Greater Chickweed (Stellaria neglecta)

June is also a very colourful month with a profusion of flowers to be found. However, a number of flowers are not so colourful and are easily overlooked, such as the Greater Chickweed (Stellaria neglecta). This plant has white flowers and likes damp areas of deciduous woodland.
There are many species of grass out now and probably the most noticeable one to be seen coming out on the Downs is Quaking grass (Briza media). It goes by many other names like “Shivering Grass”, “Doddering Didder”, “Maiden’s Hair Grass”,“Lady’s Hair Grass” and “Rattle Grass”. It is a fine stalked delicate grass, which appears to shiver with the slightest breeze. It is not only found on the Downs but in some good meadow pastures too! However, there is very little nutritional goodness to be found in the plant from a grazing point of view because of its fine stalks.

White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium)

A less colourful orchid that can be found out in chalk soil woods, usually under Beech is the White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium). The leaves of this plant are oval-shaped but the flowers are white. They can be found in flower from the end of May to the end of June. The centre of these flowers is egg yolk yellow if you are lucky to see the flowers open.
An unusual fern that can be seen if one looks closely in grassland, and sometimes in open woodland, is Adder’s Tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum).

Adder’s Tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum)

This fern is difficult to see at first glance even when you a standing right above it. It is usually the same green colour of the surrounding vegetation and it is small. However, when spotted it is different from most of the ferns to be found in this country because of the single leaf blade it possesses and what looks like a green snakes tongue, hence its name.

Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea)

Many dragonflies and damselflies can be seen this month but one that is not so common but you may be lucky to see, is the Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea). These can be seen usually in deciduous woodland and usually around clearings but never too far from a pond, lake or canal. They have a hairy or downy bronze thorax and a beautiful metallic green abdomen. They can be found in flight from late May into late July.

Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhaeus)

Another interesting insect to look out for is the Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhaeus) or sometimes Dor beetle. This beetle has an unpleasant but useful feeding habit in that it feeds on dung from mammals. A good place to look out for these beetles is on heathland. They are very strong for their size and can move balls of dung over long distances to be eaten in the safety of their homes. You may be lucky enough to see some of their homes, which are holes in the ground about the size an average pencil would make if stuck in the ground. Only the male has the two thorn-like processes at the front of the thorax that resembles bull’s horns.

Holly Blue butterfly (Celastrina argiolus)

A more common insect to look out for is the Holly Blue butterfly (Celastrina argiolus). These butterflies can be found in woodland, on heathland edges, on downland, in towns and gardens, so long as there are some holly trees around. The caterpillar of this butterfly feeds on the holly after the female butterfly has laid her eggs on the leaves. They mainly eat either the flower buds or the berries of the holly. The butterfly can be seen flying from April into early June and then in a later brood from early July to the end of August.

Next month there will be an event at Bignor Church on the 9th and 10th from 10am to 5pm on both days. It is to be called the “Weed and Wildflower Festival”. It will be an opportunity to find out more about the plants we find around Sussex and their uses not only for insects, animals and birds but also for their medicinal, culinary, decorative and inspirational uses too!