Guernsey Fleabane, Conyza sumatrensis has continued to spread since its arrival in Suffolk in 1999. By 2000 it was already well established in Ipswich and Felixstowe but it has now started appearing in disturbed sites and arable fields well away from urban settlements, especially on the light soils of the Sandlings. We now have records from 40 tetrads, mainly in the eastern half of the county. I expect it is already present in most Suffolk towns and I would welcome any records from Woodbridge, Stowmarket, Thetford, Haverhill, Mildenhall and Newmarket or any others new to the current distribution map shown below. Once recognised, the plant has a characteristic ‘jizz’ making it quite easy to spot as it is usually multi-stemmed where C. canadensis is usually single stemmed and the whole plant has a dull greyish green look due to the presence of many short hairs.

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RECORDS PLEASE

SPECIES NAME
            Latin is preferred but English is quite acceptable, particularly for birds and mammals.

LOCATION
            The name of the place where the record was made or a sketch map of the site.

GRID REFERENCE
            A Grid Reference of at least 4 figures (e.g. TM/1445):
            6 figure references are preferred (e.g. TM/143452).
            All Ordnance Survey maps have instruction on how to read a Grid Reference.

DATE
            The day, month and year of the record.

NAME
            Name (and address if a new contributor) of the person who made the record.

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The Centre can provide:

    Help and advice about recording and identifying Suffolk's flora and fauna.

    Information for teachers on the way schools can get involved through project work.

    Advice on the relevant literature, local societies and experts.

    'Tick' cards for recording all the major groups of plants and animals.

 

    If you would like to get involved in surveys, or want to know more about the work of the Suffolk Biological Records Centre, please contact: