Promoting & Enhancing The Natural Beauty of the Sid Valley
Selfheal: Botanical name…Prunella vulgaris “Prunella” originally “Brunella” (Latin meaning Brown) from“die braune” German for “the brown one”. Used in German mid 16th century for treatment of infectious, severe throat condition, associated with brown tongues. “vulgaris”…common. “Selfheal” is part of the mint family, although it hasRead More
Leave a comment Red Campion, Botanical name Silene dioica Silene derives from the Greek word “sialon”, which means saliva, in reference to the gummy substance the plant secretes. “Dioica” in Greek means “of two houses”. This refers to the plant having male and female flowers on separateRead More
Leave a comment Dandelion, Botanical name Taraxacum officiale Taraxacum probably comes from ancient Greek “taraxos” meaning “disorder”, and “akos” remedy. Officiale means, in this context, “from the pharmacy”. “Dandelion” comes from French “dent-de-lion”. Translates as “tooth of the lion” because of the toothed leaves. TheRead More
Leave a comment Botanical name…Heracleum sphondylium “Heracleum” origin unknown. Could be from Hercules, the hero of classic mythology known for his strength. “sphondylium” from Greek “spondylos”, meaning vertebrae, referring to shape of segmented stem. “Hogweed” is a BritishRead More
Leave a comment Meadowsweet Botanical name…Filipendula ulmaria Filium “thread”. Pendulus “hanging”. Refers to root tubers hanging off fibrous roots. Ulmaria “elmlike”, referring to the leaves which resemble “Elm” (ulmus) Old Botanical name…Spiraea ulmaria. (see later!) “Meadowsweet” is a member of the rose family, and growsRead More
Leave a comment Lady’s Smock Botanical name Cardamine pratensis Cardamine from Greek “kardamine” for “water cress”. “Karda” is Greek for “heart” (cf “carda”), and “damao” is Greek for “strengthen”. “pratensis” from Latin meaning “meadow”. It is part of the large genus “Brassica”, which makes it a relativeRead More
Leave a comment The Whirligig Beetle Family Gyrinidae The Lower Knapp pond has a good variety of life beneath the surface, but one the jewels can be seen on the surface. Formula one dodgem cars can be spotted on a sunny Spring day, like diamonds moving erraticallyRead More
Leave a comment Herb Robert Botanical name Geranium robertianum Geranium from Greek for “crane”. The fruit capsule can look like a crane’s head (ovary) and beak (elongated stigma). Robertianum from Latin “Robert”, plus a bit of grammar! This plant is a common, native member of the “Cranesbill” family.Read More
Leave a comment Ragwort Botanical name Jacobaea vulgaris Genus named after biblical patriarch Jacob. Vulgaris is Latin for common.Ragwort from “ragged leaves”. Wort from old English “wyrt” meaning “plant, root or herb”. The suffix “wort” was usually given to plants considered beneficial. Few plants can divide opinionRead More
Leave a comment In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, a group of bungalows were built on farm land named “Deane’s Meadow”. This land is adjacent to Station Road (B3176), just south of Alexandria Road. The development of “Deans Mead”, as it is now called, destroyed the footpath that historicallyRead More
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