CALAMINTS IN SUFFOLK - A REQUEST I have been asked by Dr. K . J . Adams (Recorder for Essex for the Botanical Society of the British Isles) to help map the present distribution of the two species of Calamint in East Anglia. I have agreed to collate the Suffolk records. Common Calamint (Calamintha ascendens Jord.) occurs thinly throughout the region. In Suffolk it is a plant of hedge-banks and roadside verges, frequently near cottages and in villages, pointing probably to an earlier culinary use. Despite its English name, it is not common. Lesser Calamint (C. nepeta (L.)Savi) is certainly the more frequent plant in the country, with larger colonies, taller, more conspicuous flower stems and a wider variety of habitats. It occurs on roadsides, railway banks and in churchyards. Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are the main stronghold of this species in Britain. Since there are very few records from elsewhere, it may be possible to produce a national map. The purpose of this note is to ask for further records from SNS members. I have listed below all the Suffolk parishes from which there are recent, confirmed records. Both the Calamints flower in late summer, and continue to do so well into October or even November, so I look forward to receiving records from other parishes this autumn! I am greatly indebted to Mr. E. Milne-Redhead for letting me make use of the many Calamint records he has collected over the past few years. He wishes, as I do myself, to thank all those who have already submitted records, particularly Dr. K. T. Brown, who recorded many sites for C. nepeta in the Stour Valley. All these records, together with my own, already give good coverage for the county. Amazingly enough, there appears to be virtually no overlap in the distribution of the two species in Suffolk. Perhaps the survey will reveal the reason for this - or disprove the Statement! Common Calamint. Recent, confirmed records from Bury St. Edmunds, Carlton Colville, Chelmondiston, Creeting St. Mary, Erwarton, Framlingham, Freston, Haiesworth, Hemingstone, Homersfield, Icklingham, Ixworth, Levington, Lt. Fakenham, Middleton, Nacton, Sapiston, Stanton, Stutton, Thurston, Walberswick. Lesser Calamint. Recent, confirmed records from Aldham, Assington, Boxford, Brantham, Bures St. Mary, Capel St. Mary, Dalham, East Bergholt, Gt. Cornard, Hadleigh, Higham (Stour Valley), Hintlesham, Holton St. Mary, Holbrook, Kentford, Kersey, Layham, Lt. Cornard, Lt. Wenham, Moulton, Nayland with-Wiston, Polstead, Raydon, Semer, Shelley, Stanstead, Stoke-by-Nayland, Stratford St. Mary, Sudbury, Tattingstone, Westley. E. M. Hyde, Parkside, Woolverstone, Ipswich IP9 1AR.
Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 20