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Leading Streak Today

Your Streak Today

Leading Streak Today

Your Streak Today

Often seen growing by roadsides, on hedgebanks and at the edge of woods.

Plants - Wildflowers 1

A leisurely stroll in the countryside shows that the location of a plant is not an accidental or independent phenomenon, but that there is a certain interdependence between a particular plant species and its environment. Plants growing on sunny southern slopes differ radically from those growing on northern ones. Our country is covered in wildflowers...but how many do you know by name?

Try our first quiz on wildflowers. To enjoy the full beauty of the plants, click on the photo to enlarge it. Good luck!

1 .

What is the common name of this wildflower?

Photograph courtesy of Alvesgaspar

Toadflax

Harebell

Sheep's Sorrel

Spurge

Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
This annual weed has been growing on cultivated ground since the Stone Age.
Very common and widespread in gardens, fields, vineyards, by roadsides and in wasteland.
It contains a poisonous, white, milky juice which causes inflammation of the digestive tract in pets.

2 .

What is the common name of this wildflower?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.hear.org/starr/

Mouse-ear Hawkweed

Ground Elder

Aaron's Rod

Kingcup

Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Verbascum
Species: V. thapsus
This plant has adapted to dry conditions as it is densely clothed in whitish hairs.
Has a distinct smell which reputedly repels mice.
Its poisonous seeds have been used to drug fish.

3 .

What is the common name of this wildflower?

Photograph courtesy of Rob Bendall (Highfields)

Wild Mustard

Ox-eye Daisy

Great Hairy Willow-herb

Water Forget-me-not

Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Leucanthemum
Species: L. vulgare
Can be seen in meadows and pastures, on banks and grassy slopes.
Older plants can be a nuisance during haymaking as their stems are tough.
Children make 'chains' of these flowers and wear them around their necks.
"He loves me, he loves me not" uses this flower.

4 .

What is the common name of this wildflower?

Photograph courtesy of http://foto.andreas-trepte.de/

Coltsfoot

Cornflower

Dwarf Mallow

Meadow Vetchling

Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Tussilago
Species: T. farfara
The stems of this plant are scaly with solitary flower heads.
It flowers first and as the flowers fade, the leaves appear.
Physicians of Ancient Greece recommended the inhalation of the smoke from its roots as a cough remedy.

5 .

What is the common name of this wildflower?

Photograph courtesy of Calibas

Meadow Vetchling

Shepherd's Purse

Bladder Campion

Scarlet Pimpernel

Order: Ericales
Family: Myrsinaceae
Genus: Anagallis
Species: A. arvensis
A small plant which grows in fields, on fallowland, wasteground and in gardens.
The flowers open mid morning and close again long before sunset.
Superstition ascribes to it the power to cure madness and even the magic force to communicate with spirits!

6 .

What is the common name of this wildflower?

Photograph courtesy of Georg Slickers

Toadflax

Cornflower

Heather

Cowslip

Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Linaria
Species: L. vulgaris
Well adapted for life in dry places as its leaves are covered with fine waxy scales.
The flowers look like snapdragons.
Also known as butter-and-eggs.
One plant can produce up to 20,000 seeds, however most are damaged by insect parasites before having a chance to ripen.