ID flower using 'Wild Flower Key' by Francis Rose

[rscott74]

I've just purchased Francis Rose 'Wild Flower Key' hoping it would help with IDs and that I wouldn't need to ask so many questions on the forum. Try as I might I haven't suceeded (yet).
The images below were taken in early Sept. I've tried working through the keys but can't arrive at any sensible conclusion. Can anyone give an ID and an indication of the 'key' steps using the general or vegative keys in the book(the latter I would suggest is roadside/waste land).
Given my level of ignorance (high) and ability (low) is there another reference book, that I could use alongside Rose, indicating more basic features.
Thanks.

[agrumpycow]

Hi
I can't give you any help with the book but the plant is Nipplewort Lapsana communis

[jennyb]

I have to say that I am pleased that someone else has trouble with the Francis Rose "Key" book. Maybe I am just thick but I don't understand it at all.

However, yes, without using Rose, I agree with AGC, your flower is Nipplewort.

Jenny

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by jennyb

I have to say that I am pleased that someone else has trouble with the Francis Rose "Key" book. Maybe I am just thick but I don't understand it at all.

However, yes, without using Rose, I agree with AGC, your flower is Nipplewort.

Jenny

I struggle with "The Wild Flower key", too. I think it's a bit too complicated if, like me, you just have a fairly general interest in wildflowers (or maybe I'm just thick, too!). It's obviously intended for people who take the subject fairly seriously, and are willing to take the time to examine plants in great detail in order to identify them correctly. To be fair, obviously that is the only way to identify some species (other than making use of the kind experts here on WAB!).

Also, I think some of the drawings in the book are dreadful, for example the colour for the flowers of Musk Mallow seems completely wrong to me - as the text says, it should be rose-pink, the drawing makes it more purplish than Common Mallow! (To be fair, most of the drawings are very good, but I think a few are completely misleading).

[rscott74]

Thanks jenny & Peter. Wild Flower Key was recommended on this forum and seems to be held in high regard. I'll perservere because there is no alternative and I've also forked out £20+ for a 8x/15x magnifier!
It would be helpful if someone could respond on the key steps and/or a simpler ID book..
I wonder how I and others like me would manage without the forum and I may be posting A few ID questions.

[rscott74]

I've used the WFK to work this out

Daisy family
1 florets all strap shaped (like dandelion) yellow or blue - stems with milky latex when cut (go to ) A

A1 flowers yellow or orange (go to) A4
A4 pappus absent on fruit - nipplewort

One would need to cut the stem and see the plant at both flowering and fruiting stages. The first seems an improbable test and the second may not be possible. I'm I missing something or is WFK useless at indentifying nipplewort?

[JennyS]

I find the keys difficult too, most of my ids have to be done from photographs when I get home and I'm usually missing the vital shots of necessary id bits!

The other trouble is for the keys to work properly both flowers and fruit are needed - ok if its a plant you can check at different stages but not good if its a plant found once and not returnable to.....

I'd be totally stumped without this forum and am incredibly thankful for the help and id's given.

[rscott74]

Apologies, at least in part, to WFK suppporters. I was raking through the images I still need to indentify and found this of what I assume is nipplewort. It does show both flowers and fruit with pappus absent.
I think I have learned that more pics and detailed observations need to be made - roll on next years flowers!
I also echo JennyS' comments particularly regarding the forum

[PeteTheBloke]

Apologies for bumping an aged thread, but I was interested to see the
reference to Francis Rose's book and I had to smile at rscott74's
exasperation...

A4 pappus absent on fruit - nipplewort

I've learnt the little I know about wildflowers from this book and I think the
most valuable thing it's taught me is families. More than half the time
now, I can go to the correct family and start my keying from there -
sometimes resorting to flicking through the pictures.

Taking photos and confirming your ID on return to base makes perfect sense,
especially when books like Keble Martin's can give such good visual clues.

[Fritillary]

reviving this old discussion, I 've just looked at this book in a library. I found it interesting and probably I will buy one.
I see some people are frustrated by keys. Yes it is "easier" compare by a photo however like that we dont know more about the family and the other possible species related to.

Although using keys imply to have some knowledge of plants anatomy which might be boring for people that only want the scientific name

[metalfish]

Fraid I use the flick method with Francis Rose, in general the art work is very good, but yes there are always variations. I find id books with photos in really hard to use because you can't see all the parts you need to whereas with a drawing the artist can get all the relevent bits in.
Similarly id'ing from a photo is also hard, I find writting a brief description as well makes all the difference.
You've just got to find a book you are comfortable with, some of the ones that divide plants up by colour rather than family can be really good, especially to someone who is just curious rather than wanting to be scientific about it all.
And there is always the WABers for when your stuck, it's what we all like doing