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Post by Psamathe on Feb 23, 2021 11:52:25 GMT
I've never payed much attention to ID'ing wild flowers but out for a walk yesterday and I decided I really should be paying them more attention. And a "disappointing" start. One very common, along the road verges. Took a photo but I'm at such a basic plant ID level I can't get on with my wildflower ID guide (Collins Wildflowers of Britain and Northern Europe). I think my challenges with the book are that I'm just not familiar with ID'ing plants (I'm fine with the animal/bird guides) and I've just got to start getting used to it all. So this plant (Norfolk) ![]()  Sorry it's such a basic ne. Ian |
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Post by teasel on Feb 23, 2021 14:01:34 GMT
It looks like a primrose to me. It's yellow, with 5 petals, and a square stem from what I can tell from the photo. And it's flowering in Feb/ March. Some books use colour to start the key off, some use other methods. I find the colour ones the most useful as I dabble and forget, but I use other books as well. It's not easy at the beginning as there are so many features to learn. Good luck! Oh, and plants can be quite variable and have odd features!
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Post by Psamathe on Feb 23, 2021 14:56:21 GMT
It looks like a primrose to me. It's yellow, with 5 petals, and a square stem from what I can tell from the photo. And it's flowering in Feb/ March. Some books use colour to start the key off, some use other methods. I find the colour ones the most useful as I dabble and forget, but I use other books as well. It's not easy at the beginning as there are so many features to learn. Good luck! Oh, and plants can be quite variable and have odd features! Many thanks. Just looked up Primrose in my book and I'd agree. I'll probably have loads of these basic IDs whilst getting familiar with things. My book (Collins Wildflowers of Britain and Northern Europe) seems very driven by flower colour and number of petals. The key at the start is lists of colours for two petals (white, yellow, pink ...), four petals (white, pink, red, yellow, etc.), five petals, etc. Then "miscellaneous shapes, then Globular tightly packed heads. does then go on to leaves but only for trees and tall shrubs. Ian |
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Post by rowanberry on Feb 23, 2021 21:30:33 GMT
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Post by teasel on Feb 23, 2021 23:08:39 GMT
And you can get garden escapees as well, which can really confuse you if you're relying on a key for wild flowers!
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Post by faith on Mar 1, 2021 9:15:39 GMT
I've never payed much attention to ID'ing wild flowers but out for a walk yesterday and I decided I really should be paying them more attention. And a "disappointing" start. One very common, along the road verges. Took a photo but I'm at such a basic plant ID level I can't get on with my wildflower ID guide (Collins Wildflowers of Britain and Northern Europe). I think my challenges with the book are that I'm just not familiar with ID'ing plants (I'm fine with the animal/bird guides) and I've just got to start getting used to it all. So this plant (Norfolk) ![]() Sorry it's such a basic ne. Ian |
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Post by faith on Mar 1, 2021 9:18:32 GMT
Might I be so bold as to suggest the Pocket Guide to Wildflower Families? A small, easy introduction to wildflower ID, with page refs to Collins when you get closer to an ID. On Amazon or – don't know if I'm allowed to put this here? – www.wildflowerstudy.co.uk |
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Post by ianr on Mar 1, 2021 12:18:36 GMT
I bet there's an app for that  I have the Collins bird guide on my phone it's very good, not many plants in it though  ian |
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Post by Psamathe on Mar 1, 2021 12:25:55 GMT
I bet there's an app for that I have the Collins bird guide on my phone it's very good, not many plants in it though ian Likewise (I have and like the Collins Bird Guide on my phone and find it great). I have the Woodland Trust tree guide but not (yet) used it much (but it's free anyway). Not found anything for the phone for flowers/plants. Ian |
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Post by faith on Mar 29, 2021 8:51:58 GMT
I bet there's an app for that I have the Collins bird guide on my phone it's very good, not many plants in it though ian Unfortunately, there isn't an app for it, at least none that are worth having. (The birds ones are good, but they have only a tenth of the number of British species to cover.) If I could find someone who can build apps, I would be delighted to collaborate on one . . . |
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Also known as Pretty Pollys
