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.)