Did the Victorians collect them to death?
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Syntrichia
Has the Marsh Helleborine died out at St Ouen's Pond (la Mare au Seigneur)? Did the Victorians dig up too many of them?
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kathcas79
scientist
As far as we can see the last time Epipactis palustris was seen at St Ouen’s Pond was in 1960. It had died out at nearby Les Quennevais by the mid 1950s due to the drying out of the habitat. It may well have been a similar reason for the loss at St. Ouen’s. That site was of course famous for the Summer Lady’s tresses which was heavily collected and was last definitely seen there in c. 1925 – the extent to which habitat change contributed to the demise of both of these plants is open to speculation – collection will undoubtedly have played a part. Both the Green-winged and the Loose flowered Orchid still survive in the area (along with hybrids between them).
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Syntrichia
Thanks Kath. Looking up the locality names to check the spelling has brought some of the herbarium sheets to life - one site still fantastically diverse, another completely lost 150 years ago.
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