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Ferns and Fungi.
In the damp areas of the deciduous woodlands, often on tree roots or rocks,
Harts Tongue Fern and Polypody Fern
are found, both are common. The delicate Lady Fern grows along
the Teme woodlands, while the large clumps of Male Fern dominate
in the woodland on the south western end of the Parish. ( Tinkers Coppice and
Haywood). Adders Tongue Fern, grows in the old quarry fields
at Collins Green, this tiny fern, is an indicator of ancient grass lands and
can be found along the footpath that crosses the old quarry fields. The most
abundant fern in the parish is Bracken.
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Many species of fungi appear during the autumn and spring seasons, and again it would need a volume of its own to identify them all. Of the more common and most sort after are the Field Mushrooms whilst the more unwanted are Yellow Stainer Mushroom, Honey Fungus and the Fly Agaric’s. We have records of the beautiful Earth Star growing in a garden in the parish. |
Grasses
Grasses, due to
the many different habitats in the parish, we have a wide range of grasses to
look out for, on the hill sides and woodland edges around Penny Hill we can
see the following. Various-leaved Fescue, Swamp Meadow
Grass, Narrow-leaved Meadow Grass and Lesser
Hairy Brome. Many of the commoner species can also
be found.
In the Kingswood area, where the woodland tends to be damper, we find Southern
Wood-rush, Wood Fescue, Smooth-stalked Sedge. On the
heavier soils, species like Wood Small-reed, Wood Club-rush
and Flat Sedge dominate. The large Pendulous
Sedge can be found on most clay soils and often grows in some of the
larger gardens in Martley.
The dryer grasslands of the parish hold, Sheep Fescue, Rat’s-tail
Fescue, Flattened Meadow Grass plus a wide selection
of Bromes, these include Rye, Field, Meadow and Smooth.
Some damper meadows have grasses like Lesser Tussock Sedge.
Roadside verges contain Cockspur, Cocksfoot and Slender
Soft Brome.
In other woodlands we can find Wood Medick, Wood Millet
and again Pendulous Sedge. Other species recorded in the parish
is Meadow Foxtail, and Crested dogs tail,
Canary Grass. Quaking Grass is one of the
more appealing grasses. Timothy, Yorkshire Fog and
Squirrel Tail Fescue are common meadow grasses, while
wetter grass land gives us Sweet Vernal Grass and Velvet
Bent.
By kind permission of Brian Draper M.B E
Page created by Lynne Stanley
E-mail Lynne@martley.org
Last updated 14/9/05