Primula elatior (Oxlip)
Gransden & Waresley Woods NR
Bradfield Woods NR, Suffolk
East Anglia's flora has few claims to fame, nationally, but this beautiful perennial is surely one of them. The Oxlip resembles a primrose on a long stem in many ways, and is a very rare plant on our shores, restricted almost entirely to coppiced woodland in East Anglia.
The flowers are beautfully-scented and often abundant where they occur. Because they flower alongside bluebells each May, such woodlands are among the most beautiful on our shores.
The flowers are beautfully-scented and often abundant where they occur. Because they flower alongside bluebells each May, such woodlands are among the most beautiful on our shores.
Primula vulgaris (Primrose)
This common species of damp woodlands is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Primula veris (Cowslip)
Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)
Gransden & Waresley Woods NR, Cambridgeshire
This classic and familiar woodland shrub is described in the Flora of northern England section of the site.
Viola riviniana (Common Dog-violet)
Gransden & Waresley Woods NR, Cambridgeshire
Britain's commonest violet is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.
Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone)
Bradfield Woods NR, Suffolk
Wood Anemone is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Euphorbia paralias (Wood Spurge)
Bradfield Woods NR, Suffolk
Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque-flower)
Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Lincolnshire
Pasque-flower is surely one of our most beautiful wildflowers. Despite being commonly-grown as a garden ornamental, in the wild this species is sadly very rare indeed. It survives only on managed, unimproved grassland, particularly in East Anglia and Lincolnshire, which is where most of the known populations are now found.
As a native plant, it is utterly unmistakable, with dendely-hairy, feathery foliage and stunning, bold purple flowers with bright yellow centres in late spring.
As a native plant, it is utterly unmistakable, with dendely-hairy, feathery foliage and stunning, bold purple flowers with bright yellow centres in late spring.
Malus sp
Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Lincolnshire
Text coming soon!
Oenanthe fistulosa (Tubular Water-dropwort)
Thompson Common NR, Norfolk
One of our more wdiely-distributed Oenanthe species, this lovely plant bears the umbels typical of the genus, but in this species the inflorescences are densely spherical. Only O.aquatica shares this features among the seven species in Britain, but that species has more pinnate leaves and is generally taller, with very swollen lower stems.
Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)
Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Lincolnshire
This attractive species of calcareous grassland is described in the Flora of other areas of southern England section of the site.
Carlina acaulis (Carline Thistle)
Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Lincolnshire
Carline Thistle is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.
Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)
Probably Britain's most famous woodland plant, the Bluebell is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Fritillaria meleagris (Snake's-head Fritillary)
Perhaps our most spectacular native, spring-flowering bulb, the Snake's-head Fritillary is a rare plant on our shores and restricted to winter-wet meadows which have been protected from ploughing. Mickfield Meadow in Suffolk is one such site, where hundreds of plants bloom each spring in an otherwise intensively-cultvated agricultural area. The typical form grows here, alongside frequent white-flowered individuals.
Mickfield Meadow NR, Suffolk
Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp.incarnata (Early Marsh-orchid)
Although widely-distributed across Britain, this orchid tends to be rare and localised wherever it occurs. True to its common name, it only occurs where there is permanent moisture at its roots, not just in marshes but in damp meadows and dune slacks. Unlike some other Dactylorhiza species, it requires calcareous soil.
The Early Marsh-orchid is named for its flowering which begins in May, rather than June. It can be recognised by its distinctively-shaped flowers, whose lips are only shallowly three-lobed and have their sides strongly bent back, quite unlike our other Dactylorhiza species.
Several subspecies are recognised in Britain, although some authors regard them as separate species. Only ssp.incarnata has the typical pale pink colour - most others are much darker purple.
The Early Marsh-orchid is named for its flowering which begins in May, rather than June. It can be recognised by its distinctively-shaped flowers, whose lips are only shallowly three-lobed and have their sides strongly bent back, quite unlike our other Dactylorhiza species.
Several subspecies are recognised in Britain, although some authors regard them as separate species. Only ssp.incarnata has the typical pale pink colour - most others are much darker purple.
Fulbourn Fen NR, Cambridgeshire
Ophyrys apifera (Bee Orchid)
Fulbourn Fen NR, Cambridgeshire
The Bee Orchid is described in more detail in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Listera ovata (Common Twayblade)
Fulbourn Fen NR, Cambridgeshire
One of Britain's most widespread orchids, Common Twayblade is named for the two leaves which occur at ground level.
The green flowers resemble little men and are pollinated by wasps.
The green flowers resemble little men and are pollinated by wasps.
Cephalanthera damasoniorum (White Helleborine)
Beechwoods NR, Cambridgeshire
East Anglia's scattered populations of this lovely woodland orchid mark the northern limit for this species in Britain. It typically occurs in beech woodland, where the deep shade and leaf litter reduces competition from other plants.
White Helleborine is unmistakable when seen - no other British orchid has pure white, hooded flowers with golden-yellow centres.
White Helleborine is unmistakable when seen - no other British orchid has pure white, hooded flowers with golden-yellow centres.
Carex pendula (Pendulous Sedge)
Bradfield Woods NR, Suffolk
Pendulous Sedge is a characteristic species of damp woodland. I've described it in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.