The Flora of Fox Covert

The plot has a very rich flora with 109 species recorded in August 1996. The diversity is due mainly to the presence of base-rich soils in the SW corner, in which calcicoles such as, Parnassia palustris, Blackstonia perfoliata and Carlina vulgaris thrive alongside Mentha aquatica, Schoenus nigricans, and Cirsium palustre. This contrasts strongly with the typical bog flora of the eastern end. Linum catharticum extends over much of the plot, apparently as happy in acidic as in basic soil. An interesting component of the flora of the SW corner, and a great surprise to an English botanist. i s Plantago maritima: This is an essentially coastal plant, but it is stated in [1] that it occurs also “inland on limestone in W. Ireland “. This is consistent with the distribution map shown in [2]. The plant community of this SW section of Fox Covert is more typical of established coastal duneland than of an inland peat bog.

Wide are-as of the plot are extremely colourful, with abundant Lythrum salicaria, Leucanthemun vulgare, Ulex Gallii, Mentha aquatica, Succisa pratensis, Galium verum, and Filipendula vulgare. Pedicularis palustris is particularly fine in some central areas.

The eastern end is dominated by Myrica gale, and there are small patches of Narthecium ossifragum, and Eriophorum angustifolium. Most of the larger Myrica gale specimins are dying, probably due to drainage, but smaller plants are regenerating in other areas. Close to the NE ed g e was a small patch of Stachys palustris, but the plants were not thriving, and only one plant had flower buds about to open on 16th August; at least six weeks after its usual flowering time.

Three orchids were found in flower. Gymnadenia conopsea is abundant at the western end, and around the periphery. Dactylorhiza maculata occurs less frequently over most of the plot. A single plant of Dactylorhiza purpurella was found on the northern periphery. This is very clearly of the form shown by “many Scottish and W Irish populations” as described in the footnote on page 1 047 of [I], with a broad, rounded, and distinctly three-lobed labellum. This last species can probably be grouped with those of the previous paragraph, and similar comments apply.

The boundary ditches with free standing water have a good stream flora with M enyanthes trifoliata, Sparganium erectum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, and Iris Pseudacorus.

In conclusion, this small area holds much interest for the botanist, and much of beauty for the casual observer. Doubtless many more species will be added as surveys are made at other times of the year. Grasses in particular are under-recorded, due to the limited time available in this initial survey, and the desiccated state of most species in August. Fox Covert could serve as a valuable and easily accessible resource for ecological and botanical education at all levels from local schools to universities. It is to be hoped that it can be preserved and managed to maintain the diversity of the flora. To this end further drainage of the land should be avoided, or preferably reversed.

References

1) “Flora of the British Isles ” Clapham AR, Tutin TG, and Warburg EF. Second edition, Cambridge University Press, 1962.
2) “An Atlas of the Wild flowers of Britain and Northern Europe “. Fitter A. Collins, 1978.

Colin Sillence
BSc, MSc Bristol UK ,
August 31st 1996