help track changes in ireland’s flora€¦ · irish plant monitoring scheme 2016 pilot grasslands...

Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme 2016 Pilot

GrasslandsHelp track changes in Ireland’s Flora

Learn plant identification and help track changes in Ireland’s Flora

Methodology

The entire scheme is managed using an online system at: (https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie) This site allows you claim your survey site and is where you will submit your data.

Claiming your Site• Request a 1km² site using online system (https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie)

• You can choose between a Priority site, Additional site or your own Elected site. • Priority Site – 50 sites which need to be covered for the survey, if there is one near you or you feel

that you want to take on a priority site, that would be great! Priority sites are just sites that have been randomly stratified across Ireland by grassland type and by ecological strata. This ensures that we monitor as much grassland diversity as possible within the pilot.

• Additional Site – Find sites which are local to you, with so many sites across the country you’re likely to find one which isn’t too far away.

• Elected Site – If you would like to add a grassland site, please get in touch and we will add the 1km² to the online system.

• Make sure to get landowners permission before you start your survey.

• Visit your chosen grassland site and take note of habitats and any other interesting features.

• A minimum of two plots should be carried out, if you feel that your site is extremely diverse then up to five plots can be carried out.

• The plots should be a representative sample of the site you are studying. This will involve walking the area beforehand and then placing your plot in an area that you feel best represents the entire grassland. For example if the majority of your site includes grasses while only a very small amount contains wildflowers, do not complete all plots within the wildflower area, as it would not be representative of the entire area. While it may be difficult, try to be impartial and only use the results you have gained from walking around your site to influence your plot positioning.

• Try and keep your plot away from heavily shaded treelines and walls as this will give skewed results.

Introduction

What is it?The Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme has been developed so that we can better understand our environment and track changes in Ireland’s Flora. The scheme sets out to encourage, support and co-ordinate volunteers interested in botanical recording. It is also a fantastic learning experience, especially for beginners as you will be provided with ID guides, a structured way to record and a learning support system. Within the scheme, we ask volunteers to record all plant species found within small plots in different habitat types. This year we are monitoring grasslands. It is hoped that each habitat type can be resurveyed on a 5-10 yearly basis

Why should I take part?By taking part in the Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme you will be contributing to a national recording scheme, which will track changes in Ireland’s Flora. The scheme provides an opportunity for you to upskill and learn more about plants, particularly if you are a beginner to botany. There is also a great opportunity for volunteers who are already familiar with wildflowers to learn new groups (grasses, sedges, etc.). In the scheme you will claim a 1km² site to record within, and we hope you will help us track changes (species, habitats, threats, etc.) in these sites into the future. This is particularly useful if you already regularly record at the site but aren’t making comprehensive lists of species, habitat type or potential threats.

https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie/


How to record your plots

• Mark out a 2x2m plot and record all plant species found within this small area. This booklet includes an identification guide which contains the species of flowering plants you are most likely to see in your plot ordered by colour. There are also guides available on the website for the most likely grasses, sedges and mosses you will find. You should try to identify as much as you can in your plot.

• If you can not work out what the species is then it is good to take detailed pictures of the plant (flower, leaves, overall form and any other distinctive features). Again, while high quality, detailed pictures are best, as long as the picture is clear and the features in focus (not blurry) then it should still be possible to get an identification. You can send queries and any photographs for identification to [email protected] and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

• While completing your plots and identifying species you should also assess the percentage cover of the plants present within your plot. If Daisy covers one quarter of the area of the plot, it will get a percentage cover of 25%.

• Any additional information or pictures relating to your site or plots (potential threats, land use and signs of management, etc.) are also very useful.

• Records along with all information about your site can be added to the online system at https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie – instructions on how to use the online system can be found at http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/plant-monitoring-scheme/

• Hard copy recording forms are also available from http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/plant-monitoring-scheme/

A map for a site including all relevant habitats (shapes with cross hatchings and lines). This includes adjacent

habitats within the 1km².

Mapping

• If you feel confident with habitat classification, there is a special feature in the online system that allows you to mark out the habitats present within your overall site. This will also allow you to mark in adjacent habitats which could potentially influence your site in the future (scrub encroachment, improvement etc.).

Main Habitat where you will carry out your plots.

Adjacent Habitats bordering on your main habitat


http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/plant-monitoring-scheme/


Examples of marked out plots, all are ready to record in.The easiest way to mark out your plot is to use some

rope/cord/tape and pegs. It’s much easier to pre-mark your cord before doing your site visit or to bring measuring tape.

Plots

2X2m marked out with rope.

2m

2m

2m2m

Recording Species

This booklet aims to aid the identification of plants found in grasslands as part of the Irish Plant Monitoring Scheme. The plants below where chosen due to the likelihood that you would come across them on this survey. The basis for this choice is the Irish Semi-natural Grassland Survey 2007-2012.

Some species and families are particularly difficult to identify, so we have developed online ID Guides for these tricky groups. If you see ID Guide beside your species you can find more detailed identificationhelp online: http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/plant-monitoring-scheme/

There are also guides for grasses, sedges, rushes and other trickier groups online at the above site.

- More likely to be found in a wet grassland.

- More likely to be found in a dry grassland .

Throughout this booklet the structure is –Common Name (Scientific name) (Flowering period)Irish Name Family Name

Flowering period is displayed using numbers: 1 = January 12 = December So a flowering period between May and July would be (5-7).

If you have never taken part or completed a survey like this, it can be useful to have a systematic approach to recording, especially if your are in an incredibly diverse site, as the number of species may appear daunting.

• Record wildflowers first – you can make this recording more systematic by choosing to record by colour, taking blue flowers first, then purple, pink, white etc.. This will allow you maximise the usefulness of this booklet as this is also the order that species are displayed.

• Record grasses/sedges/rushes – After recording the wildflowers that you know, it is best to move on to a slightly trickier group. There are online guides to help with grasses, sedges and rushes.

• Take photographs - If you can not identify the species, be sure to take multiple photos. Be sure to get a picture of the flower, leaves, overall form and any other features which you feel may be useful to the identification. Try to get your photos clear and in focus and take lots from many different angles, the defining feature of the species may not be visible in a top-down picture. Take notes along with your photos, in particular height, the more information you give the better the chances are to get a correct identification. [If you need help with the identification of a plant, you can send photos to [email protected] ]

• Take samples - If you can not identify the species, you can take a sample back with you, in order to use a more comprehensive guide or key. If you take a sample (you will need to take the entire plant with you, be sure to pull the plant up and take basal leaves also) and still can not find the species be sure to safely press your specimen on clean, dry paper under a weight, so that you can show the species to a determiner at a later date. Only take a sample if there is a good population of the species growing in the location.


mailto:[email protected]

Leaf Plate

Lanceolate Pinnate

Trifoliate

Trifoliate & Toothed

Heart-Shaped & Glossy

Hairy & lobed

Petals

Stem

Sepals Sepals

Petals

Useful ID Guides

• Wildflowers of Ireland – A Field Guide – Zoe Devlin• The Wildflower Key – Francis Rose• An Irish Flora – John Parnell and Tom Curtis • Biodiversity Ireland Grass Guide – Úna Fitzpatrick, Lynda Weekes & Mark Wright

• If you need help with the identification of any plant, you can send photos to [email protected]

Stem

Structure of a flower Structure of a flower

Photographs © Oisín Duffy

mailto:[email protected]

• Creeping plant. • Blue flower growing in

pairs of spikes.• Leaves opposite,

fleshy and hairless

Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) (5-9)Lochall Veronicaceae

Up to 30cm

• Low growing and hairy plant.

• Flowers are blue and main stem has distinctive fringe of hairs.

• Leaves opposite, oval and toothed.

Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) (5-7) Lus cré talún Veronicaceae

Up to 20cm

Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) (5-8)Lus cré Veronicaceae

• Small, upright plant forming a narrowing spike.

• Flowers pale blue to lilac.

• Leaves opposite, hairy, oval and toothed. Up to 10cm

Marsh Speedwell (Veronica scutellata) (6-8)Lus cré corraigh Veronicaceae

• Creeping plant.• Pale blue (sometimes white)

flowers on the end of weak, fragile looking stems.

• Leaves opposite unstalked, lanceolate.

Up to 20cm

• Small, upright plant. • Flowers are blue and white and

form loose spikes around the stem.

• Leaves oval, glossy and slightly toothed.

Up to 20cm

Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) (4-10)Lus an treacha Veronicaceae

• A small, hairy plant.• Flowers change colour

during its development (cream – blue).

• Leaves hairy and oblong.

Up to 20cm

Tufted Forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa) (5-10)Ceotharnach beag Boraginaceae

• Upright plant.• Small bright blue

flowers, with flattened hairs on the stem.

• Leaves lanceolate and hairy.

Up to 35cm

Water Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) (5-10)Ceotharnach uisce Boraginaceae

• Plant with creeping runners.

• One of the larger forget-me-not flowers, stems with flattened hairs.

• Leaves alternate, untoothed with pointed tips. Up to 50cm

Creeping Forget-me-not (Myosotis secunda) (5-8)Ceotharnach reatha Boraginaceae

Up to 12cm

• Small, creeping plant. • Blue flowers are

clustered together. • Leaves oblong,

broader at the top and tapering gently at base.

Changing Forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor) (5-9)Lus mínola buí Boraginaceae

Wood Speedwell (Veronica montana) (4-7)Lus cre coille Veronicaceae

• Dainty, creeping plant.

• Lilac flowers with stems which are hairy on all sides.

• Leaves, opposite oval and toothed. Up to 20cm

Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy

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Zoe Devlin


Zoe Devlin

ID Guide

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Oisín Duffy

Up to 2m

• A straggly climber with a distinctive long, one-sided cluster of purple pea flowers.

• Leaves pinnate and end in long, green tendrils which are used for climbing and support. 8-12 pairs of leaflets

Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) (6-8)Peasair na luch Fabaceae

Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) (4-10)Peasair fhiáin Fabaceae

• Creeping plant with purplish pea flowers in small groups.

• Leaves pinnate and individual leaflets are oval to lanceolate in shape. 5-7 pairs of leaflets

• Tendrils are also used by this plant for support and climbing.

Bugle (Ajuga reptans) (5-6)Glasair choille Lamiaceae

Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) (6-8)Duán ceannchosach Lamiaceae

Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) (7-9)Méaracán gorm Campanulaceae

Heath Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia) (5-9)Na deirfiúríní Polygalaceae

Marsh Violet (Viola palustirs) (4-7)Sailchuach chorraigh Violaceae

Common Dog-Violet (Violla riviniana) (4-6)Fanaigse Violaceae

Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) (5-9) Lus an bhainne Polygalaceae

Devil’s-Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) (6-10) Odharch bhallach Dipsacaceae

Up to 30cm

• A small, upright plant.• Blue flowers are in spikes

around a square stem. • Leaves on stem ovate,

sometimes shiny green or bronze in colour.

• A small, upright plant with round stems.

• Purple tubular flowers in cylindrical whorls.

• Leaves green, oval and paired.

• Upright plant • Purple domed head with

pink stamens protruding. • Leaves oval-lanceolate and

opposite and with dark spots.

• Upright plant• Drooping blue, bell

shaped flower. • Leaves at base are

heart-shaped with rounded teeth.

• Small, straggly plant.• Flowers variable (purple,

blue, pink, white). • Leaves alternate, with the

lower leaves shorter and broader.

• Small, straggly plant. • Flowers generally

blue.• Lowers leaves

opposite.

• Solitary blue-purple flowers with darker veins on lower middle lip.

• Pale notched spur behind the petals.

• Leaves heart-shaped and glossy green.

• Solitary pale lilac flowers with darker veins on lower middle lip

• Short, rounded, pale lilac notched spur behind the petals.

• Leaves heart-shaped and glossy green.

Up to 20cm

Up to 75cm Up to 40cm

Up to 30cm

Up to 12cm

Up to 1m

Up to 20cm

Up to 15cm

Oisín Duffy Oisín Duffy

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Zoe DevlinOisín Duffy

Zoe Devlin

ID GuideID Guide

Oisín Duffy

Bell Heather (Erica cineria) (6-9)Fraoch Cloigíneach Ericaceae

Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) (7-10)Feochadán colgach Asteraceae

Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense) (6-9)Feochadán reatha Asteraceae

Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum) (6-8)Feochadán móna Asteraceae

Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre) (6-8)Feochadán corraigh Asteraceae

Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) (6-10)Mínscoth Asteraceae

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) (7-10)Fraoch mór Ericaceae

Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) (5-9)Fraoch naoscaí Ericacaea

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) (6-8)Lus mór Veronicaceae

• Tall, upright plant.• Flower a large pink-purple

dome on stems which are not prickly.

• Leaves mostly found at the base of the plant, with slight prickles on edge.

• Tall, slender plant. • Lilac flowers in a

domed formation with darker bracts underneath.

• Leaves very prickly at the edges.

• Tall, robust, prickly plant.• Deep purple clustered,

stalkless flowers.• Leaves very prickly at

margins and form basal rosette.

• Tall, robust plant. • Flowers spreading to a

domed shape with many prickly bracts beneath.

• Leaves prickly, wavy, heavily divided and form large basal rosette.

• Tall, upright plant. • Flower a large pink-purple

dome underneath dark scale like bracts.

• Leaves oblong.• Plant is not prickly.

• Upright bushy shrub.• Flowers are bell-shaped

and pink in colour. • Leaves small, opposite

and generally overlapping.

• Upright sometimes staggly, bushy shrub.

• Flowers are urn shaped and bright purple-pink in colour.

• Leaves small, needle like and in whorls of three.

• Upright, bushy shrub.• Flowers are urn

shaped and pink in colour.

• Leaves small, needle like and in whorls of four.

• Upright, showy plant.• Many pink-purple flowers

in whorls around the stem.

• Leaves, opposite or in whorls of three, stalkless and lanceolate.

• Tall, upright, slender plant.• Flowers are pink-purple, tubular

and arranged in a terminal spike.

• Intricate white lace like mottling inside flowers.

• Leaves alternative and oval lanceolate.

Up to 75cm

Up to 50cm

Up to 80cmUp to 1m

Up to 1m Up to 1.5m

Up to 1.5mUp to 1.5m

Up to 1m

Up to 50cm

Oisín Duffy

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Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

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Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) (6-9)Créachtach Lythraceae

Oisín Duffy

Thrift (Ameria maritima) (4-7)Rabhán Plumbaginaceae

Water-pepper (Persicaria hydropiper) (7-9)Biorphiobar Polygonaceae

Redshank (Persicaria maculosa) (6-10)Glúineach dhearg Polygonaceae

Marsh Willowherb (Epilobium palustre) (7-8)Saileachán corraigh Onagraceae

Short-fruited Willowherb (Epilobium obscurum) (7-8)Saileachán caol Onagraceae

Hoary Willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum) (7-9)Saileachán liath Onagraceae

Common Valerian (Lythrum salicaria) (6-9)Caorthann corraigh Valerianaceae

Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) (7-8)Lus na Tríonóide Onagraceae

• Upright plant. • Flowers are pink in

colour with a deeply lobed 4-sided stigma.

• Leaves opposite, oval, stalkless and clasping at stem.

Up to 75cm

Up to 180cm

Up to 60cmUp to 80cm



• Upright plant.• Soft hairs cover the stem

which can give a woolly appearance.

• Flowers are pink in colour. • Leaves oblong-lanceolate,

stalkless, opposite but some may be alternate.

• Upright but drooping plant.

• Flowers are pink with a cylindrical stem without ridges.

• Leaves linear-lanceolate and mostly opposite.

• Upright plant. • Flowers pale pink. Stem

with ridges. • Leaves opposite,

oblong-lanceolate hairless and stalkless some may be alternate.

• Upright, but can often be straggly.

• Pale pink flowers are clustered together in a short dense spikes.

• Leaves oval-lanceolate, generally with a dark blotches, short stalks.

• Upright plant. • Pale pink flowers in a

domed cluster. • Leaves opposite,

pinnate with toothed leaflets.

• Erect, cushion forming plant.

• Pale pink flower are in terminal clusters.

• Leaves grass like and at base of the plant.

• Upright plant. • Flowers small, pale pink

and arranged around the stem.

• Leaves lanceolate and on very short stalks.

• Strong peppery taste.Oisín Duffy

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin


ID Guide

ID GuideID Guide

ID Guide

Zoe Devlin

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) (4-10)Ruithéal rí Geraniaceae

Early -purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) (4-6)Magairlín meidhreach Orchidaceae

Oisín Duffy

• Upright distinctive orchid.• Flowers pink/purple in

spikes. • Spur is turned up.• Leaves oblong and can be

very heavily spotted.

• Straggling plant. • Five petalled pink flowers

on long creeping stems.• Distinctive orange anthers.• Leaves can be 3-5 times

lobed, hairy and often tinged red. Up to 40cm Up to 40cm

Oisín Duffy

Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella) (6-8)Falcaire corraigh Primulaceae

Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) (6-9)Dréimire Mhuire Gentianaceae

Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus) (6-9)Hocus tae Orobanchaceae

Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica) (4-7)Lus an ghiolla Orobanchaceae

Ragged Robin (Silene flos-cuculi) (5-8)Lus síoda Caryophyllaceae

Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) (7-9)Mismín mionsach Lamiaceae

Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus) (6-9)Tím chreige Lamiaceae

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) (5-8)Na circíní Orchidaceae

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) (5-10)Seamair dhearg Fabaceae

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) (5-8)Nuacth bhallach Orchidaceae

• Creeping fragile looking plant. • Pink flowers are small and bell

shaped. • Leaves oval, almost round in

opposite pairs which trail with the stem along the ground.

• Upright plant.• 5-petalled pink flowers in

terminal clusters. • Leaves oval, with basal

leaves being broader than upper leaves.

• Relatively low growing hemiparasitic plant.

• Distinctive hooded pink flowers.

• Leaves alternate, deeply pinnate with lobed segments.

• Upright, hemiparasitic plant.

• Flowers are a long bell shape and pink-red in colour.

• Leaves opposite, narrow, toothed and stalkless.

• Upright plant. • Cylindrical clusters of pink-

lilac flowers. • Leaves oval, toothed, hairy

and stalked.• Strong smell of mint when

crushed.

• Upright plant.• Distinctive pink, ragged

looking flowers. • Leaves opposite, those at

base oval and stalked, those on stem lanceolate and unstalked.

• Straggling plant. • Dense cluster of

reddish-pink pea flowers.

• Leaves hairy and divided into three smaller leaflets.

• Creeping aromatic plant.

• Pink-purple flowers.• Leaves oval, untoothed

and hairy. Plant smells like thyme when crushed.

• Upright distinctive orchid.• Flowers in a pyramidal spike,

pinkish-lilac (highly variable).• Middle lobe in flowers is shorter

than the side lobes, giving a frilly, dress like appearance.

• Leaves lanceolate with dark circular spots.

• Upright distinctive orchid. • Flowers in a pyramidal spike,

pinkish-lilac (variable).• Middle lobe in flowers in

longer than side lobes. • Leaves lanceolate with dark

oblong spots.






Oisín Duffy

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Oisín Duffy


Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy

ID Guide ID Guide

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) (6-11)Athair thalún Asteraceae

Sneezewort (Achillea ptmarica) (7-9) Lus corráin Asteraceae

Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) (6-9)Feabhrán Apiaceae

Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) (7-9)Gallfheabhrán Apiaceae

Pignut (Conopodium majus) (5-6)Cúlarán Apiaceae

Ox Eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) (5-9)Nóinín Asteraceae

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) (6-9) Mealbhacán Apiaceae

Daisy (Bellis perennis) (3-10)Nóinín Asteraceae

• Upright, aromatic plant. • Flowers white,

sometimes pink in clusters almost umbelled.

• Leaves hairy and pinnate.

• Upright hairless plant. • Flowers white in

loose clusters. • Leaves stalkless,

toothed at the margins.

• Tall, upright plant. • Numerous creamy

white flowers in large umbels.

• Robust and grooved stem

• Leaves lobed and hairy.

• Upright plant. • Numerous white-

pink flowers which form umbels and later a large globular head.

• Leaves heavily pinnatified.

• Upright, dainty hairless plant.

• Small white flowers in umbels.

• Stems smooth and hollow. • Leaves heavily pinnate and

narrow.

• Upright, robust almost hairless plant.

• Distinctive creamy white flowers in umbels.

• Stem purplish in colour and grooved.

• Leaves large, pinnate and toothed.

• Upright and very distinctive flower.

• Yellow disc florets surrounded by numerous white ray florets.

• Leaves spoon-shaped and grow in a basal rosette.

• Tall, upright plant. • Yellow disc florets

surrounded by numerous white ray florets.

• Similar in appearance to a daisy only much larger.

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) (6-9)Airgead luachra Rosaceae

• Tall, upright aromatic plant.

• Cluster of creamy flowers on distinctive red stems.

• Leaves pinnate, being dark green on top and pale underneath.

Up to 50cm

Up to 200cm

Up to 10cm

Up to 120cm

Up to 50cm


Up to 60cm

Up to 60cmOisín Duffy



Oisín Duffy


Mairéad Crawford

ID Guide ID Guide

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Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum) (5-9)Lus na mban sí Linaceae

• Small, slender upright plant.

• Flowers are five petalled and veined.

• Leaves narrow oval in shape and opposite.

Up to 25cm

Oisín Duffy

Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) (1-12)Fliodh Caryophyllaceae

Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea) (5-8)Tursarraing chorraigh Caryophyllaceae

Bog Stitchwort (Stellaria alsine) (5-8)Tursarraing mhóna Caryophyllaceae

Cleavers (Galium aparine) (5-9)Garbhlus Rubiaceae

Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile) (6-8)Luibh na bhfear gonta Rubiaceae

Wavy Bitter-cress (Cardamine flexuosa) (3-9)Searbh-bhiolar casta Brassicaceae

Common Mouse-ear (Cerastiam fontanum) (4-11)Cluas luchóige mhara Caryophyllaceae

Common Marsh-bedstraw (Galium palustre) (6-8)Rú corraigh Rubiaceae

Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) (6-9)Ialus mór Convolvulaceae

Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) (4-6)Biolar gréagháin Brassicaceae

• Small, straggling plant. • Flowers are white with

deeply notched petals. • Leaves oval, opposite

and pale green.

• Dainty, hairless plant. • White flowers, with

petals divided nearly to the base.

• Leaves linear-lanceolate and stalkless.

• Very small, hairless and straggling plant.

• Flowers are white with divided petals and are smaller than the sepals.

• Leaves oval-lanceolate and stalkless.

• Small, scrambling plant with tiny white flowers on square stems.

• It has small recurved prickles, which it can use to attach to vegetation (and clothes).

• Leaves lanceolate and whorled around the stem.

• Dainty, straggling plant. • White flowers with four petals in

a relaxed group.• Leaves lanceolate and whorled

around the rough stem. • It has small recurved prickles,

which it can use to attach to vegetation (and clothes).

• Mat forming plant with white four petalled flowers.

• Leaves lanceolate and whorled around the stem.

• It has small recurved prickles, which it can use to attach to vegetation (and clothes).

• Upright, hairless plant. • Flowers are four petalled and

range from lilac to white.• Leaves narrow, lanceolate

and toothed while basal leaves are more rounded.

• Small upright plant with small white flowers with six stamens.

• Stem wavy and hairy at base.

• Leaves divided and rounded at tips.

• Climbing, hairless plant.

• Large white bell-shaped flowers.

• Leaves broad but triangular.

• Calyx not inflated and do no overlap.

• Upright plant which is hairy but not sticky.

• Flowers are small and white.

• Leaves oblong and opposite.

• Petals roughly the same length as sepals.

Up to 30cm





Up to 50cm

Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy




Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

ID Guide ID Guide

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ID Guide ID Guide

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) (7-9)Fionnscoth Parnassiaceae

Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) (4-7)Báchrán Menyanthaceae

Mountains Everlasting (Antenaria diocia) (6-7)Catluibh Asteraceae

Eyebright (Euphrasia sp.) (5-9)Glanrosc Orobanchaceae

White clover (Trifolium repens) (5-9)Seamair bhán Fabaceae

Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis) (4-7)Sú talún bréige Rosaceae

• Upright, hairless and very distinctive plant.

• Flowers are white, with veined petals.

• Leaves heart-shaped and untoothed.

• Aquatic plant with distinctive white (pinkish) flowers in a tall spike.

• Stems can be submerged or floating.

• Leaves trifoliate and oval.

• Small, upright plant. • Flowers white (can also be

pinkish) forming a cluster at the end of a woolly stem.

• Leaves oval, green above and white and silky below.

• Small, upright hemiparisitic plant.

• Flowers arranged in terminal spikes, white to lilac, with yellow and purple markings.

• Many species grouped together due to difficult identification.

• Creeping plant. • Flowers distinctive in that they

have noticeable gaps between petals.

• Leaves trifoliate, toothed with soft hairs.

• Terminal tooth on middle leaflet is smaller than side teeth

• Straggling plant with a dense cluster of whitish pea flowers.

• Leaves not hairy and divided into three smaller leaflets with a toothed margin.

• Distinctive flowers with five notched petals.

• Cream colour surrounds a much darker yellow centre of the plant.

• Leaves large and fissured or wrinkled in appearance

• Upright plant with a one sided cluster of distinctive yellow flowers on a robust, hairy stalk.

• Leaves oval, wrinkled and hairy.

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) (3-5)Sabhaircín Primulace

Cowslip (Primula veris) (4-5)Bainne bó bleachtáin Primulaceae

Up to 30cm

Up to 25cm

Up to 30cm

Up to 25cm

Up to 15cm

Up to 15cm

Up to 20cm

Up to 20cm



Oisín DuffyZoe Devlin


Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy

• Tall, upright distinctive plant with large yellow flowers with dark veins on lower drooping petals.

• Leaves relatively pale, large and lanceolate.

• Dainty plant with 5 yellow petals on creeping stems.

• Leaves heart-shaped with a pointed tip.

Yellow Flag (Iris psuedacorus) (6-8)Feileastram Iridaceae

Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum) (5-8)Lus Cholm Cille Primulaceae


Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) (5-9)Néalfartach Rosaceae

Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) (6-9)Cúig mhéar Mhuire Rosaceae

Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) (4-10)Fearbán Ranunculaceae

Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula) (6-10)Glasair léana bheag Ranunculaceae

Trailing Tormentil (Potentilla anglica) (5-9)Néalfartach shraoilleach Rosaceae

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) (3-7)Lus buí Bealtaine Ranunculaceae

Silverweed (Potentilla anserina) (5-8)Briosclán Rosaceae

Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) (5-9)Fearbán Ranunculaceae

Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus) (4-7)Tuile thalún Ranunuculaceae

Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) (2-4)Grán arcáin Ranunculaceae

• Small creeping plant with yellow four petalled flowers.

• Plant is hairy and forms patches. • Leaves generally trifoliate,

stalkless and toothed with 3-5 teeth per leaflet.

• Creeping, low growing plant with yellow five petalled flowers.

• Leaves pinnate and toothed and very silvery on underside.

• Upright plant with extensive creeping and rooting system.

• Yellow five petalled flowers on ribbed stems.

• Leaves three lobed, toothed and hairy, being roughly triangular in shape.

• Upright plant, without runners. • Flowers yellow and five petalled

on ribbed stems.• Sepals turn downwards.• Leaves divided and toothed,

being roughly triangular in shape.

• Upright plant without runners.

• Yellow five petalled flowers on smooth stems.

• Leaves heavily divided and have large spaces between teeth.

• Upright almost hairless plant.

• Flowers yellow and five petalled on slightly red/purple ridged stems.

• Leaves lanceolate and toothed.

• Upright hairless plant.

• Flowers with 5 yellow sepals.

• Leaves generally rounded and heart or kidney shaped.

• Small creeping plant with stems rooting at tips.

• Flowers yellow with either four or five petals

• Leaves stalked, hairy below with four to five leaflets, 2-5 teeth per leaflet .

• Creeping, low growing plant with yellow five petalled flowers.

• Leaves stalked, almost all palmate and toothed with five leaflets, 5-10 reddish teeth per leaflet

• Upright, hairless plant. • Flowers with 8

(sometimes more) petals.

• Leaves heart-shaped and deep glossy green.

Up to 30cm




Up to 20cm

Up to 25cm

Up to 20cm

Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy


Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

ID Guide ID Guide

ID GuideID Guide

Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) (5-9)Gliográn Orobanchaceae

Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) (5-9)Méara murie Fabaceae

Lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium) (5-10)Seamair bhuí Fabaceae

Black medick (Medicago lupulina) (4-10)Dúmheidic Fabaceae

Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) (5-9)Crobh éin Fabaceae

Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) (6-8)Crobh éin corraigh Fabaceae

Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis) (5-8)Peasairín buí Fabaceae

Square-stalked St John’s-wort (Hypericum tetrapterum) (6-9) Beathnua fireann Hyperiaceae

Slender St.John’s-wort (Hypericum pulchrum) (6-8)Beathnua baineann Hyperiaceae

• Small, low growing and hairy plant.

• Flowers are small, yellow and pea-shaped and clustered into rounded head.

• Leaves trifoliate with a very distinct point at the leaf tip.

• Generally hairless plant with loose clusters of yellow pea-shaped flowers tinged with orange/red on solid stem.

• Leaves pinnate, oval and alternate.

• Plant with silky hairs.• Yellow flowers with

orange and red form a fluffy dome shape.

• Leaves pinnate with lanceolate leaflets.

• Upright, generally hairless hemiparisitic plant.

• Flowers distinctive in that the upper lip has blue teeth, and is longer than the lower lip.

• Stem is robust and angular. • Leaves unstalked, linear-

lanceolate with a toothed margin.

• Upright, square stalked plant.

• Five yellow petalled flowers.

• Leaves oval with translucent markings.

• Climbing or straggling plant which uses tendrils to support itself.

• Flowers are pea-shaped and yellow in loose clusters on angled and slightly hairy stems.

• Leaves lanceolate.

• Upright, hairless plant with round stems.

• Five yellow petalled flowers, often with red markings on the underside.

• Leaves oval and have translucent markings.

• Small, low growing plant. • Flowers are small, yellow and

pea-shaped in a loose cluster into a relatively round head.

• Leaves trifoliate without a distinct point at leaf tip.

• Generally hairy plant with loose clusters of many yellow pea-shaped flowers on upright hollow stems.

• Leaves pinnate, oval and alternate.




Up to 45cm


Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy



Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin Zoe Devlin ID GuideID Guide

• Upright, slender plant with a spiral whorl of small yellow flowers around the stem.

• Leaves narrow and whorled around the stem.

Up to 30cm

Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium verum) (6-9)Bolach cnis Rubiaceae

Oisín Duffy

Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus) (6-9)Crág phortáin gharbh Asteraceae

Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) (5-10)Buachalán buí Asteraceae

Autumn Hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis) (7-10) Crág phortáin Asteraceae

Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Pillosella officinarum) (5-10)Searbh na muc Asteraceae

Lesser Hawkbit (Leontpdon saxatilis) (6-9)Crág phortáin bheag Asteraceae

Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) (6-9)Cluas chait Asteraceae

Smooth Hawk’s-beard (Crepis capillaris) (6-10)Lus cúran min Asteraceae

Dandelion (Taraxacum agg.) (3-10)Caisearbhán Asteraceae

Prickly Sowthistle (Sonchus asper) (5-10)Bleachtán Asteraceae

Marsh Ragwort (Senecio aquaticus) (7-8)Buachalán corraigh Asteraceae

• Slender, upright plant with branched stem, leaves on stem and at base.

• Yellow flowers with slight red tinging underneath ray florets.

• Leaves are pinnate, linear and toothed. • Fruits ribbed and seed disperses from a

silky pale white pappus (modified calyx).

• Upright, hairless plant, branched stem with bracts and yellow flowers with a red tinge on the underside of the ray florets.

• Leaves basal, oblong, pinnate and with a waved edges.

• Upright, robust and hairy plant, with large (25-35mm) deep yellow flowers and an unbranched stem.

• Leaves basal, a blunt oval shape and are very hairy with waved edges.

• Upright plant, with few clusters of relatively large yellow flowers.

• Leaves pinnate but with a large terminal lobe.

• Upright plant with bright yellow flowers and a hollow stem.

• Leaves at the base and are heavily lobed and arrow-shaped.

• Records as agg. as the group is very difficult.

• Upright woolly plant with unbranched stems and lemon yellow flowers, with a distinctive red band on the underside of the ray florets.

• Leaves basal, very hairy and spoon-shaped.

• Upright plant with clusters of numerous yellow flowers.

• Leaves pinnate and toothed.

• Tall, upright, prickly plant with yellow flowers.

• Leaves glossy and can be very prickly and grasp onto the stem with rounded lobes.

• Upright plant with branched stem and yellow flowers with distinctive purple tipped bracts under the ray florets and along the stem.

• Leaves basal, lanceolate, hairy with curled edges.

• Upright, slender plant with an unbranched stem and deep yellow flowers (15-25mm), with a green/grey band beneath them.

• Leaves basal, linear, hairy with a waved edge.

Up to 80cm





Up to 50cm

Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy

Oisín Duffy


Zoe Devlin

Zoe Devlin

Liam Lysaght

Zoe Devlin

ID Guide ID Guide

ID GuideID Guide

ID GuideID Guide

Oisín Duffy

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) (3-5) Scuab eich ghoirt Equisetaceae

Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) (6-7)Scuab eich uisce Equisetaceae

Procumbent Pearlwort (Sagina procumbens) (5-9)Mongán sínte Caryophyllaceae

Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) (6-8)Lus na pingine Apiaceae

Marsh Horsetail (Equisetum palustre) (6-7)Scuab eich chorraigh Equisetaceae

• Upright bright green plant, with none or very few branches.

• Stem wall is very thin and appears hollow.

• Stems with 10-25 inconspicuous ridges

• Black teeth along leaf-sheaths.

• Upright plant, branched. • Small hollow running through

the stem. • Stems with 5-9 ridges.• Black teeth with translucent

margins along leaf-sheaths.

• Upright plant, with branches. • Relatively small hollow running

through the stem. • Stems with 12 conspicuous

ridges.• The sheath teeth do not have

translucent membranous margins

• Creeping plant with slender stems.

• Flowers are small pale green/pink.

• Leaves round, hairless and fleshly.

• Mat forming plant. • Flowers green/yellow

with very small petals, sometimes without.

• Leaves at base longer than those on stem, ending in an sharp point.

Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustre) (5-8)Barr an mhilltigh Juncaginaceae

• Upright, slender plant. • Flowers arranged

alternately along the stem with small white tufts at the top.

• Leaves narrow, grass-like and hairless.


ID Guide

ID Guide ID Guide


Up to 80cm

Up to 30cmPlant Height

Up to 40cm

Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) (4-10)Slánus Plantaginaceae

Greater Plantain (Plantago major) (6-10)Cuach Phádraig Plantaginaceae

• Upright plant. • Spike of very small green-

brown flowers, which have very obvious pale anthers emerging to encircle the spike.

• Leaves lanceolate and ribbed.

• Large sprawling plant.

• Greenish yellow spikes of flowers.

• Leaves large, broad and ovate.

Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima) (6-8)Slánlus mara Plantaginaceae

Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus) (5-10)Ardharca fia Plantaginaceae

• Upright plant.• Numerous greenish-

brown slender spikes, with noticeable yellow anthers.

• Leaves very narrow, untoothed and fleshy.

• Upright plant. • Numerous greenish brown

slender spikes, with noticeable yellow anthers.

• Leaves distinctive, being narrow and having large gaps between teeth.

Oisín DuffyUp to 20cmUp to 45cm



Kristian Peters

Zoe Devlin

Oisín Duffy

Zoe Devlin

Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) (5-7) Cnó léana Rosaceae

Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) (5-8)Samhadh caorach Polygonaceae

Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) (6-10)Copóg shráide Polygonaceae

Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) (5-8)Samhadh bó Polygonaceae

Curled Dock (Rumex crispus) (7-9) Copóg chatach Polygonaceae

Clustered Dock (Rumex conglomeratus) (6-10)Copóg thriopallach Polygonaceae

• Upright plant. • Beautiful dark red, maroon

coloured flowers. • Leaves are pinnate and

toothed. • The entire plant is often tinged

a reddish-purple colour.

• Tall, robust plant.• Flowers are greenish in

colour but plant is much better known for its reddish brown seedhead colour.

• Leaves large, broad and oblong.

• Tall, upright plant.• Flowers are greenish in

colour but plant is much better known for its reddish brown seedhead colour.

• Leaves lanceolate and heavily curled at edges.


Up to 30cm

Up to 120cm

Up to 80cm

Up to 200cm

• Upright, slender plant.• Flowers whorled around

the stem with distinct gaps.

• Leaves oblong-lanceolate with a wavy margin.

• Upright, slender plant.• Flowers are red and

arranged in relatively dense spikes.

• Leaves arrow-shaped with backward pointing lobes and quite bitter to the taste.

• Upright, slender plant. • Flowers are red and

form loose spaced spikes.

• Leaves long, arrow-shaped with forward pointing lobes.

Oisín Duffy

Zoe Devlin



ID Guide

ID Guide

ID Guide

ID Guide

ID Guide

For more information and further resources please visit –http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/plant-monitoring-scheme/to input your records please visit https://surveys.biodiversityireland.ie

National Biodiversity Data Centre ID Guide - Text: Oisín Duffy (Version I) June 2016

Notes



Zoe Devlin

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