Narrow, untoothed. STATUS Widely naturalised as a garden escape.
Burbidge, Brinsley
Dame’s-violet
Dame’s-violet Hesperis matronalis
Hairy biennial or perennial associated with hedgerows and wayside places. FLOWERS Fragrant, 17–20mm across, with 4 violet or pinkish-white petals; in terminal clusters (May–Aug). FRUITS Long, flattened, curving upwards. LEAVES Narrow, pointed, untoothed, stalked. STATUS Widely naturalised as a garden escape.
Hall, Jean
Hoary Stock
Hoary Stock Matthiola incana
Downy, greyish annual or perennial with a woody-based stem. Associated with sea cliffs. FLOWERS Fragrant, 25–30mm across, with 4 white to purple petals (Apr–July). FRUITS Cylindrical pods to 13cm long. LEAVES Narrow, untoothed. STATUS Scarce and doubtfully native although possibly so in S England and S Wales.
Sea Stock
Sea Stock Matthiola sinuata
Downy, grey-green perennial, the base of which is not woody. Associated with coastal dunes and sea cliffs. FLOWERS Fragrant, 25–30mm across, with 4 pinkish petals (June–Aug). FRUITS Narrow, elongated pods. LEAVES Narrow, with toothed or lobed margins. STATUS Rare; SW England, S Wales, S Ireland and Channel Islands only.
Winter-cress
Winter-cress
Winter-cress Barbarea vulgaris HEIGHT to 80cm
Upright, hairless perennial of damp ground. FLOWERS 7–9mm across with 4 yellow petals; in terminal heads (May–Aug). FRUITS Long, narrow, 4-sided pods. LEAVES Dark green, shiny; lower ones divided, the end lobe large and oval; upper stem leaves entire. STATUS Widespread but commonest in the south.
Medium-flowered Winter-cress
Medium-flowered Winter-cress
Medium-flowered Winter-cress Barbarea intermedia
Upright, hairless perennial of waste ground. FLOWERS 5–6mm across with 4 yellow petals; in terminal heads (Mar–Aug). FRUITS Long, narrow, 4-sided pods. LEAVES Dark green, shiny; all lobed. STATUS Introduced, occasional but seemingly increasing.
Marsh Yellow-cress
Marsh Yellow-cress
Marsh Yellow-cress Rorippa palustris HEIGHT to 50cm
Annual of damp, marshy hollows, sometimes growing in shallow water. Stems upright, angular, hollow. FLOWERS 3mm across with 4 yellow petals equal in length to sepals; in terminal heads (June–Oct). FRUITS Elliptical pods, 4–6mm long. LEAVES Pinnately lobed. STATUS Locally common throughout, except in the north.
Creeping Yellow-cress
Creeping Yellow-cress
Creeping Yellow-cress Rorippa sylvestris
Sprawling annual of damp, bare ground, with solid, not hollow, stems. FLOWERS 5mm across with 4 yellow petals twice as long as sepals; in terminal heads (June–Oct). FRUITS Elliptical pods, 8–15mm long. LEAVES Pinnately lobed. STATUS Locally common in England and Wales; scarce elsewhere.
Great Yellow-cress
Great Yellow-cress
Great Yellow-cress Rorippa amphibia
Robust, hairless perennial with stout, hollow stems. Favours damp ground and the margins of freshwater habitats. FLOWERS 5–7mm across with 4 yellow petals twice as long as sepals; in terminal heads (June–Sep). FRUITS Elliptical pods, 3–6mm long. LEAVES Shallowly lobed. STATUS Locally common in south but absent from north.
