Heracleum sphondylium - Hogweed

 

This plant is seen on Slape Lane whilst on your way up towards Hutton Roof, a giant of a plant and the leaves are very hairy and I have noticed are a good thing for holding water retention for insects.

Taraxacum agg. (Dandelion)

 

Seen throughout our area, dense in places especially hedgerows and meadows

Photos below showing it at different stages

Ficaria verna (Lesser Celandine)

 

One of the first plants of the year which has terrific spread, with even local meadows full of it. 

This photo above shows Lesser Celandine having flowered and going back to seed

Photo: taken on Slape Lane, Burton on 13th May 2021.

Geranium lucidum - Shining Cranesbill

 

Shining Cranesbill (Geranium lucidum)

Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 16th May 2021

I found this species just on entering Lancelot Clark Storth.  At first I thought it was Herb Robert but it was only about 5mm across the full flowerhead making it about the 1/3rd size of Herb Robert. 

The above top left photo shows the regular Herb Robert Geranium robertianum) and the top right its leaf profiles.  And on the bottom for comparison we have Shining Cranesbill (Geranium lucidum). You get some idea of the size from the pen placed to its side. 

Shining Cranesbill = Yellow anthers

Herb Robert = Red anthers

Shining Cranesbill (Geranium lucidum)

Photo: Lancelot Clark Storth (CWT) on 16th May 2021

this photo shows both the leaf profile and size related

Primula hybrid x polyantha (hybrid between Primrose and Cowslip) (Early to mid May)

 

 Studies of the hybrid x polyantha

(Click over the photo to get the best view)

above - The Flowers shown in their groups (posies)

Left: Primrose (P. vulgaris)

Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)

Right: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)

You can see from the above photo the hybrid on the right has a typical cowslip look about it at first glance with the flowers sat bunchlike at the top of a large stalk.

Yet when you look closely at the flowers of the hybrid they are not together on short stalks like you generally get with cowslips (see middle photo), and on the hybrid they have longer individual stalks from each of the flowers to the main stem, a feature you associate more with the Primrose. So the plant is again taking on features between both parents. 

(Click over the photo to get the best view)

(above) The Flower head arrangement

Left: Primrose (P. vulgaris)

Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)

Right: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)

With the hybrid to the far right you notice it takes on from both parent species (P. vulgaris x P. veris). At the first look it has the stance of a Cowslip, but when you look closer you note the colour of the flowers are much lighter than a regular Cowslip although they are not as light a yellow as a regular Primrose. So I find it best to look at it as a in-between as maybe expected with a typical hybrid.  

Next the flower head arrangement stands out a mile as being different, again at first it gives off the Cowslip look but soon you notice the flower arrangement is different with the flowers at the end of long stems again a factor you notice with the primrose more so than a Cowslip, so again we have the in-betweener factor.

Just to clarify the difference in flower colours

(Click over the photo to get the best view)

Left: Primrose (P. vulgaris)

Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)

Right: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)

"A Club, A Spade and a in between"

(below) "The leaf from above"

(Click over the photo to enlarge)

(above) Top side of leaf

Top: Primrose (P. vulgaris)

Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)

Bottom: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)

I have called the Primrose (P. vulgaris) the Club, because of the shape of the leaf.  It is far more round at the top of the leaf than the other two which are more oval shape.  The main factor of difference for me is that the Primrose leaf lies almost flat and does not show ruffling to the edge as you can see is very pronounced especially within the hybrid leaf. I have noticed this ruffling with all the leaves on the main study plant. 

(below) Shows the leaf from the underside

Click over the photo to enlarge

(above) Underside of leaf

Top: Primrose (P. vulgaris)

Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)

Bottom: False oxlip (P. polyantha)

Below - Shows two examples of the hybrid leaf

a leaf of about 8" and a leaf of about 5"

Both top and bottom are underside leaves from the hybrid - x polyantha.

Note the "ruff" edging to the hybrid leaf, for comparison see below.

(below) shows the underside of both the hybrid (top) and the primrose (below)

Top leaf is from the hybrid - x polyantha

Bottom leaf is from Primrose (primula vulgaris)

It is very noticeable that the hybrid (top) has a ruffled edge (crinkled), whereby the regular primrose (P. vulgaris) is almost flat in comparison. 

The shape of the top of the leaf seems does appear slightly more rounded with the Primrose (P. vulgaris) compared to more oval in the Cowslip or the hybrid, although this is not applicable to all .

A really good pointer is the tapering of the lower part of the leaf on the hybrid is more gradual over the length of the leaf, and seems much more sharper of a taper with the primrose (P. vulgaris) 

Another sure way to tell is that the hairs on the underside of the leaf seem to be far longer in the case of the Primrose (P. vulgaris) and far easier to capture in a photo, than the shorter bristles afforded on both the Cowslip or the hybrid itself. 

(below) Hairiness of the underside of the leaves

(Click over the photo to enlarge)

Left: Primrose (P. vulgaris)

Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)

Right: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)

The Primrose on the left seems to be much longer hairs than both the Cowslip or the hybrid.

Below are some nice early photos of the False Oxlip showing on 14th April 2022.

Photo showing False Oxlip - the hybrid (Primula x polyantha)

taken on 14th April 2022 (private Woodlands Burton In Kendal.

Photo showing False Oxlip - the hybrid (Primula x polyantha)

taken on 14th April 2022 (private Woodlands Burton In Kendal.

Photo showing False Oxlip - the hybrid (Primula x polyantha)

taken on 14th April 2022 (private Woodlands Burton In Kendal.

Photo showing False Oxlip - the hybrid (Primula x polyantha)

taken on 14th April 2022 (private Woodlands Burton In Kendal.

Photo showing False Oxlip - the hybrid (Primula x polyantha)

taken on 14th April 2022 (private Woodlands Burton In Kendal.

Photo showing False Oxlip - the hybrid (Primula x polyantha)

taken on 14th April 2022 (private Woodlands Burton In Kendal.

A really nice photo showing the early stages of "head" development. Note how hairy throughout and the deep red at the top of the stem.

Photo of False Oxlip (Primula x polyantha) on 14th April 2022. 

Gymnosporangium clavariiforme (Cedar Apple Rust fungi)

 

"Tongues Of Fire"

This is an fungi which I first started to notice last year when I was walking through Holme Stinted Pastures, near Burton In Kendal. It seems to take over some of the more ancient Juniper trees. I am told it is also prevalent on Scout Scar.

Yesterday (7th May 2021) I was again in the same area actually photographing Early Purple Orchids, although sadly these had been almost demolished with all the heavy rain we have had recently.  Yet I did notice from a couple of the Junipers which were well spread out from one another that they bore the Gymnosporangium clavariiforme or the Cedar Apple Rust fungi.  I would have estimated that the fungi was one to two days old at the best and would be gone within the period of the next couple of days. It does not last long and seems to disappear without trace. 

Here are some of the photos from yesterday, I hope you enjoy.  Please let me know if you want any further details.