Clematis vitalba (Traveller's-joy)
A familiar climbing and twining shrub of hedgerows on chalk downland, this species is Britain's only native Clematis. Its flowers are fairly small compared to the well-known garden varieties but are followed by the same spidery, pale seedheads which get more and more fluffy as they mature. Eventually the seeds are blown off the plant by autumn winds.
Hippocrepis comosa (Horseshoe Vetch)
Common in calcareous meadows in southern England, Horseshoe Vetch is a very important larval foodplant for several butterflies. I've described it in more detail in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.
Melampyrium pratense (Common Cow-wheat)
East Blean Wood NR, Kent
This woodland plant is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.
Thymus polytrichus (Common Thyme) & Helianthemum nummularium (Rock-rose)
Pewsey Downs NNR, WiltshireThese two common plants of calcareous meadows are described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Echium vulgare (Viper's Bugloss)
Sandwich Bay, Kent
Text coming soon!
Eryngium maritimum (Sea Holly)
Sandwich Bay, Kent
This unmistakable plant is common much of coastal Britain, where it grows in sandy dunes or deep shingle. Its very spiny, thick, grey leaves make it very easy to identify.
Gentianella germanica (Chiltern Gentian)
Warburg NR, Buckinghamshire
Chiltern Gentian is a speciality of southern England, where it is restricted to limestone and chalk downland.
Visually, it is very similar to other, more common Gentianella species but is distinct in having broader-based leaves and longer flowers which are more than twice as long as the calyx.
Visually, it is very similar to other, more common Gentianella species but is distinct in having broader-based leaves and longer flowers which are more than twice as long as the calyx.
Verbascum (Dark Mullein)
Warburg NR, Buckinghamshire
Dark Mullein is a beautiful meadow plant. Few other species can match its impressive stature and bright colours in late summer.
Dark Mullein is even more beautiful close-up, where the diagnostic purple-hairy stamens can be seen. These separate it from Great Mullein (V.thapsus), as do its dark green leaves and angular stem.
Dark Mullein is even more beautiful close-up, where the diagnostic purple-hairy stamens can be seen. These separate it from Great Mullein (V.thapsus), as do its dark green leaves and angular stem.
Reseda sp (MIgnonette)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, WiltshireText coming soon!
Orobanche elatior (Knapweed Broomrape)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, WiltshireKnapweed Broomrape is a plant of southern and eastern England, where its host (Centaurea scabiosa - see below) is common in meadows.
As with all Broomrapes, the intricate flowers have subtle differences that need close examination in the absence of seeing the host plant.
As with all Broomrapes, the intricate flowers have subtle differences that need close examination in the absence of seeing the host plant.
Genista tinctoria (Dyer's Greenweed)
This attractive species is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.
Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, Wilts
A classic downland plant of southern Britain, Clustered Bellflower is a beautiful species of late summer.
As its name suggests, the clustered flowerheads make it very easy to recognise.
As its name suggests, the clustered flowerheads make it very easy to recognise.
Plantago media (Hoary Plantain)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, Wilts
Named for its very hairy leaves, Downy Plantain is a species of calcareous grassland.
Unlike some of the other plantain species, its flowers are a beautiful shining pinkish-white with darker tips and bear a pleasant scent.
Unlike some of the other plantain species, its flowers are a beautiful shining pinkish-white with darker tips and bear a pleasant scent.
Euphrasia sp (Eyebright)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, Wilts Text coming soon!
Knautia arvensis (Field Scabious)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, Wilts
This beautiful and common perennial of grassy habitats is described in the Flora of Derbyshire section of the site.
Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, Wilts
This lovely species of chalk grassland is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.
Cirsium acaule (Dwarf Thistle)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, Wilts
Carlina acaulis (Carline Thistle)
Coombe Bissett Down NR, Wilts This species is described in the Flora of Dorset section of the site.
Epipactis helleborine (Marsh Helleborine)
Dry Sandford Pit NR, Oxfordshire
Text coming soon!
Herminium monorchis (Musk Orchid)
Park Gate Down NR, Kent
One of Britain's smallest and most unassuming orchids, this rare species is a resident of grazed, calcareous grassland in southern England.
Its small size (around 10cm tall) and yellow-green colour make the Musk Orchid very easy to overlook. The tiny flowers are sweet-scented.
Its small size (around 10cm tall) and yellow-green colour make the Musk Orchid very easy to overlook. The tiny flowers are sweet-scented.
Anacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid)
Wye Downs NNR, Kent
Gymnadenia conopsea (Fragrant Orchid)
Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common Spotted-Orchid)
Orchis ustulata (Burnt Orchid)
Parsonage Down NNR, Wiltshire
This beautiful species is perhaps my favourite of Britain's orchids. The dark tips and dense flower spikes make it easy to recognise.
The Burnt Orchid is most common on the chalk downland of Wiltshire and Dorset but also occurs at scattered sites as far north as Yorkshire. Individual populations can be large (as at Pewsey Downs) but flowering is erratic and some smaller colonies fail to flower in some years.
Pewsey Downs NNR, Wiltshire
The Burnt Orchid is most common on the chalk downland of Wiltshire and Dorset but also occurs at scattered sites as far north as Yorkshire. Individual populations can be large (as at Pewsey Downs) but flowering is erratic and some smaller colonies fail to flower in some years.
Pewsey Downs NNR, Wiltshire
Orchis purpurea (Lady Orchid)
Hartslock NR, Oxfordshire
Named for its resemblance to a Victorian lady wearing a bonnet and white dress, O.purpurea is a rare species in Britain, but is more widespread than some of the other rarities (see below). The red-purple hood of the Lady Orchid is unique to this species, and the three-lobed lip is much broader than that of the Military Orchid.
Orchis militaris (Military Orchid)
Homesfield Wood NR, Buckinghamshire
The lilac, helmet-shaped hood of this very rare orchid makes it easy to identify. All known sites are in south-eastern England, with the largest in Suffolk. Unlike most other British Orchis species, O.militaris favours rather shaded sites in scrub, not open, sunny grassland.
The lip in this orchid forms broad legs, with narrower arms and two lines of hair tufts down the middle of the body.
The lip in this orchid forms broad legs, with narrower arms and two lines of hair tufts down the middle of the body.
Orchis simia (Monkey Orchid)
Hartslock NR, Oxfordshire
Monkey Orchid is a very rare species in Britain, restricted to a site on Oxfordshire and several in Kent.
In colour, size and shape, this species is similar to the Lady and Military Orchids, but the lobes of the lip in O.simia forms the shape of a monkey's arms and legs, with a tooth on the lip forming a small tail. These lobes are much broader in the two other species.
plant forming fruits, Park Gate Down NR, Kent
In colour, size and shape, this species is similar to the Lady and Military Orchids, but the lobes of the lip in O.simia forms the shape of a monkey's arms and legs, with a tooth on the lip forming a small tail. These lobes are much broader in the two other species.
plant forming fruits, Park Gate Down NR, Kent
Himantoglossum hircinum (Lizard Orchid)
Sandwich Bay, Kent
Named for the very long spur on the lip of the flowers, which resembles a curly lizard's tail, this warmth-loving orchid is restricted to southern England. Its muted colours make it easy to overlook when not growing above grasses and associated plants, although when out in the open it can be conspicuous and rather tall (over half a metre).
Like many of our orchids, this species is much more more widespread and common in continental Europe, where the Lizard orchid even grows at high altitude on warm mountain slopes - you can see a photo from northern Spain here.
Like many of our orchids, this species is much more more widespread and common in continental Europe, where the Lizard orchid even grows at high altitude on warm mountain slopes - you can see a photo from northern Spain here.
Ophrys insectifera (Fly Orchid)
Homesfield Wood, Bucks
This species is described in the Flora of Hampshire section of the site.
Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid)
Park Gate Down NR, Kent
Ophrys fuciflora (Late Spider Orchid)
Wye Downs NNR, Kent
One of Britain's rarest wild flowers, the Late Spider Orchid is found only on a handful or carefully-managed nature reserves in eastern Kent, and even there it is extremely rare and strictly-protected.
Superficially, this plant resembles a Bee Orchid (see above), but the flowers are larger, with short, pink triangular petals and a larger, more angular lip.
Superficially, this plant resembles a Bee Orchid (see above), but the flowers are larger, with short, pink triangular petals and a larger, more angular lip.
Schoenus nigricans
image coming soon!
Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
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Erica vagans
image coming soon!
Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
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Trifolium arvense
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Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
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Juncus pygmaeus
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Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall
Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall
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Juncus capitatus
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Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall
Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall
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Ranunculus tripartitus
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Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall
Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall
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Scilla autumnalis
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Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
Mullion Cliff, Lizard, Cornwall
Text coming soon!