Janet Higgins

Coltsfoot

coltsfoot
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Photo: Bob Ellis

We spotted a small patch of Coltsfoot in a strip of wet woodland on the northwestern edge of Southrepps parish. The flower shoots were emerging out of the woodland floor and the flowers just beginning to open.

Wild Basil

wild basil
Wild Basil (Clinopodium vulgare)  Photo: Bob Ellis

An amazing display of Wild Basil on roadside verges throughout TM28A near Brockdish.  Occasionally found with other South Norfolk specialities such as Sulphur Clover (Trifolium ochroleucon) and Pepper Saxifrage (Silaum silaus).

Betony

betony
Betony (Betonica officinalis)   Photo: Bob Ellis

We found a few patches of Betony in bud in Silfield nature reserve near the Lizard in Wymondam, then later in the open meadow we came across a mass of purple flowers

Common Cow-wheat

cow wheat
Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense)  Photo: Bob Ellis

The two colonies of Common Cow-wheat at either end of the strip of woodland between Eaton Park and Bluebell Road are both doing well. This plant is hemi-parasitic, meaning that it relies on obtaining some of its nutrients from the roots of nearby plants.

Milk Thistle

milk thistle
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Photo: Bob Ellis

There were a couple of typically large plants growing in a roadside hedge on the outskirts of Attlebridge. An easy plant to spot and identify with its marbled-white veined leaves and large capitula with spiny phyllaries.