8th August, 1959
There had been very little rain since the last visit to the plot and we found the stream almost dry again though in one spot the mud was quite soft and a light brown in colour. At the edges of the bed the mud was hardening. Insects were troublesome, and there were a great number of bees busy in the Willow Herb patches. The patches of Willow Herb formed a white carpet just tipped with purple, and the seeds were being blown everywhere. The seeds seemed to join together in chains, in many parts forming loops of chains among the other plants.
The leaves of the Sycamore were very dry looking and a dark green. Buds were present in the axils of the leaves.
A light green plant is spreading rapidly at the sides and in the bed of the stream. Buds are present on this plant and we intend to visit the plot again soon, hoping to be able to identify this plant* when the flowers are out.
A brown and orange moth was caught in the shade of the trees.
*In a marginal note Mrs Broady identifies this plant as “Water Pepper” (“Polygonum aviculare” although this may be a mistake as Water-pepper is Persicaria (formerly Polygonum) hydropiper; Polygonum aviculare is the name reserved for Knotgrass. These Dock relatives are very confusing and it would be easy for a beginner to make such a mistake. – Ed.
Posted by Dave Bishop 8th August, 2009.
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