Top Row - Left
to Right
1.
Great Hairy Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum
This attractive wild flower grows along the farm drive in front
of the holiday cottages. Also known as Codlins and Cream, Sun-before-the-Father,
Cherry Pie, Plum Pudding and Fiddlegrass, this perennial wildflower
has rosy-pink flowers with cream centres. Height 3 - 6 ft or so
(90 - 180 cm). Hirsutum refers to the plant's woolly appearance.
Its name of Codlins and Cream refers to the smell which emanates
from the bruised leaves - like codlins, or cooling apples. Epi comes
from the Greek "upon" and lobos is Greek for "pod"
- due to the flowers standing on top of long, thin, pod-like seed
vessels. It is a foodplant of the large Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar
which has four eyespots to deter predators.
2. Red
Clover Trifolium pratense
Red clover grows in the fields around the holiday cottages
are is a good food plant for the cows and sheep that live at Plas
Farm. Pull out a petal and place its base on the tip of your tongue
- it tastes of sweet nectar. Interestingly, the isoflavones are
oestrogenic in animals which may ingest large quantities and it
has a contraceptive effect on sheep!
3. Bell heather Erica cinerea
Bell heather grows extensively on Mynydd Marchywel mountain
behind the self catering holiday cottages and can also be seen growing
in the cracks between stones alongside the road that runs from the
cottages to the mountain. Bell heather likes dry acid soil.
Second Row - Left to Right
4 . Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
The foxglove is another familiar sight in the Welsh countryside.
The flowers of the Foxglove are tubular, like the fingers of a glove,
and its Latin name Digitalis literally means thimble. One single
stem can have up to 80 flowers. The whole foxglove plant is poisonous,
and yet the drug called 'Digitalin' is extracted from the leaves
and used in the treatment of heart disease. Among its Welsh names
are menyg-ellyllon (elves' gloves), menyg y llwynog (fox's gloves),
bysedd cochion (redfingers) and bysedd y cwn dog's fingers). Foxgloves
flower from May to August and then seed prolifically, each plant
producing a staggering one to two million seeds, and then it dies.
The reason for such a vast number of seeds is to compensate for
the large amounts that will be eaten by various creatures. Red Campion
is another plant that produces huge quantities of seed for just
such the same reason.
5. Red
Campion Silene dioica
Silenus, the drunken, merry god of the woodlands in Greek mythology,
gave his name to Silene dioica, the Red Campion. The second part
of its scientific name, dioica, means 'two houses', and refers to
the fact that each Red Campion plant has flowers of one sex only,
so that two plants are needed to make seed. Female flowers have
no stamens, while male flowers have only a small, non-functioning
ovary. Red Campion likes acid soil.
6. Rosebay
Willowherb Epilobium angustifolium
The striking red flower spikes of the tall rosebay willowherb
are a familiar sight on the Welsh landscape, although it was once
an uncommon plant in the wild. The plant often colonises burnt ground
and is sometimes known as Fireweed. The flowers are followed by
masses of fluffy white seeds and the plant's narrow leaves lie in
alternate pairs spiraling up stems.
Third Row - Left
to Right
7. Herb Robert
Geranium robertianum
Herb Robert flowers from May to October and grows in many places
at Plas Farm. Each flower has five petals, each with a distinctive
fold or wave toward the center of the flower. It is believed that
the herb was probably named after the 11th Century French saint
Robert, Abbot of Molerne, whose medical skills were legendary. Others
believe it to be names after Robert Goodfellow, also known as Robin
Hood. Herb Robert is related to the geranium but smells rather harshly
in contrast. In North America it is sometimes referred to as "Stinking
Bobl" because of this smell!
8. Rhododendron Rhododendron
ponticum
Rhododendron was introduced to Wales from Armenia and eastern
Turkey during the 18th century. Its ability to withstand deep shade
made it ideal for use as game cover in woods and it was widely planted.
Once established, it is very difficult to eradicate and the deep
shade it casts suppresses native tree seedling regeneration. As
a result we have embarked on a large clearance program at Plas Farm
over the last few years. However, some of the more attractive and
unusual varieties have been left for our visitors to enjoy such
as the red variety in the gallery which grows on the river bank
opposite the self catering holiday cottages.
9. Red Shank Persicaria
maculosa
Red shank has a liking for farm yards and should you make
the short journey from your holiday cottage to the farmyard during
August, you should find this wild flower. There are usually dark
spots on the leaves of this ground-hugging annual plant. Redshank
blooms from June through to October.
NO PHOTOGRAPHS
AS YET
1. Scarlet Pimpernel
Anagallis arvensis
Should you spot
any red-pink wild flowers at Plas Farm during your cottage holiday
that are not listed on this page, please let us know and if possible
take a photograph of it!
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