Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

Family: Rosaceae

Common name: Rowan

Scientific name: Sorbus aucuparia

Date taken: 26/5/2024

Notes: Tree with imparipinnate leaves. Petiole and underside of leaves whitish-grey downy. Preferentially browsed by deer, which inhibit regeneration.

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)

Family: Rosaceae

Common name: Tormentil

Scientific name: Potentilla erecta

Date taken: 26/5/2024

Notes: Characterised by the abundance of sessile stem leaves. Leaves with 3 deeply serrated leaflets and 2 leaf-like stipules, which gives a false impression of having 5 leaflets. This contrasts with Creeping Cinquefoil (P. reptans), which has true palmate leaves on long stalks. 

The plant does not tend to root at nodes, and basal leaves not present when flowering, which distinguishes it from Trailing Tormentil (P. anglica) or other hybrids.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Family: Rosaceae

Common name: Hawthorn

Scientific name: Crataegus monogyna

Date taken: 20/5/2023

Notes: A thorny tree with distinctive leaves. Flowers with a single stigma.

Dewberry (Rubus caesius)

Family: Rosaceae

Common name: Dewberry

Scientific name: Rubus caesius

Date taken: 3/9/2022

Notes: Superficially resembles a smaller version of the more common Bramble (R. fruticosus). Leaves trifoliate. Stems weak, prickly. Berries distinctive and looks like dew droplets. Changes from green to dark purple with waxy coating when ripe.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Family: Rosaceae

Common name: Blackthorn, Sloe

Scientific name: Prunus spinosa

Date taken: 10/07/2022

Notes: Spiny shrub or small tree. Fruits used to make sloe gin.