Gateshead Birders

Flora

Species recorded and photographed in the borough

[Click a photo for deatilas and more photographs of the species]

 

Photograph
Species
Photograph
Status
Achillea millefolium
(Yarrow)
 
Aethusa cynapium
(Fool's Parsley
  
Alisma plantago-aquatica
(Common Water-Plantain)
Small amounts in a number of our ponds such as Shibdon, Wardley Red Barns, Burdon Moor, Kibblesworth brickworks and Far Pasture.
Alopecurus pratensis
(Meadow Foxtail)
Frequent in grassy areas and roadsides where it likes a rich damp soil.
Anagallis arvensis
(Scarlet Pimpernell)
This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Anthoxanthum odoratum
(Sweet Vernal-grass)
   
Anthyllis vulneraria
(Kidney Vetch)
   
Apium graveolens
(Wild Celery)
 
Arctium nemorosum
(Wood Burdock)
   
Arrhenatherum elatius
(False Oat-grass)
 
Arum maculatum
(Lords & Ladies)
 
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum
(Black Spleenwort)
  There are two sites in Gateshead, one where this plant was found in 2008 near Birtley and the other being at Dunston
Asplenium trichomanes
(Maidenhair Spleenwort)
   
Athyrium filix-femina
(Wild Oat)
   
Avena fatua
(Lady Fern)
   
Ballota nigra
(Black Horehound)
   
Betula pendula
(Silver Birch )
   
Betula pubescens
(Downy Birch )
   
Blackstonia perfoliata
(Yellow-wort)
   
Buddleja davidii
(Butterfly-bush)
   
Briza media
(Quaking-grass)
  A good colony was found on Barlow Fell in 2004. Rare in Gateshead but fairly common in Durham. In Gateshead it is usually found as odd plants here and there but there are probably thousands of plants in the one field at Barlow. Shame the field is threatened .
Bromus hordeaceus
(Soft Brome-grass)
  Refound in 2008, near Birtley at Gateshead's only site, known here since 1770, but not seen for 50 years. A single plant appeared as a casual in Sunniside in 1987
Bryonia dioica
(White Bryony)
  Refound in 2008, near Birtley at Gateshead's only site, known here since 1770, but not seen for 50 years. A single plant appeared as a casual in Sunniside in 1987
Calluna vulgaris
(Heather)
   
Caltha palustris
(Marsh-marigold)
  Fairly c ommon in wet ground, including ditches and woods. Some large plants occur at Clara Vale.
Calystegia sepium
(Hedge Bindweed)
  Common in waste places and scrubby areas, generally not far from buildings.
Calystegia silvatica
(Large Bindweed)
  Occasional, clambering among bushes usually close to habitations.
Capsella bursa-pastoris
(Shepherd's Purse)
  Common on bare or cultivated ground.
Cardamine flexuosa
(Wavy Bittercress)
  Common in damp shady places, either on bare ground or among other vegetation.
Cardamine hirsuta
(Hairy Bittercress)
  Common in bare dry sunny places, most noticeable in Spring.  Can sometimes occur in more moist and shady spots, when liable to be mistaken for Wavy Bittercress at first glance. A troublesome garden weed.
Cardamine pratensis
(Cuckoo-flower)
Common in damp ground, ditches, fields, beside burns and ponds, and on acid flushes, flowering in spring and early summer. An important plant for Green-veined White and Orange-tip butterflies.
Carduus crispus
(Welted Thistle)
   
Carduus nutans
(Musk Thistle)
 

 

Carex otrubae
(False-fox-sedge)
  
Carex pendula
(Pendulous Sedge)
   Some good colonies in the Derwent valley
Carex riparia
(Greater Pond Sedge)
   Occurs at Shibdon Pond and Ryton Willows
Centaurea nigra
(Common Knapweed)
   
Centaurium erythraea
(Common Centaury)
   
Cerastium fontanum
(Common Mouse-ear)
   
Chaenorhinum minus
(Small Toadflax)
   
Chamerion angustifolium
(Rosebay Willowherb)
    
Chenopodium album
(Fat-hen)
    
Chrysosplenium alternifolium
(Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage)
   This is a local species with records since 1990 only at Westfield Pasture, Spen Dene and Longacre Wood.
Cirsium arvense
(Creeping Thistle)
  Common on roadsides, rough ground and grassland. Flowerheads fragrant, purplish.  Spreads by creeping roots.  Separate male and female flowerheads
Cirsium palustre
(Marsh Thistle)
   
Cirsium vulgare
(Spear Thistle)
   
Cochlearia officinalis
(Common Scurvy-grass)
   
Convolvulus arvensis
(Field Bindweed
    
Crataegus monogyna
(Hawthorn)
   
Cruciata laevipes (Crosswort)
  
Cytisus scoparius
(Broom)
   
Dactylis glomerata
(Cock's-foot)
   
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
(Common Spotted-orchid)
There are some very nice white forms of this species at Shibdon Pond.
Dactylorhiza purpurella
(Northern Marsh-orchid)
Widespread throughout the borough.
Identified on close inspection by the deep purple flowers with a flatish lower lip that is clearly marked with darker lines and blotches. The lip is rather broad and roughly diamond-shaped. This species can have has the darkest purple flowers of all the 'spotted' orchids and its leaves can be spotted or un-spotted.
Daucus carota
(Wild Carrot)
 
Dipsacus fullonum
(Wild Teasel)
 
Doronicum pardalianches
(Leopard's-bane)
  Garden escape at a few spots such as Shibdon and near Beamish
Dryopteris dilatata
(Broad Buckler-fern)
   
Dryopteris filix-mas
(Male-fern)
   
Eleocharis palustris
(Common Spike-rush)
   
Epilobium hirsutum
(Great Willowherb)
In damp rough ground, usually near habitation or around ponds.  
Epilobium parviflorum
( Hoary Willowherb)
Uncommon around some ponds such as Shbdon
Epipactis helleborine
(Broad-leaved Helleborine)
A colony at Shibdon pond was discovered only recently but there are 9+ colonies in the Derwent valley woods and several at Chopwell woods and on the Ravensworth Estate.
Equisetum arvense
(Field Horsetail)
  Common on waste ground, roadsides and grassland
Erigeron acer
(Blue Fleabane)
A single plant discovered in 2004 at Stargate is still present. Another site was found in 2004 at Derwenthaugh and in 2009 more were found on waste ground near the Metro railway station.
Erodium cicutarium
(Common Stork's-bill)
This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Eschscholzia californica
(Californian Poppy)
  This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Euphorbia helioscopia
(Sun Spurge)
  An annual growing in cultivated and disturbed ground in gardens, on waste ground and in arable fields, particularly with root and leaf crops. It thrives on dry, well-drained, neutral to base-rich soils in sun-warmed situations.
Euphorbia lathyris
(Caper Spurge)
 
Euphrasia nemorosa
(Eyebright )
  The only species of Eyebright in Gateshead? At less than 6 inches high you need to get down to its level to see it properly.
Foeniculum vulgare
(Fennel)
   
Fraxinus excelsior
( Ash)
   
Fumaria officinalis
(Common Fumitory)
   
Galium aparine
(Cleavers)
   
Galium saxatile
(Heath Bedstraw)
 
Geranium dissectum
(Cut-leaved Crane's-bill)
    
Geranium molle
(Dove's-foot Crane's-bill)
  
Geranium pusillum
(Small-flowered Crane's-bill)
 
Geranium pyrenaicum
(Hedgerow Crane's-bill)
  
Geranium robertianum
(Herb-Robert)
 
Geum rivale
(Water Avens)
  
Glyceria maxima
(Reed Sweet-grass)
   
Hedera helix
(Common Ivy)
   
Heracleum mantegazzianum
(Giant Hogweed)
  Spreading rapidly along the Tyne valley
Heracleum sphondylium
(Hogweed )
   
Hesperis matronalis
(Dame's-violet)
   
Holcus mollis
(Soft Creeping-grass)
  Common in woods and grassland, usually with some shade.
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
(Bluebell)
  Gateshead has some wonderful Bluebell woods, particularly in the west.
Hypericum perforatum
( Perforate St John's-wort)
 
Impatiens glandulifera
(Indian Balsam)
   
Iris pseudacorus
(Yellow Flag)
 
Juncus articulatus
(Jointed Rush)
   
Juncus inflexus
(Hard Rush)
   
Knautia arvensis
(Field Scabious)
   
Lactuca serriola
(Prickly Lettuce)
   
Lamium album
(White Dead-nettle)
 
Lamium hybridum
(Cut-leaved Dead-nettle)
  This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Lamium purpureum
(Red Dead-nettle)
   
Lapsana communis
(Nipplewort)
  Grows on hedgebanks, road verges, old walls and waste places.
Lathyrus linifolius
(Bitter-vetch)
   A perennial herb of moist, infertile neutral and acidic soils in heathy meadows, lightly grazed pastures, grassy banks and open woodlands. The Derwent valley is particularly good for this species and there is a decent colony in the woodland by Pockerley Farm Pond.
Leontodon autumnalis
(Autumn Hawkbit)
    
Lepidium heterophyllum
(Smith's Pepperwort))
There are more records from Gateshead than any other area in the county. One plant grows annually adjacent to the path through the nature reserve at Shibdon Pond.
Leucanthemum vulgare
(Oxeye Daisy)
   
Linaria purpurea
(Purple Toadflax)
   
Linaria vulgaris
(Common Toadflax)
   
Lobelia erinus
(Garden Lobelia)
  This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Lolium perenne
(Perennial Rye-grass)
  Common on roadsides and rough ground
Lonicera periclymenum
(Honeysuckle)
   
Lotus corniculatus
(Common Bird's-foot Trefoil)
 
Lunaria annua
(Honesty)
  Not uncommonly naturalised
Luzula campestris
(Field Woodrush)
  Common in short grass including lawns
Luzula pilosa
(Hairy Woodrush)
  Fairly frequent in shady grassy places
Lychnis flos-cuculi
(Ragged Robin)
  Common in marshy ground and damp grassland such as Shibdon Pond meadows and Hollinside Manor
Malus domestica
(Apple)
   
Malva sylvestris
(Common Mallow)
 
Medicago arabica
(Spotted Medick)
This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Medicago lupulina
(Black Medick)
 
Medicago sativa
(Lucerne)
 
Melica uniflora
(Wood Melick)
  Occurs in shady grassland & woods along much of the Tyne west of Newburn & the Derwent.
Melilotus albus
(White Melilot)
   
Melilotus altissimus
(Tall Melilot)
 
Mentha aquatica
(Water Mint)
   
Myosotis arvensis
(Field Forget-me-not)
   
Myosotis discolor
(Changing Forget-me-not)
   
Myosotis scorpioides
(Water Forget-me-not)
   
Nymphoides peltata
(Fringed Water-lily)
Well estatlished at Stargate in 1 of only 2 extant county sites
Odontites vernus
(Red Bartsia)
   
Oenothera glazioviana
(Large-flowered Evening-primrose)
A small colony is established at Derwenthaugh, with another at Path-head. Occassionaly escapes ocur elesewhere such as at the bird feeding station at Clara Vale LNR.
Oenothera stricta
(Fragrant Evening-primrose)
  A good sized colony occurs at the Birtley railway sidings. This may be the only county site for this established escape.
Ophioglossum vulgatum
(Adder's-tongue)
 

Good numbers found in a field in west of the Borough in May 2004. Now rare and this one is likely to be lost since the field is probably going to be "improved".

Ophrys apifera
(Bee Orchid)
Colony of 30 or so spikes found near Shibdon Pond in August 2004. Another, smaller colony found near Chopwell and individuals found at Shibdon Pond, a Metrocentre carpark and at the extreme south end of Birtley subsequently
Ornithopus perpusillus
(Birdsfoot)
This rare plant has its only extant site in the county in Gateshead. Known for many years at Stargate, where it is still present and is easy to find, it has recently been found at both Pathhead and Blaydon quarries and near Barlow, all in the same area.
Papaver dubium
(Long-headed Poppy)
   
Papaver rhoeas
(Common Red Poppy)
 
Papaver somniferum
(Opium Poppy)
  This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Pentaglottis sempervirens
(Green Alkanet)
   
Persicaria amphibia
(Amphibious Bistort)
 
Persicaria lapathifolia
(Pale Persicaria)
   
Persicaria maculosa
(Redshank)
   
Petasites hybridus
(Butterbur)
 
Petroselinum crispum
(Garden Parsley)
  Another species that appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Phragmites australis
(Common Reed)
Large reedbeds occur at Shibdon with other patches by several other waters.
Picris echioides
(Bristly Oxtongue)
This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Pilosella aurantiaca
(Fox-and-cubs)
   
Pilosella officinarum
(Mouse-ear Hawkweed)
   
Plantago major
(Greater Plantain)
   
Plantago maritima
(Sea Plantain)
   
Plantago media
(Hoary Plantain)
  A lime speciality, discovered on the A1 embankmentat Shibdon with Bee Orchids in 2004.
Polystichum setiferum
(Soft Shield-fern)
   
Populus alba
(White Poplar)
  Frequently planted
Potentilla reptans
(Creeping Cinquefoil)
   
Primula veris
(Cowslip)
   
Primula vulgaris
(Primrose)
   
Prunella vulgaris
(Selfheal)
1 Common on and beside paths, in waste places, grassland, scrub, lawns.
Prunus cerasifera
(Cherry Plum)
A well-known (and photographed) plant occurs at Shibdon Pond
Prunus domestica
(Wild Plum)
   
Prunus padus
(Bird Cherry)
   
Prunus spinosa
(Blackthorn)
 
Pteridum aquilnum
(Bracken)
   Very common on acid and rough ground, often dominating large areas.
Ranunculus acris
(Meadow Buttercup)
 1
Ranunculus ficaria
(Lesser Celandine)
   1
Ranunculus flammula
(Lesser Spearwort)
 1
Ranunculus sceleratus
(Celery-leaved Buttercup)
   1
Reseda lutea
(Wild Mignonette)
   1
Reseda luteola
(Weld)
 1
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum
(Watercress)
   1
Rosa canina
(Dog Rose)
   1
Rosa rugosa
(Japanese Rose)
   1
Rubus fruticosus agg.
(Bramble)
 1
Rubus idaeus
(Raspberry)
   1
Salix caprea
(Goat Willow)
   1
Sambucus nigra
(Elder)
   1
Scleranthus annuus
(Annual Knawel)
   Found on bare soil at Pathhead Quarry in May 2004, it is the first record in 'recent' times.
Scrophularia auriculata
(Water Figwort)
   1
Scrophularia nodosa
(Common Figwort)
 1
Securigera varia
(Crown Vetch)
 This species has nearly all its known County Durham sites within the borough of Gateshead. Known for a long time on the roadside by the Pack Horse on Fellside road, a good colony is now well established at Timber Beach.
Sedum acre
(Biting Stonecrop)
   1
Sedum spectabile
(Butterfly Stonecrop)
   1
Senecio aquaticus
(Marsh Ragwort)
   Damp grassland andmarshy areas such as Shibdon Pond
Senecio jacobaea
(Common Ragwort)
   Common on roadsides, among rough vegetation and on waste ground.
Senecio squalidus
(Oxford Ragwort)
    
Senecio viscosus
(Sticky Ragwort)
   1
Sherardia arvensis
(Field Madder)
   The first record since 2004 was noted independently at Derwenthaugh on 14th and 17th September 2008. Previously known from the old site of Stella Power station
Silene dioica
(Red Campion)
   1
Silene vulgaris
(Bladder Campion)
   1
Silene x hampeana
(Pink Campion)
   1This hybrid between Red & White Campion is probably one of the most common hybrid plants seen in the UK. Occurs happily without either parent, but very frequently without S. latifolia nearby
Sinapis arvensis
(Charlock)
 1
Solanum dulcamara
(Bittersweet)
   A woody climbing plant that scrambles overshady hedges and bushes.
Solidago gigantea
(Early Golden-rod)
    
Solidago virgaurea
(Golden-rod)
   Occurs in a number of the woods plus a small patch in grassland at Shibdon Pond.
Sonchus arvensis
(Perennial Sow-Thistle )
   Occurs on field edges etc and with large populations along much of the A1
Sonchus asper
(Prickly Sow-Thistle )
   1Common on roadsides and waste ground
Sorbus aucuparia
(Rowan)
   1
Spergularia rubra
(Sand Spurrey )
   1
Stachys sylvatica
(Hedge Woundwort)
   1
Stellaria graminea
(Lesser Stitchwort)
   1
Stellaria holostea
(Greater Stitchwort)
   Frequent in woods and on shady roadsides.
Stellaria media
(Common Chickweed)
 1
Stellaria nemorum
(Wood Stitchwort)
   1
Tanacetum vulgare
(Tansy)
   1
Thlaspi arvense
(Field Penny-cress)
 This species is not usually more than a casual with usually only the odd plant or two being found. Hover a mass estinmated to be in excess of 1000 plants was found at Clara Vale in April 2004
Torilis japonica
(Upright Hedge-parsley)
   1
Tragopogon pratese
(Goat's-beard)
 1
Tricticum aestivum
(Common Wheat)
   Not infrequent as a relic of arable farming or from bird seed
Trifolium campestre
(Hop Trefoil)
   1
Trifolium hybridum
(Alsike Clover)
   1
Trifolium pratense
(Red Clover)
   1
Tripleurospermum inodorum
(Scentless Mayweed)
   A common weed of cultivated or disturbed soil.
Tussilago farfara
(Colt's-foot)
   Common on bare damp ground beside streams and tracks, also in short grass of road verges and waste places.
Tulipa gesneriana
(Garden Tulip)
 This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons
Typha latifolia
(Reed-mace)
 Large patches around a number of Gateshead's ponds including Shibdon, Kibblesworth, Stargate and Ryton.
Ulex europaeus
(Gorse)
 1
Ulmus glabra
(Wych Elm)
   1
Urtica dioica
(Common Nettle)
   1
Urtica urens
(Annual Nettle)
   1
Verbascum thapsus
(Common Mullien)
 1
Verbena officinalis
(Vervain)
1 record of 1 plant - Clara Vale in August 2004
Veronica persica
(Common Field Speedwell)
   1
Viburnum opulus
(Guelder-rose)
 1
Vicia cracca
(Tufted Vetch)
   1
Vicia hirsuta
(Hairy Tare)
 1
Vicia sepium
(Bush Vetch)
   1
Viola arvensis
(Field Pansy)
  
Viola riviniana
(Common Dog Violet)
   
Viola tricolor
(Wild Pansy)
   
Viola x wittrockiana
(Garden Pansy)
  This species appeared with many other unusual ruderal species when the land was cleared between the old pit heap and the A1 after work was done on the sewage pipes and pylons