A few thoughts on Plant Lore inspired by the wildflowers at Clonterbrook House

Some musings from Leader Frankie following the recent lovely Dawn Chorus and Breakfast BBQ outdoor meeting.

Wood Anemone

• Named after the Greek God Anemos who sent flowers ahead of him in Spring
• Aka wind flower/ smell-foxes (as have foxy smell).
• Pheasants eat the flowers.
• Leaves were used medicinally in poultices.

Bluebell

• Aka witches thimble, crow-toes, ladies nightcap
• Only found on land fringing the Atlantic
• Bulbs were used to make glue and to make starch for rich people’s ruffs in Tudor times
• Protected plants. If their leaves are crushed they die
• Children were told not to pick them as protected by fairy magic
• Loved by bees, butterflies and hover flies
• In Language of Flowers they symbolise humility and everlasting love
• Scientists exploring if plants can be used to cure cancer

Dog’s Mercury

• A poisonous coloniser of ancient woodland
• (Dog prefix means false or worthless. This plant resembles Good King Henry or English Mercury, a nutritious vegetable)
• Smells like decaying meat
• Some species of ground nesting birds are attracted to it
• As are beetles, weevils, springtails and molluscs

Red Campion

• Aka Robin Hood, adder’s flower
• Male and female flowers are on separate plants
• Liked by butterflies, bees and hover flies
• Folklore says the plants protect fairies from being discovered and also guard bees’ stores of honey
• Medicinally seeds were used to treat snakebites

Ground ivy

• It likes damp, heavy soils
• Leaves stay green all year
• It has a faint minty smell
• Before hops were introduced to Britain it was used in brewing ale to clear the beer and sharpen flavour
• Medicinally it was mixed with honey to cure coughs

Ancient Woodland

• Areas of woodland that have persisted since 1600s, relatively undisturbed but could have been managed
• Covers only 2.5 % of UK
• Wild Garlic and Primrose are also indicator plants