Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Geum rivale

Family

Rosaceae

Flowering season

April to September

English distribution

It is found in the North, the northern Midlands, East Anglia

and parts of the South. It is scattered elsewhere and is

largely absent from the southern Midlands and the far

Southeast.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

– Water Avens

Habitat

It grows in damp to wet soils in hay meadows, roadside

verges and banks, by streams and rivers and on rock

ledges.

Description

Water Avens is a native perennial rhizomatous herb

growing up to 50cm.

The flowers are nodding, bell-shaped and up to

15mm across.

The 5 petals are a dull creamy pink and are slightly

longer than the 5 purple triangular sepals.

There are numerous stamens and numerous hairy

carpels. 

Styles are yellow green with glands and long hairs.

They elongate on fruiting, turn purple and develop

terminal hooks forming a burr.

The flower stems straighten and the burrs are on

erect stems.

The fruits are achenes and are dispersed by the burr

attaching to passing animals.

Upper leaves are tri-lobed with 2 small stipules.

Lower leaves are pinnate with 3 to 6 pairs of unequal

leaflets and a large terminal lobe.

Stems are reddish purple and covered in short soft

hairs.

Reproduction is by seed and from the rhizome.