Identify Mountain Flowers of Britain and Ireland
A book for people who enjoy both walking on the uplands and observing the natural life there. One hundred and four species of flowering herbs and shrubs are described, one on each A5 size page. These plants are likely to be seen on moors, hills and mountains of this botanical area. Some of them are also common in the lowlands. Very rare species, and sub-species, are not included for brevity and simplicity.
All these pages include a distribution map, a photograph and a line drawing of the flower. The structure of flowers of some families are described to introduce botanical terms. This book is intended to work alongside one of the comprehensive guides to flowers by being about one habitat, and easily used in the field.
Published as one file, it is distributed here free of charge. An index links to all species, with returns to index when viewed using Acrobat or Edge pdf readers. A simple key to flower form and colour is provided. To view use any smartphone, tablet, e-reader, or computer that can download and display in pdf format. To print use a high-street copy / printing service for a ring-bound A5 booklet in full colour. Download the 16Mb pdf below:
Mountain Flowers: how do they survive up there?
Moss campion, Silene acaulis, a typical mountain plant showing the adaptation of a perennial cushion of foliage.
Mountain flowers often show distinct adaptations to the severe environment they live in. These various forms of growth and reproduction add to the pleasure of studying these plants. There has been much botanical research on this topic and now there is emphasis on how mountain flowers will adapt to the effects of milder winters. I gave an illustrated talk about this to members of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland in 2022. The article for downloading here as a 3Mb pdf is an expanded version, with pictures and text, of that talk.