50.) BALSAMINACEAE & POLEMONIACEAE

BALSAMINACEAE - Balsam family

IMPATIENS L.

Impatiens noli-tangere L. (Touch-me-not Balsam) 1866 Wetland Extinct This species is mentioned in a list from Bristol produced in about 1840 by G.H.K. Thwaites and was recorded at Bath in pre-1930s by ? [BSBI record]. It is considered to be native in Britain but was probably an introduction in our area.

[Where's the 1866 record? Is it the latter record?]

Impatiens capensis Meerb. (Orange Balsam) Wetland Very Rare A rare introduction, established along several spots of the River Avon at Bath, Keynsham and along the Floating Harbour. Also found at Conham ST67G in 2020s by ? [BSBI record] and in two ponds at Littleton-upon-Severn in 2017 by D. Williams. It also formerly occurred for a time at Littleton Brick Pits (first discovered in 1982 by A.J. Merritt) not far from here; and a single specimen was found growing on pebbles by the sea wall at Portishead in 1986 by H.E. Titchen. First recorded in our region at Avonmouth Docks in 1959 by ? [BMAG].

[More records on BSBI. Found by R.D. Randall BRLSI]

Impatiens parviflora DC. (Small Balsam) General Very Rare A rare introduction from Central Asia; established in several places: in an old quarry at Bourton Combe (first discovered in 1943 by I.W. Evans); on verges along Beggar Bush Lane, Failand (first discovered in 1949 by C.I.Sandwith [says I.W. Evans in FOTBR]); on road verges in Brockley Combe (first discovered in 1965 by E.S. Smith and determined by A.J. Willis); Stokeleigh Camp, Leigh Woods (first discovered in 1988 by R.D. Randall); Eastwood Farm (first discovered in 2001 by R. Edmondson); and Splott Farm near Peasdown St John, BANES (first discovered in 2002 by Cam Valley Wildlife Group). Also recorded at Browns Folly Mine in 1999 by SRPG. First recorded in our region along a lane at the back of Clifton College Close in about 1912 by C.I. Sandwith; on waste ground at Redland in 1924 by H.J. Gibbons; and near the Victoria Rooms, Clifton in 1932 by I.M. Roper.

[Perhaps don't need to mention all records. Need to check over when we have access to the BSBI records. See Bristol Botany in 1923 p. 53]

Impatiens glandulifera Royle (Himalayan / Indian Balsam) / Wetland Uncommon An invasive species; thoroughly established along the banks of many waterways where its exploding seeds are dispersed for significant distances downstream. Also occasionally found in drier situations along roadsides, in damp woodland, brownfield sites, and as a casual of newly made ground. It has become particularly prominent around Ashton Court Estate in recent years. It is still sometimes grown in gardens despite its overwhelmingly negative reputation and it being illegal to sell or allow to escape into the wild. Not only does this species swamp out native vegetation but the roots also don't bind the soil like native vegetation, causing erosion. It comes in a range of colour forms: pink, white and magenta and is hugely attractive the bees and is popular with bee keepers but there is also the potential that native bees are diverted from native plants. Local conservation groups often take part in 'Balsam bashing' - bashing prevents the plant from spreading due to preventing seed from setting. Himalayan Balsam is first mentioned in our area by White (1912) "Two patches by the Trym just below Clack Mill: known there for at least thirty years. By the Frome on the Oldbury Court estate". Also recorded by the Trym along Chock Lane, Westbury on Trym in 1921; at Ashley Hill in 1931 and Ashton Gate in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith. Newer records have been laid below the pre-2000 records to demonstrate its visible spread.
Impatiens balfourii Hook. f. (Kashmir Balsam, Balfour's Touch-me-not, Poor Man's Orchid) General Extinct Recorded as a casual at Cumberland Basin, Bristol Docks in 1993 by J.P. Martin and G. Stone.

[Says 1994 in FOTBR.]

POLEMONIACEAE - Jacob's-ladder family

POLEMONIUM L.

Polemonium caeruleum L. (ssp. caeruleum) (Jacob's-ladder) General Extinct Not recorded in recent years. Historical records include: "Cornfield, Winterbourne, June, 1849; Herb. Cundall. Is included in a MS. list of Bristol plants of date about 1830. And has been found near Badminton by Mr. W. Harford...Coppice near Bathford; Withers in Cybele Britannica vol. iii." Also found at "Kingswood, Hb. Sessions" (Riddelsdell, 1948); in a horse paddock at Pilning in 1997 and 1998 by J.P. Martin; and last recorded on the A432 Junction Verge of Cuckoo Lane, Moorend in 1998 by J.H. Boyd, M. Evans and R.N. Corlett.

GILIA Ruiz & Pav

Gilia capitata Sims (ssp. capitata) (Blue Thimbleflower) 1922 General Extinct A native of western North America; recorded at Bedminster in 1922 and near the Cattle Market, Bristol in 1924 by C.I. Sandwith.

NAVARRETIA Ruiz & Pav

Navarretia intertexta (Benth.) Hook. (ssp. intertexta) (Needleleaf Navarretia) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Extinct A native of western North America; recorded at St Philip's Marsh in 1919 by C.I. Sandwith, teste I.M. Johnston.

COLLOMIA Nutt.

Collomia linearis Nutt. (Tiny Trumpet, Slenderleaf Collomia, Narrow-leaved Mountain-trumpet) 1922 General Extinct A native of North America; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1922 and Avonmouth Docks in 1924 by C.I. Sandwith [BMAG].

PHLOX L.

Phlox paniculata L. (Phlox) - BRLSI General Very Rare A very rare garden escape. Found near the Feeder Canal at Netham, Bristol in 2005 by J. Illsley; at Lyncombe Hill, Bath in 2014 by G. Barrett; and Burrington Combe in 2015 by M. Ellington

[Records need checking. Could Phlox be a mistake for Flax?]

List:

Impatiens noli-tangere L. (Touch-me-not Balsam) 1866 Wetland
Impatiens capensis Meerb. (Orange Balsam) Wetland
Impatiens parviflora DC. (Small Balsam) General
Impatiens glandulifera Royle (Indian Balsam) / Wetland
Impatiens balfourii Hook. f. (Kashmir Balsam - NBN, Balfour's Touch-me-not, Poor Man's Orchid) General
Polemonium caeruleum L. (ssp. caeruleum - Kew, GBIF) (Jacob's-ladder) General
Gilia capitata Sims (ssp. capitata - Kew, GBIF) (Blue Thimbleflower - Stace, Blue-thimble-flower - NBN) 1922 General
Navarretia intertexta (Benth.) Hook. (ssp. intertexta - Kew, GBIF) (Needleleaf Navarretia - GBIF) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Collomia linearis Nutt. (Tiny Trumpet - GBIF, Wikipedia, Slenderleaf Collomia - Wikipedia, Narrow-leaved Mountain-trumpet - Go Botany) 1922 General
Phlox paniculata L. (Phlox) - BRLSI General

Species to add:

Phlox paniculata L. (Phlox) - BRLSI /
Navarretia intertexta (Benth.) Hook. (ssp. intertexta - Kew, GBIF) (Needleleaf Navarretia - GBIF) - [Sandwith, 1932] /