chickweed

I was filing (or deleting) some photographs taken on the 14th of June. Among them was one of a chickweed, which by the counting of stamens is identified as common chickweed (Stellaria media).

nature reserve

Up against the southern boundary of the area is an area of woodland (including a deep valley) managed as a nature reserve. On Friday I explored some of the paths through this. It has a variety of tree species, which are regenerating. These include hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), swedish whitbeam (Sorbus intermedia), holly (Ilex aquifolium), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), field maple (Acer campestre), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa and oak (Quercus sp.). Hazel (Corylus avellana is also present, as are bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and field rose (Rosa arvensis agg.).

To reach the reserve I pass through an retail/industrial estate. Here I saw seedlings of Norway maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), and on the boundary of that estate spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum), a St. Johns wort (Hypericum sp.) and cat's ear (Hypocharis radicata).

roses

I haven't looked at roses in the Florula Urbana area as closely as in the Florula Prima area, but both field rose (Rosa arvensis agg.) and dog rose (Rosa canina agg.) are present. In addition three specimens of many-flowered rose (Rosa multiflora) are present along a section of canal bank.

recent observations

Yesterday, at the loop of canal where I previously recorded Cardamine amara, I observed marsh (Stachys arvensis) and hybrid (Stachys ×ambigua) woundworts, hedge bindwind (Calystegia sepium), meadowsweet (Filependulina ulmaria) and yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea).

Other recent observations include black-bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus) and black horehound (Ballota nigra).