Promoting & Enhancing The Natural Beauty of the Sid Valley
In 2018/19 the RSPB led a consultation on the future management of Firebeacon Hill near Sidmouth. The site has three compartments: The management plan that emerged from this process aims to create linked areas of lowland heath and wood pasture. This will increase biodiversityRead More
Leave a comment
I have never seen a Greater Celandine flowering in the countryside but I have often seen it in town. The photo here was taken down an alley in Honiton. A member of the poppy family with the typical four petalled flower and hairy stems,Read More
Leave a comment
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 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 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 Ficaria from Latin for “fig” from the appearance of the root tubers. Verna from Latin vernus meaning “spring-like”. Part of large genus “Ranunculus”, which has about 600 species including “Buttercup” and “Marsh Marigold”. I suspect that there was confusion naming this plant. It flowers before “Swallows”Read More
Leave a comment
The Sid Valley Biodiversity Group is carrying out a year-long survey of the valley’s herbaceous plants recording what is in flower each month. This is a citizen scientist project with volunteers from the group noting which flowers they see when out walking around theRead More
Leave a comment