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An encyclopaedia to the plant species present in Britain and Ireland, arranged by family, genus and species, alongside sub-species and hybrids.

Search or explore and view descriptions, maps, status, biogeography, trends and links to external information.

Plants to look out for in June

Common plant families

Rough Chervil (Chaerophyllum temulum)

Apiaceae

The Carrot Family

The first family to be recognised by botanists, at the end of the sixteenth century. Some are important food crops and many are used as herbs because of their highly aromatic leaves and seeds. A few are very poisonous.

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Sea Aster (Tripolium pannonicum)

Asteraceae

The Daisy Family

This is one of the largest plant families. In Britain and Ireland the Asteraceae become more prominent as the summer progresses and many continue to flower well into the autumn.

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Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima)

Brassicaceae

The Cabbage Family

This is a large but very distinctive family. The great majority of species are annual or perennial herbs. The old name ‘Cruciferae’ refers to the cross shape of the petals and members of the family are still commonly known as crucifers.

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Sticky Catchfly (Silene viscaria)

Caryophyllaceae

The Campion Family

A large family with more than 2,000 species in about 90 genera distributed throughout the world and a large number of them in our own flora.

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Bitter Vetch (Lathyrus linifolius var montanus)

Fabaceae

The Pea Family

The third largest plant family (after the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae), it includes trees and shrubs as well as herbs, and water plants as well as species that are adapted to dry conditions. Many of our species are climbers, using either tendrils (peas and vetches) or twining stems.

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Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpereum)

Lamiaceae

The Deadnettle Family

Also known as the Mint family, these plants are frequently aromatic, and flowers typically have petals fused into an upper lip and a lower lip.

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Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula)

Orchidaceae

The Orchid Family

An extraordinary family; very large, with more than 25,000 species worldwide. In Britain and Ireland, they have long been prized as specimens, well studied and recorded.

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Ranunculus lingua

Ranunculaceae

The Buttercup Family

A large family encompassing many herbaceous perennials, alongside aquatics, annuals and some woody climbers.

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Dog Rose (Rosa canina)

Rosaceae

The Rose Family

A family with many familiar species, including trees, shrubs and perennials.

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All plant families