Common Alder

Flower: Yellow and pendulous (male catkins). Green and oval (female catkins). Male and female catkins present on same tree, and grouped in clusters of 3-8 on each stalk. Fruit: In winter the catkins turn into hard, dark, cone-like fruit which eventually release the seeds. Leaves: Deciduous. Round, dark green, leathery, smooth, serrated edges.

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Marsh Arrowgrass

Flower: A flower spike. The green flowers have purple edges. Individual flowers are up to 3mm wide. Flowers have 3 petals and 6 stamens. Fruit: Narrow, erect and arrow-like. Leaves: Long and grass-like leaves with deep grooves.

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Narrow-leaved Arrowhead

Flower: The flowers of Sagittaria subulata are small, white, and three-petaled, typically blooming in summer (June to September). They arise above the water surface on slender stalks, with separate male and female flowers often found on the same inflorescence—males higher up, females below. Each flower meas... Fruit: Fruits are small, dry achenes grouped into globular clusters after flowering. Each achene has a distinctive wing or beak that aids in water dispersal. The seeds have no known culinary or foraging use for humans but may be eaten by waterfowl and contribute to the aquatic food web. Leaves: Leaves are extremely narrow, linear, and grass-like, typically submerged or sometimes floating. Unlike the typical arrow-shaped leaves of some other Sagittaria species, this one has no pronounced blade—hence the species name subulata, meaning awl-shaped. The leaves can reach 10–30 cm long but are us...

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Canadian Arrowhead

Flower: Flowers are in whorls of 3, each measuring approximately 1 inch across. The petals are white, tinged pink. 6 or more stamens. Pollinated by insects. Fruit: Globular fruit covered in hooked seeds. The fruit turns reddish as the seeds mature. Leaves: An aquatic perennial with submerged, broadly elliptical, long-stalked leaves, tapering to a point.

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Bog Arum

Flower: Bog Arum produces a striking, arum-like inflorescence consisting of a creamy-white spathe that wraps around a short, yellow-green spadix. The spathe is around 4–6 cm long, and the flowering period typically occurs in late spring to early summer (May to July). The spadix is covered with tiny, bisexua... Fruit: The plant develops a cluster of bright red berries in late summer. These are fleshy, rounded, and contain several seeds. While visually attractive, the berries are toxic if ingested, containing irritating compounds that can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Leaves: Bog Arum has glossy, dark green, heart- or kidney-shaped leaves with long stalks, often growing up to 15 cm long. They emerge from a creeping rhizome and often form a loose rosette. The leaves are thick and waxy, helping them survive in their typical waterlogged habitats.

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Bog Asphodel

Flower: Deep yellow spike of flowers, often tinged orange. Flowers are star-like with 6 petals and orange anthers. Fruit: Egg-shaped and bright orange. Leaves: Long and slender, grass-like.

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Aunt Eliza

Flower: Aunt Eliza (Crocosmia paniculata) is notable for its tall, upright stature and showy panicles of warm orange flowers with hints of red or amber. Each flower is trumpet-shaped with six spreading lobes and appears along strongly branched stems, often forming a loose, airy display. Flowering occurs fro... Fruit: After flowering, the plant may produce small, round seed capsules which start off green and ripen to brown. These capsules contain hard, black seeds, although viable seed production is rare in the UK climate. Most spread is through underground corms rather than seed. Leaves: The leaves are tall, lush, and lanceolate—sword-shaped with a gracefully arching habit. They can grow over a metre in height and have a slightly pleated texture with prominent parallel veins. The foliage is a rich green and helps form bold vertical clumps, making Aunt Eliza one of the most striking ...

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Water Avens

Flower: The flowers of Water Avens are characterized by their nodding, reddish-purple petals. These blooms add a touch of elegance to the plant and typically appear in late spring to mid-summer. Fruit: The fruit of Water Avens consists of small, dry achenes. These one-seeded fruits develop after the flowering period and contribute to the plant's reproductive cycle. Leaves: The basal leaves of Water Avens are pinnate and possess a slightly hairy texture. These toothed leaves contribute to the overall appearance of the plant, forming a lush and green foliage.

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Awlwort

Flower: Awlwort bears tiny, white, four-petalled flowers that are typical of the cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Each flower is about 2–4 mm across, often inconspicuous and held just above the water or even submerged. Flowering typically occurs from June to August, and the delicate flowers may go unnoticed u... Fruit: The fruits are small cylindrical capsules, around 5–10 mm long, that develop from the flowers and contain numerous minute seeds. As is typical in the Brassicaceae family, these seedpods (siliques) dry and split open to release seeds that are easily dispersed by water movement. Leaves: Leaves are slender, awl-shaped (narrow and tapering to a fine point), which gives the plant its name. They are bright green, soft, and typically grow in rosettes at the base, submerged or floating just under the water surface. Each leaf is 2–6 cm long and lacks a distinct stalk (sessile). The plant ...

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Sea Barley

Flower: Sea Barley produces dense, bristly flower spikes resembling miniature barley ears, with long awns (bristle-like appendages) extending from the glumes. The flowers are wind-pollinated, typically appearing from May to July, and arranged in short, flattened spikes that break apart easily at maturity. Fruit: The fruit is a single-seeded grain (caryopsis) typical of grasses, enclosed within the husk formed by the glumes. The fruit detaches with its surrounding bristles, aiding dispersal by animals or wind. Leaves: Leaves are narrow, grey-green, and rough to the touch, with prominent sheaths. Like other barley species, the ligule is short and membranous, and the plant often grows low and tufted in habit, forming dense clumps in coastal areas.

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White Beak-sedge

Flower: White Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba) features small, inconspicuous flowers with pale to creamy-colored petals, typically arranged in compact clusters or spikelets at the tips of its slender, grass-like stems. The flowers are delicate and often go unnoticed due to their subtle appearance, but they ad... Fruit: The fruit of White Beak-sedge consists of small, nut-like achenes. These achenes are typically dark brown or black and are attached to the plant's stem in clusters. They have a hard, seed-like shell and are dispersed by wind or water, contributing to the plant's reproductive cycle. Leaves: The leaves of White Beak-sedge are long, slender, and grass-like in appearance. They are typically dark green and have a linear shape. These leaves grow in dense tufts and arise from the base of the plant, forming an attractive clump. The leaves are typically smooth and narrow, adding to the overall...

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Fen Bedstraw

Flower: Fen Bedstraw bears small, white, four-petalled flowers arranged in loose, open clusters. Flowering from June to September, each flower is typically 2–3 mm across and shaped like a cross, similar to Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre), but often with a slightly creamier or duller white tone. The flowers... Fruit: Its fruits are a pair of small, smooth nutlets—distinctively hairless, which helps distinguish it from the rough, bristly fruits of G. palustre. The nutlets are not sticky or hooked, so they are less likely to cling to animals. They are dispersed mainly by water movement in the fen and wet meadow en... Leaves: Leaves are narrow, pointed, and arranged in whorls of six to eight along the stems. They are dark green with tiny hairs along the edges and midrib, helping separate it from similar species. The stems are square in cross-section and weak, often sprawling among surrounding vegetation. Unlike the sligh...

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Marsh Bedstraw

Flower: Marsh Bedstraw produces small, star-like white flowers from June to September. Each flower has four narrow petals arranged in a cross shape, giving a delicate, open appearance. The flowers grow in loose, branched clusters at the tips of stems and leaf axils. Though individually tiny—only 2–3 mm acro... Fruit: The fruit consists of a pair of tiny round nutlets, each with a rough surface and covered in hooked bristles that help them cling to passing animals or float in water. These ripen in late summer and autumn. This method of dispersal aids the plant’s spread through marshes, ditches, and boggy areas. Leaves: Leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and arranged in whorls of four to six around the stem. They are smooth-edged, with a slightly glossy green surface, and lack the backward-pointing hooks seen in some other Galium species. The stems are weak and square in cross-section, often sprawling or scrambling o...

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Great Marsh Bedstraw

Flower: Great Marsh Bedstraw bears small, delicate white flowers arranged in loose, branched clusters known as cymes. Each flower typically has four narrow, pointed petals, giving a star-like appearance. Blooming from June to August, the flowers are modest but numerous, contributing to the plant’s overall f... Fruit: The fruits are tiny, paired nutlets that mature in late summer. They are generally hairless or minutely roughened and inconspicuous, blending in with the plant’s thin stems. These nutlets do not have hooks or barbs, so they are primarily dispersed by gravity and water movement in the damp habitats w... Leaves: Leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and arranged in whorls of 4 to 6 along the slender, sprawling stems. The leaves are typically smooth-edged and often slightly recurved. G. palustre subsp. elongatum is characterised by longer, more spreading stems than the typical species, often reaching well over a ...

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Slender Marsh Bedstraw

Flower: Galium constrictum, or Slender Marsh Bedstraw, produces small, star-like white flowers that typically bloom from June to August. Each flower has four narrow petals and is borne in loose clusters at the tips of the stems or in the leaf axils. Though tiny—usually only a few millimetres across—the flow... Fruit: The fruit consists of paired, rounded nutlets, often slightly rough or hairy to the touch. These nutlets are very small and inconspicuous, maturing in late summer. As with many Galium species, seed dispersal is aided by their hooked or bristly surfaces, which can occasionally cling to animal fur or ... Leaves: The leaves of Slender Marsh Bedstraw are narrow and linear, arranged in whorls of 4 to 6 around the stem. Each leaf is short and pointed, with a smooth or slightly rough margin. The stems are weak and sprawling, often forming low, tangled mats in damp or wet habitats. Despite its name, it is not con...

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