Small white flower - Cut-leaved selfheal perhaps?

Pete Collins · #1 (**permalink**) 15-07-2007, 06:52 PM

I found this very tiny white flower on a chalky downland site (where there was plenty of the common type of Selfheal). Is it Cut-leaved selfheal perhaps? I'm a novice at wildflowers, so I could be completely wrong. That's the nearest match I can find looking in my books and a couple of web sites (couldn't find it in the WAB Gallery), and it's the correct habitat.

Thanks,

Pete

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 15-07-2007, 06:55 PM

Looks like a white sport of Selfheal, Prunella vulgaris, to me. I happened to see one today with normal coloured plants today by the main lake in Kew Gardens.

Jez · #3 (**permalink**) 15-07-2007, 07:01 PM

How lovely prunella vulgaris alba. never seen white selfheal before what a joy

AlanS · #4 (**permalink**) 15-07-2007, 07:04 PM

I agree with Aeshna5 - it is just a white-flowered plant of the ordinary Self-heal.

As the name suggests, Cut-leaved Self-heal has very different leaves.

Alan

Pete Collins · #5 (**permalink**) 15-07-2007, 07:26 PM

Thanks for all the replies. What a great site this is - I created this thread, popped downstairs to have my tea, came back and my question was answered already!

I did wonder about the leaves - my Francis Rose book mentioned Pinnate or Pinnatifid leaves (I had to look them up in the glossary!), which I couldn't see.

There was a 'normal' Sefheal next to this plant, it's just visible in another of my photos. There seemed to be 4 or 5 flowers of this white form, all within a few yards of each other. It was at the Barton Hills Nature Reserve, Barton-le-Clay, South Beds.

Thanks again,

Pete