Saturday, 10 May 2014

Sanna Wildflower

Is anyone able to identify this wildflower for us?  It was found yesterday in open land, amongst short grass and heather, to the east of Sanna.

This is the same picture with the stalk and leaves showing.

Any help much appreciated.

5 comments:

  1. Polygala sp.
    Maybe Polygala vulgaris.
    They are not always blue.

    http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/polygalaceae/polygala-vulgaris.htm
    Sheila

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  2. Many thanks indeed, Sheila, for, once again, sorting me out. It was the colour that was so unexpected, I hadn't realised that milkwort comes in pink and white. Interestingly, this is the only pink one we've seen, though the blue variety is out in good numbers this year. Jon

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    Replies
    1. Looks like the Heath Milkwort (polygala serpyllifolia). The leaves are opposite each other rather than arranged alternately as in the Common Milkwort. Maybe it is a special Sanna variant, as the stem and the leaves have a distinctive pinky red tinge to them, and the leaves also appear more 'fleshy' than is usual.

      Gillean

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  3. Hi Gillean - I did notice the leaves being fleshy - but this is exciting. Do we have our own subspecies? Jon

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  4. I tried to look very very carefully at the leaves in the 2 pics Jon posted.and thought they looked alternate.
    Maybe you could check Jon?
    Sheila

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