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  • Purple Hairstreak - Neozephyrus quercus = Favonius quercus. Male (top) - female  (centre and bottom (underside)). Wingspan 38mm. A rather enigmatic butterfly that can be hard to observe closely. As an adult it usually remains close to the top of the mature tree where its life-cycle began. Lives in colonies. Adults have brown upperwings; males have purple sheen on both wings, in females it is restricted to hindwings. Underwings are grey with hairstreak line. Larva is brown and rather slug-like; feeds on oak buds. Widespread but locally common only in southern England and Wales.
    156706.jpg
  • Copper Underwing  Amphipyra pyramidea Length 24-26mm. A well-marked moth that rests with its wings held flat, or with one forewing partly overlapping the other. Often ventures indoors through open windows and congregates in groups in dark place in the daytime. Adult has brown forewings with wavy white and dark lines and a pale central eyespot. The hindwing underside has an orange tinge confined to the outer margin. Seen head-on, the palps are uniformly pale brown. Flies August-October. Larva feeds on deciduous trees and shrubs. Widespread and commonest in southern Britain.
    140529.jpg
  • Grey Alder Alnus incana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 25m <br />
A fast-growing alder more at home on dry soils than most other alders. Shoots and new leaves are covered with a dense layer of soft greyish hairs (hence incana). BARK Smooth and grey. LEAVES Triangular and toothed, terminating in a point, and the margins do not roll inwards. Hairs persist on the underside of the leaf as it matures. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The catkins and fruits are very similar to those of other alders, although the green fruits are more globose before ripening to the typical dark, woody alder cone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, introduced into Britain but not often planted. A good species for wasteland and reclamation schemes.
    134710.jpg
  • Small-headed Clingfish Apletodon dentatus Length to 4cm<br />
Small clingfish. In pools and sublittoral on rocky shores; sometimes inside bulbous Saccorhiza holdfasts. Easily overlooked: well camouflaged and often remains motionless when exposed. Adult has slender, rather flattened but angular body with pointed snout. Colour is variable: usually marbled greenish (sometimes reddish) with pale patches on back. Has dark patch at base of dorsal and anal fins. Anal fin lies below dorsal. Widespread but local in W and SW.
    142764.jpg
  • Thornback Ray Raja clavata Length to 90cm<br />
The most familiar inshore ray. Adult has a flat, roughly diamond-shaped body with a short snout. Dorsal surface of the long tail has thorny spines with swollen bases; these continue in a line along the dorsal surface of the body. Upper body surface is grey-brown with dark stripes or pale and dark spots; lower surface is pale. Tail looks banded. Lays eggs, protected in a tough case.
    142954.jpg
  • Velvet Tooth - Hydnellum spongiosipes
    156744.jpg
  • White-letter Hairstreak - Strymondia w-album. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 35mm. Small, active butterfly that is hard to observe closely. Usually flies around treetops but also visits Bramble flowers to feed. Adult seldom reveals upperwings. Underwings are brown with jagged orange band and white ‘w’ on hindwing. Flies July-Aug. Larva is rather slug-like and feeds on elms. Widespread loss of larval foodplants from Dutch elm disease has caused decline. Today it is very local, in central and southern England and Wales.
    156713.jpg
  • White Poplar - Populus alba Salicaceae Height to 20m <br />
Elegant, open tree. Bark Pale with diamond-shaped scars. Shoots With white felt in spring. Leaves Lobed, grey-green above, dense white felt below. Reproductive parts Male catkins ovoid, white and fluffy; female catkins slender and greenish. Status Long-established introduction.
    157432.jpg
  • Sand Sole -  Pegusa lascaris
    156905.jpg
  • White Poplar - Populus alba Salicaceae Height to 20m <br />
Elegant, open tree. Bark Pale with diamond-shaped scars. Shoots With white felt in spring. Leaves Lobed, grey-green above, dense white felt below. Reproductive parts Male catkins ovoid, white and fluffy; female catkins slender and greenish. Status Long-established introduction.
    157557.jpg
  • Greasy Bracket - Aurantiporus fissilis
    135326.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    143307.jpg
  • Bay Bolete - Boletus badius (aka Xerocomus badius)
    135618.jpg
  • Amanita argentea
    135412.jpg
  • Saffron Bolete - Leccinum crocipodium
    135386.jpg
  • Porcellain Fungus - Oudemansiella mucida
    103565.jpg
  • Perreniporia ochroleuca
    159661.jpg
  • Adder - Vipera berus
    159805.jpg
  • Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata Length 25mm. An active moth that is easily disturbed in the daytime. At rest, the wings are held flat, one forewing overlapping the other. Adult has forewings that are rich brown in the male, paler buff in the female; all individuals have a dark cross band and dark mark near the tip of the leading edge. The hindwings are orange-yellow with a broad black, subterminal band. Has an extended flying season, from July–September. Larva eats a wide range of herbaceous plants. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    140213.jpg
  • New Zealand Broadleaf (also known as Kapuka) Griselinia littoralis Height to 7m. Evergreen shrub or small tree. Leaves are oval , leathery and yellowish-green. Flowers  are greenish-yellow and borne in panicle. Fruits are blackish berries. Semi-hardy, doing best in England in  southern coastal districts
    133688.jpg
  • Silver Maple Acer saccharinum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
Broadly columnar tree with spreading crown; suckers freely. BARK Smooth, greyish but scaly with age. BRANCHES Numerous, slender and ascending with pendulous brownish twigs. LEAVES To 16cm long, deeply divided into 5 lobes with irregularly toothed margins, orange or red-tinted at first, green above later, but with silvery hairs below; petiole usually pink-tinged. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-green flowers (no petals) in small short-stalked clusters of separate sexes in spring. Green, then brown, fruits are about 6cm long, with diverging wings and prominent veins. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America, planted here for ornament.
    132914.jpg
  • French Hales Sorbus devoniensis (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 7m <br />
A medium-sized tree, or sometimes a large hedgerow shrub. LEAVES Broadly oval and leathery with shallow-toothed, sharp lobes on distal two-thirds of leaf; dark glossy green above and white below, with 7-9 pairs of veins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are brownish orange, to 15mm long, with numerous lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Local, on neutral to slightly acid, rocky ground; the main range is Devon and E Cornwall, but it also occurs in SE Ireland. These days it is mainly a hedgerow species but it is also found in coastal woodland too.
    132654.jpg
  • Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus Length 8-9cm A small newt. Adult has yellowish belly and pinkish, unspotted throat at all times. Note hint of pale vertical stripe above hind legs. Breeding male develops diagnostic palmations between toes on hind feet and thin filament projecting from tip of blunt tail. Body is olive-brown with dark marbling; orange-buff band extends along flanks and side of tail. Colours are duller at other times but retains dark eye stripe. Female is yellowish brown. Unspotted throat allows separation from female Smooth Newt (throat is spotted). Juvenile resembles an adult female. Locally common in neutral to acid ponds in breeding season, often on heaths and moors. Found in grassy habitats at other times.
    143217.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    143308.jpg
  • Porcelain Fungus - Oudemansiella mucida
    135532.jpg
  • Elder Sambucus nigra Caprifoliaceae Height to 10m<br />
Untidy deciduous shrub or small tree. Bark Grey-brown, furrowed, corky and lichen-covered with age. Branches Spreading, twisted, with white central pith. Leaves Opposite, compound with 5–7 pairs of ovate, toothed leaflets, each to 12cm long. Reproductive part Flowers, white, sickly-sweet scented, in flat-topped clusters. Fruits are rounded, shiny-black berries, in pendulous heads. Status Common.
    153637.jpg
  • Common Whitebeam Sorbus aria Rosaceae Height to 25m <br />
Deciduous tree or spreading shrub. Bark Smooth and grey. Branches Spreading; twigs brown above, green below. Buds ovoid, green, tipped with hairs. Leaves Oval, to 12cm long, toothed, very hairy below. Reproductive parts Flowers white, clustered. Fruits ovoid, to 1.5cm long, red. Status Native in S mainly on chalky soils; also widely planted in towns.
    132660.jpg
  • Oriental Fire-bellied Toad Bombina orientalis Length to 4cm Native to temperate regions of E Asia but widely kept in captivity. Adult has marbled green upperparts and with bright orange-yellow patches on otherwise dark underparts.
    132837.jpg
  • Amanita argentea
    135411.jpg
  • Beefsteak Fungus - Fistulina hepatica
    135320.jpg
  • Swainson's Hawk - Buteo swainsoni
    159559.jpg
  • Green Alder - Alnus viridis
    134258.jpg
  • Silver Maple Acer saccharinum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
Broadly columnar tree with spreading crown; suckers freely. BARK Smooth, greyish but scaly with age. BRANCHES Numerous, slender and ascending with pendulous brownish twigs. LEAVES To 16cm long, deeply divided into 5 lobes with irregularly toothed margins, orange or red-tinted at first, green above later, but with silvery hairs below; petiole usually pink-tinged. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-green flowers (no petals) in small short-stalked clusters of separate sexes in<br />
spring. Green, then brown, fruits are about 6cm long, with diverging wings and prominent veins. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America, planted here for ornament.
    132602.jpg
  • Bearded Tooth - Hericium erinaceus
    135321.jpg
  • European Tree Frog - Hyla arborea
    159803.jpg
  • Small-eyed Ray Raja microocellata Length to 75cm<br />
Well-marked ray. Found in mouths of estuaries and sandy bays. Adult has typical ray shape with rather short snout. Upper surface is grey-brown with pale lines and spots. Lays eggs, protected in a tough case. Widespread and locally common in S and W only.
    142681.jpg
  • Whortle-leaved Willow Salix myrsinites (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 50cm. Spreading undershrub. SHOOTS Glossy reddish brown when mature. LEAVES Oval, to 5cm long, shiny green with obvious veins on both sides. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Rare, on base-rich mountain soils.
    134560.jpg
  • Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus Length 8-9cm A small newt. Adult has yellowish belly and pinkish, unspotted throat at all times. Note hint of pale vertical stripe above hind legs. Breeding male develops diagnostic palmations between toes on hind feet and thin filament projecting from tip of blunt tail. Body is olive-brown with dark marbling; orange-buff band extends along flanks and side of tail. Colours are duller at other times but retains dark eye stripe. Female is yellowish brown. Unspotted throat allows separation from female Smooth Newt (throat is spotted). Juvenile resembles an adult female. Locally common in neutral to acid ponds in breeding season, often on heaths and moors. Found in grassy habitats at other times.
    143216.jpg
  • Turkeytail - Trametes versicolor
    135577.jpg
  • Larch Bolete - Suillus grevillei
    135368.jpg
  • Elder Sambucus nigra Caprifoliaceae Height to 10m<br />
Untidy deciduous shrub or small tree. Bark Grey-brown, furrowed, corky and lichen-covered with age. Branches Spreading, twisted, with white central pith. Leaves Opposite, compound with 5–7 pairs of ovate, toothed leaflets, each to 12cm long. Reproductive part Flowers, white, sickly-sweet scented, in flat-topped clusters. Fruits are rounded, shiny-black berries, in pendulous heads. Status Common.
    153640.jpg
  • Olive/Hoary Willow Salix elaeagnos (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m. Similar to Osier. SHOOTS Young twigs have dense grey or white hairs; older twigs become yellow-brown and smooth. LEAVES Species is best recognised by studying leaves: has matt white hairs beneath; dark shiny green above when mature. Leaves, to 15cm long and less than 1cm wide, have untoothed margins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female catkins appear on separate trees, just before leaves; reddish, male catkins to 3cm long, female catkins smaller. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Europe, sometimes planted here for ornament.
    134454.jpg
  • Common Whitebeam Sorbus aria Rosaceae Height to 25m <br />
Deciduous tree or spreading shrub. Bark Smooth and grey. Branches Spreading; twigs brown above, green below. Buds ovoid, green, tipped with hairs. Leaves Oval, to 12cm long, toothed, very hairy below. Reproductive parts Flowers white, clustered. Fruits ovoid, to 1.5cm long, red. Status Native in S mainly on chalky soils; also widely planted in towns.
    132317.jpg
  • Variable Oysterling - Crepidotus variabilis
    132586.jpg
  • Montagu's Sea Snail Liparis montagui Length to 5cm<br />
Unusual species, recalling a plump tadpole. At first glance, hard to recognise as a fish at all. Found in pools and under stones on lower shore. Adult is slimy and scaleless, with skin that wrinkles. Head is bulbous. Dorsal and anal fins do not overlap tail fin. Colour variable, often yellowish but sometimes dark reddish-brown. STATUS Widespread but local; mainly in S and W.
    142178.jpg
  • Summer Bolete - Boletus reticulatus
    135409.jpg
  • Silver Maple Acer saccharinum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
Broadly columnar tree with spreading crown; suckers freely. BARK Smooth, greyish but scaly with age. BRANCHES Numerous, slender and ascending with pendulous brownish twigs. LEAVES To 16cm long, deeply divided into 5 lobes with irregularly toothed margins, orange or red-tinted at first, green above later, but with silvery hairs below; petiole usually pink-tinged. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-green flowers (no petals) in small short-stalked clusters of separate sexes in<br />
spring. Green, then brown, fruits are about 6cm long, with diverging wings and prominent veins. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America, planted here for ornament.
    132603.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt - Triturus cristatus
    163068.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt - Triturus cristatus
    163067.jpg
  • Gadwall - Anas strepera
    160001.jpg
  • Bird Cherry - Prunus padus
    158172.jpg
  • California Nutmeg Torreya californica (Taxaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. Broadly conical tree with a stout bole in mature specimens, producing high-quality timber. BARK Reddish grey with narrow ridges. BRANCHES long and almost horizontal in mature trees, supporting descending lines of greenish shoots. LEAVES Needle-like with two pale greyish bands on the underside; grow in a row on each side of shoot, and smell of sage if crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Trees are usually either male or female. Male flowers resemble small yellowish catkins, borne on undersides of shoots. Fruits are ovoid, 5cm long, and green with pur¬plish streaks; resemble nutmegs and contain a single (inedible) seed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mountain woodlands in California. Often planted in mature gardens in Britain.
    134657.jpg
  • Prince Albert’s Yew Saxegothaea conspicua (Podocarpaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Often resembles a large yew, with a strong ribbed bole. BARK Reddish or purple-brown bark, peeling off in rounded scales. LEAVES Flattened, curved needles up to 3cm long, arranged untidily on the shoot. Tinged purple at first, becoming greener later. Note two pale bands on underside. Crushed leaves have a smell of grass. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are purplish, growing in leaf axils on undersides of shoots. Female flowers are small and blue-grey, and give rise to tiny greenish conelets that are borne at tips of shoots. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of forests of S Chile and Argentina, preferring damp, sheltered sites. Best specimens outside native area are found in Ireland and SW England.
    132646.jpg
  • Eastern Hemlock-spruce Tsuga canadensis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m. Untidy tree with heavy branches, a forked trunk and dark foliage. BARK Blackish. LEAVES Needles, more tapering than those of Western Hemlock with a narrower tip; further row of leaves along middle of shoot twists to show white undersides. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers small, yellowish, clustered along underside of shoots. Female cones 1.5cm long; cone scales have thickened edges. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of eastern N America. Widely planted here.
    134907.jpg
  • Eastern Hemlock-spruce Tsuga canadensis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m. Untidy tree with heavy branches, a forked trunk and dark foliage. BARK Blackish. LEAVES Needles, more tapering than those of Western Hemlock with a narrower tip; further row of leaves along middle of shoot twists to show white undersides. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers small, yellowish, clustered along underside of shoots. Female cones 1.5cm long; cone scales have thickened edges. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of eastern N America. Widely planted here.
    132610.jpg
  • Eastern Hemlock-spruce Tsuga canadensis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m. Untidy tree with heavy branches, a forked trunk and dark foliage. BARK Blackish. LEAVES Needles, more tapering than those of Western Hemlock with a narrower tip; further row of leaves along middle of shoot twists to show white undersides. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers small, yellowish, clustered along underside of shoots. Female cones 1.5cm long; cone scales have thickened edges. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of eastern N America. Widely planted here.
    117725.jpg
  • Eastern Hemlock-spruce Tsuga canadensis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m. Untidy tree with heavy branches, a forked trunk and dark foliage. BARK Blackish. LEAVES Needles, more tapering than those of Western Hemlock with a narrower tip; further row of leaves along middle of shoot twists to show white undersides. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers small, yellowish, clustered along underside of shoots. Female cones 1.5cm long; cone scales have thickened edges. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of eastern N America. Widely planted here.
    132611.jpg
  • Prince Albert’s Yew Saxegothaea conspicua (Podocarpaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Often resembles a large yew, with a strong ribbed bole. BARK Reddish or purple-brown bark, peeling off in rounded scales. LEAVES Flattened, curved needles up to 3cm long, arranged untidily on the shoot. Tinged purple at first, becoming greener later. Note two pale bands on underside. Crushed leaves have a smell of grass. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are purplish, growing in leaf axils on undersides of shoots. Female flowers are small and blue-grey, and give rise to tiny greenish conelets that are borne at tips of shoots. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of forests of S Chile and Argentina, preferring damp, sheltered sites. Best specimens outside native area are found in Ireland and SW England.
    132649.jpg
  • California Nutmeg Torreya californica (Taxaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. Broadly conical tree with a stout bole in mature specimens, producing high-quality timber. BARK Reddish grey with narrow ridges. BRANCHES long and almost horizontal in mature trees, supporting descending lines of greenish shoots. LEAVES Needle-like with two pale greyish bands on the underside; grow in a row on each side of shoot, and smell of sage if crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Trees are usually either male or female. Male flowers resemble small yellowish catkins, borne on undersides of shoots. Fruits are ovoid, 5cm long, and green with pur¬plish streaks; resemble nutmegs and contain a single (inedible) seed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mountain woodlands in California. Often planted in mature gardens in Britain.
    134629.jpg
  • Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
    145007.jpg
  • Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
    145004.jpg
  • Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus Wingspan 40mm. A classic hedgerow and wayside butterfly, and a sign that summer has arrived; often feeds on Bramble flowers. Adult has brown upperwings with broad orange patches and an eyespot with twin highlights on the forewing. Underside of hindwing is marbled brown and buffish-white; forewing has large orange patch with an eyespot. Flies July–Aug. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Locally common in central and southern England and Wales, and southern Ireland.
    140163.jpg
  • Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Wingspan 40mm. Similar to Pearl-bordered Fritillary and close attention to underwing markings is needed to confirm identification; typically flies later in the season than Pearl-bordered. Adult has orange brown upperwings with dark markings: on underside of hindwing note seven silver marginal spots and several silver central spots (just two in Pearl-bordered). Flies in June. Larva is black and hairy; feeds on violets. Local in woodland and grassland where violets are common, mainly in western half of Britain.
    131205.jpg
  • Syrian Juniper Juniperus drupacea (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Shapely evergreen, forming a slender, tall column of compact, bright-green foliage. Occasionally the trunk and crown divide to make a more conical tree. BARK Orange-brown, peeling away in thin shreds. LEAVES Needle-like, pointed with a spine and 2 pale bands on the underside, and are longer than any other Juniper at 2.5cm. Needles grow in bunches of 3. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male trees produce tiny, bright yellowish-green, oval flowers. Female trees produce tiny green flowers in small clusters at the tips of twigs, opening in spring, and these develop into rounded, woody cones, about 2cm in diameter, which turn purple-brown when mature. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mountain forests in W Asia; range just extends into Greece. Occasionally planted in British and Irish gardens.
    134970.jpg
  • Plum Yew (Japanese Cow-tail Pine) Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Cephalotaxaceae) HEIGHT to 6m<br />
Small, bushy, yew-like evergreen tree. LEAVES Leathery and spineless, in dense clusters on slightly down-curved twigs. <br />
C. harringtonia var. drupacea is a more frequently seen variant with shorter leaves growing almost vertically on the gracefully curving shoots and showing their silvery-green lower surfaces. C. harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ is an upright form with much darker foliage; leaves reach 7cm in length, although they are shorter near the tip of the current year’s growth. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Creamy-white male flowers are borne in small clusters on the underside of twigs; female flowers (on separate sex trees) borne on very short stalks, later giving rise to small greenish plum-like fruits. <br />
STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Known only as a garden plant, originally from Japan, and never seen growing in the wild.
    134917.jpg
  • Green Alder Alnus viridis (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 5m <br />
Rarely more than a large shrub or small tree. BARK Brown. BRANCHES With mostly smooth, greenish twigs and pointed, sessile, shiny-red buds. LEAVES More pointed than those of Common Alder and sharply toothed, hairy on the midrib and in the joins of the veins on the underside. When first open they are sticky to the touch. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male catkins, appearing with the leaves, are up to 12cm, yellow and pendulous; female catkins are 1cm long, erect and greenish at first, becoming reddish later, and usually found in stalked clusters of 3–5. The cone-like ripe catkins are rounded, green and tough at first, becoming blackened later and persisting until the following spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the mountains of central and E Europe, planted here for ornament.
    132938.jpg
  • Meyer’s Juniper Juniperus squamata ‘Meyeri’ similar to Chinese Juniper J. chinensis (Height to 11m) Small conical evergreen with striking blue-grey foliage when young. Needle-like leaves have paler stripe on underside. Bark of mature trees peels in thin pinkish-brown scales. Tolerates poor soils and tough growing conditions so suited to town gardens.
    132724.jpg
  • Chilean Plum Yew Prumnopitys andina (Podocarpus andinus) (Podocarpaceae) HEIGHT to 20m<br />
Resembles a yew, but unrelated. Grows either with a single upright bole and horizontal branches, or sometimes with several boles and more upright branches. BARK Dark grey and smooth with occasional scars and ridges. LEAVES Flattened, needle-like and up to 2.5cm long; deep bluish-green on upper surface with 2 pale bands on underside. Leaves are much softer than true yew leaves, except in young trees when they are more leathery and bear small spines. Borne in dense shoots, either arranged in 2 ranks on either side of the shoot or spread all round it. FLOWERS Male catkins are yellow and borne in branched clusters near the ends of shoots. Female flowers are greenish and produced in small spikes at the tips of the shoots. The flowers occur on different-sex plants, opening in the spring. FRUITS resemble small green plums at first, containing a single seed, and may ripen to become blackened and covered with a fine bloom like sloes. <br />
STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the mountains of Argentina and Chile.
    132464.jpg
  • Italian Alder Alnus cordata (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 29m<br />
An attractive tree with a bold, conical shape, fine glossy leaves and an impressive show of catkins and cones. BARK Pale grey and fairly smooth with slightly downy twigs. LEAVES Best feature for identification is the glossy heart-shaped leaves (hence cordata), which have short tufts of orange hairs along the midrib on the underside. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male catkins are yellow and produced prolifically; female catkins are borne in small clusters, ripening in early summer. woody ‘cones’ are larger than those of any other Alder species. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Corsica and S Italy, planted here in parks and gardens, and often along roadsides.
    132278.jpg
  • Syrian Juniper Juniperus drupacea (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Shapely evergreen, forming a slender, tall column of compact, bright-green foliage. Occasionally the trunk and crown divide to make a more conical tree. BARK Orange-brown, peeling away in thin shreds. LEAVES Needle-like, pointed with a spine and 2 pale bands on the underside, and are longer than any other Juniper at 2.5cm. Needles grow in bunches of 3. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male trees produce tiny, bright yellowish-green, oval flowers. Female trees produce tiny green flowers in small clusters at the tips of twigs, opening in spring, and these develop into rounded, woody cones, about 2cm in diameter, which turn purple-brown when mature. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mountain forests in W Asia; range just extends into Greece. Occasionally planted in British and Irish gardens.
    117561.jpg
  • BIRD’S-EYE PRIMROSE Primula farinosa (Primulaceae) Height to 12cm. Charming perennial, associated with damp, bare grassland, and invariably found on limestone soils. FLOWERS are 8-10mm across, 5-lobed and pink with a yellow, central ‘eye’; borne in terminal umbels on upright, mealy stems (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are spoon-shaped, mealy white on the underside and form a basal rosette. STATUS-Local and restricted to a few locations in N England.
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  • Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis Length 12-15m (Pronounced Say). Similar to Fin Whale but smaller and with a characteristic blow and dive sequence. Rises almost horizontally to surface so blow, head, back and dorsal fin can be seen together (Fin and Minke Whales rise in a gliding arch). Fast swimmer that feeds on krill. Adult has streamlined body; blue-grey, palest on underside. Head is broader and less pointed than Fin Whale and colour is symmetrical. Has single median ridge on rostrum, flippers are uniformly coloured and dorsal fin tall and strongly recurved
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  • Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia - male (top) - typical female (bottom left) - valezina female (bottom right). Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
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  • Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 30mm. A tiny grassland butterfly that invariably rests with its wings closed; upperwings are almost never revealed. Underside of forewing is orange with an eyespot; hindwing is marbled grey, brown and buff. Double-brooded: flies May–June and August–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Widespread but locally common only in southern England; range has contracted because it is restricted to unimproved grassland and does not tolerate modern agricultural practices.
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  • Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines Wingspan 40mm. A familiar spring butterfly, males of which are unmistakable. Adult has rounded wings. Forewing is dark-tipped but male has an adjacent orange patch. Underside of hindwing of both sexes is marbled green and white. Adult flies April–June. Larva is green with whitish counter shading; feeds mainly on Cuckoo-flower. Widespread in southern Britain and Ireland; associated with open woodland, verges, and rural gardens.
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  • Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Wingspan 40mm. Similar to Pearl-bordered Fritillary and close attention to underwing markings is needed to confirm identification; typically flies later in the season than Pearl-bordered. Adult has orange brown upperwings with dark markings: on underside of hindwing note seven silver marginal spots and several silver central spots (just two in Pearl-bordered). Flies in June. Larva is black and hairy; feeds on violets. Local in woodland and grassland where violets are common, mainly in western half of Britain.
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  • Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaia Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly, seen skimming and gliding over open ground and feeding on the flowers of thistles and knapweeds. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underside of hindwing is suffused with olive-green scaling. Flies July–August. Larva is black with spiky hairs; feeds on violets. Widespread but local on chalk downland and sand dunes in Britain and Ireland; commonest near coasts and in western half of region.
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  • Svensson's Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Length 24-26mm. A well-marked moth that is very similar to Copper Underwing. Rests with its wings held flat, or with one forewing partly overlapping the other. Often congregates communally in dark places in the daytime. ADULT has brown forewings overall, marked with jagged white and dark lines, and showing a pale central eyespot. The hindwing underside has an orange flush that extends towards the base of wing on the trailing edge (more extensive than in Copper Underwing). Seen head-on, the palps are dark with whitish tips. Flies July-September. Larva feeds on deciduous trees and shrubs. Widespread and generally common in southern and central Britain.
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  • Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
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  • Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Wingspan 50mm. Britain’s most familiar and widespread grassland butterfly. Adult has brown upperwings; male has a small orange patch on the forewing containing eyespot; orange patch is larger in female. Underside of hindwing is brown with a grey-brown band; forewing is orange and buff with an eyespot. Flies June-Aug. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Generally common throughout the region but least so in northern Scotland and Ireland. Favours a wide range of grassland habitats.
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  • Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines Wingspan 40mm. A familiar spring butterfly, males of which are unmistakable. Adult has rounded wings. Forewing is dark-tipped but male has an adjacent orange patch. Underside of hindwing of both sexes is marbled green and white. Adult flies April–June. Larva is green with whitish counter shading; feeds mainly on Cuckoo-flower. Widespread in southern Britain and Ireland; associated with open woodland, verges, and rural gardens.
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  • Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne Wingspan 42mm. A classic woodland butterfly whose fate is linked to appropriate habitat management. Adult has orange brown upperwings with dark markings; underside of hindwing is beautifully patterned with seven silver spots on the margin and two in the middle. Flies May-June. Larva is black with a pale lateral band, and yellow, hairy spikes on dorsal surface; feeds on violets. Widespread but local in British Isles; hotspots are southern England and west Scotland.
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  • Svensson's Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera Length 24-26mm. A well-marked moth that is very similar to Copper Underwing. Rests with its wings held flat, or with one forewing partly overlapping the other. Often congregates communally in dark places in the daytime. ADULT has brown forewings overall, marked with jagged white and dark lines, and showing a pale central eyespot. The hindwing underside has an orange flush that extends towards the base of wing on the trailing edge (more extensive than in Copper Underwing). Seen head-on, the palps are dark with whitish tips. Flies July-September. Larva feeds on deciduous trees and shrubs. Widespread and generally common in southern and central Britain.
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  • Large Heath Coenonympha tullia Wingspan 38mm. Hardy, upland butterfly. Adult seldom reveals upperwings; underside of hindwing is grey-brown while orange-brown forewing has a small eyespot. Flies June-July. Only flies in sunny weather and drops into vegetation the instant a cloud obscures the sun. Larva feeds on White Beak-sedge. Status Local on waterlogged acid moors from central Wales northwards; most widespread in Scotland, very local in Ireland.
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  • Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Wingspan 50mm. Britain’s most familiar and widespread grassland butterfly. Adult has brown upperwings; male has a small orange patch on the forewing containing eyespot; orange patch is larger in female. Underside of hindwing is brown with a grey-brown band; forewing is orange and buff with an eyespot. Flies June-Aug. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Generally common throughout the region but least so in northern Scotland and Ireland. Favours a wide range of grassland habitats.
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  • Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaia Wingspan 60mm. An active, fast-flying butterfly, seen skimming and gliding over open ground and feeding on the flowers of thistles and knapweeds. Adult has orange-brown upperwings; underside of hindwing is suffused with olive-green scaling. Flies July–August. Larva is black with spiky hairs; feeds on violets. Widespread but local on chalk downland and sand dunes in Britain and Ireland; commonest near coasts and in western half of region.
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  • High Brown Fritillary Argynnis adippe Wingspan 60mm. Fast-flying butterfly associated with windswept, open country. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with dark spots; underside of hindwing has brownish scaling. Flies July–August. Larva feeds on violets. Status Scarce and rather endangered, found mainly in W and NW England; favours meadows and open, grassy woodlands.
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  • Silver-lime Tilia tomentosa (Tiliaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
Broadly domed tree. BARK Grey, ridged. BRANCHES Mostly straight and ascending. Young twigs whitish and woolly, darkening with age; buds greenish brown, to 8mm long. LEAVES To 12cm long, rounded; with heart-shaped base, tapering tip and toothed margins; dark green, hairless and wrinkled above, white and downy with stellate hairs below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS 5–10 off-white, strongly scented flowers are supported by yellowish bract. Fruit, to 1.2cm long, is ovoid, warty and downy. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native from Balkans eastwards; planted here and thrives in towns. COMMENTS Woolly leaves ensure no aphids, and hence no honeydew. SIMILAR TREE Pendent Silver-lime T. ‘Petiolaris’ (Height to 30m) is similar to Silver-lime, but branches have pendulous tips. Leaf underside is very white and downy, as is the long petiole.
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  • Swamp Cypress Taxodium distichum (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 35m. Deciduous conifer, conical at first, becoming broader and domed with maturity. When growing in or near water, fluted trunk is surrounded by emergent ‘breathing roots’ (likened by some to knobbly knees) characteristic of this species. BARK Pale reddish-brown, peeling in thin fibrous strips. BRANCHES Upright or spreading in older trees, carrying 2 types of shoots: long shoots bear spirally arranged leaves, and alternate side-shoots bear flattened leaves set in 2 ranks. LEAVES Alternate, up to 2cm long, and pale green; a greyish band on the underside has a fine midrib. A mature tree colours well in autumn before shedding its needles. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones produced in slender, branching clusters up to 15cm long at end of 1-year-old shoots. Female cones are globose and woody, on short stalks, ripening purplish-brown in first year. Each scale has a small curved spine in the centre. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of S and SE USA, planted here for ornament.
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  • Grey Alder Alnus incana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 25m <br />
A fast-growing alder more at home on dry soils than most other alders. Shoots and new leaves are covered with a dense layer of soft greyish hairs (hence incana). BARK Smooth and grey. LEAVES Triangular and toothed, terminating in a point, and the margins do not roll inwards. Hairs persist on the underside of the leaf as it matures. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The catkins and fruits are very similar to those of other alders, although the green fruits are more globose before ripening to the typical dark, woody alder cone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, introduced into Britain but not often planted. A good species for wasteland and reclamation schemes.
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  • Rum Cherry (Black Cherry) Prunus serotina (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 22m. A spreading deciduous tree with a stout trunk. BARK Greyish, peeling away in strips and fissured in older trees; a strange, bitter smell is released if the bark is damaged. BRANCHES Spreading and dense, the outer extremes sometimes weeping. LEAVES Larger than those of Bird Cherry at up to 14cm long, shiny above and with fine forward-pointing teeth on the margin; the midrib on the underside has patches of hairs along it, which help separate this species from other similar cherries. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The flowers are very similar to those of Bird Cherry, but the spike may contain fewer than 30 flowers, the pedicels are shorter and the white petals are toothed at the margins. The black fruits contain a bitter-tasting flesh and a rounded smooth stone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of N America, planted for timber and ornament in much of Europe, including Britain and Ireland, and naturalised in many places, including S England.
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  • Rum Cherry (Black Cherry) Prunus serotina (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 22m. A spreading deciduous tree with a stout trunk. BARK Greyish, peeling away in strips and fissured in older trees; a strange, bitter smell is released if the bark is damaged. BRANCHES Spreading and dense, the outer extremes sometimes weeping. LEAVES Larger than those of Bird Cherry at up to 14cm long, shiny above and with fine forward-pointing teeth on the margin; the midrib on the underside has patches of hairs along it, which help separate this species from other similar cherries. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The flowers are very similar to those of Bird Cherry, but the spike may contain fewer than 30 flowers, the pedicels are shorter and the white petals are toothed at the margins. The black fruits contain a bitter-tasting flesh and a rounded smooth stone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of N America, planted for timber and ornament in much of Europe, including Britain and Ireland, and naturalised in many places, including S England.
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  • Fig Ficus carica (Moraceae) HEIGHT to 5m<br />
Deciduous tree with distinctive fruits and leaves. BARK Pale grey, smooth, sometimes with finer lines. BRANCHES Thick, forming a spreading domed crown. LEAVES Alternate, to 20cm long, on a 5–10cm petiole; deeply lobed, usually in 3 segments, sometimes 5. Feel rough and leathery with prominent veins on underside. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are hidden, produced inside pear-like fleshy receptacle that is almost closed at apex. This ripens in second year into a familiar fleshy, sweet-tasting fig. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to SW Asia, possibly also S and E Europe. Long cultivated in Britain, thriving in walled gardens
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  • Chinese Plum Yew Chinese Cow-tail Pine Cephalotaxus fortunei (Cephalotaxaceae) HEIGHT to 10m. Small, densely foliaged tree. Usually has a single bole but sometimes 2 or 3. BARK Reddish and peeling. BRANCHES Dense foliage can sometimes become so heavy that the branches sag. LEAVES Flattened needles, up to 10cm long greenish and glossy above with 2 pale bands on the underside; borne on either side of bright-green shoots. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish or creamy male and female flowers appear on separate plants, opening in spring. Fruits are up to 2.5cm long and oval with fleshy, purple-brown skin. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mountain forests in central and E China; sometimes grown as an ornamental garden tree.
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  • Santa Lucia Fir Abies bracteata (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 38m <br />
Tall, narrowly conical evergreen with tapering crown, strong foliage and pointed buds. BARK Black, marked with scars of fallen branches. LEAVES Sharp-spined needles, up to 5cm long, dark green above with 2 light bands below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Bright-green cones, up to 10cm long, are distinctive with their long projecting hair-like bracts, which persist throughout summer. Flowers are small and insignificant; males yellowish, growing on underside of shoot, females green, growing on top of shoot. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Rare native of S California. Does well in rainier parts of our region.
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  • Osier Salix viminalis (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Spreading shrub or small tree. Rarely reaches full potential, being regularly cropped for long flexible twigs (‘withies’), used for weaving. Natural crown is narrow with slightly pendulous branches. SHOOTS Straight twigs are flexible, covered with greyish hairs when young, becoming smoother and shiny olive-brown with age. LEAVES Narrow, tapering, to 15cm long, the margin usually waved and rolled under; underside has grey woolly hairs. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female catkins, to 3cm long, appear before leaves on separate trees; erect or slightly curved. Males are yellow, females browner. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common native tree in wet habitats. Often planted for withies, masking its true native range.
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  • Caucasian Wingnut Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Juglandaceae) HEIGHT to 35m. Spreading tree with domed crown and stout bole from which many branches arise close to same point. Suckers freely. BARK Grey, fissured and gnarled. LEAVES Compound, with 11–20 pairs of leaflets, each to 18cm long, ovate to lanceolate with a pointed tip and toothed margins. Midribs bear stellate hairs on underside. Leaves turn yellow in autumn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male catkins solitary, female catkins pendent with many flowers and give rise to broad-winged nutlets. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SW Asia, planted here for ornament.
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  • European White Elm Ulmus laevis (Ulmaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. Broadly spreading tree with an open crown. BARK Grey and smooth when young, deeply furrowed with age. BRANCHES Twigs are reddish-brown and softly downy, but become smooth with age. LEAVES To 13cm long, with markedly unequal bases and toothed margins. Leaf veins are paired, and longer side has 2–3 more veins than the other. Upper leaf surface is usually smooth but underside is normally grey-downy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are produced in long-stalked clusters. Fruits are winged and papery, with a fringe of hairs; in pendulous clusters. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of mainland Europe, possibly native in Britain in the past but now probably extinct.
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  • Fig Ficus carica (Moraceae) HEIGHT to 5m<br />
Deciduous tree with distinctive fruits and leaves. BARK Pale grey, smooth, sometimes with finer lines. BRANCHES Thick, forming a spreading domed crown. LEAVES Alternate, to 20cm long, on a 5–10cm petiole; deeply lobed, usually in 3 segments, sometimes 5. Feel rough and leathery with prominent veins on underside. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are hidden, produced inside pear-like fleshy receptacle that is almost closed at apex. This ripens in second year into a familiar fleshy, sweet-tasting fig. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to SW Asia, possibly also S and E Europe. Long cultivated in Britain, thriving in walled gardens
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  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
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