Leven Canal

Saturday 10^th August 2019

Leaders: Kay McDowell & John Scott

It was a fine but windy day. We started our botanising along the canal at the bridge on Sandholme Lane on the edge of Leven village. The flowering aquatic plants were noticeable from the canal path and included yellow water-lily (Nuphar lutea), white water-lily (Nymphaea alba agg.) and a possible cultivated variety with white flushed pink flowers and a mass of leaves. Then we fished out some greater bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) and looked at the parts of the flower. We also saw three spikes of whorled water-milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum). Abundant common club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris) was the most noticeable emergent vegetation.

Other bankside plants included lesser water parsnip (Berula erecta) and marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris). The sedge tussocks growing along the bank were a bit more difficult to identify because it was a bit late in the season to look at the flowering parts and so a few fruits were collected to find if it was tufted sedge (Carex elata),one of the sedges previously recorded here.

Trees included orange whitebeam (Sorbus croceocarpa), white poplar (Populus alba) and an interesting willow. Deutzia (Deutzia scabra) was found and we examined its rough leaves. Another ‘fishing’ attempt was made and rigid hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) was recorded.

We were delighted to find large-flowered hemp-nettle (Galeopsis speciosa) in flower. Yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) were also noted. We then found possible purple small-reed (Calamagrostis canescens). We had lunch during a short rain shower and then walked back to the village for tea and cake which was kindly hosted by a member of the botany group who now lives in the village.

Text by Kay

Photographs by Kay, Tom and Susan