Puccinellia distans (Jacq.)Parl. See also Part I (click here).
The records and statements from the Coombe and Oswald surveys in 1992-1994 are taken from 'Maritime' plants of roads in Cambridgeshire (Vc29) by DE Coombe, Nat. in Cambs 36:37-60 (1994).
Despite repeated forays around Fordham, Isleham, Soham bypass, Prickwillow and Shippea Hill, no 'maritime' species have been found in TL67 or TL68, nor on A.10 between Littleport and Brandon Creek. A.1101 between Littleport and Welney requires more searching.) Coombe,1994,53; quite common along most of these roadsides, GMS Easy, 2002.
There are also 103 records in Recorder, [R]. 23
W edge of road opposite Jester Inn, just N of Ashwell and Morden Station approach, Steeple Morden parish, 297386, PH Oswald, 6.11.1993; DE Coombe, 24.11.1993 (photos); probably the only site in this square in Vc 29. 24
Pull-in by demolished building on SW side of unclassified road from Steeple Morden to Ashwell, Guilden Morden parish, 280.415, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.10.1993 (photo); only site detected; the glaucous leaves of P. distans were very distinct from the yellow-green leaves of Poa annua. 25
Set-aside field with Galinsoga parviflora and Trifolium striatum, several metres S of West Road, Gamlingay, 235.519, DE Coombe, 12.9.1992; waste ground, 235.519 GMS Easy, July 1992.
Abundant along B.1040 Eltisley western bypass and along S side of A.45 Eltisley northern bypass, DE Coombe, 22.10.1993. 26
Small patches on gravelly edge of B.1040 N of Eltisley, 273.604/5, DE Coombe, 22.10.1993.
For a few hundred metres on S side of the minor road, on a rather steep slope, from Elsworth to Papworth Everard, 295.642–297.641, DE Coombe, 22.10.1993. 29
One patch just W of Eastrea on A.605, 291.972; two small patches between Whittlesey and North Bank bridge, B.1040, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993 (photos). 33
NW verge of A.505 SW of public house near The Thrift, Steeple Morden parish, 317.394, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.10.1993. 34
Abundant for a few hundred metres on SE side of A.603 between New Wimpole and the entrance to Hoback Farm, DE Coombe, 12.9.1992 & 24.11.1993; a little on the same road where it crosses the Wimpole Avenue, DE Coombe, 12.9.1992.
A small patch opposite Brickyard Farm on B.1042 near the bottom of Larkins Road, Croydon parish, 309.483, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.10.1993.
A.505, almost continuous for 300 m on SE side where the camber drains to that side NE of entrance to Heath Farm, Melbourn, 391.418–388.416, DE Coombe, 4.10.1993; then switching to NW side, as the camber drains to that side SW of entrance, 385.412–384.411, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.10.1993.
Not seen on any part of the A.505 Royston bypass on several dates in 1993. 35
Where a heap of salt has stood on NW verge of A.603, Fox Hill, Orwell, 364.511, James Cadbury, 1988; confirmed by DE Coombe, 3.9.1992.
Kingston to Longstowe, GMS Easy, August 1991: the only record by GMS Easy not confirmed by DE Coombe or PH Oswald in 1993.
N side of A.45 for several hundred metres where the dual carriageway ends N of Hardwick, DE Coombe, 27.6.1992. 36
Not seen on several transits of A.604 (Huntingdon Road), including several walks from lay-bys; only seen as three clumps on a tight curve of the Boxworth fly-over at 357.656, DE Coombe, 22.10.1993, and one large clump on the Swavesey side of the same fly-over, DE Coombe, 25.10.1993; also in flooded tyre-ruts at turning off NW-bound carriageway, 359.655, PH Oswald, 12.4.1994.
Frequent along 50 metres of the gravelly S side of the rather steep hill W of Elsworth, c. 307.637, DE Coombe, 22.10.1993. 37
For about 5 metres only on the muddy verge N of entrance to Cold Harbour Farm between Over and Willingham, 394.703, DE Coombe, 25.10.1993. 38
Locally abundant on A.141 western Chatteris by-pass, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993. 39
Frequent to abundant along A.605 from Hobbs Lot Bridge to Coates, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993 (photos).
A small patch on S side of B.1093 W of Doddington, 384.907, DE Coombe, 1.11.1993.
On the bridge over the Twenty Foot River at junction with Whittlesey Dyke, 309.955, DE Coombe, still at anthesis on 1.11.1993.
(43None of this square is in Vc 29, and no Puccinellia distans was seen on the boulder clay roads around Heydon and the Chishills, DE Coombe, 6.11.1993.) 44
Abundant on SE side of A.505 NE of A.1301 roundabout, Pampisford parish, 494.474–498.478, DE Coombe & PH Oswald 28.9.1992 and 21.10.1993, and a little on NW side, 492.474–493.474, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.10.1993.
On the Duxford fly-over where A.505 crosses M.11 and for several hundred metres of A.505 NW of Duxford, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 28.9.1992 and 21.10.1993. Just W of M.11 on the Newton road out of Whittlesford at junction of old road and the newer M.11 fly-over, DE Coombe, 20.10.1993.
Locally abundant just N of A.505 on Chrishall Road, Fowlmere, on disturbed road edge, DE Coombe, 23.10.1993.
Very abundant along considerable stretches of the Sawston bypass (A.1301), notably on the downside of the camber, in one place (479.487) with Lepidium ruderale, DE Coombe, 23.10.1993 (photos). 45
Widespread on most main roads outside the city, except M.11, and found at three places within the city limits – on A.10/A.1309 roundabout over M.11, 440.534, DE Coombe, 1992.
A.1307, on and near Shelford Bottom roundabout, Great Shelford parish, 478.541, 477.542, PH Oswald, 13.10.1992.
Opposite the petrol station on A.1307 NW of Shelford Bottom, 476.543, PH Oswald, 13.10.1992, and DE Coombe, 24.9.1993.
On A.1303 bridge over M.11, c. 421.594, for some distance on both sides of the Madingley Road nearby, and a few plants on the south-bound M.11 slip-road, DE Coombe, 12.9.1992 and 25.9.1993: the verges of the Madingley Road were being disturbed and remade in January 1994.
(The earliest records in TL45 are by GMS Easy on verges at Hauxton and the Barton Road/M11 junction, both in 1987. See Part 1.)
Remarkably abundant on both sides of Barton Road from the city limit at Stonebridge to the M.11 fly-over, DE Coombe, 3 and 6.9.1992 (photos), and also near M.11 fly-over on the Granchester Road, DE Coombe, 11.10.1993; still conspicuous on the Barton Road (unmown verges) on 26.1.1994; the NW side of the road was converted into a grandiose cycle-way in April to June 1994, but Puccinellia distans has survived where its kerb does not come right up to the road.
Colonising network of cracks in compacted clay, uncharacteristically over a kerb, NW verge of A.10 approaching roundabout over M.11, Haslingfield parish, 438.532, PH Oswald, 10.9.1992; abundant along both kerbed verges, 436.531–438.533, PH Oswald, 16.7.1994 (photos).
Airport Way, on both sides midway between the two Teversham turnings, 494.582, 495.582, and also on W side nearer A.1303, 494.587–496.590, DE Coombe & PH Oswald (photos), 30.9.1993.
Locally on N verge of A.1303 (outside the city, W of the third milestone), 488.592, with Atriplex littoralis, Cynodon dactylon and Plantago coronopus nearby, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 30.9.1993 (photos).
A.1307, between Magog Farm and Copley Hill Farm, Babraham parish, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.10.1993.
Abundant on chalky substrate on both verges of Sawston byp1301) N of turning into village, 476.500/1, and locally in wet areas on gravelly substrate on W side only (E side with kerb) by turning to America Farm, 474.507/8, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 24.3.1994.
Central reservation of Elizabeth Way Bridge, cracks in paving stones, 461.588–461.591, DE Coombe, 18.10.1994. 46
S side of A.45 just E of Huntingdon Road fly-over, 420.613, where P. distans was growing in a moist depression on the edge of the carriageway with Spergularia marina and (on first occasion only) Lepidium ruderale, DE Coombe, 16.7.1992 and 15.5.1994.
At many places on A.45 from the Girton interchange to the bridge over the main line railway, eg. on and between the bridges over the old St Ives railway and over the Mere Way; often very abundant on slip-roads, eg. for 200 metres on the west-bound slip-road from the Histon Road fly-over, S side, DE Coombe, 17.7.1992. Sparsely on NE side of A.45 SE of the Fen Ditton fly-over, despite drainage gratings at frequent intervals at and near the lay-by, DE Coombe, 24.9.1993; abundant above kerb in lay-by after a very wet winter and spring, DE Coombe, 5.6.1994.
Scattered on A.10: seen at N end of the Milton bypass, near the crossing of the Car Dyke near Landbeach, and near Chittering, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993. 47
A.142, frequent on recent (post-1986) Witchford bypass, Witchford and Wentworth parishes, DE Coombe, 6.8.1992; DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993.
A.142, Sutton bypass, DE Coombe, 16.9.1992 and, with G Crompton, 23.9.1993. A.1421, on both sides (mostly on W) of Haddenham Road on hill down to the parish boundary at Pingle Lane, Wentworth, 463.788–464.782, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993.
B.1049, W side along Middle Cuts, Wilburton parish, 479.730–478.725, 478.724–478.722, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993. 48
A.142, SW edge just NW of the Counter Drain near Mepal, AC Leslie, 7.9.1980. A.142, very abundant on Mepal bypass, along Ireton's Causeway, and along most of recent Chatteris bypass, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992, with Hordeum jubatum on Chatteris bypass, and again DE Coombe with G Crompton, 23.9.1993. With abundant Lepidium ruderale, from the Counter Drain on A.142 to the Horseway turn, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992. 49
A.141, on the line of the old Chatteris–March railway near Doddington, and almost continuously near Wimblington and on the March western bypass, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992. 54
Several spots on A.604 near Hildersham, GMS Easy, June 1991; 536.485, PH Oswald, 13.10.1992.
Abundant from 542.480 to 546.477, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 28.9.1992, and DE Coombe, 22.10.1993.
Scattered on A.604, Little Abington, NW of R. Granta, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 28.9.1992, and DE Coombe 22.10.1993.
A.604, Linton bypass, along at least 500 metres, DE Coombe, 22.10.1993. 55
Abundant on both sides of A.1303 from Quy Water Bridge to A.45 Quy Church fly-over of A.45, DE Coombe, 29.9.1992 and 16.9.1993.
Abundant on slip-road from A.45 eastwards to A.1303, DE Coombe, 25.11.1992, but destroyed (?temporarily) by extensive remaking of slip-road verges and A.45 verges and central reservation from Quy Church to A.11 junction at Nine Mile Hill (no P. distans on this stretch of A.45 in 1993).
A.1304, NE end of short stretch of central reservation near Bungalow Farm, Burrough Green parish, 591.587, PH Oswald, 8.10.1993; found nearby on SE edge of road, DE Coombe, 12.11.1993.
A.604, abundant just NW of Copley Hill Farm, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.10.1993.
Not seen anywhere on A.11 between Four Went Ways and Six Mile Bottom: extensive road works in 1993. 56
Abundant on slope of A.1303, Nine Mile Hill from Spring Hall and Chalk Farms turnings to A.45 fly-over, GMS Easy, 17.6.1992, with abundant Plantago coronopus; both still there, DE Coombe, 13.10.1992 and 24.9.1993.
S side of A.1303 W of the Prince Albert Inn, locally abundant, 526.601, DE Coombe, 13.10.1992.
Between Anglesey Abbey and Quy, a few plants (but B.1102 verges 'manicured'), DE Coombe, 17.9.1993.
Scattered along 200 metres of B.1102 opposite Haynes' yard, Long Meadow, 545.626, DE Coombe, 17.9.1993.
Locally on NW side of B.1102 Swaffham Prior bypass, 568.637, PH Oswald, 18.9.1993, and DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993.
On both sides of B.1102 NE of Burwell, 598.681–599.682, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993.
Not seen by DE Coombe on A.45 six-lane Newmarket bypass in this square in 1992 or 1993.
A.11, 57-60-, MD Crewe, summer 1993.
A.45, 59-62-, MD Crewe, summer 1993. 57
A.1123, W end of the 'Military Bridge' over River Cam near Dimmock's Cote, CD Preston, CGE, 2.7.1988; abundant eastwards from the Cam for at least a kilometre (to the Upware turn) and a few plants on the bridge over the river, DE Coombe, 4.8.1992.
A.10, Elford Closes, N of Old West River, GMS Easy, July 1992; DE Coombe, 1.10.1993.
On roundabout at junction of A.10 and A.142 on Ely bypass, 527.794, DE Coombe, 20.7.1992, but this and the roundabout to the south of Ely both remade winter 1993/94; Abundant on bypass (A.10) between these two roundabouts, DE Coombe, 6.8.1992 and 1.10.1993.
A.142, only a few plants on Ely southern bypass, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992, but greatly increased along most of this stretch, 21.9.1993.
A.10, Stretham roundabout, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992; roundabout being completely remade, DE Coombe, 10.2.1994.
A.142, abundant on SE verge on both sides of turning to Paradise Farm, 526.793–523.790, 522.790–521.790, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992 and 21.9.1993.
A.142, muddy verge with standing water, NE side just E of electricity power lines, N of Soham Cotes, and a little on SW side of road, 580.755, DE Coombe & PH Oswald (photos), 21.9.1993; further photos by DE Coombe after heavy rain, 17.11.1993.
A.142, SW verge just SE of Harlock's Farm, Stuntney, 562.773, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993.
A.142, S verge of Witchford bypass, 504.794–500.793, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993.
A.10, Stretham bypass and N to Grunty Fen turn, both sides, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993. 58
A.10, Littleport western bypass, a little at 552.864, DE Coombe, 27.7.1992; two plants in lay-by just S of A.10/A.1101 roundabout, DE Coombe, 3.8.1992.
A.10, Ely western bypass, a little at 535.815, DE Coombe, 3.8.1992. 64
A.604, abundant and continuous along S side from 600.474 to 607.473, and beyond Horseheath bypass on S side, 622.467 (and probably more to county boundary, but verges very muddy), DE Coombe, 22.10.1993. 65
East side of B.1052, Brinkley Road, Dullingham, near the site of a pile of winter salt (all used) at 631.575; drains on the side of this rather steep stretch of road were blocked and much P. distans was flourishing in the salty, muddy verge; photographs taken by DE Coombe, 24.9.1993; site shown to PH Oswald, 30.9.1993. (Compare James Cadbury's Orwell site in TL35.) 66
Snailwell Road, Fordham parish, verge at 634.684, GMS Easy, June 1992; not found there by DE Coombe, 5.11.1993 (after heavy traffic had pounded verges), but found nearby on A.142 S of Snailwell–Exning cross-roads; not seen elsewhere on A.142 in this square.
A.45, N verge E of Devil's Ditch, Burwell parish, 60-63-, 61-63-, and near junction with A.11, Snailwell and/or Chippenham parish(es), 66-66-, 67-66-, MD Crewe, summer 1993.
B.1102, NW side on both sides of Lark Hall, Ness Road, Burwell parish, 601.685–602.687, 603.688–604.690, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 21.9.1993. A.1304, NE of Newmarket, abundant for over a kilometre on both sides between The Railway Field and The Limekilns from the Chippenham Avenue lodge to One Mile Plantation, Snailwell parish, 659.651–669.662, with abundant Plantago coronopus, DE Coombe, 29.9.1993 (photos); also with PH Oswald, who took further photos, 30.9.1993. 20
Not seen on B.1040 in this square (all verges carefully 'manicured'), but a few patches on road beside New South Eau, 0.6 km W of French Farm, 276.083, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993 (photos). 30
First recorded near Hobbs Lot Bridge at a salt heap site by GMS Easy in 1979. Frequent from Hobbs Lot Bridge to Ring's End on A.141, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992.
A.605, near Hobbs Lot Bridge (photos) and at frequent intervals along this road towards Whittlesey, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993. Occurring at intervals along a kilometre of B.1167 on N side of New South Eau from 318.088 to 332.089, SW of Gedney Hill, DE Coombe, 1.10.1993. 40
Filled-in canal, 47-07-, GMS Easy, 1972, PVT, 2ndCR, Wats.11(4):403.
Infilled Wisbech Canal at Elm, 478.070, GMS Easy. 1972.
Guyhirn, GMS Easy, 1990; still there on A.47 despite extensive roadworks, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992.
A.47, between Wisbech and Guyhirn seen by DE Coombe only on 1.10.1993 on a very muddy verge opposite entrance to Primrose Farm, Waldersea Farm and an old pumping station, 433.063, with Spergularia marina and Lepidium ruderale, less than 50 m S of the tidal River Nene. 41
Side of A.1101 N of Wisbech, 449.134, DE Coombe & PH Oswald, 16.9.1992.
(50
Not recorded by GMS Easy, 1979, by the infilled Wisbech Canal at Outwell, where he found Atriplex littoralis.)
