Walnut / All year round / Edible A deciduous, broadleaf tree, it was introduced to the UK by the Romans. Common Names      Walnut, English Walnut, Persian Walnut, Common Walnut Botanical Name Juglans regia Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Fagales Family – Juglandaceae Physical Characteristics for Walnut Leaves The…
Tag: summer
Sordid Blewit / Summer / Autumn / Edible Scientific Name Lepista sordida Common Names Sordid Blewit, Dirty Blewit. Family Tricholomataceae Habitat They are saprotrophic, living off dead matter, they can be found in areas that collect lots of leaf litter in autumn, sometimes they appear in gardens and on compost…
Reedmace (Bulrush) / All Year / Edible I often find reedmace around golf courses, the big cigar tops sat on shoots are the most obvious way to see them. There’s a couple of good edible parts to enjoy. Scientific name Typha latifolia Family Typhaceae (Reedmace) Habitat Often in large clumps…
Broom /Spring / Summer/ Flowers, Buds and Seeds Edible, other parts Toxic Broom is the less aggressive little brother to gorse, the two look similar and both have some nice edible and medicinal parts. Scientific name Cytius scoparius/Sarothamnus scoparius Family Leguminosae/Fabaceae (Pea) Habitat Habitat: Prefers sandy, dry acid soils. Roadsides,…
Sea Holly / All Year Round / Edible Sea Holly is one of those plants that from looking at it and touching it you wouldn’t imagine it was edible one bit, it has sharps spikes on it but once you get past them there are some tasty bits to enjoy.…
Calamint / Spring /Summer / Autumn / Edible Scientific name Clinopodium ascendens Family Labiatae (Mint) Habitat Dry, grassy areas on woodlands edges or paths, hedgebanks, scrub, road verges, usually on alkaline soil. It cannot grow in the shade and prefers dry or moist soil. Distribution Up to 380m. In…
Redcurrant / Summer / Edible Redcurrant is an easy to identify member of the Gooseberry family with edible fruits. Common Names Redcurrant, Red currant Botanical Name Ribes rubrum Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Saxifragales Family – Grossulariaceae Physical Characteristics for Redcurrant Leaves The leaves are palmate, with 3-5…
Spindle / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Spindle is a fairly common shrub or small tree, one of the indictors of an ancient woodland but consumption can lead to death. Common Names Spindle, European spindle, Common spindle Botanical Name Euonymus europaeus Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Celastrales Family…
Deadly Nightshade / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Deadly Nightshade – As the name suggests it can be deadly poisonous, it’s a member of the same family as tomatoes, potatoes and aubergines and it’s fairly common in the UK. Common Names Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna Botanical Name Atropa belladonna…
Black Bryony / Summer / Toxic A toxic member of the Yam family, it’s quite a common sight in summer and autumn, all parts are poisonous. It’s a climber and can grow up to 4m each year. Common Names Black Bryony, Lady’s-seal or Black bindweed Botanical Name Dioscorea communis or…