Umbellifers, Crucifers, Mignonettes, Poppies, Docks

Hydrocotyle vulgaris (up to 30 cm) Marsh pennywort Very small greenish-pink flowers in tight heads at the base of the leaves from June to August. Disc-like leaves (8-35 mm) with shallow lobes on long stalks. Found in bogs, marshes, fens and other wet places with acidic soils. Image taken at Skomer Island, near Marloes, Pembrokeshire .

Eryngium maritimum (up to 60 cm) Sea holly Spiny bluish-green leaves with white veins. Small powder blue flowers in a rounded umbel with spiny bracts. Flowers from June to September. Found on sand and shingle near the coast. Image tak en at Ffrith beach, Prestatyn, Denbighshire .

Anthriscus sylvestris (up to 100 cm) Cow parsley Flowers are white umbels (20-60 mm) with no lower bracts. Flowers from April to June. Leaves are three pinnate, appearing in January. Smooth, long broad fruits. Found in wood edges, hedgerows and shady places. Image taken at Durdle Door, Lulworth, Dorset .

Pimpinella saxifraga (up to 70 cm) Burnet saxifrage White umbels (20-50 mm) with no bracts from May to September. Stem leaves are two pinnately lobed and linear. Root leaves are single pinnate with toothed leaflets. Globular shiny fruits. Found on limestone grassland. Image taken at St Davids, Pembrokeshire .

Heracleum sphondylium (up to 300 cm) Hogweed (Cow parsnip) Huge hairy umbellifer. Flowers are generally white but may be pink or purple in umbels (50-200 mm). Flowers from May to November. Leaves are 1-3 pinnate with broad toothed leaflets. Flattened oval winged fruits. Found in grassland, roadsides and waste grounds. Image taken at ?????? .

Smyrnium olusatrum (up to 150 cm) Alexanders Yellowish-green umbels (100 mm) with no bracts present from March to June. Dark green, glossy trefoil leaves with broad toothed leaflets. Black globular ridged fruits. Found in hedgerows, roadsides, cliffs and waste ground. Image taken at Ffrith beach, Prestatyn, Denbighshire .

Chaerophyllum temulentum (up to 100 cm) Rough chervil Purplish hairy stems. Flowers are white umbels (30-60 mm) present from May to July. Leaves are 2-3 pinnate with blunt lobes. Long, narrow ridged fruits. Found in hedgerows, wood edges and other lightly shaded places. Image taken at ????? .

Pastinaca sativa (up to 200 cm) Wild parsnip Yellow umbels (30-100 mm) with no bracts present from June to September. Leaves are single pinnatewith broad toothed leaflets. Flat, oval winged fruits. Found in grassy places on limestone soils. Image taken at Durlston country park, Swanage, Dorset .

Barbarea vulgaris (up to 90 cm) Wintercress Yellow flowers (7-9 mm) with hairless buds present from May to July. The basal leavesend in a large lobe whilst the upper leaves are toothed. The pods end in a long style. Found in damp habitats along roadsides, streams, hedgerows and waste ground. Image taken at ??? .

Rorippa sylvestris (up to 60 cm) Creeping yellowcress Hairless sprawling crucifer. Yellow flowers (4-6 mm) longer than the sepals. Flowers from June to September. Pinnate leaves. Long curved cylindrical pods on a long stalk. Found on damp disturbed ground such as riversides. Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Sinapis arvensis (up to 100 cm) Charlock Tall, coarse bristly crucifer. Bright yellow flowers (15-20 mm) with spreading downturned sepals. Present from April to November. Pinnately lobed lower leaves. Upper leaves are toothed and unstalked. Cylindrical hairless pods - longer than the flattened beak. Found in waysides, arable fields and field edges. Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Cardamine pratensis (up to 60 cm) Cuckooflower (Lady's smock) Pale lilac flowers (11-20 mm) with yellow anthers. Flowers from late March to June. Pinnate leaves. Found in damp grassy places such as woods, fens and mountainsides. Image taken at Bentley Wood, near Winterslow, Wiltshire .

Alliaria petiolata (up to 100 cm) Garlic mustard When crushed produces a garlic aroma. White flowers (5-7 mm) present from April to June. Heart-shaped toothed leaves. Cylindrical four-angled pod (30-70 mm) Found in shaded hedgerows and woodland edges. Widespread and common. Image taken at Garston Wood RSPB reserve, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset .

Cochlearia officinalis (up to 40 cm) Common scurvy-grass Low-medium sprawling plant. White fragrant flowers (8-15 mm) present from April to August. Rounded lower leaves whilst the upper leaves are heart-shaped and clasp the stem. Globular pod. Found on cliffs and dry salt marshes near the coast. Image taken at Ffrith beach, Prestatyn, Denbighshire .

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Capsella bursa-pastoris (up to 50 cm) Shepherd's purse Distinctive flat triangular pods. Small white flowers (2-3 mm) present throughout the year. Variable leaves ranging from untoothed to deeply lobed. Found on cultivated and bare ground. Image taken at ???? .

Reseda lutea (up to 75 cm) Wild mignonette Medium floppy plant. Yellowish-green six-petalled flowers (5-7 mm) present in a spike. Flowers from May to September. Pale green, pinnate wavy leaves. Oblong pods with three points. Found in sparse grassy places on limestone soil. Image taken at Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire .

Papaver rhoeas (up to 70 cm) Common poppy Hairy stem that rarely produces yellow juice. Bright scarlet flowers (50-100 mm) from June to October. Rounded flat-topped capsules. Found on cultivated arable land and wasteground. Image taken at Moors Valley country park, West Moors, Dorset .

Papaver dubium (up to 60 cm) Long-headed poppy Stem has yellow juice. Pinkish-red flowers (30-70 mm) present from May to August. Long hairless capsules. Image taken at Cotswolds water park, Cotswolds .

Papaver somniferum (up to 60 cm) Welsh poppy Yellow flowers (50-75 mm) from May to August. Stem juice is yellow. Pale green pinnately lobed leaves. Found in rocky places on hill and mountainsides. Image taken at Grasmere Lake, Lake District .

Capsella bursa-pastoris (ranges from 30-120 cm) Opium poppy Greyish and hairless stem. Large lilac flowers with a deep purple centre (100-180 mm). Flowers from June to August. White stem juice contains opium. Wavy, coarsely toothed leaves that clasp the stem. Found on bare cultivated or wasteground often as a garden escapee. Image taken at Martin Down, near Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Rumex acetosa (up to 80 cm) Common sorrel Unbranched acid-tasting plant. Small red flowers in leafless spikes from May to July. Arrow-shaped leaves with the basal lobes pointing backwards. Fruits are round and warty. Found in grassland. Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Rumex obtusifolius (up to 100 cm) Broad-leaved dock Large heartshaped leaves at the base of the plant (8-10 cm). Flowers are green with triangular sepals from May to October. The fruits have prominent teeth with one rounded wart. Ubiquitous, common and widespread. Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Glaucium flavum (up to 80 cm) Yellow-horned poppy Sprawling seaside perrenial. Stem contains yellow juice. Yellow flowers(60-90 mm) from June to September. Silvery grey leaves that are pinnate near the roots. Long curved capsules (15-25 mm). Found on coastal shingle. Image taken at Hurst Spit, Milford-on-sea, Hampshire .

Crambe maritima (up to 75 cm) Sea kale Thickset hairless, medium perennial. White flowers (10-15 mm) present in a flat-topped cluster from May to August. Large cabbage-like leaves. Small globular pods. Found on coastal shingle and sand. Image taken at Hurst Spit, Milford-on-sea, Hampshire .

Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoots and Oraches

Beta vulgaris (up to 80 cm) Sea beet Dull sprawling perennial. Tiny green flowers that may redden produced from June to September. Dark green, shiny leathery leaves. Found on bare ground near the coast. Image taken at Hurst Spit, Milford-on-sea, Hampshire .