British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species. Paul Sterry

HEIGHT to 20cm

      Hairy perennial that sometimes forms clumps. Associated with dry, sandy soils. FLOWERS 18–20mm across, with 5 pink petals that show white basal spots and have toothed margins (June–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, rough-edged, grey-green. STATUS Widespread but extremely local.

      Deptford Pink

      Deptford Pink Dianthus armeria HEIGHT to 60cm

      Dark green, slightly hairy annual. Found in dry, grassy places, mainly on chalk or sandy soils. FLOWERS 9–13mm across, with reddish-pink petals that have toothed margins and pale spots; in clusters (June–Aug). Note the long bracts. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow. STATUS Scarce and local.

      Corncockle

      Corncockle Agrostemma githago HEIGHT to 70cm

      Distinctive, downy annual. Associated with arable fields. FLOWERS 30–45mm across, with 5 pinkish-purple petals and long, narrow and radiating sepals (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, grass-like. STATUS Formerly widespread and common but now extremely scarce and erratic because of agricultural herbicides.

       Annual Knawel

      Annual Knawel

      Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus HEIGHT to 10cm

      Yellowish-green annual. Associated with dry, bare soil and arable land. FLOWERS Comprising green, pointed sepals and no petals; in clustered heads (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, pointed; in opposite pairs along the wiry stems. STATUS Locally common throughout.

       See also Cheddar Pink, Childing Pink, Alpine Catchfly and Perennial Knawel

Buttercup Family Ranunculaceae

      Stinking Hellebore

      Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus HEIGHT to 75cm

      Robust, strong-smelling perennial of woodland on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Green with purple margins, 15–30mm across, bell-shaped; in clusters (Jan–May). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVES Divided into toothed lobes; lower ones persist through winter. STATUS Local and restricted to central and S England and Wales.

      Burbidge, Brinsley

      Green Hellebore

      Green Hellebore Helleborus viridis HEIGHT to 60cm

      Scentless perennial of woodland on calcareous soils. FLOWERS Green (including the margins) with pointed sepals but no petals; in clusters (Feb–Apr). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVES Divided into bright green, elongate lobes; not evergreen. STATUS Local and scarce, in central and S England and Wales.

      Winter Aconite

      Winter Aconite Eranthis hyemalis HEIGHT to 10cm

      Attractive perennial that sometimes forms carpets on woodland floors. FLOWERS 12–15mm across, with 6 yellow sepals; on upright stems, above the leaves (Jan–Apr). FRUITS Dry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVES Spreading (3 per stem) and each divided into 3 lobes. STATUS Introduced but widely naturalised.

      Love-in-a-mist

      Love-in-a-mist Nigella damascena HEIGHT to 40cm

      Upright, hairless annual, associated with disturbed ground and roadside verges. FLOWERS Comprising 5 petal-like blue sepals; solitary and terminal (June–July). FRUITS Inflated capsules. LEAVES Divided into narrow segments and arranged as a ruff below the flowers. STATUS Widely cultivated and sometimes naturalised briefly.

      Marsh-marigold

      Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris HEIGHT to 25cm

      Widespread perennial with stout, hollow stems. Found in damp woodland, marshes and wet meadows. FLOWERS Yellow, 25–30mm across, with 5 petal-like sepals but no petals (Mar–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Kidney-shaped, shiny, up to 10cm across. STATUS Widespread and locally common, but range is contracting.

      Globeflower

      Globeflower