Four for confirmation/ID please

Pete Collins · #1 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 05:10 PM

I spotted these four along the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes today. I think I know what two of them are, no idea about the others:

1

Skullcap?

2

Amphibious Bistort?

3

4

Thanks for your help!

Johnny81 · #2 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 05:14 PM

Skullcap
Amphibious bistort
Gypseywort
Trifid bur-marigold

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 05:15 PM

Agree with these.

Dorts · #4 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 05:51 PM

It's worth noting that the canals around London, especially the Grand Union, is the location for another Bur-marigold, Bidens connata (London Bur-marigold) which interestingly is not dis-similar to the plant Pete has shown.
Dorts.

treecreeper · #5 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorts

It's worth noting that the canals around London, especially the Grand Union, is the location for another Bur-marigold, Bidens connata (London Bur-marigold) which interestingly is not dis-similar to the plant Pete has shown.
Dorts.

I'd not heard of this plant but from the BSBI map it looks like it's been recorded in Cheshire.

BSBI Maps Scheme: Hectad Map

Must keep an eye open for it.

Pete Collins · #6 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 06:11 PM

Thank you all very much!

The only other time I've seen Skullcap before was a few miles further north along the same canal. I saw the amphibious bistort at Woodwalton Fen last year, the other two are new ones for me.

I also saw some Orange Balsam, having only seen it for the first time on the Thames at Henley a week or so ago.

Johnny81 · #7 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Thank you all very much!

The only other time I've seen Skullcap before was a few miles further north along the same canal. I saw the amphibious bistort at Woodwalton Fen last year, the other two are new ones for me.

I also saw some Orange Balsam, having only seen it for the first time on the Thames at Henley a week or so ago.

Orange balsam is now in quite some numbers in river/canal margins now - I found tons of it today whilst on a water vole survey in Northampton, should be quite a bit of it coming now in your area Pete, mind you amphibious bistort is a plant that seems to elude me!

Mele · #8 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 08:10 PM

I also saw orange balsam for the first time this week, when I went for a walk near In Focus (having just bought new bins) at Willows Farm, London Colney.
Nice selection of plants to find Pete

Mel

Pete Collins · #9 (**permalink**) 15-08-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny81

Orange balsam is now in quite some numbers in river/canal margins now - I found tons of it today whilst on a water vole survey in Northampton, should be quite a bit of it coming now in your area Pete, mind you amphibious bistort is a plant that seems to elude me!

I'll look out for Orange Balsam next time I do a walk along the Grand Union Canal around Tring or Hemel (or the Wendover or Aylesbury Arms). The amphibious bistort I saw today was on the stretch of canal near Great Linford, so not too far from Northamptonshire.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mele

I also saw orange balsam for the first time this week, when I went for a walk near In Focus (having just bought new bins) at Willows Farm, London Colney.
Nice selection of plants to find Pete

Mel

Thanks, Mel. As usual I was just out on a long walk, not specifically looking for wildflowers or other stuff, just occasionally noticing odd things. It was nice to see a few flowers that I don't see in the chalk hills where I normally walk.