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Can anyone advise what this is please?

info 377info 377 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Had a day out in Valleyfield Woods in Fife, Scotland yesterday - taking photos of the swathes of snowdrops there.  However, was puzzled by this little flower that seemed to be taking over here and there.

There were 'wild garlic' leaves popping through everywhere, but I don't think that this flowers until April - June; and it wasn't either tall enough, or delicate enough a stem......so what can this little guy be.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated - as I am stumped.  (Unusual for me, having been a florist for over 15 years).  Lol.  Thanks so much, Viv x

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    It could be Petasites Albus, the White Butterbur. 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,942
    Nice. That's a new one on me too. :)
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,312
    Agree Petasites, I don't know them well enough to say which one


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,157
    edited February 2019
    Agree Petasites ... I don’t know the white one, but I my experience the common one is much pinker than the one in the OP’s pics. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089

    Short description of Petasites albus, White Butterbur

    It is a rhizomatous perennial herb which dies back in the winter. Leaves are all basal, up to 30 cm in diameter, broadly rounded, shallowly lobed and often toothed, with whitish lower surfaces. Stout flower stems up to 30 cm appear before leaves in late winter or early spring bearing many pure white tubular flowers. The female plant is much less common than the male but it may produce dandelion-like seeds with long white hairs.

    Description of Petasites albus, White Butterbur status in GB

    White butterburr is well established, with the highest concentration of populations in north-eastern Scotland where it can be locally invasive.

    Habitat summary: Petasites albus, White Butterbur

    Typically damp clayey ground along watercourses, road-verges, waysides and in woodland.

    Overview table

    Environment:Terrestrial
    Species status:Non-Native
    Native range:Europe, Asia-Temperate, Northern Europe, Middle Europe
    Functional type:Land plant
    Status in England:Non-Native
    Status in Scotland:Non-Native
    Status in Wales:Non-Native
    Location of first record:v.c.64 (Storthes Hall)
    Date of first record:1843

    White Butterbur Petasites albus a non-native flowering plant found growing at Quarrymill woodland park near Perth Lorne GillSNH

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • info 377info 377 Posts: 2
    Thank you so much everyone - you have totally saved my sanity.  xx

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