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

Hairy annual of arable fields, mainly on calcareous soils. FLOWERS2–5cm across with 4 crimson , overlapping petals with dark-blotched bases ; on hairy stalks (June–Aug). FRUITS Ovoid to spherical with spreading, yellowish hairs . LEAVESMuch divided and bristle-tipped. STATUSScarce and declining, mainly in S England.

Prickly Poppy

Fruit

Prickly Poppy Papaver argemone (Papaveraceae) HEIGHTto 30cm

Delicate annual of arable land, mainly on sandy soils. FLOWERS2–6cm across with 4 pale red petals that typically do not overlap but which do have a dark basal blotch (May–Aug). FRUITS Narrow, elongated and ribbed with prickle-like bristles . LEAVESMuch divided; bristle-tipped. STATUSLocal and scarce, mainly in S England.

See also Western Ramping-fumitory

Yellow Horned-poppy

Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum (Papaveraceae) HEIGHTto 50cm

Blue-grey, clump-forming perennial of shingle beaches . FLOWERS5–7cm across with overlapping yellow petals (June–Sep). FRUITSElongated, curved capsules, to 30cm long . LEAVESPinnately divided, the clasping upper ones having shallow, toothed lobes. STATUSLocally common on most suitable coasts except far N.

Welsh Poppy

Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica (Papaveraceae) HEIGHTto 50cm

Showy perennial of shady woods . FLOWERS4–6cm across with 4 overlapping, bright yellow petals ; on slender stems (June–Aug). FRUITS4-to 6-ribbed capsules that split when ripe. LEAVESPinnately divided, toothed, stalked. STATUSNative to Wales, SW England and Ireland; naturalised as a garden escape elsewhere.

Greater Celandine

Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae) HEIGHTto 80cm

Tall, brittle-stemmed perennial. Found in hedgerows and along woodland rides. FLOWERS2–3cm across and comprising 4 non-overlapping bright yellow petals (Apr–Oct). FRUITSNarrow capsules that split from below when ripe. LEAVESGrey-green, pinnately divided. STATUSNative but also naturalised.

Fruit

Barberry

Barberry Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae) HEIGHTto 2m

Small, deciduous shrub with grooved twigs and 3-forked prickles. Found in hedgerows and scrub, mainly on calcareous soils. FLOWERSSmall, yellow; in hanging clusters (May–June). FRUITSOvoid, reddish berries. LEAVESSharp-toothed, oval; borne in tufts from axils of prickles. STATUSScarce native; also naturalised.

Bush, Robin

Tall Rocket

Tall Rocket Sisymbrium altissimum (Brassicaceae) HEIGHTto 2m

Upright annual of waste ground; hairless above but hairy below. FLOWERS1cm across, yellow petals, twice the length of sepals (June–Aug). FRUITSSlender, narrow and up to 10cm long. LEAVESHave very narrow lobes. STATUSIntroduced but established in S and E England. Eastern Rocket S. orientale is similar but with smaller flowers and divided leaves that are spear-shaped overall. Waste ground, in S.

Bush, Robin

False London-rocket

False London-rocket Sisymbrium loeselii (Brassicaceae) HEIGHTto 60cm

Straggly, upright annual with bristly hairy lower stems. Found on waste ground. FLOWERS4–6mm across, with 4 yellow petals twice as long as the sepals (June– Aug). FRUITSPods 2–4cm long that do not overtop the flowers. LEAVESDeeply pinnately lobed. STATUSCasual in S; sometimes naturalised, mainly in London. London Rocket S. irio is similar but hairless. Petals equal to, or slightly longer than, sepals (Jun–Aug); slender pods overtop flowers. Wasteground, mainly London and Dublin.

Hedge Mustard

Hedge Mustard

Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale (Brassicaceae) HEIGHTto 90cm

Tough, upright annual or biennial of waste ground and disturbed soil. FLOWERS3mm across with 4 yellow petals; in terminal clusters (May–Oct). FRUITSCylindrical, 1–2cm long, pressed close to the stem. LEAVESVariable: lower leaves deeply divided, stem leaves narrow. STATUSWidespread and common throughout.