Читать книгу British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species - Paul Sterry - Страница 18

Springbeauty

Springbeauty Claytonia perfoliata (Portulacaceae) HEIGHT to 30cm

Annual, introduced from N America; naturalised on dry, sandy soil. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 5mm across; in loose spikes (Apr–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval and stalked at the base; flowering stems bear fused pairs of perfoliate leaves. STATUS Widespread and locally abundant.

Pink Purslane

Pink Purslane Claytonia sibirica (Portulacaceae) HEIGHT to 30cm

Annual or perennial, introduced from N America. Favours damp woods. FLOWERS Pink with darker veins, 5-petalled, 15–20mm across (Apr–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval, stalked at the base; flowering stems carry opposite pairs of unstalked leaves. STATUS Widely naturalised.

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) CREEPING

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) HEIGHT to 60cm

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) HEIGHT to 50cm

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) USUALLY PROSTRATE

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.

See also Saltmarsh Goosefoot