Yellow water-lily

The yellow water-lily (Nuphar lutea) is less common than the white variety, but is still found quite widely, both in ornamental ponds and in the wild, where it favours still and slow-moving water.

It grows from fleshy stems rooted in the mud at the bottom of lakes and streams. Stalks up to nine feet (2.75 metres) long then grow towards the surface where the leaves and flowers float, although some leaves stay submerged. The floating leaves are the largest of any water plant found wild in Great Britain, measuring up to 16x12 inches (40x30 centimetres). The yellow flowers are only 2-3 inches (5-7.5 centimetres) across, comprising many petals surrounded by five or six sepals.

The seed capsules take the shape of a flask, which is one reason why the yellow water-lily is also known as the “brandy bottle”, the other reason being that the flowers have a scent reminiscent of stale alcohol! The capsules contain air pockets that enable them to float away from the host plant before they sink and release their seeds.

Preparations made from yellow water-lilies have the effect of inhibiting sexual drive. This property was found to be useful in medieval monasteries and nunneries, where celibacy was the order of the day. Images of yellow water-lily flowers have been discovered in carvings in abbeys and cathedrals, presumably for the above reason.

© John Welford

Welsh poppy

The Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica) is easily distinguished from the common poppy by having yellow rather than red flowers. There are other differences, such as the seed capsules being differently shaped, but they are not enough to justify the botanical name “Meconopsis”, which means “looking like a poppy”.

Despite its name, the Welsh poppy is not restricted to Wales, being also found in southwest England and parts of Europe. It has been cultivated as a garden flower and may therefore be found in places outside its normal range, due to garden specimens having cast their seed more widely and produced wild plants. It prefers damp shady woods and rocky places. 

The plant separates into many branches at the base, with the leaves also splitting into numerous leaflets. The Welsh poppy thus has a bushy appearance, growing up to 24 inches (60 centimetres) in height. The relatively small yellow flowers, which do not have dark centres, have four petals. They appear in the months of June and July. 

The seed capsules, as noted above, are slightly different from other poppies in that they release seed from open flaps rather than “pepperboxes”.

© John Welford

Swine-cress

Swine-cress (Coronopus squamatus) is also known as hog-cress and sow-cress, but there is no direct link between this plant and pigs. It may simply be that, in past times, it was used as a salad ingredient but was of such low quality that it was deemed to be fit only for pigs!

Swine-cress is found on waste ground in southern Britain but is less common in the north.

It is a greyish, low-growing plant that reaches up to 12 inches (30 centimetres) in height. It has small, finely divided leaves. The tiny white flowers, which appear from June to September, grow in small clusters in the angle of stem and leaf-stalk.

Yet another name for this plant is wart-cress, and this derives from the appearance of the fruit which has a wart-like surface. Each fruit produces one or two pear-shaped seeds.

This unprepossessing plant has a surprising relative, namely the garden wallflower, although they would seem to have hardly anything in common. The link can, however, be seen in the construction of the flowers, especially the cross-shaped arrangement of the petals.

© John Welford

Spring beauty

Spring beauty (Montia perfoliata) is a plant that found its way from the Pacific coast of North America to Great Britain during the 19th century, being first seen in Britain in 1852. In its original homeland it is known as Indian lettuce and miner's lettuce, although native Americans ate its bulbs as well its leaves.

It is found throughout Britain growing mainly on disturbed and waste ground, with a preference for sandy soils.

An unusual feature of spring beauty is that its leaves - apart from those at the base of the plant - fuse together in pairs to completely surround each flowering stem. The flowers therefore appear to grow out of a single leaf which forms a bowl shape. This is known as perfoliation, which gives the plant its botanical name.

Spring beauty grows to a height of between 4 and 12 inches. The flowers, which appear between May and July, have five notched white petals and two sepals.

© John Welford

Perennial glasswort

Perennial glasswort (Salicornia or Sarcocornia perennis), also known as marsh samphire, grows in tussocks on salt marshes and pebbly shores in southern England.

Sprawling stems send up segmented branches. Each segment is a pair of fleshy leaves that are dark green at first but then turn yellow. The stems of perennial glasswort (as opposed to annual varieties) are woody at the base and difficult to uproot. The overall appearance resembles a miniature cactus. 

Stems reach a height of up to 12 inches (30 centimetres). Flowers appear in August and September. Each segment carries several flowers, each with two stamens and two feathery styles.

As marsh samphire, this plant is well-known as a food plant, lightly boiled or pickled in vinegar. The name glasswort comes from its historic use in glassmaking. The ash of the plant when burned is high in soda, and when fused with sand produces a low-quality glass.

© John Welford

Prickly poppy

The prickly poppy (Papaver argemone) is the earliest to flower of the poppies that grow in disturbed or ploughed soil. Unlike the common poppy, which prefers heavier soils, the prickly poppy is often seen growing in sandy soils, particularly in southern England.

It is smaller and less upright than the common poppy, growing up to 20 inches (50 centimetres) in height. The leaves near the base have stalks and narrow lobes, whereas those higher up are stalkless with longer lobes. The stems have bristles, pressed close to the stem, which are what makes the plant “prickly” as well as the bristles on the lower leaves.

The red flowers, which appear between May and July, are up to 2¼ inches (2-5.5 centimetres) across. The petals are dark at the base and do not overlap. The seed capsule is oblong with thick ridges. It works like a pepper pot, with the seeds being shaken out when the wind blows. The seeds can lie dormant for a number of years, only germinating when the soil is turned over.

The stems, leaves and fruit contain sticky white latex that can be used in small quantities in herbal remedies. However, the alkaloids in the latex are poisonous and grazing animals therefore tend to avoid the plants. This has the result that only the surrounding plants will be eaten, thus leaving spaces for future generations of prickly poppies to colonise.

© John Welford

Soapwort

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is a common wildflower that is found throughout Britain on wasteland, in woods and in hedgerows. It also grows alongside streams and on country roadsides.

It gets its name from the fact that, when bruised and boiled in water, the leaves and stems produce a liquid “soap” that was formerly used for washing raw wool and woollen cloth. The plant was grown commercially near woollen mills for this purpose, and much of the wild soapwort seen today owes its origin to this industrial use. However, it is also found in places that are a long distance from former woollen mills.

Soapwort is a hairless plant with smooth leaves that are narrow and oval in shape, each leaf showing up to five prominent veins. The plant grows up to 36 inches (90 centimetres) in height.

Pink or white flowers grow in clusters from August to October. They produce a delicate scent that attracts hawkmoths. The five sepals join together to form a smooth green tube.

As well as its former use as an industrial wool cleanser, soapwort has also been used as a shampoo for delicate hair. Extracts of soapwort have been used in herbal remedies for gout, rheumatism and skin diseases, despite the fact that the leaves and roots produce a poisonous substance called saponin. It would appear that soapwort products should be confined to external use only!

© John Welford