Descriptions of Plants on Stanpit Marsh

On this page we describe interesting facts about the plants found on Stanpit Marsh. All photographs are by members of FOSM. It is an ongoing project and you can become involved. If you have photographed a plant on Stanpit Marsh send it in for display here.

Click on the picture to enlarge it. Click on the back arrow top left to return.

Send your Stanpit Marsh plant photo
You can also send text about the plant or leave it to us

We also have a page on:
Rare Plants on Stanpit Marsh
Insects on Stanpit Marsh
Mammals on Stanpit Marsh
Birds seen on Stanpit Marsh

 

 

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Acorns on an Oak

 

 

Alexanders (Smyrnium olisatrum)

Also knows as Black Lovage. Its leaf and flower is not unlike Angelica for which it is sometimes mistaken. It grows to 3-4 feet with large leaves. It has a strong sweet smell. The fruit when ripe is almost black, hence its other name.
Flowers June – Sept.  Found on the Common.

 

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Fleabane Inula dysenterica

Fleabane was used for dysentery as its name documents. This plant is dried and used powdered to kill fleas on animals. It has also been burned for its smoke in farm barns as an insecticide. It flowers from late July to September. Its fruit or seed is silky and crowned by a few short, unequal hairs of a dirty-white, with an outer ring of very short bristles or scales. It has a salty taste and astringent, so animals dont eat it.

 

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Fungi

• Blushing Bracket Fungus

Blushing Bracket Fungus [Daedaleopsis confragosa]

This fungus is called Blushing Bracket because there are often shades of pink and mauve in the upper surface.  It is kidney shaped and seen most commonly growing in tiers on dead or dying broad-leaf timber, notably Willow.  It is usually found beside rivers and streams.  It can be seen throughout the year and its spores are released in late summer and autumn.  It is slow-growing, and can persist for several years.  (The Willow branch in this photo has now been lopped off.)

 

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Yellow Brain Fungus

This fungus, in wet conditions, is yellow and resembles brain tissue.  It becomes a hard orange bracket in dry weather.  It grows on fallen branches of deciduous trees, particularly Birch, Ash and Hazel, and also on Gorse.  It is widespread, and can be seen in late autumn and early winter.  It is inedible.

 

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Common Holly - yellow-berried variety

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Opening Iris

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Lichen

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

This is a perennial herb, native to Europe, but also found in central Asia, Australia, North Africa and very common in North America. It likes wet and marshy places. It has a creeping rhizome (underground stem). It can grow to a height of 120cm (4 feet).
Not used by herbalists these days, but in the past Purple Loosestrife was valued to relieve dysentery, diarrhoea, and stomach pains; the red flower suggested to herbalists its use for bleeding, hence it was used for internal haemorrhage, excessive menstrual flow, nosebleeds ; externally it was used as a compress for eczema. Amazingly, corroborating early herbal medicine uses, recent research has shown it has an antibiotic effect on the typhus bacillus and dysentery amoeba.
Go out onto the Marsh and gaze at the sheer beauty of this magnificent plant. Find it near the New Information Centre looking across the central Marsh.

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  Marshmallow

  Marshmallow Althea officinale

  This is the official plant that used to be used by doctors for internal gastric ulcers and external leg ulcers, and found in the British Pharmacopoea. This is not the common mallow.

   

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  Water Mint

  Water Mint Mentha aquatica

  This plant is also known as Marsh Mint, it has a fresh characteristic smell of mint. It grows abundantly 1-2 feet high, in extensive masses in wet places, banks of rivers and marshes. It has whorls of lilac flowers.
  In herbal medicine itt was used as a digestive aid and for loose bowels; for difficult menstruation; and for colds and flu and inflammatory complaints.

   

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    Mushroom

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  Orange balsam

  Orange balsam (Impatiens capensis)
  Garden escape – naturalised on river banks.  Mostly S and E England and Midlands.
  Flowers June – Aug.  Found beside Purewell Stream.

   

   

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  Rose Bay Willow Herb

  Rose Bay Willow Herb (Epilobium augustifolium)

  Grows in woodland clearings, waste and burnt ground.  Widespread and common.
  Flowers July – Sept.  Found in the Scrub.

   

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Flowering Rush

This is a rare plant found on Stanpit Marsh.

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Silverweed Potentilla anserina

Silverweed is abundant in England and throughout Europe, and can be found in New Zealand and China. The leaves are an identification method as their underside is a silver colour. The leaves are about 2-5 inches long, toothed. The flowers are buttercup-like and bloom from early summer till tate autumn. Large, with 5 petals of a brilliant yellow and the calyx is cleft into 10 divisions. It is a favourite food of cattle, horses, goats, pigs and geese. Sheep don't eat it though.
In herbal medicine, Silverweed is used for all kinds of bleedings, including for piles and leg ulcers as a lotion. It was used for cramps in the stomach due to wind or irritable bowel. It used to be applied to get rid of pimples and freckles, also to relieve sunburn.

 

 

 

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Some FOSM members have decided to study the Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve's flora and try to record as many plants as possible and the areas they're growing on. This was begun some years ago and the results have given us a running start.
Would you like to be involved? As you walk round the Marsh, note the plants around you and the place where you saw them; you don't need to know their botanical names; take a picture if you can; and send them to us to add to our data base.

We're organising PlantSearch Sunday Mornings at 10.30-12, weather permitting. Bring an eye-glass and field book if you have them. Meet at the Information Centre.

COMMON NAME ..............LATIN ..............SITE ..............KNOWN RECORD

Yarrow.............. Achillea Millofolium.............. GMPM 87
Ground Elder.............. Aegopodium podagraria.............. NS 94
Common Water Plantain.............. Alisma plantago aquatica.............. PM 87.91
Scarlet Pimpernel.............. Anagalis arvensis.............. WM 94
Cow Parsley.............. Anthriscus sylvestris.............. EMB.NS 87
Parsley Piert ..............Aphanes arvensis.............. CH.GM 87
Wild Celery.............. Apium graveolens.............. CM. GM. Sp.Pnt.SM 91.94
Fool's Watercress.............. Apium nodiflorum.............. CM.NM.PM 87
Thrift ..............Armeria maritima.............. EM.SM 87.91
Mugwort ..............Artemisia vulgaris.............. NS 87
Lords & Ladies.............. Arum tripolium.............. PM 87
Sea Aster ..............Aster tripolium ..............CM.Bpt.GM.NM.SM 91
Sea Purslane ..............Atriplex portulacoides.............. ? 91
Spear-leaved Orache.............. Atriplex prostrata ..............CM.Bpt.NM.PM 91
Black Horehound ..............Ballota nigra ..............PM 87.07
Daisy ..............Bellis perennis.............. CM.EMB.GM.NM.PM 87
Sea Beet ..............Beta vulgaris.............. Bpt.EM.NM.Spt. 87
Nodding Bur Marigold.............. Bidens cernua ..............PM.WMB 87.94.07
Buddliah ..............Buddleija davidii ..............WM 94
Flowering Rush ..............Butomus umbellatus.............. CM.WMB.PM 87.93.94.96.07
Water Starwort sp ? ..............Callitriche obtusangula.............. NS 87
Common Water Starwort ..............Callitriche stagnals agg.............. CM 87
Marsh Marigold ..............Caltha palustris ..............CM.PM.WMB. 91
Hedge Bindweed.............. Calystegia sepium ..............NS.PM 94
Large Bindweed ? ..............Calystegia sepium ..............WMB 94
Shepherds Purse ..............Capsella bursa-pastoris.............. CH.PM 87
Lady's Smock ..............Cardamine pratensis ..............CM.PM.WM 87
Lesser Centaury ..............Centarium pulchellum ..............CM.EM.SM 87.94
Little Mouse-ear ? ..............Cerastium semidecandrum.............. GB 91
Soft Hornwort ..............Ceratophyllum submersum ..............CM 87
Fat Hen ..............Chenopodium album ..............PM.SM 87
Creeping Thistle ..............Cirsium arvense ..............CH.GM.NM.PM.SS. 87.94
Spear Thistle.............. Cirsium Vulgare.............. GM 87
English Scurvy Grass ..............Cochlearia anglica ..............CM.EM.GM 87
Common Scurvy Grass ..............Cochlearia officinalis ..............CM.SM ? 91
Hemlock ..............Conium maculatum ..............PM 87
Field Bindweed ..............Convolvulus arvensis ..............CM.EM 87
Cocksfoot ..............Dactylis glomerata ..............EMB.PM 87
Teasel ..............Dipsaeus fullonum ..............GM.NM.PM 91.94.07
Broad Buckler Fern ..............Dryopoteros dilatata ..............NS 87
Great Willow Herb ..............Epilobium hirsutum.............. NS.WMB 87
Cudweed ..............Filago sp ..............NS 94
Meadow Sweet.............. Filipendula ulmaria.............. PM 87
Fennel ..............Foeniculum vulgare.............. NS 87
Gallant Soldier ..............Galinsoga parviflora.............. ? 87
Common Cleavers ..............Galium aparine ..............CM.GM.PM 87
Hedge Bedstraw ..............Galium mollugo ..............PM 87
Marsh Bedstraw ..............Galium palustre ..............CM.PM 87
Dovesfoot ..............Cranesbill Geranium molle ..............GB.GM.NM.PM 87
Sea Milkwort ..............Glaux maritima ..............CM.EM.GM.NM.SM 91
Ground Ivy ..............Glechoma hederacea ..............NS.PM 87
Ivy ..............Hedera helix ..............NS.PM 87.07
Giant Hogweed ..............Heracleum mantegazzianum ..............Spt 87
Horseshoe Vetch ?.............. Hippocrepis comosa ..............GM 87
Marestail ..............Hippuris vulgaris ..............CM.PM 91.94.96
Sea Sandwort ..............Honkenya peploides ..............GB 87
Hop ..............Humulus lupulus ..............NS 87
Bluebell - Spanish ..............Hyancinthoides hispanica.............. NS ?
Bluebell ..............Hyancinthoides non-scripta ..............NS ?
Marsh Pennywort.............. Hydrocotyle vulgaris ..............NS 94
Common Catsear.............. Hypochaeris radicata ..............CM 87
Orange Balsam ..............Impatiens capensis ..............PM.WMB 91.07
Himalayan Balsam.............. Impatiens glandulifera ..............PM 87.91
Indian Balsam ..............Impatiens glandulifera ..............CM. NS 94
Yellow Flag Iris ..............Iris pseudacorus ..............CM.NM.NS.PM.WMB 91
White Dead Nettle ..............Lamium album.............. EMB 87.91.07
Red Dead Nettle.............. Lamium purpureum ..............EMB.NS.PM 87
Common Duckweed ..............Lemna minor ..............PM 94
Autumn Hawkbit.............. Leontondon autumnalis.............. CM 87
Common Sea Lavender.............. Limonium vulgare.............. EM. NM 87.91
Mudwort ..............Limosella Aquatica ..............PM 87
Honeysuckle.............. Lonicera periclymenum ..............CH.NS 87
Bird'sfoot Trefoil ..............Lotus corniculatus ..............SM 87
Common Bird'sfoot Trefoil .............. Lotus corniculatus ..............NS 87.91
Greater Bird'sfoot Trefoil ..............Lotus uliginosus ..............NS 94
Hairy Bird'sfoot Trefoil ..............Lotuus subbiflorus ..............NS 87
Tree Lupin ..............Lupinus arbareus ..............Spt 87
Ragged Robin ..............Lychnis flos-cuculi ..............CM.PM.WMB 91.94
Gipsywort ..............Lycopus europaeus ..............CM.PM.SS 87.07
Creeping Jenny ..............Lysimachia nummularis ..............NS 94
Purple Loosestrife.............. Lythrum salicaria ..............WMB 91.94
Musk Mallow ..............Malva moschata ..............NS. 91
Marsh Mallow ..............Althaea officinalis ..............CH.NS. SS. 87.91
Common Mallow.............. Malva sylvestris ..............NS.PM 91
Pineapple Weed ..............Matricaria matricarioides ..............PM 87
Black Medick ..............Medicago lupulina ..............CH.Spt 91
Water Mint ..............Mentha aquatica ..............CM.GM.PM.WMB 87.91
Spear Mint ..............Mentha spicata ..............WMB 94
Monkey Flower.............. Mimulus guttatus ..............PM 91
Upright Chickweed ..............Moenchia erecta ..............GB.SM 87. 96
Blinks ..............Montia fontana.............. CM.EM 87
Tufted Forget-me-not ..............Myosotis laxa ..............PM 87
Water Fotget-me-not.............. Myosotis scorpioides ..............CM.NS.PM.WMB 91.94
Spiked Water Milfoil ..............Myriophyllum spicatum ..............CM 87
Changing Forget-me-not ..............Mysotis discolor ..............CH 91
Watercress ..............Naturium officinale.............. PM 8794
Fringed Water Lily ..............Nymphoides peltata ..............PM 87
Red Bartsia ..............Odontites vernus.............. WM 91
Hemlock Water Dropwort ..............Oenanthe crocata.............. CH.CM.GM.NM.PM.Spt.
Tubular Water Dropwort .............. Oenanthe fistulosa.............. CM.PM 87
Parsley Water Dropwort .............. Oenanthe lachanelii CM.PM 87
Corky-fruited Water Dropwort ..............Oenanthe pimpinelloides.............. CM.GM.NM.PM.SS 94? 96
Narrow-leaved Dropwort.............. Oenanthe silaifolia ..............PM 86.87
Bird'sfoot ..............Ornithopus perpusillus.............. CH 87
Common Poppy ..............Papaver rhoeas.............. NS 87.91
Redshank ..............Persicaria maculosa ..............CH 91
Knotgrass ..............Polygonum aviculare.............. PM.WM 87.91
Silver Weed ..............Potentilla anserina ..............CH.CM.GB.NM.NS.PM 87.91
Common Fleabane ..............Pulicaria dysenterica ..............CM.NS 91.94.07
Meadow Buttercup ..............Ranunculuc acris ..............CM.PM 87
Brackish Water Crowfoot ..............Ranunculus baudotii ..............CM.GB.PM 91.94
Lesser Celandine.............. Ranunculus ficaria ..............CM.NS.PM 87
Ivy-leaved Crowfoot.............. Ranunculus hederaceus ..............CM 87
Creeping Buttercup ..............Ranunculus repens ..............CM.GB.NM.PM 87
Celery-leaved Buttercup ..............Ranunculus sceleratus ..............CM.GM.NM.PM.WM 91.07
Japanese Knotweed ..............Reynoutria japonica.............. WMB 94
Yellow Rattle ..............Rhinanthus minor.............. CM 94
Marsh Yellowcress ..............Rorippa palustris ..............PM 87
Dog Rose ..............Rose canina ..............NS 91
Bramble ..............Rubus fruticosos ..............CH. NS 87.07
Cut-leaved Bramble ..............Rubus laciniatus ..............NS 91.94.96
Sheep's Sorrel ..............Rumex acetosella ..............CH.NS.PM 91
Clustered Dock ..............Rumex conglomeratus ..............CM.PM 87
Curled Dock ..............Rumex crispus ..............CM.PM 87
Water Dock ..............Rumex hydrolapathum ..............CM.PM 87
Broad-leaved Dock ..............Rumex obtusifolius ..............PM.SS 87
Beaked Tassleweed ..............Ruppia maritima ..............CM 87
Sea Pearlwort.............. Sagina maritima ..............CM 91
Procumbent ..............Pearlwort Sagina procumbens ..............CM 87
Glasswort ..............Salicornia europaea ..............EM. NM. SM 87.91
Brookweed ..............Samolus valerandi ..............WM 91.94
Perennial Sow Thistle ..............Sanchus arvensis ..............Spt 87
Common Figwort ..............Scrophularia nodosa ..............NS 94
Sculcap ..............Scutellaria galericulata.............. NS 91
English Stonecrop ..............Sedum anglicum ..............CH 94
Marsh Ragwort ..............Senecio aquaticus ..............CM.NM.PM.WM 87.91
Common Ragwort ..............Senecio jacobaea ..............CH.CM.GB.NS.PM.SS 91
White Campion ..............Silene alba ..............PM 87
Hedge Mustard ..............Sisymbrium officinale ..............PM 87
Bittersweet ..............Solanum dulcamara ..............PM 87
Black Nightshade ..............Solarum nigrum ..............NS 94
Lesser Sea Spurrey ..............Spergularia marina ..............CM. NM 87
Greater Sea Spurrey ..............Spergularia media ..............CM. NM 87
Sand Spurrey ..............Spergularia rubra ..............CM. NM 87.91
Hybrid Woundwort ..............Stachys ambigua.............. EMB 94?96
Marsh Woundwort ..............Stachys palustris ..............NS. PM 91.94
Common Chickweed ..............Stellara media.............. CH.NS.PM 87
Lesser Stitchwort ..............Stellaria graminea ..............NS 91
Greater Stitchwort ..............Stellaria holostea ..............NS.PM 87.91
Marsh Stitchwort ..............Stellaria pulustris ..............WM 91
Common Comfrey ..............Symphtum officinale ..............PM 87
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare ..............Spt 87
Dandelion Taraxafum officinale ..............EB.GB.PM 87
Common Meadow Rue Thatlictrum flavum.............. NS. PM 91.94.96
Junus ambiguus ..............Toad Rush Group.............. NM 94
Strawberry Clover ..............Trifolium fragiferum CM.NM.PM.SM 87.91.94
Clustered Clover ..............Trifolium glomeratum GB.NS 87.94.96
Slender Trefoil ..............Trifolium micranthum CH 87
Bird'sfoot Clover ..............Trifolium ornithopodioides CH 91
Fenugreek ..............Trifolium ornithopodioides ? ?
Red Clover ..............Trifolium pratense CM.PM.Spt 87
White Clover ..............Trifolium repens..............CM.EM.GM.NM.PM.SM 87
Subterranean ..............Clover Trifolium subterraneum ..............CH 87.91.94
Suffocated Clover ..............Trifolium suffocatum ..............CH.GB 91.94
Reed Mace ..............Typha latifolia ..............WM 91
Common Gorse ..............Ulex europaeus ..............87
Common Nettle ..............Urtica dioica ..............CH.NS.PM.SS 87
Blue Water Speedwell ..............Veronica anagallis-aquatica ..............PM 91
Wall Speedwell ..............Veronica arrensis ..............CH 87
Brooklime ..............Veronica beccabunga.............. PM 91
Pink Water Speedwell ..............Veronica catenata ..............NS 94
Ivy-leaved Speedwell.............. Veronica lederifelia ..............GB 87
Common Field Speedwell.............. Veronica persica ..............PM 87
Common Vetch.............. Veronica sativa ssp nigra.............. PM 87
Tufted Vetch ..............Vicia cracca ..............NS 87
Horned Pondweed.............. Zannichellia palustris ..............PM 94
Buck'shorn Plantain ..............Plantago coronopus ..............CH.GM.NS.SM 87
Ribwort Plantain ..............Plantago lanceclata ..............GM.NS.PM.SS 87
Greater Plantain ..............Plantago major ..............CM.GM.NM.NS.PM.SM 87
Common Milkwort ..............Plantago maritima ..............CM.EM.GM.NM.PM.SM 87
Bistort ..............Polygonum bistort ..............SM 87
Redshank ..............Polygonum persicaria ..............PM 87
Curled Pondweed ..............Potamogeton crispus ..............CM 87
Common Valerian ..............Valeriana officinalis.............. PM 87

PlantSearch - Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve

North Scrubs see map
(our survey moved from Information Centre to west)
Plants found:

Clover
Silverweed
Nettle
Bugleweed
Bramble
Dock
Grasses (many) - need naming
Buttercup
Ragwort
Iris
Catchfly ? See photo
Bistort
Thistle
Burdock
Elder tree
Holly tree (with bright yellow berries)
Fern - unidentified - see photo
Poplar tree
Hawthorn
White flower - unidentified - see photo
Convolvulus
Two plants - unidentified - see photo
Ground ivy
Water mint - see photo 45
Gorse
Silver birch tree - see photo 48
Fungus on silver birch - unidentified - see photo 49
Ash tree? - unidentified - see photo
Mushroom - unidentified - see photo
Oak tree
Plantain
Willow tree
Reeds
Penny wort - see photo
Bramble (with ‘geranium’ like leaf)
Catchfly - unidentified - see photo
Plant - unidentified - see photo of leaf
Hawkweed

PlantSearch Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve
21 September 2008
North Scrubs see map
(our survey moved from the main path to west)
Plants found:

Plant under Silver Birch - unidentified - see photo
Rowan tree
Marsmallow
Teasle
Black horehound
Hops
Dog rose
Bindweed

Survey of North Scrubs completed
Result: 44 plants found excluding grasses

PlantSearch Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve
28 September 2008
Stanpit Scrubs see map
(our survey moved from the main path to west)
Plants found:

Common mallow
Blackberry
Iris
Reeds
Water mint
Dock
Fleabane
Stinging nettle
Marahmallow
Hawthorn
Plantain flat
Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)
Gorse
Holly
Sea beet
Bugle weed
Honeysuckle
Thistle spp? see photo
Withy tree
Ivy (Hedera helix)
Sea holly
Hawkweed
Dabdelion
Thistle
Silverweed
Clover
Common Oak
Ground ivy
Moss
bistort
Elder
Sea lavender
Black horehound

Survey of Stanpit Scrubs completed:
Result: 36 plants found (excluding grasses)

PlantSearch Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve
12th October
Central Marsh see map
(our survey kept to the right of the main path to Mother Sillers channel [not on the very marshy area])
Plants found:
Blackberry
Gorse
Dock
Honeysuckle
Dog rose
Convolvulus
Elder
Buttercup
Geranium
Ragwort
Sheep sorrel
Field mushroom
Thistle
Hawk weed
Reeds
Grasses