Paul Sterry - British Wild Flowers - A photographic guide to every common species

Distinctive, downy annual. Associated with arable fields. FLOWERS30–45mm across, with 5 pinkish-purple petals and long, narrow and radiating sepals (May–Aug). FRUITSCapsules. LEAVESNarrow, grass-like. STATUSFormerly widespread and common but now extremely scarce and erratic because of agricultural herbicides.

Annual Knawel

Annual Knawel

Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus HEIGHTto 10cm

Yellowish-green annual. Associated with dry, bare soil and arable land. FLOWERSComprising green, pointed sepals and no petals; in clustered heads (May–Aug). FRUITSCapsules. LEAVESNarrow, pointed; in opposite pairs along the wiry stems. STATUSLocally common throughout.

See also Cheddar Pink, Childing Pink, Alpine Catchflyand Perennial Knawel

Stinking Hellebore

Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus HEIGHTto 75cm

Robust, strong-smelling perennial of woodland on calcareous soils. FLOWERSGreen with purple margins , 15–30mm across, bell-shaped; in clusters (Jan–May). FRUITSDry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVESDivided into toothed lobes; lower ones persist through winter. STATUSLocal and restricted to central and S England and Wales.

Burbidge, Brinsley

Green Hellebore

Green Hellebore Helleborus viridis HEIGHTto 60cm

Scentless perennial of woodland on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Green (including the margins) with pointed sepals but no petals; in clusters (Feb–Apr). FRUITSDry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVESDivided into bright green, elongate lobes; not evergreen. STATUSLocal and scarce, in central and S England and Wales.

Winter Aconite

Winter Aconite Eranthis hyemalis HEIGHTto 10cm

Attractive perennial that sometimes forms carpets on woodland floors. FLOWERS12–15mm across, with 6 yellow sepals; on upright stems, above the leaves (Jan–Apr). FRUITSDry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVESSpreading (3 per stem) and each divided into 3 lobes. STATUSIntroduced but widely naturalised.

Love-in-a-mist

Love-in-a-mist Nigella damascena HEIGHTto 40cm

Upright, hairless annual, associated with disturbed ground and roadside verges. FLOWERSComprising 5 petal-like blue sepals; solitary and terminal (June–July). FRUITSInflated capsules. LEAVESDivided into narrow segments and arranged as a ruff below the flowers. STATUSWidely cultivated and sometimes naturalised briefly.

Marsh-marigold

Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris HEIGHTto 25cm

Widespread perennial with stout, hollow stems. Found in damp woodland, marshes and wet meadows. FLOWERSYellow, 25–30mm across, with 5 petal-like sepals but no petals (Mar–July). FRUITSCapsules. LEAVESKidney-shaped, shiny, up to 10cm across. STATUSWidespread and locally common, but range is contracting.

Globeflower

Globeflower Trollius europaeus HEIGHTto 60cm

Attractive perennial of damp, upland and northern meadows. FLOWERSSpherical, 30–40mm across, with 10–15 yellow sepals; on long, upright stems (May–Aug). FRUITSMany-seeded, dry. LEAVESPalmately divided into toothed lobes. STATUSAbsent from the south but very locally common from N Wales to Scotland, also NW Ireland.

Weston, Andrew

Baneberry

Baneberry Actaea spicata HEIGHTto 70cm

Robust and hairless perennial of woodland (typically Ash) on limestone, and limestone pavements. FLOWERSWhite and feathery with 4–6 petals; in spikes (May–June). FRUITSBerries, green at first but ripening black. LEAVESPinnately divided into toothed lobes. STATUSLocal, restricted to N England.

Monk’s-hood

Monk’s-hood