Wild flowers
Extremadura is a paradise of flowers. Depending on the weather — the rainfall and the sunshine — flowers can start as early as January and bloom as late as July. It is not unusual to walk here in April and the meadows are carpeted in colour while the hedgerows are hung with vibrant vegetation.
The following photographs have all been taken by me, mainly in the Sierra de Montánchez where I most often walk but also in the northern sierras.
Photographs are arranged alphabetically and in columns going down as it is the easiest way for me to add flowers.
The columns are in colour order: 1. white; 2. yellow-orange; 3. pink; and 4. blue, purple, red, brown and green (mixed up but in alphabetical order).
The photographs are captioned in Latin with English but other enthusiasts will need to look up the names in their own language.
I have used the following books to help me identify the flowers. If you think anything is not correct please e-mail and I will check my information.
'A Selection of Wildflowers of Southern Spain' Betty Molesworth Allen
'Common Wildflowers of Spain' Austen F Colwell
'Flowers of Europe. A Field Guide' Oleg Polunin
Click on each photo for an enlarged view.
Extremadura is a paradise of flowers. Depending on the weather — the rainfall and the sunshine — flowers can start as early as January and bloom as late as July. It is not unusual to walk here in April and the meadows are carpeted in colour while the hedgerows are hung with vibrant vegetation.
The following photographs have all been taken by me, mainly in the Sierra de Montánchez where I most often walk but also in the northern sierras.
Photographs are arranged alphabetically and in columns going down as it is the easiest way for me to add flowers.
The columns are in colour order: 1. white; 2. yellow-orange; 3. pink; and 4. blue, purple, red, brown and green (mixed up but in alphabetical order).
The photographs are captioned in Latin with English but other enthusiasts will need to look up the names in their own language.
I have used the following books to help me identify the flowers. If you think anything is not correct please e-mail and I will check my information.
'A Selection of Wildflowers of Southern Spain' Betty Molesworth Allen
'Common Wildflowers of Spain' Austen F Colwell
'Flowers of Europe. A Field Guide' Oleg Polunin
Click on each photo for an enlarged view.
English name • Latin name
Asparagus • Asparagus Asphodel • Asphodelus Aestivus Autumn Squill • Urginea Maritima Bellardia • Bellardia Trixago Bindweed, Hedge • Calystegia Sepium Broom, Albus • Cytisus Albus Broom, Bridal Veil • Genista Monosperma Broomrape • Orobanche Amethystea Bryony, White • Bryonia Cretica Campion, White • Silene Latifolia Candytuft • Iberis Crenata Carrot, Wild • Daucus Carota Chickweed • Stellaria Media Cow Parsley • Anthriscus Sylvestris Crowfoot • Ranunculus Peltatus Daisy • Bellis Perennis Daphne, Mediterranean • Daphne Gnidium European Heliotrope• Heliotropium Europaeum Fumitory, White Ramping • Fumaria Capreolata Hare’s-tail Cottongrass • Eriophorum Vaginatum Kerry Lily • Simethis Mattiazzii Olive • Olea Onion, Giant • Allium Nigrum Pansy, Field • Viola Arvensis Paronychia • Paronychia Capitata Purslane (maybe) • Montia Sibirica Quaking Oat Grass • Briza Maxima Ramsons • Allium Ursinum Rockrose, Gum • Cistus Ladanifer Rockrose, Poplar-leaved • Cistus Populifolius Rockrose, Sage-leaved • Cistus Salvifolius Sandwort, Mountain • Arenaria Tetraquetra Snapdragon • Antirrhinum Meonanthum Star of Bethlehem • Omithogalum Umbellatum Sweet Pea, family • Lathyrus Vetch, Bush • Vicia Sepium |
English name • Latin name
Alyssum • Alyssum Andryala • Andryala Integrifolia Bellardia • Bellardia Trixago Bird’s-foot-trefoil • Lotus Broom • Cytisus Buttercup, Meadow • Ranunculus Acris Carline Thistle • Carlina Racemosa Carline Thistle, Flat-topped • Carlina Corymbosa Curry Plant • Helichrysum Stoechas Daisy, Yellow • Anacyclus Radiatus Hawkbit, Autumn • Leontodon Autumnalis Hawkbit, Rough • Leontodon Hispidus Hawk’s-beard, Smooth • Crepis Capillaris Hypocist, Yellow • Cytinus Hypocistis Kidney Vetch • Anthyllis Vulneraria Mullein, Dark • Verbascum Nigrum Mullein, Hoary • Verbascum Pulverulentum Pansy, Mountain • Viola Lutea Perforate St John’s-wort • Hypericum Perforatum Purslane • Portulaca Oleracea Retama • Retama Sphaerocarpa Rockrose • Halimium Commutatum Rockrose, Basil-leaved • Halimium Ocymoides Rockrose, Perennial • Tuberaria Lignosa Rockrose, Spotted • Tuberaria Guttata Stonecrop • Sedum Tenuifolium Stonecrop, Biting • Swdum Acre Tansy • Chrysanthemum Vulgare Toadflax, Ballast • Linaria Spartea Tolpis • Tolpis Barbata Trefoil, Lesser • Trifolium Dabium Whin • Genista |
English name • Latin name
Bastard Balm • Melittis Melissophyllum Betony • Stachys Officinallis Bindweed • Convolvulus Arvensis Blackberry • Rubus Fruticosus Broomrape, Greater • Orobanche Rapum-genistae Cardoon • Cynara Cardunculus Cistus, Grey-leaved • Cystus Albidus Cistus, Pink • Cystus Crispus Crane’s-bill, Dove’s-foot • Geranium Molle Crane’s-bill, Meadow • Geranium Pratense Field Scabious • Knautia Arvensis Foxglove • Digitalis Purpurea Fumitory, Common • Fumaria Officinalis Gladiolus, Field • Gladiolus Byzantinus Honeysuckle • Lonicera Arborea Leek, Wild • Allium Ampeloprasum Mallow, Common • Malva Sylvestris Orchid, Butterfly • Orchis Papilonacea Orchid, Sawfly • Ophrys Tenthredinfera Peony • Paeonia Red Campion • Selene Dioica Red Spurrey • Spergularia Rubia Romulea • Romulea Bulbocodium Rose, Dog • Rosa Canina Southern Knapweed • Centaurea Pullata Spanish Heath • Erica Australis Sticky Catchfly • Silene Psammitis Vetch, Bitter • Lathyrus Linifolius Vetch, Common • Vicia Sativa |
English name • Latin name
Alfalfa • Medicago Sativa Amethyst Sea Holly • Eryngium Amethystinum Anarrhinum • Anarrhinum Bellidifolium Bluebell, Spanish • Hyacinthoides Hispanica Chicory • Cichorium Intybus Clover, Red • Trifolium Pratense Delphinium Annual • Delphinium Nanum Friar’s Cowl • Arisarum Vulgare Fritillary, Spanish • Fritillaria Hispanica Great Burnet • Sanguisorba Officinalis Green Alkanet • Pentaglottis Sempervirens Hare’s-ear • Bupleurum Lancifolium Houndstooth • Cynoglossum Officinale Hyacinth, Tassel-headed • Muscari Comosum Iris, Spanish • Iris Xiphium Lavender • Lavandula Lupin • Lupinus Angustifolius Navelwort • Umbilicus Rupestris Periwinkle • Vinca Difformis Pimpernel, Large • Anagallis Monelli Pimpernel, Scarlet • Anagallis Arvensis Plantain • Plantagolagopus Poppy, Common • Papaver Rhoeas Rosemary • Rosimarnus Sheep’s-bit • Jasione Montana Sheep’s Sorrel • Rumex Acetosella Stavesacre • Delphinium Staphisagria Sun Spurge • Euphorbia Helioscopia Thapsia, Giant • Thapsia Vetch, Tufted • Vicia Cracca Viper’s-bugloss • Echium Plantagineum |
Top photo: Snake's Head Fritillary growing on my finca in March