Germander Speedwell

The flowers of Germander Speedwell are an exceptionally deep and vivid blue, with a contrasting white “eye” in the centre and two divergent protruding stamens. The flower stalks are produced from the base of hairy, stalkless leaves. Close examination of the hairy stems reveals that the hairs are in two neat, opposite rows.

Greater Bladderwort

Greater Bladderwort, extraordinary insectivorous aquatic plant, has numerous thread-like leaves that float in the water. Minute sacs are attached to these, each with a microscopic “trap-door” operated by a hair-like trigger. Tiny crustacea and other pondlife that touch the trigger hairs are inadvertently sucked into the sacs as the “trap-doors” open, where they are digested by the plant. The two-lipped flowers of Greater Bladderwort are bright yellow, with red markings, and are borne on long stalks held above the water surface. The plant may exist for many years without flowering.

Garlic Mustard

The large, triangular leaves of Garlic Mustard appear in early spring. The four-petalled white flowers are borne at the stem tips, in clusters that seem small for the size of the plant. The flowering stem elongates as the long seed pods develop. When crushed, the leaves have a distinct smell of garlic, which is unusual outside the onion family. They can be used for flavouring food, but also give a tang to milk if eaten by cows. The whole plant has many medicinal uses.

Grass of Parnassus

The solitary flowers of Grass of Parnassus meadow plant have five white petals with greenish veins and a characteristic and unusual arrangement of branched staminodes surrounding the true stamens. Most of the leaves are basal and heart-shaped, on long stalks, but there is also a single leaf that clasps the stem. The fruit is a single capsule which contains many seeds.

Goat’s-beard

LEAVES : Alternate, linear to lance-shaped, grass-like.

PLANT HEIGHT : 40–75cm.

FLOWER SIZE : Flowerhead 1.8–4cm wide, depending on length of rays.

FRUIT : “Clock” of white feathery achenes forming a whitish ball, up to 12cm wide.

FLOWERING TIME : June–July.

SIMILAR SPECIES  : None. Its large size and linear leaves make it distinctive.