The Flora of Castlewarden

Latin:  Potentilla anserine Irish:  Briosclán   This native species is closely related to the wild strawberry and occurs abundantly in waste places, roadsides and in grassland. Its foliage has a striking appearance with, as the name suggests, silvery finely-divided (pinnate) leaves.  The flower, which appears during May-July, is a very eye-catching, bright yellow and has 5 petals. The genus name Potentilla was given to these plants because of the powerful (“potent”) healing effects attributed to the herbal medicines derived from it.   Specimens were found at

Latin:  Polygonum aviculare Irish:  Glúineach bheag   This is a native species that occurs mainly in waste places, on roadsides and in arable ground.   It is an annual with slender, branched stems that may grow erect or remain prostrate (up to a length of about 70cm).  It produces small, inconspicuous, pink or white flowers from June onwards. Although it has not been demonstrated in Ireland, scientific studies elsewhere have shown that this species produces substances (allelochemicals) through its roots that inhibit the growth of other

Latin:  Plantago lanceolata Irish:  Slánlus   This perennial is found in nearly all of the waste places around the course. It is a very common weed, distinctive in its long leaves with several almost parallel veins and its compact blackish-brown flower heads. It normally flowers during May to August and during that time many of the heads show a band of open flowers with cream-coloured anthers extruded.   This is considered to be a native species but its historical record points to the difficulty in distinguishing between

Latin:  Persicaria maculosa Irish:  Glúineach dhearg   This is a native annual that may grow upright or remain prostrate.  One of its most distinctive features is its leaves which are spear-shaped and with a dark blotch on the upper surface.  It comes from the Polygonaceae family – a family that also includes rhubarb (Rheum).  It produces small, pink flowers in compact spikes from June onwards. It is a troublesome weed of arable fields but can also be abundant along roadsides and in damp waste places.  

Latin:  Papaver rhoeas Irish:  Cailleach dhearg   Although well known and widely distributed Common Poppy is generally regarded as an introduced species rather than one that is native to Ireland. The flaming red flower and hairy flower stems makes the poppy instantly recognisable. It is an annual whose seeds can remain dormant in the soil for long periods and spring to life whenever the soil is turned over.  It was probably because of the constant churning of the soil by artillery bombardment and trench digging that poppies

Latin:  Odontites vernus Irish:  Hocas tae   This is a native, low-growing (15-30cm tall), erect, downy annual that is often found growing in pastures, roadsides and stony places.  Grows extensively in the Builders Paddock at Castlewarden. It has small (1cm), stalkless leaves that grow in opposite pairs and small pinkish-red flowers are produced in July and August.  Red Bartsia is semi-parasitic on the roots of neighbouring grass plants and is closely related to Broomrape species (Orobanche) that lack chlorophyll and are completely parasitic on the roots of

Latin:  Nasturtium officinale Irish:  Biolar   This is a native perennial, with small white flowers that appear in June, and with creeping stems that root in mud in shallow streams and at the edges of ponds.  It occurs profusely at the edges of lakes on the course at Castlewarden and is very visible and accessible around the lake on the right side of the 3rd green. This plant has a peppery taste and can be used in salads and is said to contain significant amounts of iron, calcium,

Latin:  Medicago lupulina Irish:  Dúmheidic   Black Medick is a soft, hairy annual, or short-lived perennial, with a very prostrate growth habit and with stems that never grow more than 50cm along the ground. This species is regarded by some as the true shamrock but the consensus would appear to lie elsewhere.  As far back as 1893, the famous Irish botanist, Nathaniel Colgan asked people from all overIrelandto send him “genuine Shamrock”.  He identified those samples that were sent to him and his results showed 51% Yellow

Latin:  Matricaria discoidea Irish:  Lus na hiothlann   This is a non-native bushy annual that grows to a height of 5-30cm. The two most distinctive features of this wildflower are its leaves and its scent. The leaves are finely dissected into hair-like pointed segments and the scent of the leaves when crushed is just like pineapple. It is most commonly found, often as extensive patches, in farmyards, on pathways and waste places. It flowers from May through to November but the flowers are unusual and not particularly

Latin:  Lathyrus pratensis Irish:  Peasairín buí   This native species is a close relative of sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and can be found in many of the hedgerows and areas of unmown grass around the course (such as on the headlands of the large practice area). It is a straggling, slightly downy plant with narrow spear-shaped leaves that occur in pairs with branched or unbranched tendrils that allow the plant to climb up and be supported by neighbouring plants, etc..  Striking bright yellow flowers (12-15mm long), not