A few plants in Knole Park

Eyebright, Euphrasia officinalis ssp. anglica.  Knole Park, 15 August 2014.

In Knole Park with my botany class, taught by Sue Buckingham, she showed us patches of this Eyebright.  It's the scarce subspecies anglica, and one of its distinguishing features is the presence of long glandular hairs all over the upper leaves.  I normally see the Common Eyebright, Euphrasia nemorosa, so this one was quite interesting.

Heath Groundsel, Senecio sylvaticus.  Knole Park, 15 August 2014.

And I normally see the common groundsel, Senecio vulgaris, so this was another interesting variation, taller and lankier than the common species.  Like S. vulgaris, and like the Ploughman's Spikenard shown in the last post, these flowers never open further than this.

Rigid Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum.  Knole Park, 15 August 2014.

There are a few ponds in the park, and in one I was able to reach in and pull out this plant.  It lives up to its name, Rigid Hornwort, by being quite stiff, not what you would expect from a water weed.  It's a pity we could not find any of its interesting spiky fruits. 

Water-pepper, Persicaria hydropiper.  Knole Park, 15 August 2014.

This Water-pepper was growing in a marshy patch.  Apparently it used to be called Arse-smart.  It tastes particularly fiery (I tried it), and like a strong curry, apparently has the same effect when leaving the body as it does when entering it.  I did not eat enough to find out how true this is.

New Zealand Pigmyweed, Crassula helmsii.  Knole Park, 15 August 2014.

New Zealand Pigmyweed, a rampant invasive foreign species, was growing around one of the small ponds.  This stuff could become a real problem. 

Corn Mint, Mentha arvensis.  Knole Park, 15 August 2014.

The last of this interesting group of plants for today is Corn Mint.  It looks similar to Water-mint, but has flowers in groups up the stem rather than in a cluster at the apex.  The smell of the crushed leaves is very different too, not very minty at all, and some find it unpleasant.