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

Great Yellow-cress

Great Yellow-cress

Great Yellow-cress Rorippa amphibia HEIGHTto 1.2m

Robust, hairless perennial with stout, hollow stems . Favours damp ground and the margins of freshwater habitats. FLOWERS5–7mm across with 4 yellow petals twice as long as sepals ; in terminal heads (June–Sep). FRUITSElliptical pods, 3–6mm long. LEAVESShallowly lobed. STATUSLocally common in south but absent from north.

Water-cress

Water-cress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum HEIGHTto 15cm

Usually creeping perennial of shallow streams and ditches. FLOWERS4–6mm across with 4 white petals; in terminal heads (May–Oct). FRUITSNarrow pods, 16–18mm long, containing 2 rows of seeds. LEAVESDark green and pinnately divided; persisting through winter. STATUSWidespread and common; widely cultivated in S England.

Hairy Bitter-cress

Hairy Bitter-cress

Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta HEIGHTto 30cm

Upright annual with hairless stems . Found on damp, disturbed ground. FLOWERS2–3mm across (petals sometimes absent) and terminal (Feb–Nov). FRUITSCurved, up to 2.5cm long, overtopping flowers . LEAVESPinnately divided with rounded lobes; seen mainly as a basal rosette plus 1–4 stem leaves . STATUSWidespread and common.

Wavy Bitter-cress

Wavy Bitter-cress

Wavy Bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa HEIGHTto 50cm

Similar to Hairy Bitter-cress but taller and with wavy, hairy stems . Favours damp and disturbed ground. FLOWERS3–4mm across with 4 white petals (Mar–Sep). FRUITSCurved, barely overtopping flowers . LEAVESPinnately divided with rounded lobes; seen as a basal rosette plus 4–10 stem leaves . STATUSWidespread and common.

Bush, Robin

Large Bitter-cress

Large Bitter-cress Cardamine amara HEIGHTto 60cm

Upright perennial found in damp, shady places in woods and marshes. FLOWERS12mm across with 4 white petals and violet anthers (Apr–June). FRUITSSlender, beaked pods, up to 4cm long. LEAVESPinnately divided, with slightly toothed oval lobes. STATUSWide spread but local; scarce in, or absent from, W England and S Ireland.

Cuckooflower

Cuckooflower

Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis HEIGHTto 50cm

Variable perennial of damp, grassy places. Also known as Lady’s-smock. FLOWERS12–20mm across with 4 pale lilac or white flowers (Apr– June). FRUITSElongated, beaked. LEAVESSeen mainly in a basal rosette of pinnately divided leaves with rounded lobes; narrow stem leaves also present. STATUSWidespread and locally common.

Cleave, Andrew

Coralroot

Coralroot Cardamine bulbifera HEIGHTto 70cm

Perennial of undisturbed woodland on calcareous or sandy soils. FLOWERS12–18mm across with 4 pink petals; in terminal heads (Apr–May). FRUITSNarrow, 3.5cm long. LEAVESPinnately divided (upper ones less so) with 1–3 pairs of leaflets; borne up stem with brown bulbils in axils . STATUSScarce and local; SE England only.

Northern Rock-cress

Northern Rock-cress Arabis petraea HEIGHTto 30cm

Variable perennial of rocky places in mountains. FLOWERS5–7mm across with 4 whitish or lilac petals (June–Aug). FRUITSCurved, 4cm long. LEAVESBasal rosette of pinnately lobed, stalked leaves plus narrow, toothed stem leaves. STATUSLocal. Tower Mustard A. glabra is tall (to 1m); greyish, arrow-shaped, clasping leaves and tiny pale flowers. Scarce on dry ground in south.

Hairy Rock-cress

Hairy Rock-cress Arabis hirsuta HEIGHTto 60cm

Variable, hairy biennial found in calcareous grassland. FLOWERS3–5mm across with 4 white petals; in dense, terminal heads (May–Aug). FRUITSCylindrical, upright pods 3.5cm long. LEAVESBarely toothed, oval; basal ones in a rosette, stem leaves clasping. STATUSWidespread but only locally common.

Bush, Robin

Hutchinsia

Hutchinsia Hornungia petraea HEIGHTto 15cm