Cenhinen pedr

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Genus: Narcissus

While the snowdrop signals the end of winter, the daffodil is the beginning of spring. As someone who is half-Welsh, the daffodil has been prevalent throughout my childhood, as the daffodil is the national flower of Wales, and it translates to Cenhenin pedr in the Welsh language. It is traditional to wear a daffodil on Saint David's Day, March 1st, and a Welsh myth claims that if you spot the first daffodil of the season, your next 12 months will be filled with wealth. Clearly I need to keep a better eye out, as that student budget is still hitting me hard. Daffodils grow perennially from bulbs, often in large clusters, brightening up the countryside with their bright, yellow, sunny colour. The plants have a single central leafless hollow flower stem, with several green strap-shaped leaves arising from the bulb. Closest to the stem is a floral tube above the ovary, then an outer ring of six tepals, which may hang down or be erect.

The daffodil has many myths surrounding it, with different symbolisms in different times and cultures. It is also known as Narcissus, which is a Classical Greek name in honour of a beautiful youth who became so entranced by his own reflection that he pined away and the gods transformed him into this flower. The Romans cultivated them, and then they were forgotten until 1600. Around 1629, Englishmen reintroduced it to gardens because their sap was thought to have healing flowers. However, it actually contains crystals which can irritate the skin - hardly what I would call healing. Due to their long association with Lent, they are known as the "Lent Lily", and symbolise happiness as a gift, although they must be given as a bunch as one on their own can foretell misfortune. It is also the 10th wedding anniversary flower. Lots of meanings!

Daffodils are known as the flowers of March, and usually bloom between March and late April, meaning they are early in mid-February this year. Phenology describes the timing of critical events, such as when flowers bloom, birds migrate or trees shed their leaves. These processes are closely linked to environmental conditions, including temperature. Therefore, the increase in the Earth's climate is having effects on the life cycles of various plants including the daffodil, which consequently affects its fitness. For example, earlier flowering means that they are more exposed to frost conditions which has knock-on effects for seed production. It also leads to mismatches with pollinators, meaning less pollination takes place. Therefore, the daffodils this year at UEA may be exposed to tricky conditions in the next couple of weeks.

Snowdropping? Maybe not...

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Species: Galanthus nivalis

I always feel a sudden burst of joy when I see snowdrops, as it means the cold weather is finally on its way out. It's not long until everywhere is bursting with life and colour, and I can venture out to my 9am lectures without having to wear three extra layers to prevent me freezing to death. Those small, white flowers are a symbol of consolation, hope, purity and cleansing, and most importantly (for me), a signal for the end of Winter. Snowdrops are perennial plants native to large parts of Europe, most commonly found in woodlands, parks and gardens (anywhere with some open areas of grass really – which UEA has plenty of). They flower in February and March, meaning that they are one of the few flowers that are present when snow is still on the ground, as it has been this week! Interestingly enough, I took these pictures on February 2nd, and there is an old proverb saying “The snowdrop in purest white array, first rears her head on Candlemas Day” - which is February 2nd! Weird!

Early flowering is aided by hardened leaf tips which can push through the frozen soil. They are therefore the earliest flowering bulb, with 20 species known. Those keen or even obsessed with collecting snowdrops are called galanthophiles (I like snowdrops as much as the next person, but I wouldn’t go that far!). This is not to be confused with snowdropping, which is a slang term originating from Australian prisons which describes stealing clothes from other people’s washing lines, as prisoners would do if they needed a quick change of appearance. But anyway, this is off-topic….

Snowdrops are 2.7 to 12 inches in height, with a single milk-white flower hanging loosely in a bell-like shape, with a sweet, pleasant odour, not dissimilar to honey. The three inner petals have green tips and overlap the outer petals to form a tube. The best way to grow snowdrops is to lift a group every second year (as they live for two years in the wild) as the leaves start to yellow in late spring, split all the bulbs and then plant them separately with a pinch of bonemeal in the hole.

They are pollinated by bees in February and March, but cross-pollination is rare due to the cold winter weather and therefore most plants are sterile. Therefore these little drops of snow spread mainly through bulb division. Those that are not sterile produce miniature, white seeds which attract ants which they collect and transfer in underground tunnels.

Uses:

A substance called galanthamine can be isolated from snowdrops, which can be used for treating Alzheimer’s under the name of Reminyl through improving working of certain receptors in the brain, and can be used to improve sleep.

It has ornamental value because of its delicate beauty, with millions being sold each year.

Snowdrop lectin is an effective insecticide and can be used against pests such as beetles, butterflies and moths and aphids. There is potential for research into using this substance in GM crops to increase resistance in crops such as tomatoes and tobacco to increase their resistance to insect pests.

Snowdrop lectin is being studied to assess its potential in acting against HIV.

Snowdrops contain their own anti-freeze proteins – they were harvested during the First World War to make anti-freeze for tanks

London Planes (not only found in Gatwick...)

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Platanaceae

Species: Platanus x acerifolia

Otherwise known as the London plane, Platanus x acerfolia is thought to be a hybrid of the Platanus orientalis (oriental plane) and Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore). This hybridisation took place in the 17th century, either in Spain or in Vauxhall Gardens in London, when P. orientalis and P. occidentalis were planted in proximity to each other. For a long time after its creation, the reason for how it was created remained a mystery, but the hybridisation is now a well acknowledged fact.

The hybrid is fertile and seedlings are occasionally found near mature trees.

Fun fact: The London plane was one of the 50 Great British Trees the The Tree Council selected in 2002 in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee.

While it is visually very similar to the American sycamore, the London plane gets its name because it is planted almost exclusively in urban areas, whereas the American sycamore is found more commonly in lowlands and along streams. This is due to the species' tolerance to atmospheric pollution and root compaction, meaning it is suitable for urban roadsides. it also has high tolerance to winter conditions, and is wind-resistant. It is also tolerant (lots of tolerance here) to warm weather, making it a popular choice as a shade tree in Australia.

The London plane is a large deciduous tree which usually grows up to 20-30 m tall. It has a pale grey-green bark, smooth and exfoliating, with a camouflage pattern. Its leaves (when it actually has them) are large, thick and stiff-textured, and are palmately lobed with 3 to 5 main lobes, with the central lobe being the longest. They can cause a disposal problem in cities as they can sometimes take over a year to be broken down if they remain whole. The fruits are especially distinctive, which comprise a spherical cluster of achenes, with numerous stiff hairs which aid wind dispersal. The cluster slowly breaks down over the winter to release the numerous seeds. These can cause problems in urban use, as the short, stiff hairs are an irritant and can cause problems asthma sufferers.

London planes are often pruned by a technique called pollarding. Pollarding involves the removal of the upper branches of the tree, promoting a dense head of foliage and branches. This results in the tree being much shorter with stunted, club-like branches. This creates the shape that is sought after in urban areas such as main streets and plazas. Personally I think it looks a bit like a poorly decorated dead Christmas tree in Winter, but lets see how it looks in summer to see if there is any improvement.

All hail the (winter) King

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Rosaceae

Species: Crataegus viridis

Crataegus viridis is known as the Winter King hawthorn tree, due to its berries being present all throughout winter, right up until March. The fruits are around half an inch in diameter, and start out green, then ripen from orange to bright orange-red in early winter and remain attractive until late winter. Birds do not care much for the berries, and therefore they tend to avoid them until food sources are running scarce. 

For a hawthorn tree it actually has relatively few thorns and in winter it displays an exfoliating bark which is of interest. These trees have clearly been recently planted and therefore the bark is not a highlight of the tree's appeal yet. Compared to other hawthorns, the Winter King is relatively resistant to common diseases such as scab and rust. It is also tolerant to most soil types and city pollution, which makes it a popular choice in urban landscaping. At maturity, the tree stays fairly small at up to 25 to 30 feet tall, with a rounded vaselike shape. This short stature makes it ideal for tight spaces, in the small green spaces within the UEA campus rather than the surrounding grounds. The grey backdrop of the buildings allows the foliage to stand out in all seasons.

The tree is a four-season tree, with white flowers in spring, which show up nicely against the green foliage. The flowers have five petals and are meladorous (a bit smelly!). It bears a clean summer foliage of a dark green colour with a leathery texture, and golden-yellow fruits in fall and winter, which cheer up an otherwise bleak and blank winter canvas. To top it all off, in autumn the leaves undergo a beautiful transformation thanks to senescence, turning gold with traces of red, purple and maroon. When they fall, they reveal the exfoliating bark which reveals a warm copper-cinammon colour. Due to being a young tree, this is more a silvery-green colour.

This tree is clearly worthy of its royal appointment as Winter King. However, it deserves credit for the other seasons too, as it retains its beauty in different forms throughout the year.

The Oregon Grape - An early bloomer

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Berberidaceae

Species: Mahonia aquafolium

The flowering plant Mahonia aquafolium (is it just me or does that sound a bit like a Harry Potter spell?) is also known as the Oregon grape, due to it being native to North America and the blue-purplish berries it produces in late spring and summer. These berries are edible by humans, but not on their own due to their tart taste, so they are instead often used in jelly. The shrubs look very different now compared to how they will in a few months when the berries have been produced! The Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub, with spiky pinnate leaves (appear in pairs either side of the stem) and clusters of yellow flowers which form in racemes and bloom in early spring. These flowers attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. These flowers appear very early in the spring, I took these pictures in mid-January, so it attracts pollinators before most other plants have flowered!

It is easy to see why UEA have decided to choose this plant to brighten up their campus in the area in front of the shop - they are easy to grow and to establish they require only a small amount of water. Once established, they are fairly drought resistant. They are also resistant to disease and the leaves are tough and insects are unable to mess with them. However, the leaves can become chlorotic in soil that is too alkaline and can suffer leaf-burn in winter winds. Luckily they are quite protected where they are situated on campus, so winds are minimal. They provide all-year round green appeal, combined with their golden flowers and blue berries. They are also easy to maintain with just a small amount of trimming required. They can grow in mostly shaded areas, so have been planted in an area near several trees. They are most popular in urban landscaping due to their high chemical pollutant tolerance, although hopefully this isn't why it has been planted at UEA!

Aren't you sweet?

Kingdom: Plantae

Family: Violaceae

Species: Viola orodata

The English violet, or sweet violet (Viola odorata) has recently appeared outside my accommodation right next to the daffodils which seem to completely cover the UEA campus lately. They are characterised by 5 purple flowers (or blue or white) with pinnately shaped leaves arranged in a basal rosette. They grow to a height of 4 to 6 inches, often at the edges of forests or in clearings. Or outside Britten House. They are aromatic, although this smell is mysterious as it seems to disappear after a single sniff. This is because the flowers contain iodine which desensitizes the sense of nose and therefore the sense of smell! However, because the scent is so well-liked it is widely used in perfumes and oils. I don’t know why you’d want a perfume that you literally can’t smell after the second you put it on? I know I wouldn’t pay for it.

There are hundreds of different species of violets (around 400-500), which happen to be the birth flower of February (although sweet violets are technically “violas”, not true violets). They symbolize loyalty, fertility and love, and have been around since Ancient Greece – around 500 B.C. Greeks used violets in their wines, foods and medicines, even in love potions! The scent also suggested sex, and so the violet was an emblematic flower of Aphrodite. In Greek mythology, Iamus, son of Apollo, was abandoned at birth. She left him lying in the Arkadian wilds on a bed of violets where he was fed honey by serpents. He was discovered by pass shepherds who named Iamus after the violet bed.

They were loved so much it became the symbol of Athens. Pliny recommended that a garland of violets be worn above the head to ward off headaches and dizzy spells. They were also used by the Romans for herbal remedies, wine and for festivals.

They can also be used in cooking as they do have some nutritional value – the petals are often coated with sugar and be used to decorate cakes or in chocolate. However, they contain vitamin C (more than most vegetables actually!) which is an antioxidant which can improve the immune system. They should not be taken in in large doses though, and are a laxative in medicine. It can also be used in treating respiratory ailments, insomnia, and skin disorders, but there is little evidence to support their effectiveness of any of these treatments.