The Flora of Castlewarden

Latin:  Nasturtium officinale Irish:  Biolar   This is a native perennial, with small white flowers that appear in June, and with creeping stems that root in mud in shallow streams and at the edges of ponds.  It occurs profusely at the edges of lakes on the course at Castlewarden and is very visible and accessible around the lake on the right side of the 3rd green. This plant has a peppery taste and can be used in salads and is said to contain significant amounts of iron, calcium,

Latin:  Medicago lupulina Irish:  Dúmheidic   Black Medick is a soft, hairy annual, or short-lived perennial, with a very prostrate growth habit and with stems that never grow more than 50cm along the ground. This species is regarded by some as the true shamrock but the consensus would appear to lie elsewhere.  As far back as 1893, the famous Irish botanist, Nathaniel Colgan asked people from all overIrelandto send him “genuine Shamrock”.  He identified those samples that were sent to him and his results showed 51% Yellow

Latin:  Matricaria discoidea Irish:  Lus na hiothlann   This is a non-native bushy annual that grows to a height of 5-30cm. The two most distinctive features of this wildflower are its leaves and its scent. The leaves are finely dissected into hair-like pointed segments and the scent of the leaves when crushed is just like pineapple. It is most commonly found, often as extensive patches, in farmyards, on pathways and waste places. It flowers from May through to November but the flowers are unusual and not particularly

Latin:  Lathyrus pratensis Irish:  Peasairín buí   This native species is a close relative of sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and can be found in many of the hedgerows and areas of unmown grass around the course (such as on the headlands of the large practice area). It is a straggling, slightly downy plant with narrow spear-shaped leaves that occur in pairs with branched or unbranched tendrils that allow the plant to climb up and be supported by neighbouring plants, etc..  Striking bright yellow flowers (12-15mm long), not

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:  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