St. Mary's Churchyard - Plants
The plant-life of the graveyard was surveyed some 60 years ago by Gulielma Lister, niece of Lord Lister, famous as the pioneer of vaccination. The report was published in the Essex Naturalist (Vol. 27) as "THE FLORA OF WANSTEAD PARK DISTRICT by GULIELMA LISTER, F.L.S." (Read on 29th November, 1941). A copy of the species list is available HERE.
As the graveyard was very much within the Wren Group's study area, situated as it is to the north of Wanstead Park and adjacent to Wanstead Golf Course, I made a cursory survey of the plants to be found there in 1981. 102 species of plants were found. The list also includes those plants noted by Lister, so that comparisons could be made with the past and present flora. It could be seen that many of the more unusual species still persisted, although 28 species were not noted. The list is available below.
In early February 2016 (07/02/2016) another survey was done by members of the Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group. Results from that have been added to the listing below, and in addition to the higher (flowering) plants, other organisms - including animals - are appended.
The reference "(L. 1941)" in the third column indicate that the plant was noted by Gulielma Lister in 1941
The 1981 date relates to the 1981 survey.
"Stace" refers to the page no. in Stace 2nd Edition
(for information about the church and churchyard, click here)
| Stace | Species | Name | Date (and location) |
| 33 | Dryopteris filix-mas | Male Fern | 1981; 2016 |
| 41 | Picea abies (P. excelsa Link) |
Norway Spruce | (L.1941) |
| 44 | Cedrus deodora | Deodar | (L.1941) 1981, one tree W. of church. One tree S. of Church. |
| 49 | Chamaecyparis pisifera | Sawara Cypress | (L.1941) 1981, south of church by path; 2016 |
| 50 | Thuja orientalis | Thuja | (L.1941) 1981, three trees |
| 51 | Taxus baccata | Yew | (L. 1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 72 | Laurus nobilis | Bay Laurel | 2016 |
| 80 | Eranthis hyemalis | Winter Aconite | 2016 |
| 88 | Ranunculus acris | Meadow Buttercup | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 88 | Ranunculus repens | Creeping Buttercup | (L.1941) 19811; 2016 |
| 88 | Ranunculus bulbosus | Bulbous Buttercup | 1981 |
| 91 | Ranunculus ficaria | Lesser Celandine | 2016 |
| 101 | Mahonia aquifolium | Oregon Grape | 1981; 2016 |
| 117 | Urtica dioica | Nettle | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 123 | Quercus robur | English Oak | 1981; 2016 |
| 124 | Betula pendula | Silver Birch | 1981 |
| 127 | Carpinus betulus | Hornbeam | 2016 |
| 140 | Chenopodium album | Fat Hen | 1981 |
| 162 | Stellaria media | Common Chickweed | 1981 |
| 165 | Cerastium holosteoides | Common Mouse-ear | 1981; 2016 |
| 168 | Sagina procumbens | Procumbent Pearlwort | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 183 | Persicaria maculosa (Polygonum persicaria) | Redshank | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 195 | Rumex obtusifolius | Broad-Leaved Dock | 1981 |
| 210 | Tila x europaea | Common Lime | 2016 |
| 220 | Viola riviniana | Common Dog-violet | 1981; 2016 |
| 223 | Bryonia dioica | White Bryony | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 250 | Alliaria petiolata | Garlic Mustard | 1981 |
| 267 | Capsella bursa-pastoris | Shepherd's Purse | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 263 | Lobularia maritima | Sweet Alison | 1981 |
| 285 | Rhododendron ponticum | Purple Rhododendron | 1981 |
| 296 | Primula sp. |
Primrose | 2016 |
| 297 | Cyclamen sp. | Winter Cyclamen | 2016 |
| 312 | Sedum reflexum | Reflexed Stonecrop | 2016 |
| 313 | Sedum album | White Stonecrop | 2016 |
| 317 | Saxifraga spathularis x umbrosa | London Pride | 1981 |
| 334 | Rubus idaeus | Raspberry | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 335 | Rubus fruticosus agg. | Bramble | 1981; 2016 |
| 344 | Potentilla reptans | Creeping Cinquefoil | 1981; 2016 |
| 346 | Geum urbanum | Herb Bennett | 2016 |
| 370 | Sorbus aucuparia | Rowan | (L.1941) |
| 391 | Cotoneaster simonsii | Cotoneaster | 1981, N.E. corner, near fence, 2 bushes 13/02/81 |
| 397 | Crataegus monogyna | Hawthorn | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 406 | Lotus corniculatus | Bird's-foot-trefoil | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 412 | Vicia sativa | Common Vetch | 1981 |
| 414 | Lathyrus pratensis | Meadow Vetchling | 1981 |
| 415 | Lathyrus latifolius | Broad-Leaved Pea | 1981 |
| 420 | Medicago lupulina | Black Medick | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 425 | Trifolium repens | White Clover | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 435 | Sarothamnus scoparius | Broom | 1981 |
| 437 | Eleagnus pungens var. 'Maculata' | Wood Olive | 1981 |
| 446 | Epilobium montanum agg. | Broad-Leaved Willow-herb | 1981 |
| 447 | Epilobium ciliatum (adenocaulon) | American Willow-herb | 1981 |
| 448 | Chamaenerion angustifolium | Rosebay Willow-herb | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 452 | Circaea lutetiana | Enchanter's Nightshade | 1981 |
| 454 | Aucuba japonica | Spotted Laurel | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 456 | Ilex x altaclerensis var. 'Wilsonii' | Highclere Holly | 26/01/81 1981 |
| 456 | Ilex aquifolium | Holly | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 456 | Ilex aquifolium var. 'Handsworth New Silver'? | Holly | 1981; 2016 |
| 456 | Euonymus japonicus | Evergreen Spindle-tree | L.1941) 1981, numerous shrubs |
| 457 | Mercurialis perennis | Dog's Mercury | 2016 |
| 461 | Euphorbia peplus | Petty Spurge | 1981; 2016 |
| 468 | Aesculus hippocastanum | Horse Chestnut | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 470 | Acer pseudoplatanus | Sycamore | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 470 | Acer platanoides | Norway Maple | 1981 |
| 475 | Oxalis europaea | Upright Yellow Sorrel | 1981 by fence on west side |
| 475 | Oxalis articulata | Pink Oxalis | 1981 in rough ground amongst graves near west fence |
| 482 | Geranium robertianum | Herb Robert | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 490 | Hedera helix | Ivy | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 501 | Anthriscus sylvestris | Cow Parsley | 1981; 2016 |
| 502 | Conopodium majus | Pignut | 1981 |
| 515 | Heracleum sphondylium | Hogweed | 1981 |
| 525 | Vinca major | Greater Periwinkle | 2016 |
| 551 | Myosotis sylvatica | Wood Forget-me-not | 1981 |
| 534 | Convolvulus arvensis | Field Bindweed | 1981 |
| 535 | Calystegia sepium silvatica | Great Bindweed | 1981 |
| 531 | Solanum dulcamara | Bittersweet | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 531 | Solanum nigrum | Black Nightshade | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 548 | Pentaglottis sempervirens | Green Alkanet | 2016 |
| 560 | Lamium album | White Dead-nettle | 1981; 2016 |
| 562 | Lamium purpureum | Red Dead-Nettle | 1981; 2016 |
| 566 | Glechoma hederacea | Ground Ivy | 1981 |
| 567 | Prunella vulgaris | Self Heal | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 583 | Plantago major | Great Plantain | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 584 | Plantago lanceolata | Ribwort Plantain | 1981; 2016 |
| 586 | Fraxinus excelsior | Ash | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 586 | Forsythia x intermedia | Common Forsythia | 1981; 2016 |
| 587 | Ligustrum ovalifolium | Japanese Privet | 1981; 2016 |
| 600 | Digitalis purpurea | Foxglove | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 603 | Veronica chamaedrys | Germander Speedwell | 1981 |
| 605 | Veronica hederifolia | Ivy Speedwell | 1981; 2016 |
| 605 | Veronica persica | Buxbaum's Speedwell | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 647 | Galium verum | Lady's Bedstraw | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 649 | Galium aparine | Cleavers | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 651 | Sambucus nigra | Elder | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 678 | Cirsium arvense | Creeping Thistle | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 683 | Centaurea nigra | Black Knapweed | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 686 | Lapsana communis | Nipplewort | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 686 | Hypochoeris radicata | Common Cat's-ear | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 690 | Sonchus oleraceus | Smooth Sow-thistle | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 690 | Lactuca serriola | Prickly Lettuce | 2016 |
| 698 | Taraxacum officinale | Dandelion | 1981; 2016 |
| 699 | Crepis capillaris | Smooth Hawk's-beard | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 702 | Hieracium pilosella | Mouse-ear Hawkweed | 2016 |
| 725 | Conyza canadensis | Canadian Fleabane | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 725 | Conyza sumatrensis | Guernsey Fleabane | 2016 |
| 728 | Bellis perennis | Daisy | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 729 | Artemisia vulgaris | Mugwort | 1981 |
| 732 | Achillea millefolium | Yarrow | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 735 | Chrysanthemum leucanthemum | Ox-eye Daisy | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 740 | Senecio vulgaris | Groundsel | 1981; 2016 |
| 778 | Arum maculatum | Lord's and Ladies | 2016 |
| 858 | Poa annua | Annual Meadow Grass | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
| 868 | Holcus lanatus | Yorkshire Fog | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 895 | Hordeum murinum | Wall Barley | (L.1941) 1981 |
| 934 | Endymion non-scripta | Bluebell | 1981 |
| 934 | Endymion hispanica | Spanish Bluebell | 2016 |
| 940 | Allium vineale | Crow Garlic | 1981 |
| 943 | Galanthus nivalis | Snowdrop | 2016 |
| 945 | Narcissus spp. | Hybrid Daffodils | 1981; 2016 |
| 958 | Crocus vernus | Spring Crocus | 2016 |
| 958 | Crocus tommasinianus | Early Crocus | 2016 |
| 958 | Crocus vernus x C. tommasinianus | Hybrid Crocus | 2016 |
| 958 | Crocus nudiflorus | Autumn Crocus | 1981 a few plants near (sunken) gravestones near west edge. |
| 961 | Yucca gloriosa | Yucca | (L.1941) 1981; 2016 |
|
Plants recorded by Lister in 1941, but not noted in 1981 (Lister's species names in brackets) |
|||
| 45 | Pinus sylvestris L. | Scots Pine | |
| 49 | Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Cedrus lawsoniana Murr.) | Lawson's Cypress | |
| 49 | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (Cedrus Cupressa nootkatensis DON.) | Nootka Cypress | |
| 50 | Juniperus sabina | Savin | |
| 72 | Laurus nobilis | Bay Laurel | present in 2016 |
| 165 | Cerastium glomeratum | Sticky Mouse-ear | |
| 187 | Fallopia convolvulus (Polygonum convolvulus) | Black Bindweed | |
| 203 | Armeria vulgaris | Thrift | |
| 234 | Salix fragilis | Crack Willow | |
| 287 | Arbutus unedo | Strawberry Tree | |
| 340 | Rubus caesius | Dewberry | |
| 411 | Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch | |
| 457 | Buxus sempervirens | Box | |
| 563 | Galeopsis tetrahit | Common Hemp-nettle | |
| 652 | Viburnum tinus | Lauristinus | |
| 660 | Dipsacus fullonum (D. sylvestris) | Wild Teasel | |
| 673 | Arctium minus (A. Lappa sub-sp. minus | Small Burdock | |
| 676 | Cirsium lanceolatus (Cnicus lanceolatus) | Spear Thistle | |
| 690 | Sonchus asper (Sonchus oleaceus sub-sp. Hoffm.) | Prickly Sow-thistle | |
| 702 | Pilosella officinarum (Hieracium pilosella) | Mouse-ear Hawkweed | present in 2016 |
| 715 | Gnaphalium uliginosum | Marsh Cudweed | |
| 736 | Matricaria discoidea | Pineapple Weed | |
| 740 | Senecio vulgaris | Stinking Groundsel | |
| 849 | Festuca ovina | Sheep's Fescue | |
| 852 | Lolium perenne | Rye Grass | |
| 858 | Poa pratensis | Smooth Meadow Grass | |
| 874 | Agrostis stolonifera (A. alba L.) | Creeping Bent (Fiorin Grass) | |
| 883 | Phleum pratense | Timothy | |
Additional plant or plant-like species
| Type | Species | Name | Notes |
| Algae | |||
| Trentepohlia (abietina) | |||
| Lichens | |||
| Xanthoria parietina | |||
| Fungi | |||
| Coprinellus micaceus | Glistening Ink Cap | ||
| Dacrymyces stillatus | |||
| Ganoderma australe | |||
| Parasola plicatilis ? | Pleated Inkcap? | ||
| Puccinia lagenophorae | Groundsel Rust | ||
| Liverworts | |||
| Lunularia cruciata | Crescent-cup Liverwort | ||
| Mosses | |||
| Brachythecium rutabulum | Rough-stalked Feather-moss | ||
| Bryum capillare | Capillary thread-moss | ||
| Grimmia pulvinata | Grey Cushion-moss | ||
| Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus | Springy Turf-moss | ||
| Tortula muralis | Wall Screw-moss | ||
Some additional species found in the graveyard:
| Type | Species | Name | Notes |
| springtail | Orchesella cincta | 07/02/2016 (RSt) | |
| leafhopper | Idiocerus sp. (vitreus?) | 07/02/2016 (RSt) | |
| leafhopper | Empoasca vitis | 07/02/2016 (RSt) | |
| gnat | Sylvicola fenestralis | Window Gnat | 07/02/2016 (RSt) |
| midge | Chironomus plumosus | 07/02/2016 (RSt) | |
| fly | Drosophila suzukii | Spotted-wing Drosophila | 07/02/2016 (KH) |
| bee | Apis mellifera | Honey Bee | 07/02/2016 (RSt) |
| bumblebee | Bombus lapidarius | Red-tailed Bumblebee | 07/02/2016 (RSt) |
| beetle | Exochomus quadripustulatus | Pine Ladybird | 07/02/2016 (RSt) |
| beetle | Halyzia sedecimguttata | Orange Ladybird | 07/02/2016 (RSt) |
| moth | Luffia ferchaultella | Virgin Smoke | 07/02/2016 (RSt) |
| moth | Agriopis marginaria | Dotted Border (F.) | 07/02/2016 (RSt) |