white hairs.
In Britain the distribution of this species is almost exclusively eastern and in Northumberland it is confined to dunes and whin and limestone near the sea. There was a good patch last year on the whin at Spindlestone near Budle Bay. There is one other species of Astragalus in Northumberland, A. glycyphyllos (any offers for other words with three y’s?) which is the Wild Liquorice. To find this would be a red-letter day because it is now extinct in North Northumberland and, according to Swan’s Flora, it is currently known at only one site, near Warden where the rivers North and South Tyne meet.
© Richard Poppleton