Botanising in Suffolk and Norfolk

Back in early September we spent a couple of days botanising in Suffolk and Norfolk and although we thought it may be a bit too late for many our target plants to be in flower almost all of them were (some only just!). I saw 21 new species most of which are shown here.

Hoary Mullein - Verbascum pulverulentum

An East Anglian specialty often seen along roadsides.

This one was a monster at around 9ft high if the bent over top was upright. 

It had collapsed under its own weight because the stem had become fasciated near the top.

In hindsight I should have stood next to it in a photo so its immense size was more obvious.

It looks a bit like a triffid!

This is the faciated top which was so bulky it collapsed.

On a road verge in a village near Bury St. Edmunds we were very lucky to find a couple of  very late flowers spikes of Crested Cow-wheat just about hanging on.

Crested Cow-wheat - Melampyrum cristatum

In the unusual surroundings of an industrial estate we saw the rare plant Field Wormwood where it is protected in a small nature reserve. It isn't much to look at though....

 

Field Wormwood - Artemisia campestris

That certainly can't be said of Maiden Pink though.. 

Maiden Pink - Dianthus deltoides

Or for that matter the absolutely stunning flower spikes of Sand Lucerne which is a hybrid of Sickle Medick and Alfalfa. I've never seen so many colours in a single flower spike.

Sand Lucerne - Medicago sativa subsp. varia

A few more Breckland plants, some only just hanging on and others in full flower ...

 

Proliferous Pink - Petrorhagia prolifera

 

And Spanish Catchfly - Silene otites

White Melilot - Melilotus albus 

Not a new plant but looking good in the evening sun.

Eyebright - Euphrasia sp.

Birdsfoot - Ornithopus perpusillus 

Smooth Rupturewort -  Herniaria glabra

Annual Knawel - Scleranthus annuus

Perennial Knawel - Scleranthus perennis

 

Spiked Speedwell - Veronica spicata subsp. spicata

On our way up to the North Norfolk Coast we stopped at Foulden Common where we saw...

 Large Thyme - Thymus pulegioides

Spiny Restharrow - Ononis spinosa

On the north coast we went to Burnham Overy Dunes to look for the rare Jersey Cudweed, it certainly took some finding but after about three hours searching a massive area with very little to go on we eventually stumbled upon it. On the way out to the dunes we also saw some lovely Larkspur in a variety of colours.

Larkspur - Consolida ajacis

Jersey Cudweed - Gnaphalium luteoalbum

Sea Wormwood -  Artemisia maritima 

Finally we went along the coast to Beeston Common to see Grass-of-Parnassus. Unfortunately photos were difficult as it was almost dark by the time we got there. I got a couple I liked though.

Grass-of-Parnassus - Parnassia palustris