| Plants
Clubmosses,
Horsetails, Rushes, Sedges, Grasses |
| CLUBMOSSES |
| Fir Clubmoss |
Huperzia selago |
Decreased from its former Somerset sites apart
from Exmoor. In year 2000 known here in four places. |
| Marsh Clubmoss |
Lycopodiella inundata |
Only once recorded from Minehead area by Coleman, 1849. |
| Stag's-horn Clubmoss |
Lycopodium clavatum |
Six known Exmoor sites. Formerly plentiful but was over collected. |
| Alpine Clubmoss |
Diphasiastrum alpinum |
Last recorded c1927 by N.G. Haddon at Chetsford |
| Kraus's Clubmoss |
Selaginella kraussiana |
Only one Exmoor site for this |
| HORSETAILS |
| Water Horsetail |
Equisetum fluviatile |
In areas of standing or slow moving water |
| Shore Horsetail |
Equisetum arvense x fluviatile (E. x litorale) |
gricultural Weed" c 1940's and at Allerford in 1960. 1 plant
found by B.Giddens by newly made flight of steps near Stoats
Farm on 17.7.83 but scythed off 3 from base 2 days later. Treated
with Baby-Bio, it produced several more flowers. Disappeared
until 17.7.88 when one plant in same place but not seen since. |
| |
| Lesser Knotweed |
Persicaria campanulata |
In 2000 still not very prolific although common along the
Washford River valley and established clumps in a few other
places. First recorded in Somerset in 1974 at Spaxton (Green) |
| Himalayan Knotweed |
Persicaria wallichii |
Abundant around Simonsbath and in the Heddon Valley where
the National Trust have been trying to eradicate it for many
years. |
| Common Bistort |
Persicaria bistorta |
Would appear to be native in some damp meadows and woods and
recorded as such by Murray. Probably a garden escape in some
places. |
| Red Bistort |
Persicaria amplexicaulis |
A garden escape or throw-out which may increase. |
| Amphibious Bistort |
Persicaria amphibia |
In ditches and damp places. Probably decreasing at Porlock
Marsh due to inundation with salt water. |
| a knotweed |
Persicaria capitata |
A rare escape from gardens or hanging flower baskets in Minehead. |
| Redshank |
Persicaria maculosa |
A common weed of arable land, waste places, reservoirs, etc. |
| Pale Persicaria |
Persicaria lapathifolia |
An uncommon weed of cultivated land. |
| Water-pepper |
Persicaria hydropiper |
Common in damp woodlands, meadows and tracks. |
| Buckwheat |
Fagopyrum esculentum |
Occasionally turns up in waste places, gardens or cultivated
land. |
| Ray's Knotgrass |
Polygonum oxyspermum |
ecorded c 1910 by T. Twist at Blue Anchor and Roe states "formerly
at Dunster. No recent records. |
| Equal-leaved Knotgrass |
Polygonum arenastrum |
Common in town and on paths and farmland. |
| Knotgrass |
Polygonum aviculare sens.str. |
More common than P. arenastrum in waste ground, tracks, field
gateways, etc. |
| Japanese Knotweed |
Fallopia japonica |
Sometimes abundant, ENPA have scheme to eradicate it. |
| a knotweed |
Fallopia japonica x sachalinensis (F. x bohemica) |
This hybrid has been recorded at West Porlock and Treborough. |
| Giant Knotweed |
Fallopia sachalinensis |
We first noted this at Dunster Beach in 1978 and it increased
to form a large stand but it had been virtually eradicated by
2001. |
| Russian Vine |
Fallopia baldschuanica |
Usually near habitation and our records all mainly near the
coast. Can form large stands smothering walls, trees and other
shrubs. |
| Black Bindweed |
Fallopia convolvulus |
Mainly on arable land. |
| Sheep's Sorrel |
Rumex acetosella ssp. acetosella |
Common on acid moors and heaths. |
| Common Sorrel |
Rumex acetosa |
Very common in hedgerows etc. Probably present in every tetrad. |
| Water Dock |
Rumex hydrolapathum |
At pond edges, ditches, stream banks. Scarce. |
| Greek Dock |
Rumex cristatus |
Has been in Minehead area since at least 1942 when material
was collected by J.E.Lousley but it was at that time thought
to be R. patientia. It was renamed in 1982 by D.H.Kent. It has
increased in Minehead area. |
| a dock |
Rumex crispus x cristatus (R. x dimidiatus) |
Waste ground at Minehead. |
| a dock |
Rumex cristatus x obtusifolius (R. x lousleyi) |
Waste ground in Minehead area. |
| Curled dock |
Rumex crispus ssp. crispus |
Throughout area but not on higher moorland. |
| a curled dock |
Rumex crispus ssp. littoreus |
Occurs in sandy areas near the coast. |
| a dock |
Rumex conglomeratus x crispus (R. x schulzei) |
A single specimen found at Minehead 1994. |
| a dock |
Rumex crispus x sanguineus (R. x sagorskii) |
Waste ground or arable land. |
| a dock |
Rumex crispus x pulcher (R. x pseudopulcher) |
Has been found in one or two rough fields in Minehead/Porlock
area. |
| a dock |
Rumex crispus x obtusifolius (R. x pratensis) |
Probably under recorded. |
| a dock |
Rumex crispus x palustris (R. x heteranthos) |
Recorded in error in Flora & Fauna of ENP 1996. |
| Clustered Dock |
Rumex conglomeratus |
Not on high moorland. |
| a dock |
Rumex conglomeratus x obtusifolius (R. x abortivus) |
Scarce. |
| Wood Dock |
Rumex sanguineus |
Common in hedgerows, woodland, waste ground, etc. Not on high
moorland. Plant is var. viridis. |
| a dock |
Rumex pulcher x sanguineus (R. x mixtus) |
On dry grassy slopes. |
| a dock |
Rumex obtusifolius x sanguineus (R. x dufftii) |
Woodland borders, verges, etc. |
| Fiddle Dock |
Rumex pulcher |
Mainly on dry slopes or sandy areas near the coast. |
| a dock |
Rumex obtusifolius x pulcher (R. x ogulinensis) |
Only recorded from one grassy slope nr Bossington. |
| Broad-leaved Dock |
Rumex obtusifolius |
Recorded from all but two tetrads on the high moorland. The
commonest dock. |
| Golden Dock |
Rumex maritimus |
Only recorded from Hurscombe Reserve, Wimbleball. |
| Thrift |
Armeria maritima |
Occurs on coastal cliffs from Combe Martin to Dunster Beach. |
| a st. john's-wort |
Hypericum forrestii |
Only recorded from base of wall at West Lynch. (Green) |
| Rose-of-Sharon |
Hypericum calycinum |
A garden escape nearly always found close to habitations. |
| Tutsan |
Hypericum androsaemum |
A garden escape around villages but probably native in woodlands,
not on the moors. |
| Tall Tutsan |
Hypericum androsaemum x hircinum (H. x inodorum) |
An uncommon garden escape. |
| Stinking Tutsan |
Hypericum hircinum |
An uncommon garden escape. |
| Perforate St. John's-wort |
Hypericum perforatum |
Fairly common in hedgerows, etc. in the less acid areas and
usually around the villages. |
| Square-stalked St. John's-wort |
Hypericum tetrapterum |
Widespread in damp woodland, fields and hedgerows and by streams
or rivers. |
| Trailing St. John's-wort |
Hypericum humifusum |
On woodland tracks and also on heather moorland. |
| Slender St. John's-wort |
Hypericum pulchrum |
Our commonest St. John's Wort. Hedgebanks, moorland and woodland. |
| Hairy St. John's-wort |
Hypericum hirsutum |
Only recorded from Selworthy in our area |
| Marsh St. John's-wort |
Hypericum elodes |
Widespread but only in acid moorland bogs. |
| Large-leaved Lime |
Tilia platyphyllos |
Planted specimens only - a magnificent tree nr R. Barle in
Pit Wood (P. Green) |
| Lime |
Tilia cordata x platyphyllos (T. x vulgaris) |
Scattered introductions in north and east sections of area,
none in south-west region of Exmoor. |
| Musk-mallow |
Malva moschata |
In hedgerows, field borders and rough areas but not on acid
ground. |
| Common Mallow |
Malva sylvestris |
Common in the eastern part of our area but rare otherwise.
Hedgerows; farmland; etc. |
| Dwarf Mallow |
Malva neglecta |
Usually in agricultural land. All records except one from
Minehead Porlock area. |
| Tree-mallow |
Lavatera arborea |
Sandy areas all along Exmoor coast where suitable. Doubtfully
native. |
| Hyeres Tree-mallow |
Lavatera thuringiaca |
Garden escapes |
| Hollyhock |
Alcea rosea |
A garden escape or throw-out in waste areas and stony places. |
| Round-leaved Sundew |
Drosera rotundifolia |
Common in moorland bogs |
| Sweet Violet |
Viola odorata |
Common in hedgerows on the lower ground. Native or sometimes
a garden escape. White flowered var. sometimes abundant. Purple
and rarely amethyst coloured plants also occur. |
| Common Dog-violet |
Viola riviniana |
A common plant of hedgerows, open woodland and grassy slopes. |
| Early Dog-violet |
Viola reichenbachiana |
Common in woodland and shady hedgerows. |
| Heath Dog-violet |
Viola canina |
Sandy areas and heaths. |
| Marsh Violet |
Viola palustris |
In upland moorland boggy areas. Subsp. rarely recorded but
both ssp. palustris and ssp. juressi are thought to occur. |
| Mountain Pansy |
Viola lutea |
Rough grassland. Recorded from Exmoor between 1901 & 1948
but later considered to be in error. However it was refound
at two sites in 1990 during survery work for Somerset Atlas
Flora (Green) |
| Garden Pansy |
Viola x wittrockiana |
Garden escapes or throw-outs. On tips, in gutters, etc. |
| Wild Pansy |
Viola tricolor |
This occurred as a garden weed 12 King George Rd. Minehead
for several seasons in 1970's but gradually petered out. |
| a pansy |
Viola x contempta |
Rare. |
| Field Pansy |
Viola arvensis |
In arable fields. Becoming less frequent |
| Tamarisk |
Tamarix gallica |
Planted in sandy areas Minehead, Dunster Beach, Porlock Weir. |
| Pumkin |
Cucurbita maxima |
Garden throw-out. |
| White Poplar |
Populus alba |
An infrequent tree with scattered distribution. Regenerates
vegetatively. |
| Grey Poplar |
Populus alba x tremula (P. x canescens) |
Planted in a couple of woods. |
| Aspen |
Populus tremula |
Planted in several woodlands, perhaps native in some areas.
A tree occurs almost on the tide line at Glenthorne. |
| Black Poplar |
Populus nigra |
The type is subsp. betulifolia. A number of old trees occur
around the Minehead area and attempts have been made to prolong
the life of some of these by pollarding. Others have been lost
though aging as they are not regenerating except possibly by
suckers in one place. Only male trees occur. |
| Lombardy-poplar |
Populus nigra 'Italica' |
Planted on roadsides near towns and villages. |
| Hybrid Black Poplar |
Populus x canadensis (P. deltoides x nigra) |
Some planted trees mainly in river valley. |
| Balm-of-Gilead |
Populus candicans |
Single old tree in Bagley Combe thought to be this species. |
| Crack Willow |
Salix fragilis |
Rare in area. A few scattered trees, sometimes planted. Common
on Somerset Levels. |
| Hybrid Crack-willow |
Salix alba x fragilis (S. x rubens) |
ecorded in 1906 from "Near Minehead. This was possibly from
Dunster Beach area. No current records from area but a handful
elsewhere in Somerset. |
| White Willow |
Salix alba |
Rare. A few scattered records. Generally planted |
| Weeping Willow |
Salix alba x babylonica (S. x sepulcralis) |
Rare introduction, stream banks etc. |
| Purple Willow |
Salix purpurea |
Recorded from Hawn pool at Dunster Beach in 1914. In 1992
Paul Green who considered it the largest population in Somerset.
But it was virtually eradicated in 1994 when the pool was cleared
despite pleas from ENHS and County Recorder. One plant of Purple
Willow remains on an island and will hopefully be conserved. |
| Fine Osier |
Salix x forbyana (S. cinerea x purpurea x viminalis) |
Very rare, probably now extinct since clearance of Hawn Pool
at Dunster Beach in 1994. (See Purple Willow) |
| Osier |
Salix viminalis |
ncommon except on Marshes. (Locally called "Withy) |
| Broad-leaved Osier |
Salix caprea x viminalis (S. x sericans) |
Rare. |
| Silky-leaved Osier |
Salix cinerea x viminalis (S. x smithiana) |
Very rare in Exmoor Area - commoner on Somerset Levels |
| Goat Willow |
Salix caprea ssp. caprea |
Common on moorland and marshes, hedges and by streams, scrubby
woodland. |
| a willow |
Salix caprea x cinerea (S. x reichardtii) |
Possibly under recorded due to difficulties of identification. |
| a willow |
Salix aurita x caprea (S. x capreola) |
Recorded from Simonsbath 1918. No current records. |
| Grey Willow |
Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia |
The commonest willow in Somerset and probably on Exmoor |
| a willow |
Salix aurita x cinerea (S. x multinervis) |
Hedges, damp combes. Often abundant in Exmoor Valleys. Possibly
under recorded due to confusion with S. aurita. |
| Eared Willow |
Salix aurita |
Fairly common on wet moorland but possibly over recorded due
to confusion with its hybrid with Grey Willow. |
| Creeping Willow |
Salix repens |
Has declined in some Somerset Areas but although scarce and
local on Exmoor, seems to persist where it has been recorded. |
| Eastern Rocket |
Sisymbrium orientale |
Only recorded from a few sandy areas near the coast where
it seems well established. |
| Hedge Mustard |
Sisymbrium officinale |
Common in hedgerows and waste places but not on the high moorland
areas. Also cultivated ground. |
| Flixweed |
Descurainia sophia |
Rarely recorded on disturbed soil and sandy areas. |
| Garlic Mustard |
Alliaria petiolata |
Common in hedgerows throughout but not on high moorland. |
| Thale Cress |
Arabidopsis thaliana |
A fairly widespread weed of waste ground and walls but not
on high moorland. |
| Treacle Mustard |
Erysimum cheiranthoides |
Only three reports. A weed of arable land. |
| Wallflower |
Erysimum cheiri |
A common escape well established on old walls near habitation. |
| Dame's Violet |
Hesperis matronalis |
An uncommon garden escape persistent in some hedgerows |
| Virginia Stock |
Malcolmia maritima |
A garden escape or throw-out. |
| Hoary Stock |
Matthiola incana |
An introduction which is persistent on the coast at Minehead. |
| Night-scented Stock |
Matthiola longipetala |
Garden escape or throw-out. |
| Winter-cress |
Barbarea vulgaris |
Verges or stream banks. |
| Medium-flowered Winter-cress |
Barbarea intermedia |
Waste ground or arable land. |
| American Winter-cress |
Barbarea verna |
Verges or cultivated ground. A persistent garden weed for
many years at Alcombe but now apparently gone. |
| Water-cress |
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum sens.str. |
In clear-water streams and a relict in old watercress beds.
Also in wet flushes by lanes and tracks |
| Hybrid Water-cress |
Rorippa microphylla x nasturtium-aquaticum (R. x sterilis) |
amp places. "Sometimes in the absence of one or both parents
- Green. |
| Northern Yellow-cress |
Rorippa islandica sens.str. |
First recorded in England at Clatworthy Reservoir, 2001 Ian
Green. May come to Wimbleball but shores there are covered in
the alien Crassula helmsii. Records are just off Exmoor area. |
| Marsh Yellow-cress |
Rorippa palustris |
Mainly recorded from the shores of reservoirs. |
| Creeping Yellow-cress |
Rorippa sylvestris |
We have only recorded this at Wimbleball Lake and Minehead
Warren. |
| Horse-radish |
Armoracia rusticana |
A relict of cultivation or persisting where dumped. |
| Trefoil Cress |
Cardamine trifolia |
A naturalised introduction present for many years at Trentishoe
churchyard but not seen recently. |
| Cuckoo-flower |
Cardamine pratensis |
In damp meadows, by streams and in churchyards. |
| Wavy Bitter-cress |
Cardamine flexuosa |
In damp areas by streams, ponds, woodland, etc. |
| Hairy Bitter-cress |
Cardamine hirsuta |
A very common weed of gardens, agricultural and waste land,
tracks, etc. Recorded from all tetrads except the highest moorland. |
| Garden Arabis |
Arabis caucasica |
An escape from cultivation around towns and villages. |
| Hairy Rock-cress |
Arabis hirsuta |
There is a 'dot' for this near Lynmouth in Atlas of the Devon
Flora 1984 but no further details available. |
| Aubretia |
Aubrieta deltoidea |
A garden escape naturalised on old walls in villages and towns. |
| Honesty |
Lunaria annua |
A sometimes persistent escape from cultivation. Hedgerows,
waste ground. |
| Golden Alyssum |
Alyssum saxatile |
A garden escape sometimes naturalised on old walls in towns
and villages. |
| Sweet Alison |
Lobularia maritima |
An escape from cultivation, naturalised in sandy areas such
as Minehead Warren and Dunster Beach. Also on old walls about
towns and villages. |
| Common Whitlowgrass |
Erophila verna sens. lat. |
Dry rocky areas, walls, pavements, etc. We have no records
from the Devon area of Exmoor. Absent from high moorland. Both
var praecox and var. spathulata are thought to occur. |
| English Scurvygrass |
Cochlearia anglica |
Coastal cliffs and shingle. |
| Common Scurvygrass |
Cochlearia officinalis sens.str. |
Sea cliffs or shingle. Scarce. |
| Danish Scurvygrass |
Cochlearia danica |
The common scurvey grass on Exmoor coasts also spreading along
road verges which are salted in winter such as A39 between Minehead/Dunster. |
| Shepherd's-purse |
Capsella bursa-pastoris |
A common weed except on the higher grass moorland. |
| Shepherd's Cress |
Teesdalia nudicaulis |
Verge, Porlock Hill 1913-1929 N.G. Hadden. Presumed extinct
on Exmoor (but discovered 1992 about 1 mile SW of Exmoor boundary.) |
| Field Penny-cress |
Thlaspi arvense |
Still fairly common in to the east of our area but less so
that formerly. Arable land. |
| Garden Candytuft |
Iberis umbellata |
Occasionally occurs as garden escape or throw-out on dumps
or waste ground. |
| Garden Cress |
Lepidium sativum |
An occasional garden weed or throw-out. From cultivated plants. |
| Field Pepperwort |
Lepidium campestre |
Arable or waste land. |
| Smith's Pepperwort |
Lepidium heterophyllum |
Fields, verges and at Porlock Marsh until shingle ridge was
breached late 1990s. |
| Hoary Cress |
Lepidium draba |
Waste ground near the coast at Minehead and a few inland sites
to the Brendon Hills. |
| Swine-cress |
Coronopus squamatus |
Arable weed and rough ground; less common than C. didymus |
| Lesser Swine-cress |
Coronopus didymus |
Farm gateways and fields, tracks and verges. Much more frequent
than the presumed native C. squamatus. |
| Hare's-ear Mustard |
Conringia orientalis |
c1900 'In ditches & edges of roads' |
| Annual Wall-rocket |
Diplotaxis muralis |
Stinkweed. Sandy areas around Minehead with one or two other
sites. |
| Oil-seed Rape |
Brassica napus ssp. oleifera |
Escapes or relicts of cultivation. Grown extensively in Porlock
Vale in 1980's & 90's. |
| Turnip |
Brassica rapa agg. |
Relics of cultivation. |
| Black Mustard |
Brassica nigra |
Farmland, verges, and near the coast. Not on high ground.
Assumed native. |
| Charlock |
Sinapis arvensis |
Common agricultural weed. Also verges and waste ground. Assumed
native. |
| White Mustard |
Sinapis alba |
Very few records for this casual which has declined in Somerset
generally. |
| Hoary Mustard |
Hirschfeldia incana |
Waste ground and tips. An increasing species in Somerset but
few Exmoor records. |
| Sea Rocket |
Cakile maritima |
A clump found in dunes at edge Minehead Golf Links 26.9.79
but none seen since 1986. Occurs in N. Somerset coast. |
| Wild Radish |
Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. raphanistrum |
Waste ground, verges etc. Possibly declined |
| Sea Radish |
Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus |
On coast. |
| Garden Radish |
Raphanus sativus |
Garden throw outs or relicts. |
| Weld |
Reseda luteola |
Only recorded from eastern half of area. By the sea and inland
Brendon Hills etc. Disturbed and waste land. |
| Crowberry |
Empetrum nigrum |
Confined to the higher moorland areas particularly Dunkery
area. Our plants are subsp nigrum. |
| Rhododendron |
Rhododendron ponticum |
An introduced species which is a cause for concern where it
has spread into woodlands and moorland combes. Continual labour
and expense goes into trying to eradicate this. |
| Yellow Azalea |
Rhododendron luteum |
A couple of shrubs planted or escaped on to Alcombe Common
have increased in number. Recorded in several other areas where
it is either planted or an escape from nearby plantings. |
| Checkerberry |
Gaultheria procumbens |
There is a large area of this on Haddon Hill, source unknown.
The area was churned up during building of Wimbleball dam. |
| Prickly Heath |
Gaultheria mucronata |
An introduction which appears to be naturalising above Yenworthy. |
| Strawberry-tree |
Arbutus unedo |
ntroduced in coastal woods Worthy to Culbone. Also Nettlecombe.
Rare. Lord King writing from Ashley Combe in June 1875 to Ada
Countess of Lovelace states "..having been much engaged in cutting
of huge branches of arbutus trees, bay and myrtle which shut
out the view of the sea. |
| Heather |
Calluna vulgaris |
Widespread across the area as straggly bits occur in woodlands
and hedgebanks as well as on the main heather moors which lie
on high acid ground where the plant is dominant. There are about
20,000 acres of good heather moorland on Exmoor but this is
much less than a century ago. Losses have been due to ploughing
and forestry plantations, increase of bracken through over burning
and latterly the heather beetle has made an appearance. Some
attempts are being made to regenerate heather. |
| Cross-leaved Heath |
Erica tetralix |
On areas of damper moorland. |
| Bell Heather |
Erica cinerea |
Widespread on the moors and most importantly on coastal heaths.
Quantity much less than Calluna vulgaris. |
| Cranberry |
Vaccinium oxycoccos |
Apparently declining although some years it produces abundant
fruit. Locall in damp moorland areas. Threat from drying out
of moorland. |
| Bog Bilberry |
Vaccinium uliginosum |
A report of this from Old Barrow Plantation from AudreyûWilson
30.11.83 but could not locate despite extensive searchûin 1985.
Much poached by cattle. A clump found by Ian Greenûon Haddon
Hill in 1994 is the most southerly site in GB. |
| Whortleberry |
Vaccinium myrtillus |
Still common on Exmoor although the parties of 'wort pickers'
of past years are no longer seen on the moors. They used to
be a significant source of money for gipsies, schoolchildren
and whole families. Valued for jams and eaten with junket and
cream as a local delicacy. |
| a (heath) |
Pieris japonica |
Very rare introduction. Planted in woodland above West Porlock.
|
| A (heath) |
Pieris Formosa |
Planted in woodland above West Porlock. |
| Yellow Bird's-nest |
Monotropa hypopitys |
Recorded near Dunster c 1836 Rev, J.C. Collins. Usually under
Beech. |
| Primrose |
Primula vulgaris |
Common except on the highest moorland. At one time declined
c1960s but increased again seemingly following introduction
of the Wildlife Act or better education 'not to dig up' |
| False Oxlip |
Primula veris x vulgaris (P. x polyantha) |
Small quantity in fields, orchards where parents occur. Rare
due to scarcity of Cowslips. |
| Cowslip |
Primula veris |
Scarce in our area as it favours calcareous soils. In limited
numbers where it does occur and in some instances is becoming
hybridised with primroses. Others in meadows lost through change
of land use |
| Cyclamen |
Cyclamen hederifolium |
An introduction. Found in hedgerows, churchyards and in at
least one instance on moorland. Most are deliberately planted. |
| a cyclamen |
Cyclamen repandum |
In woods between West Porlock and Porlock Weir 1992 |
| Eastern Cyclamen |
Cyclamen coum |
Becoming naturalised on North Hill, Minehead. |
| Yellow Pimpernel |
Lysimachia nemorum |
Woodlands. |
| Creeping-Jenny |
Lysimachia nummularia |
Probably always an escape from cultivation in our area. In
damp shady places. |
| Yellow Loosestrife |
Lysimachia vulgaris |
Damp woodland or fields. |
| Dotted Loosestrife |
Lysimachia punctata |
Waste places, garden escapes or throw-outs. |
| Bog Pimpernel |
Anagallis tenella |
Only common in moorland bogs. |
| Scarlet Pimpernel |
Anagallis arvensis |
A common weed of arable land, gardens, waste ground, verges.
Usually scarlet, occasionally blue or pink. |
| Sea-milkwort |
Glaux maritima |
Saltmarshes or coastal shingle. |
| Brookweed |
Samolus valerandi |
Only two records both from Devon Exmoor. |
| Kohuhu |
Pittosporum tenuifolium |
Rarely self sown from planted trees. |
| Mock Orange |
Philadelphus coronarius |
Occasionally found in hedgerows, usually near habitations. |
| a mock-orange |
Philadelphus x virginalis (P. coronarius x microphyllus
x pubescens) |
Planted in woodland above West Porlock. (Norman Hadden's old
Botanic Garden) |
| Escallonia |
Escallonia macrantha |
Occasionally found in hedgerows, usually planted, naturalised
on some sea cliffs, and coastal shingle at Porlock Wier. |
| Red Currant |
Ribes rubrum |
Sometimes bird-sown but native in older woodlands. |
| Black Currant |
Ribes nigrum |
Bird-sown or relic of cultivation. Usually near habitations. |
| Flowering Currant |
Ribes sanguineum |
A fairly frequent garden escape which may self-seed. Hedgerows,
woodland etc. Sometimes persistent |
| Buffalo Currant |
Ribes odoratum |
Hedgerows or waste ground. |
| Mountain Currant |
Ribes alpinum |
Woods or hedgerows. Garden escape. |
| Gooseberry |
Ribes uva-crispa |
Can occur as a relic of cultivation, a bird-sown escape or
in rare instances may be native in woodlands or hedges. |
| Mossy Stonecrop |
Crassula tillaea |
On sandy trodden areas at Dunster Beach where it is spreading
and sometimes abundant. |
| New Zealand Pigmyweed |
Crassula helmsii |
A throw-out from garden ponds etc. which has spread to dominance
on the shores of Wimbleball Reservoir to the exclusion of other
plants. |
| Wall Pennywort |
Umbilicus rupestris |
Common on walls, hedgebanks, rocks etc. except on remote high
moorland areas. |
| House-leek |
Sempervivum tectorum |
On walls in villages. Garden origin. |
| Butterfly Stonecrop |
Sedum spectabile |
Came up in plant container in Minehead garden 2003.ûUnplanted. |
| Orpine |
Sedum telephium |
cattered records mainly near habitation except Heddon Valley
and Wringapeak (mentioned from this area 100 years ago in book
entitled "Ferny Combes. Otherwise garden origin. |
| Caucasian-stonecrop |
Sedum spurium |
On walls and stony areas. Garden origin. |
| Reflexed Stonecrop |
Sedum rupestre |
Occasional garden escapes near habitation. Old walls etc. |
| Rock Stonecrop |
Sedum forsterianum |
Native along coast on cliffs from Minehead to Combe Martin
in every tetrad. (Possibly declining in some areas). Elsewhere
probably of garden origin. |
| Biting Stonecrop |
Sedum acre |
On walls and sandy areas near the coast also coastal heaths
etc. |
| Tasteless Stonecrop |
Sedum sexangulare |
Garden escapes on wall at Bridgetown. |
| White Stonecrop |
Sedum album |
Our records thought to be of garden origin. Walls and stony
areas. |
| English Stonecrop |
Sedum anglicum |
Sometimes abundant on wall tops and rocky areas, quarries
and gravelly waysides. (Not in Eastern Somerset at all). |
| False-buck's-beard |
Astilbe japonica |
Shady areas usually near water. Garden throw-outs. |
| Elephant-ears |
Bergenia crassifolia |
A very rare introduction only one confirmed record from W.
Porlock. The usual plant is B. x schmidtii much grown in gardens. |
| an elephant-ears |
Bergenia cordifolia |
A rare introduction, waste ground, quarries etc. Garden origin. |
| Celandine Saxifrage |
Saxifraga cymbalaria |
A weed for many years in garden at Glenthorne and also occurred
as a casual in Oare Churchyard 1991. |
| Londonpride |
Saxifraga spathularis x umbrosa (S. x urbium) |
A garden escape naturalised on walls particularly at Simonsbath
and in rocky woodland such as Barle Valley and Watersmeet areas. |
| Kidney Saxifrage |
Saxifraga hirsuta |
Garden escape or throw-out found under trees near Ashwick. |
| Meadow Saxifrage |
Saxifraga granulata |
Known at Horner Woods since 1937. A site at Barlynch was destroyed
by tree felling. Also in Barle Valley and Exe Valley (double
flowered). |
| Mossy Saxifrage |
Saxifraga hypnoides |
Only of garden origin in our area - it is native in Somerset
at Cheddar Gorge. |
| Rue-leaved Saxifrage |
Saxifraga tridactylites |
Occurs on Minehead Golf Links and occasionally found elsewhere
but has been sprayed at both Dunster Churchyard, and Minehead
Railway. |
| Pick-a-back-plant |
Tolmiea menziesii |
On noted at Ashcombe Plantation, Simonsbath 1993. |
| Fringe-cups |
Tellima grandiflora |
A garden escape, naturalised in some areas. Abundant in the
West Lyn Valley on rocks by roadside stretching for half a mile
or more. |
| Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage |
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium |
Very common in most damp areas particularly shady sites by
streams and in damp woodland. |
| Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage |
Chrysosplenium alternifolium |
Much less common than C. oppisitifolium. Only occurs in a
few damp woodlands and streams. |
| Bridewort |
Spiraea salicifolia |
Garden origin occasionally found in hedges. Some records may
refer to other garden species. |
| Billard's Bridewort |
Spiraea alba x douglasii (S. x billardii) |
In hedgerow. |
| Buck's-beard |
Aruncus dioicus |
Garden escape. A clump by River Avill in 1996 disappeared
in later years. |
| Dropwort |
Filipendula vulgaris |
Garden escapes in our area. (A limestone species). |
| Meadowsweet |
Filipendula ulmaria |
Common by streams and river valleys, damp meadows, ditches. |
| Kerria |
Kerria japonica |
Garden origin. Sometimes found in hedgerows. |
| Chinese Bramble |
Rubus tricolor |
A species introduced as ground cover by National Trust. Has
become well established in some areas and seems likely to persist. |
| Stone Bramble |
Rubus saxatilis |
In shady, rocky woodland. Devon |
| Raspberry |
Rubus idaeus |
Hedgerows, woodland tracks, verges. Native but no doubt some
are garden escapes or bird-sown. |
| Japanese Wineberry |
Rubus phoenicolasius |
Woodland. |
| Bramble |
Rubus fruticosus agg. |
Practically all recorders lump brambles into this aggregate.
Hedgerows, woodland, moorland, widespread everywhere. |
| a bramble |
Rubus bertramii |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus nessensis |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus plicatus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus scissus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus albionis |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus gratus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus laciniatus |
Sometimes bird-sown. |
| a bramble |
Rubus pyramidalis |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus altiarcuatus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus boudiccae |
A 1918 record at 1250 ft Simonsbath (Marshall). det 1995 from
Herbarium material DEA. |
| a bramble |
Rubus cardiophyllus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus polyanthemus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus prolongatus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus riddelsdellii |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus rubritinctus |
Apparently fairly common. |
| a bramble |
Rubus ulmifolius |
Fairly frequently recorded. |
| a bramble |
Rubus adscitus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus lanaticaulis |
An 1883 record from Bonniton, Dunster SS94, det from herbarium
material in 1981 |
| a bramble |
Rubus vestitus |
Probably frequent. |
| a bramble |
Rubus micans |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus cinerosus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus dentatifolius |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus leyanus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus echinatoides |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus echinatus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus flexuosus |
Recorded in Devon Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus longithyrsiger |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus peninsulae |
Recorded from Devon Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus dasyphyllus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus hylocharis |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus pallidisetus |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus scabripes |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| a bramble |
Rubus tamarensis |
Confirmed from Exmoor. |
| Dewberry |
Rubus caesius |
Fairly common unless some records are in error. Present on
the coast. Absent from high moorland. |
| Marsh Cinquefoil |
Potentilla palustris |
Marshy area of a springhead. |
| Silverweed |
Potentilla anserina |
Roadsides, waste ground and many situations. Profuse on mud
banks of Wimbleball Lake |
| Sulphur Cinquefoil |
Potentilla recta |
On walls or waste ground. Garden origin. |
| Tormentil |
Potentilla erecta |
Throughout on acid moorland and hedgebanks. |
| a tormentil |
Potentilla erecta ssp. erecta |
The commoner subsp. on Exmoor. |
| a tormentil |
Potentilla erecta ssp. strictissima |
Occasional. |
| a cinquefoil |
Potentilla anglica x erecta (P. x suberecta) |
Recorded at Wimbleball. |
| Trailing Tormentil |
Potentilla anglica |
Scarce. |
| Hybrid Cinquefoil |
Potentilla x mixta sens. lat. (P. anglica or erecta x
reptans) |
Heaths and moors |
| Hybrid Cinquefoil |
Potentilla x mixta sens. str. |
Heaths. See also P. x mixta sens. lat. |
| Creeping Cinquefoil |
Potentilla reptans |
Verges, Waste ground etc. Not on the grass moors. |
| Barren Strawberry |
Potentilla sterilis |
Widespread in hedgebanks, verges, walls, etc. |
| Wild Strawberry |
Fragaria vesca |
Common in hedgerows, old grassland, woods, etc. |
| Garden Strawberry |
Fragaria x ananassa |
Occasional garden escape or throw-out. Near habitation. |
| Yellow-flowered Strawberry |
Duchesnea indica |
Churchyard. Garden origin. |
| Water Avens |
Geum rivale |
On banks of rivers, particularly the Exe and the Quarme. |
| Hybrid Avens |
Geum rivale x urbanum (G. x intermedium) |
In damp woodlands by rivers where both parents occur. |
| Herb Bennet |
Geum urbanum |
Woods, hedgerows, waste ground, garden weed, etc. |
| Agrimony |
Agrimonia eupatoria |
Hedgerows and field borders, verges. Mostly on the lower ground. |
| Fragrant Agrimony |
Agrimonia procera |
Rough grassland. |
| Great Burnet |
Sanguisorba officinalis |
Mainly to be found in Barle Valley between Lanacre and Hayes
Wood, with one or two outlying sites nr Exford, Dulverton &
Simonsbath. |
| Salad Burnet |
Sanguisorba minor ssp. minor |
Rare on Exmoor as it favours calcareous soils. |
| Fodder Burnet |
Sanguisorba minor ssp. muricata |
A rare introduction which is invariably associated with Wessex
Water works eg by pumping houses and around Wimbleball Lake. |
| Pirri-pirri-bur |
Acaena novae-zelandiae |
This was recorded in error near Porlock in 1981 - see Acaena
ovalifolia. |
| Two-spined Acaena |
Acaena ovalifolia |
First noted 1981 near gateway West Porlock (Wrongly named
as A. novae-zealandae). Correctly named by Alan Leslie in 1988.
By which time it had dwindled in original site but found in
good numbers nearby in woods. |
| Silver Lady's-mantle |
Alchemilla conjuncta |
Only recorded as a garden escape or throw-out at Treborough
Quarry. |
| Intermediate Lady's-mantle |
Alchemilla xanthochlora |
The commonest Lady's Mantle on Exmoor although absent from
Minehead and Porlock areas. Grassy areas, verges, etc. |
| a lady's-mantle |
Alchemilla filicaulis ssp. vestita |
Damp grassland and verges. Has declined in N. & S. Somerset. |
| Soft Lady's-mantle |
Alchemilla mollis |
An increasing garden escape. Naturalising. Waste ground, roadsides,
churchyards. |
| Parsley Piert |
Aphanes arvensis agg. |
Most records are recorded as the aggregate. Common in grassland,
banks, short grazed moorland grassy areas. |
| Parsley-piert |
Aphanes arvensis sens.str. |
Common in short grass. |
| Slender Parsley-piert |
Aphanes inexspectata |
Probably under recorded as most records lumped as A. arvensis
agg. In short, sandy grass, anthills, dry banks. Less common
than A. arvensis ss |
| Many-flowered Rose |
Rosa multiflora |
A tiny flowered rose, believed to be this spp. grew in the
hedge at Middlecombe, Minehead from before 1982 until about
1987. |
| Field Rose |
Rosa arvensis |
A fairly common hedgerow rose and edge of woodlands. Not on
high moorland areas. |
| a rose |
Rosa arvensis x canina (R. x verticillacantha) |
Recorded by Paul Green just over ENP boundary Cuckolds Combe
Bridge Sep 2003 (1st modern record for VC5) |
| Burnet Rose |
Rosa pimpinellifolia |
Only one record from roadside verge near Simonsbath. The only
native Somerset site is believed to be Watchet cliffs. |
| Japanese Rose |
Rosa rugosa |
Garden origin. Hedges, verges, walls etc. |
| Short-styled Field-rose |
Rosa stylosa |
Hedgerows etc. Probably under recorded. |
| a rose |
Rosa canina x stylosa (R. x andegavensis) |
Hedgerows, woodlands, etc. |
| Dog Rose |
Rosa canina agg. |
Most recorders have lumped all rose records under this aggregate.
Nevertheless it is the most widespread rose on Exmoor occurring
in hedges, woodlands, waste ground, etc. but not on moorland. |
| a rose |
Rosa caesia x canina (R. x dumalis) |
Cliffs or quarries. |
| Harsh Downy-rose |
Rosa tomentosa |
Hedges, scrub, etc. |
| Sherard's Downy-rose |
Rosa sherardii |
Hedges, woodland borders. |
| Sweet-briar |
Rosa rubiginosa agg. |
Scrubby areas, hedgerows. The apple-like scent may not always
be detected. |
| Almond |
Prunus dulcis |
Occasionally found in hedgerows usually planted by roadsides. |
| Cherry Plum |
Prunus cerasifera |
An introduction occasionally found in hedges. |
| a cherry plum |
Prunus cerasifera var. pissardii |
Purple leaves. An introduction. |
| Blackthorn |
Prunus spinosa |
Common in hedgerows, woodland, scrubby areas, etc. Not on
moorland areas such as The Chains. Important for nesting birds
and the fruit, sloes, are collected by wine makers. |
| Bullace or Crislings |
Prunus domestica |
Scattered reports of Bullace (ssp institutia) in old hedgerows
and a report of unidentified ssp from Shilstone. Prunus domestica
ssp dom. occasional but ssp institutia very rare. Several hedgerows
where it formerly grew grubbed out. |
| Plum |
Prunus domestica ssp. domestica |
Hedges or woodlands, usually a relic of habitation. See also
P. domestica L. |
| Damson |
Prunus domestica ssp. insititia |
Usually called Bullace. A few hedgerows or woodland borders.
See also P. domestica L. |
| Greengage |
Prunus domestica ssp. italica |
In hedgerow, West Porlock 1993. No further details available
and no other reports. |
| Wild Cherry |
Prunus avium |
Woodlands and hedges. Not on moorland. Frequent on Brendon
Hills area. Often planted in new woodland late 1990s. |
| Dwarf Cherry |
Prunus cerasus |
Morello Cherry. Hedgerows, thickets. |
| Bird Cherry |
Prunus padus |
Only a couple of locations where it is probably planted. |
| Portugal Laurel |
Prunus lusitanica |
Generally planted. |
| Cherry Laurel |
Prunus laurocerasus |
A frequent introduction near habitation or relic of habitation.
Sometimes becoming dominant on acid soils. e.g. Sully Mill where
much has been cleared in recent years. |
| Japanese Quince |
Chaenomeles speciosa |
Recorded as a relic of habitation nr Kentisbury. |
| Maule's Quince |
Chaenomeles japonica |
Nr Bossington, 1997. |
| Pear |
Pyrus communis sens. lat. |
Relic of cultivation. |
| Crab Apple |
Malus sylvestris sens.str. |
Woodlands. See also M. sylvestris sens. lat. |
| Apple |
Malus domestica |
A frequent relic of cultivation; also verges, waste ground
etc. |
| Rowan |
Sorbus aucuparia |
A widespread tree typical of moorland, combes, and woods.
Native in our area. |
| a whitebeam |
Sorbus intermedia agg. |
Swedish Whitebeam. Believed native in Devon woodland. |
| a whitebeam |
Sorbus anglica |
Previously recorded but now believed incorrect. |
| Whitebeam |
Sorbus aria agg. |
Sorbus aria s.l. is not thought to occur on Exmoor other than
as a planted tree. An as yet unclassified Sorbus known as Taxon
D has been noted at Watersmeet, Devon and nr Worthy in Somerset. |
| a whitebeam |
Sorbus porrigentiformis |
Coastal woods. |
| a whitebeam |
Sorbus rupicola |
Coastal woods. |
| a whitebeam |
Sorbus vexans |
Coastal woodlands. |
| a whitebeam |
Sorbus subcuneata |
Coastal woodlands |
| a whitebeam |
Sorbus devoniensis |
Woodlands and hedgerows. Not found in Somerset until 1994. |
| French Hales |
Sorbus latifolia agg. |
Used as an aggregate name only in the Flora & Fauna of Exmoor
National Park (1996). |
| Juneberry |
Amelanchier lamarckii |
Rare introduction which produces seedlings but these do not
seem to survive. |
| Stranvaesia |
Photinia davidiana |
Planted in woodland above West Porlock (Haddon's old botanic
garden). |
| a cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster glaucophyllus |
C. glaucophyllus. Single tree planted in woodland above W.
Porlock. (N. Haddon's old botanic garden) The only other specimen
in Br Isles is in a Scottish Botanic Garden. |
| Tree Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster frigidus |
A few scattered trees in Oare and Culbone area. |
| Waterer's Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster frigidus x salicifolius (C. x watereri) |
Planted in woodland above West Porlock (Haddon's old botanic
garden) |
| Late Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster lacteus |
Planted in woodland above W. Porlock (Haddon's old botanic
garden) |
| Small-leaved Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster integrifolius |
An uncommon garden escape, possibly bird-sown. Long established
on the coast path near Heddon Mouth, Devon. Former name was
C. microphyllus. |
| Wall Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster horizontalis |
A common bird sown garden escape especially around habitations.
On walls, quarries, banks and waste places. |
| Himalayan Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster simonsii |
A fairly frequent escape or bird-sown from gardens. On walls,
stony places, waste ground, etc. |
| Hollyberry Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster bullatus |
Hedges, verges, waste areas, etc. Garden origin. |
| Franchet's Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster franchetii |
Walls, waste ground, hedgerows. Garden origin. |
| Small-leaved Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster microphyllus agg. |
Garden origin sometimes bird-sown. Long established on the
coast path near Heddons Mouth. (Now C. integrifolius) |
| Firethorn |
Pyracantha coccinea |
Garden origin. Bird-sown. Railway embankment. Hedgerows. |
| Medlar |
Mespilus germanica |
Roadside hedge. Old introduction. |
| Hawthorn |
Crataegus monogyna |
Moorland, combes, hedgerows, etc. An important food source
and nest site for birds. Small trees or hedgerow shrubs. |
| False Acacia |
Robinia pseudoacacia |
Planted trees only. Some very big trees at Timberscombe are
host to huge clumps of Mistletoe. |
| Goat's-rue |
Galega officinalis |
A rare introduction long naturalised on waste ground at Minehead
Warren, by Butlins Camp. |
| Kidney Vetch |
Anthyllis vulneraria |
Scattered along length of Exmoor coastline and a few inland
records. |
| Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot-trefoil |
Lotus glaber |
Dry grassy places. Possibly under recorded but can easily
be confused with poorly grown L. corniculatus. Only confirmed
records are from Atlas to Devon Flora |
| Common Bird's-foot-trefoil |
Lotus corniculatus |
Common throughout. Dry or sandy grassland, verges, waste ground. |
| Large Bird's-foot-trefoil |
Lotus pedunculatus |
Common throughout. Damp grassland, moorland bogs and stream
banks, ditches etc. Favours acid soils. |
| Bird's-foot |
Ornithopus perpusillus |
Widespread, usually in short turfy grass. Easily overlooked. |
| Tufted Vetch |
Vicia cracca |
Frequent in hedgerows and verges. Mainly concentrated in eastern
section of our area. |
| Wood Vetch |
Vicia sylvatica |
Woodland and coastal cliffs. Also local Brendon Hill area. |
| Hairy Tare |
Vicia hirsuta |
Frequent in woods, hedges and agricultural land but not on
moorland. |
| Smooth Tare |
Vicia tetrasperma |
Hedgebanks, verges, woodland borders, etc. Less common than
V. hirsuta. |
| Bush Vetch |
Vicia sepium |
Common in hedgerows, woods, verges, but not on the high moorland
areas. |
| Common Vetch |
Vicia sativa |
Less common that V. sepium, in hedgerows, woodland borders,
field borders and verges. There are 3 subsp. nigra formerly
known as Narrow leaved Vetch which is found on turfy moorland
areas and is Native; ssp sativa formerly cultivated for fodder
and probably the commonest ssp. and segetalis sometimes cultivated
for fodder. The 2 latter are introductions usually found in
field borders, hedges or verges. |
| Narrow-leaved Vetch |
Vicia sativa ssp. nigra |
Frequent on turfy moorland, verges, etc. |
| Common Vetch |
Vicia sativa ssp. sativa |
Formerly cultivated for fodder. Field borders and hedges.
See also V. sativa L. Subsp. seldom determined by recorders
and it may in fact prove to be rare now. |
| Spring Vetch |
Vicia lathyroides |
Coastal areas: golf links, coastal heath. |
| Bithynian Vetch |
Vicia bithynica |
Formerly at Minehead railway station, went when trains reintroduced.
Small amounts in one or two places. Hedgerows waste ground etc. |
| Broad Bean |
Vicia faba |
Escape from cultivation |
| Bitter-vetch |
Lathyrus linifolius var. montanus |
Frequent in woodland borders, hedgebanks and heathland. There
are two forms, one with very narrow leaflets. |
| Meadow Vetchling |
Lathyrus pratensis |
Common in hedgerows and field borders, but not on the moors. |
| Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea |
Lathyrus sylvestris |
Best seen on Porlock shingle ridge but this also occurs in
some hedgerows, verges and rough areas. |
| Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea |
Lathyrus latifolius |
A garden escape in some hedges, churchyards, etc. |
| Sweet Pea |
Lathyrus odoratus |
Garden escape. |
| Grass Vetchling |
Lathyrus nissolia |
A scarce plant of field borders, woodland borders, hedgebanks.
Some found on a building site nr Porlock in 1979 was transferred
to a bank in Great Headon Plantation where it remained until
1999. |
| Common Restharrow |
Ononis repens |
An uncommon plant mostly found near the coast, occasionally
on verges and grassy places. |
| Tall Melilot |
Melilotus altissimus |
Just a couple of records from Somerset and a couple from Devon.
Verges, rough ground or field borders. |
| White Melilot |
Melilotus albus |
No records since 1989. Waste ground, verges. |
| Ribbed Melilot |
Melilotus officinalis |
No records since 1991. Verges, field borders. |
| Black Medick |
Medicago lupulina |
Common in agricultural areas and near habitations but not
on moorland. Grass verges, field gateways, waste ground, etc. |
| Sickle Medick |
Medicago sativa ssp. falcata |
Last seen in Somerset in 1924 N.G. Hadden at Minehead Warren |
| Lucerne |
Medicago sativa ssp. sativa |
An uncommon relic of cultivation. Verges, grassland, etc. |
| Toothed Medick |
Medicago polymorpha |
Recorded c1910 on North Hill by T.Twist & Minehead Golf Links
1967 by J. Robbins. Refound here by C.Giddens in 1978, 1988
and 1999. Our plant is var. tuberculata. |
| Spotted Medick |
Medicago arabica |
Verges, lawns, waste ground, etc. Frequent in North east part
of our area, very rare elsewhere. Mostly in areas of agriculture
or near habitations. |
| Fenugreek |
Trifolium ornithopodioides |
(Bird's-foot Clover) Short grassy, sandy areas near the coast. |
| White Clover |
Trifolium repens |
Common throughout the area. Verges, grassy areas, and other
habitats from sea level to high moors. |
| Alsike Clover |
Trifolium hybridum |
Scattered distribution. Frequently planted as a fodder plant
which becomes naturalised. Possibly native near the coast. |
| Clustered Clover |
Trifolium glomeratum |
First recorded on Coleman's Minehead List c1849, then by Hadden
1916 at Bossington. Search of old sites for Somerset Atlas Flora
resulted in it being refound in 1993 at Dunster and Bossington |
| Suffocated Clover |
Trifolium suffocatum |
Only recorded from Minehead and Dunster Beach areas. Sandy
places near the coast. |
| Strawberry Clover |
Trifolium fragiferum |
Seldom recorded. Damp grassland, verges. |
| Hop Trefoil |
Trifolium campestre |
Verges, grassy areas, sandy soils. |
| Lesser Trefoil |
Trifolium dubium |
Grassy areas, verges, lawns, hedge banks, walls. |
| Slender Trefoil |
Trifolium micranthum |
Short turf, lawns, sandy areas. A deeper shade of yellow than
T. dubium. |
| Red Clover |
Trifolium pratense |
Common except on high moors. Verges, grassland, waste areas,
fields, hedgerows, etc. Robust varieties are probably agricultural
introductions. |
| Zigzag Clover |
Trifolium medium |
Verges, rough grassland. |
| Crimson Clover |
Trifolium incarnatum ssp. incarnatum |
Only one record of a single plant in root crop, Broomstreet
1991. |
| Knotted Clover |
Trifolium striatum |
Dry sandy grassland. Mainly in Porlock - Dunster Beach area. |
| Rough Clover |
Trifolium scabrum |
Only recorded from dry grassland in Porlock - Dunster Beach
areas. |
| Hare's-foot Clover |
Trifolium arvense |
Short sandy grassland near the coast. |
| Sea Clover |
Trifolium squamosum |
Recorded Porlock Weir 1918 Dr W. Watson and Dunster Marshes
sometime before 1896. Currently occurs on Somerset coast East
of East Quantoxhead. Two Exmoor records in 1990s, one a lawn
casual did not persist and one at Porlock Weir. |
| Subterranean Clover |
Trifolium subterraneum |
Short sandy grassland areas Porlock to Dunster Beach area. |
| Tree Lupin |
Lupinus arboreus |
Occurred as a casual in several places around Minehead 1967
- 1983 but no longer at any of these sites. May still occur
in Devon near the coast. |
| Laburnum |
Laburnum anagyroides |
Hedgerows, woodland, verges. Usually self-sown seedlings from
cultivated trees or garden throw-outs. |
| Hairy-fruited Broom |
Cytisus striatus |
One bush on roadside verge nr Minehead. (Now gone) |
| Broom |
Cytisus scoparius |
Forestry tracks, heathland, hedgerows, open woodland. Our
plants are ssp. scoparius. |
| Montpellier Broom |
Genista monspessulana |
One bush in hedge nr Luccombe 1993 |
| Petty Whin |
Genista anglica |
Recorded by Norman Haddon Langcombe Head 1938 and refound
here in 1990 by C.J.Giddens. |
| Gorse |
Ulex europaeus |
Very common throughout. Moorland, hedgebanks, and woodland
borders. |
| Western Gorse |
Ulex gallii |
Less frequent than U. europaeus but fairly common throughout
area. An important constituant of coastal heaths. |
| Sea-buckthorn |
Hippophae rhamnoides |
Planted on dunes near the coast and in a derelict cottage
garden in Lime Combe. |
| Eleagnus |
Elaeagnus pungens |
Planted in Hadden's old botanic garden in woodland above West
Porlock. |
| Parrot's Feather |
Myriophyllum aquaticum |
Liable to occur from dumped material from garden pools. Does
not survive very severe winters. |
| Alternate Water-milfoil |
Myriophyllum alterniflorum |
In upland streams. |
| Giant Rhubarb |
Gunnera tinctoria |
Planted by streams and ponds in ornamental gardens and established
plants may self seed. |
| Purple-loosestrife |
Lythrum salicaria |
In the Heddon and Barle Valleys, scare elsewhere and seldom
persisting. Some records may have been the result of dumped
garden material. |
| Water Purslane |
Lythrum portula |
Frequent in damp moorland areas, reservoir banks, muddy tracks
on acid soils. |
| Spurge-laurel |
Daphne laureola |
Shady damp banks and clayey non acid soils. Although native
in parts of Somerset e.g. Blue Anchor-Watchet areas it is of
garden origin in Exmoor area. |
| Great Willowherb |
Epilobium hirsutum |
Codlins & Cream. By water or in ditches on the lower ground. |
| Hoary Willowherb |
Epilobium parviflorum |
Widespread but not on moorland areas. |
| Broad-leaved Willowherb |
Epilobium montanum |
The most frequently recorded Willowherb. Occurs in a variety
of habitats including verges, hedgebanks, woodlands, gardens,
etc. |
| a willowherb |
Epilobium montanum x obscurum (E. x aggregatum) |
Rare. |
| a willowherb |
Epilobium ciliatum x montanum |
Probably occurs although no current records. Last recorded
at Nettlecombe 1968. RGB Roe |
| Spear-leaved Willowherb |
Epilobium lanceolatum |
Widespread. Gardens, verges, waste ground, walls, etc. |
| a willowherb |
Epilobium lanceolatum x obscurum (E. x lamotteanum) |
Rare. |
| a willowherb |
Epilobium ciliatum x lanceolatum |
Rare. |
| Square-stalked Willowherb |
Epilobium tetragonum |
Damp moorland, hedgebanks, verges, waste ground, etc. |
| Short-fruited Willowherb |
Epilobium obscurum |
Hedgebanks, verges, cultivated and waste ground. |
| a willowherb |
Epilobium ciliatum x obscurum |
Rare. |
| Pale Willowherb |
Epilobium roseum |
Roadsides, verges. Scarce. |
| American Willowherb |
Epilobium ciliatum |
Cultivated and waste land, walls, verges, etc. First recorded
in Britain in 1891. Widespread throughout Somerset by 1950s. |
| Marsh Willowherb |
Epilobium palustre |
Damp, boggy moorland areas. |
| New Zealand Willowherb |
Epilobium brunnescens |
Sometimes found in abundance on river banks e.g. Hoaroak Water
also by track down to Wimbleball dam. Stream banks, woodland
tracks, and walls. First Somerset record 1956 on the Quantocks. |
| Rosebay Willowherb |
Chamerion angustifolium |
Hedgerows, quarries, verges, waste ground. Abundant along
roadsides on the Brendon Hills where it runs for miles. |
| Large-flowered Evening-primrose |
Oenothera glazioviana |
Naturalised in sandy areas Minehead to Dunster Beach, otherwise
only a casual garden escape. |
| Least Evening-primrose |
Oenothera parviflora |
Recorded in error see Oe. Cambrica. |
| Small-flowered Evening-primrose |
Oenothera cambrica |
Garden escape. (Originally recorded in error as Oe. parviflora.) |
| Fragrant Evening-primrose |
Oenothera stricta |
Well naturalised in sandy areas between Minehead and Dunster
Beach. |
| Fuchsia |
Fuchsia magellanica |
Garden relic or established introduction. May self-seed. |
| Enchanter's-nightshade |
Circaea lutetiana |
Woodlands, shady hedgerows, garden weed. Not on the high moorland. |
| Dogwood |
Cornus sanguinea |
Although this is a plant of calcareous soils it is surprisingly
frequent in hedgerows particularly in the Selworthy area. Not
on acid moorland. May sometimes be of garden origin. |
| Red-osier Dogwood |
Cornus sericea |
A rare introduction. |
| Cornelian-cherry |
Cornus mas |
Planted in woodland above West Porlock (N.Haddens old botanicûgarden). |
| Spotted-laurel |
Aucuba japonica |
Introduction. |
| Mistletoe |
Viscum album |
Only Exmoor records are within ten miles of Minehead. Has
been noted on the following hosts: Apple, Crab Apple, Ornamental
Willow, Lime, Hawthorn, False Acacia, Lilac. Only survived for
3 years on the Lilac. |
| Spindle |
Euonymus europaeus |
Fairly common in north and east of our area where soil is
calcareous. Hedges, woodland borders, scrubby areas. |
| Holly |
Ilex aquifolium |
Common in woods, hedges and heaths. Not on the grass moors.
A good pure stand at Holly Brake, east of Little Headon Plantation,
Bratton Court Farm. |
| Box |
Buxus sempervirens |
Only of garden origin in our area. In hedgrows, usually near
habitation. May self seed. |
| Dog's Mercury |
Mercurialis perennis |
Woods and hedgerows. Not on the higher ground. One of the
earliest flowers to bloom. |
| Annual Mercury |
Mercurialis annua |
Common in cultivated land in Somerset (eastern) side of Exmoor.
No records yet from Devon Exmoor. Said to have come into W.
Somerset via a shipload of Russian wheat to Watchet. |
| Irish Spurge |
Euphorbia hyberna |
Woodland, Devon only. There was a 1898 report from a small
wooded area on the Somerset side of Badgworthy Water, Malmsmead.
Last reported there 1929. |