Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme 2016 Pilot
Grasslands Help track changes in Ireland’s Flora
Learn plant identification and help track changes in Ireland’s Flora Introduction
What is it? The Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme has been developed so that we can better understand our environment and track changes in Ireland’s Flora. The scheme sets out to encourage, support and co-ordinate volunteers interested in botanical recording. It is also a fantastic learning experience, especially for beginners as you will be provided with ID guides, a structured way to record and a learning support system.
Why should I take part? By taking part in the Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme you will be contributing to a national recording scheme, which will go on to help track changes in Ireland’s Flora. There is ample opportunity for you to upskill and learn more about plants, particularly if you are a beginner to botany. There is also a great opportunity for volunteers who are already familiar with wildflowers to learn new groups (grasses, sedges, etc.). The scheme enables you to claim a 1km² site to record within, there is potential for you to track changes (species, habitats, threats, etc.) in these sites into the future. This is particularly useful if you already regularly record at the site but aren’t making comprehensive lists of species, habitat type or potential threats. Methodology
The entire scheme is managed using an online system at: (https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie) This site allows you claim your survey site and is where you will submit your data.
• Request 1km² site using online system (https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie)
• You can choose between a Priority site, Additional site or your own Elected site. • Priority Site – 40 sites which need to be covered for the survey, if there is one near you or you feel that you want to take on a priority site, that would be great! • Additional Site – Find sites which are local to you, with so many sites across the country you’re likely to find one which isn’t too far away. • Elected Site – If you would like to add a site, please get in touch and we will add the 1km² to the online system.
• Make sure to get landowners permission before you start your survey.
• Visit your chosen grassland site and take note of habitats and any other interesting features (geographical, archaeological, etc.).
• A minimum of two plots should be carried out, if you feel that your site is extremely diverse then up to five plots can be carried out.
• The plots should be a representative sample of the site you are studying. This will involve walking the area beforehand and then placing your plot in an area that you feel best represents the entire grassland. For example if the majority of your site includes grasses while only a very small amount contains wildflowers, do not complete all plots within the wildflower area, as it would not be representative of the entire area. While it may be difficult, try to be impartial and only use the results you have gained from walking around your site to influence your plot positioning.
• Try and keep your plot away from heavily shaded treelines and walls as this will give skewed results. It is also important not to pick the area that looks the most or least interesting, being unbiased, impartial and using only the information you have gained from your initial assessment of the overall site. Methodology
• Mark out a 2x2m plot – record all species found within (use identification guides to assist in the identification of plant species. You may come across certain species which are difficult to identify, use this booklet or other publications for help. If you can not work out what the species is then it is good to take detailed pictures of the plant (flower, leaves, overall form and any other distinctive features). Again, while high quality, detailed pictures are best, as long as the picture is clear and the features in focus (not blurry) then it should still be possible to get an identification.
• While completing your plots and identifying species you should also assess the percentage cover of the plants present within your plot.
• Any additional information or pictures relating to your site or plots (potential threats, land use and signs of management, etc.) are also very useful.
Map Examples
A copy of the site map (above) and the a user created site map (below). Plots 2m
2m 2m
2m
2X2m marked out with rope.
Examples of marked out plots, all are ready to record in. The easiest way to mark out your plot is to use some rope/cord/tape and pegs. It’s much easier to pre-mark your cord before doing your site visit or to bring measuring tape. Recording Species
This booklet aims to aid the identification of plants found during the recording season of the Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme. The plants below where chosen due to the likelihood that you would come across them on this survey, the basis for this choice is the Irish Semi-natural Grassland Survey 2007-2012.
Some species and families are particularly difficult to identify, so we have developed online ID Guides for these tricky groups. If you see ID Guide beside your species you can find more detailed identification help. These can be accessed at – http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/projects/vascular-plants/plant-monitoring- scheme/resources/
There are also guides for grasses, sedges, rushes and other trickier groups online at the above site.
- More likely to be found in a wet grassland.
- More likely to be found in a dry grassland .
Throughout this booklet the structure is – Common Name (Scientific name) (Flowering period) Irish Name Family Name
Flowering period is displayed using numbers: 1 = January 12 = December So a flowering period between May and July would be (5-7).
If you have never taken part or completed a survey like this, it can be useful to have a systematic approach to recording, especially if your are in an incredibly diverse site, as the number of species may appear daunting.
• Record wildflowers first – you can make this recording more systematic by choosing to record by colour, taking blue flowers first, then purple, pink, white etc.. This will allow you maximise the usefulness of this booklet as this is also the order that species are displayed.
• Record grasses/sedges/rushes – After recording the wildflowers that you know, it is best to move on to a slightly trickier group. There are online guides to help with grasses, sedges and rushes.
• Take photographs - If you can not identify the species, be sure to take multiple photos. Be sure to get a picture of the flower, leaves, overall form and any other features which you feel may be useful to the identification. Try to get your photos clear and in focus and take lots from many different angles, the defining feature of the species may not be visible in a top-down picture. Take notes along with your photos, in particular height, the more information you give the better the chances are to get a correct identification. [ Pictures can be sent to [email protected] ]
• Take samples - If you can not identify the species, you can take a sample back with you, in order to use a more comprehensive guide or key. If you take a sample (you will need to take the entire plant with you, be sure to pull the plant up and take basal leaves also) and still can not find the species be sure to safely store, so that you can show the species to a determiner at a later date. Only take a sample if there is a good population of the species growing in the location. Leaf Plate
Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy Trifoliate Heart-Shaped & Glossy
Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy Lanceolate Pinnate Trifoliate & Toothed Hairy & lobed
Petals
Stem Stem Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy Structure of a flower Structure of a flower
Useful ID Guides
• Wildflowers of Ireland – A Field Guide – Zoe Devlin • The Wildflower Key – Francis Rose • An Irish Flora – John Parnell and Tom Curtis • Biodiversity Ireland Grass Guide – Úna Fitzpatrick, Lynda Weekes & Mark Wright Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) (5-9) Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) (5-7) Lochall Veronicaceae ID Guide Lus cré talún Veronicaceae ID Guide
• Creeping plant. • Low growing and hairy • Blue flower growing in plant. pairs of spikes. • Flowers are blue and • Leaves opposite, main stem has distinctive fleshy and hairless fringe of hairs. Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin Oisín Duffy • Leaves opposite, oval and Up to 30cm Up to 20cm toothed. Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) (5-8) Marsh Speedwell (Veronica scutellata) (6-8) Lus cré Veronicaceae ID Guide Lus cré corraigh Veronicaceae ID Guide
• Small, upright plant • Creeping plant. forming a narrowing • Pale blue (sometimes white) spike. flowers on the end of weak, • Flowers pale blue to fragile looking stems. lilac. • Leaves opposite unstalked, Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin Oisín Duffy • Leaves opposite, hairy, lanceolate. Up to 10cm oval and toothed. Up to 20cm Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) (4-10) Wood Speedwell (Veronica montana) (4-7) Lus an treacha Veronicaceae ID Guide Lus cre coille Veronicaceae ID Guide
• Dainty, creeping • Small, upright plant. plant. • Flowers are blue and white and • Lilac flowers with form loose spikes around the stems which are stem. hairy on all sides. • Leaves oval, glossy and slightly Oisín Duffy • Leaves, opposite toothed. Zoe Devlin Up to 20cm Up to 20cm oval and toothed. Tufted Forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa) (5-10) Water Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) (5-10) Ceotharnach beag Boraginaceae ID Guide Ceotharnach uisce Boraginaceae ID Guide • • Upright plant. Plant with creeping • Small bright blue runners. • flowers, with One of the larger forget- flattened hairs on me-not flowers, stems the stem. with flattened hairs. • Leaves alternate, Zoe Devlin • Leaves lanceolate and hairy. Oisín Duffy untoothed with pointed Up to 35cm Up to 50cm tips.
Creeping Forget-me-not (Myosotis secunda) (5-8) Changing Forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor) (5-9) Ceotharnach reatha Boraginaceae ID Guide Lus mínola buí Boraginaceae ID Guide
• Small, creeping plant. • A small, hairy plant. • Blue flowers are • Flowers change colour clustered together. during its development • Leaves oblong, (cream – blue). broader at the top and • Leaves hairy and Zoe Devlin tapering gently at Zoe Devlin oblong. Up to 12cm base. Up to 20cm Bugle (Ajuga reptans) (5-6) Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) (6-8) Glasair choille Lamiaceae Duán ceannchosach Lamiaceae
• A small, upright plant. • A small, upright plant, • Blue flowers are in spikes • Purple tubular flowers around a square stem. in cylindrical whorls. • Leaves on stem ovate, • Leaves oval and paired. sometimes shiny green or Oisín Duffy bronze in colour. Oisín Duffy Up to 30cm Up to 20cm Devil’s-Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) (6-10) Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) (7-9) Odharch bhallach Dipsacaceae Méaracán gorm Campanulaceae
• Upright plant • Upright plant • Purple domed head with • Drooping blue, bell pink stamens protruding. shaped flower. • Leaves oval-lanceolate and • Leaves at base are opposite and with dark heart-shaped with Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy spots. FP of Marsh Fritillary rounded teeth. Up to 75cm Up to 40cm Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) (5-9) Heath Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia) (5-9) Lus an bhainne Polygalaceae Na deirfiúríní Polygalaceae
• Small, straggly plant. • Small, straggly plant. • Flowers variable (purple, • Flowers generally blue, pink, white). blue. • Leaves alternate, with the • Lowers leaves lower leaves shorter and opposite. Oisín Duffy broader. Zoe Devlin Up to 30cm Up to 20cm Common Dog-Violet (Violla riviniana) (4-6) Marsh Violet (Viola palustirs) (4-7) Fanaigse Violaceae ID Guide Sailchuach chorraigh Violaceae ID Guide • Solitary blue-purple flowers with darker • Solitary pale lilac veins on lower middle flowers with lip. darker veins on • Pale notched spur lower middle lip. behind the petals. • Leaves heart- • Leaves heart-shaped shaped and Oisín Duffy and glossy green. Zoe Devlin glossy green. Up to 12cm Up to 15cm
Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) (4-10) Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) (6-8) Peasair fhiáin Fabaceae Peasair na luch Fabaceae
• Creeping plant with purplish • A straggly climber with a pea flowers in small groups. distinctive long, one-sided • Leaves pinnate and individual cluster of purple pea flowers. leaflets are oval to lanceolate in • Leaves pinnate and end in shape. 5-7 pairs of leaflets long, green tendrils which are • Tendrils are also used by this used for climbing and OisínOisín Duffy Duffy support. 8-12 pairs of leaflets Up to 1m plant for support and climbing. Oisín Duffy Up to 2m Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum) (6-8) Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) (6-10) Feochadán móna Asteraceae Mínscoth Asteraceae • Tall, upright plant. • Tall, upright plant. • Flower a large pink-purple • Flower a large pink-purple dome on stems which are dome underneath dark not prickly. scale like bracts. • Leaves mostly found at the • Leaves oblong. base of the plant, with slight Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy • Plant is not prickly. Up to 75cm prickles on edge. Up to 1m Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense) (6-9) Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre) (6-8) Feochadán reatha Asteraceae Feochadán corraigh Asteraceae
• Tall, slender plant. • Lilac flowers in a • Tall, robust, prickly plant. domed formation with • Deep purple clustered, darker bracts stalkless flowers. underneath. • Leaves very prickly at • Leaves very prickly at margins and form basal Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin rosette. Up to 1m Zoe Devlin the edges. Up to 1.5m Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) (7-10) Heather (Calluna vulgaris) (7-10) Feochadán colgach Asteraceae Fraoch mór Ericaceae
• Tall, robust plant. • Upright bushy shrub. • Flowers spreading to a • Flowers are bell-shaped domed shape with many and pink in colour. prickly bracts beneath. • Leaves small, opposite • Leaves prickly, wavy, and generally heavily divided and form overlapping. Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin Up to 1m large basal rosette. Up to 80cm Bell Heather (Erica cineria) (6-9) Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) (5-9) Fraoch Cloigíneach Ericaceae Fraoch naoscaí Ericacaea
• Upright sometimes • Upright, bushy shrub. staggly, bushy shrub. • Flowers are urn • Flowers are urn shaped and pink in shaped and bright colour. purple-pink in colour. • Leaves small, needle • Leaves small, needle Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin like and in whorls of like and in whorls of four. Up to 50cm three. Up to 50cm
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) (6-9) Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) (6-8) Créachtach Lythraceae Lus mór Veronicaceae
• Upright, showy plant. • Tall, upright, slender plant. • Many pink-purple flowers • Flowers are pink-purple, tubular in whorls around the and arranged in a terminal stem. spike. • Leaves, opposite or in • Intricate white lace like mottling whorls of three, stalkless inside flowers. • Leaves alternative and oval Zoe Devlin and lanceolate. Oisín Duffy Up to 1.5m Up to 1.5m lanceolate. Early -purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) (4-6) Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) (4-10) Magairlín meidhreach Orchidaceae Ruithéal rí Geraniaceae • Upright distinctive orchid. • Straggling plant. • Flowers pink/purple in • Five petalled pink flowers spikes. on long creeping stems. • Spur is turned up. • Distinctive orange anthers. • Leaves oblong and can be • Leaves can be 3-5 times lobed, hairy and often Oisín Duffy very heavily spotted. Oisín Duffy Up to 40cm Up to 40cm tinged red. Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) (7-8) Hoary Willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum) (7-9) Lus na Tríonóide Onagraceae ID Guide Saileachán liath Onagraceae ID Guide
• Upright plant. • Upright plant. • Flowers are pink in • Soft hairs cover the stem colour with a deeply which can give a woolly lobed 4-sided stigma. appearance. Zoe Devlin • Leaves opposite, oval, • Flowers are pink in colour. Zoe Devlin stalkless and clasping at Up to 75cm • Leaves oblong-lanceolate Up to 180cm stem. stalkless.
Short-fruited Willowherb (Epilobium obscurum) (7-8) Marsh Willowherb (Epilobium palustre) (7-8) Saileachán caol Onagraceae ID Guide Saileachán corraigh Onagraceae ID Guide
• Upright plant. Zoe Devlin • Upright but drooping • Flowers pale pink. Stem plant. with ridges. • Flowers are pink with a • Leaves opposite, cylindrical stem without oblong-lanceolate ridges. Zoe Devlin hairless and stalkless • Leaves linear- Up to 80cm some may be alternate. Up to 60cm lanceolate.
Water-pepper (Persicaria hydropiper) (7-9) Redshank (Persicaria maculosa) (6-10) Biorphiobar Polygonaceae Glúineach dhearg Polygonaceae • Upright, but can often be • Upright plant. straggly. • Flowers small, pale pink • Pale pink flowers are clustered and arranged around together in a short dense the stem. spikes. • Leaves lanceolate and • Leaves oval-lanceolate, on very short stalks. Oisín Duffy generally with a dark blotches, Zoe Devlin • Strong peppery taste. Up to 80cm Up to 70cm short stalks. Thrift (Ameria maritima) (4-7) Common Valerian (Lythrum salicaria) (6-9) Rabhán Plumbaginaceae Caorthann corraigh Valerianaceae
• Erect, cushion • Upright plant. forming plant. • Pale pink flowers in a • Pale pink flower are domed cluster. in terminal clusters. • Leaves opposite, • Leaves grass like pinnate with toothed Zoe Devlin and at base of the Zoe Devlin leaflets. Up to 30cm plant. Up to 70cm Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella) (6-8) Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) (6-9) Falcaire corraigh Primulaceae Dréimire Mhuire Gentianaceae
• Creeping fragile looking plant. • Upright plant. • Pink flowers are small and bell • 5-petalled pink flowers in shaped. terminal clusters. • Leaves oval, almost round in • Leaves oval, with basal Oisín Duffy opposite pairs which trail with Oisín Duffy leaves being broader Up to 5cm the stem along the ground. Up to 50cm than upper leaves.
Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus) (6-9) Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica) (4-7) Hocus tae Orobanchaceae Lus an ghiolla Orobanchaceae • Upright, hemiparasitic • Relatively low plant. growing • Flowers are a long bell hemiparasitic plant. shape and pink-red in • Distinctive hooded colour. pink flowers. • Leaves opposite, • Leaves alternate, deeply pinnate with Oisín Duffy narrow, toothed and Zoe Devlin Up to 50cm Oisín Duffy stalkless. Up to 20cm lobed segments. Ragged Robin (Silene flos-cuculi) (5-8) Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) (7-9) Lus síoda Caryophyllaceae Mismín mionsach Lamiaceae
• Upright plant. • Upright plant. • Distinctive pink, ragged • Cylindrical clusters of pink- looking flowers. lilac flowers. • Leaves opposite, those at • Leaves oval, toothed, hairy base oval and stalked, and stalked. those on stem lanceolate • Strong smell of mint when Zoe Devlin and unstalked. Oisín Duffy Up to 70cm Up to 90cm crushed. Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus) (6-9) Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) (5-10) Tím chreige Lamiaceae Seamair dhearg Fabaceae
• Creeping aromatic plant. • Straggling plant. • Pink-purple flowers. • Dense cluster of • Leaves oval, untoothed reddish-pink pea and hairy. Plant smells flowers. like thyme when • Leaves hairy and Zoe Devlin crushed. Oisín Duffy divided into three Up to 8cm Up to 40cm smaller leaflets. Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) (5-8) Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) (5-8) Nuacth bhallach Orchidaceae ID Guide Na circíní Orchidaceae ID Guide
• Upright distinctive orchid. • Upright distinctive orchid. • Flowers in a pyramidal spike, • Flowers in a pyramidal spike, pinkish-lilac (variable). pinkish-lilac (highly variable). • Middle lobe in flowers in • Middle lobe in flowers is shorter longer than side lobes. than the side lobes, giving a • Leaves lanceolate with dark frilly, dress like appearance. oblong spots. • Leaves lanceolate with dark Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy circular spots. Up to 60cm Up to 75cm Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) (6-11) Sneezewort (Achillea ptmarica) (7-9) Athair thalún Asteraceae Lus corráin Asteraceae • Upright, aromatic plant. • Upright hariless plant. • Flowers white, • Flowers white in sometimes pink in loose clusters. clusters almost • Leaves stalkless, umbelled. Oisín Duffy toothed at the • Oisín Duffy Leaves hairy and margins. Up to 50cm pinnate. Up to 60cm Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) (6-9) Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) (6-9) Feabhrán Apiaceae ID Guide Mealbhacán Apiaceae ID Guide
• Tall, upright plant. • Upright plant. • Numerous creamy • Numerous white- white flowers in pink flowers which large umbels. form umbels and • Robust and later a large grooved stem globular head. Oisín Duffy • Leaves lobed and Oisín Duffy • Leaves heavily Up to 100cm Up to 150cm hairy. pinnatified. Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) (7-9) Pignut (Conopodium majus) (5-6) Gallfheabhrán Apiaceae ID Guide Cúlarán Apiaceae ID Guide
• Upright, robust almost • Upright, dainty hairless hairless plant. plant. • Distinctive creamy white • Small white flowers in flowers in umbels. umbels. • Stem purplish in colour • Stems smooth and hollow. and grooved. • Leaves heavily pinnate and Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin • Leaves large, pinnate and narrow. Up to 200cm toothed. Up to 50cm Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum) (5-9) Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) (6-9) Lus na mban sí Linaceae Airgead luachra Rosaceae
• Small, slender upright • Tall, upright aromatic plant. plant. • Flowers are five petalled • Cluster of creamy flowers and veined. on distinctive red stems. • Leaves narrow oval in • Leaves pinnate, being shape and opposite. Oisín Duffy dark green on top and Oisín Duffy pale underneath. Up to 25cm Up to 120cm Daisy (Bellis perennis) (3-10) Ox Eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) (5-9) Nóinín Asteraceae Nóinín Asteraceae • Tall, upright plant. • Upright and very distinctive • Yellow disc florets flower. surrounded by • Yellow disc florets surrounded numerous white ray by numerous white ray florets. florets. • Similar in appearance • Leaves spoon-shaped and Mairéad Crawford Up to 60cm to a daisy only much Oisín Duffy grow in a basal rosette. Up to 10cm larger. Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) (1-12) Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea) (5-8) Fliodh Caryophyllaceae ID Guide Tursarraing chorraigh Caryophyllaceae ID Guide
• Small, straggling plant. • Dainty, hairless plant. • Flowers are white with • White flowers, with deeply notched petals. petals divided nearly to • Leaves oval, opposite the base. and pale green. • Leaves linear-lanceolate Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin and stalkless. Up to 30cm Up to 50cm Bog Stitchwort (Stellaria alsine) (5-8) Common Mouse-ear (Cerastiam fontanum) (4-11) Tursarraing mhóna Caryophyllaceae ID Guide Cluas luchóige mhara Caryophyllaceae ID Guide • Upright plant which is • Very small, hairless and hairy but not sticky. straggling plant. • Flowers are small and • Flowers are white with white. divided petals and are • Leaves oblong and smaller than the sepals. opposite. Zoe Devlin • Leaves oval-lanceolate • Petals roughly the Up to 25cm and stalkless. Zoe Devlin Up to 30cm same length as sepals. Common Marsh-bedstraw (Galium palustre) (6-8) Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile) (6-8) Rú corraigh Rubiaceae ID Guide Luibh na bhfear gonta Rubiaceae ID Guide • Dainty, straggling plant. • Mat forming plant with • White flowers with four petals in white four petalled flowers. a relaxed group. • Leaves lanceolate and • Leaves lanceolate and whorled whorled around the stem. around the rough stem. • It has small recurved • It has small recurved prickles, prickles, which it can use to which it can use to attach to Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin attach to vegetation (and Up to 50cm vegetation (and clothes). Up to 30cm clothes). Cleavers (Galium aparine) (5-9) Wavy Bitter-cress (Cardamine flexuosa) (3-9) Garbhlus Rubiaceae ID Guide Searbh-bhiolar casta Brassicaceae ID Guide • Small, scrambling plant with • Small upright plant tiny white flowers on square with small white stems. flowers with six • It has small recurved prickles, stamens. which it can use to attach to • Stem wavy and hairy at vegetation (and clothes). base. Oisín Duffy • Leaves lanceolate and Zoe Devlin • Leaves divided and Up to 100cm whorled around the stem. Up to 50cm rounded at tips.
Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) (4-6) Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) (6-9) Biolar gréagháin Brassicaceae Ialus mór Convolvulaceae
• Upright, hairless plant. • Climbing, hairless • Flowers are four petalled and plant. range from lilac to white. • Large white bell- • Leaves narrow, lanceolate shaped flowers. and toothed while basal • Leaves broad but Oisín Duffy leaves are more rounded. triangular. • Calyx not inflated and FP of Orange-tip Zoe Devlin Up to 50cm Up to 300cm do no overlap. Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) (7-9) Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) (4-7) Fionnscoth Parnassiaceae Báchrán Menyanthaceae
• Upright, hairless and • Aquatic plant with very distinctive plant. distinctive white (pinkish) • Flowers are white, with flowers in a tall spike. veined petals. • Stems can be submerged • Leaves heart-shaped or floating. Oisín Duffy and untoothed. Oisín Duffy • Leaves trifoliate and oval. Up to 30cm Up to 15cm Mountains Everlasting (Antenaria diocia) (6-7) Eyebright (Euphrasia sp.) (5-9) Catluibh Asteraceae Glanrosc Orobanchaceae • Small, upright hemiparisitic • Small, upright plant. plant. • Flowers white (can also be • Flowers arranged in terminal pinkish) forming a cluster at spikes, white to lilac, with the end of a woolly stem. yellow and purple markings. • Leaves oval, green above • Many species grouped and white and silky below. Oisín Duffy together due to difficult Oisín Duffy identification. Up to 20cm Up to 25cm Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis) (4-7) White clover (Trifolium repens) (5-9) Sú talún bréige Rosaceae Seamair bhán Fabaceae • Creeping plant. • Straggling plant with a • Flowers distinctive in that they dense cluster of whitish have noticeable gaps between pea flowers. petals. • Leaves not hairy and • Leaves trifoliate, toothed with divided into three soft hairs. smaller leaflets with a Zoe Devlin • Terminal tooth on middle leaflet Oisín Duffy toothed margin. Up to 15cm is smaller than side teeth Up to 30cm Yellow Flag (Iris psuedacorus) (6-8) Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum) (5-8) Feileastram Iridaceae Lus Cholm Cille Primulaceae
Oisín Duffy • Tall, upright distinctive • Dainty plant with 5 plant with large yellow yellow petals on flowers with dark veins on creeping stems. lower drooping petals. • Leaves heart-shaped • Leaves relatively pale, with a pointed tip. large and lanceolate. Oisín Duffy Up to 100cm Up to 40cm Primrose (Primula vulgaris) (3-5) Cowslip (Primula veris) (4-5) Sabhaircín Primulace Bainne bó bleachtáin Primulaceae
• Distinctive flowers with five • Upright plant with a notched petals. one sided cluster of • Cream colour surrounds a distinctive yellow much darker yellow centre flowers on a robust, of the plant. hairy stalk. • Leaves large and fissured or • Leaves oval, wrinkled Zoe Devlin wrinkled in appearance Zoe Devlin Up to 20cm Up to 25cm and hairy. Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) (5-9) Trailing Tormentil (Potentilla anglica) (5-9) Néalfartach Rosaceae ID Guide Néalfartach shraoilleach Rosaceae ID Guide
• Small creeping plant with yellow • Small creeping plant with four petalled flowers. stems rooting at tips. • Plant is hairy and forms patches. • Flowers yellow with • Leaves generally trifoliate and either four or five petals toothed. Zoe Devlin • Leaves can have four to Zoe Devlin five leaflets. Up to 30cm Up to 25cm Silverweed (Potentilla anserina) (5-8) Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) (6-9) Briosclán Rosaceae ID Guide Cúig mhéar Mhuire Rosaceae ID Guide
• Creeping, low • Creeping, low growing growing plant with plant with yellow five yellow five petalled petalled flowers. flowers. • Leaves almost all • Leaves pinnate and palmate and toothed Zoe Devlin toothed and very with five leaflets. Up to 20cm silvery on underside. Zoe Devlin Up to 20cm Zoe Devlin Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) (5-9) Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) (4-10) Fearbán Ranunculaceae Fearbán Ranunculaceae
• Upright plant with extensive • Upright plant without creeping and rooting system. runners. • Yellow five petalled flowers • Yellow five petalled on ribbed stems. flowers on smooth stems. • Leaves three lobed, toothed • Leaves heavily divided and Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin and hairy, being roughly have large spaces between triangular in shape. teeth. Up to 50cm Up to 100cm Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus) (4-7) Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula) (6-10) Tuile thalún Ranunuculaceae Glasair léana bheag Ranunculaceae
• Upright plant, without runners. • Upright almost hairless • Flowers yellow and five petalled plant. on ribbed stems. • Flowers yellow and five • Sepals turn downwards. petalled on slightly • Leaves divided and toothed, red/purple ridged stems. being roughly triangular in • Leaves lanceolate and Oisín Duffy shape. Zoe Devlin toothed. Up to 50cm Up to 50cm Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) (2-4) Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) (3-7) Grán arcáin Ranunculaceae Lus buí Bealtaine Ranunculaceae
• Upright, hairless plant. • Upright hairless • Flowers with 8 plant. (sometimes more) • Flowers with 5 petals. yellow sepals. • Leaves heart-shaped • Leaves generally and deep glossy green. rounded and heart Oisín Duffy Zoe Devlin Up to 25cm Up to 25cm or kidney shaped. Black medick (Medicago lupulina) (4-10) Lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium) (5-10) Dúmheidic Fabaceae Seamair bhuí Fabaceae
Oisín Duffy • Small, low growing and hairy • Small, low growing plant. plant. • Flowers are small, yellow and • Flowers are small, yellow and pea-shaped in a loose cluster Oisín Duffy pea-shaped and clustered into into a relatively round head. rounded head. • Leaves trifoliate without a • Leaves trifoliate with a very distinct point at leaf tip. Up to 30cm distinct point at the leaf tip. Up to 20cm Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) (5-9) Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) (6-8) Crobh éin Fabaceae Crobh éin corraigh Fabaceae
• Generally hairless plant • Generally hairy plant with loose clusters of with loose clusters of yellow pea-shaped flowers many yellow pea- tinged with orange/red on shaped flowers on solid stem. upright hollow stems. • Leaves pinnate, oval and • Leaves pinnate, oval Oisín Duffy alternate. Zoe Devlin and alternate. Up to 10cm Up to 50cm Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis) (5-8) Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) (5-9) Peasairín buí Fabaceae Méara murie Fabaceae
• Climbing or straggling plant which • Plant with silky hairs. uses tendrils to support itself. • Yellow flowers with • Flowers are pea-shaped and orange and red form a yellow in loose clusters on angled fluffy dome shape. and slightly hairy stems. • Leaves pinnate with Oisín Duffy • Leaves lanceolate. Oisín Duffy lanceolate leaflets.
Up to 50cm FP of Wood White Up to 40cm FP of Small Blue Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium verum) (6-9) Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) (5-9) Bolach cnis Rubiaceae Gliográn Orobanchaceae • Upright, generally hairless • Upright, slender plant hemiparisitic plant. with a spiral whorl of • Flowers distinctive in that the small yellow flowers upper lip has blue teeth, and is around the stem. longer than the lower lip. • Leaves narrow and • Stem is robust and angular. whorled around the Oisín Duffy • Leaves unstalked, linear- Oisín Duffy stem. Up to 30cm Up to 45cm lanceolate with a toothed margin. Slender St.John’s-wort (Hypericum pulchrum) (6-8) Square-stalked St John’s-wort (Hypericum Beathnua baineann Hyperiaceae tetrapterum) (6-9) Beathnua fireann Hyperiaceae
• Upright, hairless plant. • Upright, square • Five yellow petalled stalked plant. flowers, often with red • Five yellow markings on the petalled underside. flowers. • Leaves oval and have • Leaves oval translucent markings. with translucent Zoe Devlin ID Guide Zoe Devlin ID Guide Up to 60cm Up to 80cm markings. Smooth Hawk’s-beard (Crepis capillaris) (6-10) Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) (6-9) Lus cúran min Asteraceae ID Guide Cluas chait Asteraceae ID Guide
• Slender, upright plant. • Upright plant with yellow • Yellow flowers with slight red tinging flowers with distinctive underneath ray florets. purple tipped bracts under • Leaves are pinnate, linear and toothed. the ray florets and along • Fruits ribbed and seed disperses from a the stem. • Leaves lanceolate, hairy Zoe Devlin silky pale white pappus (modified calyx). Zoe Devlin Up to 80cm Up to 50cm with curled edges. Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus) (6-9) Lesser Hawkbit (Leontpdon saxatilis) (6-9) Crág phortáin gharbh Asteraceae ID Guide Crág phortáin bheag Asteraceae ID Guide
• Upright, robust and hairy • Upright, slender plant plant, with deep yellow with deep yellow flowers. flowers, with a • Leaves a blunt oval shape green/grey band and are very hairy with beneath them. waved edges. • Leaves linear, hairy with Oisín Duffy Zoe Devlin a waved edge. Up to 60cm Up to 25cm Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Pillosella officinarum) (5-10) Autumn Hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis) (7-10) Searbh na muc Asteraceae ID Guide Crág phortáin Asteraceae ID Guide • Upright, hairless plant • Upright woolly plant with with yellow flowers with lemon yellow flowers, with a red tinge on the a distinctive red band on underside of the ray the underside of the ray florets. florets. Zoe Devlin • Leaves oblong, pinnate • Leaves very hairy and Oisín Duffy and with a waved edges. Up to 25cm spoon-shaped. Up to 25cm Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) (5-10) Marsh Ragwort (Senecio aquaticus) (7-8) Buachalán buí Asteraceae Buachalán corraigh Asteraceae
• Upright plant, with • Upright plant with few clusters of clusters of relatively large numerous yellow yellow flowers. flowers. • Leaves pinnate but • Leaves pinnate and with a large toothed. Oisín Duffy Liam Lysaght terminal lobe. Up to 100cm FP of the Cinnabar Up to 80cm Prickly Sowthistle (Sonchus asper) (5-10) Dandelion (Taraxacum agg.) (3-10) Bleachtán Asteraceae Caisearbhán Asteraceae • Upright plant with • Tall, upright, prickly plant bright yellow flowers. with yellow flowers. • Leaves at the base and • Leaves glossy and can be are heavily lobed and very prickly and grasp arrow-shaped. onto the stem with • Records as agg. as the rounded lobes. Zoe Devlin Oisín Duffy group is very difficult. Up to 100cm Up to 35cm Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) (6-7) Marsh Horsetail (Equisetum palustre) (6-7) Scuab eich uisce Equisetaceae ID Guide Scuab eich chorraigh Equisetaceae ID Guide
• Upright plant, with none or very • Upright plant, branched. few branches, making it look • Small hollow running distinctive. through the stem. • Stem wall is very thin and appears • Black teeth with hollow. translucent margins • Black teeth along leaf-sheaths. Kristian Peters Up to 60cm along leaf-sheaths. Up to 150cm • Cones with a rounded tip. Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) (3-5) Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustre) (5-8) Scuab eich ghoirt Equisetaceae ID Guide Barr an mhilltigh Juncaginaceae
• Upright, slender plant. • Upright plant, with • Flowers arranged branches. alternately along the • Relatively small hollow stem with small white running through the stem. tufts at the top. • Cones on thick cream- • Leaves narrow, grass-like brown stems. Oisín Duffy and hairless. Up to 80cm Up toOisín 40cm Duffy Procumbent Pearlwort (Sagina procumbens) (5-9) Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) (6-8) Mongán sínte Caryophyllaceae Lus na pingine Apiaceae
• Mat forming plant. • Creeping plant with • Flowers green/yellow slender stems. with very small petals, • Flowers are small sometimes without. pale green/pink. • Leaves at base longer • Leaves round, than those on stem, Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin hairless and fleshly. Up to 30cm Plant Height ending in an sharp point. Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) (4-10) Greater Plantain (Plantago major) (6-10) Slánus Plantaginaceae Cuach Phádraig Plantaginaceae
• Upright plant. • Spike of very small green- • Large sprawling brown flowers, which have plant. very obvious pale anthers • Greenish yellow emerging to encircle the spikes of flowers. spike. • Leaves large, broad and ovate. Oisín Duffy • Leaves lanceolate and ribbed. Zoe Devlin Up to 45cm Up to 20cm Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima) (6-8) Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus) (5-10) Slánlus mara Plantaginaceae Ardharca fia Plantaginaceae
• Upright plant. • Upright plant. • Numerous greenish- • Numerous greenish brown brown slender spikes, slender spikes, with with noticeable yellow noticeable yellow anthers. anthers. • Leaves distinctive, being • Leaves very narrow, Oisín Duffy narrow and having large Zoe Devlin untoothed and fleshy. gaps between teeth. Up to 30cm Up to 25cm Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) (5-7) Clustered Dock (Rumex conglomeratus) (6-10) Cnó léana Rosaceae Copóg thriopallach Polygonaceae ID Guide • Upright plant. • Upright, slender plant. • Beautiful dark red, maroon • Flowers whorled around coloured flowers. the stem with distinct • Leaves are pinnate and gaps. toothed. • Leaves oblong-lanceolate • The entire plant is often tinged Oisín Duffy with a wavy margin. Up to 35cm a reddish-purple colour. Up to 80cm Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) (5-8) Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) (5-8) Samhadh bó Polygonaceae ID Guide Samhadh caorach Polygonaceae ID Guide
• Upright, slender plant. • Upright, slender plant. • Flowers are red and • Flowers are red and form loose spaced arranged in relatively dense spikes. spikes. • Leaves long, arrow- • Leaves arrow-shaped and Zoe Devlin shaped and have quite bitter to the taste. Zoe Devlin forward pointing Up to 80cm Up to 30cm lobes. Curled Dock (Rumex crispus) (7-9) Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) (6-10) Copóg chatach Polygonaceae ID Guide Copóg shráide Polygonaceae ID Guide
• Tall, upright plant. • Tall, robust plant. • Flowers are greenish in • Flowers are greenish in colour but plant is much colour but plant is much better known for its reddish better known for its reddish brown seedhead colour. brown seedhead colour. • Leaves lanceolate and • Leaves large, broad and heavily curled at edges. Up to 200cm Up to 120cm oblong.
For more information and further resources please visit – [Website for Plant Monitoring Scheme] - https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie Notes
Zoe Devlin
NationalZoe DevlinBiodiversity Data Centre ID Guide - Text: Oisín DuffyZoe (Version Devlin I) March 2016 Zoe Devlin