Spotted Spurge in the 'local Monad'

According to Kent Botany 2016, 'Euphorbia maculata (Spotted Spurge) is a pioneer species of disturbed open ground in north America,naturalised in Europe, often spreading via nurseries. Until 2016, it had not been recorded in Kent, but now we have two records from East Kent and one (see later) from West Kent.

It was first recorded on 16 August in the course of a KFC meeting (comm. DG) at Saltwood Castle, where it was not deliberately introduced and has become a persistent weed on the gravelled driveway. Then on 17 October, SB found it to be abundant across two brick-paved front gardens in Grenham Road, Birchington at TR 29369 69723. The house occupant had no idea of the origin of the plants, which may have arrived as a weed with a nursery-bought plant. However, Polycarpon tetraphyllum (Four- leaved Allseed) was also present, suggesting similar habitat needs, but also raising questions as regards whether there was a common origin, e.g. nursery stock from Spain.

These are accordingly first and second records for vice county 15, East Kent'.

And again, according to Kent Botany 2016, 'Euphorbia maculata (Spotted Spurge), mentioned above as a first record for East Kent, now also has a first record for vice County 16, West Kent. 

It was found by RMB on 27 July on a pavement, mostly at the road edge in front of garages next to 117 Dumbreck Road, Eltham and a few in front of no.115, TQ 4338 7555. This is consistent with the sort of habitats in which it was subsequently found in East Kent. The central leaf spot (hence the specific name, maculata) seems clearer on the Eltham material than that of Saltwood Castle: when present, it differentiates this species from most other similar prostrate spurges, but it can be reduced or absent. 

We may be catching up with the sort of spread which has also been taking place on the Continent: it has since 1994 been increasing in Belgian urban and suburban habitats such as pavement cracks, parking places and gravelly ground in cemeteries (Verloove, 2013).'

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During 2017, we found some Plants growing both on a Public Pavement and in a Roadside Gutter, in the 'local Monad'. The Record was submitted to the Kent Botanical Recording Group and was mentioned in Kent Botany 2017. As an aside,  Four-leaved Allseed ** grows nearby. 

We feared for its survival after the Road was resurfaced but these fears were misplaced: for the time being at least viz.

** (Four-Leaved Allseed gowing nearby)