We found several patches of Western Clover amongst the short grass on the cliffs above Kynance Cove on The Lizard at the weekend. Insight: Western Clover (Trifolium occidentale) is native but very local, found in Cornwall, on the Channel Islands … Read More
This plant was spotted in a hedgerow at Mawnan Church near the Helford Estuary in Cornwall. Insight: Honesty (Lunaria annua) is a common plant in the British Isles though it isn’t native. It’s probably the fruit that is most familiar: … Read More
The new fronds are always a picture at this time of year. Insight: Hart’s-tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium) is an evergreen fern in the Spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae) which grows best in shaded, damp areas. It is an unusual fern, having an undivided … Read More
These beautiful white flowers are abundant along the hedgerows and edges of the South West Coast Path around Mawnan at the mouth of the Helford Estuary in Cornwall. Insight: Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) is common throughout the British Isles and … Read More
It doesn’t matter where we go in Cornwall at the moment, there are huge numbers of Common Dog-violet colouring the scene. From the hedgerows to the fields above the cliffs, from the woodland to the open roadsides, everywhere has bright … Read More
These bright yellow Colt’s-foot were flowering in the eroding cliffs of Godrevy Towans at the north end of St Ives Bay in Cornwall. Insight: Colt’s-foot (Tussilago farfara) flowers from March to April, the flowers appearing long before the leaves. It’s … Read More
A mass of Greater Periwinkle in the hedge just off the beach at Kennack Sands on The Lizard in Cornwall. Insight: The photo shows the fringe of hairs along the edges of the sepals which is one of the characteristics … Read More
Spotted in the field above Kennack Sands car park on The Lizard in Cornwall. Insight: Although Common Field-speedwell (Veronica persica) is very familiar, often regarded as a weed, it’s a native of Caucasus and Iran and was introduced to Britain. … Read More
It was rather a surprise to see this exotic looking plant on some rough ground on Godrevy Towans in Cornwall. The distinctive yellow/green veins identify this as Italian Lords-and-Ladies (Arum italicum subspecies italicum). Insight: This subspecies has been introduced to … Read More
This example was in the fields above the car park at Kennack Sands on The Lizard in Cornwall. Insight: Common Chickweed flowers all year and has even been found to flower and set seed under a cover of snow! It’s … Read More
These male flowers of Yew were recorded at Trelissick Garden, a National Trust property in Cornwall. Insight: Yew (Taxus baccata) is the longest living plant in Europe with some examples reputed to be over 9,000 years old.