species identification
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How to Identify Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort (Oenanthe silaifolia)
I was super excited to come across Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort Oenanthe silaifolia yesterday whilst doing a recce for our in-house floodplain meadow training at Upton Ham. This species is nationally scarce, and we’re lucky to have a few good populations on the Worcestershire floodplains or ‘Hams’ along the River Severn. The Oenanthe genus can be scary,…
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This Week in Photos 11th – 24th May (20, 21)
Week 20 – 11th-17th May Bluebell Ffridd – Lousewort Upper Gam – Bird Cherry – Malvern View – Brassica Week 21 – 18th-24th May Sheep sorrel carpet – Meadow foxtail medley – Wild strawbs – Herb paris paradise – Common Spotted Orchids Notes These last two weeks have really seen the grasses explode into flower.…
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This Week in Photos & Flowers : April 20th – 26th (17)
Bluebells at Pound Green – Bitter-vetch – ‘Wonky Horns’ – Annual knawel leaves – Ducklings – Teesdalia habitat – Pudford Sunset – Stork’s-bill on the verge Notes This week, St. Mark’s Flies have taken to the skies coinciding nicely with the start of the hawthorn blossom. The docile flight of St. Mark’s Fly seems to…
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Guide: Colour Variations in Sweet Violet (Viola odorata)
Did you know there are different coloured varieties of Sweet Violet? I went looking for them, and managed to photograph four different forms this spring. How many have you seen?
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Arable Finds in Leigh
Fodder vetch Vicia villosa, Crimson clover Trifolium incarnatum and Flax Linum usitatissimum from an arable bird mix. Leigh, Worcestershire. 07.11.25
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Walk: Salwarpe to Severn via Droitwich Canal
The Walk (7km / 1hr 48mins) Last weekend Lauren and I decided to meander our way along the Droitwich canal from St Michael’s Church to the confluence where the River Salwarpe meets the Severn at Hawford. We started the day by dropping one car off at the end point along Hawford Lock Lane behind the…
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ID Tip: Early Dog vs. Common Dog Violets
Early Dog Violet (Viola reichenbachiana) vs. Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana) These two violet species are fairly similar in appearance and are often found growing together in woodlands and hedgerows. Early Dog Violet (1) has a spur that is usually darker than the petals and has short sepal appendages. Common Dog Violet (2) has a…
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ID Tip: Three-nerved Sandwort Vs. Common Chickweed
Three-nerved Sandwort Moehringia trinervia is a member of the Campion family worth looking out for in woodlands and waysides on acid soils. Here it was found in growing on a sandy woodland ride at Shrawley Woods, Worcestershire. It differs from the ubiquitous Common Chickweed Stellaria media by having sepals longer than petals, petals entire –…
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Lesser Chickweed (Stellaria pallida): Hartlebury Common 19.02.24
Stellaria pallida Lesser Chickweed – 19.02.24 Whilst rummaging in the short turf of Hartlebury Common I spotted this diminutive member of the Campion family Caryophyllaceae. It is odd amongst Stellaria in that it often has no (or only minute) petals, which is quite a distinctive feature. -It also has just 1 to 3 stamen, which…
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Recording: Ribbesford Woods [SO7872] Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Stourport [SO8171]
It’s November, I’ve finally got some time on my hands after what turned out to be a busy field season. I’m back in my home county of Worcestershire and I’ve decided to carry on doing some local monad bashing. I don’t think there’s a better way to improve your botanical ID skills than trying to…
![Recording: Ribbesford Woods [SO7872] Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Stourport [SO8171]](https://tomthebotanist.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/349dc-dsc00030_1.jpg?w=1024)
