When is it a wild flower?

[htcdude]

Probably been asked hundreds of times sorry, but I'm more and more looking out for flowers when I'm out now as well as fauna. How do I know whether something is a wild flower or native, or a non-native/garden escapee? Is there a definitive list I can reference what I find to?

For example there's a small patch a few metres from my garden that has things like Oxford Ragwort, Greater Celandine, Green Alkanet, White Dead-nettle growing, but also has a couple of random poppy species and some Purple Toadflax. I dunno what's wild and what's not!



EDIT: Also sorry, if I want to make a list of what I've seen, which system to people use? By order, family, genus??

Thanks,

Nige

[leifus]

I'm not sure what the definition of wild is, but it's probably something that isn't under control? So your patch of flowers are all wild, but not all native (like your purple toadflax).

Unfortunately I don't think there is a list of species that are native and which are not and which are introduced from cultivation, I find that after a while you get to know which is which

[htcdude]

So if I was to compile a UK list, I would include things like the Purple Toadflax? I forgot there's also things like hybrid Bluebells, would I include them?

Thanks,

Nige

[Hedera]

I think families is a good way to start, then you get to recognise the characteristics of each. Most guides and keys tell you if it is an introduced or native plant, hybrid etc. Have a sub-division for these in your list.

[Dorts]

'Wild' simply means, 'not under cultivation'. However, as has been said, 'wild' doesn't necessarily mean 'native'.
There are books/lists of our alien and adventive flora (which are usually out of date no sooner they are published), such as : Alphabetical Tally-list of Alien and Adventive Plants Found in the British Isles by E.J. Clement and M.C. Foster, who are very active in this field.

Many modern flora's, but not all, clearly state if a plant is native or not. The number of alien plants recorded in Britain is very large, though many species disappear as quickly as they appear.

Non-natives could I suppose be split into various groups, such as 'garden escapes', 'bird-seed aliens', 'deliberate introductions', 'shoddy-weeds/wool aliens' etc.

You could also make a list of long established non-natives which have become an ever-present part of our flora.

I think it is a case of 'the choice is yours'.

As for making list's, keep it simple, such as English name and Latin name, listed in Family groups.
Dorts.