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Aphanes arvensis L. agg., Parsley-piert

Account Summary

Native, occasional. European temperate, widely naturalised in both hemispheres.

10 July 1985; Corbett, P. & Weyl, R.S.; Carrick Td.

January to November.

The tetrad maps of the two segregates of this species aggregate probably illustrate the distributional separation of the two quite accurately, with A. arvensis occurring on the limestones of the west and A. australis (Slender Parsley-piert) more frequent on the sandy soils around Tempo in the east of the VC.

Fruiting specimens are required to distinguish these two apomictic annual species and in their absence, or when an inexperienced observer or occasional intermediate plants are involved, the plant may be recorded as this aggregate. The small fruit is generally present from about May onwards, although it will appear somewhat later in the season if the plants originated from spring germinating seed.

In the Fermanagh Flora Database, there are 39 records of this species aggregate, spread across 29 thinly scattered tetrads, 5.5% of those in the VC. Parsley-piert is typically found on dry, shallow soil on rocky or sandy, often disturbed ground, offering a high proportion of bare surfaces available for colonisation. Alternatively, it also appears in hollows and cracks in bare rock, on screes and the tops of walls. These ecological conditions are less favourable for perennial species and provide openings where small annual species may rapidly colonise in the near-absence of competition.

Fermanagh occurrence

While the three commoner species of Alchemilla occupy very similar habitats, A. glabra is somewhat less widespread in the VC than A. xanthochlora (Intermediate Lady's-mantle), being represented in 97 tetrads, 18.4% of those in the VC, compared with 21.8% for A. xanthochlora. In six of these tetrads there are only pre-1975 records, indicating a slight loss of suitable habitat that probably is associated with drainage and other agricultural grassland 'improvement' measures. Both these Alchemilla species are much more common and widespread than A. filicaulis subsp. vestita (a Hairy Lady's-mantle), which is approximately half as frequent.

In Fermanagh, A. glabra is widely scattered but, as the tetrad distribution map shows, locally it is more frequent in the W & SW of the county.

British and Irish occurrence

In both B & I, A. glabra has a distinct northern and western distribution, the overall pattern being very similar to that of A. xanthochlora, although the current species is better represented in N & W Scotland than the latter. In Ireland, A. xanthochlora extends further south in the Midlands than A. glabra (Preston et al. 2002).

Threats

None.