Circaea lutetiana

Photo © Carl Farmer
6 Aug 2003 Dunvegan, Skye

Frequent in lowland woods, becoming rare in the far north.

Flowers c 6-9 mm long including calyx and stamens. Leaves c 4-10 cm. Height c 20-70 cm.

ID: Unmistakable in flower, apart from possible confusion with Upland Enchanter's Nightshade. Most reliable differences are:

Leaves rounded or slightly notched at base
Leaves narrow gradually to the pointed tip
Leaves not strongly toothed, but with sinuate edges
Leaf stalks equally hairy all round
Fruit consists of 2 equal cells, and usually sets seed
Calyx densely glandular (see pic below)
All open flowers well spaced
No bracts at base of individual flower stalks
Generally a larger plant, but specimens from poorer soils can have the jizz of Upland EN and need careful checking.

Other features: Flower stalks become angled downwards before fruiting, as in pic below. Flower has 2 notched petals, 2 stamens and a 2-lobed stigma.

West Highland Flora