An early season Norfolk Flora group outing to the grazing marshes was obviously a good time to catch the flowering rush Butomus umbellatus in flower. The erect flowering stem topped with a handsome umbel of pinkish, purplish flowers was growing in the shallow water, alongside a ditch crammed with Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and Water Soldier Stratiotes aloides. The cattle gathered round, fortunately on the other side of the ditch, to join in the excitement.

Even if you are not lucky enough to see this plant in flower, it is well worth looking out for its sharply triangular leaves which characteristically taper to a flat leaf 'with a twist' above the midpoint.