assorted plants

I took a loop round the Florula Urbana area today on the way to the supermarket.

Additional plants observed -

Firstly, along the road bisecting the area: large bindweed (Calystegia silvatica), barley (Hordeum sp.), cat's ear (Hypochaeris radicata), meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), black medick (Medicago lupulina), a knotgrass (Polygonum sp.), self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara), lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium), tufted vetch (Vicia cracca), hairy tare (Vicia hirsuta), an unidentified (non-flowering) legume (Melilotus sp?) and a mayweed.

I then turned east along a footpath descending a wooded valley leading to the large park that lies in the centre of the area. Along this valley I encounted birch (Betula sp.), white climbing corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata), marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre), beech (Fagus sylvatica), a dog rose (Rosa sp. sect. Canina), red campion (Silene dioica) and rowan (Sorbus domestica). There is small pool within this valley where yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) is present.

The path breaks up into several branches. The southernmost leads out into a marshy area where marsh thistle (again) and common valerian (Valeriana officinalis) are present.

Alongside the main (tarmacked) path through the park are a goosefoot (Chenopodium sp.), a spurge (Euphorbia sp.), a fumitory (Fumaria sp.), redshank (Persicaria maculata), s second Persicaria species, lesser stitchwort (Stellaria graminea), bush vetch (Vicia sepium) and field pansy (Viola arvensis).

Around the fishing pond at the south end of the reservoir are marsh bedstraw (Galium palustre), gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), tufted forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa) and skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata).

On the dam, at the north end of the reservoir are an orchid (Dactylorhiza sp.), marsh bedstraw (again) and biting stonecrop (Sedum acre), and, on the adjacent bridge over the railway line, curled dock (Rumex crispus). By the path thence to the carpark at the northern entrance to the park there is a patch of wood bitter vetch (Vicia orobus). A burdock (Arctium sp.) was also encountered.

Finally, on my way back along the canal towpath I encounted a dogwood (Cornus sp.), meadowsweet (Filependulia ulmaria), a St.Johm's wort (Hypericum sp.), hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and zigzag clover (Trifolium medium).

Most of these records consist of formally recording widespread plants, and confirming plants that I knew to be present from previous years. More notable plants are

* climbing white corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata): I have only learnt to recognise this based on an a site in the Florula Prima area; this represents a second known site for the species, and the first in the Florula Urbana area.

* marsh/spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza sp.): first record from Florula Urbana area.

* marsh bedstraw (Galium palustre): not previously identified anywhere.

* yellow flag (Iris pseudoacorus): this is present on most bodies of standing water in the region, but this is the first record in the Florula Urbana area.

* tufted forget-me-net (Myosotis laxa): recently identified in the Florula Prima area. In this case it was growing among other plants and the habit was less distinctive, and it was identified by field marks - rounded stems and rounded petal apices - that distinguish it from the other two aquatic forget-me-nots.

* skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata): first record from Florula Urbana area.

* zigzag clover (Trifolium medium) is novel; I am pleased to know that it is distinctive to the eye, and that I haven't been overlooking it as red clover.