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  • Pond Cypress Taxodium ascendens (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Slender, conical to columnar deciduous tree. BARK Grey and ridged in older specimens. BRANCHES Horizontal but curving down sharply at tips, and fine shoots that curved upwards with small clasping leaves and give a knotted-cord look. Deciduous shoots are shed in autumn. There is a fine display of autumn colours, starting orange and turning brown. LEAVES Pale green and 8mm long; arranged spirally. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellowish-green, hanging catkins up to 20cm long. Female flowers are produced on the same tree at base of male catkins, first appearing in autumn, but not opening until spring. Rounded cones up to 3cm long are green at first but ripen brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the SE USA, growing in wet ground by ponds and swampy ground. Introduced into Britain, where it succeeds only in warmer parts of the south.
    134582.jpg
  • 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.
    133881.jpg
  • Hiba Thujopsis dolabrata (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 20m <br />
Single-boled conical tree or broad shrub on a divided trunk. LEAVES Scale-like, glossy green above with white bands below and a pointed, curved tip. Leaves clasp shoots, in opposite pairs on flat sprays. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Small blackish male cones at shoot tips. Rounded female cones singly on ends of shoots on same tree. Mature cones about 1.2cm long, brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for ornament. Prefers wet regions with damp soils.
    132613.jpg
  • CELERY-LEAVED BUTTERCUP Ranunculus scleratus (Ranunculaceae) Height to 50cm. Yellowish green annual with hollow stems. Favours marshes and wet grazing meadows, often on trampled ground. FLOWERS are 5-10mm across with pale yellow petals; borne in clusters (May-Sep). FRUITS have elongated heads. LEAVES are celery-like and divided into 3 lobes (basal leaves); stem leaves less divided. STATUS-Locally common in S.
    131950.jpg
  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
    129538.jpg
  • White Stork - Ciconia ciconia. L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
    157672.jpg
  • 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.
    157552.jpg
  • Osier - Salix viminalis (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m. 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.
    157544.jpg
  • Grey Willow - Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
    157535.jpg
  • 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.
    157441.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa. L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    157154.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa. L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    157153.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa. L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    157151.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa. L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    157152.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    156885.jpg
  • European White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons albifrons - 1st winter.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155890.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155791.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155834.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155744.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155747.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155748.jpg
  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
    155210.jpg
  • Grey Willow Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
    135414.jpg
  • Grey Willow Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
    135119.jpg
  • Pond Cypress Taxodium ascendens (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Slender, conical to columnar deciduous tree. BARK Grey and ridged in older specimens. BRANCHES Horizontal but curving down sharply at tips, and fine shoots that curved upwards with small clasping leaves and give a knotted-cord look. Deciduous shoots are shed in autumn. There is a fine display of autumn colours, starting orange and turning brown. LEAVES Pale green and 8mm long; arranged spirally. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellowish-green, hanging catkins up to 20cm long. Female flowers are produced on the same tree at base of male catkins, first appearing in autumn, but not opening until spring. Rounded cones up to 3cm long are green at first but ripen brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the SE USA, growing in wet ground by ponds and swampy ground. Introduced into Britain, where it succeeds only in warmer parts of the south.
    134995.jpg
  • Pond Cypress Taxodium ascendens (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Slender, conical to columnar deciduous tree. BARK Grey and ridged in older specimens. BRANCHES Horizontal but curving down sharply at tips, and fine shoots that curved upwards with small clasping leaves and give a knotted-cord look. Deciduous shoots are shed in autumn. There is a fine display of autumn colours, starting orange and turning brown. LEAVES Pale green and 8mm long; arranged spirally. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellowish-green, hanging catkins up to 20cm long. Female flowers are produced on the same tree at base of male catkins, first appearing in autumn, but not opening until spring. Rounded cones up to 3cm long are green at first but ripen brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the SE USA, growing in wet ground by ponds and swampy ground. Introduced into Britain, where it succeeds only in warmer parts of the south.
    134967.jpg
  • Hiba Thujopsis dolabrata (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 20m <br />
Single-boled conical tree or broad shrub on a divided trunk. LEAVES Scale-like, glossy green above with white bands below and a pointed, curved tip. Leaves clasp shoots, in opposite pairs on flat sprays. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Small blackish male cones at shoot tips. Rounded female cones singly on ends of shoots on same tree. Mature cones about 1.2cm long, brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for ornament. Prefers wet regions with damp soils.
    134619.jpg
  • Pond Cypress Taxodium ascendens (Taxodiaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Slender, conical to columnar deciduous tree. BARK Grey and ridged in older specimens. BRANCHES Horizontal but curving down sharply at tips, and fine shoots that curved upwards with small clasping leaves and give a knotted-cord look. Deciduous shoots are shed in autumn. There is a fine display of autumn colours, starting orange and turning brown. LEAVES Pale green and 8mm long; arranged spirally. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellowish-green, hanging catkins up to 20cm long. Female flowers are produced on the same tree at base of male catkins, first appearing in autumn, but not opening until spring. Rounded cones up to 3cm long are green at first but ripen brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of the SE USA, growing in wet ground by ponds and swampy ground. Introduced into Britain, where it succeeds only in warmer parts of the south.
    134581.jpg
  • 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.
    133752.jpg
  • 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.
    132695.jpg
  • Grey Willow Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
    102364.jpg
  • 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.
    102368.jpg
  • Grey Willow Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
    102363.jpg
  • FAIRY FLAX Linum catharticum (Linaceae) Height to 12cm<br />
Slender, delicate annual that is easily overlooked when not in flower. Found in both wet and dry grassland, mainly on calcareous soils. FLOWERS are 4-6mm across and white; borne in loose, terminal clusters (May-Sep). FRUITS are globular. LEAVES are narrow, 1-veined and borne in opposite pairs. STATUS-Widespread and locally common.
    131992.jpg
  • OBLONG-LEAVED SUNDEW Drosera intermedia (Droseraceae) Height to 20cm. Insectivorous perennial of wet heaths and moors. FLOWERS are white; in spikes on stalks that are a similar length to leaves (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are reddish, 1cm long, narrow and taper abruptly; covered in sticky hairs that trap insects and appear as a basal rosette. STATUS-Locally common throughout.
    131884.jpg
  • FOOL’S WATERCRESS Apium nodiflorum (Apiaceae) Height to 20cm. Creeping perennial whose leaves bear a passing resemblance to Watercress. Could also be confused with Lesser Water Parsnip. Roots at nodes of lower stems; upright stems are hollow. Found in ditches and wet hollows. FLOWERS are white; borne in open umbels (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are egg-shaped and ridged. LEAVES are shiny and pinnate with oval, toothed leaflets STATUS-Widespread and locally common.
    131291.jpg
  • CELERY-LEAVED BUTTERCUP Ranunculus scleratus (Ranunculaceae) Height to 50cm. Yellowish green annual with hollow stems. Favours marshes and wet grazing meadows, often on trampled ground. FLOWERS are 5-10mm across with pale yellow petals; borne in clusters (May-Sep). FRUITS have elongated heads. LEAVES are celery-like and divided into 3 lobes (basal leaves); stem leaves less divided. STATUS-Locally common in S.
    130934.jpg
  • WHITE BEAK-SEDGE Rhynchospora alba (Cyperaceae) Height to 40cm. Tufted perennial of bogs and wet heaths on acid soils. FLOWERS are spikelets that are whitish at first; in flat-topped terminal clusters with a narrow bract (Jun-Sep). FRUITS appear similar to flowers. LEAVES are pale green and arise at base of plant and on stem. STATUS-Very local in S Britain but widespread in Scotland and W Ireland.
    130608.jpg
  • MARSH-MARIGOLD Caltha palustris (Ranunculaceae) Height to 25cm. Widespread perennial with stout, hollow stems. Found in damp woodland, marshes and wet meadows. FLOWERS are 25-30mm across and comprise 5 petal-like sepals but no petals (Mar-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are kidney-shaped and shiny, up to 10cm across. STATUS-Widespread and locally common, but range is contracting.
    129712.jpg
  • MARSH HELLEBORINE Epipactis palustris (Orchidaceae) Height to 50cm. Upright and elegant perennial. Grows in marshes, fens and wet dune-slacks. FLOWERS comprise reddish- or brownish-green sepals, narrow, whitish upper petals that are marked with red, and a frilly, whitish lip marked with red streaks towards the base; borne in open spikes of up to 14 flowers (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are pear-shaped. LEAVES are broad and oval towards the base of the plant but narrower up the stem. STATUS-Very locally common in S England, S Wales and S Ireland; scarce or absent elsewhere.
    113744.jpg
  • WHITE BEAK-SEDGE Rhynchospora alba (Cyperaceae) Height to 40cm. Tufted perennial of bogs and wet heaths on acid soils. FLOWERS are spikelets that are whitish at first; in flat-topped terminal clusters with a narrow bract (Jun-Sep). FRUITS appear similar to flowers. LEAVES are pale green and arise at base of plant and on stem. STATUS-Very local in S Britain but widespread in Scotland and W Ireland.
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  • MARSH-MARIGOLD Caltha palustris (Ranunculaceae) Height to 25cm. Widespread perennial with stout, hollow stems. Found in damp woodland, marshes and wet meadows. FLOWERS are 25-30mm across and comprise 5 petal-like sepals but no petals (Mar-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are kidney-shaped and shiny, up to 10cm across. STATUS-Widespread and locally common, but range is contracting.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
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  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
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  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    136796.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    136797.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
    136798.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
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  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
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  • Grey Willow - Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
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  • Marsh-marigold - Caltha palustris. Height to 25cm. Widespread perennial with stout, hollow stems. Found in damp woodland, marshes and wet meadows. FLOWERS are 25-30mm across and comprise 5 petal-like sepals but no petals (Mar-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are kidney-shaped and shiny, up to 10cm across. STATUS-Widespread and locally common, but range is contracting.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa. L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
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  • White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons - Greenland race - flavirostris - juvenile.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
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  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
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  • Hiba Thujopsis dolabrata (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 20m <br />
Single-boled conical tree or broad shrub on a divided trunk. LEAVES Scale-like, glossy green above with white bands below and a pointed, curved tip. Leaves clasp shoots, in opposite pairs on flat sprays. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Small blackish male cones at shoot tips. Rounded female cones singly on ends of shoots on same tree. Mature cones about 1.2cm long, brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for ornament. Prefers wet regions with damp soils.
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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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  • 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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  • Grey Willow Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
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  • Grey Willow Salix cinerea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 6m <br />
Variable, usually a large shrub or sometimes a small tree with characteristic thick, downy, grey twigs. Represented by ssp. cinerea and ssp. oleifolia (pka S. c. atrocinerea or S. atrocinerea). SHOOTS If bark is peeled off 2-year-old twigs, wood shows a series of fine longitudinal ridges. LEAVES Oblong and pointed, usually about 4 times as long as broad, on short petioles with irregular stipules. Leaves often have inrolled margins and are grey and downy below. Upper surface is matt and downy in ssp. cinerea but glossy and hairless in ssp. oleifolia. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Catkins appear in early spring on separate trees, before leaves: male catkins ovoid and yellow, female catkins similar but greener, eventually releasing finely plumed seeds. This species and Goat Willow S. caprea, are often called ‘Pussy Willow’ when their silky-grey buds, resembling cats’ paws, followed by bright-yellow catkins, appear in spring. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Common across much of our region usually growing in wet habitats such as fenlands, streamsides and damp woodlands
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  • OBLONG-LEAVED SUNDEW Drosera intermedia (Droseraceae) Height to 20cm. Insectivorous perennial of wet heaths and moors. FLOWERS are white; in spikes on stalks that are a similar length to leaves (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are reddish, 1cm long, narrow and taper abruptly; covered in sticky hairs that trap insects and appear as a basal rosette. STATUS-Locally common throughout.
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  • OBLONG-LEAVED SUNDEW Drosera intermedia (Droseraceae) Height to 20cm. Insectivorous perennial of wet heaths and moors. FLOWERS are white; in spikes on stalks that are a similar length to leaves (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are reddish, 1cm long, narrow and taper abruptly; covered in sticky hairs that trap insects and appear as a basal rosette.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
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  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
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  • Bean Goose Anser fabalis L 65-85cm. Heavy-looking ‘grey’ goose with bulky bill and orange legs. Neck is long compared to that of Pink-foot. In flight, wings are mainly dark but note pale bars on upper surface. Dark rump and tail contrast with narrow white band that defines tail-base. Typically forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar but 2 subspecies occur. Adult has dark brown on head and neck, grading to paler brown on breast and belly. Stern is white and back is dark brown, feathers having pale margins. Ssp. fabilis (from N Europe) is long-necked; large bill is well-marked with orange. Ssp. rossicus (from N Siberia) is smaller with shorter neck; smaller bill has small extent of orange. Some adults of both ssp. show white at base of bill. Juvenile is similar to respective adult but bill and leg colours are dull. Voice Utters a nasal, trumpeting cackle. Status Scarce winter visitor; favours marshes and wet grassland.
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  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia L 100-115cm. Large and unmistakable black-and-white bird. Winters in Africa, breeds in mainland Europe and turns up in small numbers, usually in spring and summer, favouring wet grassland.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa L 38-42cm. Long-legged wader with long, straight bill. In flight, has black tail, white rump and white wingbars on upperwing. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange face, neck and breast. Greyish back is spangled with reddish brown and belly is whitish with barring on flanks. Adult female in breeding plumage is similar but reddish elements of plumage are less intense. Winter adult is grey-brown, palest on belly; undertail is white. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has orange suffusion on neck and breast and pale fringes and dark spotting on back feathers. Voice Utters a kwe-we-we call in flight. Status Rare British breeder; Ouse and Nene Washes are strongholds and favours wet grassland. Icelandic migrants boost numbers outside breeding season; locally common on muddy estuaries.
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  • WATER-PEPPER Persicaria hydropiper (Polygonaceae) Height to 70cm. Upright, branched annual, characteristic of damp, bare ground such as winter-wet ruts, and shallow water. FLOWERS are pale pink and borne in long spikes that droop at the tip (Jul-Sep). FRUITS are small and nut-like. LEAVES are narrow and oval, with a peppery taste when chewed. STATUS-Widespread and common, except in the N.
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  • GRASS-POLY Lythrum hyssopifolium (Lythraceae) Height to 25cm. Upright hairless annual that sometimes branches at the base. Favours winter-wet hollows in arable fields or on disturbed ground. FLOWERS are 4-5mm across, pink and 6-parted; borne in leaf axils up stem (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are narrow (grass-like) and alternate. STATUS-Rare; in Cambs, Hants and Dorset only.
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  • GRASS-POLY Lythrum hyssopifolium (Lythraceae) Height to 25cm. Upright hairless annual that sometimes branches at the base. Favours winter-wet hollows in arable fields or on disturbed ground. FLOWERS are 4-5mm across, pink and 6-parted; borne in leaf axils up stem (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are narrow (grass-like) and alternate. STATUS-Rare; in Cambs, Hants and Dorset only.
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  • Rusty Sallow - Salix cinerea oleifolia
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  • Lesser White-fronted Goose - Anser erythropus
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