The vegetation of Shingle Street, Suffolk in relation to its environment by Suffolk Naturalists' Society

T H E V E G E T A T I O N O F S H I N G L E S T R E E T , S U F F O L K IN R E L A T I O N TO ITS E N V I R O N M E N T R. E.

RANDALL

Shingle Street is a part of Bawdsey Parish, situated on the west bank of the estuary of the River Ore, opposite North Weir Point, the distal end of Orford Ness. The area of prime interest is an accumulation of shingle east of the sea-wall in the northern part of the hamlet. It is composed of a series of apposition banks enclosing several lagoons. Projecting northwards and making an acute angle with the mainland is a shingle spit behind which an arm of the sea is situated (Fig. 1). A brief survey of the botany of the area was published by Heath (1981). Considerable geomorphic examination of the area has been undertaken by Carr (1965,1972, 1986), Cobb (1957), Kidson and Carr (1959), and Randall (1973. 1977). This has shown Shingle Street to be a dynamic area of coast, resulting primarily from shingle deposition following the storms of 1893 and 1897 when the last kilometre of Orford Ness was driven landwards. The area is anomalous in that the present resultant of shingle movement in the littoral zone is to the north, in contrast to much of the east coast of England, including Orford Ness. Much of the geomorphic change that has occurred during the twentieth century can be accurately dated by reference to surveys and air photographs such that the age of any area of the system is known. Thus an interesting chronological account may be made of the vegetation and its environment. Shingle is an interesting plant habitat because the vast proportion of the soil material is inert, rarely offering suitable conditions for plant establishment. Randall (1976), Fuller (1987) and Scott (1963) have discussed the importance of interstitial material in the development of shingle vegetation. In some locations very fine shingle allows water and nutrient retention; at the other sites tidal litter or sand fill the interstices and allow the growth of plants. Shingle vegetation was initially studied by Oliver (1912, 1913), Oliver and Salisbury (1913a, b), Hill and Hanley (1914) and McLean (1915). Recently Ferry and Waters (1985) studied shingle succession at Dungeness and Fuller and Randall (1988) have examined the role of coastline management on the Orford shingles, but little has been done to link the geomorphic history of an area with the present day vegetation and soils. This seems to be a fundamental necessity in the complete comprehension of shingle ecology since, as Tansley (1949) remarks, 'it is necessary to understand the developmental morphology of shingle spits because the different parts of the system bear different vegetation'. Vegetated shingle is a rare habitat both in the British Isles and elsewhere in Europe. Much that was of interest, such as Dungeness, Kent, has been lost to extraction, disturbance and development. This survey is intended to be a basis for furure study of the dynamic ecological development of Shingle Street. A further aim, in conjunction with the geomorphic study (Randall 1973), is to obtain data that will help assess the scientific value of Shingle

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T H E VEGETATION OF S H I N G L E STREET

Street in relation to other shingle beaches in Britain both from botanical and geomorphic viewpoints. Shingle Street was mapped in 1986 by plane table survey to modify 1:4,500 aerial photography flown on 28.10.1961 (Photos V-AK 9 3 - 5 K.K. St Joseph, C.U. Collection). From this it has been possible to construct an accurate map (Fig. 1) on which to base an ecological survey of the area. Information was required on the various plant communities of the bar and their relationship to factors of geomorphology, substrate and history of the area. Two line transects were selected to cover all the habitats important enough in area to m a p (Fig. 2). These were levelled to high water mark ordinary spring tides (as evidenced by drift line material). Ordinance Survey bench marks are not within convenient reach so levels relative to sea-level had to suffice. Plant communities were recorded along the transects and orthogonal to them in 3 x 2m quadrats, positioned away from the abrupt vegetation boundaries associated with the shingle ridges. Scoring of quadrats was on the Domin scale. Further information recorded included total vegetation cover, ground slope and aspect. Soil samples were taken for analysis in the field and in the laboratory. These were analysed for pH. organic fraction, chlorides, particle size and moisture content. Further vegetation data were obtained by intensive coverage of the total area of shingle south to the Martello Tower at the end of the hamlet. Transect 1 zones

Transect 2 z o n e s

_J Fig. 2

The Physical Structure The area is just over 1000m long and varies between 150m and 300m in width. The main ridge is largely over 2.5m above high water mark, reaching a

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maximum of 3m. The coastal ridge decreases gently in height northwards from 2.5m near the south-eastern corner of lagoon 7. The other ridges or fulls range between 2.0-2.5m in height. Ridge wavelength is variable between 2.5m and 7.5m with a mode of about 4.5m. The area west of lagoons 6a and b is a sand beach pre-dating the existence of the shingle ridges. The area surrounding the lagoon and the sea arm are salt-marsh development, either on sediment deposited from the estuary of the River Ore or directly on the London Clay over which the shingle is deposited. The period of stability of different parts of the area is shown in Fig. 3. This is deduced by superimposing the relevant parts of earlier maps and air photographs onto the mapped outline so that an age for all parts is attained. This is not accurate at the foreshore where shingle is currently mobile but elsewhere it is representative. Shingle Street is now in a phase of erosion so no modern additions have occurred. The Soil An analysis of the soil samples is given in the table. The coarse fraction is made up from medium and coarse gravel, predominantly flint, varying in shape from spheroid to discoid. The matrix consists of inorganic sand, silt, and clay and organic clay and humus. It is the nature and proportion of this fraction that is important for water and nutrient relations and it is therefore a controlling factor of the vegetation. Shingle spits are unique among plant habitats for the richness of their outside supplies of organic matter: drift from the open sea and from adjacent marshes. The former is composed of wood, bark, cork, cones, seaweeds and dead animal remains, the latter is primarily algae, halophyte seeds, leaves and twigs of marsh plants, rabbit dung and carcases of marsh animals. Because so much organic matter comes from drift and so little from elsewhere, there is an inverse relationship between height of a point above sea level and its percentage of organic matter. Thus away from pioneer zones organic matter is in very short supply, under 1% organic matter being typical of well-vegetated shingle ridges (see for example sites 15-17 on transect 1). Similarly p H decreases as organic matter increases (Gillham, 1957a, b) but at Shingle Street this is masked by sea salts. Away from the sea a more normal reaction resulted and long-stable areas with a fairly high organic matter content gave a low p H reading. A good example is the 1897 ridge between lagoons 6 and 7. Moisture content of the matrix was found to have an inverse semilogarithmic relationship to height. This is because soils near water level are glei and waterlogged and have the highest quantity of fine material. There is a direct relationship between proximity to the sea and chloride content in the soil water, as can be seen on transect 2 sites 4 - 8 . Moisture and mobility are the outstanding problems of shingle soils. Moisture from rain, held in the matrix and insulated by the surface layer of coarse gravel keeps shingle plants watered even in dry conditions. Fuller (1975, 1987) has recently carried out laboratory lysimeter trials on sand/ shingle mixtures to prove moisture retention capacities. Mobility is a factor

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T H E VEGETATION OF SHINGLE STREET

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of wave impact, percolation and undercutting and is thus reduced with distance from water bodies. The Vegetation Patterns Shingle beaches form a well-marked maritime habitat though they have no characteristic species as Marram ( A m m o p h i l a arenaria) on dunes. There are five vegetation zones that can be recognised at Shingle Street according to the composition of species present (Fig. 4). Zone 1, in the west of the area inland from lagoons 6a and 6b, is composed of a sandy-shingle substrate with a low organic content that has been stable since 1893. The area is well-turfed with False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius), Silvery Hair-grass (Aira caryophyllea), Sea Couch-grass ( E l y m u s pycnanthus) and Red Fescue (Festuca rubra). Within the turf, the sandy nature of the substrate results in Sea Sandwort ( H o n k e n y a p e p l o i d e s ) being abundant, and many clovers, vetches and 'dune' annuals are present. Also here is one of the few recorded sites in Suffolk for Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum). This area has been referred to by F. J. Bingley (pers. com.) as relic sand-dune vegetation, but is in effect shingle heathland. More different species are recorded in this zone than any other zone at Shingle Street (Appendix I). Sea Mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum) is found throughout this area at low cover percentages, usually growing as a biennial. It is more common at the storm-tide drift line and into the shingle-salt-marsh transition where it usually grows as a perennial. Zone 2 is an area of halophytic or lagoon margin vegetation where the soil conditions most simulate salt-marsh. Four sub-zones are present representing the succession upwards from pioneer marsh. As one passes through the zones the surface material becomes increasingly shingly but the plants are rooted in the matrix below. Zone 2 is present around the Sea Arm, the lagoons 6 and 7 and in a brackish form around lagoon 5. Algae, primarily Sea Lettuce (Enteromorpha spp.) (Zone 2a) are succeeded in turn by Glassworts (Sarcocornia and Salicornia spp.), Annual Seablite (Suaedamaritima) (Zone 2b) Sea Purslane (Halimione portulacoides) (Zone 2c), and Sea Lavender (Limonium vulgare) (Zone 2d). Several other salt-march species are also represented. The lagoons of Shingle Street have been described by Barnes and H e a t h (1980) and Field and Randall (1986). Zone 3 stretches across the central part of the area covering the apposition banks of shingle. Low amorphous areas bear a very sparse vegetation, including Curled Dock (Rumex crispus), Sea Pea (Lathyrus japonicus), Sea Campion (Silene maritima) and Sticky Groundsel (Senecio viscosus) (Zone 3a). Some of the Silene is a form with pale flowers and a pale green calyx not found elsewhere. Much of this land was dug for shingle during World War II and is only now becoming recolonized. The higher shingle ridges are more heavily colonized by Arrhenatherum elatius, with Lathyrus japonicus, Biting Stonecrop ( S e d u m acre) (on fine shingle), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Rumex crispus, Yellow Horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum) and Tripleurospermum maritimum (Zone 3b). The 1897 ridge stands out particularly noticeably within Zone 3b because of its richness of species.

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Hollows between the ridges are very sparsely vegetated, mainly with Lathyrus japonicus, and casual annuals. This zone is F. J. Bingley's semifixed shingle vegetation. The whole length of the mobile foreshore is a separate zone (Zone 4) predominantly containing Lathyrus japonicus, Rumex crispus and occasional drift-line species such as Babingtons Orache (Atriplex glabriuscula) and Sea Beet (Beta maritima). A final zone (Zone 5) is found on top of the recurved hooks between lagoon 7 and Bitter End Spit. Here one finds a combination of those species in zones 3 and 4, plus a large number of casual adventive species making use of this open yet protected semi-stable habitat, which is relatively so rich in organic material from the drift-line. An annotated flora of the whole area is given in the Appendix. Discussion The two principal factors influencing vegetation on shingle beaches are beach composition and shingle mobility. Both of these are continually variable in themselves as well as interacting with other factors including micro-relief, micro-climate and water supply, all of which are strongly influenced by the historical development of the area. This whole geographical complex is reflected within reasonable limits, such that some idea of development can be gained from the various types of habitat. This is highlighted by the succession on pure shingle from Lathyrus japonicus on the moble foreshore, through invasion of Rumex crispus and Geranium robertianum on the semi-stable laterals to Arrhenatherum elatius on the mature, semi-stabilised banks. Eventually this is colonized by Silene maritima and Festuca rubra until a herb-rich fescue sward results. The edaphic effects of chlorides and sand on the succession are seen in the vegetation of zones 1 and 2. Because shingle has so few characteristic plants this succession is peculiar to Shingle Street. However, in part, it is reminiscent of Chesil Beach, Culbin Bar or Blakeney Point, despite such obvious differences as the absence of Shrubby Seablite (Suaeda vera). It seems that many of the hardiest plants are those found in other open situations as casuals. Succession to a stable climax cannot be seen at Shingle Street since the development is too modern and the area too small, but the presence of shrubs such as Dog Rose (Rose canina) and in the past Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) and Broom (Cytisus scoparius), point the way to Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Elder (Sambucus nigra) and Holly (Ulex europaeus), as at Dungeness. One of the great problems at Shingle Street is the availability of seed-parents. The results of this survey allow comparison of Shingle Street with other important shingle sites in Britain. It is not a large beach, but it must be borne in mind that it is the most accessible part of the huge Orford Ness complex. The mixture of shingle ridges, sand and salt-marshes show similarities to structures such as Blakeney, Scolt or Culbin. However, the sub-parallel bands of stable, storm-ridged shingle contrast strongly with single ridges of Chesil or Cley which are worked over continually by the sea. The formation of the area by successive accretion then erosion compares with the formation

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T H E VEGETATION OF S H I N G L E STREET

of Dungeness or Orford Ness (Steers, 1964). The proximity of sand to shingle and the resultant sand/shingle mix shows the importance of the matrix within shingle banks; likewise the interdigitation of salt-marsh and shingle. Conversely, the shingle lows where a matrix is absent are virtually lacking in vegetation. Past drift lines, too, affect present vegetation distribution. Fine material within the shingle increases the water retention capacity and organic matter increases nutrient availability also. Surface shingle covering the matrix reduces evaporation since capillary action is impossible through the large interstices. The shingle bank vegetation of Shingle Street is important not so much for japonicus, its species content (with the exception of species like Lathyrus Yellow Vetch (Vicia lutea) and Crithmum maritimum) as for the processes it illustrates. H e r e one can see the patterns of colonization and development directly related to features of the soil and topography and it is one of the best examples of an apposition bank with sand and salt-marsh mixtures. Physiographically Shingle Street is part of one of the most important shingle sites in Britain, only Dungeness being more magnificent (Hubbard, 1970). References Barnes, R. S. K. and Heath, S. E. (1980). The shingle-foreshore/lagoon system of Shingle Street, Suffolk: a preliminary survey. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 18, 168. Carr, A. P. (1965). Shingle spit and river mouth: short term dynamics. Trans. Inst. Br. Geogr. 33,117. Carr, A. P. (1972). Aspects of spit development and decay: the estuary of the River Ore, Suffolk. Fid. Stud. 4, 633. Carr, A . P. (1986), The estuary of the River Ore, Suffolk: three decades of change in a longer-term context. Field Studies 6, 43. Cobb, R. T. (1957). Shingle Street, Suffolk. A brief geographical introduction. Ann. Rep. Fid. Stud. 3, 31. Ferry, B. and Waters, S. (1985). Dungeness. Ecology and Conservation Peterborough: N.C.C. Field, J. E. and Randall, R. E . (1986). The lagoons of Shingle Street: a pilot study of their water characteristics. Bull. Geog. Soc. Norfolk 36, 97. Fuller, R. M. (1975). The Culbin Shingle Bar and its vegetation. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 42, 293. Fuller, R. M. (1987). Vegetation establishment on shingle beaches. J. Ecol. 75,1077. Fuller, R. M. and Randall, R. E. (1988). The Orford Shingles, Suffolk, U . K . - classic conflicts in coastline management. Biol. Cons, (in press). Gillham, M. E . (1957a). Vegetation of the Exe Estuary in Relation to Water Salinity. J. Ecol. 45, 735. Gillham, M. E . (1957b). Coastal Vegetation of Mull and Iona in relation to salinity and soil reaction. J. Ecol. 45, 757. Health, S. E. (1981). A brief survey of the botany of Shingle Street, Suffolk. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 18, 249.

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Hill, T. G . and Hanley, J. A. (1914). The structure and water content of shingle beaches. J. Ecol. 2, 21. H u b b a r d , J. C. E. (1970). The Shingle Vegetation of Southern England: a general survey of Dungeness, Kent and Sussex. J. Ecol. 58, 713. Kidson, C. and Carr, A. P. (1959). The movement of shingle over the sea-bed close inshore. Geogr. J. 125, 380. McLean, R. C. (1915). The Ecology of the maritime lichens of Blakeney Point, Norfolk. J. Ecol. 3, 129. Oliver, F. W. (1912). The Shingle Beach as a plant habitat. New Phyt. 11,73. Oliver, F. W. (1913). Some remarks on Blakeney Point, Norfolk, J. Ecol. 1,4. Oliver, F. W. and Salisbury, E. J. (1913a). Vegetation and mobile ground as illustrated by Suaeda fruticosa on shingle. J. Ecol. 1, 249. Oliver, F. W. and Salisbury, E. J. (1913b). The Topography and vegetation of the National Trust nature reserve known as Blakeney Point, Norfolk. Trans. Norf Norw. Nat. Soc. 9. Randall, R. E. (1973). Shingle Street, Suffolk: An analysis of geomorphic cycle. Bull. Geol. Soc. Norfolk 24, 15. Randall, R. E. (1976). Shingle Foreshores and Shingle Formations in R.S.K. Barnes, ed. The Coastline 49 and 199. Randall, R. E. (1977). Shingle Street and the sea. Geogr. Mag. 49, 569. Scott, C. A. M. (1963). The ecology of shingle beach plants. J. Ecol. 51,517. Steers, J. A. (1964). The Coastline of England and Wales. 2nd edition, Cambridge. Tansley, A. G. (1949). The British Islands and their Vegetation. Univ. Press, Cambridge. Dr. Roland Randall Girton College Cambridge CB3 O J G

APPENDIX List of Angiosperms from Shingle Street 1962-1988 Nomenclature follow Clapham, Tutin and Moore, Flora of the British Isles, ed.3, 1987, and Dony, Rob and Perring, English Names of Wild Flowers, 1974. The area covered by this flora is that on the seaward side of the sea-wall, extending from the shore at the end of the road due east of the Martello Tower (grid ref. 367426) up to the point where the road from Shingle Street crosses the sea-wall and Barthorp's Creek (367440). This inner limit departs from the sea-wall only for the stretch behind the row of houses, where it is the road from its junction with the side road to 'The Beacons' (369431), to its southern end by the Martello tower.

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Dicotyledones Ranunculus acris L., Meadow Buttercup. Occasional on stable shingle. Papaver rhoeas L., Common Poppy. Often frequent on stable shingle near sea-wall. P. dubium L., Long-headed Poppy. Rare on stable shingle. Glaucium flavum Crantz., Yellow Horned-poppy. Common on semi-stable shingle, often on old drift-lines. Crambe maritima L., Sea-kale. Rare and decreasing on mobile shingle. Cakilemaritima Scop., Sea Rocket. Recorded in 1960's. Not seen recently. Lepidium campestre (L.) R . B r . , Field Pepperwort. Occasional on stable shingle. Cochlearia danica L., Danish Scurvygrass. In salt-marsh by lagoon 6. Erophila verna (L) Chevall, Common Whitlow grass. Occasional on stable sand and shingle. Sisymbrium officinale (L) Scop., Hedge Mustard. Occasional just west of concrete road near 'The Beacons'. Descurainia sophia (L) Webb ex Prantl., Flixweed. Recorded by D. H. Dalby. Not seen recently. Reseda luteola L., Weld. Occasional in disturbed area near 'The Beacons'. Tamarix gallica L., Tamarisk. Introduced around the houses of the hamlet. Some extensive stands farther south. Silene vulgaris subsp. maritima (With), A. & D. Love, Sea Campion. Very common on unstable shingle. Cerastium diffusum Pers., Sea Mouse-ear. Occasional on stabilized shingle. Cerastium semidecandrum L., Little Mouse-ear. Common on sandy shingle. Stellaria media (L.) Vill., Common Chickweed. Rare near 'The Beacons'. S. pallida (Dumort) Pire, Lesser Chickweed. Occasional on sandy area between lagoon 6 and sea-wall. Sagina apetala Ard., Common Annual Pearlwort. Frequent in grassy turf. Honkenya peploides (L.) E h r h . , Sea Sandwort. Abundant on sandy area near lagoon 6. Arenaria serpyllifolia L., Thyme-leaved Sandwort. Locally common on sandy shingle and dry mud, especially around rabbit burrows. Spergularia marginata (DC) Kittel, Greater Sea-spurrey. Uncommon on shore of lagoon 6, rare elsewhere in salt-marsh conditions. Montia perfoliata (Willd.) Howell, Springbeauty. Rare but increasing on open shingle. Common further south. Chenopodium album L., Fat-hen. Occasional on disturbed areas. Beta vulgaris L. subsp. maritima (L.) Thell., Sea Beet. Common on mobile shingle. Occasional elsewhere. Atriplex littoralis L., Grass-leaved Orache. Occasional on mud around lagoon. 7. Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen, Sea-purslane. Abundant in upper, well-drained zones of shingle salt-marsh, and on recurved hooks. In salt-marsh near drainage channels. Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort, Annual Sea-blite. Common on shores of sea arm and lagoons 6 and 7.

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Sarcoconnia perennis (Miller) A . J . Scott, Perennial Glasswort. On shores of lagoons 6 and 7 and on sea arm. Salicornia ramossissima Woods, Glasswort. In salt-marsh and by lagoon 6 and also in two low pockets near Bitter End spit. S. pusilla Woods, Glasswort. In salt-marsh and by lagoon 6 and on sea arm. Malva sylvestris L., Common Musk-Mallow. Frequent in dry stable shingle areas. Althaea officinalis L., Marsh-mallow. Rare on brackish marsh by sea-wall. Not seen recently. Linium catharticum L., Fairy Flax. Rare in sand by lagoon 6. Geranium dissectum L., Cut-leaved Cranes-bill. Occasional in grass-land on stable shingle. G. robertianum L., H e r b Robert. Very common on mobile shingle and recurved hooks. Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Herit., Common Stork's-bill. On sandy shingle especially around rabbit burrows. Lupinus arboreus Sims, Tree Lupin. Near sea-wall in north. Common south of shingle Street and spreading. Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link, Broom. Not recently recorded. Medicago lupulina L., Black Medick. Quite common near 'The Beacons'. M. minima (L.) Bartal, Bur Medick. Very common in sandy area, frequent in stabilized parts elsewhere. M. polymorpha L., Toothed Medick. Occasional in much of the stabilized turf. M. arabica (L.) Hudson, Spotted Medick. Common on stable shingle and sand areas. Trifolium micranthum Viv., Slender Trefoil. Occasional on semi-stable sand and shingle, especially around rabbit burrows. T. campestre Schreber, H o p Trefoil. Infrequent, west of the road near 'the Beacons'. T. repens L., White Clover. Very common along base of sea-wall. Common elsewhere. T. suffocatum L., Suffocated Clover. Locally frequent on stable shingle around lagoon 5. T. arvense L., Hare's-foot Clover. Present in sandy area near lagoon 6. T. scabrum L., Rough Clover. Occasional east of the concrete road. Trifolium pratense L., Red Clover. Quite common over much of the stabilized shingle. Lotus corniculatus L., Common Bird's-foot-trefoil. Occasional in sandy area by lagoon 6. L. tenuis Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd., Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot-trefoil. Common on stable shingle near 'The Beacons'. Vicia hirsuta (L.) S. F. Gray, Hairy Tare. Frequent in stable shingle turf. V. sepium L., Bush Vetch. Occasional in tall grass of stabilized shingle. V. lutea L., Yellow Vetch. A common vetch locally over most of the area. V. sativa L., ssp. sativa Common Vetch. Infrequent on stable sand and shingle.

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V. sativa L. ssp. nigra (L.) Ehrh., Narrow-leaved Vetch. Frequent by hamlet and either side of path past lagoon 6. V. lathryoides L., Spring Vetch. Quite common west of concrete road. Lathyrus nissolia L., Grass Vetchling. Common in stable shingle turf. L. japonicus Willd., Dominant over large stretches of low apposition banks. Abundant elsewhere on unstable and stable shingle. Rubus fruticosus sensu. lat., Bramble. Recorded in rear of stable shingle near sea-wall. Not seen recently. Potentilla anserina L., Silverweed. Very common on stable sand and shingle. P. argentea L., Hoary Cinquefoil. Frequent on sandy area. Rosa canina L., Dog rose. One plant near sea-wall north of lagoon 5. Sedum album L., White Stonecrop. Rare near the houses. S. acre L., Biting Stonecrop. Very common on unstable and semi-stable shingle. S. reflexum L., Reflexed Stonecrop. Rare near 'The Beacons'. Saxifrage tridactylites L., Rue-leaved Saxifrage. Rare on sand by lagoon 6. Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop., Rosebay Willow-Herb. Often common expecially on tyre tracks on stabilized shingle. Eryngium maritimum L., Sea-holly. Now absent on sandy shingle. Recorded in past. Torilis nodosa (L.) Gaertner, Knotted Hedge-parsley. Rare at base of sea-wall. Bupleurum tenuissimum L., Slender Hare's Ear. Occasional in drier parts of salt-marsh and by lagoons. Conopodium majus (Gouan) Loret, Pignunt. Rare by sea-wall. Crithmum maritimum L., Rock Samphire. One patch only on sandy shingle near lagoon 6. Oenanthe lachenalii C. C. Gmelin, Parsley water-dropwort. In brackish marsh by lagoon 5. Pastinaca sativa L., Wild Parsnip. Occasional near sea-wall. Heracleum sphondylium L., Hogweed. Occasional on stable shingle near sea-wall. Mercurialis annua L., Annual Mercury. Recorded until 1976 but not now present. Euphorbiapeplus L., Petty Spurge. Occasional on stabilized areas. E. paralias L., Sea Spurge. Recorded by D. H. Dalby. Not now present. Bellis perennis L., Daisy. Quite common on stabilized shingle. Achillea millefolium L., Yarrow. Infrequent on sandy soil especially near rabbit burrows. Polygonum persicaria L., Redshank. Locally frequent near sea-wall. Rumex acetosella L., Sheep's Sorrel. Rare on stable shingle areas. R. acetosa L., Common Sorrel. Quite common in grassy areas. R. crispus L., Curled Dock. Very common on unstable shingle, including the foreshore. Frequent elsewhere especially recurved hooks. Urtica dioica L., Common Nettle. One clump on path near lagoon 5. Limonium vulgare Miller, Common Sea-Lavender. Dominant in damp area of salt-marsh by lagoon 6.

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Armeria maritima (Miller) Willd., Thrift. Quite common on shingle over mud near lagoon 6 and in salt-marsh. Frequent in sandy shingle. Anagallis arvensis L., Scarlet Pimpernel. Rare on sandy shingle. Glaux maritima L., Sea-milkwort. Infrequent in dry salt-marsh and near lagoon 6. Cynoglossum officinale L., Hound's-tongue. Rare on sandy shingle, present some years only. Myosotis ramosissima Rochel, Early Forget-me-not. Locally frequent on stable shingle. Lithospermum arvense L., Field Gromwell. Recorded by D. H. Dalby. Not seen recently. Echium vulgare L., Viper's-bugloss. Frequent on semi-stable shingle towards the south. Calystegia soldanella (L.) R.Br., Sea Bindweed. On sandy shingle. Rare. Solanum dulcamara L., Bittersweet. Rare on unstable shingle. Veronica arvensis L., Wall Speedwell. Occasional in stable shingle and sand grassland. V. agrestis L., Green Field-Speedwell. Recorded by D. H. Dalby. Not seen recently. Lamium amplexicaule L., Henbit Dead nettle. Occasional on stable shingle near 'The Beacons'. Plantago major L., Greater Plantain. Rare by roadside near the hamlet. P. media L., Hoary Plantain. Common in grass on stabilized shingle. P. lanceolata L., Ribwort Plantain. Abundant on stabilized apposition shingle. P. maritima L., Sea Plantain. Frequent in salt-marsh and by lagoons 6 and 7. P. coronopus L., Buck's-horn Plantain. On sea-wall and stable shingle. Galium verum L., Lady's Bedstraw. Frequent in sandy areas near lagoon 6. G. aparine L., Cleavers. Common in tall grass near sea-wall. Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterrade, Common Corn salad. Occasionally found on top of stable shingle ridges. Knautia arvensis (L.) Coulter, Field Scabious. Occasionally in stable shingle turf by road. Senecio jacobaea L., Common Ragwort. Common on semi-stable and stable shingle and sand. S. viscosus L., Sticky Groundsel. Very common on stable and unstable shingle. 5. vulgaris L., Groundsel. Rare on stable shingle near 'The Beacons'. Tussilago farfara L., Colt's-foot. Rare along base of sea-wall. Occasionally turns up elsewhere. Filago vulgaris Lam., Common Cudweed. Locally common on stable shingle. Aster tripolium L., Sea Aster. In the salt-marsh and near lagoon 6. Tripleurospermum maritimum (L.) Koch, Scentless Mayweed. Frequent occasionally very common on drift-line of mobile shingle. Leucanthemum vulgare Lam., Ox-eye Daisy. Rare on stable shingle. Artemisia vulgaris L., Mugwort. Occasional near sea-wall. Artemisia maritima L., Sea Wormwood. Rare on drier areas of salt-marsh.

Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 24

T H E VEGETATION OF S H I N G L E STREET

Arctium lappa L., Great Burdock. Rare by sea-wall. Carduus nutans L., Musk Thistle. Recorded by D. H. Dalby. Not seen recently. Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten., Spear Thistle. Occasional near sea-wall. C. arvense (L.) Scop., Creeping Thistle. Quite common on stable areas. Cichorium intybus L., Chicory. Recorded by D. H. Dalby. Not seen recently. Hypochoeris glabra L., Smooth Cat's-ear. Recorded by F. J. Bingley near sea-wall. Not seen recently. H. radicata L., Cat's-ear. Frequent in stable shingle turf. Leontodon autumnalis L., Autumn Hawkbit. Frequent on semi-stable and stable shingle. Picris echioides L., Bristly Oxtongue. Rare near 'The Beacons'. Tragopogon pratensis L., Goat's-beard. Rare in stable turf. Lactuca serriola L., Prickly Lettuce. Rare on semi-stable and stable shingle. L. virosa L., Great Lettuce. Rare by sea-wall. Sonchus arvensis L., Perennial Sow-thistle. Occasional in salt-marsh and on stable shingle. S. oleraceus L., Smooth Sow-thistle. Frequent on stable shingle near seawall. Hieracium pilosella L., Mouse-ear Hawkweed. Quite common in stable shingle turf. Crepis vesicaria L. ssp. taraxacifolia (Thuill.) Thell., Beaked Hawk's-beard. Increasing on stable shingle. C. capillaris (L.) Wallr., Smooth Hawk's-beard. Frequent on stable shingle. Taraxacum officinale Weber, Dandelion. Rare on stable shingle. Monocotyledones Triglochin maritima L., Sea Arrowgrass. Occasional in marsh by lagoon 6. Potamogeton pectinatus L., Fennel Pondweed. Recorded in lagoon 5 when water level was higher (not seen since 1976). Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande, Spiral Tasselweed. Recorded from the lagoons. Zannichellia palustris L., Horned Pondweed. Present in lagoon 6 but not 7 since the 1960's breakthrough. Asparagus officinalis L., Near sea-wall in north. Juncus gerardii Loisel, Saltmarsh Rush. Locally dominant in salt-marsh by lagoon 6. J. ambiguus Guss., Toad Rush. Rare on damp path near salt-marsh. Carex arenaria L., Sand Sedge. Frequent on sandy shingle. C. extensa G o o d , Long-bracted Sedge. Rare in salt-marsh and by lagoon 6. Phragmites australis (Cav) Trin ex Steudel, Common Reed. Dominant in brackish marsh by lagoon 5. Festuca rubra L., Red Fescue. Abundant in most stable locations. Lolium perenne L., Perennial rye-grass. Common on stable shingle ridges. Puccinellia maritima (Hudson) Pari., Common Saltmarsh-grass. Present in salt-marsh and by lagoon 6.

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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 24

Desmazeria rigida (L.) Tutin, Fern-grass. Uncommon on stabilized shingle. Poa annua L., Annual Meadow-grass. Rare on footpath through stable dunes. P. angustifolia L., Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass. Locally common on stable shingle. Bromus hordeaceus L., Soft-brome. Generally common on mobile shingle. Occasional elsewhere. Elymus pycnanthus (Godron) Melderis, Sea Couch. Common on sandy shingle and salt-marsh. Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) J. & C. Presl., False Oat-grass. Abundant on stable shingle ridges. Aira caryophyllea L., Silver Hair-grass. Locally common on sandy gravel. Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link, Marram. Rare on sandy shingle. Paraphaolis strigosa (Dumort) C. E. Hubbard, Hard-grass. Local in saltmarsh by lagoon 6. Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald, Small Cord-grass. Rare on sides of recurved hooks by sea arm near lagoon 7. S. anglica C. E . H u b b a r d , Common Cord-grass. Rare on lagoons 5 and 6 infill and on mud-flat near Bitter End spit.

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Plate 6: Sea C a m p i o n . Silene vulgaris ssp. maritima Street (p 53).

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; very c o m m o n on unstable shingle at Shingle (Photo: H o w a r d Mendel)

Plate 5: Sea-kale. Crambe maritima

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; rare and decreasing at Shingle Street (p 53). (Photo: H o w a r d Mendel)