Unexpected local botanical goodies, 9 May 2023

At the very kind invitation of Alex Prendergast I visited his house yesterday to look at the naturalised Purple Ramping Fumitory that has spread unaided onto the roadside verge. The first Norfolk record of this predominantly western species. The flowers of this species begin white and develop a distinct purple tinge while also having very large ragged sepals. After a tour of his fascinating garden Alex told me about some Norfolk Comfrey growing about a mile away so that was where I headed next. I found a large patch growing in a roadside nettle bed with a few plants of the superficially similar variety Hidcote Blue Comfrey. While exploring the verges there I also found Small-fruited Prickly-sedge (and was chuffed to be able to id it myself!) plus Shining Cranesbill, Hoary Cress and quite a bit of Bur-chervil



                                                                                                                         Purple Ramping Fumitory



                                                                                                                             Norfolk Comfrey
                                                                                                                               Hidcote Blue Comfrey

                                                                                                                        Small-fruited Prickly-sedge
Hoary Cress

                                                                                                                                      Bur-chervil
                                                                                                                                 Shining Cranesbill


 

No comments:

Post a Comment