Musk Stork's-bill

I had to drop Pete at the Saltersford Water Treatment Works today for a meeting regarding an entomological survey of springs and seepages along the Witham valley. While they were meeting I did some botanical recording west of Grantham.

Despite showers of rain I managed decent lists for two tetrads. The highlights were a huge patch of Crosswort which is now classified as a Near Threatened species in England, a couple of plants of American Wintercress (which is a new species to me) and several plants of Musk Stork’s-bill. 

There were very few records of this species in South Lincolnshire prior to 2010, but in recent years this southern Eurasian species has been recorded more frequently, though nearly always in south-facing locations. This could be a result of climate change, or possibly be related to the fact that more recording is taking place in winter and early spring, when this species is most obvious.