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Post by wildlifefriendly on May 24, 2011 9:00:01 GMT
There have been a few people asking why we need to get rid of Spanish Bluebells. The Spanish bluebell is another of those ‘thug’ plants which is threatening our native bluebell. The English and Spanish Bluebells can cross pollinate but it is the attributes of the Spanish Bluebell that dominate, so all the new plants will be Spanish. If the spread of the Spanish Bluebell is not halted, it will take over the English Bluebell.
One why to help identify an English Bluebell is to see if all the flowers are in the same side of the stalk. As all the flowers on an English Bluebell are on the same side of the stalk, the effect of gravity pulls the stalk over into a beautiful curve. Their leaves and flowers are much finer than the Spanish ones.
One why to help identify an Spanish Bluebell is to see if the flowers are all around the stalk. As all the flowers on a Spanish Bluebell are not on the same side of the stalk and the stalk is thicker than the English Bluebell, the effect of gravity does not operate in the same way on the Spanish Bluebell so that it keeps its characteristic straight stalk.
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Post by Rosie on May 24, 2011 9:26:25 GMT
That is very well explained Sue. I don't recall seeing any spanish bluebells up here only true english one's. They are so gorgeous when you see a huge swath of them through a wood.  |
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Post by seaburn on May 24, 2011 11:59:28 GMT
I have both in the garden. the spanish are in the front and the english in the back. I am slowly removing the spanish ones, shame really as they are a pretty plant. But I agree we need to maintian our british gene pool intact.
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Post by Cherry on May 24, 2011 13:35:24 GMT
I have a tiny patch of Spanish bluebells which I brought from my last garden. They have just not moved and the flowers are eaten every year so I don't get to see them. They are in the garden, not in woods and there are no bluebell woods around this area. Is there a directive from a national body which suggests we should get rid of them?
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Post by wildlifefriendly on May 24, 2011 14:10:25 GMT
They are on the Plantlife list of problem plants. This is what they have to say. In Plantlife's 2003 Bluebells for Britain survey, the Spanish bluebell and the Hybrid bluebell, sometimes known as the garden bluebell, were found in one out of six woodland sites
surveyed.
The Spanish bluebell appears to hybridise with our native bluebell Hyacinthoides nonscripta, and this could be causing the loss of the genetic distinctiveness of our native bluebell. The Natural History Museum and at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh have investigated the nature of the problem by looking at the genetics of different bluebells from across the UK and western Europe. Their research should provide more information about the nature and degree of threat posed by the Spanish bluebell to the native bluebell.This will help identify them  |
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Post by merlin on May 24, 2011 14:59:42 GMT
Those drawings are accurate but in fairness the Spanish one is much darker. The difference in the width of the leaves is correct.
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Post by grindle on May 25, 2011 5:30:06 GMT
I'm still trying to get rid of my Spanish ones, just when I think I've succeeded, more pop up  Once they've all gone, I'll plant the English ones |
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Post by merlin on May 25, 2011 5:52:37 GMT
That's my main problem too Grindle, how do they spread like that and if it's by seed, how do they manage to get down in the soil so far?
Do the 'English' spread the same?
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Post by grindle on May 25, 2011 6:37:26 GMT
I think they can spread by seed and bulbils Merlin
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Post by esther on May 25, 2011 7:21:22 GMT
That's my main problem too Grindle, how do they spread like that and if it's by seed, how do they manage to get down in the soil so far? Do the 'English' spread the same? You have spanish bluebells ,too Merlin?  |
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Once they've all gone, I'll plant the English ones
