Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl
Conservation status: C
First record: Ray, 1660
Pseudo–Cyperus palustris foliis & carina serratis Martyn,1727,110.
[Whittlesea–mere, [Hunts] JS Henslow, 11 July 1826, CGE.]
This plant was formerly far more abundant than at the present time throughout the Fens. It was considered as a valuable natural crop in the undrained districts, and used largely for lighting fires at Cambridge and other places. Bab.1860,252. 44
SAWSTON
Sawston, Miss Plowden, 8.1838, SWN.
Sawston by railway. Bab.MS.Fl.3:798. [= ?Dale Moor]
Sawston Moor. Bab.1860,252.
Sawston Moor, ex Hb J Clark, 21 June 1865, CGE.
Sawston, HD.ann.
Sawston Moor, 1904, Shrubbs ann.
SAWSTON MOOR/HALL
Sawston Moor, 491.490, SM Walters, 9.1949, [R].
Hall Moor, Sawston, FH Perring, 1955.
Ditches of the Moor were filled with it, Sawston, 44Z, CNT exc. 3.9.1960, [R].
Ditch on Sawston Moor, G Crompton & M Meade, 1970.
Sawston, 490.489, 491.490, DA Wells & K Jefferies, 21.8.1973, [R].
Sawston, 491.491, DA Wells & MJ O'Leary, 10.7.1990, [R].
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Dale Moor, Sawston, HD.ann.
[Cladium] Triplow; Bab.ann.Relhan,20.
Peat–holes, Triplow. Bab.1860,252.
Nine–wells, Triplow, CC Babington, 17 July 1860, CGE.
Peat Holes, Triplow, JSL Gilmour.
Fen Wood, Thriplow, G Crompton, 1958.
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Melbourn Common. Bab.ann.Relhan,20.
Melbourn Common. Bab.1860,252.
FOWLMERE
Fowlmere, APD Jones, AC Trueblood, J Rishbeth, 1940.
Water–cress Beds, Fowlmere, 407.458, PD Sell 58/262, 13 Sept 1958, CGE.
Ditch, Fowlmere Watercress Beds, G Crompton, 1959.
Fowlmere, RSPB Reserve, 44C, G Crompton & PJO Trist, 10.9.1990; by shorter nature trail, PH Oswald & U3A group, 13.7.1991, [R]. 45
Cyperus longus inodorus sylvestris Long bastard Cyperus. In the watery places of Hinton moor,... Ray,1660,43(59).
Cyperus longus inodorus, unsavory Cyperus with long roots. P.1264. On Hinton Moor in Cambridgeshire,... Merrett,1667,32.
Cyperus longus inodorus sylvestris Long bastard–Cyperus–grass. In palustribus, v.g. upon Hinton–moor near Cambridge, Ray,1670:91.
Cyperus longus inodorus sylvestris Long–rooted bastard Cyperus. On Hintmoor [sic] near Cambridge plentifully: Ray,1690,200; Ray,1696,271.
Long–rooted bastard Cyperus. On Hinton Moor near Cambridge plentifully: Ray,1724,426.
Schoenus mariscus. (Cherry–Hinton) By the horse–way from Cambridge. Martyn,1763,Herbat.VIII.
Cyperus longus inodorus On Hinton Moor near Cambridge. Alchorne ann. Blackstone.
Schoenus mariscus Cher: Hinton, by Horse Way fm. Camb: Fisher ann. Berkenhout,10.
Schoenus mariscus Prickly Bog–rush, or long–rooted Bastard Cyperus. Fens, and Ditches. Hinton. Relhan,1785;1802.
Schoenus mariscus It is said to be pecularly abundant about Cambridge, from whence our specimens were supplied by the Rev. Mr. Holme. Smith,Eng.Bot. (1802) 14: 950.
Schoenus mariscus Cambridgeshire abund. Crowe ann.Hudson,1778.14.
Schoenus mariscus So common on the Moors about Cambridge that it is often used in that Town for lighting fires. Mr. Crowe. Bot.Guide,1805,43.
Hinton Moor; Ray. Bab.1860,252.
Pools on the Oxford Road. 1835,Coleman(a),64; Coleman(b).
Brick–pits near Observatory. Bab.ann.Relhan,20.
Cambridge, CC Babington, 1849, CGE.
Pits near the Observatory. Bab.1860,252.
Shelford, Hb J Talbot, 1865, DGS.
DERNFORD FEN
Dernford Fen, 1905, CBSC.
Dernford Fen, foot of Railway bank, AJ Crosfield, 21 July 1921, CGE.
Dernford Fen, EA George, 1940.
Fen by railway W of North Farm, Sawston, c.20 sq. yds, fruiting well, SM Walters, 8.9.1949. 46
Planted, Leyland Water, Landbeach, L Brown & E Norman, 1991. 48
Near the Way Head (Coveney), AF Flora.
By Old Lynn Drove, AF Flora.
Turf Fen, AF Flora; AF.cat.
Witcham, AF.cat.
Chatteris, AF, Bab.ann. 49
The Fire–Lots, Wimblington, CR Billups, 3 Sept 1886, CGE.
Fire Lots, AF.cat. 55
Teversham. On the Moor. Martyn,1763,Herbat.VIII.
Schoenus mariscus T(eversham) M(oor) Fisher ann. Berkenhout,10.
Schoenus mariscus Teversham. Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
Schoenus mariscus Cladium mariscus. Teversham Moor. 1835,Coleman(a),64; Coleman(b).
Teversham Moor; SW Wanton. Bab.1860,252.
Teversham Moor, TG Tutin & H Gilbert Carter, 1932.
By the Little Wilbraham River = Teversham Fen, EF Warburg, 1937.
Teversham Fen, DE Coombe, c.1947.
In great plenty on Great Wilbraham Fen, by the Riverside towards Fulborn. JM. ann. Wilbraham Fen. Bab.1860,252.
By the Quy Water. Bab.1860,252.
Fulbourn Moor. Relhan,1802;1820.
Schoenus mariscus Fulbourn Moor. 1835,Coleman(a),64; Coleman(b).
Fulbourn Moor; SW Wanton. Bab.1860,252.
Fulbourn, HD.ann. 56
Anglesea Abbey, n.c., (Hb Jenyns), 31.7.1823, BATHG.
Anglesea Abbey. plentifully. Jenyns ann.Relhan,1820.
Anglesea Abbey. Henslow ann. l:20.
Anglesey Abbey; Henslow. Bab.1860,252.
Bottisham Fen, n.c., 30 July 1832, CGE.
Cladium mariscus Fen below Clay–hithe [Bottisham Fen] 27.5.1829. Henslow Exc.
Burwell Fens, plentifully. Jenyns ann.Relhan,1820.
Burwell Fen; Henslow ann. l:20.
Burwell Fen, JS Henslow, 5 Aug 1823, CGE.
Made an expedition into Burwell fen: till now I never had been over much of this fen wh is well worthy of further investigations as it is the only fen I believe now remaining, wh continues exactly in the state in which it formerly was, the larger part of it having undergone no drainage or other change; but being covered to an immense extent with reeds, carices, & other marshland grasses. Perhaps this is the only spot in the kingdom where hundreds of acres of Schoenus mariscus may be observed at once, a plant so local, though here so plentiful, that perhaps but few English Botanists have seen it growing in situ. This plant is so far from unprofitable to the several proprietors of this land, who cut it regularly once or twice a year, like other crops, stack it up in sheaves & ultimately send it off to Cambridge in barges, at wh place it is known by the name of sedge & is the only substance used in lighting the College fires.
We started from Reche, & proceeded down the Lode, making continual sallies into the fen on the right, till we came to the point where the cut from Burwell meets that from Reche; we then turned down the former & followed the course of the water for about a mile, after which we struck off to the right thro' the heart of the fen & in that direction back to Reche. [list of insects] Jenyns,JNH,25.7.1826.
Burwell Fen, CC Babington, 29 June 1833, CGE.
Burwell Fen, Miss Plowden, n.d., SWN.
'Burrell fen', Prof. Henslow, n.d., [? 1833, when Henslow labelled a Liparis spec. 'Burrell Fen'], SWN.
Cladium germanicum Burwell, Hb JA Power, 7.1836, 30.8.1836, RTE.
Burwell Fen. Bab.1860,252.
Wicken Fen, 56P, P Stebbings, 7.8.1992, [R].
Near Reche, WWN. Bab.ann.Relhan,20.
Reche Fen. Bab.1860,252.
Swaffham Fen, Prof Henslow, 16 July 1828, CGE. DHM.
Swaffham J.D., 22.7.1829, NTM.
Mr Borrer and I went to Swaffham Prior, and Dr. Jermyn went with us to Reche Fen ...Cladium,...27.5.1835. Bab.Mem.38.
Quywater: Henslow ann. l:20.
Horningsea Fen, WLP G[arnons], 2.8.1835, SWN. 57
Fens nr Upware, WLP G,1.7.1833, SWN.
Upware Pits, EA George, 1KEN FEN
Went with Newbould, Wanton, and Stratton... Examined Wicken Fen, finding ...Cladium,...15.7.1851. Bab,Mem.158.
Wicken Fen. Bab.ann.Relhan,20.
Still exceedingly abundant in Wicken Fen, where it is cut as a crop. Bab.1860,252.
Wicken Fen, JE Little, 26 Aug 1878, CGE.
Wicken Fen, 10.9.1880, Bent.ann.
Wicken Fen, TH Cory, 21.7.1881, BEL.
Wicken Fen, WJ Cross, 4 July 1900, CGE.
Wicken Fen, RH Lock, 1900.
Wicken Fen, A Malins Smith, before 1905.
Wicken Fen, HD.ann.
Wicken Fen, R Morse, 1926.
Wicken Fen, BM Griffiths, 1939, DHM.
Wicken Fen, DH Valentine, 1939.
Wicken Fen, BA Miles, 25 Aug 1955, CGE.
Locally dominant in tall fen, Wicken, 1980+, Wicken List, 1995, [R].
Wicken Fen, 57Q, 57K, P Stebbings, 17.6.1991, [R]. 58
Cyperus longus inodorus sylvestris Long bastard Cyperus.... and in divers Fen ditches. Ray,1660,43(59).
Cyperus longus inodorus, unsavory Cyperus with long roots. P.1264.... and several Fenny places. Merrett,1667,32.
Schoenus mariscus Ely. Relhan,1785.
Isle of Ely, Relhan, 1800 ? (date added by Wilkinson) Hb Rev. J Dalton, YRK:1333; HJW Cat.– ? omitted.
Isle of Ely. Relhan,1802;1820. Isle of Ely Henslow ann. l:20.
Today made an expedition to Grunty Fen [from Ely]... In my return– observed,... the fen very near its entrance from Ely thro' the lanes. Schoenus mariscus... tolerably plentiful. Jenyns,JNH,1.8.1827.
Grunty Fen, Isle of Ely, Hb CM Lemann, 30 July 1831, CGE.
West Fen, Ely. Bab.1860,252. 66
CHIPPENHAM MOOR/FEN
Chippenham Moor Relhan,1802;1820.
Chippenham Moor; Relhan. Bab.1860,252.
Cladium mar Chippenham Fen, 1888.[?1883] Bennett,1899,246.
Cladium jamaicense Crantz Still plentiful in Chippenham Fen–doubtless Relhan's 'Chippenham Moor,' italicized in the Flora. West,1898,258.
Chippenham Moor, AF.ann.
Chippenham Fen, A H[oskins], 17 July 1901, CGE.
Chippenham Fen, CE M[oss] & JE Little, 25 Sept 1912, CGE.
Chippenham Fen, JL Crosby, 1938.
Chippenham Fen, EA George, 17 July 1940, CGE.
Chippenham Fen, FH Perring, 19 July 1950, CGE.
Chippenham, 66P, P Wright, 23.7.1972, CNT exc. [R].
Chippenham Fen, G Crompton & CD Preston, 19.6.1987; G Crompton & DA Wells, 23.5.1992; 12.7.1994; DA Wells et al, 17.6.1995; 5.8.1996, [R].
