Fireweed

After a day away from fieldwork (which accounts for the lack of photographs), this morning I headed back to Cherry Hinton Chalk Pit to record some quadrats. For once the temperature was mostly pleasant, although when the sun emerged from behind the cloud, it was a bit stifling.

It was interesting to compare the difference between the state of the vegetation at this site and much of the rest of the countryside, which is looking decidedly brown and withered. Species that grow on chalk tend to be well-adapted to drought stress, and there was very little evidence of any impact, with most perennial species remaining green and flowering well. These species have very long roots and are probably obtaining water from deep in the soil - chalk pits can often be decidedly damp in winter! I always think the flowers of Rosebay Willowherb are particularly beautiful, so they feature in a day when I took very few 'non-work' photographs!