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| Buddleia |
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| Lords & Ladies |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Clouded Yellow |
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| Himalayan Balsam |
Thursday, 25 September 2014
Saturday, 13 September 2014
Wormwood (Artemsia absinthium) & Mugwort (Artemsia vulgaris)
Both wormwood and mugwort grow in similar habitat: roadside verges, waste ground and old railway lines. They are easily identified: wormwood having a grey tinge to its green foliage, branched spikes and a soft feel to it. When in flower, there are small yellow button like flower-heads and the plant stands up to 60cm tall.
Mugwort is similar but with purple stems, leaves pinnate lobed, dull green above, grey underneath and much taller being up to 120cm. Both plants, though, are strongly aromatic, with wormwood being by far the most pungent.
The genus artemsia is named after the Greek virgin goddess Artemis. She was the goddess of hunting and chastity, it is also identified with the Roman goddess Diana. She is not to be confused with the Artemis of Ephesus who was a fertility goddess with multiple breasts, a turreted crown and a kind of nimbus behind her head. - see Acts 19:27.
Wormwood has the scientific name "absinthium" and was used to flavour the drink Absinthe. This was first produced commercially in 1797 by Henry-Louis Pernod. Wormwood came to be considered dangerous to health and was thought to cause hallucinations and sterility.
Wormwood is mentioned to be used in medicine 4-5 hundred years before Christ. Highly esteemed by Hippocrates and the Greeks who claimed it helped with disorders of the brain. Wormwood is also mentioned in the Bible where it is compared to the after effects of living an immoral life - Proverbs 5:4. Also the bitter experience that came upon Judah and Jerusalem by the hands of the Babylonians - Jeremiah 9:15; 23:15; Lamentations 3:15, 19. It is also mentioned in the book of Revelation - 8;11.
In herbal remedies of old, these two plants were used for a variety of reasons ranging from women's problems and was recorded as the herb of Venus. The Romans used put them in their sandals when on the march.
Sunday, 10 August 2014
More Summer Flowers
One of the photos below is tansy. It is a stout aromatic perennial with pinnate leaves. The flower heads are small, flat-topped, button-like and golden-yellow. The leaves are finely divided and feathery.
It is widespread and frequent and often found along disused railway lines, on canal towpaths and other waste places.
Tansy is believed to have derived from the Greek "athanasia", immortality, which is reference to the flowers which are long-lasting when dried. Its other common names, which always refer to the flower-heads, are golden buttons, bitter buttons, bachelor's buttons, buttons and scented fern - the later being reference to the fern-like leaves.
It is widespread and frequent and often found along disused railway lines, on canal towpaths and other waste places.
Tansy is believed to have derived from the Greek "athanasia", immortality, which is reference to the flowers which are long-lasting when dried. Its other common names, which always refer to the flower-heads, are golden buttons, bitter buttons, bachelor's buttons, buttons and scented fern - the later being reference to the fern-like leaves.
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| Buddleia |
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| Butterbur |
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| Evening Primrose |
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| Himalayan Balsam |
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| Tansy |
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| Woad |
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Barn Swallow
No summer would be complete without one of our most graceful hirundines - barn swallow (Hirundo rustica).
The adult swallow is steel-blue above with greenish gloss on the wings and tail; most of the tail feathers have an oval white spot. The forehead and throat are rich chestnut. The bill and legs are black and sexes are similar.
The twittering song is heard throughout the summer stay with us and birds sing on the wing and when perched.
Flies and other winged insects are its food of choice and even large butterflies and day flying moths will be taken. The best time to observe their feeding behaviour is, ironically, when it is wet and windy because birds will come down low to catch their prey.
Swallows can be found almost anywhere from farms to the suburbs and often over water. Late summer is the best time to see them as they gather on telephone wires and fences in large groups, young and adult birds, getting ready for the departure to warmer climes.
The adult swallow is steel-blue above with greenish gloss on the wings and tail; most of the tail feathers have an oval white spot. The forehead and throat are rich chestnut. The bill and legs are black and sexes are similar.
The twittering song is heard throughout the summer stay with us and birds sing on the wing and when perched.
Flies and other winged insects are its food of choice and even large butterflies and day flying moths will be taken. The best time to observe their feeding behaviour is, ironically, when it is wet and windy because birds will come down low to catch their prey.
Swallows can be found almost anywhere from farms to the suburbs and often over water. Late summer is the best time to see them as they gather on telephone wires and fences in large groups, young and adult birds, getting ready for the departure to warmer climes.
Saturday, 12 July 2014
High Summer Flower
Just a few more high summer flowers, one of which is comfrey (Symphytum officinale).
Comfrey is a robust hairy perennial, 60-90cm. high, with broad lanceolate leaves. Flowers are bell-like and may be white, cream, blue, mauve, purple or pink.
The habitat is widespread and common along river banks and streams.
"Symphytum" is derived from the Greek "sympho", to heal or unite, and alludes to the plant's use in medicine in the past in the treatment of healing bones.
Other names for comfrey are boneset, knitbone, blackwort and ass ear, the later from the shape of the leaves.
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| Alder |
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| Bindweed |
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| Bramble |
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| Comfrey |
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Summer's silent beauty.
The countryside is ablaze with wildflowers this time of the year and you can feel spoilt for choice where to look next. There is one, though, that sits back from the crowd and can go unnoticed, and is the opposite of its cultivated cousin which adorns gardens up and down the country and is the prime focus of attention at flower shows. What is this enigma of flowers? Wild rose (Rosa canina) or dog rose as it known in parts of the country.
The dog rose is the most commonest wild rose in Britain with pale pink or white flowers and fragrant. It is not, though, as sweet-scented as the cultivated ones which again adds to its mystic. It is a tall, stout shrub, 1-3m high, with large curved thorns. The fruits are typically red and egg-shaped.
The common and scientific name comes from the Latin "Canis", dog, which is thought to be alluding to the plants inferiority - others think it may be referring to the plants use in veterinary medicine. Other common names are common brier and dog brier.
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| Dog Rose |
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| Dog Rose |
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| Dog Rose thorns |
Sunday, 15 June 2014
Yellow Flag
This time of year yellow flag is in flower and looking resplendent with its bright yellow flowers.
Iris, the mythological Greek messenger, who came to the earth via a rainbow, gives our wild iris - yellow flag - its scientific name - Iris pseudacorus.
Yellow flag is easily identified when in flower by its rich yellow flowers, which are similar to the garden iris so popular as border plants. There are three outer petals (sometimes called falls); three erect inner petals (standards); and three large stigmas. The leaves are long, sword shaped and flat.
They occur in large numbers by fresh water and in marshes. The flowering time is June-August. They occur throughout the British Isles.
Some, with many an anxious pain,
Childish wishes pursue,
From the pondhead gazed in vain
On the flag-flower's yellow hue;
Smiling o'er its shadow'd bloom,
While the flood's triumphing care
Crimpled round its guarded home. ("Recollections after a Ramble". J Clare).
The name, flag, is from Middle English "flagge", sword, referring to the sword-shaped leaves. These leaves can be between 60-120cm long and 2cm across, sharp-edged and pointed.
When you do come across yellow flag think of the poem above which well describes the yellow flowers smiling and gazing out from their guarded pondhead home.
Other names given to yellow flag include Jacob's sword, fliggers, daggers and fleur de lys. The later is reference to the role taken by iris in heraldry. The "fleur-de-lis, heraldic lily, has long been associated with the royal arms of France. Even today, it is popular with heraldic designs.
Iris, the mythological Greek messenger, who came to the earth via a rainbow, gives our wild iris - yellow flag - its scientific name - Iris pseudacorus.
Yellow flag is easily identified when in flower by its rich yellow flowers, which are similar to the garden iris so popular as border plants. There are three outer petals (sometimes called falls); three erect inner petals (standards); and three large stigmas. The leaves are long, sword shaped and flat.
They occur in large numbers by fresh water and in marshes. The flowering time is June-August. They occur throughout the British Isles.
Some, with many an anxious pain,
Childish wishes pursue,
From the pondhead gazed in vain
On the flag-flower's yellow hue;
Smiling o'er its shadow'd bloom,
While the flood's triumphing care
Crimpled round its guarded home. ("Recollections after a Ramble". J Clare).
The name, flag, is from Middle English "flagge", sword, referring to the sword-shaped leaves. These leaves can be between 60-120cm long and 2cm across, sharp-edged and pointed.
When you do come across yellow flag think of the poem above which well describes the yellow flowers smiling and gazing out from their guarded pondhead home.
Other names given to yellow flag include Jacob's sword, fliggers, daggers and fleur de lys. The later is reference to the role taken by iris in heraldry. The "fleur-de-lis, heraldic lily, has long been associated with the royal arms of France. Even today, it is popular with heraldic designs.
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