British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species
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Blinks
Blinks Montia fontana (Portulacaceae) USUALLY PROSTRATE
Low-growing, sometimes mat-forming plant of bare, damp ground; sometimes grows partly submerged in water. Stems sometimes reddish. FLOWERS Tiny, white; in terminal clusters (May–Oct). FRUITS Rounded capsules. LEAVES Narrow oval, opposite. STATUS Widespread and common but least so in the south.
Hottentot-fig
Hottentot-fig Carpobrotus edulis (Aizoaceae)
Exotic-looking fleshy perennial, introduced from S Africa. Forms carpets on coastal cliffs and banks. FLOWERS Usually yellow (sometimes fade pinkish), 7–10cm across, many-petalled (May–Aug). FRUITS Swollen and succulent. LEAVES Dark green, succulent, 3-sided, 6–7cm long and narrow. STATUS Naturalised in the south-west.
Fathen
Fat-hen
Flowers
Fat-hen Chenopodium album (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHT to 1m
Upright, branched annual of disturbed arable land. Often has a mealy appearance. FLOWERS Whitish green, in leafy spikes (June–Oct). FRUITS Rounded, and surrounded by 5 sepals, in a ring. LEAVES Green, matt-looking due to a mealy coating; varying from oval to diamond-shaped. STATUS Common. Fig-leaved Goosefoot C. ficifolium is similar but with fig-like leaves. The flowers are greenish (July–Oct). Local on clay in central and S England.
Red Goosefoot
Fig-leaved Goosefoot
Red Goosefoot
Flowers
Red Goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHT to 60cm
Variable upright annual, of manure-enriched soils. Stems often turn red in old plants. FLOWERS Small, numerous, in upright, leafy spikes. FRUITS Rounded, enclosed by 2–4 sepals (July–Oct). LEAVES Shiny, diamond-shaped, toothed. STATUS Common only in S England.
Many-seeded Goosefoot
Many-seeded Goosefoot
Flowers
Many-seeded Goosefoot Chenopodium polyspermum (Chenopodiaceae)
Spreading or upright annual stems square and usually reddish. Favours light, disturbed soils. FLOWERS Small, numerous, in long spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Partly enclosed by sepals. LEAVES Oval, untoothed, decreasing in size up stem. STATUS Widespread in England.
Good-King-Henry
Good-King-Henry
Flowers
Good-King-Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus (Chenopodiaceae)
Upright introduced perennial; stems often streaked red. Favours disturbed arable land and waste ground. FLOWERS Numerous, in narrow, leafless spikes (May–Aug). FRUITS Ringed by sepals at the base. LEAVES Mealy when young but dark green with age; triangular in outline. STATUS Local.
Frosted Orache
Frosted Orache Atriplex laciniata (Chenopodiaceae)
Distinctive silvery-grey plant that is characteristic of sandy beaches. Stems usually flushed with pink. FLOWERS Whitish, in clusters (July–Sep). FRUITS Diamond-shaped, toothed. LEAVES Fleshy, mealy, toothed, diamond-shaped. STATUS Widespread, locally common but exclusively coastal.
Goosefoot Family Chenopodiaceae
Babington’s Orache
Babington’s Orache Atriplex glabriscula
A spreading, mealy annual. Restricted to stabilised shingle and bare, coastal ground. Stems usually reddish; whole plant often turns red in autumn. FLOWERS In leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Diamond-shaped, maturing silvery white. LEAVES Triangular or diamond-shaped. STATUS Locally common.
Common Orache
Common Orache
Flowers
Common Orache Atriplex patula HEIGHT to 60cm
Variable, branched annual; sometimes upright but often prostrate. Found on bare ground. FLOWERS Small, greenish, in leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Diamond-shaped, toothless, lacking warts. LEAVES Toothed; upper ones lanceolate; lower ones triangular. STATUS Widespread and common.
Spear-leaved Orache
Spear-leaved Orache Atriplex prostrata HEIGHT to 70cm
Upright annual; stems often tinged red. Favours waste and bare ground near the sea. FLOWERS In rather short spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Triangular; surrounded by green bracts. LEAVES Triangular in outline; toothed; basal, largest teeth are at right angles to the stalk. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
Grass-leaved Orache
Grass-leaved Orache Atriplex littoralis HEIGHT to 1m
Upright annual of bare coastal ground. FLOWERS Small, greenish, in spikes with small leaves (July–Sep). FRUITS Greenish, toothed, warty. LEAVES Long and narrow, sometimes with shallow teeth. STATUS Locally common.
Sea Beet
Sea Beet Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima HEIGHT to 1m
Sprawling, clump-forming perennial of cliffs, shingle beaches and other coastal habitats. FLOWERS Green, in dense, leafy spikes (July–Sep). FRUITS Spiky; often sticking together in a clump. LEAVES Dark green, glossy and leathery with reddish stems; shape varying from oval to triangular. STATUS Locally common.
Sea Purslane with Common Sea-lavender
Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides HEIGHT to 1m
Spreading, mealy perennial that sometimes forms rounded clumps. Entirely coastal, and restricted to the drier reaches of saltmarshes. FLOWERS Yellowish, in spikes (July–Oct). FRUITS Lobed. LEAVES Grey-green, oval at the base but narrow further up the stem. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
Common Glasswort
Common Glasswort Salicornia europaea HEIGHT to 30cm
Fleshy, yellowish-green annual; fancifully recalls a tiny cactus. Often appears segmented. Entirely coastal. A classic saltmarsh plant that tolerates tidal immersion in sea water. FLOWERS Tiny; appearing at stem junctions, of equal size and in 3s (Aug–Sep). FRUITS Minute seeds. LEAVES Small, paired, fleshy. STATUS Locally abundant.
Perennial Glasswort flowers
Perennial Glasswort
Perennial Glasswort Sarcocornia perennis
Branched and patch-forming succulent perennial with woody lower stems that turn orange with age. Entirely coastal; restricted to drier reaches of saltmarshes. FLOWERS Small, yellow, appearing at stem junctions, in 3s, the central one largest (Aug–Oct). FRUITS Minute. LEAVES Small, paired, fleshy. STATUS Local in S and E England, and S Wales.
Prickly Saltwort flowers
Prickly Saltwort
Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali HEIGHT to 50cm
Spiky-looking, prickly annual that is typical of sandy beaches, usually growing near the strandline. Occasionally found beside regularly salted roads inland. FLOWERS Tiny, yellowish; appearing at leaf bases (July–Oct). FRUITS Similar to flowers. LEAVES Swollen, flattened-cylindrical, spiny-tipped. STATUS Locally common.
Goosefoot and Pink Families
Annual Sea-blite
Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima (Chenopodiaceae) HEIGHT to 50cm
Much-branched annual of saltmarshes. Forms small clumps that vary from yellowish green to reddish. FLOWERS Tiny, green; 1–3 appearing in axils of upper leaves (Aug–Oct). FRUITS Producing dark, flattish seeds. LEAVES Succulent, cylindrical, pointed. STATUS Widespread and locally common on all suitable coasts.
Shrubby Sea-blite
Shrubby Sea-blite Suaeda vera (Chenopodiaceae)
Much-branched, evergreen perennial with woody stems. Restricted to coastal shingle and upper saltmarshes. FLOWERS Tiny, yellowish green; 1–3 appearing in leaf axils (June–Oct). FRUITS Producing rounded, black seeds. LEAVES Succulent, bluish green, blunt and almost semicircular in cross-section. STATUS Locally common in SE England.
Thyme-leaved Sandwort
Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia (Caryophyllaceae) USUALLY PROSTRATE
Downy, grey-green annual of dry, bare soils. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 5–7mm across (May–Sep); green sepals shorter than petals. FRUITS Pear-shaped. LEAVES Oval; in opposite pairs on slender stems. STATUS Widespread and common.
Three-nerved Sandwort
Three-nerved Sandwort
Three-nerved Sandwort Moehringia trinervia (Caryophyllaceae) HEIGHT to 40cm
Straggly, downy annual of undisturbed woodlands. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 5–6mm across; on long stalks (Apr–July). White-margined green sepals are twice as long as the petals. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Ovate, with 3–5 obvious veins beneath. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
Spring Sandwort
Spring Sandwort Minuartia verna (Caryophyllaceae)
Slightly downy perennial that is characteristic of bare limestone soils or spoil from lead-mines. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 7–9mm across (May–Sep). Green sepals shorter than petals. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, 3-veined; in whorls on slender stems. STATUS Local and extremely habitat-specific.
Cyphel
Cyphel Minuartia sedoides (Caryophyllaceae)
Distinctive, cushion-forming perennial of damp, stony ground on mountain tops. FLOWERS Yellow, 4mm across; lacking petals (June–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, fleshy, densely packed. STATUS Restricted to mountains in the Scottish Highlands and a few Scottish islands.
Sea Sandwort
Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides (Caryophyllaceae) PROSTRATE
Mat-forming perennial that is familiar on stabilised coastal shingle and sandy beaches. FLOWERS Greenish white, 6–8mm across (May–Aug). Petals slightly shorter than sepals. FRUITS Yellowish green, pea-like. LEAVES Oval, fleshy; in opposite pairs on creeping stems. STATUS Locally common around coasts.
Greater Stitchwort
Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea (Caryophyllaceae) HEIGHT to 50cm
Familiar perennial of open woodland, woodland rides and hedgerows. Note rough-edged stems. FLOWERS White, with 5 notched petals; on slender stems (Apr–June). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, fresh green, rough-edged and grass-like; easily overlooked in the absence of flowers. STATUS Widespread and common.
Marsh Stitchwort
Marsh Stitchwort Stellaria palustris (Caryophyllaceae)
Rather straggly perennial of fens and marshes. Similar to Greater Stitchwort but with smooth stems and smooth-edged leaves. FLOWERS White, 12–20mm across, with 5 deeply notched petals (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Grey-green, narrow. STATUS Extremely local.
Pink Family Caryophyllaceae