British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species
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Imperfect flower
Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus
Slightly hairy perennial of damp, undisturbed woodland. FLOWERS 15–25mm across with yellow petals, 1 or more of which is sometimes imperfect or absent (Apr–May). FRUITS Roughly hairy. LEAVES Rounded, 3-lobed basal leaves, narrowly lobed stem leaves. STATUS Widespread but local and declining.
Small-flowered Buttercup
Small-flowered Buttercup Ranunculus parviflorus
Sprawling, hairy annual of dry, bare ground, often on sandy soils. FLOWERS 3–5mm across with pale yellow petals; on furrowed stalks, often arising from the fork of a branch (May–July). FRUITS Roughly hairy. LEAVES Rounded and lobed (basal leaves); stem leaves narrowly lobed. STATUS Local in S England and S Wales.
Greater Spearwort
Lesser Spearwort
Greater Spearwort
Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua
Robust, upright perennial of fens and the shallow margins of ponds and lakes. Plant has long runners. FLOWERS 20–40mm across with 5 yellow petals; on furrowed stalks (June–Sep). FRUITS Rough, winged, with a curved beak. LEAVES Narrow, 25cm long, sometimes toothed. STATUS Widespread but local.
Lesser Spearwort
Flower
Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula HEIGHT to 50cm
Upright or creeping perennial. Often roots where leaf nodes touch the ground. Favours damp ground, often beside rivers. FLOWERS 5–15mm across, usually solitary; on furrowed stalks (June–Oct). FRUITS Beaked but not winged. LEAVES Oval basal leaves; stem leaves narrow. STATUS Widespread, commonest in the north.
Celery-leaved Buttercup
Celery-leaved Buttercup
Celery-leaved Buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus HEIGHT to 50cm
Yellowish-green annual with hollow stems. Favours marshes and wet grazing meadows, often on trampled ground. FLOWERS 5–10mm across with pale yellow petals; in clusters (May–Sep). FRUITS With elongated heads. LEAVES Celery-like, divided into 3 lobes (basal leaves); stem leaves less divided. STATUS Locally common in the south.
Lesser Celandine
Weston, Andrew
Lesser Celandine
Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria HEIGHT to 25cm
Perennial of hedgerows and open woodland; sometimes forms patches. FLOWERS 20–30mm across with 8–12 shiny yellow petals and 3 sepals (Mar–May); opening only in sunshine. FRUITS In a rounded head. LEAVES Heart-shaped, glossy, dark green. STATUS Common.
Common Water-crowfoot
Common Water-crowfoot Ranunculus aquatilis FLOATING
Annual or perennial found in both slow-flowing and still waters. FLOWERS 12–20mm across with 5 white petals (Apr–Aug). FRUITS In rounded heads. LEAVES Thread-like submerged leaves and floating ones that are entire but with toothed lobes. STATUS Widespread and common.
Stream Water-crowfoot
Stream Water-crowfoot Ranunculus pencillatus
Annual or perennial of fast-flowing chalk streams and rivers. FLOWERS 15–25mm across with 5 white petals (May–July). FRUITS In rounded heads. LEAVES Lobed, rounded floating leaves and long, thread-like submerged ones that collapse out of water. STATUS Locally common, but mainly in the south.
Ivy-leaved Crowfoot
Ivy-leaved Crowfoot Ranunculus hederaceus
Creeping annual or biennial, associated with bare muddy places close to water. FLOWERS 3–6mm across with 5 white petals, and sepals of similar length (May–Aug). FRUITS In rounded heads. LEAVES Vaguely ivy-like, being rounded or kidney-shaped with lobed margins. STATUS Widespread but local.
Cleave, Andrew
Pond Water-crowfoot
Pond Water-crowfoot Ranunculus peltatus FLOATING
Annual or perennial of ponds, lakes and other areas of still water. FLOWERS 15–30mm across with 5 white petals (May–Aug). FRUITS In rounded, long-stalked heads. LEAVES Lobed, rounded floating leaves and short, rigid, thread-like submerged ones. STATUS Widespread and common throughout.
Brackish Water-crowfoot
Brackish Water-crowfoot Ranunculus baudotii
Annual or perennial of brackish pools, ditches and channels near the coast. FLOWERS 12–18mm across with 5 white petals (Apr–Aug). FRUITS In rounded, long-stalked heads. LEAVES Deeply lobed floating leaves and thread-like submerged ones that do not collapse out of water. STATUS Local around the coast.
Cleave, Andrew
Round-leaved Crowfoot
Round-leaved Crowfoot Ranunculus omiophyllus
Creeping annual or biennial. Favours damp, muddy places, often water seepages. FLOWERS 8–12mm across, with 5 white petals twice as long as sepals (May–Aug). FRUITS In rounded heads. LEAVES Lobed and rounded. STATUS Rather local and restricted mainly to S and W England and Wales, and S Ireland.
Burbidge, Brinsley
River Water-crowfoot
River Water-crowfoot Ranunculus fluitans FLOATING
Robust perennial. Forms extensive carpets in suitable fast-flowing streams and rivers. FLOWERS 20–30mm across with 5 white, overlapping petals (May–Aug). FRUITS In rounded heads. LEAVES Divided into narrow, thread-like segments; submerged leaves only. STATUS Widespread in England but scarce elsewhere.
Columbine
Columbine
Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris
Familiar garden perennial but also a native plant, favouring open woods on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Nodding, purple, 30–40mm long, the petals with hook-tipped spurs (May–July). FRUITS Dry, many seeded. LEAVES Grey-green and comprising 3-lobed leaflets. STATUS Widespread but extremely local as a native species.
Wood Anemone
Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa HEIGHT to 30cm
Perennial that sometimes forms large carpets on suitable woodland floors. FLOWERS Solitary, comprising 5–10 white or pinkish petal-like sepals (Mar–May). FRUITS Beaked, in rounded clusters. LEAVES On stems, long-stalked and divided into 3 lobes, each being further divided. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
Pasqueflower
Pasqueflower Pulsatilla vulgaris
Silkily-hairy perennial of dry, calcareous grassland. FLOWERS Purple, bell-shaped with 6 petal-like sepals; upright at first, then nodding (Apr–May). FRUITS Comprising seeds with long silky hairs. LEAVES Divided 2 or 3 times and comprising narrow leaflets. STATUS Rare and restricted to a few sites in S and E England.
Traveller’s-joy
Flowers
Fruits
Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba
Scrambling hedgerow perennial of chalky soils. FLOWERS Creamy, with prominent stamens; in clusters (July–Aug). FRUITS Comprising clusters of seeds with woolly, whitish plumes, hence plant’s alternative name of Old Man’s Beard. LEAVES Divided into 3–5 leaflets. STATUS Locally common in central and S England, and Wales.
Common Meadow-rue
Common Meadow-rue Thalictrum flavum
Upright perennial of damp meadows, ditches and fens; favours basic soils. FLOWERS With small petals that drop, but showy, yellow anthers; in dense clusters (June–Aug). FRUITS Dry, papery. LEAVES Fern-like and pinnately divided 2 or 3 times into toothed lobes. STATUS Widespread but local, common only in the south and east.
Lesser Meadow-rue
Lesser Meadow-rue
Lesser Meadow-rue Thalictrum minus
Variable, often short perennial of dunes, dry grassland and rocky slopes; mainly on basic soils. FLOWERS Yellowish, tinged purple, with prominent dangling stamens; in open clusters, flowers drooping at first then erect (June–Aug). FRUITS Dry, papery. LEAVES Pinnately divided 3 or 4 times. STATUS Widespread but local.
Alpine Meadow-rue
Alpine Meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum
Short, easily overlooked perennial of upland grassland and mountain ledges. FLOWERS With purplish sepals and stamens and yellow anthers; in terminal clusters on slender stems (May–July). FRUITS Dry, papery. LEAVES Twice trifoliate with dark green, rounded leaflets. STATUS Local from N Wales to Scotland; scarce in W Ireland.
Fumitory and Poppy Families
Common Fumitory
Common Fumitory Fumaria officinalis (Fumariaceae) HEIGHT to 10cm
Scrambling annual of well-drained arable soils. FLOWERS 6–7mm long, pink with crimson tips, spurred and 2-lipped, the lower petal paddle-shaped; in elongating spikes (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Globular, 1-seeded. LEAVES Grey-green, much divided; lobes all in one plane. STATUS Widespread and common.
Common Ramping-fumitory
Common Ramping-fumitory
Common Ramping-fumitory Fumaria muralis (Fumariaceae) HEIGHT to 10cm
Spreading or upright annual of arable land, banks and walls. FLOWERS 9–11mm long, pinkish purple with dark tips, the lower petal almost parallel-sided (not paddle-shaped) with erect margins; in spikes of 12–15 flowers (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Globular, 1-seeded. LEAVES Much divided. STATUS Widespread and fairly common.
Tall Ramping-fumitory
Tall Ramping-fumitory Fumaria bastardii (Fumariaceae)
Robust upright annual of arable fields and waste ground. FLOWERS 9–11mm long, pink with a purple tip, the lower petal parallel-sided (not paddle-shaped); in spikes of 15–25 flowers (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Globular, 1-seeded. LEAVES Much divided. STATUS Widespread and fairly common only in W.
Climbing Corydalis
Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata (Fumariaceae)
Delicate, climbing annual of woodland and scrub, mainly on acid soils. FLOWERS Creamy white, 5–6mm long; in clusters (June–Sep). FRUITS 2-to 3-seeded capsules. LEAVES Much divided, ending in tendrils that assist climbing. STATUS Widespread and common in W Britain but rare in Ireland.
Yellow Corydalis
Yellow Corydalis Pseudofumaria lutea (Fumariaceae)
Tufted, hairless perennial found on rocky ground and old walls. FLOWERS 12–18mm long, bright yellow, 2-lipped; in clusters opposite the upper leaves (May–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES 2 to 3 times pinnately divided; greyish green. STATUS Naturalised as a garden escape.
Common Poppy
Common Poppy
Fruit
Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 60cm