#Mercurialis perennis

[thebotanicalarcade]

n77_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: The instructive picture book, or, Lessons from the vegetable world Edinburgh :Edmonston & Douglas, 87 Princes Street,1858. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59644200

[anenglishwoodcomstuff]

The very poisonous Dog's Mercury #plant

A sure sign of Spring, flowering Mercurialis perennis. Picture taken February 16. #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #dog’smercury

[pernapernaperna]

Plants spotted on my walk:

Dog mercury (Mercurialis perennis) - highly poisonous!

Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

Few-flowered garlic (Allium paradoxum) - invasive!

Common nettle (Urtica dioica)

Wild blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)

Common gorse (Ulex europaeus)

[marennna]

28 | 04 | 2019

my favorite kind of green is this fresh, light spring green; it's a bit maddening to see thing like that after cold winter

[noweyesee]

For witchcraft practitioners who work with plants, be it in spells, charms, being tactile in nature or gardening, this list contains some of the plants that can bring harm if used incorrectly or have a high level of toxicity.

Always be cautious and so research on any plant or herb you’re planning to utilize or grow.

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) • Ingesting a single seed can kill an adult human. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, liver failure, and death, usually after several days.

Wolfsbane (Aconitum spp) • All parts are poisonous, if ingested, it usually causes burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth, followed by vomiting and nervous excitement. Even casual skin contact should be avoided. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and cardiac irregularity.

White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) • All parts are poisonous, especially the berries, the consumption of which has a sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue and can cause cardiac arrest.

Arnica • Poisonous in great quantities. Symptoms of poisoning include gastroenteritis, fever, nausea, dizziness, abnormal cardiac frequency, diarrhea, skin reaction and internal hemorrhage in the digestive system.

Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) • If ingested it is poisonous. Continued contact should be avoided. Symptoms of poisoning are nausea, depression, respiratory difficulties, coma. It is rarely lethal.

Anthurium (Anthurium spp) • Prevent getting in contact with the sap. Symptoms are skin irritation and eye irritation.

Cedronella canariensis • Can cause skin irritation, indigestions. Should not be used or touch by pregnant people or lactating people.

Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) • Extremely poisonous, it is lethal and it can be absorbed through skin. Symptoms of poisoning are fogged vision, staggering, loss of balance, dry mouth and throat, headache, skin eruptions, constipation, confusion, hallucination and convulsion.

Lamprocapnos spectabilis • Can be poisonous in big quantities, which causes convulsions and other symptoms in the nervous system.

Iris versicolor • Symptoms pf poisoning include nausea, vomit, mouth and throat irritation, irritation on the digestive system, skin irritation, headache and epiphora.

Bryony • All parts are poisonous and any type of contact causes death.

Ranunculus • If ingested, the juice can cause serious damage to the digestive system.

Acorus calamus • Toxic in big quantities, can cause hallucination, nausea and vomit.

Physostigma venenosum • Extremely toxic, can cause intense sweating, extreme salivation, nausea, vomit, diarrhea, irregular cardiac rhythm, change in blood pressure, confusion, convulsion, coma, muscular weakness, paralysis, respiratory difficulties and death.

Cinnamomum camphora • Skin rash, itchiness, respiratory difficulties, mouth, eyes, face or lips swelling.

Ricinus communis • Poisonous. Can cause burning in the mouth and throat, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea. At a long period of intoxication, can cause dehydration, low blood pressure. If not treated, death will occur in 3 to 5 days

Daphne • Poisonous. Causes burns in the mouth and digestive tract, followed by coma. Can cause death.

Vinca • Must not be ingested, causes nausea, vomit, loss of hair, loss of hearing, dizziness, bleeding, nervous difficulties, convulsions, liver damage and death.

Asclepias tuberosa • Cardiac difficulties, nausea, vomit and skin rash.

Agave spp • The juice of a number of species causes acute contact dermatitis, with blistering lasting several weeks and recurring itching for several years thereafter.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp) • Seeds and roots contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed, columbine poisonings are easily fatal.

Mercurialis perennis • Symptons happen after some hours, they include vomit, pain, gastritis, renal inflammation and sleepiness.

Colocasia • All parts are poisonous and cause mouth and tongue irritation. Can be fatal.

Gelsemium • Extremely poisonous, even in low quantities. Causes headache, problems with vision, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, muscular complications, convulsions, respiratory complications and low blood pressure.

Laburnum • Causes excitation, loss of balance, convulsions and coma. Can be lethal.

Helleborus • Dangerous if ingested or applied on the skin. Cause irritation in the mouth and throat and low blood pressure. Big quantities can cause vomit, diarrhea, difficulties swallowing, nervous system complications, blindness, convulsion, paralysis, respiratory complications and death.

Ilex aquifolium • The fruits can be lethal and the leaves cause diarrhea, nausea, vomit, stomach and intestine complications.

Hedera helix • Causes stomach pain, respiratory complications and possible coma.

Impatiens capensis • Dangerous when ingested in big quantities.

Datura stramonium • Don’t inhale or ingest. Causes dry mouth, extreme thirst, vision complications, nausea, vomit, constipation, tachycardia, hallucinations, fever, convulsion, loss of conscience, respiratory complications and death.

Convallaria majalis • Causes irregular blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, indigestion and confusion.

Mandragora officinarum • Fogged vision, dry mouth, difficulties to urinate, headache, tachycardia, vomit and hallucinations.

Viscum album • Gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, low blood pressure, convulsion. It is rarely lethal for humans.

Morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor) • Diarrhea, indigestion, disorientation, loss of apetite, ataxy and hallucinations.

Artemisia vulgaris • Prolonged contact may be fatal, so it’s best to use in a open and ventilated place.

Oak (Quercus): In big quantities is poisonous and affects the renal kidneys.

Nerium oleander • Causes cardiac complications, indigestion and can cause death.

Taxus baccata • Fatal. No symptoms come as a warning.

Hypericum perforatum • Causes fatigue, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth and can affect medicaments.

Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp) • All parts of this plant contain toxins and are often fatal. Effects of ingestion may include losing connection with reality and hallucinations.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) • The leaves, seeds, and flowers are poisonous. These cause irregular heartbeat, general digestive upset, and confusion; can be fatal.

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) • The bulbs are poisonous, causing nausea, vomiting, gasping, convulsions, and possibly death. Even handling the bulbs can cause skin irritation.

Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp) • Hydrangeas are moderately toxic if eaten.

Frangipani (Plumeria spp) • Contact with the milky latex may irritate eyes and skin.

[mtariqniaz]

MERCURIALIS PERENNIS Dog’s Mercury MERCURIALIS PERENNIS Dog's Mercury Great exhaustion and drowsiness. Tumor at ensiform appendix, very sensitive. Affections of the muscular fibers of stomach, intestines, bladder.

[guillemelgat]

Noms de flors en català, castellà i anglès

Acabo de comprar una guia de flors de Catalunya que posa els noms en català, castellà, i anglès així que pensava que potser us interessaria i vaig decidir penjar-los aquí! // Acabo de comprar una guía de flores de Catalunya que tiene los nombres en catalán, español, e inglés así que pensaba que tal vez les interesaría a ustedes y decidí colgarlos aquí! // I just bought a guide to the flowers of Catalunya that has the names in Catalan, Spanish, and English so I thought maybe they'd interest you guys and I decided to post them here!

Nom scientífic/scientific name - nom en català - nombre en español - name in English

Cirsium arvense - calcida - cardo cundidor - creeping thistle

Galactites tomentosa - calcida blanca - cardo cuajaleches - purple milk thistle

Silybum marianum - card marià - cardo mariano - blessed thistle

Pallenis spinosa - gravit - estrellada - spiny golden star

Urtica dioica - ortiga - ortiga mayor - stinging nettle

Dipsacus fullonum - cardó - cardancha - common teasel

Parietaria judaica - parietària - albahaquilla - pellitory of the wall

Matricaria recutita - camamilla - manzanilla - (wild) chamomille

Anacyclus clavatus - panigroc - manzanilla loca - whitebuttons

Centaurea aspera - bracera - brasera - rough star-thistle

Bellis perennis - margadoida perenne - margarita - daisy

Cichorium intybus - xicoira - achicoria silvestre - chicory

Achillea millefolium - milfulles - milenrama - yarrow

Leucanthemum vulgare - margarida - margarita mayor - oxeye daisy

Inula viscosa - olivarda - hierba mosquera - sticky samphire

Calendula arvensis - boixac de camp - maravilla silvestre - field marigold

Sonchus olerachus - lletsó d'hort - cerraja - smooth sow thistle

Urospermum dalechampii - amargot - lechugilla - smooth golden fleece

Sonchus tenerrimus - lletsó - cerraja fina - slender sow thistle

Taraxacum officinale - pixallits / dent de lleó - diente de león - dandelion

Senecio inequidens - seneci del Cap - senecio del Cabo - narrow-leaved ragwort

Ornithogalum divergens - llet d'ocell - leche de pájaro - star of Bethlehem

Aphyllanthes monspeliensis - jonça - junquillo de flor azul - blue aphyllanthes

Muscari comosum - calabruixa grossa - jacinto penachudo - tassel hyacinth

Muscari neglectum - calabruixa petita - nazarenos - grape hyacinth

Dipcadi serotinum - marcet - jacinto bastardo - Dipcadi

Allium roseum - all - ajo de culebra - rosy garlic

Aspholdelus fitulosus - porrassí - gamoncillo - pink asphodel

Asphodelus cerasiferus - porrassa - gamón - branched asphodel

Anagallis arvensis - anagall - hierba coral - blue pimpernel

Antirrhinum majus - conillets - conejitos - common snapdragon

Misopates orontium - gossets - berrecilla - small snapdragon

Veronica persica - verònica pèrsica - azuletes - Persian speedwell

Convolvulus althaeoides - corretjola de serps - campanilla rosa - mallow bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis - corretjola - corregüela - field bindweed

Verbascum sinnuatum - trepó ploraner - gordolobo - wavy-leaf mullein

Verbascum pulverulentum - trepó pulverulent - gordolobo - hoary mullein

Scandix pecten-veneris - agulles - agujas de pastor - shepherd's-needle

Foeniculum vulgare - fonoll - hinojo - fennel

Daucus carota - pastanaga - zanahoria silvestre - wild carrot / Queen Anne's lace

Eryngium campestre - panical comú - cardo corredor - field eryngo

Conium maculatum - fonollassa - cicuta mayor - poison hemlock

Tordyllium maximum - tordili - tordilio - hartwort

Sanguisorba minor - herba de tall - pimpinela menor - salad burnet

Erodium malacoides - filamaria - relojes - soft stork's-bill

Erodium cicutarium - cargola cicutària - aguja de pastor - common stork's-bill

Geranium rotundifolium - suassana rotundifòlia - geranio de hoja redonda - round-leaved geranium

Geranium dissectum - gerani de fulla retallada - geranio cortado - cut-leaved crane's-bill

Althaea hirsuta - altea hirsuta - cañamera azul - hairy marshmallow

Malva sylvestris - malva major - malva común - common mallow

Malva neglecta - malva de fulla rodona - malva enana - dwarf mallow

Hypericum perforatum - herba de Sant Joan - pericón - St. John's wort

Himanthoglossum roberantium - bàrlia - orquídea gigante - Robert's barlia

Sedum acre - crespinell - pampajarito - biting stonecrop

Sedum reflexum - crespinell rupestre - uvas de gata - blue stonecrop

Umbilicus rupestris - barretets - ombligo de Venus - pennywort

Plantago coronopus - cerverina - hierba cervina - buck's-horn

Plantago lanceolata - plantatge de full estreta - llantén menor - ribwort plantain / English plantain

Diplotaxis erucoides - ravenissa blanca - rabaniza blanca - white wall rocket

Erucastrum nasturtiifolium - ravenissa groga - oruga salvaje - watercress-leaved rocket

Lobularia maritima - caps blancs - mastuerzo marítimo - sweet alyssum

Borago officinalis - borratja - borraja - borage

Capsella bursa-pastoris - sarronet de pastor - zurrón de pastor - shepherd’s purse

Cynoglossum creticum - besneula crètica - lengua de perro - blue hound’s tongue

Echium vulgare - llengua de bou - viborera - viper’s buglass

Papaver rhoeas - rosella vera - amapola - common poppy

Glaucium corniculatum - cascall banyut - adormidera cornuda - blackspot horn poppy

Fumaria capreolata - fumària enfiladissa - conejillos - white ramping fumitory

Fumaria officinalis - fumària oficinal - palomilla - fumitory

Delphinum verdunense - esperó de sembrat - espuela de caballero - larkspur

Chelidonium majus - herba d’orenetes - celidonia - greater celandine

Ranunculus arvensis - ranuncle arvense - gata rabiosa - buttercup

Nigella damascena - barba d’ermità - ajenuz - love-in-a-mist

Trifolium stellatum - trèvol estrellat - estrella - star clover

Trifolium pratense - trèvol de prat - trébol común - red clover

Bituminaria bituminosa - trèvol pudent - trébol hediondo - scurfy pea

Vicia sativa - vecera - arveja - common vetch

Vicia cracca - garlanda - alverja silvestre - cow vetch

Lathyrus clymenum - guixó articulat - arvejón - Spanish vetchling

Lathyrus aphaca - gerdell - afaca - yellow vetchling

Lotus corniculatus - lot corniculat - trébol de cuernos - common bird’s foot trefoil

Stachys ocymastrum - espinadella peluda - rabo de zorra - hairy woundwort

Calamintha nepeta - rementerola - calaminta - lesser calamint

Origanum vulgare - orenga - orégano - oregano / wild marjoram

Salvia pratensis - tàrrec de prat - salvia de prado - meadow clary

Salvia verbenaca - tàrrec comú - balsamilla - wild clary

Lamium amplexicaule - flor-robi - gallitos - henbit dead-nettle

Marrubium vulgare - malrubi - marrubio blanco - white horehound

Silene vulgaris - colís - colleja - bladder campion

Silene gallica - silene gàl·lica - carmentilla - common catchfly

Silene nocturna - silene nocturna - silene nocturna - night-flowering catchfly

Stellaria media - morró - pajarera - chickweed

Dianthus hyssopifolius - clavell de pastor - clavel de monte - fringed pink

Cerastium glomeratum - cerasti aglomerat - oreja de ratón - sticky mouse-ear

Paronychia argentea - paroniquia argentada - sanguinaria blanca - silver nailroot

Galium aparine - apegalós - amor de hortelano - cleavers

Galium verum - espunyidella groga - cuajaleche - lady’s bedstraw

Mercurialis annua - melcoratge - mercurial - annual mercury

Portulaca oleracea - verdolaga - verdolaga - (green) purslane

Euphorbia characias - lleteresa - euforbia encarnada - large Mediterranean spurge

Euphorbia helioscopa - lleterola d’hort - lecheruela - madwoman’s milk

Euphorbia serrata - lleteresa serrada - asnaballo - serrate spurge

Some of these names are a bit more official (like in English a lot of times we’ll just call it “spurge” instead of the specific type of spurge), but hopefully this helps you get an idea for what to call these plants in one (or more!) of these languages.

[sussex-nature-lover]

Sunday 17 July 2022

If You Go Down to the Woods (Part I)

We share ownership of the woodland behind our houses with our next door neighbours. The land has quite a slope on it down to the stream at the bottom before rising again the other side into farmland. It wouldn’t be a building plot in the future because access would have to be through one or the other of our gardens, however, you can never say never, so we purchased it between the four of us in order to preserve it in its present state for nature. Sadly it’s not a bluebell wood, but the presence of Dogs Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) also known as Kentish Balsam, is apparently an indicator of ancient woodland. At the least, if it’s not ancient, it looks pretty old in parts.

into the woods

Dogs Mercury, no clue whether it should be Dog’s or many Dogs’

We’ve never used the woodland as an amenity, preferring to leave it undisturbed for the birds and wildlife, however, in recent weeks we’ve been contacted by officials and contractors on behalf of the rail network and made aware that urgent works needed to be carried out to the water course on safety grounds and although they needed permission to access our land, it was imperative that they were able to clear an access to reach a blocked culvert, which to our knowledge had never been maintained.

With the assurance that there would be the proper checks before any disturbance, so that nesting birds were not affected, the work finally started just over a week ago and we’ve been taking ourselves down there to investigate.

As I say, the land’s been undisturbed for decades and so a path had to be cleared in order for the mini digger to get where it was needed.

Looking around there weren’t any nests to be seen, which was surprising, but we did spot what we think is a badger sett. I did a bit of research and this series of holes are the right D shape and the different holes close together forming ‘chambers’ identify a sett. Sometimes these are dug out by many generations of badgers and have apparently been used for decades, if not centuries. Different sleeping and living chambers are used on rotation to help keep them clean and parasite free, and the bedding can be changed three or more times a year. Badgers use a large central chamber for birthday also have a totally separate latrine area. Very house-proud they are.

This sett doesn’t look in current use and we’ve only once seen a badger in our garden, which, of course, doesn’t mean they don’t come - au contraire, they leave evidence that they’ve visited, but let’s not dwell on that. They’re either travelling a fair distance, probably knowing they can find a clean drink and possibly some food at ours, or they’re just a little further into the undergrowth.

this unexpected visitor came very close to the house

We acquired a little bit of rustic salvage - a new ‘table’ for when we have coffee by the pond and this water trough that’s been just the other side of our fence all the time we’ve lived here.

I have a use for that...

- have yet to quite make up my mind as to how to plant, but it will look pretty.

There’s more bounty close to and overhanging the garden

At the end of the works we thought we’d take a look 

Despite the lack of rain lately and the heat, we could see the water beginning to flow again

and, I finally dug out the trail cam I’d purchased in a fit of enthusiasm and never quite got my head around. We get so many rabbits and squirrels in the garden as well as the birds and less often the deer, that I thought we’d get some interesting footage.

There’s a handy tree close enough to the garden for a first try out...

but sadly it seems like I didn’t set it properly last night and so it recorded nothing at all. See my next blog though for a nice birdlife development or two. In the meantime, here’s a thrilling video of water starting to flow again following the excavations. If you have your speakers up you can hear the rush of the torrent - more likely it would flow better if they’d scraped out some ‘steps and troughs in the mud, that’s what I’d have done, but all joking apart, this part of the world is full of little ponds and streams that are dry as a bone in the summer and brimming in the wetter months, so we’ll see what it looks like in the Autumn.

For another taste of our garden and surroundings, quick pics on my mini blog page Here.

[irmgaertchen]

Wald-Bingelkraut

(Mercurialis perennis) ist Anfang März früh dran. Wächst im Buchenwald ( ✓ ) auf kalkhaltigen Böden ( ✓ ), die Nährstoffreich sind (x).

Noch 185 Pflanzen

[blaze8403]

Always be cautious and so research on any plant or herb you’re planning to utilize or grow. Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) • Ingesting a single seed can kill an adult human. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, liver failure, and death, usually after several days. Wolfsbane (Aconitum spp) • All parts are poisonous, if ingested, it usually causes burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth, followed by vomiting and nervous excitement. Even casual skin contact should be avoided. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and cardiac irregularity. White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) • All parts are poisonous, especially the berries, the consumption of which has a sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue and can cause cardiac arrest. Arnica • Poisonous in great quantities. Symptoms of poisoning include gastroenteritis, fever, nausea, dizziness, abnormal cardiac frequency, diarrhea, skin reaction and internal hemorrhage in the digestive system. Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) • If ingested it is poisonous. Continued contact should be avoided. Symptoms of poisoning are nausea, depression, respiratory difficulties, coma. It is rarely lethal. Anthurium (Anthurium spp) • Prevent getting in contact with the sap. Symptoms are skin irritation and eye irritation. Cedronella canariensis • Can cause skin irritation, indigestions. Should not be used or touch by pregnant people or lactating people. Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) • Extremely poisonous, it is lethal and it can be absorbed through skin. Symptoms of poisoning are fogged vision, staggering, loss of balance, dry mouth and throat, headache, skin eruptions, constipation, confusion, hallucination and convulsion. Lamprocapnos spectabilis • Can be poisonous in big quantities, which causes convulsions and other symptoms in the nervous system. Iris versicolor • Symptoms pf poisoning include nausea, vomit, mouth and throat irritation, irritation on the digestive system, skin irritation, headache and epiphora. Bryony • All parts are poisonous and any type of contact causes death. Ranunculus • If ingested, the juice can cause serious damage to the digestive system. Acorus calamus • Toxic in big quantities, can cause hallucination, nausea and vomit. Physostigma venenosum • Extremely toxic, can cause intense sweating, extreme salivation, nausea, vomit, diarrhea, irregular cardiac rhythm, change in blood pressure, confusion, convulsion, coma, muscular weakness, paralysis, respiratory difficulties and death. Cinnamomum camphora • Skin rash, itchiness, respiratory difficulties, mouth, eyes, face or lips swelling. Ricinus communis • Poisonous. Can cause burning in the mouth and throat, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea. At a long period of intoxication, can cause dehydration, low blood pressure. If not treated, death will occur in 3 to 5 days Daphne • Poisonous. Causes burns in the mouth and digestive tract, followed by coma. Can cause death. Vinca • Must not be ingested, causes nausea, vomit, loss of hair, loss of hearing, dizziness, bleeding, nervous difficulties, convulsions, liver damage and death. Asclepias tuberosa • Cardiac difficulties, nausea, vomit and skin rash. Agave spp • The juice of a number of species causes acute contact dermatitis, with blistering lasting several weeks and recurring itching for several years thereafter. Columbine (Aquilegia spp) • Seeds and roots contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed, columbine poisonings are easily fatal. Mercurialis perennis • Symptons happen after some hours, they include vomit, pain, gastritis, renal inflammation and sleepiness. Colocasia • All parts are poisonous and cause mouth and tongue irritation. Can be fatal. Gelsemium • Extremely poisonous, even in low quantities. Causes headache, problems with vision, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, muscular complications, convulsions, respiratory complications and low blood pressure. Laburnum • Causes excitation, loss of balance, convulsions and coma. Can be lethal. Helleborus • Dangerous if

[al-hakim-homeopath]

Mercurialis Perennis 30X | 30C, 200C | 30mL for $30 | Call or Text: +1 (647)-720-5466 or Email: ontariohomeopath@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/p/B1nR8euDCQl/?igshid=1d5o2ecczfp01

[anapinoblanco]

Algunas especies indicadoras de bosques centenarios - Español

(Read in English)

Los bosques centenarios también contienen espacios abiertos, tanto temporales como permanentes como pueden ser los claros, pastos de ciervos, caminos, charcas y riachuelos.

Otros espacios abiertos temporales pueden ser creados cuando un árbol cae al suelo.

Los bosques-pasto o dehesas, con unos pocos árboles dispersos, también son una forma distintiva de bosque.

Y, como he mencionado antes, estas áreas permanecen relativamente inalteradas, con hábitats de alto valor y ecosistemas desarrollados, características que se desarrolla en gran medida gracias a uno de los grandes valores de los bosques centenarios: los suelos.

Suelos bien desarrollados permiten a algunas especies de flores crecer en primavera tapizando el piso del bosque y por tanto, pueden funcionar como especies indicadores de suelos poco alterados.

Algunas especies son los jacintos de los bosques (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), la anémona de bosque (Anemone nemorosa), el botón de oro (Ficaria verna), el ajo de oso (Allium ursinum), la berza de perro (Mercurialis perennis), el muraje amarillos (Lysimachia nemorum), y otras hierbas gramíneas ( familia Poaceae) y hierbas de pastos (familia Cyperaceae).

[anenglishwoodcomstuff]

Dog's Mercury #plant

Dog’s Mercury #plant

Mercurialis perennis making an even earlier appearance than usual. Picture taken December 29. #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #dogsmercury

[artscult]

028-Dogs' Mercury, mercurialis perennis mas - high resolution image from old book.

[artscult-com]

mercurialis perennis - high resolution image from old book.

[wesc-country-works-blog]

WEST HILL BLOG NO.10 Improving Goat Willow Wood

Improving Goat Willow Wood

Since our jungle busting efforts with the Devon County Council Apprentices in improving Goat Willow Wood, I’ve been thinking how best to improve the area & encourage more wildlife. 

Brambles cleared with DCC Apprentices

Because of the rampant Bramble & strong growing Goat Willow, current plant diversity is limited to Nettle, Hog Weed, Dock and a handful of ground covering plants. Keeping a smaller quantity of Bramble is  preferable as they are important food crops for Caterpillars, grazing deer and small mammals.

By reducing the Bramble however, more space & light can penetrate the woodland floor which will provide greater resources for new plants to establish. In time, this will lead a higher diversity of insects, birds & mammals.

Generally speaking, UK woodlands have the greatest number of visible plant species between March and May, taking advantage of higher amounts of natural light before leaves form on the trees.

These are the plants I would like to establish in the wood;

Native plants to use in woodland

Plant

Flowering Period

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

January

Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)

February

Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)

Dec - Feb

Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima)

June / July

Wood Anenome (Anenome nemerosa)

March / April

Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)

May

Bluebell (Hyacinthoide non scripta)

May 

Bugle (Aduja reptens) 

April / MayDogs Mercury (Mercurialis perennis)April / May

Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

March

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

May / June

The upper canopy comprises of Goat Willow which is a bit of an issue as being an opportunist that thrives in damp areas it has a tendency to take over.  With the exception of a few spindly Ash & Birch, there are no other trees. 

Goat Willow Wood ... casting deep shade  

In order to establish a more diverse ground flora, the Willow needs to be thinned. When more space allows, other native trees will be planted  including Hawthorn, a floriferous tree that flowers in May and is an important food plant for a variety of insects and birds including Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Greenfinches etc. Other trees include The Mountain Ash & Wild Cherry. 

I’d also hope to plant some lower canopy species including Hazel, Spindle and Field Maple with scrambling Honeysuckle & Dog Rose.