Botany Outing to the Loire Sands at Ile Perchette

Dominique Tessier led an outing on the Loire sands at the Ile Perchette near Noizay on Saturday 16 September. 

The Loire sands in the riparian zone are a repository of acid sand loving plants in a sea of the calcareous clay which is the usual soil type in the wider Loire Valley. Along with seven species of willow on the banks, there are also all sorts of rarities. But the habitat is increasingly threatened by invasive Paspalum and water primroses Ludwigia spp (Fr. Jussie), which choke native species out.

Compact Dock Rumex thyrsiflorus (Fr. Patience à fleurs en thyrse), with leaves munched by Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa viridula (Fr. Chrysomèle de l'Oseille) I assume, although I never saw one in action.

Licorice Milk-vetch Astragalus glycyphyllos (Fr. Astragalle réglisse), uncommon and not found much in the Touraine away from the more calcareous banks of the Loire.

Greater Musk-mallow Malva alcea (Fr. Mauve alcée), a calcareous soil lover that is typically found on the higher levels of river banks.

Red Bartsia Odontites vernus (Fr. Odontite rouge), a hemiparasite which despite the name, flowers in the autumn.

Water Mint Mentha aquatica (Fr. Menthe aquatique), which was attracting several species of bees, including some which normally specialise in other plants.

A faded and worn Common Carder Bumble Bee Bombus pascuorum (Fr. Bourdon des champs).

Common Carder Bumble Bee.

Female Shiny-vented Sharp-tailed Bee Coelioxys cf inermis.

 

Dominique talking about Tape Grass Vallisneria spiralis (Fr. Vallisnérie spiralée), very rare in the wild here. Boats and coypu rip the weed up and it washes up on the shore.

Male Bellardia sp, a type of blow fly.

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna (Fr. Aubépine), covered in berries.