Coltsfoot
(Tussilago farfara)

Description: One of our earliest flowering plants in open areas. Flower resembles that of Dandelion, but Coltsfoot has distinctive, scaly flower stalks.

Habitat: Open, sunny areas such as old fields, roadside.

Height: 10 cm

Flowering: March - April

Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale)

Description: The bright yellow flower quickly transforms to the familiar fluffy "ball" of seeds which disperse in the slightest breeze. Introduced from Europe, it readily colonizes open, disturbed habitats.

Habitat: Open, disturbed land, especially mowed areas.

Height: 20 cm

Flowering: April - September

Meadow Goat's-beard
(Tragopodon pratensis)

Description: Looks like a giant dandelion, but closer inspection reveals sheath-like leaves up the stem, rather than a basal rosette. Flowers orient towards the sun and follow it, before closing in the afternoon.

Habitat: Open, sunny areas such as old meadows, roadsides.

Height: 1 m

Flowering: June - July

Fringed Loosestrife
(Lysimachia ciliata)

Description:

Habitat: Woodland, especially moist areas and swamps.

Height: 1 m

Flowering: July

Agrimony
(Agrimonia sp.)

Description: Flowers are tiny, yellow and arranged along a delicate stem. Leaves are large, and with coarsely-toothed margins. Hairy stem is sticky from resin secreted from glands. Fruit is an achene which is bristly and sticks to passing animals. There a a number of closely related species here and identification of each is tricky. Perennial.

Habitat: Woodland, especially edge.

Height: 1.5 m

Flowering: July