Shady Woodland Plants

Here I post 4 plants to complete Days 113-116 of #365DaysofBotany.

First Wood Melick, Melica uniflora which is common on the wooded lanes round here. It has loose, dangling purple brown heads which look a little like grains of rice.

Second, native Woodruff, Galium odoratum again on a shady hedgebank. It creeps and forms a patch. The stems are erect and unbranched and the flowers are in umbel-like clusters. The leaves which smell like vanilla when crushed grow in whorls. It's locally common and I look forward to it flowering throughout May and June.

Third, Ramsoms, Allium ursinum. This is becoming a white carpet on roadsides and paths at the moment. All parts are strongly scented of garlic. The flowers are in loose clusters, sepals and petals identical. Leaves are stalked and long ovals.

Fourth, native Yellow Archangel, Lamium galeobdolon common in damp and shady woodland here. Whorls of large, yellow flowers marked with reddish brown streaks. Upper lip hooded, enclosing the four stamens and lower lip has three lobes.

A few thank yous are in order. First to @Barbus59 for advice and encouragement! Then to Simon Harrap who wrote Harrap's Wild Flowers my first go -to book. I often think authors are not thanked and acknowledged sufficiently. Finally all the people who have left likes and encouraging remarks on Twitter.  I hope you enjoy this blog. There should be another for midweek.