Veronica spicata L. subsp. spicata
Conservation status: VU
First record: Ray,1660
Veronica spicata This Spike grew in the center of the plant erect & the other without flowers round it in a procumbent manner. n.l., Gathered May 28,1754. Joseph Andrews, BM. [probably Cambs record]
Veronica spicata recta minor J.B. Cat.Cant. Hist.846. Martyn,1727,68.
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This rare Breckland species still grows on Newmarket Heath where Ray knew it 'in great plenty ... near the Beacon'. The Beacon was a raised fire–basket and is shown on Bleau's (1648) map perched upon the largest tumulus near Four Mile Hill. This prominent landmark gave its name to the Beacon Course, whose old Starting Post still stands opposite Four Mile Farm. A little to the south were the enclosures on the heath, (still there according to Chapman's 1768 map), which Ogilby,1729 had described as 'Furzie ground called Hare Park'. This area was laid out as a Warren for James I, and the 'closes' Ray knew were perhaps associated with the management of the warren for hares.
Newmarket Heath is made up from the dry pasture land of a number of adjoining parishes, and was grazed mainly by sheep, or by sheep and rabbits, and latterly it has been kept to a uniform height of 3–4" by regular mowing. The soils appear to be a mosaic of chalky sands and loams over chalk, with patches of heather on the heath, and gorse nearby. The grazing – mowing regime allowed V. spicata to flower, and after grazing or mowing to put out new short flowering shoots which often set seed; it can also increase in area vegetatively, but then it is easily overlooked, as Evans,1911 observed. For instance, Babington,1860 thought it had become extinct since 1829, West,1898 could not find it in the 1890s, and Walters and others thought it had been lost through ploughing in 1954. The present site near the Beacon Course is about 1.5 km to the NW from the old Beacon, where it flourished until 1990. A large new area was found lying between the Beacon (July) Course and the Rowley Mile in 1986, and a small patch was discovered between the Devils Ditch and the secondary ditch in 1994.
The records from Horseheath and Littlington, were perhaps garden escapes, (though there was heathland in both parishes before Enclosure) and Evans,1911 stated Smart's record from near the Fleam Dyke had never been confirmed. The only records from the Gogs and the Devils Ditch were those sent to Lightfoot by TG Cullum of Bury St Edmunds; they may well have been errors for another genus. G Crompton.
?34
'Littlington. Mrs Tate, 8.1877.' WG Clarke, TSNNS, 11:541. 'Mr Arthur Bennett states, moreover, that he possesses an old specimen from Littlington, near Royston'. Evans (1911)213.
?45
'I am well informed also by Mr Cullum Surgeon of Bury, that the Veronica spicata grows also ... upon Gog Magog Hills 3 Miles from Cambridge – .' Lightfoot, c.1790, Ray Syn. ann. OXF.
...and Gogmagog Hills, Smith, Fl.Brit.1800,1:15.
On the Wall of St. John's College. Relhan,1802;1820.
'On the wall of St John's College. Relhan.' Bot Guide, (1805).
Gogs loc. not in Smith, Engl.Fl.1824,17.
Veron spi On the Wall of St. John's College. Henslow ann. l:7. On the Wall of St. John's College. Babington, ann.Relhan.
55
DUNGATE FARM
Growing plentifully among furze bushes on a grassy slope at the 'Valley Farm' near Fleam Dyke adjoining Dungate, Cambs. RB Smart, 1 Aug. 1877, CGE.
Amongst Furze bushes on a grassy slope at the Valley Farm nr Fleam Dyke adjoining Dungate, 1877, RB Smart, Bab.ann.
Fulbourne, F Norgate 1890, with a letter to Geldart: 'Yesterday while catching Corydon near Fulbourne Cambs, I saw a small patch of Veronica spicata unmistakeably wild. I enclose 3 spikes for your acceptance and identification. The exact locality must be kept a secret or the plant may be exterminated in 5 minutes with a pocket knife. Campanula glomerata, Anthyllis vulneraria, Filipendula vulgaris, Asperula cynanchica etc. were abundant there.' NWH.
Transplanted wild from Fleam Dyke, Thomas Ison for FJ Hanbury, 1890, BM. LIV.
From F Norgate's garden at Bury St Edmunds, (transplanted wild from Cambridgeshire), 1892 (specimen is of a monstrously large plant), NWH.
Cult. Clapton. Root from Dungate, 1893, FJ Hanbury, BM.
In F Norgate's garden in Bury St Edmunds, (from wild plant on Fleam Dyke), 1903, BM.
About twenty years ago it was discovered (I think by Mr RB Smart) in another station some miles away [from Newmarket]. This was in the vicinity of the Fleam Dyke, and from the nature of the surrounding country, a rather inaccessible locality. Examination of the ground in 1894–5 forced me to the belief that extension of cultivation must have destroyed the habitat. West,1898,255. 55 and 56
HARE PARK AREA – NEWMARKET HEATH
Veronica spicata recta minor Upright male Speedwell or Fluellin. In severall closes on Newmarket Heath; as in a close near the Beacon, on the left–hand of the way from Cambridge to Newmarket, in great plenty.' Ray (1660)174–175(123).
Veronica recta minor. Newmarket On the heath. Ray,Index Loc.
* Veronica assurgens sive spicata, G.628. Veron, recta angustifolia, P.550. In several Closes near New Market–heath CC. Merrett,1667,124.
Veronica spicata recta minor Upright spiked male Speedwel [sic], or Fluellin. In several closes adjoyning to Newmarket–heath beyond Bottesham. Ray,1670:314; Ray,1690,119; Ray,1696,178; Ray,1724,279.
Veronica spic. recta minor Newmarket heath JM.ann.Index Loc.
Veronica spicata, angustifolia. Upright spiked male Speedwell, or Fluellin. On Newmarket–Heath. Martyn,1732,2:333.
Veronica spicata recta minor Newmarket Heath Th.M.ann.Meth.–Index Loc.13.
Newmarket. On the Heath. In a close near the beacon in great plenty. Mr Ray. Martyn,1763,Herbat.IX.
N(ewmarket) H(eath). Fisher ann. Berkenhout,4.
Veronica spicata Spiked Speedwell. Upright spiked Male Speedwell, or Fluellin. In several Places near Newmarket Heath, beyond Bottisham; in a close near the Beacon; among the Furze near Hare Park; Relhan,1785.
Veronica spicata is one of those plants which wherever they grow are found in abundance, and yet are by no means common in England. It is plentiful on Newmarket Heath, and in that neighbourhood, on a chalky soil, from whence our specimen was taken. Smith,Eng.Bot.(1790)1:2.
Newmarket Heath, Edward Robson, 1790, in Hb SH Bickham, CGE.
Plentiful on (Newmarket Heath ...Smith, Fl.Brit.1800,1:15.
... several Places near Newmarket Heath, beyond Bottisham; in a Close near the Beacon; among the Furze near Hare Park.... Relhan,1802;1820.
Newmarket Heath, Dawson Turner, n.d., K.
Newmarket Heath, J Dalton, 1820, YRK:885; HJW Cat.
Beacon – Course, Newmarket Heath, Dr Jermyn, 3.7. 1823, Garnons' Hb. SWN.
Newmarket Heath, JS Henslow, 28.7.1823, K.
Newmarket Heath, L Jenyns, 28.7.1823, CGE. BATHG.
Newmarket Heath, L Jenyns, 1823, K. CGE.
In a small copse of furze near the Beacon, where Veronica spicata grows, – we discovered ...Viola Flavicornis. ...It seems too to prefer more barren and high heathy situations..... In the same copse where Veronica spicata grows so abundantly, we also found Veronica Officinalis,... Jenyns,JNH,7.6.1824.
In high dry chalky pastures, especially on Newmarket Heath... Smith, Engl. Flora 1824:17.
...in the furze cover where the Veronica spicata grows. Jenyns,JNH,14.5.1825.
Made a visit to Newmarket Heath with the view of searching for Veronica spicata. This rare plant is confined to a small copse of furze about 150 yards to the right of the Beacon course, & even there is by no means so plentiful as formerly. We did of indifferent specimens. Jenyns,JNH,7.8.1827. in a Close near the Beacon; Jenyns ann.Relhan,1820. Newmarket Heath beyond Bottisham; in a Close near the Beacon; Henslow ann. l:7.
Beacon Course, Newmarket Heath, J Downes, 29.8.1829, CGE.
Newmarket Heath J.D., 29.8.1829, NTM.
Newmarket Heath, Dr Jermyn, 3.8.1832, CGE.
Newmarket Heath, n.c., 3.8.1832, CGE.
Newmarket Heath CE Broome 3.8.1832, NTM.
'now most ploughed up, gathered Veronica spicata, Cnicus acaulis... ' W.C. Trevelyan, Diary, 16.8.1834.
Newmarket Heath, n.c. 16.8.1834, CGE.
Newmarket Heath, Miss Jermyn, 8.1834, CGE.
Newmarket Heath, Mrs Casbourne, 8.1835, CGE.
Newmarket Heath, Mr Partridge, 1836, RTE (TNNNS 11:541).
Partridge pen, Newmarket heath, Hb JA Power, 18.8.1836, RTE.
Near Newmarket, Wm Peete, 1838, CGE.
Newmarket, n.c., 8.1842, Gen. Hb. RTE.
Newmarket Heath, Mr Castles, n.d., (19th C.) CGE.
There does not seem to be any trace of... Veronica spicata on the [Newmarket] heath. Gibson,1848,310. Newmarket Heath H.; in a Close near the Beacon. H. Bab.ann.Relhan,7.
In a copse of Furze nr the beacon course Newmarket Heath, (grubbed up & ploughed over before I left S.Bulb.), Jenyns,1860.
Near the Beacon, on the left hand of the way from Cambridge to Newmarket, W West Jr., 1865, Bab. ann.
Newmarket, CF Tempere, 1878, LIV.
Cambridgeshire, FJ Hanbury, 1.8.1880, LIV.
(One fine plant only seen) Cambs, FJ Hanbury, 1.8.1890, CGE.
Root from Newmarket Heath to RA Salisbury, n.c., 6.1892, ex Hb Bickham, CGE.
Recent search for this in its old station on Newmarket Heath has been fruitless. The character of the Beacon Course has changed somewhat, it having become grass–grown in many parts where firm turf was previously found. The last published record is that in Top.Bot.ii.– 'Ar. Bennett,1876', West,1898,255.
Newmarket, FJ Hanbury, 1900, (TNNNS 11:541).
Newmarket Heath, M Cobbett, 1902, BM.
Orig. Cambs, hort. Dorset, EF Linton, 4.9.1908.
Mr Veyrich about 3 or 4 years ago (1910) GC D[ruce?], Newmarket Heath, CEM ann.
...used to be found in various places on Newmarket heath and the immediate vicinity. Now it is possibly confined to one or two , though this cannot be positively asserted; but that it still exists may be taken for certain. Owing to the grass among which it grows being constantly cut, the plant may not flower every year, but about a hundred spikes were seen a few years ago. Evans, (1911)213–214.
Orig. Newmarket Heath, hort., Reigate, CE Salmon, 29.7.1913, CGE.
Newmarket Race Course, nr 9 mile stone from Cambridge Go 40 paces from angle in field on Newmarket side of course at rt angles to opposite side of course Near an obscurely marked ridge running across course, spike in flower, 3.8.1923, 10 spikes, 14.8.1926, 6 spikes, 5 paces from angle of field parallel to Main Rd. 18 paces from other locality, 24.9.1923, WH Mills Hooker ann.
Near Newmarket, W. Suff. V.c..29, 1947, J.E. Raven, LTR.
In turf around the bushes 30–50 yards down the track opposite the entrance to Four Mile Stable Farm on the Cambridge – Newmarket Road, JE Raven, n.d., Card index.
Newmarket, in turf of racecourse, T Taylor, 1947, K.
Chalk grassland opposite 4 Mile Stable Farm, on extension of Beacon Course,JE Lousley. 1947, RNG ('X' on Lousley's 1" O.S. map is roughly where the old Beacon Course Starting Post stands).
One large plant (near the end of the track opposite Four Mile Stable Farm), [583.602] and 1 small plant in grassland (between the bushes and the Starting Post), [582.602] KV Cramp, c.1949.
The Cambridge locus classicus near 4 Mile Stable Fm. at 583.602 (triangle opposite milestone –Ray locality– ...) ploughed up in winter '51–'52 & grew a good crop of oats: when harvested Peter Wellbank of Trinity went over stubble (3rd week in July) & found one plant on a ± detached clod, which was rescued & is now in Cambridge Botanic Garden. May persist on unploughed strip by road (see Astragalus danicus, 25.5.1952 where John Raven believes he has seen it in the past). DE Coombe, Card index.
Ray's locality ploughed 1951, 1 plant found in stubble,SM Walters, 1952, CUBG.
18 plants propagated from plant rescued in 1952, planted out in strip of chalk grassland between old site and road, SM Walters, 5.11.1954. (This area of chalk grassland and the nearby old track and bushes was searched in 1979, KV Cramp, G. Crompton, SM Walters. [582.600]
In 1983 this whole area was ploughed and levelled. It now forms part of the larger adjacent area of cornfield, with only the old Starting Post left in the middle.)
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BEACON COURSE
Beacon Course, not far from Round Course, but on NW side opposite some pines on the Street Way, JW Clarke, early 1950's, (This area was ploughed up and reseeded the following year, and now lies under the new byepass).
On the heath close beside the Streetway, where the Round Course joins the Beacon Course. 9 Aug. 1953. Now under the A.45. JW Clarke's Farming Diary.
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Small patch, (few sq.ft.) Beacon Course, Newmarket Heath [588.613]. Inflorescences cut off by mowing machine. PJ Grubb [with Part II class], 19.7.1973.
Beacon Course, PJ Grubb and WH Palmer, 8.1973. (photos published in Nat. in Cambs, 1974), CGE.
One patch 5 feet across, 418 feet W of 1st Starting Gate and 45 feet in from W margin of Course. infl. cut by mowers. f. PJ Grubb.
4 large posts erected round site for protection from byepass construction works only 16m away, G Crompton & JW Clarke, 8.1973.
A second small site to NE, on SE side of Beacon Course, [588.614] P Chapman, 17.8.1973.
From 1974–1979 mowing (and harrowing) of Site 1 was prevented during the flowering and fruiting period, roughly 5–8 months of the year, and Site 2 was left unprotected. Between 1979–1984, this procedure was reversed and Site 2 was protected from mowing while Site 1 was left unprotected. The numbers of flowering shoots counted in Site 1 was 197 in 1974, 155 in 1979 and 270 in 1984; in Site 2 there were 31 in 1974, 0 in 1979 and 13 in 1984. But there are inherent differences in these 2 sites lying on either side of the Beacon Course, and the presence of rabbits, appear to be more important than the interruption of the mowing regime half the year, which led to a build up of litter.
Site 1 pH 5.9 with assoc. species incl. Filip vul, Primu ver, Cirsi aca, and Site 2 pH 6.9 with assoc. species incl. Galiu ver, Sangu min, Cirsi aca, Helia cha, Plant med, Pimpi sax etc. 10.8.1990. Chris Birkinshaw's Report to the Nature Conservancy.
In Site 1 there were recorded 68 flowering spikes in 1985, 1 only in 1987, and the vegetation had been so altered by changes in the management regime, that Site 1 could not be found in 1994 and 1995 when there were no dicots present there. In Site 2 there were 1 flowering spike in 1985, 6 plus 182 vegetative shoots in 1986, 2 in 1988, 3 in 1990, 0 and at least 2 vegetative shoots in 1994, and 0 and 11 vegetative shoots in 1995. G Crompton et al.
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INTRODUCTION
Cuttings from 4 Mile Stable site transplanted on to Devils Ditch at a)124 paces from first small rise from Burwell Rd [580.649] and b) 281 paces from first small rise from Burwell Rd, near top of Galley Hill. [582.645]. Both sites on north side. KV Cramp, c.1951.
Devils Ditch, seen in flower, KV Cramp, c.1953–4. – not seen again. KV Cramp.
Devils Ditch, Swaffham Prior, not far from road, 580.649, Simon Davey, c.1965. f. P Lambley in litt.
Devils Ditch, south side, 1 fl. spike, with 6 rosettes attached, Fl. Europaea Conf. Exc. 20.7.1980.
The plant, in fruit, is exactly opposite where KV Cramp showed that his transplant site a) was, but on S side, c.32m from Trust noticeboard and 1.7m from top edge of Ditch. CPs and Pop. map. G Crompton, 30.7.1980.
Plants not found, G Crompton, 12.8.1983. 64
About Horseheath Hall. Relhan,1802;1820. 66
I am well informed also by Mr Cullum Surgeon of Bury that the Veronica spicata grows also upon the Devil's Ditch near Newmarket, Lightfoot, c.1790, ann.Ray Syn. OXF.
NEWMARKET HEATH IN BURWELL PARISH
Large patch c.240 paces from secondary bank (with 2 large cherry trees on Devils Ditch) in line with white square Tote building. c.190 in flower. In area of stripes, 61–62–, DE Coombe, 15.8.1986.
Three patches and one new patch with 41 fl. in c.1.5m square CPs, G Crompton, 16.8.1986.
Newmarket Heath, 615.622, mown 19 Aug. 1986, picked up 20 Aug. with Calluna, Viola canina, Agrostis capillaris (A.tenuis), Danthonia, Serratula, as well as Brachypodium pinnatum, Bromus erectus. DE Coombe, CGE.
Subsequently DE Coombe found V.s. 100m to NW and 100m to SE. Stripes show on Beacon Course in Fenland Survey RC 8, EA75, 23.3.1982. f. DE Coombe, 24.8.1986.
580 fl. spikes in main patch, 1 to NW and 61 to SW. Pop. map and CPs. L Farrell, S. Lambert & R Sallabanks, 27.7.1987.
V.s. – 300m to Well gap, DE Coombe, I Weston & Ruth Nickerson. 3.8.1988.
The Veronica is very vigorous – plants more than 15–20cm have of course been mown off, but I saw a lot with bright purple inflorescences among the upper leaves. DE Coombe in litt. 11.6.1989.
Only 1 clump [patch] found, wilty from drought, in 12 x 7m., assoc. species list, 'sward scorched, difficult to identify some species.' pH 6.5, 6.3, 4.6. CR Birkinshaw, 14.8.1990.
Mainly in 2 patches just coming into flower, CP fl. spikes, G Crompton with EM Hyde, 24.6.1993.
c.10 fl. spikes c.260 paces from cherries, in c.7 x 3 yards, plus 10 spikes NW of Calluna bush No.1. at c.230 paces, which is an increase here, where only 1 seen in previous years. All 4 Calluna bushes present. CPs. 21.9.1994, DE Coombe in litt. 3.10.1994.
c.140 fl. spikes in 6 patches in c.16 paces x 230m. (Calluna bushes nos 1 and 2 not found. G Crompton and DA Wells with Bev Nicholls, DE Coombe & Prof. Whittington. Pop. map & CPs. 21.9.1995.
[By DE Coombe's IGS 'he says that the grid ref. for the defunct heather patch is 615.622 and for the fourth (most easterly) patch 616.621.' PH Oswald in litt. re Potentilla tab, 25.1.1997.]
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['? V. s.' on bank parallel to Devil's Dyke or heath adj. [c.1912] Moss, annot. 6" O.S. map, CUB. [roughly opposite/NE of Cambridge Gap.]
[Veronica longifolia with Convallaria majalis, at Newmarket Road end of Devils Ditch, FH Perring, 1955.]
[V. longifolia, bank east of Devils Ditch, at north end, RJ Pankhurst, 1970. i.e. near site below]
Small patch with 1 plant of 1 fl. spike and 2 fr. spikes, between Devils Ditch and secondary bank, 609.623, Clare and PH Oswald, 27.8.1994.
Site not found, (error in directions!) but Pop. map and CP, G Crompton and J. Bulleid, 16.9.1994.
A few fr. & fl. spikes (cut) in patch of 3' x 1' c.145 paces from end of secondary bank. DE Coombe (CP) and PH Oswald, 18.9.1994.
20 plants. incl. 4 fl., and assoc. species list incl. Helia cha, Pimpi sax, Cirsi aca, Filip vul, Anthox odo, and a patch of Phleum nodosum in centre of patch, P Carey, R Hall and D Radley, with G Crompton, CPs, 29.6.1995.
Newmarket Heath, 8 plants, JCA Rathmell, 28.7.2004.
