Ferns: Ferns are non-flowering plants. They reproduce with spores instead of seeds. Ferns typically have large, feathery fronds (leaves) that unfurl from a central fiddlehead.
Grasses: Grasses have hollow, round stems with joints (nodes) that allow them to bend easily. Their leaves have parallel veins and a distinctive sheath at the base where the leaf meets the stem. Grasses produce small, wind-pollinated flowers that are often inconspicuous.
Sedges: Sedges can be distinguished from grasses by their solid, triangular stems. Their leaves also have parallel veins, but they may feel rougher or more edged than grass leaves. Sedge flowers are usually inconspicuous and arranged in spikes or clusters.
Rushes: Rushes have round, solid stems similar to grasses, but they are typically stiffer and lack the joints found in grasses. Rush leaves are usually round or have a v-shaped cross-section, and they may be absent altogether in some species. Rush flowers are also small and wind-pollinated.
Ferns
Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum.
Bracken is the UK’s most widespread Fern. Plants are knee-high in summer and it dies back in winter, leaving a rusty brown blanket until spring unfurls its tightly curled new leaves.
Common Polypody
Polypodium vulgare.
According to the 1988 “Plants of Nottingham” this is one of only two sites where this fern is recorded in Nottingham.
Wall-rue
Asplenium ruta-muraria.
The Common Wall-rue is a small fern that grows on limestone rocks and in crevices in old walls.
It’s also known as Maidenhair Spleenwort.
Hart’s Tongue Fern
Asplenium scolopendrium.
An evergreen fern, with a single undivided frond (leaf)
Horsetail
Equisetum arvense.
Horsetail is a prehistoric plant with two types of stems: green, hollow shoots for summer and brown, spore-covered ones in spring.
Grasses
Identifications are subject to confirmation.
Crested Dog’s-tail
Cynosurus cristatus.
Meadow Foxtail
Alopecurus pratensis
Marsh Foxtail
Alopecurus geniculatus
Common Reed
Phragmites Australia
Barley
Genus Hordeum.
Fescue
Genus Festuca.
Foxtail Family
Genus Alopecurus
Velvetgrass
Genus Holcus
Orchard Grass Family
Sweet Grass Family
Rush family
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus.
Bulrush
Typha latifolia.
Common Club-rush
Schoenoplectus lacustris.
Common Spike-rush
Eleocharis palustris.
Sedge Family
Wood clubrush
Scirpus sylvaticus.
Despite its name, it’s a Sedge, not a Rush! This is down to the triangular stem.
Photographs used on these Wildflower pages were taken in Wollaton Park and are reproduced with the original artist’s permission.
Credits: Colin Robbins, Gila Taylor, Chris Golightly, Kiyoko Naish, Michael Hayes, Unni Williams, Kyle Heesom, Wendy Martin.
Copyright © for each picture remains with the original artist, who is duly acknowledged and credited for each image.