Begin botany- Useful tips.

I look forward to the coming of the new season which is the perfect time to begin to refresh your eye in seeing the shapes and patterns in nature as the new growth just starts to unfurl. While the growing season is still young it is helpful to refresh your knowledge of plant families and their characteristics. Venture outside with a hand lens, leaf /flower press and a good identification book. To start with you may use a simple guide with pictures and easy diagrams. The book I use in the picture above is a well -worn version of Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland by Marjorie Blamey, Richard Fitter and Alastair Fitter which has all the species you will come across. It's the descriptions of the morphology, the plant parts and measurements which are most important.
Apps may well help with ID but they will not train the eye in the same way as the time-tested methods.

In February going into March the green verdure unfolds especially in the south-facing sheltered cul-de-sac of the early spring woodland though the advice below could apply throughout the year as new species come through. The insignificant blending of green to the trained eye awakens the sight of unfurling potential, the excitement of a new life revealing itself for yet another season. For me botany and love of plants first, then forage later. Enable your eye to see the different shapes early in the season to guide you through the year.

The picture above on the left shows wood avens, speedwell, celandine, sweet woodruff and nettle, can you spot them? The three-lobed older leaf confirms its wood avens and you can also look for the younger pinnate leaves along the stem of wood avens. The tiny stalk of sweet woodruff has characteristics of cleavers as both have leaves arranged in whorls around the stem so always take care if foraging.

The second picture on the right is of Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea). This pungent plant has creeping runners and kidney-shaped, blunt toothed, long stalked leaves. Remember always check the many features when identifying plants such as leaf, stalk, smell and texture. Always look up the Latin names for positive identification.

The picture above is Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) with its leaves which are long-stalked, heart-shaped, dark green with light and dark patches. This can be uprooted and its rootlets fried up which to me taste like pine nuts. Never harvest unless you are 100 percent sure it is the correct plant. When harvesting roots make sure the plant is attached so that mistakes cannot be made!

The picture above left is Lord-and-Ladies (Allium maculatum). Warning, more people go to A&E in the UK from this plant than any other. Traditionally our best native plant for the production of starch. Do not pick or eat!

Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) has spear-like, slightly toothed leaves with 3-5 prominent ribs beneath. You can pull the leaf apart and think 'guitar strings' as you reveal its white fibres.