Without a thick canopy of leaves blocking out the sunlight, our woodland floors are enjoying a floral flourish. Flowering plants shoot hopefully, looking to catch the attention of pollinators. The flowers are small, as a robust, compact growth is more likely to survive cold weather. Here are seven species to look out for.
Words by Kevin Parr
IDENTIFY
COMMON SNOWDROP
Galanthus nivalis
Widespread in the British Isles, the snowdrop is likely to have been introduced, although it might be native to the south-west of England. It is a bulbous flower, appearing from January in woods, churchyards and verges, and growing up to 30cm high with slender, grass-like leaves and a stiff stem. The white outer segments hang in a teardrop shape which give the flower its name.
LESSER CELANDINE
Ficaria verna
The yellow splash of the lesser celandine is a highlight of late winter. The heart-shaped leaves are a rich green and form thick, fleshy beds in woodland edges. An alternative name is pilewort, due to the haemorrhoidal shape of the tubers. A more pleasant moniker is ‘spring messenger’, linked to the name celandine, which comes from the Greek name for the swallow.
WOOD-SORREL
Oxalis acetosella
At night, the white, veined flowers and green, heart-shaped leaves of wood-sorrel fold inwards to form a ‘tent’, flattening out once again with the dawn. They are creeping perennials, fond of shady spots in deciduous woodland, and rarely grow higher than 10cm. Wood-sorrel has long been foraged, although the bitter-edged leaves can be mildly toxic if eaten in large quantity.
RAMSONS
Allium ursinum
The broad leaves of ramsons appear in early spring, forming lush carpets of green. Also called wild garlic, the leaves, with their distinctly intense smell, are often foraged. A single stalk can grow to 45cm and carries up to 20 flowers, that form globularly and are small, white and delicate. Ramsons often appear in similar habitats to bluebells, but they rarely intermingle.
