Two Pink Wildflowers for ID

jdoherty · #1 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 09:06 PM

The first photo was taken near Bangor, County Down, N.Ireland on 29th April 2007. The second pic was taken in Rea's Wood, beside Lough Neagh, N.Ireland on 21st April 2007. I'd appreciate an ID as well as knowing if they are wildflowers or garden escapees.

Thanks, John.

Tiggrx · #2 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 09:12 PM

1. Pink-sorrel (Oxalis articulata) - an alien from Argentina, quite a frequent garden escape and well established in some areas.
2. Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) - a native species!

JennyS · #3 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 09:15 PM

Hi John,
First is a garden escape, Pink-sorrel, Oxalis articulata. Second is a native: Cuckoo-flower / Lady's-smock, Cardamine pratensis

I'm sure there have been several threads posted with useful / favourite Wildflower identification book suggestions - if you're interested it might be worth getting a book or two

Tiggrx was quicker off the mark than me!

Jenny W · #4 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 09:16 PM

Hi

The first one is a Wood-Sorrell (Oxalis) sp. and the second one is Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis)

jdoherty · #5 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyS

Hi John,
First is a garden escape, Pink-sorrel, Oxalis articulata. Second is a native: Cuckoo-flower / Lady's-smock, Cardamine pratensis

I'm sure there have been several threads posted with useful / favourite Wildflower identification book suggestions - if you're interested it might be worth getting a book or two

Tiggrx was quicker off the mark than me!

I've spent a fortune on lots of books on all kinds of nature subjects and have at least 5 or 6 books on wildflowers but it sometimes doesn't make it any easier for me. For example if you look at a my post Two plants from N.Ireland two WAB members Tiggrx and Jenny have given two different IDs for each of the two plants. This doesn't do my confidence any good when I see how hard it is for others to agree. I do use the books when I get an ID and then find out more about that particular flower or plant. I'm now able to recognise lots more plants than I would ever have known in the past and all of this is through the help of WAB members.

John

Scarlet Pimpernel · #6 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 09:59 PM

Glad we could help John...some more than others clearly! It is nice to see the variety of plants you get from the Emerald Isle too.

Cheers Scar

JennyS · #7 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 10:02 PM

Fair comment, but if there are several possibilities posted as in the other thread you mention go with Tiggrx's IDs - he knows his plants!

And if I've been tactless to you or any other members it wasn't intended - I've got a stunning tendency to open my mouth and stick my foot in .....

jdoherty · #8 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 10:25 PM

Don't worry Jenny, you caused me no offence and I greatly value your knowledge and input. Books have indeed helped me identify many plants but they tend to be ones where they are fairly obvious or quite distinctive eg Butterbur. I do, however, look at books and see page after page of plants that look all too similar eg dandelions, thistles, pink flowers, blue flowers etc. I also take your point re Tiggrx. I'd be lost without him but I was just showing that others can see the same pic and come to a different conclusion. I suppose I just want to get the right ID as I don't yet fully trust myself when it comes to ID'ing plants from books. I do hope that people, at least, get some pleasure from viewing the photos that I post.

John

Lancashire Lad · #9 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdoherty

I....have at least 5 or 6 books on wildflowers but it sometimes doesn't make it any easier for me.... John

Tell me about it.

I know exactly how you feel.

Sometimes you see a plant in the field, photograph it - thinking you've got a good idea of what it might be, go home and compare your photo with the books and find out that you didn't have such a good idea after all.

So many plants need details of not only the flower, but basal leaves, upper leaves, stem attributes, etc. etc. not to mention the very small macroscopic (and even sometimes microscopic) details.

At least with the benefit of WAB's wealth of contributors, we have a good chance of sorting most of our ID queries out.

Regards
Mike.

KeenTeen17 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-04-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Tell me about it.

I know exactly how you feel.

Sometimes you see a plant in the field, photograph it - thinking you've got a good idea of what it might be, go home and compare your photo with the books and find out that you didn't have such a good idea after all.

So many plants need details of not only the flower, but basal leaves, upper leaves, stem attributes, etc. etc. not to mention the very small macroscopic (and even sometimes microscopic) details.

At least with the benefit of WAB's wealth of contributors, we have a good chance of sorting most of our ID queries out.

Regards
Mike.

some books don't even include some species like the garden escapes unless they have been recorded in Britain for a long time. The pink sorrel, skunk cabbage and other plants were only IDed on WAB

And to reflect Mikes words - wait until you get to the crucifers. the yellow ones all look the same and the leaves at the bottom are different to those further up the stem so the only way to ID is to either take lots of photos of the plant or take the book with you