The Flora of Castlewarden

Latin:  Lapsana communis Irish:  Duilleog Bhríde   This is a native species of medium height, with spindly, wiry stems and very small 10-20mm dandelion-like flowers.  The flowers open in sunshine only, from May to October and are borne in loose panicles. The upper leaves are edible and the plant has also been used in herbal medicine.   In a recent Irish publication Zoe Devlin (2011) suggests that the flower buds of Nipplewort were thought to resemble nipples.  It was therefore expected that its use would help

Latin:  Lamium purpureum Irish:  Neanntóg chaoch   Contrary to the common name, Red Deadnettle is not closely related to the more familiar stinging nettle – the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).   It is, in fact, closely related to the well-known culinary herbs thyme, mint and basil. The plant is vaguely nettle-like.  Leaves and stems are covered with hairs but they are stingless.  The plant grows about 10-20cm tall and bears reddish-purple flowers.  Flowering occurs from March to October.   This is a native species that favours waste places

Latin:  Juncus effusus Irish:  Luachair   This species can be found around each of the lakes on the course, in the Builder’s Paddock and in some of the open drains around the periphery of the course. The Common Rush is a native perennial that normally is associated with wet soils, ditches, marshes, riverbanks and lakesides.  Its leaves are greatly reduced in size, often consisting of small sheaths around the base of the stems which grow in dense tufts. Small flowers are produced during the summer in small

Latin:  Heracleum sphondylium Irish:  Feabhrán   Hogweed is a large (1-1.5m high) perennial native plant that flowers in late May-June.  It is abundant in hedges and waste places and can be found in many parts of the course. It produces sprays of white flowers in a structure that resembles an umbrella –it’s not surprising, therefore, that it comes from the Umbelliferae family.   Although there are clear anatomical differences, Hogweed can be mistaken for other Umbelliferous plants that grow on the course. The flowers of Hogweed

Latin:  Hedera helix Irish:  Eidhneán   Ivy is a fully hardy, perennial, woody, evergreen that is native to Ireland.  It has a creeping or climbing growth habit, doing so by means of small roots borne along the climbing stems.  It has two kinds of leaves:  entire and diamond-shaped on flowering shoots and palmately 5-lobed on the barren ones.  It is also somewhat unusual in terms of flowering; its green flowers appearing during the winter months, usually October- December.  These develop into black berries.   Ivy has

Latin:  Glechoma hederacea Irish:  Athair lusa   This is a native perennial that has slightly hairy, trailing or creeping stems and produces whorls of small, violet-coloured, two-lip, flowers in the axils of the leaves. It is frequent throughoutIrelandand is usually found in woods, hedges and grassy places.  It can come into flower as early as April and has been recorded flowering in early May in the Builder’s Paddock.   Variegated forms of Ground Ivy are sometimes grown by gardeners, especially as a trailing plant for use in

Latin:  Geranium robertianum Irish:  Ruithéal rí   This is a slightly hairy, native annual that is quite common on walls and roadsides and in hedgerows.  It can be found in abundance along the avenue at Castlewarden and in many of the hedgerows and waste places. It is often found in shady places and, even there, it is an attractive plant with its red-tinged stems and leaves and small pink flowers (15-20mm across) that open in late May.  However, it is seen in its full glory when found

Latin:  Galium verum Irish:  Bolach cnis   Lady’s Bedstraw is a rather delicate native perennial with slender, square, trailing stems (up to 100cm) bearing whorls of 8 or more needle-like leaves.  It flowers in late June and produces golden heads of tiny (2-4mm across) bright yellow flowers. The only incidence of this species noted thus far has been on the west-facing slope of the motte behind the the 10thgreen. Lady’s bedstraw has a long history of use as a herbal medicine, though it is little used in

Latin:  Galium aparine Irish:  Garbhlus   This native annual, also known by the common name “Robin-Run-The-Hedge”, has straggling stems that, like the leaves, are clothed with small, hooked prickles that behave like “Velcro” allowing the stems to tenaciously adhere to clothing, etc.. It has small relatively inconspicuous flowers that appear in late May-June and the fruits are small (3-4mm) spheres covered in Velcro-like bristles.   It is a serious weed of field and garden because the stems spread rampantly and quickly and shade out any plants

Latin:  Filipendula ulmaria Irish:  Airgead luachra   This is a close relative of the Spirea, the flowering shrubs long-used by gardeners.  In fact this species is referred to as “Spirea” in North America.  It is a native perennial that often escapes attention despite its attractive features.  It favours roadsides and bushy places and in Castlewarden it can be found growing beside the open drain separating the Builder’s Paddock from the large practice area and in other parts of the course. It is somewhat woody, with attractive pinnate