We had a lovely day out at Swinsty with sunshine and short showers. We explored the beaches of the reservoir,looking for the specific plants that live on the reservoir shore. Plants like Red shank ( Persicaria maculosa) ,see title page; also Sneezewort ( Achillea ptarmica), Bur Marigold (Bidens tripartite) and Water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper.) You can see pictures of these in my report from last year.
Hemp ,Cannabis sativa
Yellow foxtail, Setaria pumila
Sunflower
Michaelmas Daisy
One of our first finds was a Hemp plant ( Cannabis sativa), followed by Yellow foxtail (Setarvia pumila) , Wheat ( Triticum aestivum) and several Sunflowers. The source of these bird seed aliens was soon discovered; a family arrived on the shore and started feeding the ducks, something they do regularly!
Another mystery was the substantial areas of a leafy plant, eventually we found some in flower, Michaelmas daisys.
Scarlet Pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis
Bristly Oxtongue, Pictish echiodes
The magnifying loops were out to look at two warty plants. The seeds of Broad Leaved Dock ( Rumex obtusifolius), typically the fruit has one enlarged reddish wart. The leaves of Bristly Oxtongue (Pictish echoides) have bristles rising from prominent white swellings.
I have to mention the Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), as I like the name and the flower.
All in all a very satisfying day out.
Rosemary
(photos by Rosemary)
