St. Mary's Churchyard - Plants

The plant-life of the graveyard was surveyed some 60 years ago by Gulielma Lister, niece of Lord Lister, famous as the pioneer of vaccination. The report was published in the Essex Naturalist (Vol. 27) as "THE FLORA OF WANSTEAD PARK DISTRICT by GULIELMA LISTER, F.L.S." (Read on 29th November, 1941). A copy of the species list is available HERE.

As the graveyard was very much within the Wren Group's study area, situated as it is to the north of Wanstead Park and adjacent to Wanstead Golf Course, I made a cursory survey of the plants to be found there in 1981. 102 species of plants were found. The list also includes those plants noted by Lister, so that comparisons could be made with the past and present flora. It could be seen that many of the more unusual species still persisted, although 28 species were not noted. The list is available below.

In early February 2016 (07/02/2016) another survey was done by members of the Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group. Results from that have been added to the listing below, and in addition to the higher (flowering) plants, other organisms - including animals - are appended. 

The reference "(L. 1941)" in the third column indicate that the plant was noted by Gulielma Lister in 1941

The 1981 date relates to the 1981 survey.

"Stace" refers to the page no. in Stace 2nd Edition

(for information about the church and churchyard, click here)

 

Stace Species Name Date (and location)
33 Dryopteris filix-mas Male Fern 1981; 2016
41 Picea abies (P. excelsa Link)
Norway Spruce (L.1941)
44 Cedrus deodora Deodar (L.1941) 1981, one tree W. of church. One tree S. of Church.
49 Chamaecyparis pisifera Sawara Cypress (L.1941) 1981, south of church by path; 2016
50 Thuja orientalis Thuja (L.1941) 1981, three trees
51 Taxus baccata Yew (L. 1941) 1981; 2016
72 Laurus nobilis Bay Laurel 2016
80 Eranthis hyemalis Winter Aconite 2016
88 Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup (L.1941) 1981
88 Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup (L.1941) 19811; 2016
88 Ranunculus bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup 1981
91 Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine 2016
101 Mahonia aquifolium Oregon Grape 1981; 2016
117 Urtica dioica Nettle (L.1941) 1981; 2016
123 Quercus robur English Oak 1981; 2016
124 Betula pendula Silver Birch 1981
127 Carpinus betulus Hornbeam 2016
140 Chenopodium album Fat Hen 1981 
162 Stellaria media Common Chickweed 1981
165 Cerastium holosteoides Common Mouse-ear 1981; 2016
168 Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort (L.1941) 1981; 2016
183 Persicaria maculosa (Polygonum persicaria) Redshank (L.1941) 1981
195 Rumex obtusifolius Broad-Leaved Dock 1981
210 Tila x europaea Common Lime 2016
220 Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet 1981; 2016
223 Bryonia dioica White Bryony (L.1941) 1981
250 Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard 1981
267 Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's Purse (L.1941) 1981
263 Lobularia maritima Sweet Alison 1981 
285 Rhododendron ponticum Purple Rhododendron 1981
296 Primula sp.
Primrose 2016
297 Cyclamen sp. Winter Cyclamen 2016
312 Sedum reflexum Reflexed Stonecrop 2016
313 Sedum album White Stonecrop 2016
317 Saxifraga spathularis x umbrosa London Pride 1981
334 Rubus idaeus Raspberry (L.1941) 1981
335 Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble 1981; 2016
344 Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil 1981; 2016
346 Geum urbanum Herb Bennett 2016
370 Sorbus aucuparia Rowan (L.1941)
391 Cotoneaster simonsii Cotoneaster 1981, N.E. corner, near fence, 2 bushes 13/02/81
397 Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn (L.1941) 1981; 2016
406 Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot-trefoil (L.1941) 1981
412 Vicia sativa Common Vetch 1981 
414 Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling 1981 
415 Lathyrus latifolius Broad-Leaved Pea 1981
420 Medicago lupulina Black Medick (L.1941) 1981
425 Trifolium repens White Clover (L.1941) 1981
435 Sarothamnus scoparius Broom 1981
437 Eleagnus pungens var. 'Maculata' Wood Olive 1981
446 Epilobium montanum agg. Broad-Leaved Willow-herb 1981
447 Epilobium ciliatum (adenocaulon) American Willow-herb 1981
448 Chamaenerion angustifolium Rosebay Willow-herb (L.1941) 1981
452 Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's Nightshade 1981
454 Aucuba japonica Spotted Laurel (L.1941) 1981; 2016
456 Ilex x altaclerensis var. 'Wilsonii' Highclere Holly 26/01/81 1981
456 Ilex aquifolium Holly (L.1941) 1981; 2016
456 Ilex aquifolium var. 'Handsworth New Silver'? Holly 1981; 2016
456 Euonymus japonicus Evergreen Spindle-tree L.1941) 1981, numerous shrubs
457 Mercurialis perennis Dog's Mercury 2016
461 Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge 1981; 2016
468 Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut (L.1941) 1981
470 Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore (L.1941) 1981; 2016
470 Acer platanoides Norway Maple 1981
475 Oxalis europaea Upright Yellow Sorrel 1981 by fence on west side
475 Oxalis articulata Pink Oxalis 1981 in rough ground amongst graves near west fence
482 Geranium robertianum Herb Robert (L.1941) 1981; 2016
490 Hedera helix Ivy (L.1941) 1981; 2016
501 Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley 1981; 2016
502 Conopodium majus Pignut 1981
515 Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed 1981
525 Vinca major Greater Periwinkle 2016
551 Myosotis sylvatica Wood Forget-me-not 1981
534 Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed 1981
535 Calystegia sepium silvatica Great Bindweed 1981
531 Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet (L.1941) 1981
531 Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade (L.1941) 1981
548 Pentaglottis sempervirens Green Alkanet 2016
560 Lamium album White Dead-nettle 1981; 2016
562 Lamium purpureum Red Dead-Nettle 1981; 2016
566 Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy 1981
567 Prunella vulgaris Self Heal (L.1941) 1981; 2016
583 Plantago major Great Plantain (L.1941) 1981
584 Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain 1981; 2016
586 Fraxinus excelsior Ash (L.1941) 1981
586 Forsythia x intermedia Common Forsythia 1981; 2016
587 Ligustrum ovalifolium Japanese Privet 1981; 2016
600 Digitalis purpurea Foxglove (L.1941) 1981; 2016
603 Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell 1981
605 Veronica hederifolia Ivy Speedwell 1981; 2016
605 Veronica persica Buxbaum's Speedwell (L.1941) 1981
647 Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw (L.1941) 1981
649 Galium aparine Cleavers (L.1941) 1981; 2016
651 Sambucus nigra Elder (L.1941) 1981; 2016
678 Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle (L.1941) 1981
683 Centaurea nigra Black Knapweed (L.1941) 1981
686 Lapsana communis Nipplewort (L.1941) 1981; 2016
686 Hypochoeris radicata Common Cat's-ear (L.1941) 1981; 2016
690 Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle (L.1941) 1981
690 Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce 2016
698 Taraxacum officinale Dandelion 1981; 2016
699 Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawk's-beard (L.1941) 1981
702 Hieracium pilosella Mouse-ear Hawkweed 2016
725 Conyza canadensis Canadian Fleabane (L.1941) 1981
725 Conyza sumatrensis Guernsey Fleabane 2016
728 Bellis perennis Daisy (L.1941) 1981; 2016
729 Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort 1981
732 Achillea millefolium Yarrow (L.1941) 1981
735 Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Ox-eye Daisy (L.1941) 1981
740 Senecio vulgaris Groundsel 1981; 2016
778 Arum maculatum Lord's and Ladies 2016
858 Poa annua Annual Meadow Grass (L.1941) 1981; 2016
868 Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog (L.1941) 1981
895 Hordeum murinum Wall Barley (L.1941) 1981
934 Endymion non-scripta Bluebell 1981
934 Endymion hispanica Spanish Bluebell 2016
940 Allium vineale Crow Garlic 1981
943 Galanthus nivalis Snowdrop 2016
945 Narcissus spp. Hybrid Daffodils 1981; 2016
958 Crocus vernus Spring Crocus 2016
958 Crocus tommasinianus Early Crocus 2016
958 Crocus vernus x C. tommasinianus Hybrid Crocus 2016
958 Crocus nudiflorus Autumn Crocus 1981 a few plants near (sunken) gravestones near west edge.
961 Yucca gloriosa Yucca (L.1941) 1981; 2016
    

Plants recorded by Lister in 1941, but not noted in 1981

(Lister's species names in brackets)

45 Pinus sylvestris L. Scots Pine  
49 Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Cedrus lawsoniana Murr.) Lawson's Cypress  
49 Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (Cedrus Cupressa nootkatensis DON.) Nootka Cypress  
50 Juniperus sabina Savin  
72 Laurus nobilis Bay Laurel present in 2016
165 Cerastium glomeratum Sticky Mouse-ear  
187 Fallopia convolvulus (Polygonum convolvulus) Black Bindweed  
203 Armeria vulgaris Thrift  
234 Salix fragilis Crack Willow  
287 Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree  
340 Rubus caesius Dewberry  
411 Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch  
457 Buxus sempervirens Box  
563 Galeopsis tetrahit Common Hemp-nettle  
652 Viburnum tinus Lauristinus  
660 Dipsacus fullonum (D. sylvestris) Wild Teasel  
673 Arctium minus (A. Lappa sub-sp. minus Small Burdock  
676 Cirsium lanceolatus (Cnicus lanceolatus) Spear Thistle  
690 Sonchus asper (Sonchus oleaceus sub-sp. Hoffm.) Prickly Sow-thistle  
702 Pilosella officinarum (Hieracium pilosella) Mouse-ear Hawkweed present in 2016
715 Gnaphalium uliginosum Marsh Cudweed  
736 Matricaria discoidea Pineapple Weed  
740 Senecio vulgaris Stinking Groundsel  
849 Festuca ovina Sheep's Fescue  
852 Lolium perenne Rye Grass  
858 Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow Grass  
874 Agrostis stolonifera (A. alba L.) Creeping Bent (Fiorin Grass)  
883 Phleum pratense Timothy  

 

Additional plant or plant-like species

Type Species Name Notes
Algae
  Trentepohlia (abietina)    
Lichens
  Xanthoria parietina    
Fungi
  Coprinellus micaceus Glistening Ink Cap  
  Dacrymyces stillatus    
  Ganoderma australe    
  Parasola plicatilis ? Pleated Inkcap?  
  Puccinia lagenophorae Groundsel Rust  
Liverworts
  Lunularia cruciata Crescent-cup Liverwort  
Mosses
  Brachythecium rutabulum Rough-stalked Feather-moss  
  Bryum capillare Capillary thread-moss  
  Grimmia pulvinata Grey Cushion-moss  
  Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus Springy Turf-moss  
  Tortula muralis Wall Screw-moss  

 

 Some additional species found in the graveyard:

Type Species Name Notes
springtail Orchesella cincta   07/02/2016 (RSt)
leafhopper Idiocerus sp. (vitreus?)   07/02/2016 (RSt)
leafhopper Empoasca vitis   07/02/2016 (RSt)
gnat Sylvicola fenestralis Window Gnat 07/02/2016 (RSt)
midge Chironomus plumosus   07/02/2016 (RSt)
fly Drosophila suzukii Spotted-wing Drosophila 07/02/2016 (KH)
bee Apis mellifera Honey Bee 07/02/2016 (RSt)
bumblebee Bombus lapidarius Red-tailed Bumblebee 07/02/2016 (RSt)
beetle Exochomus quadripustulatus Pine Ladybird 07/02/2016 (RSt)
beetle Halyzia sedecimguttata Orange Ladybird 07/02/2016 (RSt)
moth Luffia ferchaultella Virgin Smoke 07/02/2016 (RSt)
moth Agriopis marginaria Dotted Border (F.) 07/02/2016 (RSt)