Botany Meeting 5th July 2022

Cray Gill Meeting 5.07.22

Cray Gill rises from the northern Hubberholme road to Cray through meadows, woodland limestone stream side and hillside footpath with a damp limestone area at the top. Eight of us enjoyed the day full of sunshine and just about enough breeze to keep the flies at bay.

Along the roadside, eyes forward, we did notice the effect of some weed killer spray but one stand of Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia not yet in flower, had escaped.

Walking between the meadows and stream we spent some time looking at the Dandelion look-a-likes, here were Rough Hawkbit Leontidon hispidus or did it turn out to be Lesser Hawkbit Leontidon saxatilis, and Catsear Hypochaeris radicata, the hairs on bracts on the stem and base of the flowerhead being one feature but nothing is quite so simple. Mouse-ear Hawkweed Pilosella officinarum is easier as it has a paler lemon flower and silver backed leaves.

The grasses deserved some attention and various members are getting much better at their identification, though most of us can manage Crested Dogstail Cynosurus cristatus and one or two others. Nipplewort Lapsana communis and Wall Lettuce Mycelis muralis were differentiated by their general colour and leaf shape. 

Into the woodland and different flora in the shade and much taller vegetation. Here the more prominent dandelion look alike was Marsh Hawksbeard Crepidotus paludosa  much branched with leaves clasping the stem. The big disappointment was not finding the Alpine Bistort Persicaria vivipara in amongst the tall vegetation despite having a grid reference from a previous visit.

Lunch was spent sitting on a sunny bank of Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulnererria Rockrose Helianthemum nummularium Betony Stachys officinalis, the latter adding purple to the yellows, and many other delights.

Chalk Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, just one or two, with the long spur and lovely scent spurred us uphill.  Just to the edge of the path, their preferred habitat, was a small group of Field Gentians Gentianella campestris, the less common local Gentian with 2 large sepals overlapping the two much smaller ones, a real treat.

At the top of the climb and turning towards the pub we came to a very dry stream bed with a good display of Northern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza purpurella and Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi still visible despite the invading Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria.

The return to the cars was all downhill after a delightful day.                         

Leader Josephine Drake

Photos Ian Hughes

Our last stop was to view the impressive patch of Northern Marsh Orchids growing around the small beck behind the houses at Cray. This site was first revealed to the group by Elsie Thornborrow (now deceased), a long time member of the Field Society, who farmed at Cray until retirement.

Colin Ginger