Galls refound
On a recent visit to the Powdermill Nature Reserves between Battle and Catsfield we found quite a number of galls of the midge Dasineura cardaminis . These galls are formed from the flowers of lady’s smock, Cardamine pratensis and other Cardamine species. The affected flower remains closed and swells to roughly the size and shape of a chickpea, remaining on the plant long after the normal flowers have faded and seed pods formed.
D. cardaminis, described as ‘local’ in the AIDGAP book of British Plant Galls, was recorded by Connold from Beauport just outside Hastings in 1902, but does not seem to have been reported in Sussex since then, though it may well be widespread. I would be interested to hear of any other local sightings.
