Botanical excitement

You may not think this wildflower looks very special. But to the amateur botanist it is seriously interesting.

Its name is Round-leaved Wintergreen. Pyrola rotundiflora. Although we have seen it before in Wales we have never seen it before round here. In fact Halliday’s definitive Flora of Cumbria says it has only been recorded twice in the County and one of those records is doubtful. Moreover those records were in 1947 and 1950.

So when the Warden of a nature reserve recorded it recently we were naturally keen to see if we could find it.

Happily the expedition was successful. There was a good stand of the plants in full flower. The main picture shows the whole plant including the round leaves.

In extras there are two more shots, one showing the stand of plants and one a close up of the flowers.

It may just give you an idea of how exciting botany can be.