ARABLE WEED SURVEY OF A FARM IN SOUTH WILTSHIRE 97 
Key 
A- SU0639 Yardfield SE. 
D- $U0539 Rag Bake. N. 
G-SU0540 Bakes SW 
J- SU0540 Bakes NW 
M-SU0638 Night Pasture S. 
B- $U0638 Big Pasture. NE. 
E- SU0539. Well Down 3 SE 
H-SU0439 Well Down 1-2 NE 
K- $U0638 Langford Hill NE 
N-SU0539 Well House NW 
C- SU0539. Well House SE. 
F- SU0539. Well Down NE 
I- SU0540 Lamb Down NE 
L- $U0638 Langford Hill N. 
O- $U0539 Langford Down E 
Comments on the survey findings 
The most ubiquitous weeds (occurring in most of 
the 15 margins sampled) were Cleavers, (Galium 
aparine), Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Field 
Pansy (Viola arvensis), Shepherd’s purse (Capsella 
bursa-pastoris), Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper), 
Black Bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus), Fool’s 
Parsley (Aethusa cynapium), Fat-hen (Chenopodium 
album) and Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis). 
All are abundant and successful having the 
attributes of the ephemeral group mentioned above, 
as well as resistance to herbicides. 
Most species of this situation are annuals, but 
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) and Perennial Sow- 
thistle (Sonchus arvensis) are perennial, propagating 
by means of small fragments of root regenerating 
when given the opportunity. 
Among the more unusual species was one plant 
of Treacle Mustard (Erysimum cheiranthoides) of 
which there have been only four recent previous 
records in VC8, the nearest being from 
Winterboume Stoke, 1986 (BG). The seeds of this 
species have only a low viability although a good 
plant may produce 15,000 seeds typically dispersed 
by cattle. (Salisbury 1963) 
There was an abundance of Round-leaved 
Fluellen (Kickxia spuria) on one headland only on 
the north side of Well Down3. This occurs scattered 
on chalk fields in VC8 but is rapidly declining. It is 
self-fertile and self pollinates, but although it has 
the potential to produce 2,000 seeds per plant 
(Salisbury 1963), germination is poor and it is 
susceptible to herbicides. 
Venus’s Looking-glass (Legousia hybrida) occurs 
scattered on bare chalk and has notably declined. In 
