Rumex crispus subsp. littoreus

Common name: Curled Dock
Subspecies scientific name: Rumex crispus subsp. littoreus
Scientific name: Rumex crispus 皺葉酸模、土大黃、羊蹄葉
Genus: Rumex 酸模屬
Family: Polygonaceae 蓼科, knotweed or smartweed-buckwheat family

Remarks*: 

Origin: native

Date: 16th July

007 A tall erect perennial, can reach up to 100cm.

009

010 Leaves  lanceolate, narrow with strongly undulate or crisped margins, to 35cm.

011 Underside of the leaf.

001-1 Dense inflorescece. (vs open inflorescence in Rumex crispussubs. crispus)

005-1 Fruiting tepals triangular, without teeth, usually 3 tubercles, more or less equal, nuts equal to or more than 2.5mm (vs tubercules unequal or only 1, nuts equal to or less than 2.5mm in Rumex crispussubs. crispus)

Valeriana officinalis 纈草、歐纈草

Common name: Common Valerian
Scientific name: Valeriana officinalis 纈草、歐纈草
Genus: Valeriana 纈草屬*
Family: Caprifoliaceae 忍冬科, honeysuckle family

Remarks*: It is formerly placed in Valerianaceae 敗醬科, valerian family. The family is now catergorized as subfamily Valerianoideae 纈草亞科 of  Caprifoliaceae 忍冬科, honeysuckle family by APGI V.

Origin: native

Date: 19th July

289 A tall, erect, more or less glabrous perennial, can reach up to 150cm.

284 Bracts at the base of the inflorescence.

286 Upper leaves.

287 Leaves lower in the stem.

288 Leaves at much lower location of the stem. Leaves to about 20cm, pinnate with terminal leaflet, leaflets (entire or) irregularly toothed.

294 Ridged and hairy (at least at some location of the) stem.

295 Lower surface of the leaf.

291 Bracts at upper branch of the inflorescence. 

289-1 Dense terminal inflorescence.

289-2

282

292

281

282 The flower buds and the sepals.

281 Side view of the flowers showing the sepals, corolla tube and the petals.

292 The underside of the petals.

280

277

279 5 petals, 3 stamens and 1 style with 3 sigmas.

283 Fruiting now.

Forficula auricularia 歐洲蠳螋、歐洲球螋

Common name: Common Earwig
Scientific name: Forficula auricularia 歐洲蠳螋、歐洲球螋*
Genus: Forficula 蠳螋屬
Family: Forficulidae 蠳螋科, common earwigs
Order Dermaptera 革翅目, earwigs

Remarks*: Its synonyms is Forficula dentata. (蠳螋 pronounces as 影守)

Status: common

Date: 24th Sept 

A female, with forceps rather short and straight.

Note the folded hindwings are visible and tarsus S2 is flattened.

Artemisia vulgaris 北艾、白蒿、細葉艾、野艾

Common name: Mugwort
Scientific name: Artemisia vulgaris 北艾、白蒿、細葉艾、野艾
Genus: Artemisia 萵屬
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae 菊科, aster , daisy, composite or sunflower family

Remarks*: 

The name Artemisia ultimately derives from Artemis 阿耳忒彌斯、阿爾忒彌斯、阿爾泰密斯、亞提米斯、阿爾泰美斯, the Greek goddess of the moon, wild animals, and hunting.

The origins of this name date back to the Anglo-Saxons and has links to old German and Norse words. The Anglo-Saxons spelt it ‘mucgwyt’ but probably pronounced it as we do today. The head word (mug) is a direct reference to the fact that since the Iron Age the plant was used to flavour drinks. The second part is a direct reference to the Old English word for a ‘root, herb or plant which is ‘wyrt’. Similarities exist in Old High German where ‘wurz’ (pronounced wurtz), means root and the Old Norse word ‘urt’, means plant.

 
Folklore The Anglo-Saxons believed that the plant should be dug up on Midsummer’s Eve and go in search of a ‘coal’ secreted by the roots. This would give the finder and keeper protection from lightening, plague and carbuncles. This idea of harvesting it on a certain day as a protection from evil is reflected in Medieval Dutch and German folklore. Here, Mugwort is known as St John’s plant and was picked on St. John’s eve to ensure protection against ill health and misfortune.

Folk Medicine This plant has long been associated with helping to treat women with conditions such as infertility, irregular menstruation and problematic pregnancy. This link goes back to the ancient Greeks and the Latin name Artemisia, which comes from the goddess Artemis who was famous for helping women give birth. North America Indians used tea made with dried leaves to treat colds and fevers. They also used it in washes and salves to treat bruises, itching, sores, eczema and to reduce underarm or foot odour. The leaves, when dried and crushed, were used as a snuff to relieve congestion, nosebleeds and headaches. Whilst there is no clinical evidence to support the benefits of using Mugwort, modern herbalists still prescribe it to calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, alleviate intense headaches and as a treatment for epilepsy

 

It has also been mentioned in popular culture for centuries. Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort) was used to repel midges (mug = midge), fleas and moths, intestinal worms, and in brewing as a remedy against hangovers and nightmares.

(https://www.fareham.gov.uk/PDF/leisure/Mugwort.pdf)

Origin: Archaeophyte (established before 1500 AD.) It has a Eurosiberian Temperate distribution.

Date: 16th July

166 A tall, robust, aromatic perennial, can reach up to 150cm. Branches erect.

171 Stem. (becoming glabrous - from textbook)

168 Leaves 5-8cm, deeply divided, dark green, glabrous above, ultimate segments lanceolate, 3-6mm wide.

169 Leaves whitish pubescent beneath.

167 Flowering heads 3-4mm across, numerous.

Anthyllis vulneraria 巖豆、岩豆、療傷絨毛花、療傷草、療腎野豌豆

Common name: Kidney Vetch
Scientific name: Anthyllis vulneraria 巖豆、岩豆、療傷絨毛花、療傷草、療腎野豌豆
Genus: Anthyllis 巖豆屬、岩豆屬、絨毛花屬
Family: Fabaceae 豆科, legume, pea or bean family

Remarks*: 

Origin: native

Date: 16th July

213 A prostrate to erect, pubescent perennial, can reach up to 60cm.

213-1 Leaves to 14cm. Leaflets more than five.

218 Leaves pinnate, without tendrils. (note not all leaves with leaflets more than five) (Lower leaves often reduced to single large terminal leaflet - could not be seen in the above photo)

217 Leaves with a terminal leaflet.

217-1 Hairy underside of the leaflet.

214

207 Note the a bit blurred withered flowers in the left side of the above photo, you could see paired umbels.

208 Paired umbels surrounded by leaf-like bracts. (you could see two sets of bracts here, thus indicates two umbels above)

211 Calyx inflated and covered by white wholly hairs.

211-1 Flower 12-15mm. (not yet fully open)

220 Fully open flower.

220-1 Finally found one with wings separated and keel and the stigma in the middle could be seen.

210 Developing pods.

210-1 Glabrous pods, about 3mm. (The above photo shows some clearly developing pods with still hairs on their surfaces)

Plantago media 北車前、中車前

Common name: Hoary Plantain
Scientific name: Plantago media 北車前、中車前
Genus: Plantago 車前草屬
Family: Plantaginaceae 車前科, plantain family

Remarks*:

Origin: native

Date: 19th July

0018 A pubescent perennial.

20 Basal rosette.

22 Leaves 4-6cm, ovate to elliptic, 5-9-ribbed, almost sessile or short-stalked.

21 Underside of the leaf.

23  The inflorescence stalk, much longer than leaves, to 30cm, not furrowed.

19-1 Spike 2-6cm.

18-1 Flowers whitish; filaments purple. (sorry that the rain overnight make it looks a bit messy)