Goose grass, Galium aparine. This plant has many, many names such as Cleavers, Sticky willie, Stick-a-back or Kisses because of its clingy nature. The hooks on its fruit attach to animals to help disperse its seeds. Popular with foragers for making Cleaver water/juice. Photo: Stephen Middleton WT
Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica. Native to Asia, Japanese knotweed is listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. If you come across it on the walk, leave it well alone as it is easily spread. We are working hard to eradicate it and have reduced its presence by about 95%.
Old man’s beard, Clematis vitalba. Old man’s beard or Traveller’s joy is a climbing shrub of the Clematis family with branched, grooved stems, deciduous leaves, and scented greeny-white flowers with fluffy underlying sepals which give the beard effect which recalls Father Christmas’s beard in December. It’s not particularly popular with insects and needs to be controlled or it will smother whole […]
Pyracantha. Pyracantha is a genus of large, thorny evergreen shrubs in the rose family Rosaceae. They are native to an area extending from Southwest Europe east to Southeast Asia. They have a white rose flower and resemble and are related to Cotoneaster, but have serrated leaf margins and numerous thorns (Cotoneaster is thornless). On Parkland Walk it is certainly a […]
Ribwort plantain, Plantago lanceolata. The deep veins visible on the leaves have earned the species its name ‘ribwort’. Ribwort plantain is probably the most constant and widespread component of natural and semi-natural grassland in Britain. Photo: www.wildlifeinsight.com
Russian vine, Fallopia baldschuanica. Known by several common names including mile-a-minute and silver lace vine, it is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family. It is a fast-growing plant that is grown as cover but has the capacity to grow beyond its intended limits. It is another of the species that needs to be kept under control or it […]
Common Valerian, Valeriana officinalis. It bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly species, especially hoverflies. It is consumed as food by the larvae of some butterflies and moths. Valerian has been used as a herb in traditional medicine since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed […]
White deadnettle, Lamium album. Another ‘nettle’ that is not actually a nettle but a member of the mint family. Like the red deadnettle it bears no sting. Photo: Stephen Middleton WT
Wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca. The Wild Strawberry is not actually the ancestor of commercial strawberries but it does have an excellent flavour. Its white flowers appear from April to July and the small but very tasty fruits follow soon after. WT
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium. A list of alternative names reflect its uses in herbal medical treatments and early brewing techniques. The genus name is derived from the Greek character, Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. Names include Field hops, Knight’s milefoil, Nosebleed, Old man’s pepper, Soldier’s Woundwort, and Sanguinary.
