Fumaria bastardii Boreau, Tall Ramping-fumitory
Account Summary
Probable introduction, very rare. Mediterranean-Atlantic, also widely naturalised.
1902; Abraham, J.T. & McCullagh, F.R.; Enniskillen Town.
Growth form and preferred habitats
This very variable, diffuse to robust scrambling annual is closely associated with disturbed arable or horticultural sites, most frequently appearing alongside other Fumaria species among spring-sown crops, generally on acidic, free-draining soils. Much more rarely, it may be found on hedge banks also offering a well-drained habitat, or on waste ground or roadside verges providing suitable, recently disturbed substrate conditions (P.J. Wilson In: Preston et al. 2002). It can sometimes also occur in dry soils at the base of walls. Everywhere it is confined to the lowlands.
Fermanagh occurrence
Until Ian McNeill recorded it in 2000 and 2002, this very variable weedy annual had been distinguished just six times in Fermanagh and it had not been listed by anyone since 1949 (Revised Typescript Flora). This could possibly be due to the marked local decline of arable farming almost to extinction in our survey area or, perhaps more likely, to difficulties faced by field recorders in its proper identification. This problem is commented on here under F. muralis (Common Ramping-fumitory), the plant with which F. bastardii is most often confused by everyone including myself. The publication in 1989 of Peter Sell's account of the Fumaria bastardii/F. muralis complex in BSBI News 51, and his subsequent key to the British and Irish members of the genus in the BSBI Plant Crib (Rich & Jermy 1998), has made identifications much more reliable. The publication of the BSBI Handbook Fumitories of Britain and Ireland with its excellent illustrations will doubtless prove invaluable for future identification (Murphy 2009). The latter recognises three distinguishable varieties, one of which is endemic in western Britain and Ireland, var. hibernica (Pugsley ex Praeger) Pugsley (Murphy 2009). This variety has not yet been recorded in Fermanagh.
There are a total of eight Fermanagh records scattered across the lowlands of the VC. The record details additional to the first finding listed above (which incidentally was originally identified as F. confusa Jord.) are as follows – in all cases the sites are only loosely characterised: near Lisnarrick, 1942, R. Mackechnie; Belleek, 1948, MCM & D; Lisbellaw, 1948, MCM & D; Donagh Crossroads near Lisnaskea, 1948, MCM & D; sandy fields below Gortaree, Slieve Rushen, 1949, MCM & D; Killee Lough, Ballinamallard, 2000, I. McNeill; Necarne estate, near Irvinestown, 2002, I. McNeill.
On account of taxonomic confusion and identification difficulties described below in the F. muralis subsp. boraei account, I have decided to amalgamate the records for these two taxa and simply map them as F. muralis agg.
Fumaria muralis subsp. boraei (Jord.) Pugsley, Common Ramping-fumitory
Probable introduction, rare. Oceanic southern-temperate, also widely naturalised.
1942; Mackechnie, R.; near Lisnarrick.
April to August.
Fermanagh occurrence
In the 1962 BSBI Atlas, Fermanagh was shown as being close to the NW limit in Ireland of F. muralis and the New Atlas confirms this impression. It is significant and should be noted that this species (or subspecies when listed as subsp. boraei) was recorded only once before 1960 in Fermanagh, yet 13 times subsequently, whereas F. bastardii (Tall Ramping-fumitory) was recorded six times before 1960, and just twice since (Revised Typescript Flora).
In the most recent (7th) edition of An Irish Flora, the editors remarked that in their view it is difficult, if not impossible, to separate Irish material of F. muralis from F. bastardii. Irish material of this species aggregate (ie the F. muralis agg.) is extremely variable and it does not readily conform to earlier descriptions based entirely on material from Britain. This is particularly so with the several subspecies of F. muralis and in the light of this expert taxonomic opinion and of my own difficulties experienced when attempting to key out the two forms (especially when using the earlier 6th edition of An Irish Flora 1977 as field guide). I am certain there has been confusion in the identification of the Fermanagh records for these two common large-flowered (corolla length over 9 mm) fumitories (ie F. muralis subsp. boraei and F. bastardii).
Nevertheless, for what it is worth, in these circumstances, RHN and the current author (Ralph Forbes) are listing in this work the relatively few records we currently have in the Fermanagh Flora Database for each of these taxa separately. With the above qualification the 13 records for F. muralis subsp. boraei, additional to the first one listed above, are: garden weed, Ballinamallard, July 1984, RSF & RHN; Glenross Td/Rossgweer Td, 3 September 1988, RHN; waste ground at Doon Td, SW of Derrylin, 18 July 1991, RHN; Lackaghboy, near Killyvilly, 10 May 1994, RHN; garden at Magheranageeragh, 1 October 1994, RHN; potato field 300 m W of quarry, Aghakillymand Td, 17 August 1995, RHN & HJN; Drumbrughas North, NW of Lisnaskea, 26 April 1996, RHN & HJN; roadside N of Killymackan, 25 July 2000, RHN; waste ground at Tullycleagh, 7 October 2000, RHN; gravel track at Corraslough Point, 17 August 2004, RHN & HJN; roadside waste ground at Tamlaght village, 3 July 2005, RHN; Enniskillen town, 18 August 2008, RHN; and disturbed roadside at Tattynuckle Td, 21 June 2010, RHN.
Obviously the situation regarding these fumitories is very unsatisfactory, and the whole genus requires detailed local re-investigation. The revision of the genus by Peter Sell in the BSBI Plant Crib (1998) will, I hope, provide a better basis upon which to work, and Murphy's Fumitories of Britain and Ireland (2009) handbook will certainly prove essential in future. The publication of Volume 1 of the critical Flora of Great Britain and Ireland by Sell & Murrell (2018) should also greatly enable better discrimination of the members of this genus.
Because of the taxonomic confusion and identification difficulties described above I have decided to amalgamate the records for this and the previous species and to map them as F. muralis agg.