Pleach

By Pleach

April wild flowers

Frequently I note the varieties of wild flowers in bloom when I go for a walk. This year everything is late but today I photographed masses of snowdrops still looking good in late April, together with several others. With the exception of the tiny pinkish white one below the blue speedwell in the photo they were all found in a country lane within 200 yards of home.
In spite of walking frequently along the local main road it's the first time I've seen the Danish Scurvy Grass (Cochlearia Danica) growing there among the stonecrop. This is the plant that is spreading fastest throughout Britain and until recently was unknown in Scotland. It is common now in parts of England to see this small white (and sometimes pink) flower along the centre reservations of motorways and dual carriageways where other plants are being killed off by salt and grit spread in icy conditions. Air turbulence of passing traffic causes a pocket of low pressure behind the car, sucking in the seeds, and dragging them along for large distances along busy roads and so it has been very successful in spreading all over the land. The salt added to roads creates the perfect conditions resembling the windy, salty environment of its natural habitat on the coast. This year I note only a tiny patch so it will be interesting to see if it spreads next year.
The flowers in the photo are snowdrop, coltsfoot, dandelion, celandine, groundsel, speedwell. white dead nettle, red deadnettle and Danish scurvy grass.

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