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FLOWER CUT-OUTS { 955 images } Created 29 Jun 2013

Cut-out images of leaves and flowers for many species of plant, a great aid for identification. We have done the hard work for you, these photographs being ready to for you to drop into any of your projects. Search for individual species by common or scientific name. Images up to A4 size at 300 dpi are downloadable to registered users with the necessary permissions. Many of the images are available as larger files if required. Please contact us for further information. All images and associated text are protected by copyright restrictions and should not be used or copied without the necessary permission.
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  • EARLY DOG-VIOLET Viola reichenbachiana (Violaceae) Height to 12cm. Similar to Common Dog-violet but with subtle differences in the flower and leaf form. Found in woods and hedgerows, mostly on chalk. FLOWERS are 15-20mm across with pale violet, narrow petals and a spur that is darker than the petals and not notched (Mar-May). FRUITS are egg-shaped. LEAVES are narrow heart-shaped. STATUS-Locally common.
    130592.jpg
  • BLADDERSEED Physospermum cornubiense (Height to 1m) is a hairless perennial with striped, solid stems. Umbels are 2-5cm across with whitish flowers (Jun-Jul). The fruits are inflated and resembled small bladders. This rare plant occurs in Cornwall (it is the only British flower with a reference to Cornwall in its scientific name) and also in Buckinghamshire.
    131837.jpg
  • CAT’S-EAR Hypochaeris radicata (Asteraceae) Height to 50cm. Tufted perennial with hairless stems. Grows in dry grassland. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 25-40mm across, with yellow florets much longer than the bristly, purple-tipped bracts; flower stalks branch 1-2 times and are swollen beneath the solitary heads (Jun-Sep). Scales present between florets. FRUITS are beaked with some feathery hairs. LEAVES are oblong, bristly, wavy-edged; form a basal rosette. STATUS-Common.
    131033.jpg
  • DAISY Bellis perennis (Asteraceae) Height to 10cm<br />
Familiar, downy perennial found growing in lawns and other areas of short grass. FLOWERS are borne in solitary heads, 15-25mm across, on slender stems; they comprise yellow disc florets and white (often faintly crimson-tipped) ray florets (Mar-Oct). FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are spoon-shaped and form prostrate rosettes from which flower stalks arise. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
    130401.jpg
  • CREEPING BUTTERCUP Ranunculus repens (Ranunculaceae) Height to 50cm. Often unwelcome perennial of lawns and other grassy places. Long, rooting runners aid its spread. FLOWERS are 20-30mm across with 5 yellow petals and upright sepals; borne on furrowed stalks (May-Aug). FRUITS are borne in rounded heads. LEAVES are hairy and divided into 3 lobes; middle lobe is stalked. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    130771.jpg
  • CREEPING BUTTERCUP Ranunculus repens (Ranunculaceae) Height to 50cm. Often unwelcome perennial of lawns and other grassy places. Long, rooting runners aid its spread. FLOWERS are 20-30mm across with 5 yellow petals and upright sepals; borne on furrowed stalks (May-Aug). FRUITS are borne in rounded heads. LEAVES are hairy and divided into 3 lobes; middle lobe is stalked. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    130680.jpg
  • HARD RUSH Juncus inflexus (Juncaceae) Height to 1.2m<br />
Tufted perennial with stiff, ridged and bluish or greyish green stems. Grows in damp, grassy places but avoids acid soils. FLOWERS are brown and borne in loose clusters below a long bract (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are brown and egg-shaped with a tiny point. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Widespread and common except in the N.
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  • HAZEL Corylus avellana (Betulaceae) Height to 12m<br />
Dense woodland shrub or small tree that is often coppiced. FLOWERS are catkins (male) and small red, tufted structures (female) (Jan-Mar). FRUITS are hard-cased nuts, green at first, ripening brown in autumn. LEAVES appear after flowers and are 6-8cm long, circular to oval, with double-toothed margins. STATUS-Common and widespread.
    134015.jpg
  • Midland Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 10m. Large shrub or small, flat-topped tree. BARK Grey-brown, cracking into plates that reveal darker browner beneath. BRANCHES have few spines. LEAVES Up to 6cm long, but not as deeply lobed as those of Common Hawthorn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers, May–¬June, in lax clusters of up to 9 normally white flowers, each up to 2.4cm across with 2–3 styles. Fruits are 1cm long, deep-red and ripe August-October. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A widespread native tree of W and central Europe, including England, but not as frequent as Common Hawthorn.
    133780.jpg
  • WAVY BITTER-CRESS Cardamine flexuosa (Brassicaceae) Height to 50cm. Similar to Hairy Bitter-cress but taller and with wavy, hairy stems. Favours damp and disturbed ground. FLOWERS are 3-4mm across with 4 white petals (Mar-Sep). FRUITS are curved and barely overtop flowers. LEAVES are pinnately divided with rounded lobes; seen as a basal rosette plus 4-10 stem leaves. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    130622.jpg
  • MOSCHATEL Adoxa moschatellina (Adoxaceae) Height to 10cm. Hairless perennial that sometimes forms carpets. Grows in damp, shady woodlands and hedgerows, mainly on heavy soils; sometimes also found in mountains. FLOWERS are 6-8mm across and yellowish green; borne in long-stalked heads of 5 flowers, 4 of which face outwards, the 5th facing upwards (Apr-May). FRUITS are spongy drupes. LEAVES are pale green and fleshy; basal leaves are long-stalked and twice 3-lobed while stem leaves are 3-lobed and in opposite pairs. STATUS-Locally common in England and Wales.
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  • SELFHEAL Prunella vulgaris (Lamiaceae) Height to 20cm<br />
Creeping, downy perennial with leafy runners that root at intervals and upright flowering stems. Grows in grassy places and woodland rides, on calcareous and netural soils. FLOWERS are 10-15mm long and bluish violet; borne in dense, cylindrical and terminal heads adorned with purplish bracts and calyx teeth (Apr-Jun). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are paired and oval. STATUS-Widespread but commonest in the S.
    130402.jpg
  • GROUND-IVY Glechoma hederacea (Lamiaceae) Height to 15cm. Softly hairy and strongly smelling perennial with creeping stems that root at regular intervals and upright flowering stems. Grows in woodlands, hedgerows and grassland, and on bare ground, tolerant of both shady and exposed locations. FLOWERS are 15-20mm long and bluish violet; borne in open whorls arising from leaf axils. FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are kidney-shaped to rounded, toothed and long-stalked. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the most of the region, except the far N.
    129918.jpg
  • OXEYE DAISY Leucanthemum vulgare (Asteraceae) Height to 60cm. Downy or hairless perennial of dry, grassy meadows and verges, often on disturbed ground. FLOWERS are borne in solitary heads, 30-50mm across, with yellow disc florets and white ray florets (May-Sep). No scales between disc florets. FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are dark green and toothed; lower leaves are spoon-shaped, stalked and form a rosette, stem leaves are pinnately lobed. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
    129914.jpg
  • BUSH VETCH Vicia sepium (Fabaceae) Height to 1m<br />
Scrambling, slightly downy perennial of rough, grassy places and scrub. FLOWERS are 12-15mm long and pale lilac; borne in groups of 2-6 flowers (Apr-Oct). FRUITS are black, hairless pods. LEAVES comprise 6-12 pairs of broadly oval leaflets and end in branched tendrils. STATUS-Common and widespread throughout.
    141571.jpg
  • COMMON KNAPWEED Centaurea nigra (Asteraceae) Height to 1m. Downy or hairy perennial that branches towards the top of the plant. The stems are stiff and grooved and are often swollen beneath the base of the flowers. Grows in a wide range of grassy places. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 2-4cm across, with reddish purple florets and a swollen, hard base covered in brown bracts; heads are usually solitary (Jun-Sep). FRUITS do not have pappus hairs. LEAVES are narrow, those near the base of the plant are slightly lobed. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
    141411.jpg
  • FIELD-ROSE Rosa arvensis (Rosaceae) Height to 1m<br />
Clump-forming shrub whose weak, trailing and purplish stems carry small numbers of curved thorns. Associated with woodland margins, hedgerows and scrub. FLOWERS are 3-5cm across with 5 white petals and styles united to form a column at least as long as the stamens; borne in clusters of up to 6 flowers (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are rounded to ovoid red hips, with sepals not persisting. LEAVES have 5-7 oval leaflets. STATUS-Widespread and common in England, Wales and Ireland; almost absent from Scotland.
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  • CUCKCOOFLOWER Cardamine pratensis (Brassicaceae) Height to 50cm. Variable perennial of damp, grassy places. Also known as Lady’s-smock. FLOWERS are 12-20mm across with 4 pale lilac or white flowers (Apr-Jun). FRUITS are elongated and beaked. LEAVES are seen mainly in a basal rosette of pinnately divided leaves with rounded lobes; narrow stem leaves also present. STATUS-Widespread and locally common.
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  • COMMON NETTLE Urtica dioica (Urticacae)  Height to 1m<br />
The familiar stinging nettle. FLOWERS are pendulous catkins; borne on separate sex plants (Jun-Oct). FRUITS resemble flowers superficially. LEAVES are oval, pointed-tipped, toothed and borne in opposite pairs; 8cm long and longer than stalks. STATUS-Widespread and common, doing best on nitrogen-enriched and disturbed soils.
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  • AUTUMN HAWKBIT Leontodon autumnalis (Asteraceae) Height to 25cm. Variable hairless or slightly hairy perennial. Grows in dry, grassy places, mostly on acid soils. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 15-35mm across, with yellow florets; the involucre tapers gradually to the stem that bears numerous scale-like bracts below the head (Jun-Oct). Flowering stems branch 2-3 times. FRUITS form a white clock. LEAVES are oblong and deeply pinnately lobed. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • STINKING IRIS Iris foetidissima (Iridaceae) Height to 60cm<br />
Tufted perennial of scrub and woodlands, mostly on calcareous soils. FLOWERS are 7-8cm across, purplish and veined (May-Jul). FRUITS are green, oblong and 3-sided, splitting to reveal orange seeds. LEAVES are dark green and sword-shaped, with an unpleasant smell. STATUS-Locally common only in S England and S Wales.
    144693.jpg
  • ST PATRICK’S-CABBAGE Saxifraga spathularis (Saxifragaceae) Height to 30cm. Tufted perennial of damp rocky places. FLOWERS are star-shaped and white; the five petals have yellow basal spots and red spots above. Borne on slender stalks (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry capsules. LEAVES are spoon-shaped, toothed and stalked; appear as a basal rosette. STATUS- Very locally common in W Ireland and Wicklow.
    141575.jpg
  • GREATER BIRD’S-FOOT-TREFOIL Lotus pedunculatus (Fabaceae) Height to 50cm. Hairy, hollow-stemmed perennial found in damp grassy places and fens. FLOWERS are 15mm long and yellow; in heads on stalks up to 15cm long (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are slender pods; splayed like a bird’s foot when ripe. LEAVES have 5 dark green leaflets but appear trifoliate (lower pair sited at stalk base). STATUS-Locally common.
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  • BROAD-LEAVED DOCK Rumex obtusifolius (Polygonaceae) Height to 1m. Familiar upright perennial of field margins and disturbed meadows. FLOWERS are borne in loose spikes that are leafy at the base (Jun-Aug). FRUITS have prominent teeth and 1 tubercle. LEAVES are broadly oval, heart-shaped at the base and up to 25cm long. STATUS-Widespread and extremely common throughout.
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  • COMMON DOG-VIOLET Viola riviniana (Violaceae) Height to 12cm. Familiar perennial herb of woodland rides and grassland. FLOWERS are 15-25mm across and bluish violet with a blunt, pale spur that is notched at the tip, and pointed sepals (Mar-May). FRUITS are egg-shaped. LEAVES are long-stalked, heart-shaped and mainly hairless. STATUS-Widespread and locally common throughout.
    141368.jpg
  • BASTARD BALM Melittis melissophyllum (Lamiaceae) Height to 60cm. Attractive, hairy and strong-smelling perennial that grows along woodland rides and in shady hedgerows and areas of scrub. FLOWERS are 25-40mm long, fragrant, mainly white and variably adorned with pink or purple, the length of the corolla tube greater exceeding that of the calyx; borne in whorls (May-Jul). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are ovate, toothed and stalked. STATUS-Local and rather scarce in S England (mainly the SW) and S Wales; scarce or absent elsewhere.
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  • Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana Height to 1.5m<br />
Upright, hairless perennial. Leaves are narrowly oval, long-stalked and up to 30cm long. Flowers are white and 8-9mm across with 4 petals; borne in leafy spikes, May-July. Status-Widespread and locally common, naturalised on damp ground.
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  • SULPHUR CINQUEFOIL Potentilla recta (Rosaceae) Height to 70cm. Upright, hairy perennial with stiff stems. Favours dry, grassy places and waste ground. FLOWERS are 2-2.5cm across with 5 pale yellow petals; in terminal clusters (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are palmately divided into 5 or 7 finger-like lobes. STATUS-Occasionally naturalised in S and E England.
    132184.jpg
  • BIRTHWORT Aristolochia clematis (Aristolochiaceae) Height to 80cm. Upright, unbranched perennial of scrubby places. FLOWERS are yellow, tubular, 20-30mm long, foetid-smelling, the swollen base trapping pollinating insects; borne in clusters (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are green and pear-shaped. LEAVES are heart-shaped and strongly veined. STATUS-Rare and declining; a relict of cultivation for midwifery.
    132175.jpg
  • COMMON BISTORT Persicaria bistorta (Polygonaceae) Height to 60cm. Attractive perennial of damp meadows that forms patches in suitable locations. FLOWERS are pink and borne in dense, 30-40mm long, terminal spikes (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are nut-like. LEAVES are oval or arrow-shaped, the lower ones stalked, the upper ones almost stalkless. STATUS-Locally common in the N but rare in the S.
    132151.jpg
  • GREAT LETTUCE Lactuca virosa (Asteraceae) Height to 2m<br />
Similar to Prickly Lettuce but taller; note differences in leaves. Stems often tinged purple and exude a milky sap when broken. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 9-11mm across, with yellow florets; carried in open, branched inflorescences (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are maroon with unbanched pappus hairs. LEAVES are dark green and spreading with rounded, clasping bases; lower leaves may have broad lobes. STATUS-Common only in S.
    132133.jpg
  • DWARF ELDER Sambucus ebulus (Caprifoliaceae) Height to 2m. Unpleasant-smelling deciduous shrub or small tree with grooved stems. Grows in hedgerows and scrub, and on roadside verges. FLOWERS are 3-5mm across and pinkish white; borne in flat-topped clusters, 8-15cm across (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are black, poisonous berries that are borne in clusters. LEAVES are divided into 7-13 narrow leaflets. STATUS-Widespread but patchily distributed and mainly in the S.
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  • PEPPERMINT Mentha x piperata (Lamiaceae) Height to 1m<br />
Robust perennial, a hybrid between Spear and Water Mints. Has a strong peppermint smell. Grows in damp ground. FLOWERS are 3-4mm long and pinkish lilac; borne in a terminal spikes with a few whorls below (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are narrow-ovate and stalked. STATUS-A popular culinary herb that is naturalised locally.
    131853.jpg
  • PERENNIAL SOW-THISTLE Sonchus arvensis (Asteraceae) Height to 2m. Impressive perennial that grow in damp, grassy places and on disturbed ground. Broken stems exude a milky sap. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 4-5cm across, with yellow florets; heads are carried in branched, umbel-like clusters (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are ribbed and flattened with feathery pappus hairs forming a ‘clock’. LEAVES are narrow, shiny, dark green above and greyish below, with pinnate lobes and soft marginal spines; clasping, rounded auricles at base. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
    131806.jpg
  • GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS Parnassia palustris (Saxifragaceae) Height to 25cm. Distinctive, tufted and hairless perennial of damp, peaty grassland, marshes and moors. FLOWERS are 15-20mm across and superficially buttercup-like, with 5 white petals and greenish veins; on upright stalks with clasping leaves (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are dry capsules. LEAVES are deep green; basal leaves are heart-shaped and stalked. STATUS-Locally common in N Britain and Ireland; scarce in, or absent from, the S.
    131660.jpg
  • LADY’S-MANTLE Alchemilla vulgaris agg. (Rosaceae) Height to 30cm. Grassland perennial. Aggregate of several native species, and the familiar herbaceous border ornamental A.mollis. FLOWERS are yellowish green and borne in flat-topped clusters (May-Sep). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are rounded and palmately lobed; leaf shape variation used to separate aggregated species. STATUS-Widespread.
    131646.jpg
  • BETONY Stachys officinalis (Lamiaceae) Height to 50cm<br />
Upright, unbranched and downy or hairless perennial. Grows along woodland rides and in grassy waysides and hedgerows, typically on sandy or chalky soils. FLOWERS are 12-18mm long and reddish purple; borne in showy, dense and terminal heads, reminiscent of marsh-orchid spikes (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are stalked and oblong, typically heart-shaped at the base but narrower up the stem. STATUS-Widespread and fairly common in England and Wales but scarce or absent elsewhere.
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  • COMMON FIGWORT Scrophularia nodosa (Scrophulariaceae) Height to 70cm. Upright, hairless perennial with stems that are solid and square but not winged. Grows in damp woodland and shady places. FLOWERS are 1cm long and greenish with a maroon upper lip, and narrow white borders to the sepal lobes; borne in open spikes (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are greenish capsules, recalling miniature figs. LEAVES are oval and pointed, with sharp teeth. STATUS-Widespread and common, except in N Scotland.
    131447.jpg
  • MOTHERWORT Leonurus cardiaca (Lamiaceae) Height to 1m<br />
Upright, unbranched and variably downy perennial with a pungent smell and historical association with midwifery. Grows on verges and in shady hedgerows and waste ground, usually close to habitation. FLOWERS are 10-15mm long and pink of white, the upper lip being hairy; borne in whorls with striking calyx teeth (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are long-stalked; upper ones are deeply palmately lobed while upper ones are toothed. STATUS-Naturalised in a few, scattered locations across the region.
    131415.jpg
  • IMPERFORATE ST JOHN’S-WORT Hypericum maculatum (Clusiaceae) Height to 1m. Upright, hairless perennial. Similar to Perforate St John’-wort but with square, unwinged stems. Found in woodland and scrub. FLOWERS are 2cm across with yellow petals (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry capsules. LEAVES are oval and lack translucent dots. STATUS-Widespread and locally common throughout, except in the N.
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  • AMERICAN WILLOWHERB Epilobium ciliatum (Onograceae) Height to 50cm. Upright perennial; stems have 4 raised lines and spreading, glandular hairs. Found on waste ground and damp, shady places. FLOWERS are 8-10mm across with pink, notched petals and a club-shaped stigma (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are pods that contain cottony seeds. LEAVES are narrow-oval, toothed and short-stalked. STATUS-Introduced but widely naturalised.
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  • BROAD-LEAVED WILLOWHERB Epilobium montanum (Onograceae) Height to 80cm. Upright perennial. Similar to Hoary Willowherb but almost hairless. Found in woods and hedges. FLOWERS are 6-10mm across (droop in bud) with pale pink, notched petals and a 4-lobed stigma (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are pods that contain cottony seeds. LEAVES are oval, rounded at the base, toothed and opposite. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • ROUND-LEAVED SUNDEW Drosera rotundifolia (Droseraceae) Height to 20cm. Insectivorous plant of boggy heaths and moors. FLOWERS are white; borne in spikes on stalks that are much longer than leaves (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are reddish, rounded, stalked and 1cm across; covered with sticky hairs that trap insects and appear as a basal rosette. STATUS-Widespread and locally common.
    131171.jpg
  • WILD STRAWBERRY Fragaria vesca (Rosaceae) Height to 30cm. Low perennial with long, rooting runners. Found in dry, grass places. FLOWERS are 12-18mm across with 5 white petals (Apr-Jul). FRUITS are tiny strawberries. LEAVES comprise 3 oval, toothed leaflets that are hairy beneath; the terminal tooth of end leaflet is usually longer than adjacent ones. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • GREAT YELLOW-CRESS Rorippa amphibia (Brassicaceae) Height to 1.2m. Robust, hairless perennial with stout, hollow stems. Favours damp ground and the margins of freshwater habitats. FLOWERS are 5-7mm across with 4 yellow petals, twice the length of the sepals; in terminal heads (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are elliptical pods, 3-6mm long. LEAVES are pinnately lobed. STATUS-Locally common in S but absent from N
    130936.jpg
  • GOLDILOCKS BUTTERCUP Ranunculus auricomus (Ranunculaceae) Height to 30cm. Slightly hairy perennial of damp, undisturbed woodland. FLOWERS are 15-25mm across with yellow petals, 1 or more of which is sometimes imperfect or absent (Apr-May). FRUITS are roughly hairy. LEAVES are rounded and 3-lobed (basal leaves) with narrowly lobed stem leaves. STATUS-Widespread but local and declining.
    130748.jpg
  • HEATH DOG-VIOLET Viola canina (Violaceae) Height to 30cm<br />
Perennial herb that lacks a basal rosette of leaves. Found on dry grassland, mainly on sandy soils. FLOWERS are 12-18mm across with pale blue petals and a short, greenish yellow spur (Apr-Jun). FRUITS are not inflated. LEAVES are narrow-oval with a heart-shaped base. STATUS-Widespread but only very locally common.
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  • MEADOW BUTTERCUP Ranunculus acris (Ranunculaceae) Height to 1m. Downy perennial of damp grassland habitats. FLOWERS are 18-25mm across and comprise 5 shiny, yellow petals with upright sepals; borne on long, unfurrowed stalks (Apr-Oct). FRUITS are hook-tipped and borne in a rounded head. LEAVES are rounded and divided into 3-7 lobes; upper ones are unstalked. STATUS-Widespread and abundant throughout.
    130688.jpg
  • WINTER-CRESS Barbarea vulgaris (Brassicaceae) Height to 80cm. Upright, hairless perennial of damp ground. FLOWERS are 7-9mm across with 4 yellow petals; borne in terminal heads (May-Aug). FRUITS are long, narrow and 4-sided pods. LEAVES are dark green and shiny; lower ones are divided, the end lobe large and oval; upper stem leaves are entire. STATUS-Widespread but commonest in the S.
    130635.jpg
  • LUNGWORT Pulmonaria officinalis (Boraginaceae) Height to 30cm. Roughly hairy perennial of verges and waysides. FLOWERS are 1cm across, bell-shaped and pink at first, turning blue; in terminal clusters (Feb-May). FRUITS are egg-shaped nutlets. LEAVES are oval and green with white spots; basal ones taper abruptly to winged stalks; stem leaves are unstalked and clasping. STATUS-Naturalised locally.
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  • LESSER CELANDINE Ranunculus ficaria (Ranunculaceae) Height to 25cm. Perennial of hedgerows, open woodland and bare ground, sometimes forming clumps or patches. FLOWERS are 20-30mm across with 8-12 shiny yellow petals and 3 sepals (Mar-May); open only in sunshine. FRUITS are borne in a rounded head. LEAVES are heart-shaped, glossy and dark green. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • PRIMROSE Primula vulgaris (Primulaceae) Height to 20cm<br />
Familiar herbaceous perennial, found in hedgerows, woodlands and shady meadows. FLOWERS are 2-3cm across, 5-lobed and pale yellow, usually with deep yellow centres; solitary and borne on long hairy stalks that arise from the centre of the leaf rosette (Feb-May). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are oval, tapering, crinkly and up to 12cm long; they form a basal rosette. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
    130403.jpg
  • FENNEL Foeniculum vulgare (Apiaceae) Height to 2m<br />
Grey-green, strong-smelling and hairless perennial with solid young stems and hollow older ones. Favours grassy places, mainly near the sea. FLOWERS are yellow and borne in open umbels, 4-8cm across (Jul-Oct). FRUITS are narrow egg-shaped and ridged. LEAVES are feathery, comprising thread-like leaflets. STATUS-Locally common in S.
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  • BARREN STRAWBERRY Potentilla sterilis (Rosaceae) Height to 15cm. Hairy perennial with long, rooting runners. Favours dry, grassy places and woodland rides. FLOWERS are 10-15mm across with 5 white and widely separated petals (Mar-May). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are bluish green and trifoliate, the terminal tooth of end leaflet is shorter than adjacent ones. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • Nasturtium - Tropaeolus majus. Trailing annual, popular as a garden plant in Brtain, and originally from South America. Leaves are circular, with radiating pale veins; borne on long stalks. Flowers are 3-6cm across, with 5 petals, typically orange but also variegated yellow; has a long nectar spur. Fruits are 2cm across and 3-lobed.
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  • COMMON MALLOW Malva sylvestris (Malvaceae) Height to 1.5m. Upright or spreading perennial of grassy verges and disturbed ground. FLOWERS are 25-40mm across with 5 purple-veined pink petals, much longer than sepals; in clusters from leaf axils (Jun-Oct). FRUITS are round, flat capsules. LEAVES are rounded at base of plant, 5-lobed on stem. STATUS-Widespread and common in S; scarce elsewhere.
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  • JACOB’S-LADDER Polemonium caeruleum (Polemoniaceae) Height to 1m. Attractive, upright perennial of grassy places and scree slopes in limestone areas. FLOWERS are 2-3cm across and bright blue with 5 petal-like corolla lobes; in spikes (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are alternate and pinnate with 6-12 pairs of leaflets. STATUS-Locally native in N England; naturalised elsewhere.
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  • BOX Buxus sempervirens (Buxaceae) Height to 5m<br />
Dense, evergreen shrub or small tree. Familiar as a garden plant, used in hedging and topiary. Native on chalky soils. FLOWERS are tiny and yellowish green, lacking petals (Mar-May). FRUITS are 3-horned capsules. LEAVES are 1.5-3cm long, oval and leathery, with inrolled margins. STATUS-Widely planted but native only to SE England.
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  • SWEET CICELY Myrrhis odorata (Apiaceae) Height to 1.5m<br />
Upright, downy perennial with hollow stems. Whole plant smells of aniseed when bruised. Favours grassland and damp ground, often near habitation. FLOWERS are white, with unequal petals, and borne in umbels up to 5cm across (May-Jun). FRUITS are elongated and ridged. LEAVES are fern-like, up to 30cm long and 2- or 3-pinnate; note the basal sheaths. STATUS-Introduced and naturalised, mainly N England and Scotland.
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  • GREEN FIGWORT Scrophularia umbrosa (Scrophulariaceae) H to 70cm. Upright, hairless perennial. Grows in damp woodland and shady places. FLOWERS are 1cm long and greenish with a maroon upper lip; borne in open spikes (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are greenish capsules, recalling miniature figs. LEAVES are oval-triangular. STATUS-Local and generally scarce, mainly in central and northern Britain.
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  • LARGE BITTER-CRESS Cardamine amara (Brassicaceae) Height to 60cm. Upright perennial found in damp, shady places in woods and marshes. FLOWERS are 12mm across with 4 white petals and violet anthers (Apr-Jun). FRUITS are slender, beaked pods, up to 4cm long. LEAVES are pinnately divided, with slightly toothed oval lobes. STATUS-Widespread but local; scarce in, or absent from, W England and S Ireland.
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  • COMMON SORREL Rumex acetosa (Polygonaceae) Height to 60cm. Variable, usually upright perennial associated with a wide range of grassy habitats. Whole plant often turns red as it goes over. FLOWERS are reddish and borne in slender spikes (May-Jul). FRUITS are nut-like with a small tubercle. LEAVES are deep green, arrow-shaped and narrow; taste mildly of vinegar. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • MEADOWSWEET Filipendula ulmaria (Rosaceae) Height to 1.25m. Striking perennial of damp meadows, marshes and stream margins. FLOWERS are 4-6mm across, fragrant and creamy white; borne in sprays (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are spirally twisted and 1-seeded. LEAVES are dark green and comprise 3-5 pairs of oval leaflets with smaller leaflets between. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
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  • DEVIL’S-BIT SCABIOUS Succisa pratensis (Dipsacaceae) Height to 75cm. Upright perennial with hairy or hairless stems. Grows in damp grassland, woodland rides and marshes. FLOWERS are pinkish lilac to violet blue with projecting anthers (like tiny mallets); borne in dense, domed terminal heads, 15-25mm across, on long, slender stalks (Jun-Oct). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are spoon-shaped at the base of the plant, and narrow on the stem. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
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  • SQUARE-STALKED ST JOHN’S-WORT Hypericum tetrapterum (Clusiaceae) Height to 1m. Upright, hairless perennial. Similar to Imperforate St John’s-wort but the square stems are distinctly winged. Found in damp ground. FLOWERS are 2cm across with yellow petals and undotted, pointed sepals (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are dry capsules. LEAVES are oval with translucent dots. STATUS-Widespread and locally common, except in the N.
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  • SAW-WORT Serratula tinctoria (Asteraceae) Height to 75cm<br />
Slender, hairless and spineless perennial with grooved and rather stiff stems. Grows in damp meadows and along woodland rides. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 15-20mm long, that comprise pinkish purple florets and close-pressed purplish bracts; heads are carried in open, terminal clusters (Jul-Oct). FRUITS have unbranched pappus hairs. LEAVES vary from undivided to deeply lobed, but the edges are always saw-toothed. STATUS-Locally common only in SW England; scarce or absent elsewhere.
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  • RED CLOVER Trifolium pratense (Fabaceae) Height to 40cm<br />
Familiar downy perennial found in grassy places on a wide range of soil types. FLOWERS are pinkish red and borne in dense, unstalked heads that are 2-3cm across (May-Oct). FRUITS are concealed by the calyx. LEAVES are trifoliate and the oval leaflets each bear a white crescent-shaped mark; stipules are triangular and bristle-tipped. STATUS-Widespread and often extremely common throughout the region.
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  • SPEAR-LEAVED WILLOWHERB Epilobium lanceolatum (Onograceae) Height to 80cm. Recalls a slender, grey-green form of Broad-leaved Willowherb with alternate leaves. Found in shady places. FLOWERS are 6-8mm across with a 4-lobed stigma; white at first, turning pink later (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are pods that contain cottony seeds. LEAVES are narrow and taper to the base. STATUS-Local, S England and S Wales only.
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  • ALPINE LADY’S-MANTLE Alchemilla alpina (Rosaceae) Height to 25cm. Tufted perennial of grassy upland sites. FLOWERS are tiny, yellowish green and borne in flat-topped clusters (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are palmately lobed, the lobes typically divided to the base or nearly so; undersurface of leaf is silky hairy. STATUS-Widespread but locally common in NW England and Scotland only.
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  • GREATER SPEARWORT Ranunculus lingua (Ranunculaceae) Height to 1m. Robust and upright perennial of fens and the shallow margins of ponds and lakes. Plant has long runners. FLOWERS are 20-40mm across with 5 yellow petals; borne on furrowed stalks (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are rough and winged, with a curved beak. LEAVES are narrow, 25cm long and sometimes toothed. STATUS-Widespread but local.
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  • PALE WILLOWHERB Epilobium roseum (Onograceae) Height to 80cm. Similar to Short-fruited Willowherb but with only faint lines on the stem. Favours damp ground. FLOWERS are 4-7mm across, white at first, turning pink later (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are pods that contain cottony seeds. LEAVES are elliptical with a wedge-shaped base; stalk 2cm long. STATUS-Locally common in England and Wales; scarce elsewhere.
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  • COMMON BIRD’S-FOOT-TREFOIL Lotus corniculatus (Fabaceae) Height to 10cm. Sprawling, solid-stemmed and usually hairless perennial. Found in grassy places. FLOWERS are red in bud but yellow and 15mm long when open; in heads on stalks to 8cm long (May-Sep). FRUITS are slender pods; splayed like a bird’s foot when ripe. LEAVES have 5 leaflets but appear trifoliate (lower pair at stalk base). STATUS-Common.
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  • OBLONG-LEAVED SUNDEW Drosera intermedia (Droseraceae) Height to 20cm. Insectivorous perennial of wet heaths and moors. FLOWERS are white; in spikes on stalks that are a similar length to leaves (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are reddish, 1cm long, narrow and taper abruptly; covered in sticky hairs that trap insects and appear as a basal rosette. STATUS-Locally common throughout.
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  • COW PARSLEY Anthriscus sylvestris (Apiaceae) Height to 1m<br />
Downy, herbaceous perennial with hollow, unspotted stems. Found in meadows and woodland margins, and on verges. FLOWERS are white and borne in umbels up to 6cm across; bracts absent (Apr-Jun). FRUITS are elongate and ridged. LEAVES are 2- to 3-pinnate, only slightly hairy and fresh green. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • SPIGNEL Meum athamanticum (Apiaceae) Height to 60cm<br />
Aromatic, hairless, hollow-stemmed perennial of upland grassland. Fibrous remains of previous year’s leaf stalks crown rootstock. FLOWERS are creamy white; in frothy-looking umbels, 3-6cm across (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are egg-shaped and ridged. LEAVES are 3- to 4-pinnate with bristle-like lobes. STATUS-Local, from N Wales to Scotland.
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  • LORDS-AND-LADIES Arum maculatum (Araceae) Height to 50cm. Perennial of woods and hedges. FLOWERS comprise a pale green, purple-margined spathe, cowl-shaped and part-shrouding the club-shaped, purplish brown spadix; on slender stalks (Apr-May). FRUITS are red berries, borne in a spike. LEAVES are arrowhead-shaped, stalked, sometimes dark-spotted; appear in spring. STATUS-Commonest in S.
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  • HEMLOCK WATER-DROPWORT Oenanthe crocata (Apiaceae) Height to 1.25m. Distinctive and highly poisonous perennial that sometimes forms sizeable clumps. The stems are hollow and grooved and the plant smells of Parsley. Found in damp meadows and ditches. FLOWERS are white and borne in domed umbels, 5-10cm across, with 10-40 rays and numerous bracts (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are cylindrical, with long styles. LEAVES are 2-4 times pinnately divided with toothed, tapering lobes. STATUS-Widespread but locally common only in S and W Britain; scarce in, or absent from, much of the N.
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  • NARROW-LEAVED LUNGWORT Pulmonaria longifolia (Boraginaceae) Height to 25cm. Softly hairy perennial that grows in woodland and scrub, usually on heavy soils. FLOWERS are 8mmm across, somewhat bell-shaped and pink at first but soon turning blue; borne in terminal clusters (Apr-May). FRUITS are narrowly egg-shaped nutlets. LEAVES are green with white spots; basal ones are narrowly ovate and taper gradually to the base, stem leaves are unstalked and clasping. STATUS-Locally common and restricted to parts of the New Forest, Isle of Wight and E Dorset.
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  • FALSE OXLIP Primula veris x vulgaris (Primulaceae) Height to 20cm. Naturally occurring hybrid between Primrose and Cowslip that superficially resembles Oxlip. Found in hedgerows, woodlands and meadows, where both parents occur. FLOWERS are 15-20mm across, yellow and 5-lobed; borne in umbels that are not 1-sided (Mar-May). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are oval, crinkly and tapering, forming a basal rosette. STATUS-Widespread but always local and far less numerous than parent plants.
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  • GREATER CELANDINE Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae) Height to 80cm. Tall, brittle-stemmed perennial. Found in hedgerows and along woodland rides. FLOWERS are 2-3cm across and comprise 4 non-overlapping bright yellow petals (Apr-Oct). FRUITS are narrow capsules that split from below when ripe. LEAVES are grey-green and pinnately divided. STATUS-Native in most areas; also naturalised as a garden escape.
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  • CLEAVERS Galium aparine (Rubiaceae) Height to 1.5m<br />
Sprawling annual of hedgerows and disturbed ground. Stems are square and rough; backward-pointing bristles on the edges help secure plant’s scrambling progress through vegetation. FLOWERS are 2mm across and greenish white, with 4 petals; in clusters arising from leaf axils (May-Sep). FRUITS are nutlets with hooked bristles. LEAVES have backward-pointing marginal bristles. STATUS-Common and widespread.
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  • DUSKY CRANE’S-BILL Geranium phaeum (Geraniaceae) Height to 50cm. Distinctive and attractive hairy perennial, found on verges, usually in the vicinity of gardens. FLOWERS 15-20mm across with dark maroon, wavy-edged petals that open flat (May-Jun). FRUITS end in a long ‘beak’. LEAVES are deeply divided into 5-7 lobes and often marked with dark blotches. STATUS-Sometimes naturalised as a garden escape.
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  • HOGWEED Heracleum sphondylium (Apiaceae) Height to 2m<br />
Robust, roughly hairy perennial with hollow, ridged stems. Found in meadows and open woodlands and on roadside verges. FLOWERS are off-white, with unequal petals; borne<br />
in umbels with 40 or so rays, and up to 20cm across (May-Aug). FRUITS are elliptical, hairless and flattened. LEAVES are up to 60cm long, broad, hairy and pinnate, the lobes usually rather ovate. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout the region.
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  • COMMON COMFREY Symphytum officinale (Boraginaceae) Height to 1m. Roughly hairy perennial with strikingly winged stems. Grows in damp ground beside rivers and ditches. FLOWERS are 12-18mm long and tubular to bell-shaped; colour varies but usually white, pink or purple, and borne in curved clusters (May-Jun). FRUITS are shiny nutlets. LEAVES are oval and hairy, the upper ones clasping, and the stalk running down the main stem. STATUS-Widespread; common only in C and S England.
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  • WINTER HELIOTROPE Petasites fragrans (Asteraceae) Height to 20cm. Creeping and patch-forming perennial that grows in damp or shady wayside places and hedgerows. FLOWERS are vanilla-scented and borne in pinkish lilac heads, 10-12mm across; these are carried in spikes, 20-25cm long (Dec-Mar). FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are rounded, 20cm across, long-stalked and present all year. STATUS-Introduced as a garden plant but now widely naturalised throughout the region.
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  • TANSY Tanacetum vulgare (Asteraceae) Height to 75cm<br />
Robust, upright perennial that is strongly aromatic. Grows on roadside verges, and in hedgerows and disturbed ground. FLOWERS are borne in golden yellow, button-like heads, 7-12mm across, that comprise disc florets only; these appear as flat-topped, umbel-like clusters, up to 12cm across, comprising up to 70 heads (Jul-Oct). FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are yellowish green and pinnately divided with deeply cut lobes. STATUS-Common and widespread throughout the region.
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  • COMMON DANDELION Taraxacum officinale agg. (Asteraceae) Height to 35cm. Extremely variable perennial. Experts recognise several sub-groups (sections), containing numerous so-called micro-species; however, for simplicity’s sake, here they are lumped together as a single species. Grows in a wide variety of grassy places. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 3-6cm across, with yellow florets; heads are solitary and borne on hollow stems that yield a milky sap if broken (Mar-Oct). FRUITS have a hairy pappus, arranged as a white ‘clock’. LEAVES are spoon-shaped and sharply lobed; arranged in a basal rosette. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
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  • DOGWOOD Cornus sanguinea (Cornaceae) Height to 4m<br />
Deciduous shrub whose deep red twigs stand out in winter. Found in hedgerows and scrub, mainly in calcareous soils. FLOWERS are white with 4 petals; in flat clusters (May-Jul). FRUITS are berries that ripen black. LEAVES are oval, opposite and have 3-5 veins on both sides of midrib. STATUS-Locally common in England and Wales.
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  • COMMON MALLOW Malva sylvestris (Malvaceae) Height to 1.5m. Upright or spreading perennial of grassy verges and disturbed ground. FLOWERS are 25-40mm across with 5 purple-veined pink petals, much longer than sepals; in clusters from leaf axils (Jun-Oct). FRUITS are round, flat capsules. LEAVES are rounded at base of plant, 5-lobed on stem. STATUS-Widespread and common in S; scarce elsewhere.
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  • MAY LILY Maianthemum bifolium (Liliaceae) Height to 20cm<br />
Attractive perennial with a creeping rhizome and upright stalks bearing a single pair of leaves and the flower spike. Grows in mature woodlands, often on acid soils. FLOWERS are 2-5mm across, white and 4-parted; borne in spikes, 3-4cm long (May-Jun). FRUITS are red berries although these are produced only rarely. LEAVES are heart-shaped and shiny, the lower one long-stalked. STATUS-Local, N England only.
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  • PEPPER-SAXIFRAGE Silaum silaus (Apiaceae) Height to 1m<br />
Slender, hairless perennial with solid, ridged stems. Found in meadows on damp, heavy soils. FLOWERS are yellowish and borne in long-stalked umbels, 2-6cm across (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are egg-shaped and ridged. LEAVES are 2- to 4-pinnate with narrow, pointed leaflets. STATUS-Locally common in England but scarce or absent elsewhere.
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  • HAWTHORN Crategus monogyna (Rosaceae) Height to 12m<br />
Thorny shrub or small tree. Forms dense thickets and often the commonest hedgerow species. FLOWERS are 15-25mm across with 5 white petals; in clusters (May-Jun). FRUITS ripen to form clusters of bright red berries. LEAVES are shiny, roughly oval and divided into 3-7 pairs of lobes. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
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  • HOLLY Ilex aquifolium (Aquifoliaceae) Height to 10m<br />
Evergreen shrub or small tree, familiar as a Christmas decoration. Found in woods and hedgerows. FLOWERS 6-8mm across, whitish and 4-petalled; borne in crowded clusters (May-Jul). FRUITS are bright red berries. LEAVES are stiff and leathery with spiny margins; shiny dark green above but paler below. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • ELDER Sambucus nigra (Caprifoliaceae) Height to 10m<br />
Deciduous shrub or small tree with spreading, outcurved main branches and corky bark. Grows in woodland, scrub and hedgerows, thriving best on chalky and nitrogen-enriched soils. FLOWERS are 5mm across and creamy white; borne in flat-topped clusters, 10-20cm across (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are blackish purple berries, borne in clusters. LEAVES are unpleasant-smelling and divided into 5-7 leaflets. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • COMPACT RUSH Juncus conglomeratus (Juncaceae) Height to 1m. Upright perennial of damp, grazed grassland, mainly on acid soils. Similar to compact-flowered form of Soft Rush but stems are darker green, ridged, rough and not glossy. FLOWERS are brown and borne in compact clusters (May-Jul). FRUITS are dark brown, egg-shaped and as long as sepals. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Locally common.
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  • COLT’S-FOOT Tussilago farfara (Asteraceae) Height to 15cm<br />
Creeping perennial with runners and upright flowering stalks that are leafless, purplish and woolly, with overlapping, fleshy bracts. Grows in bare and disturbed ground, particularly on clay. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 15-35mm across, with orange-yellow disc florets and yellow ray florets; heads are solitary and terminal (Feb-Apr). FRUITS comprise a ‘clock’ of hairy seeds. LEAVES are rounded, heart-shaped and 10-20cm across, appearing after flowering. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • BITTERSWEET Solanum dulcamara (Solanaceae) Height to 1.5m. Downy and scrambling perennial that is woody at the base, hence the alternative name Woody Nightshade. Grows in hedgerows and scrub, and often on stabilised shingle beaches. FLOWERS are 10-15mm across with 5 purple, petal-like corolla lobes and projecting yellow anthers; borne in hanging clusters of purple stems (May-Sep). FRUITS are poisonous, egg-shaped red berries, up to 1cm long. LEAVES are oval and pointed. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout, except in the N and in Ireland.
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  • PRICKLY LETTUCE Lactuca serriola (Asteraceae) Height to 1.75m. Upright and stiff biennial, the upper part of which is branched. Broken stems exude a milky sap. Grows on disturbed and waste ground, verges and railways. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 11-13mm across, with yellow florets; carried in open, branched inflorescences (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are brown with unbranched pappus hairs. LEAVES are grey-green and held stiffly erect with pointed clasping bases; margins and lower midrib have weak spine; lower leaves may have narrow lobes. STATUS-Common only in S.
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  • GOLDENROD Solidago virgaurea (Asteraceae) Height to 75cm. Upright but variable perennial that is sometimes slightly downy. Grows in woods and grassland, and on rocky banks, and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types. FLOWERS are yellow; individual heads are 5-10mm across and comprise ray and disc florets, and are borne in branched spikes (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are 1-seeded with pappus hairs. LEAVES are stalked and spoon-shaped at the base of the plant, while the stems leaves are narrow and unstalked. STATUS-Widespread and locally common throughout the region.
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  • COMMON CALAMINT Clinopodium ascendens (Lamiaceae) Height to 50cm. Upright, hairy and tufted perennial that branches from the base and smells of mint. Grows in dry grassland, hedgerows and verges, often on chalk or limestone soils. FLOWERS are 3-4cm long and pinkish lilac with darker spots on the lower lip; borne in clustered heads that comprise dense whorls (Jun-Sep). LEAVES are rounded and long-stalked. STATUS-Very locally common in the S but scarce or absent elsewhere.
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