Willows and some wild plants ID

DXOak · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:04 pm Post subject: Willows and some wild plants ID

I saw these at a wetland site in Co Down but not sure what they are. The one with the comment "big Leafy plant" was growing in large numbers in a long line and was biggish in size.

Any help would be appreciated.

Margo · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:48 am Post subject:

1. Don't know
2 Willow
3 Don't know
4. Looks like pussy willow and dogwood
5. Looks like cranesbill or wild geranium
6. Don't know
7 Looks like Ground elder

michael brenock · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 7:29 pm Post subject:

number 5 is Meadow Buttercup Ran nculus acris
Number 6 looks like Knapweed Centaurea nigra
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

Greengage · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:13 pm Post subject:

1. Salix alba chermesina
2. Salix viminalis.
3. Salix caprea.
4. Salix alba chermesina
5. Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
6. Centaurea (Knapweed)
7. Aegopodium podagraria (Ground Elder)

DXOak · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks all for ID. I was thinking ground elder for the last, but possibly Alexanders seems a better shape for the leaves.

For the second willow, It looked like Salix viminalis but didn't look like a normal one to me. It was less flexable than a normal one and more a pea green in colour than the actual Salix viminalis I have seen. The buds on the tree are dark brownish-purple colour. I can get a close image of the buds and leaves if that would help as I took a cutting 3 weeks ago and its started to produce leaves and one has catkins on it.

I know there is supposed to be a Green-Leaved willow (Salix x rubra) found here but not sure if this is it or not.

As for the knapweed, I was thinking it is a Perennial cornflower based on the shape of the leaves, I had one in my garden a few years ago and it looked similar but was unsure.

Greengage · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject:

The bright blue Cornflower was once a common sight in the countryside through the months of July, August and September. In the past it grew as a weed in fields of corn on light soils and was very plentiful - sadly, it is now on the edge of extinction except for a population found on the Aran Islands and in Wicklow.
The Cornflower has many cultivated relations, and these are very popular as fresh cut and dried flowers. Cornflower is proven to help grain grow due to root secretions and is now used as a beneficial weed in some USA grain crops. In 1992 Design By Nature saved the Irish Cornflower from extinction. However pollen from garden strains of cornflower effected the crop in 1998 and the breeding program had to be restarted again. ( www.Wildflowers.ie)
Its Knapweed not cornflower. As for the trees maybe your right I only had pictures to look at.

DXOak · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:56 pm Post subject:

Thanks Greengage for the information. I have not seen a knapweed this early in the year so was not sure. As for the trees, salix species I know are often hard to ID and was hoping to get down to species level as I am creating a video about the area (showing how it is for nature, the wildplants, birds, trees, geography etc...) I saw these trees and plants and wanted to show the various flora and fauna that I saw on my last visit and would be useful to put names to plants.

Also thanks for the website link. I was looking for some actual native Irish wildflower seeds as I have been going around the past year, collecting native wild plant seeds to build a seed collection up and don't want to use the non native wildflower mixes you often get and was wanting to have a wildflower area in my garden.