THE DISTRIBUTION OF PADINA PAVONICA 27 



High Peak. Observed seasonally since 1968, the species is locally widespread there, although never 

 prolific. 



West of Sidmouth, on similar rocks (Sandy Cove-Herm Rock-Ladram Rock-Smallstones 

 Point area), colonies of Padina occur around Ladram Bay. These are of some longevity, perhaps 

 discontinuous as to individual population, with almost all the evidence in the form of specimens; 

 the earliest is September 1852. Detailed recent winter and summer observations, from 1969, have 

 demonstrated perennation in the form of well-grown, if somewhat ragged, plants, without even 

 nearly complete die-back. 



Budleigh Salterton (SY 080820) is represented by only one early (1810) collection; Tregelles 

 (1932) is undoubtedly secondary. The area seems initially an unlikely source of Padina; the 

 present shore is of smooth, light-grey shingle, grading in the west into sand below high cliffs. East 

 of the town is the marshy valley of the River Otter. A rocky area (Otterton Ledge - Danger Point - 

 Black Head) east of the river is similar in appearance to rocks at Sidmouth and Ladram Bay; the 

 area is difficult of access and has only recently been searched. Access probably always was difficult 

 and raises some doubts as to the validity of the early record. Edward Forster customarily removed 

 earlier script from his specimens, re-writing the labels (Dixon, 1959); it is not known how 

 accurately data were transcribed. Potential loss of information in transcription and possible 

 original loose application of the place name leaves some doubt. Luckily the record is not critical; 

 there are adjacent populations to east and west. 



The single Teignmouth specimen could have come from Sprey Point rocks, north of the Teign 

 Estuary; we have no current evidence of a population there. 'Teignmouth' tends to be applied to 

 the area, not simply to the town; the records from Shaldon (apparently primary in Parfitt, 1889; 

 probably secondary in Batters, 1902) may also have related to the same population. The names 

 Torquay' and 'Torbay' have been used for large numbers of records from this area; although not 

 helpful, their authenticity is not in doubt in the light of the many really accurately localised 

 specimens and records from the same general area. These general records are fairly frequent over 

 the period 1825-1932. The most northerly precise local records are from Tor Abbey Rocks. The 

 name is now little used, but there is no doubt that it refers to either Corbyn's Head Rocks, or the 

 large outlier, to the north on the other side of Corbyn Beach. This outlier is the more likely, since 

 it forms the southern boundary of Torre Abbey Sands. Except for Harbreck Rock, well out into 

 the Tor Bay, these are the only rocky outcrops near Torre Abbey. 



Tor Abbey Rocks and Corbyn's Head Rocks hence form essentially the same location, 

 although the former name has more often been applied; records, mostly specimens, exist for 

 1830-55, thereafter petering out. 'Torquay Abbey Rocks' (Grattann, 1873) is clearly another name 

 for the same area, and the Salter record of 'Round Corbyn's Head . . .' must include Tor Abbey 

 Rocks. Corbyn's Head Rocks still support (1971, 1972) a few colonies of Padina [Plate 2.] The 

 plants are neither common nor easy to find, as they grow near low water level, in pools. Padina has 

 quite probably been more prolific here in the past and may currently be in recession. 



Livermead Sands, to the south of Corbyn's Head, form the southern curve of a small bay that 

 terminates in the rocky Livermead Head. Livermead, Livermead Sands, and Livermead Rocks 

 must all have related to the rocks below Livermead Head, also searched in 1971 and 1972. The 

 probably much older population seems to have been sampled first in 1859, and most recently in 

 1971. The Livermead Rocks populations must be even more sparse than those on Corbyn's Head; 

 neither on 22 September 1971 nor on 28 July 1972 could Padina be detected at Livermead. There 

 seems currently to be general recession in Padina in this area. 



In the Paignton area, records from Preston Beach probably relate to the rocky area at Holli- 

 combe Head, which we have not examined. The records are all from that phycologically active 

 era, 1872-92. Roundham Head, a similar rocky area south of Paignton Sands, may also have been 

 lumped under Paignton. The area from Roundham Head south and east to Berry Head has been 

 little examined in the past. This southern half of Tor Bay may sometimes have been submerged 

 in the blanket term Torbay', but there is little basis for that assumption. The many coves and 

 rocky areas along this coastline, especially Elberry [ = Elbury] Cove, were widely visited by 

 collectors like Holmes, Batters, and George in the period 1850-1900. Despite that, there is no 

 record that can be firmly attributed to the area until that late season one established by E. Clay 



