Phragmites australis - Norfolk reed

Phragmites australis - Norfolk reed

Location: Silverdale - North/West of Leeds. Phragmites australis is an invasive grass species that can grow up to heights of 3 meters. They prefer to grow in full sunlight conditions with poorly drained soils.

The conditions for this massive colony of P. australis are perfect for it to grow in, there is little or no shade cast from the surrounding trees (alnus glutinous and salix spp.) and its in this wet boggy terrain that it much loves to be in.

The reed has been allowed to colonise in this area of Silverdale for phytoremediation, it is the direct use of plants to stabilise or decrease the contamination in surrounding environments.

Acer platanoides - Norway Maple

Acer platanoides - Norway Maple

Location - Longford Park/Manchester. A large deciduous tree that grow over 12 meters tall and have a spread of 8 meters. It's capable of growing in many different types of soils and in either part shade or full sun, this specimen was found in part shade and in moist loam/sand type soil amongst Fagus spp. and Quercus spp.

The leaves often grow in pairs and have 5 lobes with various pointed edges.

The buds are brown, large and robust.

The bark is smooth and grey.

This specimen has grown almost straight and upright but other examples are found with a more spread out crown.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn redwood

Location - Longford Park/Manchester. Dawn redwood is a commonly planted deciduous tree that looks like a conifer (it closely resembles a swamp cypress). The conical tree can grow to heights of 25m, it prefers full sunlight and can tolerate well drained/poorly drained soils. This dawn redwood is well looked after and in good condition.

The trunk grows almost perfectly vertical with the later trunks growing horizontally.

The bark is redish-brown and fibrous. These fibres can make good tinder for fire if enough is collected.

Flat conifer like foliage, it has pale green leaves that are set opposite each other.

The buds are light brown and rounded with a point at the end.

Pteridium aquilinum - Bracken

Pteridium aquilinum - Bracken

Location - Longford Park/Manchester. Bracken is a native British perennial and can grow over 1.5 meters in height. It can be found growing almost all over the world; it can tolerate many soil types and climates.
This specimen was found growing just fine with a Prunus spp. in a raised planter, its fronds are ready to die back for winter and produce new ones in spring.

The fronds contain carcinogens and should not be eaten by livestock or humans; they make good compost however but the stems shouldn't be used because they are too thick.

This plant reproduces by spores that are emitted into the air by the brown clusters of balls called sori; they are found underneath at the base of the fronds.

Triangular shaped fronds.

Thick bright green, robust stems; unlike the common growing characteristics of other ferns, bracken grows from the ground with single stout stems that produces lateral stems growing opposite each other.

Rhamnus carthatica - Buckthorn

Rhamnus cathartica - Buckthorn

Location: Exchange Quays, Manchester. Buckthorn is a large deciduous shrub, usually about 5m tall. It's a common plant in parks and rural areas, strangely I found this specimen in a public area. It is generally disease and pest free this one seems to be in good condition, It's location receives enough sunlight and is in good well drained but moist soil.

Leaves are dark green, waxy and ovulate, they have finely serrated margins.

The berries are glossy can appear in Autumn in black and red colours, they are poisonous and have a purgative effect (hence catharticus).

The trunk is smooth and dark brown.

Galium aparine - Goosegrass

Galium aparine - Goosegrass

Location: Longford Park/Manchester. Goosegrass, otherwise known as cleavers is a native annual that  can grow up to lengths of 1.2 meters and is capable of growing in rural and urban areas. It's flowering period is from June-August.

This specimen was found growing well in a mixed community of other plants in peat type soil.

Goosegrass grows tiny backward pointing barbs on the leaves that can easily cling onto clothing; they also have a single vein from base to tip, another distinctive characteristic is it's stem, it also has these barbs but it grows 4 angled edges instead of a regular round shape found in most plants.

Rosa canina - Dog Rose

Rosa canina - Dog Rose

Location: Manchester Trinity school. Dog rose is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 3 meters tall with long bowing stems. The flowering period is in June-July; the flowers are large and range from white to pink petals.
This specimen is growing happily in the peat soil that its situated in and is producing a lot of fruit.

Very distinctive fruit is scarlet red and oval shaped; it has a waxy texture, the flesh is edible but the seeds inside have tiny hairs that can irritate the throat if swallowed.

The stems are bright green and are riddled with robust thorns that grow in the opposite direction of end of the stem.

Its leaves grow in twos and threes of serrated leaflets.

Fallopia japonica - Japanese Knotweed

Fallopia japonica - Japanese Knotweed

Location: Budapest/Római Part on the bank of the River Danube. Japanese knotweed is a large herbaceous perennial thats capable of reaching heights of up to 2 meters and commonly forms itself in dense stands.

The white flowers grow in panicles that grow from the plant's axils, these grow up to 10cm long.

It has large heart shaped leaves 10-12 cm long with a pointed tip at the end. The small brown spots have been caused by burrowing insects.

The fruit is found in the centre of papery thin wings that are easily carried in the wind.

The stout stems are green with red tints in them; they form a zigzagged shape that changes its direction at every leaf base.

Convulvulus arvensis - Morning glory

Convulvulus arvensis - Morning glory

Location: Outside Manchester Science Park building. Morning glory otherwise known as field bindweed is a climber plant that grow up to 3 meters tall it climbs up the stems of other plants or urban elements such as fences by twining its stems around them. The flowering period is from July-September. It's a common site in wasteland, hedges, gardens and wet woodland.
This specimen has made its home amongst a Prunus spp. and a cotoneaster in a damp peat type soil.

Large funnel shaped flowers up to 7cm long usually white or pink in appearance.

A flower bud thats ready to show it's hidden array of large white petals.

Twining stems are seen here tangling themselves around the cotoneaster.

Broad green leaves are heart shaped and can grow up to 15cm long.

Location - Barcelona, despite their normal white or pink appearance, genetic mutations have occurred and are bred for their different colours.