Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) beside the Wharf in late April
The Wharf (the old East Bute Dock) next to Cardiff’s County Hall in the Bay is greening up now spring has arrived. The small wild plants finding a niche on the stone and concrete surfaces around the water are at their best, before summer comes and they become overblown and tatty.
Here are some of my snaps from lunchtime walks on April 26 and May 8. As usual help would be appreciated with identification for one or two of the plants.
I think I may have mistakenly identified the leaves of this plant as yarrow (Achillea millefolium) previously, but I now know it is pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea), common in the USA but not a native in the UK. In my old Concise British Flora it is listed as Matricaria matricarioides – I must remember to sniff it next time to experience the pineapple smell
I’m pretty sure this IS yarrow Achillea millefolium)
The triangular seed pods give this away as shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) – the seed-pods are of a type known as a silique
I always confuse this with shepherd’s purse…
…but the long seed-pods suggest it is a variety of bitter-cress (Cardamine), I think – I should have looked at the leaves, which I may do next time!
I love the way the plants find nourishment in the small dips in the concrete…
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in a little pot…
…clover (Trifolium – not sure of the species yet) in a dip…
…dainty white flowers – although I can’t decide whether it is a species of Stellaria (chick-weed) or Cerastium (mouse-ear)
A bigger chickweed…
…a closer look – but again I am not sure of the exact species
A lovely natural arrangement of herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)…
…a closer look
A mass of dandelions in a patch of grass beside the path
Greenery still flourishes beside the wooden hoarding around the building site for more apartments beside the Wharf…
…with stinging nettles (Urtica dioica)…
Goosegrass or cleavers (Galium aparine)…
I think this is the patch that used to be purple, and there is still a dark tinge to the leaves and stalks
I expect I will recognise this when it flowers…
…and this, which I think is some sort of dock (Rumex)…
…and this still must be something like a Geranium
I still think this is some sort of thistle, possibly spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
This rosette is promising, possibly something like ragwort (Senecio)…
…and here’s a different rosette
A healthy clump of daisies (Bellis perennis) – so often it grows in grass and you don’t appreciate the pretty leaves
Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) on a marshy patch beside the water
Beautiful forget-me-nots (Myosotis) were an unexpected treat on the far side of the Wharf near the busy main road…
…a closer look – I thought the red-edged leaves belonged to a different plant, but now I’m not so sure
I struggling plantain (Plantago), wilting on the concrete…
A couple of weeks later I saw this plantain (probably Plantago lanceolata, ribwort plantain) growing with some sort of vetch (Vicia) on a rough patch beside the Wharf…
…the plantain…
…the vetch
This was another patch of vetch or vetchling, but I think of the Lathyrus type
Finally – what was this growing on the gravel beyond a fence?
A closer look – any ideas?
The Squirrelbasket 
I have enjoyed reading this post; I love to look at the small plants which can be overlooked but wish I knew more of their names.
When you next spot the Pineapple Weed, just pinch the flower and you will smell a faint whiff of Pineapple.
Aren’t Forget-me-nots such a joy to behold?
Yes, I must do that with the pineapple weed – I didn’t even now its name when I first saw it, so had no idea about the smell. But next time…
All the best 🙂
Plantain flowers are delightful, so delicate and detailed.
And so many different species we have here…
All the best 🙂
the vetch might be bird’s foot trefoil
I think you could be right, as there is a bit of yellow on it. As a child I think I called his “bacon and eggs”.
All the best 🙂