Ranunculus Ophioglossifolius - History Timeline

History Timeline

A history timeline is published by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

In 1789 Adder's-tongue Spearwort was first described by M. Dominique Villars in 'Histoire des plantes de Dauphine'.

In June 1838 it was discovered in the Channel Islands at St Peter's Marsh on Jersey by Charles Cardale Babington.

In 1843 Sowerby's 'English Botany' included illustrations.

Mentioned in 1846 by Edward Forbes, F.R.S. in a classic article on a theory of floral distribution of the British Isles.

In 1878 in England a few specimens were found in a wet ditch at Hythe, Hampshire by Mr. H Groves (not fully identified until 1882).

In 1884 the last known specimens were collected from St Peter's Marsh, Jersey and are in the Herbarium of Carlisle City Museum.

In 1890 Adder's-tongue Spearwort was discovered at Cold Pool, Badgeworth by Mr. Buckell and Mrs. Frances Fawkes.

In 1914 it was found in a wet meadow near Woodsford, Dorset by Professor R Good.

In 1926 a second Gloucestershire site was found around a pond on Inglestone Common by Mrs C I Sandwith and Mr N Y Sandwith.

In 1929 specimens were collected by Frere Louis-Arsene at Grouville, Jersey (later found to be Adder's-tongue Spearwort) and are now in the Herbarium at the Natural History Museum.