The Flora of Castlewarden

Latin:  Ranunculus acris Irish:  Fearbán féir   A native perennial that grows in damp meadows and pastures.  It is erect (up to 70cm tall) and does not have runners.  The leaf blade, although deeply divided, has an almost circular outline.   The glossy yellow flowers are very familiar; they are 15-25mm across and have 5 petals.  Although Meadow Buttercup looks very similar to other buttercup species it can be distinguished from them by the fact that only Meadow Buttercup has a smooth, un-furrowed, pedicel (flower stalk).

Latin:  Prunella vulgaris Irish:  Duán ceannchosach   A grassland plant that is native to Ireland that can flourish in lawns and other grass areas that are regularly cut. It has a trailing growth habit and the only part of the plant that is readily visible in close-mown grass is its compact, cylindrical flower heads and small, deep violet flowers that appear during June-August. The leaves (20-35mm long) grow as opposite pairs on the stem. The flowers are small (5-10mm) and have 5 petals but the upper two

latin:  Primula veris Irish:  Bainne bó bleachtáin   This very familiar native wild flower is from the same genus as the Primrose (Primula vulgaris) and closely resembles it.  The most striking differences are that while the Primrose produces relatively large and solitary flowers, the Cowslip produces clusters of smaller flowers on the top of each stalk. Even before flowering it differs from Primrose.  Primrose leaves gradually taper at the base whereas Cowslip leaves are abruptly contracted at the base and have a distinct winged petiole. Hybrids

Latin:  Potentilla reptans Irish:  Cúig mhéar Mhuire   This is a native species that has long stems that creep along the ground sending up long-stalked leaves and single flowers at regular intervals and are a common sight on roadsides and in waste places. The leaves are nearly all palmate with 5 toothed leaflets. The flowers are bright yellow, 20-25mm across and have 5 petals.   It has had several uses in herbal medicine.  An infusion of the dried herb is used in the treatment of diarrhoea.  It

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