On the verge

Hemlock and Cleavers

24th March 2019. The road-verges swelling. Hemlock (Conium maculatum) and Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) look very similar at this moment.

Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow parsley)

Conium maculatum. Beckington, 24th March 2019.

Anthriscus sylvestris. Beckington, 24th March 2019.

Closer inspection reveals hemlock's wine-dotted stems. Hemlock is hairless whereas cow-parsley is softly hairy on stem and leaf-edges. On hemlock, the lack of hair makes the acicles (sharp tips) of each leaf-lobe seem more prominent.

Hemlock

Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow parsley). Beckington, 24th March 2019.

Young hazel leaves (Corylus avellana). Beckington, 24th March 2019

Fresh elder leaves (Sambucus nigra). Beckington, 24th March 2019

Galium aparine (Cleavers). Beckington, 24th March 2019

Cleavers, also known as Goose-grass and Sticky Willie. The young foliage is edible; my friend told me he made a pesto from a combination of Cleavers and Ramsons (aka Wild Garlic).

When it grows in this sort of burgeoning way, it means nitrogen-rich soil. In this lay-by my first thought was that this growth was nourished by a regular inflow of trucker's wee. But when I went back, I saw this couldn't account for it, and there was a much more obvious factor: drift from the heavily fertilized wheat-fields on the other side of the road.

Galium aparine. Beckington, 8th April 2019.

Galium aparine. Beckington, 8th April 2019.