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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Downy Birch

Flower: Male and female catkins appear on the same tree. Erect female catkins are shorter and green. Male catkins hang loosely in groups of 2-4. Often hybridizes with Silver Birch making identification tricky. Fruit: Small dry one-sided winged fruits, called 'achenes'. Leaves: Deciduous. Ovate, pointed and with serrated margins. Light green in spring, darkening and then turning yellow or orange in autumn. Leaves are often hairy underneath.

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Thistle Broomrape

Flower: Thistle Broomrape produces dense, upright spikes of purple to violet flowers, each with a pale, two-lipped corolla often marked with yellow or whitish streaks. The flowers are typically 1.5–2.5 cm long, and the calyx is distinctively net-veined (reticulate), giving the species its name. The flowerin... Fruit: The fruit is a small, dry capsule that contains tiny, dust-like seeds. As with other broomrapes, each plant can produce thousands of seeds, which are dispersed mainly by wind or water movement, allowing potential colonisation near suitable host plants. Leaves: This species, like all broomrapes, is non-photosynthetic and lacks true leaves. Instead, it has purple-brown or yellowish bracts and scale-like leaf structures along its thick stem. These are non-functional for photosynthesis and mainly serve a protective role.

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Common Bulrush

Flower: Common Bulrush, also known as Broadleaf Cattail, is a tall, reed-like plant found in marshes, ponds, and ditches across the UK. Its flowering stem produces two distinct cylindrical spikes: the upper one bears the yellowish male flowers, while the lower and much thicker brown spike holds the female f... Fruit: The female flower head matures into a dense mass of tiny seeds, each attached to fine hairs. In autumn, the brown spike gradually disintegrates, releasing the seeds to the wind like dandelion fluff. This allows the plant to spread widely across wetlands, often forming extensive colonies. Though not ... Leaves: The leaves of Common Bulrush are flat, grey-green, and can grow up to 2 metres tall. They are long and strap-like, arising from the base in a fan-shaped cluster. The leaves have a smooth texture and are somewhat spongy inside. Their strong, fibrous quality made them historically useful for weaving m...

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Nodding Bur-marigold

Flower: Golden yellow, oval petals. The tips of the petals are either notched or pointed. Flowers have 5 stamens. The inner bracts are blunt and pale yellow. The green outer bracts of the flowers are long, narrow and curly. The flowers nod with age. The flowers are larger than those of the similar looking T... Fruit: A dark brown, 4-angled seed, 6 to 8mm in length. The tip of the seed has 3 or 4 barbed awns attached to it. The fruits are narrower than those of Trifid Bur-marigold. Leaves: The leaves are narrow, measuring up to 6 inches (15cm) long and 1 inch (2.5cm) wide. They are stalkless and hairless. The leaves are opposite and clasp the stem. Leaf margins have some but few large teeth. The stem is often tinged purple. The stem is thicker than that of Trifid Bur-marigold. Nodding...

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Great Burnet

Flower: Great Burnet, found in the Cotswolds, graces the landscape with its delicate and enchanting blooms. Its flowers, known for their subtle elegance, boast a captivating mix of soft, pastel hues that gently sway in the breeze. These petals, ranging from blush pinks to soothing purples, come together to ... Fruit: Great Burnet, nestled in the Cotswolds, produces small, dainty fruits that embody the quintessential British countryside. These fruits, often referred to as "hips," are small, rounded, and richly coloured, resembling tiny jewels amidst the greenery. Their deep, jewel-toned reds and purples evoke a s... Leaves: The leaves of the Great Burnet in the Cotswolds exude a simple yet enduring beauty. These leaves are lance-shaped and a rich shade of green, with a waxy sheen that catches the soft, diffused light of the Cotswold countryside. Each leaf is finely serrated along the edges, lending an air of elegance t...

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Buttonweed

Flower: The flowers of Buttonweed are small and button-like, with a distinct yellow hue. They are clustered together, creating a visually striking appearance. The plant's flowering structure adds a touch of vibrancy to its surroundings, forming clusters of these yellow button-like blooms. The overall effect... Fruit: The fruit of Buttonweed is composed of small, rounded seeds. These seeds are typically encapsulated within the mature flower head, contributing to the distinctive button-like appearance. The fruiting structure is modest in size and complements the overall low-growing and spreading nature of the plan... Leaves: The leaves of Buttonweed are green, fleshy, and characterized by distinct lobes. They emit a distinctive odor when crushed. The leaves are arranged densely along the stems, contributing to the plant's low-growing and mat-forming habit. This foliage, with its lobed structure, adds to the overall appe...

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Warty Cabbage

Flower: Bunias orientalis produces dense, rounded clusters of small, bright yellow flowers, each about 5–8 mm across. They have the typical four-petalled cross shape of the Brassicaceae family. Blooming occurs from May to July, with a long-lasting display that often extends into August. The plant is very at... Fruit: The fruit is what gives Bunias orientalis its common name. It forms short, wart-covered seed pods (technically siliques), usually about 6–8 mm long, that develop after flowering. These bumpy or warty pods are distinctive and remain on the plant for several weeks, making it easy to identify even post... Leaves: Leaves are deeply lobed or pinnatifid, often resembling coarse, weedy cabbages in appearance. Basal leaves are large and rosette-forming, up to 20 cm long, with a rough, crinkly texture. Upper stem leaves are smaller, less lobed, and clasp the stem. The entire plant is usually hairless or sparsely b...

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Grey Club-rush

Flower: Grey Club-rush produces small, inconspicuous flowers. The flowers are typically brown or green in color and appear in the form of clustered spikelets along the plant's stem. These flowers are not particularly showy but play a role in the plant's reproductive process. Fruit: Grey Club-rush produces small, inconspicuous fruits. The fruit is in the form of nutlets, which are small, dry, and often brown in colour. These nutlets contain the seeds of the plant and are sometimes enclosed within the remnants of the flower's spikelets. Leaves: The leaves of Grey Club-rush are long, narrow, and typically have a bluish-green hue. They are slender, linear, and grow from the base of the plant. The leaves can reach considerable lengths and contribute to the overall aesthetic of the plant.

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Coneflower

Flower: Daisy-like, golden yellow flowers with reflexed petals. Disc florets are brownish-green, forming a flattened cone, hence that name 'Coneflower'. Flowers measure between 7 and 14cm across. Pollinated by bees and hoverflies. Fruit: The fruit is an achene. The seeds mature from August to October. Leaves: A hairless perennial plant with deeply dissected leaves. They are lance-shaped and alternate along the stems. They are also toothed.

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Royal Fern

Flower: Ferns reproduce by means of spores. The spores appear in flower spikes and are golden brown in colour. The spores appear from June to August. Leaves: A majestic and distinctive-looking perennial fern usually growing no taller than 1.2 metres. Pinnate fronds with oblong leaflets. The Royal Fern can be seen from April to November. Sometimes occurs as a garden escape.

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False Grass Poly

Flower: The flowers of False Grass Poly are small, delicate, and typically pinkish-purple with six petals arranged in a star-like shape. They grow in the leaf axils along the upper portions of the stem, often appearing in loose clusters. Each flower has a slightly crinkled texture, with a greenish-yellow ce... Fruit: The fruit of False Grass Poly is a small, oval to rounded capsule that develops at the base of the faded flowers. It is typically green when immature, turning brown as it ripens, and contains numerous tiny seeds. The capsule is partially enclosed by the persistent sepals, giving it a subtly ribbed o... Leaves: The leaves of False Grass Poly are narrow, lance-shaped, and arranged oppositely along the stem, with some upper pairs occasionally appearing in whorls. They are smooth-edged, bright green, and have a slightly leathery texture, tapering to a pointed tip. Each leaf clasps the stem without a stalk, gi...

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Creeping Marshwort

Flower: Creeping Marshwort produces small white flowers arranged in loose, compound umbels with typically 2–5 rays (unlike some other umbellifers that have more). The flowers bloom between July and September and are quite modest in appearance but typical of the carrot family—five petals, slightly notched at... Fruit: The fruits are small and oval-shaped with faint ridging, typical of the carrot family. They split into two parts (schizocarps) when mature. These help in identifying the plant when it is not in flower. Leaves: Its leaves are pinnate, often divided into three or more rounded or lobed segments. They can resemble Parsley (and are related to it), with a glossy green appearance. The plant’s stems are characteristically low-growing and creeping, sometimes rooting at the nodes.

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Coral Necklace

Flower: Coral Necklace (Illecebrum verticillatum) bears tiny white flowers in dense, bead-like clusters along its creeping stems. Each flower is only about 2 mm wide, with four petal-like sepals and no true petals. The flowers bloom from July to September and are carried in the leaf axils, giving the plant ... Fruit: The fruit is a small, dry, one-seeded nutlet (technically an achene), which develops in place of each flower. These fruitlets are inconspicuous but add to the beaded look of the plant as they mature. Dispersal likely occurs via water or soil movement, as the plant typically grows in wet, acidic heat... Leaves: The leaves are small, opposite, and ovate with a pointed tip and smooth margins. They are bright green and slightly fleshy, measuring around 5–10 mm in length. Arranged in pairs along red-tinged, wiry stems, the leaves contribute to the plant’s low, creeping growth habit. Stems can root at the nodes...

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Common Osier

Flower: Common Osier produces long, slender catkins that appear in early spring (typically March to April), before or as the leaves emerge. Like all willows, it is dioecious — male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Male catkins are silvery at first, later turning yellow as the stamens develop, wh... Fruit: On female plants, the fertilised catkins develop into long capsules that split open to release masses of tiny seeds, each attached to a tuft of white hairs. These hairs act like parachutes, allowing wind dispersal over long distances. The seeds must quickly land on damp soil to germinate, as they lo... Leaves: The leaves are long, narrow, and finely serrated, typically 10–25 cm in length. They are grey-green above and silvery beneath, with a soft, silky texture. Leaves grow alternately along flexible, upright stems. Young twigs are often reddish or yellowish and very pliable — a key feature of this specie...

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