Here are a few wildflowers and grasses recorded on the Gaulby Lane verge. Visit our Wild Place page for this verge for more information and more species. Click on any header to visit the NatureSpot page for that species to find out more.
Hogweed
The large, white flower platforms provide one of the best food sources for pollinators, bringing a great opportunity to view visiting insects such as bees, beetles and hoverflies.
How to ID: Up to 2m tall. Flower 'umbels' to 20cm. Unique leaf shape.
Where to see it: Verges, hedges, rough ground - likes nutrient-rich soil.
Similar species: Giant Hogweed is similar but much larger (and quite rare).
Common Vetch
This lovely, climbing plant clambers over other vegetation using wiry tendrils to grip. A member of the pea family, it has deep flowers so its nectar is only available to insects with long tongues, such as some bumblebees.
How to ID: Paired leaflets that have parallel sides. Pink/purple flowers. Tendrils on the tips of the shoots.
Where to see it: Grassy places, meadows, verges.
Similar species: Bush Vetch has leaves that bulge before the middle and its pink flowers develop a bluish tone.
White Clover
This is a very useful plant for wildlife. Bees particularly feed on the white flowers and numerous insects feed on the leaves. Like all clovers, nodules on the roots take nitrogen from the air and convert it to nitrates, helping to fertilise the soil.
How to ID: Short growing. White, round flowers. Three round, hairless leaflets with fine teeth at the margins.
Where to see it: Grassland, verges, lawns.
Similar species: Red Clover has red flowers but also has hairy leaves and no teeth. (Red hair - White teeth!)
Thyme-leaved Speedwell
This small, creeping plant can form mats on open ground. It has beautiful flower spikes - though you have to get low down to see them!
How to ID: Pale blue flowers (6-8mm) with darker veins help aloft on flower spikes. Small, hairless, oval leaves.
Where to see it: Short grass areas, lawns, gardens, open ground.
Similar species: Other speedwells have similar flower shapes, but none with the combination of features described above.
Common Ragwort
Despite its reputation, this is one of the most important wildflowers for the wildlife it supports. Its sunny yellow blooms attract a wide range of pollinators and its leaves feed the yellow and black caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth.
Medium to tall plant, stems erect to 1.5 metres, branched above. Basal and lower leaves pinnately lobed, with a small end lobe, withering by flowering time. Upper leaves 1 to 2 pinnately lobed, half clasping the stem. Flowerheads bright golden yellow, 15 to 25 mm with 12 to 15 rays, borne in large, flat topped, branched clusters.
How to ID: Erect to 1m or more with bright yellow clustered flower-heads. Lower leaves very lobed.
Where to see it: Rough grassland, verges, waste ground.
Similar species: Other Ragworts, particularly Oxford Ragwort.
Common Nettle
Familiar to most people, this is an excellent wildlife plant. Several of our commonest butterflies rely on it as their caterpillar food-plant, including Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock. The stinging hairs provide protection to many other insects which also live on it.
How to ID: To 1m tall, patch forming, with square stems. Leaves are in opposite pairs and toothed. The cream wispy catkins are long and thin - designed to use wind rather than insects for pollination.
Where to see it: Everywhere! Particularly disturbed land with rich soil.
Similar species: Small Nettle has rounder leaves but is uncommon.
Creeping Buttercup
The commonest of the 3 buttercup species found in meadows. It likes damp ground and is generally shorter than other buttercups.
How to ID: Typical yellow buttercup flower with sepals (under the petals) NOT pointing downwards. Three leaflets with the final lobe separated by a short stalk.
Where to see it: Grasslands, particularly when damp.
Similar species: Meadow Buttercup and Bulbous Buttercup.
Meadow Foxtail
An early flowering grass with finger-like flower-heads, growing to 1m. A common sight in most meadows.
How to ID: Flowers April-June. Cylindrical flowers (to 10cm) which can be flushed purple.
Where to see it: Meadows and verges.
Similar species: Timothy flowers from June and has tiny horned florets.
Crested Dog's-tail
This grass is often seen as an indicator of good quality meadow grassland.
How to ID: Flowers July-August, growing to 60cm. The flower-head is a single spike that is flat-looking and one-sided.
Where to see it: Meadows and verges.
Similar species: None.
Cock's-foot
Perhaps the most recognisable of all our grasses with the clumpy flowers on short but spread stalks. It likes nutrient-rich soil so can become dominant in certain conditions.
How to ID: A tall grass (to 1m) with tussocky leaves that are greyish green. Stalks are flattened. The flower-head is unique.
Where to see it: Meadows and verges.
Similar species: None.
