The black poplar (Populus nigra) is a large deciduous tree native to Britain, with spreading branches that arch downwards, and a brown, later greyish- black coloured, deeply furrowed bark. The leaves are alternate and serrate and are triangular-ovate with a wedge-like base and flattened petioles. The reddish-brown coloured axillary buds are long and sticky and curve upwards at the tip. Black poplar is dioecious, with crimson coloured male and green coloured female flowers arranged in catkins that open in early spring before the leaves appear. The fruit is a capsule which releases seeds with a white pappus. Research Black Poplar
Coltsfoot (Tusilago farfara) is a perennialherb of the family Compositae, native to Britain and Europe, with a much-branched creeping rhizome and erect, purplish woolly and scaly stems, which bear solitary, terminal, yellow flowers in early spring. The basal leaves are long-stalked, roundish cordate with black edged teeth and white-felted below. The fruit is a smooth achene with a long white pappus. Coltsfoot contains mucilage, and is used in herbal teas for treating coughs, bronchitis, laryngitis, asthma and catarrh. Research Coltsfoot
The daisy is a genus of hardy perennial herbs of the Compositae family. The solitary flowerheads have white to pinkish, ligulate ray-florets and yellow, tubular disc-florets that close in the evening and are very attractive to bees. The fruit is an oval, downy achene without a pappus. Research Daisy
The dandelion (Leontodontaraxacum) is a plant of the family Compositae indigenous to Europe, but introduced into America. It gets its name from its appearance, dent de lion (French for Lion's tooth), the leaves being all radical, and runcinate or jagged on the margin. The stems are hollow and have one bright yellow flower. The tapering, milky perennialroot was formerly used as a medicine for liver complaints. The whole plant is full of a milky and bitter juice. The seed of the plant is furnished with a white pappus, and is transported far and wide by the wind. Research Dandelion
Hawkbit (Apargia) is a genus of plants forming a subdivision of the Compositae. the distinguishing marks of the genus are the strap-shaped florets, the unequally imbricated involucre, the tapering form of the fruit, and the one-row feathery pappus. Research Hawkbit
Hawkweed (Hieracium) is a genus of composite plants, sub-family Cichoraceae, consisting of numerous species with yellow flowers.
Hawkweed are common weeds in Britain and other parts of Europe. The pappus is brown and brittle, and in many species the leaves, involucres, and stems are hairy. Research Hawkweed
Leontodon is a genus of composite-flowering plants with dentately-lobed leaves, the lobes pointing backward, an involucre imbricated with scales, a flattened fruit with a long beaj, and a hairy white pappus. The flowers are all strap-shaped and the flower stalk is hollow and smooth, with a single flower-head on its summit. the leaves are radicle. Research Leontodon
The Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is an annual or biennialherb of the family Compositae native to southern Europe, with a tall, erect, furrowed and branched stem. The leaves are alternate, large, rectangular, prickly, wavy-lobed or pinnately divided and decorated with white spots. The lower leaves are sessile, the upper ones clasping. The stems are terminated by solitary, spiny, violet coloured flowerheads composed only of tubular florets. The fruit is a blackish coloured, speckled, obovoid achene with a long white pappus. Research Milk Thistle
Onopordon is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants of the family Compositae, characterised by large purple or white flower-heads, with a fleshy, honeycombed receptacle, and a hairy, rough pappus. The species include the ' Scotch thistle'. Research Onopordon
In botany the pappus is the hairy crown which surmounts the fruit in most composite plants. It is really the metamorphosed calyx, and it serves the purpose of transporting the fruits through the air. Research Pappus
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Black Poplar
