Species: Cornsalad (Valerianella sp.)
Family: Honeysuckles (CAPRIOFOLIACEAE )
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: One Sighting
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Honeysuckles (CAPRIOFOLIACEAE )
This is principally a north temperate family, with leaves mainly opposite along the stem. Unlike the Bindweeds, the climbing honeysuckles twine clockwise. The flowers are two-lipped with five joined petals.
C. Cornsalad (Valerianella sp.)
Cornsalads are small annuals with characteristically forked, branching stems. Leaves are simple, resembling Forget-me-nots, but the tiny white flowers really are miniscule, grouped in clusters atop each stem.
It is no surprise that this plant had not been discovered by botanists during previous surveys of the Cemetery. It really is a miniature plant, whose flowers are so tiny that they are barely visible to the naked eye.
There are five varieties of Cornsalad, and they can only be identified to species level by examination of their tiny ripe fruits. Of the five, it is more likely that this individual is either Common Cornsalad (which is found in coastal regions of Britain) or Broad-fruited Cornsalad (which is found in scattered locations in the south and east of Britain). The other three species are not found in our part of the country.
Images
Cornsalad
Cornsalad really is a miniature plant, whose flowers are so tiny that they are barely visible to the naked eye.
Cornsalad
There are five varieties of Cornsalad, and they can only be identified to species level by examination of their tiny ripe fruits. Of the five, it is more likely that this individual is either Common Cornsalad (which is found in coastal regions of Britain) or Broad-fruited Cornsalad (which is found in scattered locations in the south and east of Britain). The other three species are not found in our part of the country.
