Wanstead Flats

Jubilee Pond - Wildlife 1 - Plants

Plants

A variety of plants were introduced to the pond and in the vicinity after the constructional work was completed. Plants known to have been introduced included Mare's-tail, Hippuris vulgaris, Pendulous Sedge, Carex pendula, Cyperus Sedge, Carex pseudocyperus, and Lesser Reedmace, Typha angustifolia - none of which species were known on Wanstead Flats prior to this time. Also introduced was Reed sweet-grass, Glyceria maxima and Soft Rush, Juncus effusus. Broom and Gorse were planted on a low, long mound to the east of the pond.

In 2003 Fred Wanless of Dames Road, Forest Gate, made a survey of the plant life around the pond, together with a photographic record of the species found - plants recorded in 2003 below are those that he found.

In the plant list that follows, the name of the species is preceeded by the Page Number of the reference in Stace 2nd Edition

Plants which have not been recorded for Wanstead Flats before and are not known to have been deliberately introduced (though may well have been accidentally) are are as follows:

080 Love-in-a-mist, Nigella damascena - a single plant in the pond dipping area in 2003

128 Marvel of Peru, Mirabilis jalapa - a single plant by the peninsular on the west side of the pond in 2004

139 Red Goosefoot, Chenopodium rubrum - scattered plants around the margins in 2003

196 Marsh Dock, Rumex palustris - in the pond dipping area and in peninsular bay in 2003-2006

212 Musk Mallow, Malva moschata - a single plant on east bank in 2004; still present 2006

273 Lesser-Swine-cress, Coronopus didymus - F2 a single plant in the pond dipping area of Jubilee Pond 20/08/06

279 Hoary Mustard, Hirschfeldia incana - in scattered locations around the pond in 2004 - 2006

281 Weld, Reseda luteola - on Pigeon Island and in the pond dipping area in 2003; on west bank in 2005, various locations in 2006

301 Scarlet Pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis - two plant in the pond dipping area in 2003

417 White Melilot, Melilotus albus - a single plant in the pond dipping area in 2003

423 Spotted Medick, Medicago arabica - on east bank near pond dipping area in 2004

430 Hare's-foot Clover, Trifolium arvense - on the west bank in 2007

511 Fools Water Cress, Apium nodiflorum - in the pond dipping area in 2005

604 Brooklime, Veronica beccabunga - in the pond dipping area in 2003, only one small plant found in 2006

754 Nodding Bur-marigold, Bidens cernua - in pond dipping area in 2004

780 Common Duckweed, Lemna minor - in the pond in 2003

797 Sea Club-rush, Scirpus maritimus - in the pond-dipping area in 2005

882 Orange Foxtail, Alopecurus aequalis - on drying mud between the peninsular and the pond dipping area in 2003

921 Lesser Reedmace - Typha angustifolia - on the west bank in 2007

Other plants growing in the immediate vicinity of the pond - that is to say in the pond, on the banks and within the boundary of the gravel track that runs around it - are:

090 Celery-leaved Crowfoot, Ranunculus sceleratus - around the margins of the pond in 2003 and 2004, 2007

117 Nettle, Urtica dioica - On west bank of the pond in 2004

146 Common Orache, Atriplex patula - a single plant on the margins of the pond in 2003

176 White Campion, Silene latifolia - a couple of plants in the pond dipping area in 2003

183 Redshank, Persicaria maculosa - on muddy margins in 2003; in Peninsular Bay in 2005 - 2006

194 Curled Dock, Rumex crispus - scattered plants around the pond in 2003

195 Broad-leaved Dock, Rumex obtusifolius - a few plants at north edge of pond 2003 - 2006

221 Wild Pansy, Viola tricolor - a single clump growing on the banks of the pond dipping area in 2003

257 Marsh Yellow-cress, Rorippa islandica - around the pond in 2003 - 2006

402 Goat's Rue, Galega officinalis - around the margins and in the pond dipping area in 2003 - 2006

406 Birdsfoot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus - a few plants in the pond dipping area in 2003

411 Tufted Vetch, Vicia cracca - around the margins and in the pond dipping area in 2003 and 2004

427 Red Clover, Trifolium pratense - in the pond dipping area in 2003 - 2006

444 Great Willow-herb, Epilobium hirsutum - around the pond in 2003 - 2006

446 Broad-leaved Willow-herb, Epilobium montanum - as isolated plants around the pond in 2003 - 2006

451 Large-flowered Evening Primrose, Oenothera (glazioviana) a single plant in the pond dipping area in 2003

506 Fennel, Foeniculum vulgaris - by south edge of the pond 17/09/04; by pond dipping area in 2005-2006

559 Black Horehound, Ballota nigra ssp. foetida - a few solitary plants in the pond dipping area and around the margins in 2003, on west bank in 2004 and 2005

562 Red Dead-nettle, Lamium purpureum - in the pond dipping area in 2004

567 Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris - two small clusters in the pond dipping area in 2003

583 Buck's-horn Plantain, Plantago coronopus - on bare soil by the pond in 2003 - 2006

584 Ribwort Plantain, Plantago lanceolata - one of the first plants to grow around Jubilee Pond in 2003 - 2006

605 Field Speedwell, Veronica agrestis - on the banks of the pond dipping area in 2003

674 Lesser Burdock, Arctium minus - on the peninsular and around the margins in 2003 - 2006

676 Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare - some plants in the pond dipping area in 2003

686 Nipplewort Lapsana communis - several plants in the pond dipping area in 2003

688 Bristly Ox-tongue, Picris echioides - scattered plants in the pond dipping area in 2003, at the north end in 2006

699 Beaked Hawk's-beard, Crepis vesicaria - in the pond dipping area in 2003

720 Michaelmas Daisy, Aster sp. - a small plant in the pond dipping area in 2003

725 Canadian Fleabane, Conyza canadensis - in the pond dipping area and around the margins of pathways in 2003

729 Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris - near Jubilee Pond in 2003

732 Yarrow - Achillea millefolium - in various locations near Jubilee Pond in 2003 - 2006

736 Pineapple Mayweed, Matricaria discoides - one of the first plants to grow on the margins of the pond in 2003

736 Scentless Mayweed, Tripleurospermum inodorum - scattered plants around the margins 2003

737 Buttonweed, Cotula coronopifolia - on muddy margins in 2003 and 2004, Abundant around the pond in 2005

754 Trifid Bur-marigold, Bidens tripartita - in the pond dipping area in 2003

788 Jointed Rush, Juncus articulatus - in pond dipping area 2005

790 Soft Rush, Juncus effusus - in the pond dipping area in 2003 and more extensively around the pond in 2004

790 Hard Rush, Juncus inflexus - one or two patches in pond dipping area 2004

921 Great Reedmace - Typha latifolia

954 Yellow Flag Iris - Iris pseudacorus