Plants for these three days of #365DaysofBotany are native Bugle; Greater Celandine introduced in Roman times and Greater Periwinkle introduced in reign of Queen Elizabeth and naturalised within fifty years.
Bugle, Ajuga reptans
This plant had spread out of woodland to a verge where it had formed an extensive patch. The leaves are glossy, dark green with a touch of purple. The stems are erect and bear whorls of blue flowers marked with white. The lower lip of the flower has three lobes typical for me of the Lamium family.
Greater Celandine, Chelidonium majus
Growing exactly as the book says at the base of a wall, this is a member of the Poppy family, Papaveraceae. The four petalled flowers are relatively small and grow in loose clusters on a plant that can be almost a metre tall.
The name Chelidonium may have come from its flowering being associated with the coming of swallows. Medically it was traditionally used to treat warts and take mistiness away from eyes.
Greater Periwinkle, Vinca major
Introduced from the Mediterranean by 1597 and first recorded in the wild in 1650. Given how frequently it is found as a garden escapee now it is not surprising that it only took 50 or so years to escape from cultivation.
The main ID point for me is the leaf margins with tiny hairs. Lesser Periwinkle leaves do not have this fringe. The petals are distinctly twisted in the bud.
This post brings #365DaysofBotany to Day 127. I intend to post more at the weekend on #Wildflowerhour
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