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British Plants and algae

Species 1 - 50 of 203 [ next ]

Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore)
The sycamore is a well-known tree, thought to have been introduced to Britain from Europe in the 15th or 16th Century. The domed... More	14 Images	5 Videos

Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
Yarrow is a common herb that has been highly regarded for its medicinal properties in Britain since Anglo-Saxon times. The erect... More	7 Images	1 Video

Adonis annua (Pheasant's eye)
The beautiful pheasant's eye has feathery leaves and produces attractive scarlet coloured flowers, similar in appearance... More	6 Images	0 Videos

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut)
The spreading chestnut tree, a common sight on village greens and alongside housing developments, is not actually native... More	21 Images	0 Videos

Agrostemma githago (Corncockle)
This attractive tall cornfield plant has purple flowers which occur singly on the top of long stalks, the leaves are long and... More	6 Images	2 Videos

Ajuga chamaepitys (Ground pine)
The ground pine is a small, greyish-green plant, which takes its name from its resemblance to a pine seedling. It also smells like... More	5 Images	0 Videos

Ajuga reptans (Bugle)
Bugle is a common herb that often grows in large clumps. The flowers are deep purplish blue, rarely pink or white, and are arranged... More	6 Images	1 Video

Alchemilla minima (Alchemilla)
This plant has no common English name but belongs to the well-known lady's mantle family. It was only recognised as a separate... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Alisma gramineum (Ribbon-leaved water-plantain)
The aquatic ribbon-leaved water plantain resembles its more common relative, common water plantain; however it is generally more... More	8 Images	0 Videos

Alisma plantago-aquatica (Common water-plantain)
Common water-plantain is a stout aquatic herb with oval-shaped leaves, which may be rounded or heart-shaped at the base. The pale... More	6 Images	0 Videos

Althaea hirsuta (Rough marsh mallow)
Rough marsh mallow is a hairy, annual or biennial plant with five-lobed, kidney-shaped leaves and the characteristic pink mallow... More	9 Images	0 Videos

Alyssum alyssoides (Small Alison)
Small Alison produces small, pale yellow flowers, which often become whitish as they fade with age. The seeds are reddish-brown... More	7 Images	0 Videos

Anagallis arvensis (Scarlet pimpernel)
As the alternative names of shepherds sundial and shepherds weather-glass suggest, scarlet pimpernel is well-known for its ability... More	7 Images	1 Video

Anemone nemorosa (Wood anemone)
Wood anemone is an attractive plant that often indicates the site of old woodland. Each stem has a single, white, star-shaped... More	7 Images	0 Videos

Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow parsley )
Cow parsley is one of the most familiar wild plants of the British countryside. Throughout the month of May, most roadsides are... More	8 Images	0 Videos

Apium repens (Creeping marshwort)
As its name suggests, creeping marshwort is a low-growing plant. The leaves are toothed with a single large cleft, and the plant... More	3 Images	0 Videos

Arabis glabra (Tower mustard)
Tower mustard is a very distinct plant which flowers from May to June. It has an unbranched stem, sometimes tinged with violet, and... More	6 Images	0 Videos

Armeria maritima (Thrift)
Thrift or sea-pink is a familiar coastal plant. It forms compact cushions, and has attractive deep pink or occasionally white... More	7 Images	2 Videos

Artemisia norvegica (Norwegian mugwort)
Norwegian mugwort is a rare alpine herb that forms small, aromatic tufted plants. The deeply toothed leaves are hairy on both the... More	3 Images	0 Videos

Arum maculatum (Lords and ladies)
Wild arum or lords and ladies (just one of this abundant plants local names), has a striking appearance when in flower. From... More	11 Images	0 Videos

Asparagus prostratus (Wild asparagus)
This plant is our native asparagus species and is endemic to Western Europe. Recent evidence indicates that wild asparagus... More	12 Images	0 Videos

Atrichum angustatum (Lesser smoothcap)
Lesser smoothcap is a dull-green moss that forms patches of single, unbranched and upright shoots that have narrow leaves with... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Atriplex pedunculata (Pedunculate sea-purslane)
Pedunculate sea-purslane is an erect, branching shrub, with fleshy leaves arranged alternately on the stem. The flowers are small... More	3 Images	0 Videos

Bellis perennis (Daisy)
The humble yet cheerfully attractive daisy is familiar to most as a 'weed' of lawns and a feature of many children's games. The... More	6 Images	2 Videos

Betula pendula (Silver birch)
One of the most familiar trees in the British countryside, the graceful silver birch is a genuine native, having been an early... More	18 Images	0 Videos

Brachythecium appleyardiae (Mrs. Appleyard's moss)
The small, rough-textured mats formed by this moss can vary in colour from a yellowish-green to pale green. Its main stems, which... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Bromus interruptus (Interrupted brome)
This member of the grass family was discovered in 1849 and identified as an endemic English species. It gets its unusual name from... More	4 Images	0 Videos

Bryum neodamense (Long-leaved thread moss)
Long-leaved thread moss is one of the easiest of the Bryum group of mosses to identify. It grows in tufts, is a reddish-green... More	3 Images	0 Videos

Buddleja davidii (Butterfly-bush)
This large shrub is so called because it is visited by large numbers of butterflies and moths, as it is an extremely good source... More	4 Images	3 Videos

Calluna vulgaris (Heather)
Heather is a highly branched evergreen shrub. The numerous stems take root at the base, and there are also a large number of short... More	6 Images	2 Videos

Caltha palustris (Marsh marigold)
Marsh marigold, also known as kingcup, is believed to be one of Britains most ancient native plants. It may have been growing here... More	9 Images	0 Videos

Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell)
The harebell, often known as 'bluebell' in Scotland, is a delicate, beautiful wildflower. It is a member of the bluebell... More	6 Images	2 Videos

Campylopus setifolius (Silky swan-neck moss)
Silky swan-neck moss forms very robust, dark green or olive-green plants. The leaves are very long and narrow, measuring between... More	2 Images	0 Videos

Carex depauperata (Starved wood-sedge)
Starved wood-sedge is one of Europe's rarest sedges. It characteristically produces few flowers and has very large fruits (called... More	5 Images	0 Videos

Carex vulpina (True fox-sedge)
True fox-sedge bears a strong resemblance to a close relative, false fox-sedge, and even experts need care in telling them apart.... More	2 Images	0 Videos

Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)
The attractive flowers of the cornflower are a bright celebratory blue, distinctive enough to have given its name to a colour. The... More	4 Images	2 Videos

Cephalanthera longifolia (Sword-leaved helleborine)
Sword-leaved helleborine, also know as narrow-leaved helleborine, has white flowers with a yellow or orange-edged lip. Each plant... More	6 Images	0 Videos

Cephalanthera rubra (Red helleborine)
This critically endangered orchid produces up to 12 attractive pink or purplish-pink flowers on a long spike. In profile, the... More	8 Images	0 Videos

Cephaloziella massalongi (Liverwort)
This liverwort has a leafy appearance with yellowish-green, dark red-brown or black shoots that either lie along the ground or are... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Cephaloziella nicholsonii (Greater copperwort)
Greater copperwort belongs to a group of plants called liverworts. They are closely related to mosses and, in many cases, resemble... More	2 Images	0 Videos

Cerastium brachypetalum (Grey mouse ear)
This endangered plant was first discovered in Great Britain in 1947. It is pale green to grey in colour and is covered in fairly... More	5 Images	0 Videos

Cerastium nigrescens (Shetland mouse-ear)
Shetland mouse ear is endemic to Shetland (it is found no-where else in the world). It is a diminutive tufted herb, with densely... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile)
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a low-growing plant with finely divided leaves, which are arranged alternately on the stem. The... More	6 Images	0 Videos

Chara connivens (Convergent stonewort)
Stoneworts used to be classified as members of the plant kingdom, but it is now agreed that they belong, along with other green... More	2 Images	0 Videos

Cirsium vulgare (Spear thistle)
The spear thistle is perhaps the most likely candidate for the Scottish national emblem. It is a tall thistle, with a long... More	9 Images	3 Videos

Clinopodium menthifolium (Wood calamint)
Wood calamint produces pink or purplish-pink flowers, which measure 15 to 22 mm in length, and have two 'lips' of fused petals that... More	5 Images	1 Video

Cochlearia micacea (Mountain scurvygrass)
The mountain scurvygrass has small, white flowers at the end of slender stems that grow along the ground but are raised at the... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Cochlearia officinalis subsp. scotica (Scottish scurvygrass)
There is currently disagreement as to the taxonomic status of Scottish scurvygrass. It was, at one point, held to be a species its... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Coincya wrightii (Lundy cabbage)
A tall and impressive plant, especially when it covers its cliff side habitat in yellow flowers from May to July. When not... More	13 Images	0 Videos

Corrigiola litoralis (Strapwort)
Strapwort is a small, branched, annual plant, usually found along muddy lake shores. The stems of the plant are reddish in colour... More	4 Images	0 Videos

Species 1 - 50 of 203 [ next ]

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