National Plant Monitoring Scheme SPECIES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

Transcription

1 National Plant Monitoring Scheme SPECIES IDENTIFICTION UIDE

2 National Plant Monitoring Scheme SPECIES IDENTIFICTION UIDE Contents White / Cream... 2 Yellow...33 Red...63 Pink...66 Blue / Purple...83 reen / Brown quatics Clubmosses Ferns / Horsetails rasses Rushes Sedges Shrubs / Trees Wood-rushes Indexes Common name Scientific name ppendix Key R Traffic light system Species with the symbol are generally easier to identify; species with the symbol may be harder to identify and additional information is provided, particularly on illustrations, to support you. Those with the symbol R may be confused with other species. In this instance distinguishing features are provided. WF symbol For those recording at the Wildflower Level only.

3 Introduction This guide has been produced to help you identify the plants we would like you to record for the National Plant Monitoring Scheme. There is an index at the back of this guide which lists the species by scientific and common names. The New Flora of the British Isles by Clive Stace (third edition) has been used as the reference for names. Where names have recently changed these are also shown. How to use this guide Wildflowers have been arranged in colour sections indicated by the coloured strips on the edge of each page. roups of species that are more difficult to identify are included in separate sections. These include aquatic plants, grasses, sedges, rushes, ferns and horsetails, wood-rushes and shrubs and trees. Within each section species are in alphabetical order based on their scientific name. Both the English and scientific names for each plant are given as well as information about flowering times, plant size and key features. Species lists for NPMS habitats are provided in a separate booklet. Where possible try to identify the fine habitat you are recording in and use that species list. ll plants included in this guide are included on the Indicator Species Lists and should be recorded if you are surveying at Indicator or Inventory Level. For those recording at the Wildflower Level record only those plants with the WF symbol. traffic light system has been used in all sections (see key opposite). n appendix at the back of this guide provides an illustration of a wildflower, fern, grass, rush and sedge with their features labelled. This should help you with identification. 1

4 White / Cream chillea millefolium Yarrow Umbel-like heads of small white (rarely pink) flowers on tough stems. Very dissected feathery leaves which smell aromatic when crushed. bracteoles long and hanging down ethusa cynapium Fool s Parsley Up to 100cm tall with umbels of tiny white flowers with narrow green modified leaves hanging down (bracteoles). Fern-like leaves with pointed leaflets. ndrew agg/plantlife lisma plantago-aquatica Water-plantain Flower spike emerges from mud or water without leaves, grows up to 1m and has branches in whorls with 3-petalled white flowers 1cm across at the end. Rob Pettifer leaves with rounded or heart-shaped bases Leaves rounded or heartshaped at base, not tapering into stem. Tim Wilkins 2 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

5 White / Cream llium ursinum Ramsons Often carpets damp areas. Leafless flower stalks up to 45cm with a round head of up to 20 white, 6-tepalled flowers. Bright green leaves up to 25cm x 7cm, on stalks. nemone nemorosa Wood nemone Solitary star-like white flowers with 5-8 petals, often pinkish underneath. ndrew agg/plantlife Long-stalked stem leaves divided into three lobes, with each lobe divided. ngelica sylvestris Wild ngelica Robust herb up to 200cm or more. Umbels up to 15cm across of white or pinkish flowers. Beth Halski/Plantlife Leaves to 60cm, divided, with a triangular outline, leafstalks broad, clasping hollow stems, purplish at nodes. Smells celery-like. Tim Waters (CC BY-NC-NO 2.0) Species Identification uide 3

6 White / Cream nthemis cotula Stinking Chamomile Flowerheads 2-4.5cm across, in loose clusters, with yellow disc florets and white ray florets. R Leaves very finely divided and with an unpleasant smell. CONFUSED WITH Scentless Mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum) Scented Mayweed (Matricaria recutita) Scentless Mayweed has no smell. Scented Mayweed has a pleasant, fruity smell. nthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley One of the earliest flowering of the Carrot family cm tall with umbels up to 6cm across of pure white tiny flowers. Fern-like leaves with pointed leaflets. Stems hollow, furrowed, without spots. J P Martin/Plantlife stem unspotted Beth Halski/Plantlife 4 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

7 flowers greenish-white leaflets lobed and toothed pium graveolens Wild Celery Stout plant to 1m smelling of celery. Umbels 4-6cm across of tiny greenish-white flowers. Shiny leaves with lobed leaflets. Stem solid, strongly ridged. White / Cream leaves shiny pium nodiflorum Fool s-water-cress Creeping plant with upright stems bearing umbels of tiny white 5-petalled flowers. 4-6 pairs of shallowly toothed, bright green leaflets on leaves with inflated stalks which sheath the hollow stems. CONFUSED WITH Lesser Water-parsnip (Berula erecta) Lesser Water-parsnip leaves have 7-10 pairs of dull, bluish, more deeply toothed leaflets. Inger Vedel/NonCommercial 2.0 eneric R leaflets bright green with shallow teeth inflated leaf stalk Species Identification uide Kevin Walker 5

8 White / Cream whole plant hairy stem leaves held upright, close to stem rabis hirsuta Hairy Rock-cress Hairy plant to 60cm. White, 4-petalled flowers, 3-5mm across, in a long, narrow cluster at the top of the stem. Basal rosette of leaves; stem leaves upright, held close to stem. leaves leathery, evergreen flowers urn-shaped, deeper pink towards tip rctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry Mat-forming evergreen shrub. White to pink urn-shaped flowers in dense clusters and red berries. Tim Wilkins Leaves leathery, dark green on top, paler underneath. fruit red Bellis perennis Daisy Erect flower stems to 15cm bearing solitary white flowerheads 1.5-3cm across, with yellow disc florets and slender white ray florets, often reddish below. ndrew agg/plantlife Spoon-shaped leaves all in a basal rosette. Luke Morton/Plantlife 6 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

9 White / Cream Berula erecta Lesser Water-parsnip Creeping plant with upright stems bearing umbels of tiny 5-petalled white flowers. R 7-10 pairs of deeply toothed, bluish-green leaflets on leaves with inflated stalks which sheath the hollow stems. CONFUSED WITH Fool s Water-cress (pium nodiflorum) Fool s Water-cress has 4-6 pairs of bright green, more shallowly toothed leaflets. inflated leaf stalk sepals visible leaflets bluish-green, deeply toothed arrow-shaped leaves Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed Climbs over other plants, fences etc. White (rarely pink) trumpet-like flowers 3-6cm across. Sepals visible between bracteoles. rrow shaped leaves on twisting stems. CONFUSED WITH Large Bindweed (Calystegia silvatica) The bracteoles on Large Bindweed overlap, hiding the sepals. ndrew agg/plantlife R ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 7

10 White / Cream Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd s Purse Small 4-petalled white flowers on long stalks held horizontally from the main stem. Fruits distinctive, flat and heart-shaped, held erect. Basal rosette of variable leaves undivided to deeply lobed. Stem leaves clasping. petals notched petals twice as long as sepals Cerastium arvense Field Mouse-ear White flowers 12-20mm across with 5 notched petals twice as long as the sepals. Paired leaves, stems downy. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves downy petals notched petals the same length as sepals Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear White flowers 3-12mm across with 5 notched petals about the same length as sepals. Paired leaves and stems all very hairy. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves and stem hairy Liam Rooney 8 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

11 White / Cream petals the same length as sepals petals notched leaves sticky hairy Cerastium glomeratum Sticky Mouse-ear White flowers in tight clusters, each flower 8-10mm across with 5 notched petals the same length as sepals. Paired leaves; stems with sticky, glandular hairs. clusters of creamy-white flowers Ceratocapnos claviculata Climbing Corydalis Delicate climber growing to 80cm. Short spikes of creamywhite 2-lipped flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife Divided leaves ending in a tendril. leaves ending in a tedril Chaerophyllum temulum Rough Chervil Similar to Cow Parsley but flowers a little later cm tall with umbels up to 6cm across of tiny pure white flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife stem purple-spotted and bristly Hairy, divided leaves with blunt leaflets. Stems hairy, solid, ridged, with purple spots. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 9

12 White / Cream flowers with only 2 petals leaves in opposite pairs Circaea lutetiana Enchanter s-nightshade To 70cm tall bearing spikes of small white flowers, each with 2 deeply divided petals. Leaves in opposite pairs. Clematis vitalba Traveller s-joy / Old Man s Beard Small, fragrant, greenishwhite flowers on a plant that scrambles over trees and shrubs and can reach 30m. Paired leaves divided into pointed leaflets. nz_willowherb (CC BY-NC 2.0) Cochlearia sp. Scurvygrasses ndrew agg/plantlife Flowers, to 1cm across, with 4 white (usually) petals in a cross shape. Danish Fleshy leaves of various shapes. English Common 10 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

13 White / Cream Conopodium majus Pignut Delicate umbels 3-7cm across of tiny white flowers. Upper leaves very divided with linear segments. The smooth stem, 30-50cm tall, becomes hollow after flowering. leaves feathery Crambe maritima Sea-kale Herb to 50cm tall and 100cm across with white flowers, each 10-15mm across in branched, flattish-topped heads to 30cm across. Cath Shellswell/Plantlife Leaves large, very fleshy, waxy-grey with wavy edges. Daucus carota Wild Carrot ndrew agg/plantlife ruff of bracts below umbel stem rough-hairy Up to 100cm. Umbels 6-7cm across of tiny white flowers, with the central one often red, and a ruff of bracts underneath. Fern-like leaves clasping roughly hairy, solid, ridged stems. M Cotterill Species Identification uide 11

14 White / Cream flower stalk arises from centre of rosette narrow leaves tapering gradually into stalk Drosera anglica reat Sundew flower stalk arises from the centre of the rosette, is up to twice the length of the leaves and bears white flowers. Basal rosette of narrow leaves up to 3cm long, covered in sticky, red-tipped hairs and tapering gradually into long stalks. Drosera intermedia Oblong-leaved Sundew ndrew agg/plantlife flower stalk arises from leaf rosette flower stalk arises from below the rosette, is not much longer than the leaves and bears white flowers. spoon-shaped leaves Basal rosette of spoon-shaped leaves to 1cm long are covered in sticky, red-tipped hairs and narrow quickly into long, hairless stalks. Drosera rotundifolia Round-leaved Sundew M Cotterill flower stalk arises from leaf rosette flower stalk arises from the centre of the rosette, is 2-4 times the length of the leaves and bears white flowers. leaves round Basal rosette of circular leaves to 1cm across which are covered in sticky, red-tipped hairs and have long, hairy stalks. Beth Halski/Plantlife 12 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

15 White / Cream Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Fluffy cream heads of honey scented flowers. rows to 120cm. Leaves long-stalked, with 2-5 pairs of toothed, larger leaflets with small leaflets in between. Filipendula vulgaris Dropwort Cream flowers with a reddishtinge, 10-22mm across, in clusters shaped like an upsidedown triangle. rows up to 50cm tall. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves with 8-20 pairs of lobed and toothed larger leaflets with smaller leaflets in between. middle leaflet terminal tooth larger than others petals overlap or touch Species Identification uide Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Low herb to 15cm with long runners. White flowers 12-18mm across with petals close together, followed by red fleshy fruits. Bright, glossy, green, toothed leaves with 3 leaflets, with end tooth of middle leaflet usually longer than those on either side. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife 13

16 White / Cream leaves in whorls of 6-8 alium album (alium mollugo) Hedge Bedstraw White flowers 3mm across in loose, branched clusters on a sprawling, upright or scrambling plant to 1m. Pale green leaves with prickly edges in whorls of 6-8 round the 4-angled stem. alium aparine Cleavers / oosegrass Tiny white flowers on a sprawling plant reaching 1.8m with sticky bristles which stick onto clothing. Leaves in whorls of 6-8 round the 4-angled stems. Both leaf edges and stems have backward-pointing prickles. alium boreale Northern Bedstraw White flowers 4mm across in branched clusters on an upright plant to 60cm tall. Luke Morton/Plantlife leaves in whorls of 4 Dark green leaves in whorls of 4 round the 4-angled stems. Kevin Walker 14 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

17 White / Cream alium odoratum Woodruff White funnel-shaped flowers up to 6mm long in dense clusters on upright, carpetforming plants to 30cm tall. Leaves with prickly edges in whorls of 6-8 round the 4-angled stem. Fragrant when dried. leaves in whorls of 6-8 alium palustre Common Marsh-bedstraw White flowers about 4mm across in branched clusters on a straggling plant with upright stems to 100cm tall. Leaves with prickly edges in whorls of 4-6 round the 4-angled stem. Beth Halski/Plantlife leaves in whorls of 4-6 ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 15

18 White / Cream alium saxatile Heath Bedstraw White flowers 3mm across in open clusters on a matforming plant with upright stems to 20cm tall. R Leaves with prickly edges in whorls of 6-8 round the 4-angled stem. CONFUSED WITH Limestone Bedstraw (alium sterneri) Limestone Bedstraw has backwards pointing prickles on leaf edges, Heath Bedstraw has forward pointing prickles. alium sterneri Limestone Bedstraw Cream flowers 2-3mm across in long clusters on a matforming plant with upright stems to 20cm tall. ndrew agg/plantlife R Leaves with prickly edges in whorls of 7-8 (usually) round the 4-angled stem. CONFUSED WITH Heath Bedstraw (alium saxatile) Limestone Bedstraw has backwards pointing prickles on leaf edges, Heath Bedstraw has forward pointing prickles. ndrew agg/plantlife 16 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

19 Heracleum mantegazzianum iant Hogweed CUTION - DO NOT TOUCH, PHOTOTOXIC EFFECT Possibly the largest wild herb, to 500cm tall. Umbels up to 50cm across of white or pinkish flowers each up to 25mm across. Leaves enormous, to 100cm, divided, clasping hollow, ridged, red-purple spotted stems. Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed Robust herb to 200cm or more. Umbels up to 20cm across of small white or pinkish flowers. Leaves large, to 60cm, divided, clasping hollow, ridged stems. White / Cream BNNSS Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Frogbit quatic, floating plant with long runners. The 3-petalled white flowers 2cm across have crumpled petals and long stalks. The floating leaves have long stalks and are a rounded kidney shape. ndrew agg/plantlife P Shannon Species Identification uide 17

20 White / Cream Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy Long-stalked, large, white, daisy-like flowerheads on a plant to 70cm tall. Basal rosette of long-stalked, spoon-shaped leaves. Stem leaves toothed and stalkless. leaflets bright green, in 3s flowers greenishwhite Ligusticum scoticum Scots Lovage Stout plant, smelling of celery, 20-90cm tall, with dense umbels 4-6cm across of tiny greenish-white flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife Shiny bright green hairless leaves with leaflets in 3s. Stems often purplish. small white flowers petals longer than sepals leaves in opposite pairs stem reddish-purplish Linum catharticum Fairy Flax Slender herb to 25cm tall bearing branching, very open clusters of 5-petalled white flowers, each 4-6mm across. Opposite pairs of narrow, hairless, stalkless leaves to 8mm long. Pete Stroh ndrew agg/plantlife 18 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

21 White / Cream white flowers on long stalks stamens longer than petals Littorella uniflora Shoreweed Carpet forming plant with rosettes of leaves joined by runners. Submerged plants usually non-flowering. Flowers on exposed plants are tiny. Linear leaves, semi-circular in cross-section, in basal rosettes or tufts. linear leaves flowers dotted white, tightly clustered in leaf axils Lycopus europaeus ypsywort Upright herb to 1m, with white, 4-petalled flowers, 3mm across, in dense whorls spaced out along the stem. Pointed, deeply toothed/ lobed leaves in opposite pairs on a squarish stem. ndrew agg/plantlife toothed opposite leaves Species Identification uide stem squarish Ray Woods/Plantlife 19

22 White / Cream Matricaria chamomilla (Matricaria recutita) Scented Mayweed Daisy-like flowers, 10-25mm across; plant usually pleasantly scented. Flowers with white rays pointing down stem and conical yellow centre. Leaves very finely divided. CONFUSED WITH Stinking Chamomile (nthemis cotula) and Scentless Mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum) Stinking Chamomile has an unpleasant smell, Scentless Mayweed has no smell and flowers flatter at first. R Menyanthes trifoliata Bogbean quatic plant with spikes of fringed white flowers tinged with pink. Kevin Walker Trefoil leaves held above the surface of the water. Deborah Long 20 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

23 petals broad, not notched, slightly longer than sepals Minuartia verna Spring Sandwort Cushion forming plant. Flowers, 8-12mm across, have 5 white petals a little longer than the sepals. Paired, dark green, linear leaves, 6-15mm long with 3 veins. CONFUSED WITH Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa) Knotted Pearlwort has petals twice as long as sepals and no veins on leaves. White / Cream R paired, linear leaves with 3 veins petals not divided petals shorter than sepals Moehringia trinervia Three-nerved Sandwort Tim Wilkins Plant usually sprawling. White flowers 6mm across with 5 undivided petals shorter than the sepals. Leaves in pairs, with 3 strong veins. Stem hairy all round. Leaves in pairs, with 3 strong veins. Stem hairy all round. Species Identification uide 21

24 White / Cream Montia fontana Blinks Small straggling plant. The tiny white flowers have stalks and are in groups of 2 or 3. flowers tiny (2-3mm), white Paired, narrow leaves 2-20mm long. Stem sometimes reddish. leaves opposite Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel Solitary white flowers with lilac veins. To 10cm tall. Liam Rooney Delicate, drooping, yellowgreen leaves with 3 leaflets. delicate, drooping, yellow-green leaves with 3 leaflets. flowers greenish-white in a dense cluster leaves long and pointed Persicaria lapathifolia Pale Persicaria Dense, oval spikes of greenish-white (rarely pink) flowers, the flower stalk with conspicuous glands. Leaves long and pointed, sometimes with black blotches. Stems branched. Beth Halski ndrew agg/plantlife 22 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

25 White / Cream Persicaria vivipara lpine Bistort Dense, slender spike of white flowers 3-4mm across above purplish bulbils on usually hairless plant to 30cm tall. Leaves narrow to 7cm. Stems unbranched. upper flowers white, lower flowers replaced by purplish bulbils leaves narrow flowers white or pink without any bracts Pimpinella major reater Burnet-saxifrage Herb to 120cm tall with umbels of white, sometimes pink, flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife Dark green lower leaves with toothed, sometimes lobed, leaflets. Stem hairless, hollow, strongly ridged. leaflets toothed and sometimes lobed stem hairless and ridged Pete Stroh Species Identification uide 23

26 White / Cream spur long, slender, horizontal or slightly curved middle leaflet teeth all about equal leaves in a basal pair petals widely separated Platanthera bifolia Lesser Butterfly-orchid Loose spike of creamy flowers with a slight greenish tinge, 11-18mm across, with the spur often held horizontally. 2 oval leaves near the base of the stem. CONFUSED WITH reater Butterfly-orchid (Platanthera chlorantha reater Butterfly-orchid flowers have a more greenishtinge and the spur is strongly curved down. Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry Low herb to 15cm. White flowers 10-15mm across, with petals separated, showing the green sepals in between. Bluish-green, toothed, leaves with 3 leaflets, with end tooth of middle leaflet rarely longer than those either side. R Trevor Dines white petals with yellow bases Ranunculus sp. Water-crowfoots P Shannon 5 white petals with yellow bases. Leaves either finely-divided or with a broad blade or both types present. two different types of leaves can be present 24 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

27 White / Cream Rubus chamaemorus Cloudberry Creeping plant without prickles. The rare, solitary, white flowers are mm across are followed by fruits at first red then orange. The few leaves are 5-7 lobed and wrinkled. fruit red then orange Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble Variable scrambling shrub 1-3m with arching stems. Flowers white or pink, 20-30mm across, black fruits with many parts. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves with 3-5 hairy or prickly, toothed leaflets. Stem spiny, prickly or hairy. leaves trifoliate Rubus saxatilis Stone Bramble Creeping plant with only a few, weak prickles. White flowers 5-10mm across and red fruits with few sections. Leaves with 3 leaflets. ndrew agg/plantlife fruits with few sections Species Identification uide ndrew agg/plantlife 25

28 White / Cream Ruscus aculeatus Butcher s-broom Evergreen shrub to 1m tall. reenish-white flowers 5mm across in the middle of the tops of the leaves are followed by red berries. Leaves are dark green, tough and with a spiny tip. Sagina nodosa Knotted Pearlwort M Cotterill R tufts of leaves shorter higher up stem petals broad, much longer than the sepals Cushion forming plant. Flowers, 5-10mm across, have 5 white petals twice as long as the sepals. Veinless linear leaves in pairs and groups along the stem giving a knotted feel. CONFUSED WITH Spring Sandwort (Minuartia verna) Spring Sandwort has petals only a little longer than the sepals and leaves in pairs only. Liam Rooney 26 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

29 White / Cream Sagittaria sagittifolia rrowhead Flowers in a long, whorled cluster, each 20-25mm across, with 3 white petals with a purple spot at the base. Long-stalked, arrow-shaped aerial leaves and linear, translucent submerged leaves. flowers white or pink Sanicula europaea Sanicle Herb to 120cm tall with umbels of tight clusters of white or pink flowers. Long-stalked leaves are shiny underneath and have 3-7 toothed lobes. ndrew agg/plantlife plant hairless leaf with toothed lobes flowers in a loose cluster Saxifraga granulata Meadow Saxifrage Upright hairy herb 10-50cm tall bearing loose clusters of silvery white flowers each 15-30mm across. Basal rosette of long-stalked leaves with edge divided into at least 5 rounded lobes. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves lobed at edge, kidney-shaped outline ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 27

30 White / Cream small groups of flowers linear lobed leaves Saxifraga hypnoides Mossy Saxifrage Mat-forming herb with upright flowering shoots bearing a few white flowers each 10-20mm across. Basal rosette of mostly 3-linear-lobed leaves plus linear stem leaves. petals with 2 yellow dots leaves toothed and thick numerous nonflowering creeping leafy shoots Saxifraga stellaris Starry Saxifrage Upright herb to 30cm tall with loose groups of white flowers with 2 yellow dots at the base of the petals. Toothed thick leaves without distinct stems in basal rosettes or leafy shoots. ndrew agg/plantlife flowers small, 4-6mm across leaves with long lobes Saxifraga tridactylites Rue-leaved Saxifrage Sticky-hairy herb to 15cm tall with either single or loose groups of white flowers 4-6mm across. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves and stem reddish Lower leaves have stalks and 3-5 long lobes. Leaves and stems reddish. ndrew agg/plantlife 28 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

31 flowers white, pink-tinged underneath Sedum anglicum English Stonecrop Mat-forming plant to 5cm tall with white, 5-petalled, starlike flowers in small groups at the end of stems. Fleshy, egg-shaped, evergreen leaves, greyish-green or redtinged. White / Cream leaves fleshy petals notched Silene latifolia White Campion White flowers 25-30mm across with notched petals on a softly hairy, sticky plant to 1m tall. Opposite, oval, softly hairy leaves, hairy stems. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves and stem hairy petals notched and overlapping Silene uniflora Sea Campion Cushion forming plant bearing white flowers 20-25mm across with notched petals that overlap. Opposite, greyish, waxy, fleshy leaves. ndrew agg/plantlife stems procumbent leaves grey and waxy Paul illard (paulgillard.com) Species Identification uide 29

32 White / Cream petals divided more than half way petals and sepals equal in length stem smooth Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort White flowers, 5-18mm across, with 5 petals divided more than half way and the same length as sepals. Leaves narrow, with smooth edges, stalkless, in pairs. Stem square. petals twice as long as sepals leaf edges rough petals divided half way Stellaria holostea reater Stitchwort White flowers, 20-30mm across, with 5 petals divided half way and twice as long as the sepals. Leaves narrow, with rough edges, stalkless, in pairs, each pair at right angles to the next. Stem square. ndrew agg/plantlife petals and sepals equal in length Stellaria media Common Chickweed Plant usually sprawling. White flowers 5-10mm across with 5 deeply divided petals the same length as the sepals. Leaves in pairs, lower long-stalked, upper almost unstalked. Stem rounded with a single line of hairs. ndrew agg/plantlife petals divided to base single line of hairs on stem ndrew agg/plantlife 30 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

33 mass of erect yellow stamens Thalictrum flavum Common Meadow-rue Small white 4-lobed flowers in dense clusters appear yellow due to erect, yellow stamens. White / Cream leaflets longer than wide Leaves have divided leaflets, each longer than they are wide. flowers droop in bud drooping stamens Thalictrum minus Lesser Meadow-rue Loose groups of small white 4-lobed flowers with drooping yellow stamens. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves have divided leaflets, each as wide as they are long. leaflets as wide as they are long Torilis japonica Upright Hedge-parsley ndrew agg/plantlife Herb to 125cm tall with umbels up to 4cm across of tiny white or pink flowers. Dull green, roughly hairy, fern-like leaves with pointed leaflets. Stems solid, rough, hairy, without spots. stem unspotted rough and hairy ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 31

34 White / Cream Trientalis europaea Chickweed-wintergreen Slender herb to 25cm tall bearing 1 or 2 long-stalked starry white flowers. Most leaves in a single whorl below flowers. Trifolium repens White Clover Long-stalked white flowerheads to 2cm on a creeping plant. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves with 3 oval, toothed leaflets, usually with a whitish band. CONFUSED WITH Stinking Chamomile (nthemis cotula) and Scented Mayweed (Matricaria Chamomilla) Stinking Chamomile has an unpleasant smell, Scented Mayweed has a pleasant smell and more conical flowers. Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless Mayweed Daisy-like flowers 15-35mm across, in loose clusters. Flowers flat at first, later with conical yellow centre. Leaves very finely divided and scentless. Liam Rooney R nz_willowherb (CC BY-NC 2.0) 32 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

35 Yellow Stem often reddish many flowered, hairy, rounded head rooved receptacle below flower head end leaflet larger grimonia eupatoria grimony Spikes of yellow flowers 5-8mm across in narrow spikes on stems to 60cm tall. Lower leaves with 3-6 pairs of larger toothed leaflets interspersed with smaller leaflets. Stems softly hairy, often reddish. nthylllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch Yellow (or sometimes white, cream, pink or purple) pea flowers in rounded, hairy heads, often paired. Leaves with narrow leaflets, the end one larger. ndrew agg/plantlife ray florets usually absent 5 or more leafy bracts below flowerheads Bidens tripartita Trifid Bur-marigold Long-stalked flowerheads, in branched clusters, have dull yellow disc florets, no (rarely a few) ray florets and leaf-like bracts underneath. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves in pairs, usually with 3, pointed, toothed, leaflets. leaves 3-lobed Pete Stroh Species Identification uide 33

36 Yellow Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort Yellow flowers, 10-15mm across, with 6-8 petals, in loose, branching clusters. Pairs of waxy, greyish, triangular leaves join forming a ring around the stem. Caltha palustris Marsh-marigold Yellow buttercup-like flowers 2-4cm across with 7-12 petals - one of the earliest flowers. Liam Rooney Kidney-shaped shiny leaves. Carlina vulgaris Carline Thistle Straw-coloured flowerheads to 4cm across. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves with wavy, spiny lobes. Spiny stems. ndrew agg/plantlife 34 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

37 Yellow bracts have black woolly hairs Crepis paludosa Marsh Hawk s-beard Flowerheads, 15-25mm across, of yellow ray florets with 2 rows of black hairy bracts underneath. Wavy-edged, clasping stem leaves have back-pointing lobes at base. Branching stems. stem leaves have arrowshaped leaf bases Crithmum maritimum Rock Samphire Umbels 3-6cm across of tiny yellow-green flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife Fleshy leaves divided into narrow segments. Solid, ridged, branching stems. Cruciata laevipes Crosswort Yellow flowers, 2-3mm across, in dense clusters above whorls of leaves. ndrew agg/plantlife roups of 4, hairy leaves in whorls around the 4-angled hairy stem. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 35

38 Yellow Cytisus scoparius Broom Spineless, evergreen shrub with yellow pea flowers up to 2cm long. Stalked leaves, with 1-3 leaflets. Stems are hairless, straight and 4-angled. flowerheads in small clusters Filago minima Small Cudweed Ray Woods/Plantlife Whole plant grey-woolly. Small oval clusters of yellow flowerheads with disc florets only. Narrow leaves 5-10mm long. Stems branch from above the middle. small, yellow flowers stems branch from above the middle alium verum Lady s Bedstraw olden-yellow flowers 2-3mm across on a creeping plant to 60cm tall. Tim Pankhurst/Plantlife leaves linear in whorls of 8-12 Dark green, linear leaves in whorls of 8-12 around the weakly 4-angled stems. Beth Halski 36 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

39 flowers in short clusters stem with long spines enista anglica Petty Whin Straggling, evergreen shrub with yellow pea flowers, each 6-9mm long, in short clusters. Waxy leaves and long spines. Yellow Pods swollen, hairless flowers in long terminal racemes Hairs on leaf margins only enista tinctoria Dyer s reenweed Erect, evergreen shrub to 50cm or more with yellow pea flowers, each about 15mm long, in long spikes. Narrow, pointed leaves, hairs only on leaf margins. ndrew agg/plantlife eum urbanum Wood vens Hairy herb to 60cm with long-stalked yellow, 5 petalled flowers 8-15mm across. Lower leaves with a large 3-lobed upper leaflet and 2-3 pairs of smaller leafletes. Stem leaves usually with 3 lobes. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 37

40 Yellow laucium flavum Yellow Horned-poppy Branched herb with 4-petalled yellow flowers 6-9cm across. Fruit up to 30cm curved - the horn in the common name. Waxy, deeply divided leaves. lebionis segetum (Chrysanthemum segetum) Corn Marigold Solitary flowerheads 35-60mm across with golden-yellow ray and disc florets. Slightly fleshy grey-green leaves, lobed and toothed. ndrew agg/plantlife Helianthemum nummularium Common Rock-rose Spreading sub-shrub to 50cm. Bright yellow, 5-petalled flowers to 25mm across. Narrow, paired leaves, whitewoolly underneath. Tim Wilkins/Plantlife Beth Helski/Plantlife 38 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

41 Helminthotheca echiodes (Picris echiodes) Bristly Oxtongue Loose groups of yellow flowerheads, each 20-25mm across. Leaves with swollen-based bristles, like blisters. Stem ridged and bristly. Yellow leaves with swollen, white-based bristles Hippocrepis comosa Horseshoe Vetch Clear yellow pea flowers in whorls of 5-8 on long stalks. Steve Chilton/2.0 eneric Leaves with notched leaflets. Sinuous pods flowers in a whorl Tim Wilkins/Plantlife leaflets notched Species Identification uide 39

42 Yellow flowers in terminal clusters leaves oval to almost circular leaves Hypericum elodes Marsh St John s-wort Yellow flowers, 10-15mm across, that only partially open, borne in clusters at the top of upright stems. Paired, broad oval leaves. Leaves and the creeping stems grey-hairy. stems grey-hairy flowers pale yellow Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St John s-wort Pale yellow flowers, 20mm across, in clusters. Liam Rooney R leaves with translucent dots stem square with angled wings Paired leaves with translucent dots. Stem reddish, square with 4 wings. CONFUSED WITH Perforate St. John s-wort (H. perforatum) and Imperforate St.John s-wort (H. maculatum) Perforate St John s-wort has round stems with 2 raised ridges. Imperforate St John swort has square stems without wings and leaves without translucent dots. Steve Chilton (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 40 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

43 Yellow few scales on flower stalks Hypochaeris radicata Cat s-ear Flowerheads, 20-40mm across, bright yellow on hairless stalks with scales. Leaves in a basal rosette, wavy-edged and bristly. Stem enlarges near flowerhead. R leaves with wavy edges and bristles CONFUSED WITH Smooth Cat s-ear (H.glabra) and Spotted Cat s-ear (H. maculata) Smooth Cat s ear has hairless leaves. Spotted Cat s-ear has leaves with red-purple blotches. flowerheads dark yellow with purplish bracts Inula conyzae Ploughman s-spikenard Dense, branching clusters of dark yellow flowerheads, each 10mm across. Ray florets may be absent. Lower leaves to 15cm, pointed, toothed, downy, with a flattened stalk. Stems downy. ndrew agg/plantlife lower leaves narrow into winged stalks ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 41

44 Yellow Iris pseudacorus Yellow Iris Clusters of 2-3 bright yellow flowers 7-10cm across with 3 large tepals curving downwards on stalks to 120cm. Leaves sword-shaped, to 1m long by 3cm wide, greyish-green. straight spur Kickxia elatine Sharp-leaved Fluellen Low-growing, hairy herb. 2-lipped flowers, yellow with pale purple upper lip and straight spur, and hairless stalks. Beth Halski leaves arrowshaped, pointed flower stalks hairless Leaves triangular in outline with arrow-shaped bases. Young plants may have less angular leaves. curved spur flower Kickxia spuria Round-leaved Fluellen Low-growing, very hairy and sticky herb. 2-lipped flowers, yellow with dark purple upper lip and curved spur, and woolly stalks. Leaves oval. M Cotterill leaves oval stalks woolly P Shannon 42 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

45 Yellow Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce Upright herb to 120cm bearing loose clusters of yellow flowerheads, 11-13mm across, with 7-12 ray florets and no disc florets. Thick, grey-green leaves with prickly edges and arrowshaped lobes clasping often reddish stems. P Shannon arrow-shaped lobes leaves with prickly edges Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow rchangel Hairy plant with whorls of bright yellow, 2-lipped flowers. Opposite pairs of pointed leaves with toothed edges. Stems squarish. CONFUSED WITH Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. argentatum This garden escape has conspicuously white-blotched leaves. Luke Morton Species Identification uide 43

46 Yellow flowerheads on long stalks Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling Scrambling herb with longstalked clusters of 5-12 yellow pea flowers. Leaves with narrow, greygreen leaflets, tendrils, and leaf-like, arrow-shaped stipules. Stem angled. stem angled one pair of leaflets stipules large, with arrow shaped bases Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Twining shrub to 6m with creamy-yellow trumpetshaped flowers in whorls at the end of stems. ndrew agg/plantlife rey-green pointed leaves in opposite pairs. flowers mm long orange-red in bud Stem solid separated lower leaflets Lotus corniculatus Common Bird s-foot-trefoil Deep yellow pea flowers in clusters of 2-7, often redtinged. Calyx teeth erect, not bent back, in bud. Leaves with 5 narrowly oval leaflets, the lower 2 bent back by the stem so that leaves appear trefoil. No tendrils. Stem solid. Beth Halski Beth Halski 44 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

47 Yellow flowers mm long orange-red in bud Lotus pedunculatus reater Bird s-foot-trefoil Clear yellow pea flowers in clusters of 2-8, not redtinged. Calyx teeth bent back, in bud. separated lower leaflets stem hairy and hollow Leaves with 5 narrowly oval leaflets, the lower 2 bent back by the stem so that leaves appear trefoil. No tendrils. Stem hollow. Lysichiton americanus merican Skunk-cabbage Yellow spathe and yellowgreen spadix, smells awful. Leaves can range in size between cm x 25-70cm. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves oval, pointed, in opposite pairs flowers flat, on slender stalks Lysimachia nemorum Yellow Pimpernel Evergreen, prostrate herb with 5-petalled, yellow flowers on slender stalks. Opposite (paired), pointed leaves. CONFUSED WITH Creeping-Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) Creeping-Jenny has rounded leaves. BNNSS Beth Halski Species Identification uide 45

48 Yellow Lysimachia vulgaris Yellow Loosestrife Hairy herb with clusters of bright yellow, star-like flowers in leaf axils at the top of upright stems. Leaves in groups of 2, 3 or 4 at intervals along stem. dense flowerhead Medicago lupulina Black Medick Downy, upright herb to 60cm with rounded flowerheads 3-9mm across of yellow flowers followed by black, coiled, fruits. Trifoliate leaves, with a tiny point in the notch at the tip of each leaflet. ndrew agg/plantlife R pods coiled black leaflets with distinct, terminal tooth CONFUSED WITH Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre) and Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium) Hop and Lesser Trefoil have smaller leaflets (<5mm wide) and lack the distinct terminal tooth. ndrew agg/plantlife 46 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

49 Yellow petals pale yellowish-white both flowers turned to one side Melampyrum pratense Common Cow-wheat Pairs of pale yellow, 2-lipped flowers 10-17mm long, both turned to one side, in the axils of leaves. Paired, narrow untoothed leaves to 8 cm, unstalked or with short stalks. Mycelis muralis Wall Lettuce Upright herb to 100cm bearing loose clusters of yellow flowerheads, 7-10mm across, usually with 5 ray florets and no disc florets. ndrew agg/plantlife flowers about 15mm across lobed leaves flowerheads with 5 ray florets Thin, often reddish, lobed leaves, lower with winged stalks, upper with arrowshaped lobes clasping stems. Narthecium ossifragum Bog sphodel Creeping plant with upright stems to 45cm tall. Deep golden yellow or orange starlike flowers with 6 petals. ndrew agg/plantlife orange-yellow anthers have orange, woolly filaments Leaves long and narrow and all flattened in one plane. Species Identification uide leaves long and narrow flattened in one plane Michael Scot/Plantlife 47

50 Yellow tiny flowers appearing orange pods beaded Ornithopus perpusillus Bird s-foot Downy, prostrate herb to 40cm long with small clusters of red-veined, creamy pea flowers, which can look orange. Leaves have 4-13 pairs of leaflets. flowers yellow downy leaves with toothed leaflets Pastinaca sativa Wild Parsnip To 100cm tall with umbels of tiny yellow flowers 5-10cm across. Downy leaves with toothed leaflets. Stems usually hollow, ridged, angled and downy. Stems usually hollow, ridged, angled and downy Bob ibbons/plantlife flowers pale yellow Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear-hawkweed Single pale yellow flowerheads 15-25mm across. Florets with red stripes underneath. Hairy, spoon-shaped leaves in a basal rosette, white underneath, green on top. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves white-hairy underneath free photos (CC BY 2.0) 48 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

51 Yellow Potentilla anserina Silverweed Yellow, 5 petalled saucershaped flowers cm across, on long stalks. leaves divided and silvery underneath leaves in basal rosette Divided silvery, silky, leaves in rosettes and on long rooting runners. leaves with 3 leaflets but can look like 5 flowers almost always 4-petalled Potentilla erecta Tormentil Creeping plant with loose groups of yellow 4-petalled flowers on long stalks. Leaves with 3 leaflets, but can look like 5, without stalks. Luke Morton/Plantlife Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil Yellow, 5-petalled flowers mm across, on long stalks. Leaves with 5 or 7 leaflets on long stalks. Stems all creeping and rooting. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves long-stalked stem creeping 5-7 leaflets ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 49

52 Yellow flowers in clusters Primula veris Cowslip Deep yellow, cup-shaped, 10mm flowers, clustered at the top of a stem to 30cm tall. Rosette of wrinkly leaves each up to 15cm long, abruptly narrowed to the stalk. leaves abruptly narrowed to the stalk pale, fragrant, green-veined, yellow flowers borne singly Primula vulgaris Primrose Pale yellow, green-veined, flowers to 3cm across, borne singly on stalks. Rosette of wrinkled leaves tapering gradually to stalk, each up to 15cm long. Bob ibbons/plantlife leaves tapering gradually into stalk Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup Shiny yellow flowers with sepals cupping the petals. No runners. Leaves with a polygonal outline, 3-5 deeply divided lobes. Flower stalk ungrooved. Beth Halski leaves with polygonal outline, deeply divided flower stalk ungrooved Ray Woods 50 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

53 sepals turned downwards Ranunculus bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup Shiny yellow flowers with sepals bent back. No runners. Leaves with triangular outline, 3-lobed, the end lobe stalked. Flower stalk grooved. Yellow flower stalk grooved leaves with triangular outline leaves with triangular outline end-lobe stalked Flower stalk grooved end-lobe stalked Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup Shiny yellow flowers with sepals cupping the petals. Creeping runners root at the nodes. Leaves with triangular outline, 3-lobed, the end lobe stalked. Flower stalk grooved. Liam Rooney Ranunculus sceleratus Celery-leaved Buttercup Branched clusters of shiny pale yellow flowers with sepals bent back. No runners. Lower leaves with long stalks and 3 lobes, stem leaves more deeply divided. Bob ibbons/plantlife sepals turned downwards Species Identification uide P Shannon 51

54 Yellow flowers have 6 petals Reseda lutea Wild Mignonette reenish-yellow 6-petalled flowers in a conical spike on stems 30-75cm tall. Basal rosette and stem leaves divided with narrow lobes. Stems ribbed, solid, branched. divided leaves with narrow lobes flowers have 4 petals Reseda luteola Weld reenish-yellow 4-petalled flowers in a long, narrow spike on stems cm tall. ll leaves long, thin and unlobed and with a wavy margin. Beth Halski leaves unlobed ndrew agg/plantlife 52 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

55 calyx flattened, inflates after flowering seeds rattle inside Rhinanthus minor Yellow-rattle More or less hairless plant to 50cm tall with leafy spikes of yellow 2-lipped flowers. Leaves unstalked, opposite, narrow and toothed. Stem black-spotted. Yellow leaves narrow toothed stem black spotted flowers with 4 petals the same length as sepals Rorippa palustris Marsh Yellow-cress Upright herb to 60cm tall with clusters of yellow, 4-petalled flowers with petals and sepals equal in length and >1.6mm long. Leaves deeply divided with toothed lobes and a pair of small lobes at the base of the leaf by the stem. ndrew agg/plantlife R CONFUSED WITH Creeping Yellow-cress (Rorippa sylvestris) and Northern Yellow-cress (Rorippa islandica) Creeping Yellow-cress is less upright and has petals longer than sepals. Northern Yellowcress has petals and sepals <1.6mm and no auricles. leaves deeply divided and toothed Species Identification uide 53

56 Yellow bright yellow petals usually red-dotted at base Saxifraga aizoides Yellow Saxifrage Creeping plant with upright flowering shoots bearing loose clusters of bright yellow flowers each 7-15mm across. leaves often toothed Stalkless, narrow leaves, often toothed. flowers bright yellow Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop Mat-forming plant to 10cm tall with yellow, 5-petalled, starlike flowers in small groups at the end of stems. Fleshy, egg-shaped, evergreen leaves 3-5mm long. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves short and fleshy flowers small in large terminal cluster leaves thick, fleshy and abundant Sedum rosea Roseroot Upright, succulent herb with large clusters of small, dull yellow flowers. Fleshy grey-green leaves. Bob ibbons/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife 54 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

57 flower clusters loose end lobe of leaf large Senecio aquaticus Marsh Ragwort Erect plant cm. Loosely branched clusters of flowerheads, each 25-30mm across, with golden yellow ray and disc florets. Basal leaves undivided, stem leaves with divided lobes, the end one large and oval. CONFUSED WITH Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobea) and Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) Common Ragwort basal leaves have divided lobes. Oxford Ragwort is more spreading and bushy. Yellow R Senecio erucifolius Hoary Ragwort Erect plant cm. Loosely branched clusters of flowerheads, each 15-10mm across, with pale yellow ray and disc florets. Leaves grey-green, all with narrow, pointed lobes. nz_willowherb (CC BY-NC 2.0) Species Identification uide Tico (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 55

58 Yellow lower leaves with divided lobes flower clusters dense and more or less flat-topped Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort Erect plant cm. Terminal clusters of flowerheads, each 15-25mm across, with bright yellow ray and disc florets. Basal rosette leaves and stem leaves with divided lobes. CONFUSED WITH Marsh Ragwort (Senecio aquaticus) and Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus). Marsh Ragwort basal leaves have undivided lobes. Oxford Ragwort is more spreading and bushy. R flowers yellow Silaum silaus Pepper-saxifrage To 100cm tall with umbels to 2-6cm across of tiny bright yellow flowers. Lower leaves much divided with narrow leaflets. Stems solid and ridged. Beth Halski/Plantlife leaves triangular in outline with narrow leaflets ndrew agg/plantlife 56 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

59 Yellow Solidago virgaurea oldenrod Numerous flowerheads 6-10mm across in leafy spikes with yellow ray and disc florets. Leaves narrow. bracts and stalls with yellow sticky hairs Sonchus arvensis Perennial Sowthistle Stout plant to 150cm tall with deep yellow flowerheads 40-50mm across on sticky hairy stalks. Shiny green, lobed leaves with fine spines on the edges and rounded clasping bases. lan Hamilton/Plantlife leaves with rounded bases Beth Halski Species Identification uide 57

60 Yellow golden yellow flowerheads spiny-toothed margins Sonchus asper Prickly Sowthistle Stout plant to 100cm tall with golden yellow flowerheads 20-25mm across. Lobed green leaves with deeply-toothed, spiny edges and rounded clasping bases. CONFUSED WITH Smooth Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) Smooth Sowthistle has dull, grey leaves, not spiny to touch. leaves with rounded bases pale yellow flowerheads leaves with pointed bases Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sowthistle Stout plant to 100cm tall with pale yellow flowerheads 20-25mm across. Lobed grey-green leaves with toothed, spiny edges and pointed clasping bases. CONFUSED WITH Prickly Sowthistle (Sonchus asper) Prickly Sowthistle has shiny leaves which are spiny to touch. ndrew agg/plantlife toothed margins H Higgins/IWNHS 58 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

61 Yellow Trifolium campestre Hop Trefoil Upright herb to 30cm with rounded flowerheads 10-15mm across of more than 25 yellow flowers. R Trifoliate leaves. CONFUSED WITH Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium) and Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) Lesser Trefoil is smaller with less dense flowerheads. Black Medick has a minute point in the centre of the leaflet tip. flowerhead with less than 25 flowers Trifolium dubium Lesser Trefoil Upright herb to 30cm with rounded flowerheads 5-9mm across of 3-24 yellow flowers. Trifoliate leaves. CONFUSED WITH Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre) and Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) Hop Trefoil is larger with denser flowerheads. Black Medick has a minute point in the centre of the leaflet tip. P Shannon R Species Identification uide nne Tanne (CC BY-NC-S 2.0) 59

62 Yellow petal-like sepals curl inwards to form a sphere leaves palmately divided Trollius europaeus lobeflower Yellow globe-shaped flowers on an upright plant to 60cm tall. Deeply divided leaves with deeply-toothed lobes. Ulex europaeus orse Spiny evergreen shrub to 2m tall with yellow pea flowers. ll leaves are spines, 15-25mm, deeply furrowed. ndrew agg/plantlife R Calyces 10-17mm long CONFUSED WITH Western orse (Ulex gallii) and Dwarf orse (Ulex minor) orse has deeply furrowed spines. spines long, deeply furrowed Deborah Long/Plantlife 60 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

63 Calyces > 9mm long. spines long, faintly furrowed Ulex gallii Western orse Spiny evergreen shrub with yellow pea flowers. Intermediate between orse and Dwarf orse. Record as Ulex gallii / Ulex minor unless on Dry montane heathland. ll leaves are spines, 10-25mm, faintly furrowed. CONFUSED WITH orse (Ulex europaeus) and Dwarf orse (Ulex minor) Western orse is a stronger growing plant than Dwarf orse and has calyces >9mm long. Yellow R Calyces < 9mm long spines short, only weakly furrowed Ulex minor Dwarf orse Spiny evergreen shrub to 1m tall, often spreading, with yellow pea flowers. Record as Ulex gallii / Ulex minor unless on Dry montane heathland. ll leaves are spines, about 10mm, faintly furrowed, and not rigid. Stems weaker. CONFUSED WITH orse (Ulex europaeus) and Western orse (Ulex gallii) Dwarf orse is weaker and more spreading than Western orse and has calyces < 9mm long. ndrew agg/plantlife R Species Identification uide ndrew agg/plantlife 61

64 Yellow sepals at least as long as petals Viola arvensis Field Pansy Flowers, 15mm across, with petals mostly creamy yellow but upper sometimes bluishviolet. Petals shorter or same length as sepals. Leaves oval and toothed. Stipules look like lobed leaves. Viola lutea Mountain Pansy Flowers, 15-25mm across, with petals bright yellow or sometimes bluish-violet or mixed. Petals shorter or same length as sepals. Leaves oval and toothed. Stipules look like lobed leaves. Kevin Walker stipules deeply lobed Cath Shellswell/Plantlife 62 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

65 Red nagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel 5-20cm sprawling or prostate plant with bright red (or sometimes blue or pink) flowers borne singly on long stalks from leaf axils. Oval leaves opposite or whorled. Squarish stem. Centranthus ruber Red Valerian Tall herb with terminal red, pink or white flowerheads. ndrew agg/plantlife Paired, grey-green leaves. Cynoglossum officinale Hound s-tongue reyish-downy herb 30-80cm tall bearing clusters of purplish-red, funnel-shaped flowers. P Shannon leaves and stem grey-downy Pointed basal leaves to 30cm long. Stem leaves smaller and narrower. Liam Rooney Species Identification uide 63

66 Red crimson-red flowers turn blue or green Lathyrus linifolius Bitter-vetch Upright herb with small clusters of crimson-red pea flowers which turn blue or green. Leaves have 2-4 pairs of narrow leaflets, no tendrils. Stems have 2 narrow wings. leaves without tendrils leaves rounded and kidneyshaped stem winged unusual green or greenishred flowers Oxyria digyna Mountain Sorrel Flowers greenish-red in loose spikes on plants to 30cm tall. Leaves fleshy, kidney-shaped, mostly at the base of the plant. ndrew agg/plantlife Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel Flowers greenish-red in loose spikes on plant 30-80cm tall. ndrew agg/plantlife upper leaves clasping stem lower leaves with stalks leaves arrowshaped Leaves arrow-shaped at base to 10cm. Lower leaves stalked, upper clasping stem. Beth Halski/Plantlife 64 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

67 Red Rumex acetosella Sheep s Sorrel Flowers greenish-red in loose spikes on plant to 30cm tall. Leaves arrow-shaped at base to 4 cm long with sidelobes spreading or pointing forwards. ll leaves stalked. leaves arrow-shaped with basal points facing sideways or forwards all leaves stalked flowers burgundy flowerheads oblong Sanguisorba officinalis reat Burnet Upright plant to 100cm bearing oblong heads of tiny burgundy flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife Basal leaves with long-stalked, toothed leaflets in 3-7 pairs. Stem leaves smaller. leaflets long-stalked in 3-7 pairs ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 65

68 Pink nagallis tenella Bog Pimpernel Tiny creeping plant with funnel-shaped flowers borne singly on long stalks from leaf axils. Petals appear pink but actually white with red veins. Paired, oval leaves. ntennaria dioica Mountain Everlasting 2-8 pink or whitish flowerheads in a dense cluster. ll leaves white woolly underneath. Stems woody, producing runners. R Woods rmeria maritima Thrift Cushion forming plant. lobular heads of pink flowers have stalks 5-30cm long. Pete Stroh Flattened, linear, dark green leaves. Sue Nottingham 66 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

69 flowers pink in terminal umbel Butomus umbellatus Flowering-rush quatic plant to 150cm. Pink flowers, 15-30mm across, in loose clusters at the top of leafless stems. Leaves linear, 3-angled. Pink leaves linear, pointed, 3-angled Cardamine pratensis Cuckooflower / Lady s Smock Variable plant, to 60cm, sometimes with runners. Flowers rose-pink to white, 12-18mm across, with 4 petals. Lower leaves with round leaflets, terminal leaflet much larger. Upper leaves with narrow leaflets. ndrew agg/plantlife Carpobrotus edulis Hottentot-fig Creeping plant that can cover large areas. Single shortstalked pink or yellow flowers with many narrow petals. ndrew agg/plantlife Narrow paired leaves that are fleshy and curved. Stems angled, woody at the base. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 67

70 Pink Clinopodium acinos Basil Thyme Small plant to 15cm tall with whorls of lipped violet flowers with white blotches on lower lip. Leaves opposite and hairless. Stem square and hairy. Colchicum autumnale utumn Crocus Flowers with 6 pink-purple tepals on a long white tube arise directly from the ground in autumn after the leaves have died. Beth Halski/Plantlife lossy green, leaves 12-30cm wide by 1.5-4cm wide, are produced in spring. Liz Fleming-Williams 68 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

71 Pink Cuscuta epithymum Dodder parasitic climbing plant with dense clusters, 10-15mm across, of tiny pink, bellshaped flowers. Leaves scale-like, stems reddish, threadlike, twining anti-clockwise around the host plant. flowers pale pink with redpurple dots and streaks leaves have wide purple blotches central lobe longer than side lobes Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted-orchid Flowers in a dense spike, pale pink with darker streak and dot markings, lower lip deeply lobed. Broad grey-green basal leaves and smaller stem leaves all, usually, with wide, purple blotches. CONFUSED WITH Heath Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) Heath Spotted-orchid has narrower leaves with rounder blotches and flowers with a more shallowly lobed lip. Tico (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) R ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 69

72 Pink flowers with red-purple loops and streaks central tooth of lip not longer than side lobes Dactylorhiza maculata Heath Spotted-orchid Flowers in a dense spike, white, pink or pale purple, with darker streak and loop markings. Pointed leaves with round purple blotches. CONFUSED WITH Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) Common Spotted-orchid has broader leaves with wider blotches and flowers with a more deeply lobed lip. R leaves narrow, pointed, spotted flowers with dots and streaks on lip only lip shallowly 3-lobed Dactylorhiza praetermissa Southern Marsh-orchid Flowers in a dense spike, pale purplish-pink, with darker markings on the lip only. Leaves in 2 ranks up the stem, usually unspotted. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves 2-ranked Joe Sutton/Plantlife 70 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

73 flowers large stems denselydowny Epilobium hirsutum reat Willowherb Tall (to 2m) herb with pinkpurple flowers to 2.5 cm in diameter. Opposite leaves, clasping the round, downy stem. Pink leaves clasping pink flowers clustered at tip Erica tetralix Cross-leaved Heath Similar to bell heather but pink flowers larger (0.7cm) and in a tight one-sided cluster. Leaves grey in distinct whorls of 4 up the stem. Ray Woods/Plantlife leaves greyish, in fours CONFUSED WITH Bell heather (Erica cinerea) larger pale pink flowers, and grey hairy leaves Fumaria sp. Fumitories S Rae/2.0 eneric Delicate, sprawling herbs with tubular 2-lipped flowers, white, pink or purple. Leaves much divided. Species Identification uide 71

74 Pink eranium robertianum Herb-Robert To 50cm tall, hairy, with a strong, unpleasant smell. Pink (occasionally white) flowers 2cm across. Leaves with a triangular outline, divided to base. Leaves and stems sometimes reddish. eranium sanguineum Bloody Crane s-bill Bushy herb to 50cm tall. Solitary, long-stalked, deep pink flowers 20-30mm across with unnotched petals. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves hairy, deeply divided into 5-7 lobes. flowers solitary in leaf axils leaves fleshy laux maritima Sea Milkwort Creeping herb with solitary pink (or white) flowers 5mm across. Lower leaves in pairs, upper alternate, fleshy. CONFUSED WITH Sea Sandwort(Honckenya peploides) Sea Milkwort has pink calyx, and prefers wetter habitats. ndrew agg/plantlife 72 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

75 Pink spur long and slender ymnadenia conopsea Fragrant Orchid* Scented, rosy-pink unspotted flowers with a long spur in a cylindrical spike. Basal rosette of glossy green, unspotted leaves and narrower leaves in 2 ranks on stem. *Some authors differentiate 3 separate taxa as either subspecies or species (Stace, 2010). Hydrocotyle vulgaris Marsh Pennywort Creeping plant. Flowers are tiny, pinkish-green, infrequent and often hidden amongst the leaves. Beth Halski/Plantlife Circular leaves are attached to their long stalks in the centre. Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan Balsam large plant (1-3m) often found in clumps with large policeman s helmet pinkpurple flowers 4cm long. Leaves with small red teeth at edge, in whorls of 3 or opposite, reddish stem. Pete Stroh Ray Woods/Plantlife Species Identification uide 73

76 Pink leaf-like bracts joined around stem Lamium amplexicaule Henbit Dead-nettle Downy plant with whorls of pink-purple, 2-lipped flowers, above leaf-like bracts. leaves with long stalks Opposite pairs of long-stalked, rounded leaves with toothed edges. Stems squarish. leaves with few teeth flower reddish-pink with 2 lips Odontites vernus Red Bartsia Reddish-pink, 2-lipped flowers in a leafy spike on a downy plant to 50cm. P Shannon plant downy Paired, unstalked leaves with few teeth. top lip with 4 teeth flower pinkish-red Pedicularis palustris Marsh Lousewort Many pink-red 2-lipped flowers, the upper lip with 4 teeth, in a leafy spike on a plant to 60cm tall. Leaves deeply dissected with toothed lobes on a single, branched stem. Beth Halski single, branched stem Bob ibbons/plantlife 74 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

77 top lip with 2 teeth flower pink Pedicularis sylvatica Lousewort Few pink 2-lipped flowers, the upper lip with 2 teeth, in a leafy spike on a plant to 25cm tall. Leaves deeply dissected with toothed lobes on a plant with many stems. Pink terminal spike of pink flowers plant branched at base Persicaria amphibia mphibious Bistort Dense, oval spike of tiny pink flowers on a plant that either floats in water or is upright on land. quatic leaves hairless, land leaves hairy. Tim Pankhurst/Plantlife Petasites hybridus Butterbur P Shannon basal leaves very large whole flowering spike pinkish, including scale leaves Reddish-pink, tubular flowers in a spike to 60cm tall which appears before the leaves. Huge basal leaves, up to 90cm across, heart-shaped and stalked. Nick Stewart/Plantlife Species Identification uide 75

78 Pink Plantago media Hoary Plantain Pinkish-purple flower spikes 2-6cm long on long stalks up to 30cm. Basal rosette of broad, greyish-downy leaves with a very short stalk. Rosa rugosa Japanese Rose Suckering, prickly shrub to 2m. Bright pink flowers, sometimes white, 6-9cm across then broad orange-red fruits. P Shannon Leaflets shiny, wrinkled and hairy. flowers pink and spotted Scutellaria minor Lesser Skullcap Pairs of pink, spotted, 2-lipped flowers in leaf axils, each 6-10mm long, towards the top of flower stems that grow up to 25cm tall. Paired, untoothed leaves on squarish stems. Liam Rooney untoothed leaves P Shannon 76 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

79 leaves in whorls of 4-6 Sherardia arvensis Field Madder Pale purple-pink funnelshaped flowers in dense clusters above a green ruff on a horizontally growing plant to 40cm long. Leaves with prickly edges in whorls of 4-6 round the stem. Pink flowers purplish-pink Silene dioica Red Campion Deep pink flowers 20mm across with notched petals on a softly hairy plant to 1m tall. Opposite, oval, softly hairy leaves, hairy stems. ndrew agg/plantlife Silene flos-cuculi (Lychnis flos-cuculi) Ragged-Robin Petals deep-pink or white, each divided into 4 narrow lobes. Leaves narrow and rough to touch. ndrew agg/plantlife petals divided into 4 narrow lobes leaves narrow Trevor Dines Species Identification uide 77

80 Pink Spergularia marina Lesser Sea-spurrey Deep pink flowers 5-8mm across on a low plant to 35cm long. Paired, cylindrical, fleshy leaves. Spergularia media reater Sea-spurrey Pink or white flowers 8-12mm across on a low plant to 40cm long. P Shannon Paired, cylindrical, fleshy leaves. Spergularia rubra Sand Sea-spurrey Pink flowers 3-5mm across on a sticky hairy low plant to 25cm long. H Higgins_IWNHS Paired, narrow, grey-green leaves. ndrew agg/plantlife 78 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

81 leaves flat, stem squarish, hairy on 2 opposite faces Thymus polytrichus Wild Thyme Mat-forming, slightly scented herb with dense heads of pink, 2-lipped flowers 3-4mm across. Record as Thymus pulegiodes / Thymus polytrichus. Pink R pink, 2-lipped flowers Paired, toothed, flat leaves on 4-angled stems that are very hairy on 2 opposite faces. CONFUSED WITH Large Thyme (Thymus pulegiodes) Large Thyme usually has whorls of flowers and the stem is only hairy on the angles. leaves flat pink, 2-lipped flowers Thymus pulegioides Large Thyme Creeping, strongly scented herb with spaced out (usually) whorls of pink, 2-lipped flowers 3-4mm across. Record as Thymus pulegiodes / Thymus polytrichus. Paired, toothed, leaves, slightly curved, on 4-angled stems that are hairy on the angles. ndrew agg/plantlife R stem squarish, hairy on the angles Species Identification uide CONFUSED WITH Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus) Wild Thyme has dense heads of flowers and the stem is very hairy on 2-opposite faces. Kevin Walker 79

82 Pink flowers pink fruit becoming fleshy Trifolium fragiferum Strawberry Clover Creeping plant with longstalked pink flowerheads 10-15mm across which become fleshy in fruit. Leaves with 3 oval, manytoothed leaflets, usually with a whitish band. leaflets with many teeth on the edge Trifolium pratense Red Clover ndrew agg/plantlife Unstalked purple flowerheads to 3cm on a sprawling plant to 50cm. Downy leaves with 3 oval leaflets, usually with a white V mark. Trifolium striatum Knotted Clover Beth Halski/Plantlife Downy herb with egg-shaped clusters 10-15mm across of reddish-pink pea flowers. Downy, trifoliate leaves. Liam Rooney 80 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

83 leaves bright green lantern-shaped flowers Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry, Blaeberry Small deciduous shrub with lantern-shaped green-pink flowers and edible blue-black berries. Leaves finely toothed, 1-3 cm long. Pink twigs green 3-angled petal lobes strongly reflexed Vaccinium oxycoccos Cranberry Tiny evergreen creeping shrub. Flowers rosy-pink with 4 bent back petals and red or brown fruits. Leaves leathery, with rolled under edges. Stems thread-like. ndrew agg/plantlife flowers bellshaped Vaccinium vitis-ideae Cowberry Scrambling, dwarf, evergreen shrub. Bell-shaped flowers with 4 white or pink petals then red berries to 1cm across. Leaves leathery, with edges turned down. P Shannon Species Identification uide Ray Woods/Plantlife 81

84 Pink flowers mainly in terminal cluster Valeriana dioica Marsh Valerian Herb to 40cm with runners. Terminal clusters of pale pink flowers, 4cm across in male plants, 1-2cm in female. Paired stem leaves deeply divided, with short or no stalk. Basal leaves long-stalked and undivided. stem leaves pinnate lower leaves undivided flowers mainly in terminal cluster Valeriana officinalis Common Valerian Tall herb to 1.5m. Pale pinkish funnel-shaped flowers 5mm long mostly in terminal clusters 5-12cm across. Opposite paired leaves with toothed leaflets. Bob ibbons/plantlife all leaves pinnately divided 82 ndrew agg/plantlife National Plant Monitoring Scheme

85 Blue / Purple Stem square with hairs. globular flower heads leaves longer than wide, with hollow stalks juga reptans Bugle Creeping plant with upright, dense, leafy flower spikes 10-30cm tall of 2-lipped blue flowers. Opposite leaves sometimes bronzy, hairless and scarcely toothed. CONFUSED WITH Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) Stem with 2 hairysides confirms Bugle. rctium minus / nemorosum Lesser/Wood Burdock Robust plant to 130cm. Flowerheads in loose clusters, red-purple, forming burrs in fruit. Basal leaves up to 40cm long with heart-shaped bases. CONFUSED WITH reater Burdock (rctium lappa) has basal leaves as wide as they are long and with solid stalks. ster tripolium Sea ster Daisy type flowerheads in loose groups with mauve or white (or sometimes absent) ray florets and yellow disc florets. Beth Halski/Plantlife R Beth Halski/Plantlife Leaves narrow and fleshy. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 83

86 Blue / Purple most flowers in a terminal cluster Betonica officinalis (Stachys officinalis) Betony Red-purple 2-lipped flowers 12-18mm mostly in a compact head at the top of a stem up to 60cm tall. Paired, toothed leaves with stalks that get shorter up the stem. leaves rounded, toothed flowers pink-purple in long spikes Calluna vulgaris Heather Bushy evergreen shrub to 60cm. Pinky-purple flowers, 4mm long, in long, dense spikes. Tiny scale-like leaves, in 4 tight rows, pressed against stem. ndrew agg/plantlife flowers mainly in dense terminal cluster scale-like leaves in 4 tight rows Campanula glomerata Clustered Bellflower Bell-shaped, violet-blue flowers mostly in a dense cluster at the top of the stem but with a few lower down. Lower leaves stalked, upper clasping stem, all toothed. Deborah Long/Plantlife Beth Halski/Plantlife 84 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

87 flowers in a leafy spike Campanula latifolia iant Bellflower Bell-shaped, violet-blue flowers, to 5cm across, each on a 2cm stalk, in a leafy spike. Lower leaves tapering into stalks. Stem with blunt angles. Blue / Purple R stem bluntly angled CONFUSED WITH Nettle-leaved Bellflower (Campanula trachelium) Check whether stem is bluntly or sharply angled and whether basal leaves taper or narrow abruptly into stalks. Campanula rotundifolia Harebell Hanging blue bells on slender stalks. rows 15-40cm tall. Roundish leaves at base, very narrow linear leaves up stem. CONFUSED WITH Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) Very narrow linear leaves confirm Harebell. Ian Keith (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Beth Halski/Plantlife Species Identification uide 85

88 Blue / Purple flowers in a leafy spike Campanula trachelium Nettle-leaved Bellflower Bell-shaped, dark violet-blue flowers, up to 4cm across, each on a 1cm stalk, in a leafy spike. R stem sharply angled Lower leaves narrowing abruptly into stalks. Stem with sharp angles. CONFUSED WITH iant Bellflower (Campanula latifolia) Check whether stem is bluntly or sharply angled and whether basal leaves taper or narrow abruptly into stalks. flowerhead drooping, redpurple Carduus nutans Musk Thistle / Nodding Thistle Drooping, solitary red-purple flowerheads, 4-6cm across, on long spineless stalks. Leaves lobed and spiny. Stems with spiny wings. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves deeply divided and toothed Centaurea scabiosa reater Knapweed Solitary, bright purple-red flowerheads 3-6cm across on stalks to 120cm. Leaves deeply lobed and toothed. ndrew agg/plantlife 86 ndrew agg/plantlife National Plant Monitoring Scheme

89 Blue / Purple Chaenorhinum minus Small Toadflax Solitary pale purple flowers with a short spur, on long stalks, on a plant to 25cm tall. Narrow, sticky-downy leaves. flowerheads usually without a stalk Cirsium acaule Dwarf Thistle Red-purple oval flowerheads, 3-4cm long, usually solitary and usually stalkless. Deeply divided, spiny leaves in a rosette. Liam Rooney/Plantlife leaves very spiny, all in a basal rosette flowers pale pinkish-purple Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle Far-creeping herb. Flowerheads in open clusters, 20mm x 10-15mm, pinkishpurple. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide stem mosty without spines Lower leaves stalked, upper clasping stem, all deeply divided with spiny edges. Flowering stem to 1m tall, unwinged and spineless. Beth Halski/Plantlife 87

90 Blue / Purple Cirsium dissectum Meadow Thistle Solitary dark red-purple flowerheads. R Narrow leaves are whitecottony underneath and have wavy edges with soft prickles. Stems are spineless. CONFUSED WITH leaves with soft prickles Melancholy Thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum) Melancholy Thistle has broader leaves and downy stems. stem downy and without prickles Cirsium heterophyllum Melancholy Thistle Dark red-purple flowerheads 3.5-5cm long by 3-5cm wide in clusters of 2-4. Lower leaves have stalks and upper leaves clasp the spineless stem. ll leaves have softly-prickly teeth and are white-felted underneath. CONFUSED WITH Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum) Meadow Thistle has narrower leaves that are cottony underneath. Joe Costley/Plantlife R 88 stem without prickles leaves with soft prickly teeth Pete Stroh National Plant Monitoring Scheme

91 leaves very spiny flowerheads in dense clusters Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Dark red-purple (sometimes white) flowerheads 1.5-2cm long in dense clusters. Whole plant often has a reddish tinge. Leaves deeply lobed and spiny. Stem with spiny wings. Blue / Purple stem spiny winged Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Flowerheads solitary or in loose clusters, 3-5cm long, red-purple Dr. madej Trnkoczy leaves end in a long spine Basal leaves to 30cm, deeply lobed, spiny, upper leaves smaller, prickly. Stems erect, branched, with spiny wings. stem with spiny wings petals pointed, purple-red Comarum palustre (Potentilla palustris) Marsh Cinquefoil Star-shaped purple flowers up to 2.5cm across on a plant up to 45cm tall. Phil Sellens (CC BY 2.0) Leaves with 5-7 leaflets becoming 3-leaved up the stem. Leaflets are toothed and bluish-green below. leaves with 5 or 7 leaflets ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 89

92 Blue / Purple Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Flower spikes to 1.8m with many large purple tubular flowers. Large (30cm) leaves downy, especially underneath. long, thin, spiny bracts prickly leaves and stems Dipsacus fullonum Wild Teasel Herb growing to 2m. Purple flowerhead is egg-shaped and surrounded by long, spiny bracts. Opposite leaves have prickles and join around the prickly stem, catching water. Beth Halski/Plantlife tiny purple flowers Empetrum nigrum Crowberry Mat-forming shrub with tiny purple, stalkless, starry flowers nestling among the leaves. The small berries start green, go pink, purple and finally black. Crowded linear leaves up to 7mm long with rolled margins. Beth Halski/Plantlife 90 stem creeping Ray Woods/Plantlife National Plant Monitoring Scheme

93 flowers reddish purple in groups along stem Erica cinerea Bell Heather Shrub to 50cm with reddishpurple bell flowers cm long. Dark green hairless leaves in 3s. Blue / Purple leaves hairless and dark green in 3s entianella amarella utumn entian Herb to 30cm. Purple, bellshaped flowers in dense, branching clusters. Basal rosette and 4-10 pairs of pointed stem leaves. The distance between the top 2 pairs of leaves is 20% or less of the height of the plant. CONFUSED WITH Early entian (entianella anglica) Early entian is shorter, has fewer pairs of stem leaves and the distance between the top two pairs is 40% or more of the height of the plant. Deborah Long/Plantlife R Species Identification uide ndrew agg/plantlife 91

94 Blue / Purple flowers cupped eranium sylvaticum Wood Crane s-bill To 50cm tall. Flowers cupshaped, pinkish-violet to reddish-purple. Leaves deeply divided into 5-7 broad lobes. leaves with broad lobes lechoma hederacea round-ivy Creeping plant with upright flowering stems bearing 2-4 violet 2-lipped flowers in a whorl. Kevin Walker Leaves rounded, kidneyshaped, blunt tipped with toothed edges on long stalks. Strong smell. flowers above water level leaves in whorls Hottonia palustris Water-violet quatic plant. Lilac flowers, 20-25mm across, in whorls of 3-8. Whorls of leaves with linear, flattened leaflets. ndrew agg/plantlife leaflets linear Pete Stroh 92 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

95 Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell Narrow tube-like violet-blue scented flowers with up-rolled tips. Narrow leaves 1-2cm wide. Blue / Purple Jasione montana Sheep s-bit Pale blue button flowerheads to 35mm across. Beth Halski/Plantlife Hairy, wavy-edged strapshaped leaves to 5cm long in a basal rosette and smaller leaves on the downy stem. individual florets have 4 lobes stem leaves pinnately divided Knautia arvensis Field Scabious Stout plant to 75cm. Rounded flowerheads 30-40mm across on hairy stalks, each flower having 4 lobes. Basal leaves unlobed, stem leaves deeply divided, all roughly hairy. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 93

96 Blue / Purple Limonium sp. Sea-lavender Branched clusters of pale purple flowers with papery, coloured, sepals. ll leaves in a basal rosette. Lythrum salicaria Purple-loosestrife Upright herb to 150cm tall with long, leafy spikes of 6-petalled, purple-red flowers each 10-15mm across. ndrew agg/plantlife Pointed, untoothed leaves in opposite pairs or 3s. Stems have 4 or more raised lines. paired leaves terminal heads present leaves and stem downy Mentha aquatica Water Mint Downy, upright herb to 60cm, with a strong mint scent. Dense whorls of mauve flowers at the top of the stem and lower down. Leaves in opposite pairs. Stem squarish. Beth Halski/Plantlife Beth Halski/Plantlife 94 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

97 sepals raised Orchis mascula Early-purple Orchid Flowers in a loose spike, red-purple, with 2 raised sepals and a lip with paler, dotted patch. lossy green leaves with lengthwise blotches, in a rosette and on stem. Blue / Purple leaves spotted and shiny lip with paler, spotted patch flowers in dense terminal heads Origanum vulgare Wild Marjoram Pink-purple 2-lipped flowers in dense clusters at the top of stems to 70cm tall. Stalked leaves in opposite pairs. Stem squarish. Beth Halski/Plantlife leaves pleasantly aromatic Species Identification uide Beth Halski/Plantlife 95

98 Blue / Purple Pinguicula lusitanica Pale Butterwort Single pale violet flowers, 5-8mm across, held on stalks 3-10cm tall. flower 5-8mm across, pinkish-lilac Basal rosette of flat olivegreen leaves 1-2cm long. CONFUSED WITH Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) Pale Butterwort has smaller leaves and a pale flower Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Single deep violet flowers, 10-15mm across, held on stalks 5-15cm tall. Toone/IWNHS flower 10-15mm across, dark lilac white throat patch Basal rosette of flat yellowishgreen leaves 2-8cm long. CONFUSED WITH Pale Butterwort (Pinguicula lusitanica) Common Butterwort has larger leaves and a bright violet flower P Shannon 96 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

99 flowers often dark blue but can be purple, pink or white Polygala serpyllifolia Heath Milkwort some leaves opposite, particularly at base Blue / Purple R Low, spreading, branching plant with spikes of 3-10 deep blue, purple, pink or white flowers 6-8mm long. Record as Polygala serpyllifolia / vulgaris. Narrow, pointed leaves, alternate or opposite on stem, opposite pairs at the base. CONFUSED WITH Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) Common Milkwort is a larger, more upright plant with all leaves alternate. flowers often blue but can be purple, pink or white leaves all alternate Polygala vulgaris Common Milkwort Low, branching plant with spikes of bright blue, purple, pink or white flowers 6-8mm long.record as Polygala serpyllifolia / vulgaris. Narrow, pointed leaves, all alternate along the stem. CONFUSED WITH Heath Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia) Heath Milkwort is a smaller, more spreading plant with some lower leaves in opposite pairs. R Species Identification uide Beth Halski/Plantlife 97

100 Blue / Purple Prunella vulgaris Selfheal Violet-blue flowers 10-15mm in a compact head at the top of the stem up to 20cm tall. Hairy leaves, oval to diamondshaped, often purple tinged. Plant often mat-forming. violet-blue flowers to 15mm long lower leaves with deep, jagged teeth Salvia verbenaca Wild Clary Downy herb to 80cm. Violetblue 2-lipped flowers 7-15mm long in long spikes. Flowers may not open. Stalked rosette leaves with deep, jagged teeth/lobes, upper stem leaves purplishblue in pairs. ndrew agg/plantlife flowers purple leaves in opposite pairs Saxifraga oppositifolia Purple Saxifrage Mat-forming plant bearing rosy-purple flowers 10-20mm across. Tiny, thick, dark-green leaves in opposite pairs. M Cotterill/WNHS ndrew agg/plantlife 98 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

101 individual florets have 5 lobes stalks of flowerheads long, slender and downy-hairy stem leaves pinnately divided lowest leaves undivided or shallowly lobed Scabiosa columbaria Small Scabious Slender plant to 70cm. Rounded flowerheads 20-30mm across on downy stalks, each flower having 5 blueviolet lobes. Basal leaves long-stalked, toothed or lobed. Stem leaves with narrow lobes. CONFUSED WITH Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) Field Scabious has 4-lobed florets. Blue / Purple Scutellaria galericulata Skullcap Pairs of blue-violet 2-lipped flowers in leaf axils, each 10-20mm long, towards the top of stems that grow up to 50cm tall. Paired, narrow, shallowly toothed leaves. ndrew agg/plantlife flowers blue-violet, to 20mm long leaves shallowly toothed Liam Rooney/Plantlife Species Identification uide 99

102 Blue / Purple flowerheads in loose groups bracts purplish leaves with sawtoothed margins Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Loose groups of red-purple flowerheads 1.5-2cm across, with purplish bracts. Leaf edges with fine teeth. Stems wiry and grooved, to 1m. Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet / Woody Nightshade Woody scrambling perennial. Loose clusters of purple flowers with 5 bent back petals and a cone of yellow stamens are followed by red berries. Pointed leaves, to 8cm, often have 2 spreading lobes at the base. ndrew agg/plantlife flowers dull pinkpurple with white markings Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort Pink 2-lipped flowers 7-9mm in whorls. Bristly-hairy plant to 100cm tall. Narrow, paired, toothed leaves. Toone/IWNHS leaves narrow, toothed 100 Pete Stroh National Plant Monitoring Scheme

103 flowers mauve to dark violet-blue Succisa pratensis Devil s-bit Scabious Rounded flowerheads 15-25mm across, all flowers the same size with 4 mauve to dark violet-blue lobes. ll leaves unlobed. Stem leaves narrower. Blue / Purple leaves undivided Symphytum officinale Common Comfrey Bristly herb to 120cm bearing coiled clusters of cream, pink or purple tubular or bellshaped flowers. The bases of upper leaves extend down the stem. ll leaves hairy. R Plantlife leaf bases form wings on stem flowers tubular or narrow bell-shaped CONFUSED WITH Russian Comfrey (Symphytum X uplandicum) Russian Comfrey often has purplish-blue or deep red flowers and the stem is only slightly winged. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 101

104 Blue / Purple tiny flowers in terminal clusters Valerianella locusta Common Cornsalad Slender much-branched herb to 30cm. Dense terminal heads 1-2cm across of tiny pale mauve flowers. Paired, long leaves. paired leaves tiny blue flowers bracts longer than flowers fruit hairy, as broad as long Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell Upright, downy, herb 5-25cm tall. Long terminal spikes of tiny bright blue 4-petalled flowers. Fruit hairy. Lower leaves in pairs with short stalks, upper stalkless. ll oval, toothed. C ibson paired flower clusters, flowers with 4 petals leaves toothed Veronica beccabunga Brooklime Fleshy creeping herb with paired clusters of bright blue flowers in leaf axils. Leaves in pairs, thick, shallowly lobed. Stems fleshy. C ibson 102 ndrew agg/plantlife National Plant Monitoring Scheme

105 flowers lilac leaves with coarse teeth Veronica montana Wood Speedwell Creeping, hairy plant. Longstalked clusters of 4-petalled lilac flowers, each on a 4mm stalk, in leaf axils. Fruit almost round. Leaves in opposite pairs, stalked, coarsely toothed. Blue / Purple stem hairy all round leaves with shallow teeth Veronica officinalis Heath Speedwell Creeping herb with upright flower spikes. Long-stalked clusters of 4-petalled lilac flowers, each on a 2mm stalk, in leaf axils. Fruit heart-shaped. C ibson flowers in spikes from leaf-axils stem hairy all round long, narrow clusters of flowers Leaves in opposite pairs, no stalk, shallowly toothed. Stem hairy all round. Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch Scrambling herb to 2m bearing long-stalked, narrow, onesided clusters of many bluepurple pea flowers. Leaves with 8-13 pairs of narrow leaflets and branched tendrils at tips. C ibson leaves ending in branched tendrils ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 103

106 Blue / Purple pod downy Vicia hirsuta Hairy Tare R leaflets with flattish ends, often notched small, pale flowers Slender trailing herb to 70cm bearing long-stalked clusters of 1-9 whitish-mauve pea flowers, each 4-5mm. Calyxteeth all the same length. Pod downy. Leaves with tendrils and 4-10 pairs of linear leaflets, often with a flattish and/or notched end. CONFUSED WITH Smooth Tare (V. tetrasperma) and Slender Tare (V. parviflora) Both Smooth Tare and Slender Tare have hairless pods and calyx teeth unequal in length. stem hairy Viola hirta Hairy Violet Low growing herb. Flowers with hairy stalks and pale blue-violet petals with darker veins. Heart-shaped leaves on hairy stalks all in a basal rosette. stalk hairy flower with rounded petals rounded, kidney shaped leaves Viola palustris Marsh Violet Low growing herb. Flowers 10-15mm across with blunt, pale lilac petals with darker veins. Few kidney shaped leaves all in basal rosettes from creeping runners. C ibson 104 ndrew agg/plantlife National Plant Monitoring Scheme

107 Blue / Purple petals narrow Viola reichenbachiana Early Dog-violet spur straight, pointed, not notched R Low growing herb. Flowers 15-20mm across with narrow, pale blue-violet petals with darker veins, spur darker than petals. Record as Viola riviniana / Viola reichenbachiana. Heart-shaped leaves in a basal rosette and on flowering shoots. CONFUSED WITH Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) Common Dog-violet has petals darker than the spur which is curved, blunt and notched. spur curved upwards, blunt, notched leafy stems petals rounded Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet Low growing herb. Flowers 15-25mm across with rounded blue-violet petals with darker veins, spur paler than petals. Record as Viola riviniana / Viola reichenbachiana. Heart-shaped leaves in a basal rosette and on flowering shoots. CONFUSED WITH Early Dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) Early Dog-violet has petals lighter than the spur which is straight, pointed and not notched. R Beth Halski/Plantlife Species Identification uide 105

108 reen / Brown flowers in clusters lchemilla alpina lpine Lady s-mantle Sprawling plant on acid rocks of NW England and Scotland with clusters of small yellowgreen flowers. 5-7 narrow leaflets, silvery and silky underneath. leaves silvery underneath leaves divided to the base tip of spathe erect leaves often wrinkled with dark spots spadix purplish brown rum maculatum Lords-and-Ladies / Cuckoo-pint Purple-brown (rarely yellow) club-shaped spike releases a rotting-meat odour to attract flies. Fruit is a spike of bright orange berries. Shiny arrow shaped leaves, often with dark spots, sometimes wrinkled. ndrew agg/plantlife triplex portulacoides Sea Purslane Shrub to 1m bearing spikes of yellow-green to grey flowers. Leaves with whitish-meal, lower stalked and paired. Stems brown and woody. leaves with whitish-meal lower leaves in opposite pairs with stalks Liam Rooney 106 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

109 triangular bracteoles leaves mealy, fleshy flowers green leaves shiny triplex sp. Orache Mealy plants with spikes of inconspicuous flowers, male and female on separate plants. Female flowers within two triangular modified leaves, not sepals. Leaves often fleshy. CONFUSED WITH oosefoots (Chenopodium sp.) oosefoots have male and female flowers on the same plant and all have sepals. Beta vulgaris Beet reen flowers in spikes become conspicuous in fruit as several stick together. Red-striped stems and shiny, dark-green leaves. reen / Brown R ndrew agg/plantlife stem with red stripes leaves whitishmealy Chenopodium album Fat-hen Very variable plant, cm tall, covered with whitish-grey meal. Flowers, 2mm across, in dense groups. Leaves grey-green, roughly diamond-shaped. Stem often reddish. ndrew agg/plantlife stem reddish ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 107

110 reen / Brown Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Opposite-leaved olden-saxifrage Tiny yellowish-green flowers 3-5mm across on a low growing, patch-forming plant. leaves in opposite pairs Rounded, toothed, paired leaves. Creeping, rooting stems. Coeloglossum viride (Dactylorhiza viridis) Frog Orchid reenish flowers, with long bracts, in a spike. ndrew agg/plantlife lower bracts much longer than flowers Basal rosette of broad, unspotted leaves and narrower leaves on stem. leaves basal and up stem Daphne laureola Spurge-laurel Evergreen shrub to 1m tall. Clusters of fragrant, yellowgreen, tubular flowers are followed by flehsy black fruits. Dark-green, shiny, leathery leaves mostly towards the top of shoots. ndrew agg/plantlife Liam Rooney/Plantlife 108 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

111 reen / Brown upper bracts joined in pairs Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood Spurge Upright herb 30-90cm tall. Clusters of tiny yellowishgreen flowers without true petals but cupped by bracts. leaves dark green, downy Leaves dark-green, downy, narrow. flowers in small clusters leaves very narrow Euphorbia exigua Dwarf Spurge rey-green herb to 15cm, sometimes taller. Small clusters of tiny yellowishgreen flowers without true petals but cupped by bracts. Leaves linear and untoothed. Branching stems. ndrew agg/plantlife Euphorbia helioscopia Sun Spurge Herb 15-30cm tall. Umbel with 5 branches with 5 yellowish-leaf-like bracts below. Flowers similar to other spurges. Leaves blunt. Trevor Dines/Plantlife 5 distinctive yellowish bracts below umbel Species Identification uide 109

112 reen / Brown Hedera helix Common Ivy Evergreen woody climber, carpeting the ground or growing up walls, trees. Flowers in green umbels. Leaves dark green glossy above, paler below, 3-5 lobes; on flowering shoots, leaves are pointed oval. Honckenya peploides Sea Sandwort Creeping plant. Flowers amongst the leaves, 6-10mm across with 5 greenish-cream petals. Ray Woods/Plantlife Paired, fleshy leaves and fleshy stems. Mercurialis perennis Dog s Mercury Male plants have catkin-like spikes of flowers. Female plants have groups of 1-3 flowers on long stalks. Liam Rooney/Plantlife Paired leaves with small teeth on the edge. ndrew agg/plantlife 110 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

113 reen / Brown Myrica gale Bog-myrtle Deciduous, suckering shrub to 2.5m tall. Male catkins red-brown, female catkins red-green. Narrow grey-green leaves smell resinous when bruised. Twigs red-brown. lip of flower reddish Neottia cordata (Listera cordata) Lesser Twayblade Erect plant to 20cm with spikes of reddish-green flowers, with drooping, forked lips. Liam Rooney/Plantlife One pair only of shiny leaves, up to 4cm long, below the middle of the reddish stem. lip pendulous small, shiny leaves in a single pair near base of stem Neottia ovata (Listera ovata) Common Twayblade Erect plant to 60cm with spikes of yellowish-green flowers, with drooping, forked lips. Pete Stroh One pair only of broad leaves, 5-15cm long, below the middle of the stem. leaves in a single pair near base of stem Beth Halski/Plantlife Species Identification uide 111

114 reen / Brown Plantago coronopus Buck s-horn Plantain Numerous greenish flower spikes 2-4cm long with arching stems longer than the leaves. Basal rosette of deeply lobed narrow leaves up to 20cm long. short flower spike leaves narrow, veins almost parallel Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain reenish flower spikes 2cm long, on long stalks up to 45cm. Basal rosette of long, narrow, hairy dark green leaves to 25cm long. Liam Rooney/Plantlife Plantago maritima Sea Plantain Numerous yellowish-brown flower spikes 2-6cm long. Loose basal rosette of narrow, fleshy leaves. Bob Embleton 112 P Shannon National Plant Monitoring Scheme

115 red styles visible on upper flowers flowerheads round Poterium sanguisorba (Sanguisorba minor) Salad Burnet Upright plant to 40cm bearing round heads of tiny greenish flowers. Basal rosette of leaves with 4-12 pairs of toothed leaflets. Stem leaves smaller. reen / Brown leaflets deeply toothed CONFUSED WITH reat Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) reat Burnet is much larger in all parts (to 1m) flower spike branched Rumex crispus Curled Dock Stout plant up to 100cm. Flower spikes branched. Record as Rumex crispus / Rumex obtusifolius unless on Coastal vegetated shingle. Leaves to 30cm with strongly waved edges, rounded or tapered at the base. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves have strongly waved edges base rounded or tapered H Higgins/IWNHS Species Identification uide 113

116 reen / Brown Rumex hydrolapathum Water Dock Very large plant, to 200cm. Dense whorls of flowers in much branched spikes. Leaves to 100cm long, pointed and tapering at the base. Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock Stout plant to 100cm. Flower spikes branched. Record as Rumex crispus / Rumex obtusifolius unless on Coastal vegetated shingle. ndrew agg/plantlife flower spike branched lower leaf base heartshaped Lower leaves to 25cm with only slightly wavy edges and heart-shaped bases. Sagina apetala nnual Pearlwort Branching herb, 3-10cm tall. Flowers on long stalks, have 4 green sepals but no petals. Basal rosette withers early. Stem leaves linear, fleshy, in pairs. CONFUSED WITH Procumbent Pearlwort (Sagina procumbens) Procumbent Pearlwort retains its basal rosette. ndrew agg/plantlife R Toone/IWNHS 114 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

117 reen / Brown Sparganium erectum Branched Bur-reed Tallest Bur-reed to 1.5m. Branched spike of flower heads. Broad leaves, rarely floating. Veins have no dark border. tiny greenish flowers in leaf axils Suaeda maritima nnual Sea-blite Tiny greenish flowers in small clusters in leaf axils on a succulent plant to 60cm tall. Pointed, fleshy leaves. Leaves and stems bluish grey-green to purplish-red. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves fleshy and alternate male flowers in long clusters leaves heart-shaped Tamus communis Black Bryony Clockwise twining herb, no tendrils. Yellow-green bellshaped flowers, 4-5mm across, in clusters in leaf axils and round, red berries. Bahamut Chao (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) female flowers in short clusters lossy green heart-shaped leaves on long stalks. Beth Halski/Plantlife Species Identification uide 115

118 reen / Brown large lower lip, upper lip absent Teucrium scorodonia Wood Sage Upright herb to 60cm with spikes of paired, greenishyellow flowers in leaf axils. Pairs of wrinkled, downy leaves on a squarish stem. leaves wrinkled, aromatic Triglochin maritimum Sea rrowgrass Small greenish, fleshy flowers in long dense spikes. Linear, half-cylindrical leaves, not grooved on top. ndrew agg/plantlife Triglochin palustre Marsh rrowgrass Small greenish flowers widely spaced in long spikes. Linear leaves, rounded underneath, deeply grooved on top. ndrew agg/plantlife 116 Liam Rooney National Plant Monitoring Scheme

119 reen / Brown no gap between male and female flowers Typha latifolia Bulrush / Common Reedmace Tall, stout herb to 2.5m. Dense, cylindrical spike of tiny flowers, male yellow above female brown, with no gap between. Leaves linear, flat, grey-green, 10-20mm wide, in 2 ranks. leaves spongy Urtica dioica Common Nettle Patch-forming plant with stinging hairs and tassels of tiny flowers. Ellen Pisolkar/Plantlife Leaves pointed and toothed in opposite pairs. Square stems. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 117

120 quatics zolla filiculoides Water Fern Fronds like a large feathery duckweed, overlapping along the stems. Carpets still freshwater. Leaves are bluish-green, reddening in autumn. Crassula helmsii New Zealand Pigmyweed quatic plant with either erect or trailing stems. The 4-petalled flowers are whitish and on long stalks. Leaves in opposite pairs, fleshy and linear. Liam Rooney/Plantlife Leaves blunt tipped, widest at middle long thin stalks Leaves in whorls of 3 Elodea canadensis Canadian Waterweed Submerged aquatic plant. Female flowers, 5mm across, float on the surface on long, thin stalks. Record as E.canadensis / E.nuttallii. Translucent green, blunttipped, widest at middle, usually in whorls of 3. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife 118 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

121 quatics Elodea nuttallii Nuttall s Waterweed Submerged aquatic plant. Female flowers, 5mm across, float on the surface on long, thin stalks. Record as E.canadensis / E.nuttallii. Translucent green, pointed, widest at base, usually in whorls of 3, often twisted or curved. Hippuris vulgaris Mare s-tail quatic plant. Tiny greenish flowers at base of leaves have no petals. ndrew agg/plantlife Whorls of 6-8 strap-shaped leaves up to 7cm long on stout, spongy stems. frond rounded convex above convex above frond, rounded and white below Lemna gibba Fat Duckweed Liam Rooney/Plantlife R Tiny plants, each consisting of one frond and one root, which float on the surface of water and often form carpets. one root per frond CONFUSED WITH Common Duckweed (Lemna minor) Common Duckweed is flat both sides. Species Identification uide Frond 3-5mm, rounded, opaque, upper surface convex, sometimes swollen and white spongy underneath. ndrew agg/plantlife 119

122 quatics terminal groups of fronds in 3s looking ivy-like Lemna trisulca Ivy-leaved Duckweed Tiny plants, each consisting of one frond and one root, which float just beneath the surface of water often forming carpets. one root per frond fronds oval, joined into colonies Frond 5-15mm, oval, translucent, often joining together into branched colonies, with the end 3 looking like an ivy leaf. Lobelia dortmanna Water Lobelia quatic plant with fewflowered spikes of drooping, pale lilac 5-lobed flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife Fleshy, linear leaves all in a submerged, basal rosette. Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrot s-feather quatic herb with both emergent and submerged shoots with whorled leaves and whorls of tiny, whitish flowers in leaf axils. Finely divided leaves with 8-30 blue-grey segments in whorls of 4-6. ndrew agg/plantlife BNNSS 120 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

123 quatics flowers with 4 petals Nasturtium officinale (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) Water-cress quatic plant bearing clusters of white, 4-petalled flowers each 4-6mm across. Strong cress scent. R Divided dark green leaves remain over winter. leaflets dark green, end one larger CONFUSED WITH Narrow-fruited Water-cress (Nasturtium microphyllum) and hybrids with this. Narrow-fruited Water-cress has fruits up to 1.8mm wide. Record Water-cress (broad sense) unless fruits examined. Nuphar lutea Yellow Water-lily Bright yellow flowers, 4-6cm across, are held on long stalks above the water. ndrew agg/plantlife Large, leathery, heart-shaped, floating leaves. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 121

124 quatics Nymphaea alba White Water-lily White flowers, 10-20cm across, with 20 or more petals. Large leaves, almost round. flowers pink in a dense cluster Persicaria bistorta Common Bistort Dense, oval spike of pink flowers 4-5mm across on a hairless plant to 100cm tall. Leaves triangular, lower ones with winged stalks. Stems unbranched. ndrew agg/plantlife leaves broad, triangular in shape Potamogeton crispus Curled Pondweed quatic herb with flowers in loose spikes on slender stalks. ll leaves submerged, unstalked, narrow, translucent, with wavy, toothed, margins. ndrew agg/plantlife 122 ndrew agg/plantlife National Plant Monitoring Scheme

125 Potamogeton perfoliatus Perfoliate Pondweed quatic herbs with flowers in dense spikes on long stalks. ll leaves submerged, completely clasping stems. quatics stalked floating leaf Potamogeton polygonifolius Bog Pondweed quatic herb with flowers in dense spikes to 40mm long on long stalks. ndrew agg/plantlife Floating leaves leathery, submerged leaves translucent, all stalked. dense flower spike frond flat above water each frond has many roots Spirodela polyrhiza reater Duckweed Tiny plants, each consisting of one frond with several roots, which float on the surface of water often forming carpets. Frond mm, flat both sides and often purplish underneath. reater Duckweed is the larger duckweed in the photo ndrew agg/plantlife Pete Stroh Species Identification uide 123

126 Clubmosses cones are unstalked leaves blue-grey, narrow, pressed to stem Diphasiastrum alpinum lpine Clubmoss Horizontally growing plant to 50cm or more long with upright, flattened branches to 10cm in a fan shape. Cones 10-20mm long. Blue-grey leaves 1-2mm long, closely pressed to stem giving smooth appearance. spore capsules among leaves leaves narrow, spirally arranged Huperzia selago Fir Clubmoss Upright, branching, plant to 30cm, looking like a large moss or a conifer seedling. Cream-coloured spore capsules among upper leaves. Spirally arranged, yellowishgreen, narrow leaves, 4-8mm long. ndrew agg/plantlife cones pale green then buff-coloured when ripe Lycopodium clavatum Stag s-horn Clubmoss Horizontally growing plant to 100cm long with upright branches to 25cm. Cones 2-5cm long, 1, 2 or 3 together on a long stalk. Michael Scott/Plantlife leaves narrow with a hair at the tip Spirally arranged, narrow leaves, 3-5mm long, with a long, white flexible hair at the tip. Pete Stroh 124 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

127 Ferns / Horsetails splenium ceterach (Ceterach officinarum) Rustyback Distinctive small fern. Underside of leaves covered in rust coloured scales that party hide the spore-cases. Linear-oblong in outline, mid-green wintergreen leaves 3-25cm. splenium ruta-muraria Wall-rue Distinctive small fern, usually 2-6cm, with finely divided fronds with fanshaped leaflets. Overwintering leaves with fan-shaped leaflets. Liam Rooney/Plantlife Strap-shaped leaves fan-shaped leaflets splenium scolopendrium (Phyllitis scolopendrium) Hart s-tongue Our only fern with strapshaped leaves. Spore-cases in diagonal rows. Evergreen, 10-60cm long, 3-6cm wide. Strap-shaped. ndrew agg/plantlife Ray Woods/Plantlife Species Identification uide 125

128 Ferns / Horsetails blackish stalks, midribs splenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort Small, tufted fern. Scales on rootstock with a black central stripe. Narrow, overwintering, leaves (5-20cm). Oval, slightly toothed leaflets. Blackish stalks and midribs. dark central stripe narrow, oval, pointed leaves Blechnum spicant Hard-fern Overwintering tufts. Spores only on inner leaves. Tough, mid-green to dark green, lanceolate leaves. Ray Woods/Plantlife Cryptogramma crispa Parsley Fern Short (15-30cm), distinctive tufts of leaves. Spores only on inner leaves. Leaves are bright yellowgreen, well crisped. Present May-Nov. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife 126 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

129 Ferns / Horsetails delicate, lanceolate leaves Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder-fern Tufted, green leaf-stalks with few scales, blackish at base. Black spores in whitish cases. Delicate, lanceolate leaves with veins ending in teeth. Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Our commonest horsetail. Sterile stems to 80cm sometimes sprawling, patch forming. reen sheaths with spreading green teeth. Whorls of thick simple branches. ndrew agg/plantlife branched stems Sterile stems (pr-oct) almost solid with white inner tube. Fertile stems (pr-may) whitish/pinkish, unbranched. Equisetum fluviatile Water Horsetail Often growing in the water. Medium/tall to 150cm. Stems present May-Nov. Toone/IWNHS Unbranched stems, smooth, hollow, yellow-green with whitish teeth and a black midrib. M Cotterill/IWNHS Species Identification uide 127

130 Ferns / Horsetails pointed cone Equisetum palustre Marsh Horsetail Short/medium. Stems to 50cm present May-Oct. Branches with black tips, green sheathteeth. Pointed cone. Small, hollow stems with loose sheaths - black teeth with broad white edges. branched stems ymnocarpium dryopteris Oak Fern Short/medium. Dark purple stems. Creeping rootstock with leaves growing singly. Leaves (May-Sept) triangular in shape, rolled into 3 balls in bud. ndrew agg/plantlife Ophioglossum vulgatum dder s-tongue nnual, spore-case in a plantain-like green spike Single, short stem to 30cm. Single leaf present May-Nov. ndrew agg/plantlife single stem ndrew agg/plantlife 128 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

131 Oreopteris limbosperma Lemon-scented Fern Medium, tufted. Lemon scent when crushed. Black spores when ripe, confined to rolledunder margins of leaflets. Yellowish-green leaves, narrowly tapered at each end. Ferns / Horsetails yellowish-green, narrowly tapered golden brown spores Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Majestic fern cm tall occasionally up to 4m. olden brown spores in flower-spikes. Leaves present pr-nov in large tufts. Oblong leaflets. Toone/IWNHS Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Our commonest fern, extensive, often closed communities cover hillsides. Leaves appear as a shepherd s crook, copper brown in winter. Stems 1-4m. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide James K Lindsey (CC BY-S 2.5) 129

132 rasses spikelets with only one flower seeds very small and brown grostis capillaris Common Bent Low growing (c.20cm), hairless, perennial grass with a creeping rootstock. Panicles spreading in flower and fruit. Leaves fine 1.5 to 4mm, ligules short and blunt. lopecurus geniculatus Marsh Foxtail Short, perennial grass with floating or creeping, rooting stems, often bent. Flower spike to 6cm long. Ligules blunt, leaf sheaths inflated around stem. S Hammonds lopecurus myosuroides Black-grass Tall (to 85cms) grass. Flowering spike narrow and tapering towards the tip. Tall and slender. Liam Rooney/Plantlife Liam Rooney/Plantlife 130 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

133 rasses mmophila arenaria Marram Tall (to 1.2m), stout perennial grass with strong roots that bind sand. Long flower spike with one-flowered straw coloured spikelets. Leaves grey-green, sharply pointed. Leaf margins inrolled. nthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass Short (c.20cm) perennial grass with sweet smelling roots. Cylindrical flower spikes. Spikelets with a bent awn. Stems stiff, leaf-sheaths and leaves sparsley hairy, leaves broad. Liam Rooney/Plantlife 3 to 6 spikelets venula pratense (Helictotrichon pratense) Meadow Oat-grass Tall (up to 85cm), densely tufted grass, with blue-green leaves. S Hammonds Triangular ligule 3-5mm. Leaves with waxy coating (rubs off) and distinct tram-lines. Petr Filippov (CC BY-S 4.0) Species Identification uide 131

134 rasses Brachypodium pinnatum* Tor-grass, Heath False-brome Tall, clonal grass (to 1m) with bright green leaves. Spikelets with long, narrow unstalked spikelets alternately along spike, each with a short to 5mm awn. Straight, leaf blades bright green to 45cm, parallel-sided, widest at mid leaf. *includes recently identified B. rupestre as hard to tell apart Briza media Quaking-grass Short to medium to 50cm. Purplish to green, flattened, heart shaped spikelets loosely clustered on slender stalks, that dance in a breeze. Fine stems. Leaves slightly waxy with blunt tips. P Shannon spikelets with 3-8mm awns Bromopsis erecta Upright Brome Tall grass to 1.2m. Erect clusters with several long purplish spikelets having 3-8mm awns. Fine lower leaves often rolled inward and with herringbone hairs along margin. David Evans ndrew agg/plantlife 132 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

135 rasses Bromus hordeaceus Soft-brome Variable to 80cm, usually less. Clusters erect to drooping, plump, short awned, green, downy spikelets. Leaves grey-green, softly hairy with hairy leaf sheaths. hairy leaf sheath Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog s-tail Short perennial grass with short awned spikelets, arranged on a slender, unbranched spike. Flower stem exposed on one side. Leaf hairless to 4mm wide, finely pointed tip and short, blunt ligule Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass Tall (to 1.5m), densely tufted perennial grass with rigid dark green leaves. Tall stems, large branched clusters, silver/ purple 2 flowered spikelets. Leaves long, stiff, parallel sided to 5mm with very sharp edges. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 133

136 rasses Deschampsia flexuosa Wavy Hair-grass Short tufted grass. Spikelets purplish/silvery and shining, with long bent awn. Spikelets two-flowered on wavy stalks. Leaves fine, with short, blunt ligules. Purple leaf-sheaths. purple leaf sheaths Elytrigia atherica Sea Couch Stiff grass occuring in patches. Spikelets sometimes awned, alternate up opposite sides of the stem in a narrow spike. Leaves sharply pointed, usually inrolled. ndrew agg/plantlife spikelets unawned lyceria maxima Reed Sweet-grass Tall to 2m, patch forming. Open, well branched panicle with unawned green spikelets. Leaves bright green, narrow to 18mm. Ligules sharply pointed. Brown mark at stem junction. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife 134 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

137 rasses Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog Common, to 1m, a soft grey down gives it its name. Clusters of pink-purple to white spikelets with hooked awns. Stem joints smooth not downy; lower stem sheath with pink pyjama stripes Hordeum secalinum Meadow Barley Tufted perenniel to 80cm. 1 flowered spikelet with awns to 12mm, in 3s around a node on the spike. Toone/IWNHS Leaves narrow to 5mm, flat and roughish. Melica uniflora Wood Melick Short to medium to 60cm. Open clusters, spikelets with one floret per stalk. P Shannon Pale green leaves. Short ligule, bristle around top of leaf-sheath. Toone/IWNHS Species Identification uide 135

138 rasses Milium effusum Wood Millet Tall grass forming loose tufts. Spikelets pale-green, unawned, in a spreading panicle. Flat, pale-green leaves to 15mm wide. Ligules blunt. Molinia caerulea Purple Moor-grass Robust, tussock forming perennial grass to 90cm. Spikelets with 1-4 long narrow, usually purple, spikelets, occasionally yellow or green. nthers purple-brown. Stems closely packed, leaves greyish. Ligule a ring of hairs. ndrew agg/plantlife Nardus stricta Mat-grass Short to 20cm. Distinctive with one-flowered spikelets on one side only of the dark, narrow spike. M Cotterill/IWNHS Leaves stiff and wiry, greyish. P Shannon 136 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

139 rasses Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary-grass Tall, sturdy to 2m. Patch forming, with underground rhizomes. 2-3 flowered pale purple, white or yellow un-awned spikelets in dense clusters. Leaves rough-edged remaining over winter. Long blunt ligules. Puccinellia maritima Common Saltmarsh-grass Low mat-forming with stems to 80cm. Narrow, inconspicuous, branched spike with long, often purple, bluntended spikelets. Leaf sheaths are wide but leaves thin to 3mm, greyish, blunt tipped. Toone/IWNHS Spartina anglica Common Cord-grass stiff, sward-forming perennial to 1.3m. Single spikelets on clusters of up to 6 spikes. Stem topped by a long bristle. Toone/IWNHS Yellowish green stiff leaves. Ligule a ring of hairs. P Shannon Species Identification uide 137

140 Rushes fruits as long as tepals Juncus conglomeratus Compact Rush Medium/tall, tufted. Dark brown flowers in tight clusters. Conspicuously ridged, leafless stems. egg shaped fruit shorter than tepals CONFUSED WITH Soft-rush (Juncus effusus) Compact Rush has tighter flower clusters, darker brown flowers and ridged stems. Juncus effusus Soft-rush Medium/tall, tufted, common. reenish-brown flowers in tight clusters sometimes looser. Smooth or faintly ridged, leafless stems. CONFUSED WITH Compact Rush (Juncus conglomeratus) Soft-rush has looser flower clusters, greener flowers and smoother stems. Juncus gerardii Saltmarsh Rush Short, patch-forming. Dark brown flowers and pale brown fruits in clusters. ndrew agg/plantlife ndrew agg/plantlife Narrow, dark green leaves. Stems, flattened to 40cm. ndrew agg/plantlife 138 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

141 Rushes Juncus inflexus Hard Rush Medium/tall to 1.2m, common. Cluster of brown flowers with unequal stalks. Hard, ridged, leafless stems, greyish in colour. Juncus squarrosus Heath Rush Short/medium, tufted. Dark brown flowers with a pale edge in branched clusters. ndrew agg/plantlife Stiff leafless stems to 50cm. Basal rosette of wiry leaves. Liam Rooney Species Identification uide 139

142 Sedges dense golden-brown spikelet Carex arenaria Sand Sedge Medium-sized sedge with many tufts, some with no flowering stem. Creeping roots with shoots arising in straight lines. Mid-green, 4mm wide, pointed ligules. Stems to 60cm. pointed ligule creeping, rooting stems Carex bigelowii Bigelow s Sedge, Stiff Sedge Small-medium sedge with shiny red-brown basal sheaths. Cluster of unstalked purpleblack female spikes below one male spike. P Shannon laucous leaves on both sides, pointed ligule. Very stiff three-angled flowering stem (20-40cm). pointed ligule CONFUSED WITH reen-ribbed Sedge (Carex binervis), Carnation Sedge (Carex panicea) Both reen-ribbed Sedge and Carnation Sedge have a blunt ligule and dull basal sheaths. Petr Filippov (CC BY-S 3.0) 140 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

143 star-like spikelets Carex echinata Star Sedge Densely tufted, mediumsize sedge with 3-4 short, unstalked, star-like spikelets. Sedges narrow leaves Mid-green, narrow leaves (1-2.5mm wide). Stems to 40cm, no leaves or obvious leaf-like bracts. Carex flacca laucous Sedge Loosely tufted, far creeping. 1-3 male spikes above 1-3 female spikes, purple-brown glumes, lowest bract as long as inflorescence. Toone/IWNHS stalked drooping spikelets drooping female spikes 2-6mm wide, stiff blue-green leaves, glaucous beneath. Stems to 60cm, bluntly 3-sided. Carex limosa Bog-sedge Loosely tufted, creeping. 1 thin male spike with 1-3 oblong female spikes, drooping on long stalks. laucous leaves, 1mm wide, rough, grooved. Stems to 40cm, sharply 3-sided. P Shannon Species Identification uide Pete Stroh 141

144 Sedges blackish female glumes Carex nigra Common Sedge Creeping, tufted or forming tussocks. 1-2 male spikes above 1-4 unstalked female spikes, fairly close together. Narrow glaucous leaves, 1-3mm wide. Stems to 70cm, rough, bluntly 3-sided. large, star-like spikelets Carex otrubae False Fox-sedge Densely tufted, large sedge with unstalked star-like spikelets cm long Bright green leaves, 4-10mm wide, pointed ligule. Stems to 100cm, sharply 3-sided. Liam Rooney Carex panicea Carnation Sedge Tufted, shortly creeping. Single male spike above 1-3 female spikes, with inflated yellow utricles and purplebrown glumes. laucous leaves, 2-4mm wide, flat. Stems to 50cm, bluntly 3-sided. Toone/IWNHS R CONFUSED WITH Tawny Sedge (Carex hostiana) Tawny Sedge is yellow-green instead of grey-green. whitish-pinkish basal sheaths 142 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

145 Sedges Carex paniculata reater Tussock-sedge Unmistakably huge tussocks up to 1.5m tall. Large flower head, 5-15cm long, with brown spikelets. large tussock Dark green leaves to 1.2m, 5-7mm wide. Rough stems to 1.5m brown fibrous stems Drooping spikelets Carex pendula Pendulous Sedge Tall, densely tufted, clump forming. Distinctive, long drooping spikelets. Leaves to 2cm, yellowishgreen above, glaucous below. Stems to 2m, bluntly 3-sided. single, narrow flower spike Carex pulicaris Flea Sedge Short, densely tufted. Single, narrow flower spike, 10-25mm long, red-brown glumes. Narrow, short leaves, 5-25cm, angled sheath. Stems to 30cm, rounded. Beth Halski/Plantlife angled leaf sheath Species Identification uide Toone/IWNHS 143

146 Sedges small unstalked spikelets, widely spaced Carex remota Remote Sedge Medium sized, densely tufted. reenish, short female spikelets spaced far apart each with a long bract. Mid-green leaves, <2mm wide with a short, blunt ligule. Stems to 60cm. roundish fruits greyish green leaves Carex rostrata Bottle Sedge Tall, slightly tufted, extensively patch forming. Large, blunt, flask-shaped yellow-green female spikes. Leaves grey above, dark green below. Stems to 1m, bluntly 3-sided. CONFUSED WITH Bladder-sedge (Carex vesicaria) Bladder-sedge has yellowish green leaves and a nonswollen stem base. Toone/IWNHS R 144 Liam Rooney National Plant Monitoring Scheme

147 blunt ligule pale yellow glumes Carex sylvatica Wood-sedge Short-medium, densely tufted. Long stalked female spikelets with pale yellow glumes. Shiny green leaves to 6mm wide, blunt ligules with hairy sheath. Stems to 60cm. CONFUSED WITH Thin-spiked Wood-sedge (Carex strigosa) Rarer with much longer female spikelets and pointed ligules. Eleocharis multicaulis Many-stalked Spike-rush Dense tufts, each with many stems. 10mm flower spike. No leaf blade, top of leaf sheath is angled. Stems to 40cm. Sedges Toone angled leaf sheath white fruit heads Eriophorum angustifolium Common Cottongrass Creeping, scattered stems. White cottony fruit heads conspicuous in summer, drooping in clusters of 3-7. Leaves 5-10cm long, with a tapered tip and short ligule. Stems to 60cm. Liam Rooney Beth Halski/Plantlife Species Identification uide 145

148 Sedges cottony fruit single, upright, oval spike Eriophorum vaginatum Hare s-tail Cottongrass Dense tufts, tussock forming. One upright oval spike, yellowish flowers in spring, cottony fruit head in summer. Wiry leaves up to 50cm long, triangular in section. Stems to 50cm. whitish to light brown spikelets cluster of spikelets Rhynchospora alba White Beak-sedge Tufted stems often forming bulbil like buds at the base. Flattish cluster of whitish to light brown spikelets. Leaves 1-2mm. Erect stems to 40cm. CONFUSED WITH Brown Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora fusca) Red-brown spikelets and no bulbils. Schoenoplectus lacustris (Scirpus lacustris) Common Club-rush Tall. Egg-shaped, red-brown spikelets in clusters. Strap-like leaves, submerged. Stems to 3m, slightly glaucous. R Pete Stroh 146 Kristian Peters (CC BY-S 3.0) National Plant Monitoring Scheme

149 conspicuous lower bract Schoenus nigricans Black Bog-rush Medium blackish brown spikelets, with lowest bract longer than the flower head. reyish leaves, 1-2mm with blackish sheaths. Stems to 60cm. Sedges Scirpus sylvaticus Wood Club-rush Medium/tall. Egg-shaped brown spikelets with olivegreen glumes, long leaf-like bracts. Bob ibbons/plantlife Cluster of spikelets Rough-edged leaves to 20mm. Stems to 1.2m, bluntly 3-sided. stems with strap brown spikelets Trichophorum germanicum (Trichophorum cespitosum) Deergrass Tussock forming, densely tufted. Leafless except a single short strap around stem. Spikelet with 8-20 brown flowers. Slender, smooth stems, erect to 25cm. ndrew agg/plantlife P Shannon Species Identification uide 147

150 Shrubs / Trees lnus glutinosa lder Deciduous tree to 20m. Yellow male catkins appear before leaves. Female catkins are persistent and green and eggshaped. Leaves dark green, toothed, rounded with a flattened or dipping-in tip. Betula pubescens / Betula pendula Downy Birch / Silver Birch Deciduous tree to 25m. Male catkins 3-6cm, female shorter. Record as Betula pendula / Betula pubescens. Leaves triangular, serrated. Bark brownish or silver, peeling. ndrew agg/plantlife R P Shannon 148 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

151 Shrubs / Trees Buddleja davidii Butterfly-bush 1-5m shrub with spikes of fragrant lilac (sometimes purple or white) flowers. reyish oval leaves. Long arching stems. Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Deciduous shrub to 4m bearing creamy flat-topped umbels of 4-petalled flowers. ndrew agg/plantlife Pointed, paired leaves that turn red in autumn. Corylus avellana Hazel Deciduous shrub to 8m with many stems. The long, male catkins hang down and appear in late winter before the leaves. ndrew agg/plantlife Leaves are round with a toothed edge and a drawn out point. ndrew agg/plantlife Species Identification uide 149

152 Shrubs / Trees Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Deciduous shrub/tree to 10m with flat-topped clusters of white flowers and red berries. Deeply divided leaves. Thorns on stem. Euonymus europeaus Spindle Deciduous tree/shrub to 6m with greenish-white 4-petalled flowers, followed by coral pink fruits with orange seeds. Paired, oval leaves, turning orange in autumn. ndrew agg/plantlife Ilex aquifolium Holly Evergreen tree/shrub to 20m. Flowers borne in the axils of leaves have 4 white petals. Beth Halski/Plantlife Leaves shiny, dark green, leathery and with spines, particularly on young plants. ndrew agg/plantlife 150 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

153 Shrubs / Trees Juniperus communis Common Juniper Sprawling evergreen tree/ shrub 2-4m. Fruits ripen to black in their second to third year. Needles in whorls of 3, 4-20mm long, with a white band on upper surface. Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Deciduous, thicket-forming shrub to 4m. White flowers, 5-8mm across, appear before leaves. Beth Halski/Plantlife Narrow oval leaves taper into stalks. Stems stiff and thorny. Rhamnus cathartica Buckthorn Deciduous tree/shrub to 6m with green 4-petalled flowers 7mm across in small clusters followed by black berries. Beth Halski/Plantlife Leaves are oval, pointed and toothed. Twigs often thorny. P Shannon Species Identification uide 151

154 Shrubs / Trees Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron Tall, evergreen shrub. Violet or pink bell-shaped flowers, 4-6cm long, are borne in rounded clusters. Leaves are leathery, dark green, with untoothed edges. leaf edges not toothed untoothed leaf Salix repens Creeping Willow Creeping shrub to 150cm. Catkins appear before leaves. Leaves are white, silky hairy underneath. Deborah Long/Plantlife leaf silky hairy below P Shannon 152 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

155 Shrubs / Trees Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Deciduous tree to 15m. Dense clusters of creamywhite, 5-petalled flowers are followed by scarlet berries. Leaves alternate along the stem and have stronglytoothed leaflets. Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry Suckering shrub to 2m. Pink bell-shaped flowers and white berries. ndrew agg/plantlife Paired leaves usually almost round to oval but are sometimes lobed. ndrew agg/plantlife Conifer seedlings and saplings Young conifer trees less than 2m in height. Species Identification uide 153

156 Wood-rushes globular brown fruits long white hairs Luzula multiflora Heath Wood-rush Short to 30cm with no runners. Stalked, red-brown flower heads, anthers as long as their stalks. reen leaves with long white hairs. CONFUSED WITH Congested Wood-rush (Luzula multiflora ssp. congesta) Heath Wood-rush is shorter with a looser cluster of flowers. Luzula sylvatica reat Wood-rush Medium/tall to 80cm, our largest wood-rush. Widespreading, forking cluster of brown flowers with egg shaped brown fruits. lossy leaves, up to 20mm across. Long white hairs. ndrew agg/plantlife Pete Stroh 154 National Plant Monitoring Scheme

157 Index Common name dder s-tongue grimony...33 lder lpine Bistort...23 lpine Clubmoss lpine Lady s-mantle merican Skunk-cabbage...45 mphibious Bistort...75 nnual Pearlwort nnual Sea-blite rrowhead...27 utumn Crocus...68 utumn entian...91 Barren Strawberry...24 Basil Thyme...68 Bearberry... 6 Beet Bell Heather...91 Betony...84 Bigelow s Sedge / Stiff Sedge Bilberry, Blaeberry...81 Bird s-foot...48 Biting Stonecrop...54 Bitter-vetch...64 Bittersweet / Woody Nightshade Black Bog-rush Black Bryony Black-grass Black Medick...46 Blackthorn Blinks...22 Bloody Crane s-bill...72 Bluebell...93 Bog sphodel...47 Bog Pimpernel...66 Bog Pondweed Bog-myrtle Bog-sedge Bogbean...20 Bottle Sedge Bracken Bramble...25 Branched Bur-reed Bristly Oxtongue...39 Brittle Bladder-fern Broad-leaved Dock Brooklime Broom...36 Buck s-horn Plantain Buckthorn Bugle...83 Bulbous Buttercup...51 Bulrush / Common Reedmace Butcher s-broom...26 Butterbur...75 Butterfly-bush Canadian Waterweed Carline Thistle...34 Carnation Sedge Cat s-ear...41 Celery-leaved Buttercup...51 Chickweed-wintergreen...32 Cleavers / oosegrass...14 Climbing Corydalis... 9 Cloudberry...25 Clustered Bellflower...84 Common Bent Common Bird s-foot-trefoil...44 Common Bistort Common Butterwort...96 Common Chickweed...30 Common Club-rush Common Comfrey Common Cord-grass Common Cornsalad Common Cottongrass Common Cow-wheat...47 Common Dog-violet Common Ivy Common Juniper Common Marsh-bedstraw...15 Common Meadow-rue...31 Common Milkwort...97 Common Mouse-ear... 8 Common Nettle Common Ragwort

158 Index Common Rock-rose...38 Common Saltmarsh-grass Common Sedge Common Sorrel...64 Common Spotted-orchid...69 Common Twayblade Common Valerian...82 Compact Rush Conifer seedlings and saplings Corn Marigold...38 Cow Parsley... 4 Cowberry...81 Cowslip...50 Cranberry...81 Creeping Buttercup...51 Creeping Cinquefoil...49 Creeping Thistle...87 Creeping Willow Crested Dog s-tail Cross-leaved Heath...71 Crosswort...35 Crowberry...90 Cuckooflower / Lady s Smock...67 Curled Dock Curled Pondweed Daisy... 6 Deergrass Devil s-bit Scabious Dodder...69 Dog s Mercury Dogwood Downy Birch Dropwort...13 Dwarf orse...61 Dwarf Spurge Dwarf Thistle...87 Dyer s reenweed...37 Early Dog-violet Early-purple Orchid...95 Enchanter s-nightshade...10 English Stonecrop...29 Fairy Flax...18 False Fox-sedge Fat Duckweed Fat-hen Field Horsetail Field Madder...77 Field Mouse-ear... 8 Field Pansy...62 Field Scabious...93 Fir Clubmoss Flea Sedge Flowering-rush...67 Fool s Parsley... 2 Fool s-water-cress... 5 Foxglove...90 Fragrant Orchid...73 Frog Orchid Frogbit...17 Fumitories...71 iant Bellflower...85 iant Hogweed...17 laucous Sedge lobeflower...60 oldenrod...57 orse...60 reat Burnet...65 reat Sundew...12 reat Willowherb...71 reat Wood-rush reater Bird s-foot-trefoil...45 reater Burnet-saxifrage...23 reater Duckweed reater Knapweed...86 reater Sea-spurrey...78 reater Stitchwort...30 reater Tussock-sedge round-ivy...92 ypsywort...19 Hairy Rock-cress... 6 Hairy Tare Hairy Violet Hard Rush Hard-fern Hare s-tail Cottongrass Harebell...85 Hart s-tongue Hawthorn

159 Index Hazel Heath Bedstraw...16 Heath Milkwort...97 Heath Rush Heath Speedwell Heath Spotted-orchid...70 Heath Wood-rush Heather...84 Hedge Bedstraw...14 Hedge Bindweed... 7 Henbit Dead-nettle...74 Herb-Robert...72 Himalayan Balsam...73 Hoary Plantain...76 Hoary Ragwort...55 Hogweed...17 Holly Honeysuckle...44 Hop Trefoil...59 Horseshoe Vetch...39 Hottentot-fig...67 Hound s-tongue...63 Ivy-leaved Duckweed Japanese Rose...76 Kidney Vetch...33 Knotted Clover...80 Knotted Pearlwort...26 Lady s Bedstraw...36 Large Thyme...79 Lemon-scented Fern Lesser Butterfly-orchid...24 Lesser Meadow-rue...31 Lesser Sea-spurrey...78 Lesser Skullcap...76 Lesser Stitchwort...30 Lesser Trefoil...59 Lesser Twayblade Lesser Water-parsnip... 7 Lesser/Wood Burdock...83 Limestone Bedstraw...16 Lords-and-Ladies / Cuckoo-pint Lousewort...75 Maidenhair Spleenwort Many-stalked Spike-rush Mare s-tail Marram Marsh rrowgrass Marsh Cinquefoil...89 Marsh Foxtail Marsh Hawk s-beard...35 Marsh Horsetail Marsh Lousewort...74 Marsh Pennywort...73 Marsh Ragwort...55 Marsh St John s-wort...40 Marsh Thistle...89 Marsh Valerian...82 Marsh Violet Marsh Woundwort Marsh Yellow-cress...53 Marsh-marigold...34 Mat-grass Meadow Barley Meadow Buttercup...50 Meadow Oat-grass Meadow Saxifrage...27 Meadow Thistle...88 Meadow Vetchling...44 Meadowsweet...13 Melancholy Thistle...88 Mossy Saxifrage...28 Mountain Everlasting...66 Mountain Pansy...62 Mountain Sorrel...64 Mouse-ear-hawkweed...48 Musk Thistle / Nodding Thistle...86 Nettle-leaved Bellflower...86 New Zealand Pigmyweed Northern Bedstraw...14 Nuttall s Waterweed Oak Fern Oblong-leaved Sundew...12 Opposite-leaved olden-saxifrage Orache Oxeye Daisy...18 Pale Butterwort...96 Pale Persicaria...22 Parrot s-feather

160 Index Parsley Fern Pendulous Sedge Pepper-saxifrage...56 Perennial Sowthistle...57 Perfoliate Pondweed Petty Whin...37 Pignut...11 Ploughman s-spikenard...41 Prickly Lettuce...43 Prickly Sowthistle...58 Primrose...50 Purple Saxifrage...98 Purple-loosestrife...94 Purple Moor-grass Quaking-grass Ragged-Robin...77 Ramsons... 3 Red Bartsia...74 Red Campion...77 Red Clover...80 Red Valerian...63 Reed Canary-grass Reed Sweet-grass Remote Sedge Rhododendron Ribwort Plantain Rock Samphire...35 Roseroot...54 Rough Chervil... 9 Round-leaved Fluellen...42 Round-leaved Sundew...12 Rowan Royal Fern Rue-leaved Saxifrage...28 Rustyback Salad Burnet Saltmarsh Rush Sand Sea-spurrey...78 Sand Sedge Sanicle...27 Saw-wort Scarlet Pimpenel...63 Scented Mayweed...20 Scentless Mayweed Scots Lovage...18 Scurvygrasses...10 Sea rrowgrass Sea ster...83 Sea Campion...29 Sea Couch Sea Milkwort...72 Sea Plantain Sea Purslane Sea Sandwort Sea-kale...11 Sea-lavender...94 Selfheal...98 Sharp-leaved Fluellen...42 Sheep s Sorrel...65 Sheep s-bit...93 Shepherd s Purse... 8 Shoreweed...19 Silverweed...49 Silver Birch Skullcap...99 Small Cudweed...36 Small Scabious...99 Small Toadflax...87 Smooth Sowthistle...58 Snowberry Soft-brome Soft-rush Southern Marsh-orchid...70 Spear Thistle...89 Spindle Spring Sandwort...21 Spurge-laurel Square-stalked St John s-wort...40 Stag s-horn Clubmoss Star Sedge Starry Saxifrage...28 Sticky Mouse-ear... 9 Stinking Chamomile... 4 Stone Bramble...25 Strawberry Clover...80 Sun Spurge Sweet Vernal-grass Three-nerved Sandwort...21

161 Index Thrift...66 Tor-grass, Heath False-brome Tormentil...49 Traveller s-joy / Old Man s Beard...10 Trifid Bur-marigold...33 Tufted Hair-grass Tufted Vetch Upright Brome Upright Hedge-parsley...31 Wall Lettuce...47 Wall Speedwell Wall-rue Water Dock Water Fern Water Horsetail Water Lobelia Water Mint...94 Water-cress Water-crowfoots...24 Water-plantain... 2 Water-violet...92 Wavy Hair-grass Weld...52 Western orse...61 White Beak-sedge White Campion...29 White Clover...32 White Water-lily Wild ngelica... 3 Wild Carrot...11 Wild Celery... 5 Wild Clary...98 Wild Marjoram...95 Wild Mignonette...52 Wild Parsnip...48 Wild Strawberry...13 Wild Teasel...90 Wild Thyme...79 Wood nemone... 3 Wood vens...37 Wood Club-rush Wood Crane s-bill...92 Wood Melick Wood Millet Wood Sage Wood Speedwell Wood Spurge Wood-sedge Wood-sorrel...22 Woodruff...15 Yarrow... 2 Yellow rchangel...43 Yellow Horned-poppy...38 Yellow Iris...42 Yellow Loosestrife...46 Yellow Pimpernel...45 Yellow Saxifrage...54 Yellow Water-lily Yellow-rattle...53 Yellow-wort...34 Yorkshire-fog

162 Index Scientific name chillea millefolium...2 ethusa cynapium...2 grimonia eupatoria grostis capillaris juga reptans lchemilla alpina lisma plantago-aquatica...2 llium ursinum...3 lnus glutinosa lopecurus geniculatus lopecurus myosuroides mmophila arenaria nagallis arvensis nagallis tenella nemone nemorosa...3 ngelica sylvestris...3 ntennaria dioica nthemis cotula...4 nthoxanthum odoratum nthriscus sylvestris...4 nthylllis vulneraria pium graveolens...5 pium nodiflorum...5 rabis hirsuta...6 rctium minus / nemorosum rctostaphylos uva-ursi...6 rmeria maritima rum maculatum splenium ceterach (Ceterach officinarum) splenium ruta-muraria splenium scolopendrium (Phyllitis scolopendrium) splenium trichomanes ster tripolium triplex portulacoides triplex sp venula pratense (Helictotrichon pratense) zolla filiculoides Bellis perennis...6 Berula erecta Beta vulgaris Betonica officinalis (Stachys officinalis).84 Betula pendula Betula pubescens Bidens tripartita Blackstonia perfoliata Blechnum spicant Brachypodium pinnatum Briza media Bromopsis erecta Bromus hordeaceus Buddleja davidii Butomus umbellatus Calluna vulgaris Caltha palustris Calystegia sepium...7 Campanula glomerata Campanula latifolia Campanula rotundifolia Campanula trachelium Capsella bursa-pastoris...8 Cardamine pratensis Carduus nutans Carex arenaria Carex bigelowii Carex echinata Carex flacca Carex limosa Carex nigra Carex otrubae Carex panicea Carex paniculata Carex pendula Carex pulicaris Carex remota Carex rostrata Carex sylvatica Carlina vulgaris Carpobrotus edulis Centaurea scabiosa Centranthus ruber Cerastium arvense...8 Cerastium fontanum...8 Cerastium glomeratum...9

163 Index Ceratocapnos claviculata...9 Chaenorhinum minus Chaerophyllum temulum...9 Chenopodium album Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Circaea lutetiana Cirsium acaule Cirsium arvense Cirsium dissectum Cirsium heterophyllum Cirsium palustre Cirsium vulgare Clematis vitalba Clinopodium acinos Cochlearia sp Coeloglossum viride (Dactylorhiza viridis) Colchicum autumnale Comarum palustre (Potentilla palustris) Conopodium majus Cornus sanguinea Corylus avellana Crambe maritima Crassula helmsii Crataegus monogyna Crepis paludosa Crithmum maritimum Cruciata laevipes Cryptogramma crispa Cuscuta epithymum Cynoglossum officinale Cynosurus cristatus Cystopteris fragilis Cytisus scoparius Dactylorhiza fuchsii Dactylorhiza maculata Dactylorhiza praetermissa Daphne laureola Daucus carota Deschampsia cespitosa Deschampsia flexuosa Digitalis purpurea Diphasiastrum alpinum Dipsacus fullonum Drosera anglica Drosera intermedia Drosera rotundifolia Eleocharis multicaulis Elodea canadensis Elodea nuttallii Elytrigia atherica Empetrum nigrum Epilobium hirsutum Equisetum arvense Equisetum fluviatile Equisetum palustre Erica cinerea Erica tetralix Eriophorum angustifolium Eriophorum vaginatum Euonymus europeaus Euphorbia amygdaloides Euphorbia exigua Euphorbia helioscopia Filago minima Filipendula ulmaria Filipendula vulgaris Fragaria vesca Fumaria sp alium album (alium mollugo) alium aparine alium boreale alium odoratum alium palustre alium saxatile alium sterneri alium verum enista anglica enista tinctoria entianella amarella eranium robertianum eranium sanguineum eranium sylvaticum eum urbanum laucium flavum laux maritima

164 Index lebionis segetum (Chrysanthemum segetum) lechoma hederacea lyceria maxima ymnadenia conopsea ymnocarpium dryopteris Hedera helix Helianthemum nummularium Helminthotheca echiodes (Picris echiodes) Heracleum mantegazzianum Heracleum sphondylium Hippocrepis comosa Hippuris vulgaris Holcus lanatus Honckenya peploides Hordeum secalinum Hottonia palustris Huperzia selago Hyacinthoides non-scripta Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Hydrocotyle vulgaris Hypericum elodes Hypericum tetrapterum Hypochaeris radicata Ilex aquifolium Impatiens glandulifera Inula conyzae Iris pseudacorus Jasione montana Juncus conglomeratus Juncus effusus Juncus gerardii Juncus inflexus Juncus squarrosus Juniperus communis Kickxia elatine Kickxia spuria Knautia arvensis Lactuca serriola Lamiastrum galeobdolon Lamium amplexicaule Lathyrus linifolius Lathyrus pratensis Lemna gibba Lemna trisulca Leucanthemum vulgare Ligusticum scoticum Limonium sp Linum catharticum Littorella uniflora Lobelia dortmanna Lonicera periclymenum Lotus corniculatus Lotus pedunculatus Luzula multiflora Luzula sylvatica Lycopodium clavatum Lycopus europaeus Lysichiton americanus Lysimachia nemorum Lysimachia vulgaris Lythrum salicaria Matricaria chamomilla (Matricaria recutita) Medicago lupulina Melampyrum pratense Melica uniflora Mentha aquatica Menyanthes trifoliata Mercurialis perennis Milium effusum Minuartia verna Moehringia trinervia Molinia caerulea Montia fontana Mycelis muralis Myrica gale Myriophyllum aquaticum Nardus stricta Narthecium ossifragum Nasturtium officinale (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) Neottia cordata (Listera cordata) Neottia ovata (Listera ovata) Nuphar lutea Nymphaea alba Odontites vernus... 74

165 Index Ophioglossum vulgatum Orchis mascula Oreopteris limbosperma Origanum vulgare Ornithopus perpusillus Osmunda regalis Oxalis acetosella Oxyria digyna Pastinaca sativa Pedicularis palustris Pedicularis sylvatica Persicaria amphibia Persicaria bistorta Persicaria lapathifolia Persicaria vivipara Petasites hybridus Phalaris arundinacea Pilosella officinarum Pimpinella major Pinguicula lusitanica Pinguicula vulgaris Plantago coronopus Plantago lanceolata Plantago maritima Plantago media Platanthera bifolia Polygala serpyllifolia Polygala vulgaris Potamogeton crispus Potamogeton perfoliatus Potamogeton polygonifolius Potentilla anserina Potentilla erecta Potentilla reptans Potentilla sterilis Poterium sanguisorba (Sanguisorba minor) Primula veris Primula vulgaris Prunella vulgaris Prunus spinosa Pteridium aquilinum Puccinellia maritima Ranunculus acris Ranunculus bulbosus Ranunculus repens Ranunculus sceleratus Ranunculus sp Reseda lutea Reseda luteola Rhamnus cathartica Rhinanthus minor Rhododendron ponticum Rhynchospora alba Rorippa palustris Rosa rugosa Rubus chamaemorus Rubus fruticosus agg Rubus saxatilis Rumex acetosa Rumex acetosella Rumex crispus Rumex hydrolapathum Rumex obtusifolius Ruscus aculeatus Sagina apetala Sagina nodosa Sagittaria sagittifolia Salix repens Salvia verbenaca Sanguisorba officinalis Sanicula europaea Saxifraga aizoides Saxifraga granulata Saxifraga hypnoides Saxifraga oppositifolia Saxifraga stellaris Saxifraga tridactylites Scabiosa columbaria Schoenoplectus lacustris (Scirpus lacustris) Schoenus nigricans Scirpus sylvaticus Scutellaria galericulata Scutellaria minor Sedum acre Sedum anglicum Sedum rosea

166 Index Senecio aquaticus Senecio erucifolius Senecio jacobaea Serratula tinctoria Sherardia arvensis Silaum silaus Silene dioica Silene flos-cuculi (Lychnis flos-cuculi).. 77 Silene latifolia Silene uniflora Solanum dulcamara Solidago virgaurea Sonchus arvensis Sonchus asper Sonchus oleraceus Sorbus aucuparia Sparganium erectum Spartina anglica Spergularia marina Spergularia media Spergularia rubra Spirodela polyrhiza Stachys palustris Stellaria graminea Stellaria holostea Stellaria media Suaeda maritima Succisa pratensis Symphoricarpos albus Symphytum officinale Tamus communis Teucrium scorodonia Thalictrum flavum Thalictrum minus Thymus polytrichus Thymus pulegioides Torilis japonica Trichophorum germanicum (Trichophorum cespitosum) Trientalis europaea Trifolium campestre Trifolium dubium Trifolium fragiferum Trifolium pratense Trifolium repens Trifolium striatum Triglochin maritimum Triglochin palustre Tripleurospermum inodorum Trollius europaeus Typha latifolia Ulex europaeus Ulex gallii Ulex minor Urtica dioica Vaccinium myrtillus Vaccinium oxycoccos Vaccinium vitis-ideae Valeriana dioica Valeriana officinalis Valerianella locusta Veronica arvensis Veronica beccabunga Veronica montana Veronica officinalis Vicia cracca Vicia hirsuta Viola arvensis Viola hirta Viola lutea Viola palustris Viola reichenbachiana Viola riviniana...105

167 ppendix Sedges Spikelets Sedge ligule Leaf blade Stem Star sedge Stem Stem profile Ligule - can be sharp or blunt, long or short Leaf sheath Leaf sheath Ligule Leaf blade Rush Top flowering rush Bract Side flowering rush Fern Flower head Stems Flower head Pinnule Blade Frond leaf Pinna Scales Crozier Stipe Leaf Sheath Rhizome rass wns Roots Spore cases on the underside of a fern Floret Inflorescence eneric Flowering plant Stamens nther Filament Ovary Ovules Corolla Stigma Petal Style Sepal Receptacle Blade Panicle Spikelets xil Stipule Petiole Stem leaf Node Raceme Basal leaf 165

168 The National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) is organised and funded by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Plantlife and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The NPMS is indebted to all volunteers who contribute data to the scheme. ISBN: Wild flower illustrations reproduced with kind permission from Philip s uide to Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Ireland, Bob ibbons and Peter Brough, rass, sedge, rush and fern illustrations, reproduced with kind permission from the Colour Identification uide to the rasses, Sedges, Rushes and ferns, of the British Isles and north-western Europe, Francis Rose, Design, cover photo: ndrew Evans