An oasis of colour in the drought

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) beside the Wharf in July – in the past this plant has been used to treat dysentery

We have had hot sun and no rain for many weeks now, but we had very light, refreshing rain during the one lunchtime I walked around the Wharf next to County Hall this month – on July 4.

I hadn’t looked for a while and was amazed and delighted by the unusual colourful wild flowers I found near the water’s edge. Most of the little wild plants like groundsel, chickweed, goose grass and nettles had shrivelled in the drought – or in the case of those around the building-site hoardings, been sprayed with weedkiller.

Here is a selection of the flowers I saw on my walk, mostly divided up by plant family. The “former” names of the families are those I prefer, from my Concise British Flora by W Keble Martin….

Fabaceae (formerly Papilionaceae)

A very pretty and large-flowered member of the bean/vetch family – and thanks to Maria at Leaf Encounter for identifying this as goat’s rue (Galega officinalis).

…a closer look

This is similar, but white…

…a closer look

On a patch of wasteland was this – which looks a bit like yellow melilot (Melilotus officinalis) – thanks to Hollis for saying in the USA melilots are called sweetclover

There was also this white-flowered version, like white melilot (Melilotus alba)

These look like pretty seedpods of the above melilot-type plants

Of course clovers are in the same family…

White or Dutch clover (Trifolium repens)…

…a closer look

Red clover (I think Trifolium pratense)…

…pretty even when dry

Asteraceae (formerly Compositae)

I think this might be bristly ox tongue (Picris echioides) or something similar, as the leaves looked lumpy and hairy

Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris or Senecio jacobaea)

Tree bumblebee or new garden bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) on thistle (some kind of Cirsium)

I think this is hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) – but whatever it is, I am seeing a lot of it this year

Apiaceae (formerly Umbelliferae)

I can’t definitely name any of these pretty umbellifers…

Umbellifer 1 – thanks again to Maria at Leaf Encounter for identifying this as wild carrot (Daucus carota)

Umbellifer 2…

…a closer look

Umbellifer 3 – which is apparently the same as Umbellifer 1 – wild carrot – Maria says the giveaway is the pinky-purple flower in the middle

Umbellifer 4

Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae)

I think this is Lycopus europaeus, commonly called gypsywort, bugleweed or water horehound

I think this could be a form of Stachys and thanks to Philip Strange for suggesting it is marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris)

Onagraceae (willowherb and evening primrose family)

Great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum)

Rose bay willowherb or fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium – or sometimes now called Chamaenerion angustifolium)

Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae)

Some kind of mustard…

…a closer look at the bright yellow four-petalled flowers

Other plants…

A small species of St John’s wort (Hypericum)

The herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) still survives beside the Wharf

Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) – although I tend to think of it as Convolvulus…

…I love the flower buds, which remind me of something from the Little Shop of Horrors

Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

Bulrushes or reedmace (Typha latifolia) and great willowherb at the bottom of the Wharf

The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) gets everywhere

The dogwood is already is berry – possibly Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’…

…light rain on the leaves

Finally, these are definitely cultivated plants…

White waterlily (Nymphaea alba) at the bottom of the Wharf…

…and a pink Nymphaea

The waterlilies seem safe enough but I don’t know how long all the other beauties will last in this heatwave, which is forecast to go on for several more weeks yet…