Snowberry

As mentioned earlier snowberry (Sympharicarpos albus) grows locally. Today I noticed one growing in what appeared to be a wild location (next to a railway line). The white berries confirms that it is this species, and not one of the others.

Common Toadflax

Common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) seen growing in grassland in rough ground by the railway line.

still finding new species

Coming back from the shops on Thursday morning I noticed a specimen of caper-spurge (Euphorbia lathyrus) growing next to a path.

In the afternoon I walked over to a nearby garden. On the way there I encountered white-flowered nightshades in fruit, allowing me to identify them as black nightshade (Solanum nigrum).

I came back by the canals, and found jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and trifid bur-marigold (Bidens tripartita) growing there.

Goldenrod (Solidago) species is growing in a number of localities in the area.

field woundwort

One of the nearby allotments has a single plant of field woundwort (Stachys arvensis).

white-flowered nightshade

I have recently encountered a couple of specimens of 1 (or possibly) 2 of the white-flowered nightshades. They could be Solanum nigrum, S. physalifolium, S. sarachoides or S. villosum, but I don't expect to be able to identify them to species before fruit is present.

mignonette

Earlier in the year I identified a clump of plants as being wild mignonette (Reseda lutea). That clump is no longer visible, due to mowing, but two other clumps, one just across the road from the first appear to be white mignonette (Reseda alba), so I am changing the list to include the latter.

Arum

Recently I have noticed a clump of fruiting spikes of an Arum alongside the road running east out of town. From the size of the fruiting spikes it would appear to be Arum italicum, rather than Arum maculatum.

4 more species

A while back I made a circuit to the west of the town.

The meadows to the south of the town have been mown, and there's not much to be seen. However common fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) is growing by a fishing pool with the meadows.

To the west of the town a hop (Humulus lupulus) can be found. (I had suspected this before, but the presence of flowers and fruit allows me to confirm this.)

Lucerne (Medicago sativa) was found growing along a roadside.

Additional plants present at the landfill site are wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris), common hemp nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit), bristly oxtounge (Picris echioides).

A field scabious (Knautia arvensis) was found along the old railway running across the town.

common orache

I've identified on of the chenopodiaceous plants growing in the area as common orache (Atriplex patula).

hemp nettle

The hemp nettle noted earlier turns out to be common hemp nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit).

More observations

* The cudweed on the allotment site is marsh cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum).

* I find the willow-herbs with clavate stigmas a difficult group, but today I identified one on my allotment as pale willow-herb (Epilobium roseum).

* I found that the peppermint (Mentha x piperita) that I'd seen growing along the canal bank in previous years is still present. (I'd previously thought that it might have been eliminated by mowing of the towpath.)

* Walking into the town centre I saw purple toadflax (Linaria purpureum) and purple mullein (Verbascum phoeniceum) growing wild.

* Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) is now in flower along canal banks.

landfill site again

I had another look at the local (reclaimed) landfill site again on Tuesday.

Additional plants noted include water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica), hoary willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum), meadow sweet (Filipendulina ulmaria), prickly lettuce (Lactuca seriola), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), musk mallow (Malva moschata), bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata), red bartsia (Odontites vernus), common (Polygonum aviculare and equal-leaved (Polygonum arenastrum knotgrasses, wild mignonette (Reseda lutea), weld (Reseda luteola), both bulrush species (Typha angustifolia and Typha latifolia), an umbellifer, and a guelder rose (Viburnum opalus) seedling.

I then walked the length of old railway line that runs alongside the landfill site, and to a mile or so to the north. Here I saw a hemp nettle (Galeopsis sp.), a pseudo-radiate knapweed (Centaurea sp.), crosswort (Galium cruciata) and a scabious.

I came back along the canal. Plants noted along the towpath were horse radish (Armoracia rusticana), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), hemp agrimomy (Eupatorium cannabinum), marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), amphibious bistort (Persicaria amphibia), skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) and perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis).

Burdock has now come into flower, and a specimen has been identified as lesser burdock (Arctium lappa).

St. John's worts

There are at least three species of St.John's wort growing locally - the tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum), the perforate St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) and the imperforate St. John's wort (Hypericum maculatum).

allotment weeds, again

Additional species observed on the allotment site are a cudweed (Filago or Gnaphalium sp.), gallant soldier (Galinsoga parviflora), pale toadflax (Linaria repens) and a wild pansy (Viola sp.). Canadian fleabane (Conyza canadensis) is present on the approach to the site.

I've concluded that the second spurge present in petty spurge (Euphorbia peplus).

butterfly bush

Yesterday, while attempting to get a good photograph of a centaury (no luck - the dull weather had resulted in the flowers being closed) I noticed that the same area of rough ground had a few seedlings of Buddleia davidii.

recent observations

mayweeds: mayweeds are a group of 7 species of dissected-leaved daisies, which I have difficulty identifying. The species are pineappleweed (Matricaria discoidea), scented mayweed (Matricaria recutita), corn chamonile (Anthemis arvenis), sticking mayweed (Anthemis cotula), chamonile (Chamaemelum nobilis, scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum) and sea mayweed (Tripleurosperum maritimum). At least three species are present. One is easily identified as pineappleweed by the absence of ray florets. The other two can be identified as scented mayweed by the conical receptacle, and the scentless mayweed by the absence of scent (distinguished as sea mayweed by the absence of fleshy leaves). It is also differs from scented mayweed in having more sprawling, more wiry, often red-pigment stems, larger capitula, and flatter receptacles.

bulrush: the formation of inflorescences on a stand on bulrushes in a wet spot in the meadows to the south of the railway line has enabled me to identify them as Typha latifolia (not gap between the male and female parts of the inflorescence).

field maple (Acer campestre): I've found a seedling of this at the edge of the carpark at the end of the old railway line that runs along the back of my garden.

common centaury (Centaurium erthyraea):

melilot (Melilotus sp.): the melilot seen would seem to be either tall melilot (Melilotus altissimus) or ribbed melilot (Melilotus officinalis). I may have to wait until fruit is available before I can tell which.

hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocuta): a few days back I had a second look at one of the water dropworts growing along the canal (this one is in the inlet of a lock overflow channel), and identified it as hemlock water dropwort.

black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus): seen on the north side of the road east out of town.

marsh bedstraw (Galium sp.): some of this was seen on the far back of the canal. Unfortunately I couldn't get close enought to identify whether it was G. palustre, G. uliginosum or G. constrictum.

currants: a couple of specimens of gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) are present at the southeast extremity of the meadows south of the railway line, and a specimen of red currant (Ribes rubrum) has established itself in a hedge alongside the nearer canal.

poplars: along the path at the far side of the railway line there are seedlings of both white poplar (Populus alba) and one of the American poplars (Populus sp.).

cherries: seedlings of at least one species of Prunus are quite common. I have yet to identify the species.

Parthenocissus: I have encountered a Parthenocissus in several localities, including two where it is not plausibly planted. I haven't confirmed the identity to species yet, by I suspect that this is false Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus inserta).

sun spurge (Euphorbia helioscopa): I have yet to identify all spurges growing in the area, but sun spurge is among them.

creeping yellow-cress (Rorippa sylvestris): in a damp spot in a field I had earlier found a yellow flowered crucifer (and also a celery-leaved buttercup). This was presumably a plant that had overwintered. On Tuesday I found that locality had (as I suspected might be the case) a large number of smaller plants of the same species, mixed with scented mayweed, flowering. The small, yellow, flowers, and shape of the fruit, identify them as creeping yellow-cress.

wild carrot

Wild carrot (Daucus carota) is fairly common around here, but being late in growth and flower I hadn't seen any specimens this year until encountering a few specimens in the last few days.

roses

There are numerous rose recorded from Britain. The BSBI records the following species.

1. Rosa agrestis (small-leaved sweet briar)


2. Rosa arvensis (field rose)


3. Rosa blanda


4. Rosa caesia (hairy and glaucous dog roses)


5. Rosa canina (dog rose)


6. Rosa carolina (Carolina rose)


7. Rosa centifolia (cabbage rose)


8. Rosa chinensis (China rose)


9. Rosa ferruginea (red-leaved rose)


10. Rosa gallica (red rose)


11. Rosa lucieae (memorial rose)


12. Rosa majalis


13. Rosa micrantha (small-flowered sweet brian)


14. Rosa mollis (soft downy rose)


15. Rosa multiflora (many-flowered rose)


16. Rosa noisettiana (Noisette rose)


17. Rosa obtusifolia (round-leaved dog rose)


18. Rosa pendulina (alpine rose)


19. Rosa rubinginosa (sweet briar)


20. Rosa rugosa (Japanese rose)


21. Rosa sempervirens


22. Rosa sericea


23. Rosa setigera (Prairie rose)


24. Rosa sherardii (Sherrard's downy rose)


25. Rosa spinosissima (burnet rose)


26. Rosa stylosa (short-styled field rose)


27. Rosa tomentosa (harsh downy rose)


28. Rosa virginiana (Virginian rose)


29. Rosa willmottiana

and many hybrids between these species.

Several of these are aliens, occurring infrequently, and in restricted locations.

The taxonomy of roses is difficult, and other sources list other species, or at least other names.

I've been looking at roses growing in the area, but I'm only attempting to identify them as far as one of several aggregates. Even when the aggregate contains only one species, the possibility of hybrids being present has to be taken into account.

Rosa pimpinellifolia (an alternative name to Rosa spinosissima for the Burnet rose)agg.: apart from the existence of several hybrids, diploid ("pimpinellifolia") and tetraploid ("spinosissima") cytotypes are known, but I haven't found a statement of which cytotype(s) are present. These can be recognised by the erect stems, the smaller and more numerous leaflets of the leaf, the presence of both erect (not hooked) thorns and prickles, and, in fruit, the dark hips. I have seen these at two locations.

Rosa arvensis agg.: this can be identified by the fused, columnar, styles. I have seen this at three locations.

Rosa multiflora: shares with the preceding the fused, columnar, styles, but the flowers are smaller, and occur in heads containing many more individual flowers. I have seen this, but outside the Florula Prima area, and in a location where it may have been planted, rather than spontaneous.

Rosa rubiginosa agg.: these (RR. rubiginosa and micrantha) can be identified by the glandular leaves which produce an aromatic odour when rubbed or crushed. (The darker pink flowers are a marker that at least presents candidates for checking the foliage.) I have seen these at two locations.

Rosa tomentosa agg.: these (RR. tomentosa, sherrardii and mollis) can be identified by the dull, downy, leaves. Unless I have overlooked them for some reason I have not seen these.

Rosa stylosa: this can be identified by the conical disc. I now believe that my previous identification of plants as belonging to this species was in error, having confusing the "styles forming a cone" of other species with the conical disc.

Rosa agrestris: I have not seen this.

Rosa rugosa: This is easily recognised by the larger, rough, foliage, and larger, red, flowers. I have seen this at one locality alongside the nearer canal.

Rosa canina agg.: these (RR. canina, caesia and obtusifolia) is the commonest rose in the area. It is identified more by elimination of the other possibilities than anything else, but markers included pale flowers, arching stems, and recurved thorns.

woundworts

I've been noticing hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) in flower in various locations for the last week or two, but today, walking along the canal bank, I also encounted betony (Stachys officinalis) and marsh woundwort (Stachys palustre), both in flower.

dogwood

Dogwood (Cornus sp.) can be found at a number of locations in the area, but it is often planted. However I noticed this morning, setting out in a northerly direction, a single specimen growing in a hawthorn hedge, which presumably is spontaneous. It's probably the common Cornus sanguinea, but I don't know how to distinguish this from Cornus sericea and Cornus alba, except by fruit, and this specimen won't be fruiting this year, as it has no flowers currently.

hairy bindweed

I had another look at the pink-flowered bindweed that's growing in a hedge in the main road through the town, and have confirmed that it's hairy bindweed (Convolvulus pulchra) and not one of the pink-flowered forms of the other two species.

biting stonecrop

Yesterday I noticed biting stonecrop (Sedum acre) growing on the roadside edge of a grassy verge on the edge of town.

wild radish

I while back I noticed a crucifer with largish white flowers, but wasn't sure whether it was a radish, or some form of rocket. I had another look at it his morning, and now that some fruits are present I can identify is as wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum).

greater bird's foot trefoil

A bird's foot trefoil has established itself in my back garden lawn, as a result of an unaggresive mowing regime.

Yesterday I checked it, and it turns out to be the greater bird's foot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), distinguished from the common bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) by possessing hollow stems. Of the other distinguishing features I don't really trust size, though this does seem to be bigger than the general run of the other, and the hairiness doesn't stand out. It is however a wet location (due to heavy clay soil, and lack of winter sunshire), which corresponds to the habitat of Lotus pedunculatus; Lotus corniculatus grows in dry locations. I'll have to keep my eye out for other bird's foot trefoils growing in wet localities.

meadow plants

I had a look at the meadows to the south and to the north west (landfill site) of town today, taking more photographs of marsh/spotted orchids in the hope of identifying them.

While doing so I encountered tufted forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa) growing in some otherwise bare ground which is probably flooded in winter. This has a fairly distinctive habit, but identifying this doesn't really help me with all the other forget-me-nots in the vicinity. Marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) is also present in the meadowlands south of the town.

The third type of speedwell present on the landfill site turns out to be germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys). A crucifer which may be water cress is present on the margin of the lake. A tare is present, which is not the usual hairy tare, but I am uncertain whether it is smooth tare (Vicia tetrasperma) or slender tare (Vicia parviflora). Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) is present.

I encountered a fumitory (Fumaria) species on the return journey.

bindweeds

This morning I aaw the other common species of bindweed, hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) in flower. I also saw a pink-flowered bindweed yesterday, which may well be hairy bindweed (Calystegia pulchra), but I'm going to take another look to exclude other possibilities.

identification catchup

Some plants which were only identified to genus before.

Cerastium: the ratio of the lengths of petals and sepals can be used to discriminate, at least partly, between mouse-ears. Using this feature I have confirmed the presence of common mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum).

Symphytum: the variously purple, blue and pink-flowered comfreys common in the area turn out to represent variability in Russian comfrey (Symphytum ×uplandicum. Some of these are vari-coloured, but they do not show the colours that of rough comfrey that I have seen in gardens, nor other key characters, so this would appear to represent more variation in Russian comfrey. However, on the path that runs along the southern edge of the housing estate across the railway line there are a few white-flowered specimens, where the leaf is extended downwards to form a winged stem, which are common comfrey (Symphytum officinale).

Rosa: I took an excursion flora with me this morning, and had a look at the identity of some of the roses in the locality. Further along the path from those common comfrey were some burnet roses (Rosa pimpinellifolia), with a greater number of dog roses, not yet further identified. Both at the car park at the entrance to the old railway line, and at the entry to the allotment site, there are specimens of a dog rose (Rosa stylosa, identified by the conical disc). Next to one of these is a rose which may be a hybrid between burnet and dog roses.

small toadflax

I've been trying to photograph a small plant growing on one of the nearby allotments for a week or so, with a view to comparing it with pictures in field guides. I still haven't got a good photograph - my digital camera insists on focusing on the soil behind it, rather than on the plant - but I've identified the plant as small toadflax (Chaenorrhinum minus).

landfill site revisited

I've taken another look at the landfill site today. The figwort present turns out to be Scrophularia nodosa, which makes it three known locations for that species in the area (the third is up against the wall of the allotment association hut). Near to the figwort can be found common valerian (Valeriana officinalis).

I had a look at the associated grazing meadow, as well as the main site. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the grazing meadow, except that celery-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus scleratus) occurs there as well as on the main site.

Other additional plants noted included brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), thyme-leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolium), tufted vetch (Vicia cracca), an orchid (Dactylorhiza sp.) and a centaury (Centaurium sp.). The chickweed present has been identified, by counting stamens, as common chickweed (Stellaria media). A seedling of guelder rose (Viburnum opalum) was seen, and a plant not identified on the last visit was identified as spindle (Euonymus europaeus) (which is easily identifiable in fruit, but I hadn't previously learned to identify it in flower).

common valerian

Common valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is present alongside watercourses in the meadows to the south of the town, and is now coming into flower.

the list of species continues to grow

I went down the old railway line again, as an alternative route to the next town, rather than following the road. Just before the overbridge where I left the old railway line was a plant of ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi). In a field on the path connecting to the road was a plant of field pansy (Viola arvensis). A wooded hill passed by the path has an extensive colony of white climbing fumitory (Ceratocapnos claviculata); I had seen this earlier, but had failed to identify it, have mistakenly taken it for a legume rather than a fumitory.

Finally, while taking more photographs of the melilot seen yesterday, on my return, I noticed a birch (Betula sp.) seedling.

recently encountered

A melilot (Melilotus sp.), wild mignonette (Reseda lutea), honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), bugloss (Anchusa arvensis), hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), a cichorioid daisy, an aquatic umbellifer, and some plants not even identified as to family.

recently identified

According to Stace the easiest way of identifying chickweeds is to count stamens. I photographed the flowers of a couple of plants on the allotment site this morning; they had 5 stamens, which makes them common chickweed (Stellaria media). A chickweed photographed some weeks back had a flower with three stamens, which is probably also common chickweed, but that number also occurs rarely in lesser chickweed (Stellaria pallida).

A bindweed has come into flower, and allowed me to identify as large bindweed (Calystegia silvatica). I expect to find the other two species of Calystegia as they come into flower.

Stace distinguishes slender and yellow trefoils from lesser and hop trefoils by the terminal leaflet of the latter have a distinctly larger stalk than their lateral leaflets. Applying this criterion allows me to identify the two common species locally as lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium) and hop trefoil (Trifolium campestre).

allotment weeds

I brought home a piece of fumitory from my allotment (it's been hiding under the broad beans) and pored over it with a microscope and a book. On the basis of flower colour, flower size and bract shape I identify is as common fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).

I've realised that one of the plants that's seeded on my allotment is borage (Borago officinalis), but I grew a pack of mixed blue flowered seeds a few years ago, from which this came, so this doesn't count.

I also had a look round the other plots. One of them has hare's foot clover (Trifolium arvense). There are also three species of spurge. The caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyrus) is planted, though it self-seeds happily; I suspect that the other two species are sun spurge and petty spurge, but I have yet to confirm this. There is also a unidentified cichorioid daisy growing along the border of the site.

self-heal

Self-heal (Prunella vulgaria) was observed today in the lawn in from of the church in the centre of town.

knotgrasses

Both common knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare) and equal-leaved knotgrass (Polygonum arenastrum) have been identified as present in the area.

cat's ear

Cat's ear (Hypochaeris radicata) is common in this area. (It may be the commonest cichorioid daisy in the area after dandelion.) The delay in recording it has been convincinv myself that it wasn't Leonotodon hispidus, or a Hieracium, or a Picris.

limes

Limes (Tilia sp.) are commonly planted in the town. Old specimens are usually common lime (Tilia ×vulgaris), but large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) and small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) are also present, and are commoner among more recent plantings. The silver lime (Tilia tomentosa), its fastigate cultivar 'Brabant', and the Crimean lime (Tilia ×euchlora) are also present.

Single seedlings of the first two have been seen.

Scrophularia nodosa

I've had another look at the figwort along the old railway line (and found that there are two plants there). I've convinced myself that it is Scrophularia nodosa (key character - unwinged stems).

knotgrass

Knotgrass (Polygonum sp.) is not appearing in my allotment, at in other locations locally. I've still to check which species is/are represented.

couch grass

I'm not very good at grass, sedge and rush identification - I can tell that there are different types, but not what the types are, except for a few cultivated forms like maize and barley. However couch grass (Elytrigia repens) is a problem weed on my allotment (it keeps reinvading from the boundary paths), so I ought to add it to the list.

Bulrush (Typha sp.) also occurs locally, but I may have missed my chance to check which of the two species is present.

skullcap

On the way back from the supermarket I found a flowering specimen of skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) growing on a canal bank.

This is a locality known from previous years; I have earlier photographs from 2004. (I may have had an earlier photograph from 2000, but the picture quality of my photographs from that date is inferior.)

Sheep's sorrel

Yesterday sheep's sorrel (Rumex acetosella) was found growing in a dry grassy verge at the west end of town.

In the town centre

At the entrance to a small public garden overlooking the lake in the centre of town there is a yellow flowered plant which appears to be least yellow sorrel (Oxalis exilis).

Also seen were apparent seedlings of Berberis thunbergii and laburnum (Laburnum sp.)

more catchup

More plants that I've noted, but not written up so far.

reflexed stonecrop (Sedum rupestre): this is established in my garden, but I'm not sure that it didn't originate as a rockery plant introduced by the previous owners. However I've also seen it at the foot of a hedge alongside the road that forms the eastern boundary of the town.

ivy-leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis): this is established in my garden, but I haven't been counting it as I know that it was introduced as a cultivated plant by the previous owners. However I've seen it recently growing as a weed in a garden on the way into town. (I found it quite common on and at the foot of walls in a town in Scotland.)

docks (Rumex sp): docks are difficult to distinguish. However the more divergent species can be recognised, including sorrel (Rumex acetosa), sheep's sorrel (Rumex acetosella) (not seen in Florula Prima area), water dock (Rumex lapathifolium) (found occasionally on canal banks), and the extreme forms of broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) and curled dock (Rumex crispus).

mullein (Verbascum sp.): I've seen one plant, most likely Verbascum thapsus, but I have to wait for it to flower to confirm this.

the other old railway line, etc

After looking round the landfill site I walked up the old railway line that runs alongside the site to its terminus. Apart from the usual suspects, plants see included a yellow crucifer, bladder campion (Silene vulgaris), another sites for musk mallow (Malva moschata and a small-flowered forget-me-not (Myosotis sp.). A path running down from the old railway line leads to a stream bank where dame's violet (Hesperis matrionalis) and red valerian (Centranthus robur) are present. Looping back along the lane to the old railway line passes a site where ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is present.

At the car park at the terminus there is another locality for musk mallow, and cowslip (Primula veris) is also present.

I returned home along the canal bank. Along the short stretch of road linking to the canal was a locality where a goosefoot, perhaps fat hen (Chenopodium album) was present. Plants noted along the canal bank include an herbaceous perennial with pinnately dissected foliage (not the same as the one seen at the landfill site), dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis), a water dropwort (Oenanthe sp.), French cranesbill (Geranium endressii). A diversion along side a nearby stream confirmed the presence of dame's violet (Hesperis matrionalis at that locality. A field to the southwest of the canal contains marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre). A plant in a hedge alongside the canal towpath contains a plant that looks like a Ribes, but which has unscented foliage. Diverting to a bridge over a stream to the north leads to a locality with brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) and marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre), all just outside the Florula Prima area. There is a willow (Salix alba?) nearby, within the area.

old landfill site

Last Tuesday I had a look round the old landfill sight to the north west of the town, which has been turned into an area of meadows and wetlands. Plants seen are

cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), daisy (Bellis perennis, lady's smock (Cardamine pratensis), pendulous sedge (Carex pendula), knapweed (Centaurea nigra, a mouse-ear (Cerastium sp.) rose-bay willow-herb (Chamaerion angustifolium), a goosefoot (Chenopodium sp. - perhaps Good King Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henrici)), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense, spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), a bindweed (Convolvulus sp.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), broom (Cytisus scoparius), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), great willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), cleavers (Galium aparine), hedge bedstraw (Galium mollugo), meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus), ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), common bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), gypsywort (Lycopus eurpaeus), musk mallow (Malva moschata), water mint (Mentha aquatica), forget-me-not (Myosotis sp., yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea), white water lily (Nymphaea alba), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), a plantain (Plantago sp. - probably Plantago major), silverweed (Potentilla anserina), oak (Quercus robur), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris, creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens, celery-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus scleratus), weld (Reseda luteola), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), salad burnet(Sanguisorba minor), a figwort (Scophularia sp., but apparently Scrophularia auriculata, rather than Scrophularia nodosa as seen today), hoary ragwort (Senecio erucifolius), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), red campion (Silene dioica, hedge mustard (Sisyrimbium officinalis), prickly sow thistle (Sonchus asper), a chickweed (Stellaria sp.), stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), a comfrey (Symphytum sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis agg.), a trefoil (Trifolium sp.), red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (Trifolium repens), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), gorse (Ulex europaeus), nettle (Urtica dioica, a speedwell (Veronica sp. - I couldn't get close enough to identify it), hairy tare (Vicia hirsuta), common vetch Vicia sativa, bush vetch (Vicia sepium), a mayweed (genus uncertain), a shrub with flowers with 4 petals, 4 stamens and one style (family uncertain) and a herbaceous plant with pinnately dissected foliage (family uncertain)

trailing tormentil

Trailing tormentil (Potentilla anglica) is growing as a weed in my garden.

The old railway line

I walked the accessible length of the old railway line that runs behind my garden this evening. Plants noted :-

Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga): at two localities, to add to the more distant locality already recorded.

Guelder rose (Viburnum opalus): I have seen this elsewhere, but have not recorded it because it may have been planted. I don't think that the specimens along the old railway line were likely to have been planted.

A dock (Rumex sp.): could be either wood dock (Rumex sanguineus) or clustered dock (Rumex conglomeratus). Hopefully it will be identifiable when it flowers.

Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea): checking my photographs it seems that I also recorded this back in April, to the north of the Florula Prima are, but didn't record it at the time as I hadn't settled the northern boundary at that time.

A figwort (Scrophularia sp.): probably common figwort (Scrophularia nodosa).

Black medick: medicks and trefoils are a confusing group of legumes with ternate leaves and heads of yellow flowers. I think that the two common species in the area are lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium) and hop trefoil (Trifolium campestre), but similar species include slender trefoil (Trifolium micranthum), large trefoil (Trifolium aureum), bur medick (Medicago minuta), toothed medick (Medicago polymorpha), spotted medick (Medicago arabica) and black medick (Medicago lupulina). Lucerne and sickle medick (Medicago sativa and clovers (other Trifolium spp.) are distinguishable from these by habit, leaf shape, or flower colour. At the far end of the old railway line, in among other trefoils and clovers, were some plants with relatively large flower heads, and with a small mucron in the apex of the emarginate leaf - which is the key character given from distinguishing this from hop trefoil.

redshank

Redshank (Persicaria maculosa) was observed growing on the allotment site today. (The darker mottling in the centre of the leaves allows this to be distinguished from other knotweeds in the vegetative state.)

tufted vetch

I had expected, based on previous years, to have difficulty distinguishing tufted vetch (Vicia cracca) from bush vetch (Vicia sepium), the long inflorescences of the former being difficult to distinguish at a glance from a number of close infloresnces of the latter. However when I came across a flowering specimen of tufted vetch yesterday the identification was obvious - the long peduncle of tufted vetch makes it easily distinguishable to a more educated eye.

catch up

Various plants that I've noted over the weeks, but haven't yet mentioned on this blog.

Hollyhock mallow (Malva alcea): there's a single plant by a gate leading onto the railway line.

Broom (Cytisus scoparius): growing on the rough ground adjacent to the railway line.

Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus): grows in a few locations in town (e.g. Station Rd., the Old Post Office, near the Co-op).

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica): also on the rough ground adjactent to the railway line.

Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis): grows in a number of woodland edges.

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris): recorded earlier in the year from the pool on the old landfill site to the northwest of the town.

Hazel (Corylus avellana): found in a number of locations in the area.

Aspen

I had a look at the area of meadowland only the southern edge of the west of the town today. There's some plants there I have still to identify (a mayweed, an orchid, a crucifer), but among the identifiable plants were seedlings of aspen (Populus tremula).

wall lettuce

Wall lettuce (Mycelia muralis) seen in flower under the perimeter walls of the church in the centre of town, and also a little down the street from there.

assorted more plants

Earlier today I walked through the largest area of local woodland to see if I could identify any more woodland plants. No additional woodland plants were seen. However

* On the way there two cichoroid daisies (thought to be a Hieracium and a Pilosella) were seen in a roadside verge.

* In a wet area in a field just before reaching the wood a celery-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus scleratus) and a yellow crucifer (perhaps creeping yellow cress (Rorippa sylvestris) were seen.

* On the shores of the artificial lake in the wood a suspected occurrence of brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) was confirmed. This is also a local locality for yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) and yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea). A duckweed and a water cress are also present..

* On the banks of the far canal, as part of the return trip (via the supermarket) there was a lesser stitchwort (Stellaria graminea). (Greater stitchwort is fairly common regionally, but I don't seem to have recorded it within the Florula Prima area.).

* Just before reaching home I noticed a rowan (Sorbus aucuparia sapling at the edge of the car park at the end of the old railway line.

street weeds

When the weather brightened up late yesterday afternoon I went for a walk. Unlisted species noted -

Orange hawkweed (Pilosella auriantiaca) at the bottom of my drive.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) at the foot of my neighbour's garden wall.

Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) in the Station Rd. area. This population seems to be dwindling - I only noticed a single plant.

White campion (Silene latifolia).

Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) - the first I've seen flowering locally this year, but I have noticed non-flowering specimens in various places.

Hedge mustard (Sisyrimbium officinalis), which is common as a pavement and roadside weed.

Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamera) in a grassy verge just outside town.

cichorioid daisies I

I can recognise some cichorioid daisies (daisies with only ligulate flowers), but there's a large group that I haven't yet learnt to recognise. These include most members of the Hieracium/Crepis/Pilosella group.

I have recently observed two plants, which I have tentatively identified (from the phyllaries) as Crepis, but I haven't identified the species.

# 1



# 2



I'm not sure whether they're both the same species. (The structure of the capitulescence appears to differ.)

broad-leaved willow-herb

Most willow-herbs are difficult to identify from vegetative characters, and few are flowering yet. One (a weed) has come into flower in my garden, and is identified as a broad-leaved willow-herb (Epilobium montanum) - four-lobed style and glabrous, opposite, sessile foliage.

scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)

Scarlet pimpernel used to be common on my allotment, but I haven't seen any this year. However while walkig along a path separating a housing estate from the adjacent industrial estate I encounted a well grown plant of this species.

by the railway line

Long-headed poppy (Papaver dubium) and ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).

speedwells

Speedwells are well established on my allotment, but as they are weeded out they don't usually reach sufficient maturity for identification. However yesterday I had a look round and identifed wall speedwell (Veronica arvensis), slender speedwell (Veronica filiformis) and green field speedwell (Veronica agrestis).

A specimen of thyme-leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) has colonised a pot in my garden. (I've been seeing this in various places, but not locally. However, this morning, I came across another specimen near the lake in the centre of town.)

feral pansy

While on the way to the allotment I noticed a pansy (Viola × wittrockiana) growing wild.

vetches and tares

I've spent a little time to identify some of the vetches and tares in the area.

The tare growing around the allotment site appears to be (from counting leaflets in a leaf, and flowers in an inflorescence) hairy tare (Vicia hirsuta), though the usual key character given in the hairy fruit, which is not yet available for examination.

The reddish-flowered vetch, with flowers solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils, growing both in my front lawn and on the allotment site, is common vetch (Vicia sativa). [Spring vetch (Vicia lathyroides) has only solitary flowers, lack tendrils, and has only 2 to 4 (exceptionally 5) pairs of leaflets.]

The purplish-flowered vetch, growing in my garden, among other places, is bush vetch (Vicia sepium). This has many fewer flowers per inflorescence than tufted vetch (Vicia cracca), but the inflorescences are close together, so it takes a close look to tell them apart by this criterion.

4 more species

Bugle (Ajuga reptans), along the old railway line, just before the overbridge.

Great willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum) and foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), by the path connecting the old railway line to the road out to the south east. There are reasonably common, but it wasn't until now that they had matured enough to be confidently identifiable.

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), in a narrow strip of roadside semi-woodland.

roadside plants

I recorded some plants present along the side of the main road to the south east, as far as the parish border this morning. Part of the roadside is lined with hedges, part has a broad verge (now overgrown with bracken) in front of the edge, and part is a woodland edge.

Seedlings of the following trees were observed - sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), oak (Quercus robur) and elder (Sambucus nigra). This is the first confirmation of non-planted specimens of hawthorn, which will be added to the list.

Other plants observed were yarrow (Achillea millefolium), ground elder (Aegopodum podagraria), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), knapweed (Centaurea nigra), field thistle (Cirsium arvense), a leopardsbane (Doronicum sp.), cleavers (Galium aparine), herb robert (Geranium robertianum) including the white-flowered form, ivy (Hedera helix), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), a hawkweed (Hieracium sp.), white dead-nettle (Lamium album), meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), a bird's foot trefoil (Lotus sp.), bistort (Persicaria bistorta), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), a rose (Rosa sp.), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), sorrel (Rumex acetosa), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), prickly sow-thistle (Sonchus asper), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), goatsbeard (Tragopogon pratensis), red clover (Trifolium pratense), nettle (Urtica dioica), and a vetch (Vicia sp.).

These represent the first observations (this year) of Lathyrus pratensis, Persicaria bistorta, Potentilla reptans, Sonchus asper and Tragopogon pratensis. Although Centaurea nigra has been noted earlier this year, it hasn't been documented in this blog previously, and also will be added to the list.

There was also a yellow cichorioid daisy, of a type unfamiliar to me. I suspect that it is a hawk's beard (Crepis sp.).

Geranium dissectum

A 5th species of cranesbill, cut-leaved cranesbill (Geranium dissectum) is now in flower. Locally it is in flower on the nearby allotment site, but today I also saw it within the Florula Urbana area, and in the region on the far side of that area, where it was more common.

Veronica

The recent trend in botanical thought is to recognise a broadly drawn circumscription of the genus Veronica, including Hebe and other Australasian genera.

48 species and hybrids of Veronica are recorded in Britain, per BSBI. These are classified below, following an online summary of the classification of Veroniceae. (I have inferred that the BSBI's Veronica paniculata represents V. spuria, and haven't been able to relate their V. grandis to that classification.)

Not all of these are common, but 34 are sufficiently established in this country to be include in Stace's New Flora of the British Isles.

• subg. Hebe




• Veronica barkeri (Barker's Hebe)


• Veronica dieffenbachii (Dieffenbach's Hebe)


• Veronica ×franciscana (hedge veronica)


• Veronica ×lewisii (Lewis's Hebe)


• Veronica salicifolia (Koromika)


• Veronica traversii




• subg. Derwentia




• Veronica calycina




• subg. Pseudolysimachion




• Veronica bachofenii


• Veronica longifolia (garden speedwell)


• Veronica longifolia × spicata


• Veronica spicata (spiked speedwell)


• Veronica spuria




• subg. Beccabunga




• Veronica acinifolia (French speedwell)


• Veronica anagallis-aquatica (blue water-speedwell)


• Veronica beccabunga (brooklime)


• Veronica catenata (pink water-speedwell)


• Veronica gentianoides


• Veronica ×lackschewitzii (hybrid water-speedwell)


• Veronica peregrina (American speedwell)


• Veronica serpyllifolia (thyme-leaved speedwell)


• Veronica repens (Corsican speedwell)


• Veronica scutellata (marsh speedwell)




• subg. Veronica




• Veronica alpina (alpine speedwell)


• Veronica montana (wood speedwell)


• Veronica officinalis (heath speedwell)


• Veronica urticifolia




• subg. Orientales




• Veronica austriaca (large speedwell)


• Veronica orientalis


• Veronica prostrata




• subg. Fruticulosae




• Veronica fruticans (rock speedwell)




• subg. Chamaedrys




• Veronica arvensis (wall speedwell)


• Veronica chamaedrys (germander speedwell)


• Veronica verna (spring speedwell)




• subg. Pellidosperma




• Veronica glauca


• Veronica praecox (Breckland speedwell)


• Veronica triphyllos (fingered speedwell)




• subg. Pocilla




• Veronica agrestis (green field-speedwell)


• Veronica campylopoda


• Veronica filiformis (slender speedwell)


• Veronica opaca


• Veronica persica (common field-speedwell)


• Veronica polita (grey field-speedwell)




• subg. Digitatae




• Veronica chamaepithyoides


• Veronica grisebachii




• subg. Veronicella




• Veronica crista-galli (crested field-speedwell)


• Veronica cymbalaria (pale speedwell)


• Veronica hederifolia (hexaploid ivy-leaved speedwell)


• Veronica sublobata (tetraploid ivy-leaved speedwell)

Veronica hederifolia

I walked over to the local stately home to have a wander round their gardens this afternoon. Much of the route is outside the Florula Prima area (so, for example, a record of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) doesn't qualify), but on the way back I encountered ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) growing in the cracks of a roadside wall.

This is distinguishable from other native species by the lobed, alternate leaves, and by bearing small flowers solitarily in the leaf axils on pedicels about the length of the petiole and blade combined. The other alternate-leaved species are slender speedwell and field speedwells. The field speedwells have toothed, not lobed leaves, and large flowers (for a speedwell). The slender speedwell has crenate leaves, and moderate sized flowers borne on long pedicels.

I suspect that this is a common plant in the area, but I haven't yet trained myself to recognise speedwell species in passing.

allotment weeds

I has a look round the allotment site this evening to see what weeds (and other non-cultivated plants) are growing there.

A Brassica, a bindweed (probably Calystegia sp.), hairy bitter-cress (Cardamine hirsuta), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), a willowherb (Epilobium sp.), spindle (Euonymus europaeus), a fumitory (Fumaria sp.), cleavers (Galium aparine), hedgerow cranesbill (Geranium pyreniacum), opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), greater plantain (Plantago major), field buttercup (Ranunculus acris), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), pearlwort (Sagina procumbens), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), smooth sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), dandelion (Taraxaxum offinicalis agg.), a hop trefoil (Trifolium sp.), nettle (Urtica dioica), a speedwell (Veronica sp.), a tare (Vicia sp.), a vetch (Vicia sp.) and common dog violet (Viola riviniana).

canal banks

Much of the remainder of the circuit to the supermarket was among canal towpaths.

Along the banks of the canal that forms the eastern boundary of the Florula Prima area I observed large bitter cress (Cardamine amara) and slender speedwell (Veronica filiformis), and along the towpath of the other canal an elder (Sambucus nigra) seedling, sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata), horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) and silverweed (Potentilla anserina).

woodland plants

I took the long way to the supermarket this morning, to have a look at the largest area of woodland in the Florula Prima area.

Seedlings of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), holly (Ilex aquifolium and elm (Ulmus sp.) were observed.

Shrubs included ivy (Hedera helix), bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg), rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) and snowberry (Sympharicarpos sp.). I need to confirm that the last two are growing wild, rather than were planted.

Herbaceous plants include garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), ramsons (Allium ursinum), wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa, cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), hairy bitter-cress (Cardamine hirusta), opposite-leaved golden saxifrage (Chyrsoplenium oppositifolium), pink purslane (Claytonia siberica), cleavers (Galium aparine), herb robert (Geranium robertianum), wood avens (Geum urbanum), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta, an iris (Iris sp.), yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), a mercury (Mercurialis sp.), lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), red campion (Silene dioica), a nightshade (Solanum sp.) dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), nettle (Urtica dioica), wood speedwell (Veronica montana), and a water lily.

Plus bracken.

newly in flower

Common plants that have come into flower in the last few days are red campion (Silene dioica), pink purslane (Claytonia siberica) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). Also seen in recent days are ramsons (Allium ursinum), wood avens (Geum urbanum) and white dead-nettle (Lamium album).

buttercups

Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) has been in flower for several weeks. Buttercups are now coming into flower; having reminded myself of the difference in foliage between creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) and field buttercup (Ranunculus acris) I find that both are currently in flower in the area.

white-flowered crucifers

The most widespread crucifer in the area is hairy bitter-cress (Cardamine hirsuta), which grows in a variety of weedy situations, but is absent from the dry situations favoured by some other cruciferous weeds. Cardamine hirsuta varies greatly in size, and habit.

Wavy bitter-cress (Cardamine flexuosa) is not easily distinguishable from C. hirsuta, but can be recognised by the presence of 6, rather than 4, stamens. I hadn't identified the former within the Florula Prima area until today, when I encountered some in wet area along the course of the abandoned railway line that runs along the back of my garden.

A third species of Cardamine, Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratense agg.) is widespread in wet areas, including my garden. (Cardamine pratense), which commonly propagates vegetatively, is a complex of at least 5 cytotypes, but although the species is variable, distinct types cannot be identifed by morphology in Britain.)

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is common in dry urban locations, such as pavement back edges, and at the feet of street trees. A long-fruited crucifer, which I identify as thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) is also common in such locations.

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is common along hedgerows and woodland edges.

Danish scurvy grass (Cochlearia danica) is common in its narrow habit - dry, hot, salty locations along the verges of major roads.

An observation of a single plant of whitlow-grass (Erophila verna) awaits confirmation.

Among crucifers with other coloured flowers, annual honesty (Lunaria annua), and species of Brassica and Sisyrimbium have been seen.

more trees

Alder (Alnus glutinosa) - sapling growing underneath a bridge.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) - seedlings and young trees within a pine plantation on a small hill.

Oak (Quercus robur) - seedling along the old railway line that runs along the back of my house.

cranesbills

Herb robert (Geranium robertianum and shining cranesbill (Geranium lucidum) are common in the area, and are easily identified, the former by its palmate leaves, and the latter by its shining leaves.

At least one other species in now flowering in scattered localities in the area.

Hedgerow cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), dovesfoot cranesbull (Geranium molle) and small-flowered cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) are difficult to tell apart, at least with my degree of knowledge. It turns out that the common one here is G. molle, but that I have been overlooking it as G. pyrenaicum, or G. rotundifolium, but apart from the larger flowers of G. pyrenaicum G. pyrenaicum has yellow stigmas, and G. molle red stigmas. G. rotundifolium has entire petals, instead of the bifid petals of the other three species.

Of the 3 plants I had photographed as G. molle in past years only one is definitely that species; the identity of the others is not currently clear to me. On the other hand, one photograph labelled as G. pyrenaicum turns out to be G. molle (but there are also genuine photographs of G. pyrenaicum).

G. pusillum has smaller and paler (lilac versus purple-pink) flowers, and instead of the ten fertile stamens of the other two species has five fertile and five sterile stamens. Although there are plants in the area with paler flowers those I have obtained clear photographs of have ten fertile stamens, and I am interpreting them as variation in the flower colour of G. molle.

trees and shrubs

With herbaceous plants it is usually fairly obvious which plants are cultivated, and which are wild or feral. This isn't the case for trees, and to a lesser extent shrubs, particularly hedgerow shrubs.

Therefore I am introducing as a rule of thumb (not necessarily to be followed to the letter) that trees and shrubs wild enough to qualify for the Florula as those which are observed to be producing seedlings.

From today's travels, these include sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum). To these should be added hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) - I pulled up an unwanted sapling from my back garden a few days back.

Willows and cotoneasters also qualify on these grounds, but I have yet to identify the species involved.

western end of town

I had a look at the grass verges at the western end of town. Herbaceous plants observed were yarrow (Achillea millefolium), ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), daisy (Bellis perennis), shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), a mouse-ear (Cerastium sp.), a goosefoot (Chenopodium sp.), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), cleavers (Galium aparine), dove's foot cranesbill (Geranium molle), red dead nettle (Lamium purpureum), green alkanet (Pentaglossis sempervirens), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), great plantain (Plantago major), hoary plantain (Plantago media), sorrel (Rumex acetosa), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolia), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), smooth sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), a chickweed (Stellaria sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum offinciale agg.), a hop trefoil (Trifolium sp.), nettle (Urtica dioica) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)

short botanising expedition

I started a survey of a section of roadside verge, before abandoning it due to the commencement of rain, and a battery low indicator on the camera.

However, over about 100 yards of verge the following were seen - Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard), Anthriscus sylvestris (cow parsley), Cardamine hirsuta (hairy bitter cress), Galium aparine (cleavers), Heracleum sphondylium (hogweed), Plantago lanceolata (ribwort plantain), Ranunculus sp. (buttercup, probably R. acris), Rosa sp. (rose), Rubus fruticosus agg. (bramble), Rumex sp. (dock), Senecio jacobaea (common ragwort), Senecio squalidus (Oxford Ragwort), Senecio vulgaris (groundsel), Taraxacum officinale agg. (dandelion), Urtica dioica (nettle), Veronica sp. (speedwell, small-, pale-flowered), Vicia sp. (vetch) and a bindweed (probably Calystegia sp.).

Canal side trip

I went for a walk along part of the canal towpath this afternoon.

Woody plants in the hedges included hawthorn, elder, bramble and ivy.

Non-woody plants photographed (others were seen) were Ranunculus ficaria (lesser celandine), Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot), an Ajuga species (bugle), Petasites hybrida (butterbur), Cardamine hirsuta (hairy bitter-cress), a small-flowered Veronica (speedwell) and Taraxacum officinale agg. (dandelion).

On the way home the following were photographed in roadside verges - Claytonia siberica (spring beauty), a white-flowered crucifer (Erophila verna?), another Veronica (speedwell), a Cerastium, a Stellaria (chickweed), a Geranium and Picris echioides (bristly oxtounge).

Cardamine hirsuta

Bitter-cresses are common weeds in the area, and are currently flowering. Plants are of various sizes, with flowering stems varying from 1 inch or less in length to over 6 inches. The two species Cardamine hirsuta and Cardamine flexuosa are confusingly similar. On the 10th I photographed a larger plant growing on the edge of a small municipal estate planting. While the photographs were not very successful, and have been deleted, they were sufficient to count stamens (4) and identify that plant as Cardamine hirsuta.

The list

1. Acer campestre (field maple)
   
2. Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)


3. Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore)


4. Achillea millefolium (yarrow)


5. Aegopodum podagraria (ground elder)


6. Aesculus hippocastaneum (horse chestnut)


7. Ajuga reptans (bugle)


8. Alisma plantago-aquatica (water plantain)
)

9. Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)


10. Allium ursinum (ramsons)


11. Alnus glutinosa (alder)


12. Anagallis arvensis (scarlet pimpernel)


13. Anchusa arvensis (bugloss)


14. Anemone nemerosa (wood anemone)


15. Angelica sylvestris (wild angelica)


16. Anthriscus sylvestris (cow parslsey)


17. Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress)


18. Arctium lappa (lesser burdock)


19. Armoracia rusticana (horseradish)


20. Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort)


21. Arum italicum (Italian lords-and-ladies)


22. Atriplex patula (common orache)


23. Barbarea intermedia (intermediate-flowered winter-cress)


24. Bellis perennis (daisy)


25. Berberis thunbergii (Thunberg's barberry)


26. Betula pendula (silver birch)


27. Bidens tripartita (trifid bur-marigold)


28. Buddleia davidii (buddleia, butteryfly bush)


29. Caltha palustris (marsh marigold)


30. Calystegia pulchra (hairy bindweed)
    
31. Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)


32. Calystegia silvatica (large bindweed)


33. Campanula persicifolia (peach-leaved bellflower)


34. Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd's purse)


35. Cardamine amara (large bitter cress)


36. Cardamine flexuosa (wavy bitter cress)


37. Cardamine hirsuta (hairy bitter cress)


38. Cardamine impatiens (narrow-leaved bitter cress)


39. Cardamine pratensis (lady's smock)


40. Carex nigra (common sedge)


41. Carex otrubae (false fox sedge)


42. Carex pendula (pendulous sedge)


43. Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut)


44. Centaurea nigra (knapweed)


45. Centaurium erthyraea (common centaury)


46. Centranthus robur (red valerian)


47. Cerastium fontanum (common mouse-ear)


48. Ceratocapnos claviculata (white climbing fumitory)


49. Chaenorrhinum minus (small toadflax)


50. Chamaerion angustifolium (rose-bay willow-herb)


51. Chelidonium majus (greater celandine)


52. Chyrsosplenium oppositifolium (opposite-leaved golden saxifrage)


53. Cirsium arvense (creeping thistle)


54. Cirsium palustre (marsh thistle)


55. Cirsium vulgare (spear thistle)


56. Claytonia perfoliata (spring beauty)


57. Claytonia siberica (pink purslane)


58. Cochlearia danica (Danish scurvy-grass


59. Conyza canadensis (Canadian fleabane)


60. Corydalis lutea (yellow corydalis)


61. Corylus avellana (hazel)


62. Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn)


63. Cymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadflax)


64. Cytisus scoparius (broom)


65. Daucus carota (wild carrot)


66. Digitalis purpurea (foxglove)


67. Dipsacus fullonum (teasel)


68. Elytrigia repens (couch grass)


69. Epilobium hirsutum (great willow-herb)


70. Epilobium montanum (broad-leaved willow-herb


71. Epilobium parviflorum (hoary willowherb)


72. Epilobium roseum (pale willowherb)


73. Euonymus europaeus (spindle)


74. Eupatorium cannabinus (hemp agrimony)


75. Euphorbia helioscopa (sun-spurge)


76. Euphorbia lathyrus (caper-spurge)


77. Euphorbia peplus (petty spurge)


78. Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat)


79. Fagus sylvatica (beech)


80. Fallopia convolvulus (black-bindweed)


81. Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed)


82. Filipendulina ulmaria (meadowsweet)


83. Fraxinus excelsior (ash)


84. Fumaria officinalis (common fumitory)


85. Galinsoga parviflora (gallant soldier)


86. Galeopsis tetrahit (common hemp nettle)


87. Galium aparine (cleavers)


88. Galium cruciata (crosswort)


89. Galium mollugo (hedge bedstraw)


90. Galium saxatile (heath bedstraw)


91. Geranium dissectum (cut-leaved cranesbill)


92. Geranium endressii (French cranesbill)


93. Geranium lucidum (shining cranesbill)


94. Geranium molle (dove's foot cranesbill)


95. Geranium phaeum (mourning widow)


96. Geranium pratense (meadow cranesbill)


97. Geranium pusillum (small-flowered cranesbill)


98. Geranium pyrenaicum (hedgerow cranesbill)


99. Geranium robertianum (herb robert)


100. Geum urbanun (wood avens)


101. Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy)


102. Gnaphalium uliginosum (marsh cudweed)


103. Hedera helix (ivy)


104. Heracleum sphondylium (hogweed)


105. Hesperis matrionalis) (dame's violet)


106. Humulus lupulus (hop)


107. Hyacinthoides hispanica (Spanish bluebell)


108. Hyacinthoides non-scripta (bluebell)


109. Hypericum androsaemum (tutsan)


110. Hypericum maculatum (imperforate St. John's wort)


111. Hypericum perforatum (perforate St. John's wort)


112. Hypochaeris radicata (cat's ear)


113. Ilex aquifolium (holly)


114. Impatiens capensis (jewelweed)


115. Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam)


116. Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)


117. Knautia arvensis (field scabious)


118. Lactuca seriola (prickly lettuce)


119. Lamiastrum galeobdolon (yellow archangel)


120. Lamium album (white dead-nettle)


121. Lamium maculatum (spotted dead-nettle)


122. Lamium purpureum (red dead-nettle)


123. Lapsana communis (nipplewort)


124. Lathyrus aphaca (grass vetchling)


125. Lathyrus pratensis (meadow vetchling)


126. Leucanthemum vulgare (ox-eye daisy)


127. Leycesteria formosa (pheasantberry)


128. Ligustrum vulgare (privet)


129. Linaria purpurea (purple toadflax)


130. Linaria repens (pale toadflax)


131. Linaria vulgaris (common toadflax)


132. Lonicera periclymenum (honeysuckle)


133. Lotus corniculatus (common bird's foot trefoil)


134. Lotus pedunculatus (greater bird's foot trefoil)


135. Lunaria annua (honesty)


136. Lychnis flos-cuculi (ragged robin)


137. Lycopus europaeus (gypsywort)


138. Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife)


139. Malva alcea (hollyhock mallow)


140. Malva moschata (musk mallow)


141. Malva neglecta (dwarf mallow)


142. Malva sylvestris (common mallow)


143. Matricaria discoidea (pineappleweed)


144. Matricaria recutita (scented mayweed)


145. Medicago lupulina (black medick)


146. Medicago sativa (lucerne)


147. Mentha aquatica (water mint)


148. Mentha ×piperita (peppermint)


149. Menyanthes trifoliata (bogbean)


150. Mercurialis perennis (dog's mercury)


151. Moehringia trinervis (three-veined sandwort)


152. Mycelia muralis (wall lettuce)


153. Myosotis arvensis (field forget-me-not)


154. Myosotis laxa (tufted forget-me-not)


155. Myosotis sylvestris (wood forget-me-not)


156. Myrrhis odorata (sweet cicely)


157. Nuphar lutea (yellow water lily)


158. Nymphaea alba (white water lily)


159. Odontites vernus (red bartsia)


160. Oenanthe aquatica (fine-leaved water dropwort)


161. Oenanthe crocuta (hemlock water dropwort)


162. Ornithogalum angustifolium (star of Bethlehem)


163. Oxalis acetosella (wood sorrel)


164. Oxalis corniculata (procumbent yellow sorrel)


165. Oxalis exilis (least yellow sorrel)


166. Papaver atlanticum (Atlas poppy)


167. Papaver dubium (long-headed poppy)


168. Papaver rhoeas (corn poppy)


169. Papaver somniferum (opium poppy)


170. Parentucellia viscosa (yellow bartsia)


171. Parietaria judaica (pellitory-of-the-well)


172. Pentaglottis sempervirens (green alkanet)


173. Persicaria amphibia (amphibious bistort)


174. Persicaria bistorta (bistort)


175. Persicaria maculosa (redshank)


176. Petasites hybrida (butterbur)


177. Picris echioides (bristly oxtounge)


178. Pilosella auriantiaca (orange hawkweed)


179. Plantago lanceolata (ribwort plantain)


180. Plantago major (great plantain)


181. Polygonum arenastrum (equal-leaved knotgrass)


182. Polygonum aviculare (common knotgrass)


183. Populus alba (white poplar)


184. Populus tremula (aspen)


185. Potentilla anglica (trailing tormentil)


186. Potentilla anserina (silverweed)


187. Potentilla recta (sulphur cinquefoil)


188. Potentilla reptans (creeping cinquefoil)


189. Primula veris (cowslip)


190. Prunella vulgaris (self-heal)


191. Pulicaria dysenterica (common fleabane)


192. Pulmonaria officinalis (lungwort)


193. Prunus laurocerasus (cherry laurel)


194. Prunus spinosa (blackthorn)


195. Quercus robur (common oak)


196. Ranunculus acris (field buttercup)


197. Ranunculus bulbosus (bulbous buttercup)


198. Ranunculus ficaria (lesser celandine)


199. Ranunculus repens (creeping buttercup)


200. Ranunculus scleratus (celery-leaved buttercup)


201. Raphanus raphanistrum (wild radish)


202. Reseda alba (white mignonette)


203. Reseda luteola (weld)


204. Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle)


205. Ribes rubrum (redcurrant)


206. Ribes uva-crispa (gooseberry)


207. Robinia pseudoacacia (locust)


208. Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum agg. (water cress)


209. Rorippa sylvatica (creeping yellow-cress)


210. Rosa arvensis agg. (field rose)


211. Rosa canina agg. (dog rose)


212. Rosa pimpinellifolia agg. (burnet rose)


213. Rosa rubiginosa agg. (sweet briar)


214. Rosa rugosa (Japanese rose)


215. Rubus fruticosus agg. (bramble)


216. Rubus idaeus (raspberry)


217. Rumex acetosa (common sorrel)


218. Rumex acetosella (sheep's sorrel)


219. Rumex crispus (curled dock)


220. Rumex lapathifolius (water dock)


221. Rumex obtusifolius (broad-leaved dock)


222. Sagina procumbens (pearlwort)


223. Salix fragilis (crack willow)


224. Sambucus nigra (elder)


225. Scrophularia auriculata (water figwort)


226. Scrophularia nodosa (common figwort)


227. Scutellaria galericulata (scullcap)


228. Sedum acre (biting stonecrop)


229. Sedum album (white stonecrop)


230. Sedum rupestre (reflexed stonecrop)


231. Senecio aquaticus (marsh ragwort)


232. Senecio erucifolius (hoary ragwort)


233. Senecio jacobaea (common ragwort)


234. Senecio squalidus (Oxford ragwort)


235. Senecio vulgaris (groundsel)


236. Silene dioica (red campion)


237. Silene latifolia (white campion)


238. Silene vulgaris (bladder campion)


239. Sisyrimbium officinalis (hedge mustard)


240. Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet)


241. Solanum nigrum (black nightshade)


242. Sonchus arvensis (perennial sow-thistle)


243. Sonchus asper (prickly sow-thistle)


244. Sonchus oleraceus (smooth sow-thistle)


245. Sorbus aucuparia (rowan)


246. Sorbus latifolia agg. (broad-leaved whitebeam)


247. Spergula arvensis (corn spurrey)


248. Stachys arvensis (field woundword)


249. Stachys officinalis (betony)


250. Stachys palustre (marsh woundwort)


251. Stachys sylvatica (hedge woundwort)


252. Stellaria graminea (lesser stitchwort)


253. Stellaria holostea (greater stitchwort)


254. Stellaria media (common chickweed)


255. Stellaria uliginosa (bog stitchwort)


256. Symphytum officinale (common comfrey)


257. Symphytum ×uplandicum (Russian comfrey)


258. Sympharicarpos albus (snowberry)


259. Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew)


260. Tanacetum vulgare (tansy)


261. Taraxacum officinale agg. (dandelion)


262. Tilia platyphyllos (large-leaved lime)


263. Tilia ×vulgaris (common lime)


264. Tragopogon pratensis (goatsbeard)


265. Trifolium arvense (hare's foot clover)


266. Trifolium campestre (hop trefoil)


267. Trifolium dubium (lesser trefoil)


268. Trifolium pratense (red clover)


269. Trifolium repens (white clover)


270. Tripleurospermum inodorum (scentless mayweed)


271. Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot)


272. Typha angustifolia (lesser bulrush)


273. Typha latifolia (bulrush)


274. Ulex europaeus (gorse)


275. Urtica dioica (nettle)


276. Urtica urens (small nettle)


277. Valeriana officinalis (common valerian)


278. Verbascum phoenicum (purple mullein)


279. Veronica agrestris (green field speedwell)


280. Veronica arvensis (wall speedwell)


281. Veronica beccabunga (brooklime)


282. Veronica chamaedrys (germander speedwell)


283. Veronica filiformis (slender speedwell)


284. Veronica hederifolia agg. (ivy-leaved speedwell)


285. Veronica montana (wood speedwell)


286. Veronica persica (common field speedwell)


287. Veronica serpyllifolia (thyme-leaved speedwell)


288. Viburnum opalus (guelder rose)


289. Vicia cracca (tufted vetch)


290. Vicia hirsuta (hairy tare)


291. Vicia sativa (common vetch)


292. Vicia sepium (bush vetch)


293. Vicia tetrasperma (smooth tare)


294. Viola arvensis (field pansy)


295. Viola riviniana (common dog violet)


296. Viola ×wittrockiana (pansy)

Awaiting identification

1. Barbarea sp. (winter-cress)


2. Betula sp. (birch)


3. Brassica sp.


4. Carex sp. ("yellow" sedge)


5. Chenopodium spp. (goosefoots)


6. Cornus sp. (dogwood)


7. Cotoneaster sp. (cotoneaster)


8. Dactylorhiza sp. (spotted orchid)


9. Doronicum sp. (leopardsbane)


10. Hordeum sp (barley)


11. Iris sp. (iris)


12. Laburnum sp. (laburnum)


13. Lamium sp. (dead-nettle)


14. Luzula sp. (woodrush)


15. Parthenocissus sp. (Virginia creeper)


16. Populus sp. (American poplar)


17. Prunus sp. (cherry)


18. Ranunculus sp. (crowfoto)


19. Rumex sp. (dock)


20. Salix sp. (osier)


21. Salix sp. (sallow)


22. Salix sp. (willow)


23. Solidago sp. (golden rod)


24. Sorbus sp. (whitebeam)


25. Spergularia sp. (spurrey)


26. Triticum sp. (wheat)


27. Valerianella sp. (cornsalad)


28. Verbascum sp. (mullein)


29. assorted cichorioid daisies

Introduction

A florula is a small flora; that is a description of the plants present in a small area. The purpose of this blog is to document the plants I observe growing wild in the town in which I live and its environs.

The region covered will include the parish which includes the town itself, and parts, of neighbouring parishes. Most of the parish to the east is included (as far as the second of the canals crossing it). Small part of the parishes to the north (as far as the canal) and to the west (as far as the major road crossing it) are included.

This area can be considered a mixture of suburban and rural areas, and includes a variety of habitats, including several lakes, woodland, lowland mosses and arable land.

There will be gaps in the florula, at least until I educate myself on additional groups of plants. For the time being I will restrict the scope to seed plants. I will not attempt to disentangle the Cardamine pratensis, Rubus fruticosus and Taraxacum officinalis aggregates. Although I have now cracked Veronica there remain other genera in which I have difficulty distinguishing species, including Cerastium, Chenopodium, Rosa, Rumex, Salix, Stellaria, the medick/trefoil group, the mayweed/chamonile group, yellow-flowered crucifers, and several genera of cichorioid daisies.