Canadian Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis. As its name suggests it is native to northeastern and north-central North America. It forms colonies of upright growing plants, with many small yellow flowers in a branching inflorescence held above the foliage. It is an invasive plant that was imported to be grown as an ornamental in flower gardens. It is highly popular with a […]
St John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum. This plant, named after John the Baptist, is famous for its medicinal qualities in the treatment of low moods and mild depression. It flowers around the 24th of June, the feast day of St. John the Baptist. Sales of the supplement are banned in France due to concerns about serious interactions with other drugs. WT
Marsh marigold, Caltha palustris. Marsh-marigold by a pond provides shelter for frogs and early nectar for insects.
Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris, Also known as ‘Old-man-in-the-spring’. The seed heads led to its Latin name, Senecio, derived from the word for ‘old man’ – pull the white, fluffy seeds from the flower head and they leave behind a bare, dotted ‘scalp’.
Bristly oxtongue, Helminthotheca echioides. Flower is not unlike a dandelion but it’s the upstanding bristly nature of the plant, each bristle arising from a pimple, which helps identify it and makes it clear it really isn’t a dandelion! Leaves elliptical to oblong, wavy edged, pimply and bristly with winged stalks, upper leaves un-stalked and clasping the stem.
Birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus. A member of the pea family. Its three yellow petal flowers appear in small clusters. They are followed by seed pods that look distinctly like bird’s feet or claws. It’s an important food plant for the caterpillars of the common blue, silver-studded blue and wood white butterflies and when there was more grassland on Parkland Walk it […]
Common or yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris. A common plant of waste ground, grassland, roadside verges and hedgerows. Its yellow-and-orange flowers appear in June and persist well into November; they look like the flowers of snapdragons (familiar garden plants), and are often densely packed. These flowers give the plant its other common name of ‘butter and eggs’. WT
Oxford ragwort, Senecio squalidus. A real railway flower. It’s a hybrid between two Senicio species native to Mount Etna that was introduced to the Oxford Botanic Garden in 1690. By the end of the 18th century it grew on almost every wall in and about Oxford. During the Industrial revolution ragwort seed was distributed around the country via the thriving railway […]
Lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria. One of the earliest spring flowers. It flowers from March until May, and is sometimes called the “spring messenger”.
Ivy, Hedera helix. Ivy is a genus of 12 – 15 species. On the ground they rarely gain more than 20cm in height but when climbing can reach 30 metres above the ground. Juvenile leaves have the familiar palm like shape but as the plant matures the leaves become more rounded. Dense ivy is excellent for insects and birds. The fruit […]
