Wild Flowers in May

Thu 31st May, 2012

In late spring, verges, hedge-banks and woods are pink and cream with Red Campion and Cow Parsley, two of our commonest wild flowers. Cow Parsley, which has slightly fern-like leaves, is a member of the carrot family. 

Superficially similar, but with much narrower leaflets, is Pignut, which grows in dry grassland and woods. Hogweed is another common member of the carrot family, a sturdy umbellifer with a hairy, hollow stem and flower-heads up to 15 cm across. 

Another ubiquitous plant of grassland and waste ground is Ribwort Plantain. The spike of dark flowers is surrounded by a ruff of cream-coloured anthers (which contain the pollen). The leaves are spear-shaped and ribbed, and the stalk is furrowed. 

White Dead-nettle is often mistaken for the Common or ‘Stinging’ Nettle, but belongs to a different family. Common Nettles, which come into flower in June, have drooping, catkin-like green flowers, whereas White Dead-nettle flowers are hooded, white and grow in whorls around the stem. The leaves are an elongated heart shape. Red Dead-nettles have more rounded heart-shaped leaves, which are a distinctive purple-green.

Less obvious are the small flowers of the speedwells, blue with a white ‘eye’. There are several different species. Two of the commonest are Germander Speedwell, with a bright blue flower and usually stalkless leaves, and Common Field Speedwell, recognisable by the white lower lip of the flower.

A more exotic plant which is coming into flower from the end of May is the Northern Marsh Orchid. The plant is relatively common on all except very acid soils. It can be found in a wide range of damp or wet habitats including marshes, woods, roadside verges, dunes, cliffs, quarries, roadside verges and industrial sites. On Flamborough Headland the deep pink flower spikes can be found on cliff-top grassland.

Join one of our Orchids on the Edge walks for a closer look at the orchids of the Headland.