National Plant Monitoring Scheme

Species spotlight. Selfheal - Prunella vulgaris is common, forming patches with creeping runners on neutral to calcareous soils in grasslands, woodland rides & lawns. Oblong flower heads with small purple flowers & purplish bracts are held erect on square stems. Photo Sue McBean

Species spotlight. Carline Thistle - Carlina vulgaris is found in dry calcareous grasslands. It has purple tinged stems & composite flowers surrounded by a ring of pale bracts that open & shine golden. Dark purple florets wither leaving conspicuous orange scales. 📷 Ava Marley

Species spotlight. Broad-leaved Dock - Rumex obtusifolius is our commonest dock. It has large leaves with heart shaped bases & leaf veins are rough with tiny finger-like projections below. In fruit tepals usually have a few teeth & one rounded wart. Photo: Ava Marley

Species spotlight. Common Ragwort - Jacobaea vulgaris has yellow daisy-like flowers & highly divided stem leaves. Flower heads are often held in dense, flat-topped clusters, unlike Oxford and Hoary Ragwort which have a looser, more open arrangement. Photo Ava Marley

Species Spotlight: Red Clover - Trifolium pratense is common in all types of grassland. It has almost stalkless flower heads, with a pair of leaves just below, unlike the very similar looking but rarer Zigzag Clover which has a stalk to the flower head. Photo Suzanne Farmer