Conservation status: C
First record: Dent, in Ray,1685
Aristolochia clematitis officinarum. Martyn,1727,74.
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WHITTLESFORD
Aristolochia Clematitis Park. Running-rooted Birthwort. In several Hedges at Wittlesford. Dent in Ray,1685,2.
Wittlesford JM.ann.
Aristolochia clematitis recta. Creeping Birthwort. In the hedges at Wittelesford in Cambridgeshire. Martyn,1732,1:73.
Aristolochia clematitis recta officinalis. It grows also in Cambridgeshire. Blackstone,1746,5.
Wittlesford Th.M.ann.Meth.-Index Loc.(f.)6.
Whittlesford. Martyn,1763,Herbat.VI.
Gathered at Whittlesford, (Rev. C Davy), c. June 1784, IPS.
Climbing Birth-wort. Whittlesford. Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
Aristolochia [Whittlesford] Specimen. Maynard MS.4:328b.
In several hedges at Whittlesford; Dent. Bab.1860,207.
Sketch of Old Driver's farm pulled down 1857. X marks position of Aristolochia. Maynard MS.4:329.
...Beneath the Hedge at the extreme right of the view [Driver's Farm]... and also in the garden adjoining, marked X, I have found growing wild, (and my Father before me,)... For many years prior to 1860... was known to my Father, and specimens in his Herbarium, with ... note... 1849, says it "Grows beside the walls and garden of the College Farm, and opposite the homestead of old Whiskins Farm."... (Babington came to see it in 1867.' not native'...) Maynard MS.4:330.
Went to Whittlesford, for Mr G.N. Maynard to shew me the station of Aristolochia Clematitis. It grows in a garden and hedge on the right-hand of the first road to the left of the road leading to Mickle Moor. 14.10.1867. Bab.Mem.208.
Whittlesford, G.R. [sic] Maynard, Hb CC Babington, 1867, CGE.
plant grows wild in this parish and has done so ever since I can remember it grows in an old hedge upon Whale [sp?] Whittlesford. 1867. is called the College Farm and several attempts to eradicate it have been unsuccessfully made. yours obediently G.N. Maynard. Extracts from letter pasted into MS. across [Dist.] 2. & 3. [added by CCB.] I saw it there in Oct. 1867. Bab.MS.Fl.659.
In a hedge by the roadside at College Farm in the village. 1867, [CCB]. 1880, A Shrubbs. Bab.ann.
Specimen Aristolochia gathered at Whittlesford in the year 1883 by me GN Maynard. Maynard MS.4:345.
Still grows plentifully at Whittlesford, JH Bullock, 1932.
Whittlesford, 1942, CR Raven.
Whittlesford, 471.479, PM Garrett 1952.
Abundant on a dry grassy bank, & in adjacent garden, opposite Orchard terrace, Whittlesford,
way between 'The Greyhound' and the Post office. In full bloom, 6.6.1953. Not observed there on the earlier visits, which must have been too early. DE Coombe, Card Index.Whittlesford, CC Townsend, 1955.
The Barn, West End, [College farm] Whittlesford, in Chris Cowper's garden, 471.480. Covers a large patch of grass by fence, which flowers and fruits and is then cut annually in August by Chris Cowper, and by now [Sept.] is shooting up again 1 foot tall–obviously very persistent. DE Coombe, 9.1986.
Abundant, in garden and on verge, G Crompton, 16.9.1988.
In garden of house built in orchard of College Farm in 1978, facing Orchard Terrace. 'The Aristolochia grows only at the front – which is quite deep.Where it is allowed to flourish it gets a lot of sun, and grows up straight and tall, like a field of crops.' P Hire, in litt. 23.8.2001.
ICKLETON
Meadow near the Chaldrees, Ickleton, AS Shrubbs, 8.1915, CGE.
Weed, Col. Bristowes garden, Ickleton, JPR Leying, 7.1964. Still there, fide Mrs Bristowe, SM Walters, 6.1972. Still there, Mary Bristowe, 1977. Brookhampton Hall, Ickleton, [Mrs Bristowe's] AC Leslie, 1984.
In flower and abundant in 10 x 1.5 yard patch at end of Rectory garden, Ickleton, 494.440, S Birch & G Crompton, 3.6.1999.
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GRAVEL HILL FARM
Naturalized in hedge at Gravel Hill Farm, Huntingdon Road, JE Hardy, n.d.
Hedgerow, Univ. Farm, 430.596, J Shire, 1956. GMS Easy, 23.8.1987.
University Farm, 430.596, large patch on wasteground by hedge, including one plant in fruit. This is an area that has been left uncultivated while the adjacent field is ploughed. 3 CPs with old University Farm building i.e. Victorian house, on the other side of the hedge, and DE Coombe and K Tucker, looking a) & b) towards Huntingdon Rd and c) towards Conduit Head, G Crompton, 3.10.1991.
MISC.
'Southacre' grounds, Latham Rd., C., 451.568, J.Rishbeth, 4.7.1953, CGE.
Fellows' garden, Jesus College, n.d., Mills ann. Still there, B.Jackson, 4.7.1987.
Specimen dug up from Cowper's [Whittlesford] garden & planted in Pembroke College garden c.1983, f. C. Cowper.
46
MILTON
Milton. Relhan, 1802;1820.
Milton; Relhan. Bab.1860,207.
R. shown to W Walton in Miller's grounds at Milton by friends at the Rectory. 2.6.1863, Bab.ann. & Bab.MS.Fl.659.
In Millers grounds at Milton, 1863, WW. Bab.ann.
Naturalised inside & outside gardens, Primrose Lane, Waterbeach, DM Cheason, 20.5.1956. Still there, and sketch plan showing a large patch at the end of the gardens behind No 4 and Tor End, Primrose lane; also a clump in Denny House standing on the High St. opposite the Primrose Lane turning, Denis Cheason, 4.11.1991.
