Polygonatum odoratum 玉竹、萎、尾參、地管子、鈴鐺菜

Common name: Angular Solomon's-seal
Scientific name: Polygonatum odoratum 玉竹、萎、尾參、地管子、鈴鐺菜
Genus: Polygonatum 黃精屬

Family: Asparagaceae 天門冬科*, asparagus family

Remarks*: It is previously belonged to the Liliaceae 百合科, the lily family.

Origin: native

Date: 18th May & 15th June (fruiting)

[125417] Found in limestone pavement.

[157] (took on 15th June)

Emergent from grikes (岩)溶溝.

(A deep cleft formed in limestone surfaces due to water erosion)

[422] A cluster of angular Solomon's-seal in a grike.

[512] Younger plants.

[511_1] Very young plants with only one leaf.

[497_1] Young plant with more leaves.

[503_1] The base of the stem (see enlarged photo below).

[505_1] The base of the stem arising from the underground rhizome.

[453] Flowering plant.

[438] Stems distinctly angled. Note the leaves are attached directly to the stem without a petiole.

[439] Stems distinctly angled and also twisted. (vs stems smooth in Solomon's-seal, Polygonatum multiflorum 多花黃精)

[433_1] Upper surface of a leaf.

[427_1] Lower surface of a leaf.

[448] Flowers in clusters of 1-2 (one above). (vs in 2-5 flowered clusters in Solomon's-seal, Polygonatum multiflorum 多花黃精)

[427]

[428_1] Flower bud.

[429_1] Open flower. Flower tubular, not contracted in middle. (vs flower contracted in middle in Solomon's-seal, Polygonatum multiflorum 多花黃精)

[507_1] Front view of a flower, showing 6 perianth segments.

[443_1] 6 perianth segments.

[443_2] Enlarged photo above showing the 6 glabrous filaments (Ft) with yellow anthers at their tips (Ar). Note the stamens arose directly from the inner surface of perianths. In the middle of the flower, there is one style (Se) with stigma (Sa) at its tip. (vs hairy filaments in Solomon's-seal, Polygonatum multiflorum 多花黃精)

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[152] (took on 15th June) Fruiting now.

[159_1] (took on 15th June)

[150] (took on 15th June)

[147_1] (took on 15th June)

A young fruit. (ripe fruit would turns red or black)

[150_1] (took on 15th June)
Remains of style at its tip.

Ranunculus omiophyllus

Common name: Round-leaved Crowfoot
Scientific name: Ranunculus omiophyllus
Genus: Ranunculus 毛茛屬
Family: Family: Ranunculaceae 毛茛科, buttercup family

Remarks*: 

Origin: native

Date: 24th Aug

[4033] Prostate annual or perennial, growing on mud or in shallow water.
No finely divided submerged leaves. 
The above cluster has no flowers yet.

[4042]

[4042_1] Transparent stipules.

[4021] Leaves 8-30 mm wide, lobed less than half way into 3-5 main lobes, lobes narrowest at base.

(vs lobed less than half way into 3-5 main lobes,  lobes broadest at base in R. hederaceus, ivy-leaved crowfoot)

(vs leaves lobed more than half way into 3 main lobes in R. tripartitus, three-lobed crowfoot)

[4047_2] Underside of the leaf and stipules.

[4047_1] The above photo showing the branching to leaves and flower. Vegetative bud at the tip of the stem and stipules at the branches could be clearly seen..

[4025] Clusters with flowers.

[4023_2] Flower is erecting from the water.

[4023]

[4036] 5 petals, 8-10 stamens, numerous carpels. 

[4037_2] Flower of early stage. Stamens are short and anthers are clearly shown/

[4024_1] Flowers 8-12 mm diameter

[4040] Petals about 2 times as long as sepals. Sepals are greenish and reflexed.

[4024_2] This is a flower of later stage. Stamens are elongated and carpels with stigmas are clearly shown in the middle of the flower.

Butomus umbellatus 花藺

Common name: Flowering Rush
Scientific name: Butomus umbellatus 花藺
Genus: Butomus 花藺屬
Family: Butomaceae 花藺科*, flowering rush family

Remarks*: It is the only species in the family. '藺' is pronounced as '吝' in Cantonese. 

Origin: native

Date: 29th June & 18/8 (at different location)

[252] (took on different location at 18/8)

A tall, erect perennial, can grow up to 150 cm. Individual flower stalks up to 10 cm.

[253] (took on different location at 18/8)

[371] Leaves triangular in section.

[370] Flower bud. Green bracts are closed now.

[372] Green bracts open and an umbel (繖形花序)-like inflorescence (a single terminal flower surrounded by three cymes 聚繖花序) of individual flower buds could be seen now. 

[372_1] Green bracts and an umbel like of inflorescence of individual flower buds.

[259] (took on different location at 18/8)

[368] Attractive flowers.

[254] (took on different location at 18/8)

Early open flower with possible pollinator -- hoverfly.

[258] (took on different location at 18/8)

Hoverfly with the mouthparts could be seen now.

[257] (took on different location at 18/8)

An early open flower. 3 pink sepals and 3 larger petals; 6-9 stamens (still not yet open).

[380] An later flower. Some of the stamens had open and turn to yellow.

[373] Note that the styles of the carpels in the middle of the flower still aligned close to each other in this flower.

[269] (took on different location at 18/8)

A much upper view of the view showing clearly the 3 pink sepals and  3 pink larger petals; 6-9 stamens and 6-9 carpels (the styles are separated now) in the middle of the flower.

[375] An older stage of a flower. The anthers turn brown and withering. Every stigma (style?) seems to have a slit at their tops.

[267] (took on different location at 18/8) An older stage of a flower. Ovaries are enlarged. Styles of adjacent carpels are further apart. Each style has three stigmas could be seen.

[271] (took on different location at 18/8)
An umbel like inflorescence of flowers of different stages.

[263] (took on different location at 18/8)

Fruiting now. The sepals and carpels turned brown and persisted.

Oryctolagus cuniculus 穴兔

Common name: European Rabbit

Scientific name: Oryctolagus cuniculus 穴兔

Genus: Oryctolagus 穴兔屬

Family: Leporidae 兔科,  rabbits and hares family

Order: Lagomorpha 兔形目

Remarks: 

Status: It originates from Spain and Portugal and was introduced to UK by the Normans, initially kept in warrens for food and fur. It became widespread from about 1750. It is listed as least concern by the IUCN. It is an offence to release or allow to escape into the wild.

Date: 30th May

Halichoerus grypus 灰海豹

Common name: Grey Seal
Scientific name: Halichoerus grypus 灰海豹
Genus: Halichoerus 灰海豹屬
Family: Phocidae 海豹科,  earless seals, true seals family
Order: Carnivora 食肉目

Remarks: 

Status: It is listed as least concern by the IUCN but it is legally protected in Britain and Ireland. 

Date: 30th May

[189]

[197_1]

[191_1]

[195_1]